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S Tait

Publications and source records attributed to S Tait.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Characterisation of tissue-specific trans-acting factor binding to a proximal element in the rat growth hormone gene promoter.

Using an exonuclease III protection assay, tissue-specific binding of rat pituitary tumour cell (GH3 cell) nuclear factors to a proximal region (-68 to -138) of the rat growth hormone gene promoter has been detected. The binding is particularly strong between the borders -68 to -102. The binding is eliminated in the presence of excess unlabelled rat growth hormone gene promoter sequences but also by proximal (-423 to +38) or distal (-1960 to -1260) rat prolactin gene promoter sequences and simian virus 40 enhancer/promoter sequences. Extracts of rat pituitaries showed identical binding characteristics. Methylation interference analysis indicated that the contact points between the pituitary-specific factor and the proximal rat growth hormone gene promoter-binding element (-65 to -95) are over a conserved sequence which occurs twice in the rat growth hormone gene promoter and at least eight times in the rat prolactin gene 5'-flanking sequences. This sequence has previously been proposed to constitute the binding site for the somatotroph/lactotroph tissue-specific transcription factor. Gel-retardation and exonuclease III competition analysis showed that three of the rat prolactin gene promoter elements (-46 to -71, -156 to -180 and -174 to -204) share the ability to bind the pituitary-specific factor. The binding to the most proximal rat prolactin gene promoter element (-46 to -71) was clearly more avid than to the rat growth hormone gene promoter (-65 to -95) proximal element. However, both these elements displayed the formation of two gel-retarded complexes while the more distal rat prolactin gene binding elements (-156 to -180 and -174 to -204) formed only the smaller of the two complexes. Finally, we demonstrated by co-transfection competition analysis that plasmids containing the most proximal rat prolactin gene promoter binding element completely inhibited transcription from the rat growth hormone gene promoter while rat growth hormone gene promoter sequences only partially inhibited transcription from the rat prolactin gene promoter. This suggests that the higher affinity for factor binding displayed by the proximal rat prolactin gene promoter binding site in vitro is reflected in factor binding activity in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The effect of cefuroxime axetil on the faecal flora of healthy volunteers.

The effect on the faecal flora of cefuroxime axetil, an oral ester of cefuroxime, was examined in ten healthy volunteers following a dose of 250 mg twice a day for 41/2 days. The mean blood concentration 2 h after the ninth dose was 3.6 mg/l and the urinary excretion was approximately 40% in 6 h and 50% in 24 h. Two volunteers developed mild diarrhoea and one candida vaginitis. Although there was variation between volunteers in the changes found in the faecal flora, the major effects were a reduction in the total anaerobic bacterial count, particularly where high levels of cefuroxime were present in the faeces and a significant decrease or elimination of strains of Enterobacteriaceae plus an increase in the streptococcal count. Six volunteers showed an increase in the candida count. Clostridium difficile was not isolated from any volunteer and toxin was not present in the two volunteers who developed diarrhoea. Four volunteers showed high levels of cefuroxime in the faeces on the fourth or fifth days of treatment.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections with single daily doses of cefuroxime axetil.

Cefuroxime axetil in a single daily dose of 250 mg for ten days was given to 75 women with symptoms of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Fifty-nine women were found to have significant bacteriuria but one was excluded as urethral catheterization was required. The dose was taken at night with a milk drink. Ninety-five per cent of women had a clear urine during treatment. Compliance studies showed that antimicrobial activity was detectable in early morning urines up to 8-10 h after the dose. Post treatment, 93% of women were clear of their original infecting organism but five women had become reinfected with a different strain of Escherichia coli. At the six week follow up 98% of women were still clear although one further reinfection had occurred. The overall cure rate was 86%, including 11% reinfection. Adverse events developed in 17 (23%) of the 75 women with candida vaginitis (8) and diarrhoea (4) being most common. Cefuroxime axetil is a valuable therapy for the treatment of urinary tract infection particularly when due to beta-lactamase producing bacteria.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Lack of clinically significant improvement of patients with tardive dyskinesia following phosphatidylcholine therapy.

A double-blind controlled study was undertaken to examine the value of phosphatidylcholine as a treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD) in 19 psychiatric patients. All patients were maintained on their usual psychotropic medication throughout the entire study. In addition, they were given either phosphatidylcholine (30 g/day) or placebo for 6 weeks. Thirteen of the patients received the crossover treatment for 6 weeks, after which 10 of the 13 were continued on the crossover medication for an additional 6 weeks. At the end of the study, 5 patients had received phosphatidylcholine for 12 weeks and another 12 patients had received the drug for only 6 weeks. Plasma and red blood cell choline levels were monitored every 3 weeks as a measure of compliance. Although some patients showed clinical improvement of their TD, the results did not differ significantly between active drug and placebo. This was in spite of a marked elevation of plasma and red blood cell choline (up to 300% for the Lafayette Clinic patients and up to 400% for the patients from the Ypsilanti Regional Psychiatric Hospital) during treatment with phosphatidylcholine. Side effects of the drug included occasional gastrointestinal upsets and diarrhea but, in general, the medication was tolerated very well. The results indicate that large doses of phosphatidylcholine of soya origin are of no clinical value in treating symptoms of TD in spite of very large increases in blood choline.

Adult↗