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Biomedical subjects

T Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to T Taylor.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of sulfasalazine and placebo in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. A Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sulfasalazine (SSZ) at a dosage of 2,000 mg/day is effective for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) that is not controlled with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-four patients with AS were recruited from 15 clinics, randomized (double-blind) to SSZ or placebo treatment, and followed up for 36 weeks. Treatment response was based on morning stiffness, back pain, and physician and patient global assessments. RESULTS: While longitudinal analysis revealed a trend favoring SSZ in the middle of treatment, no difference was seen at the end of treatment. Response rates were 38.2% for SSZ and 36.1% for placebo (P = 0.73). The Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate declined more with SSZ treatment than with placebo (P < 0.0001). AS patients with associated peripheral arthritis showed improvement that favored SSZ (P = 0.02). Adverse reactions were fewer than expected and were mainly due to nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints. CONCLUSION: SSZ at a dosage of 2,000 mg/day does not seem to be more effective than placebo in the treatment of AS patients with chronic, longstanding disease. SSZ is well tolerated and may be more effective than placebo in the treatment of AS patients with peripheral joint involvement. This effect is more pronounced in treatment of the peripheral arthritis in this subgroup of AS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of sulfasalazine and placebo in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. A Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sulfasalazine (SSZ) at a dosage of 2,000 mg/day is effective for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) resistant to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-one patients with PsA were recruited from 15 clinics, randomized (double-blind) to SSZ or placebo treatment, and followed up for 36 weeks. Treatment response was based on joint pain/ tenderness and swelling scores and physician and patient global assessments. RESULTS: Longitudinal analysis revealed a trend favoring SSZ treatment (P = 0.13). At the end of treatment, response rates were 57.8% for SSZ compared with 44.6% for placebo (P = 0.05). The Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate declined more in the PsA patients taking SSZ than in those taking placebo (P < 0.0001). Adverse reactions were fewer than expected and were mainly due to nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints, including dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. CONCLUSION: SSZ at a dosage of 2,000 mg/day is well tolerated and may be more effective than placebo in the treatment of patients with PsA.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A novel method for the rapid separation of plasma lipoproteins using self-generating gradients of iodixanol.

We describe a new method for the rapid fractionation of plasma lipoproteins, which makes use of a new non-ionic, iodinated, density gradient medium, iodixanol, commercially available as Optiprep(TM). The method is simple: plasma or serum is mixed with iodixanol followed by centrifugation in a vertical or near vertical rotor. Separation of VLDL, LDL and HDL can be achieved in 3 h and the lipoprotein fractions are comparable in density and composition with those prepared using conventional salt based gradients. Each class of lipoprotein can be removed in a single fraction, or a profile of lipoprotein distribution can be obtained using a gradient fractionator. Because the medium is inert, fractions from the gradient can be analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis or assayed for lipid content or apolipoprotein composition by SDS-PAGE without removing the iodixanol. Small differences in electrophoretic mobility of HDL and LDL across several gradient fractions suggest that subfractionation of these classes may occur. The new method is simple, rapid and versatile with potential application for preparation of lipoproteins and for analysis of lipoprotein profiles in the research or clinical laboratory.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1996

Identification and high-density mapping of gene-rich regions in chromosome group 1 of wheat.

We studied the distribution of genes and recombination in wheat (Triticum aestivum) group 1 chromosomes by comparing high-density physical and genetic maps. Physical maps of chromosomes 1A, 1B, and 1D were generated by mapping 50 DNA markers on 56 single-break deletion lines. A consensus physical map was compared with the 1D genetic map of Triticum tauschii (68 markers) and a Triticeae group 1 consensus map (288 markers) to generate a cytogenetic ladder map (CLM). Most group 1 markers (86%) were present in five clusters that encompassed only 10% of the group 1 chromosome. This distribution may reflect that of genes because more than half of the probes were cDNA clones and 30% were PstI genomic. All 14 agronomically important genes in group 1 chromosomes were present in these clusters. Most recombination occurred in gene-cluster regions. Markers fell at an average distance of 244 kb in these regions. The CLM involving the Triticeae consensus genetic map revealed that the above distribution of genes and recombination is the same in other Triticeae species. Because of a significant number of common markers, our CLM can be used for comparative mapping and to estimate physical distances among markers in many Poaceae species including rice and maize.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1996

Clouston syndrome (hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia) is not linked to keratin gene clusters on chromosomes 12 and 17.

Clouston syndrome is an hidrotic form of ectodermal dysplasia, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with high penetrance. The main features of the disorder are alopecia, severe dystrophy of the nails, and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. A molecular abnormality of keratin has long been hypothesized to be the basic defect in this disorder. We have performed linkage analyses between the disorder and markers close to the keratin gene clusters on chromosomes 12 and 17 and have excluded linkage to these candidate regions in three apparently unrelated families. In addition, linkage has been excluded to four other candidate regions including 1q2l, 17q23-qter, 18q2l, and 2Oql2. These data indicate that Clouston syndrome is not due to a defect in keratin or in a subset of keratin-associated proteins.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1996

Lipoprotein changes in relation to body mass index in Native American adolescents.

In view of their known high incidence of noninsulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM), we sought to determine whether Native American (Plains Indian) children and adolescents show evidence of risk factors for both NIDDM and cardiovascular disease. Children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 19 y were recruited, and field days were organized for data collection, which included height, weight [to compute body mass index (BMI)], waist and hip circumference, family histories, quantum of Native American ancestry, and blood sampling for fasting lipids, apolipoproteins, insulin, and glucose. BMI increased with age in boys and girls and tended to be higher than in Caucasian children. The difference was significant in 5-9-y-old (p < 0.05) and 10-14-y-old (p < 0.05) boys and 10-14-y-old girls (p < 0.001). Ten- to 14-y-old girls in the highest quartile for BMI had higher triglyceride levels (p < 0.05) and lower HDL cholesterol (p < 0.001) when compared with those in the lower quartiles. In contrast, 15-19 y olds in the highest quartile for BMI had higher cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B (p < 0.001). The mean fasting insulin levels were not related to BMI. The data suggest that, within this Plains Indian population, obesity associated with elevated lipid levels tends to begin at an early age in Native American children. Insulin levels do not appear to be related to BMI, a putative index of adiposity, in this population of children known to be prone to NIDDM in adult life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Hospitalization and expenditures for the treatment of general medical conditions among the U.S. diabetic population in 1991.

Although the medical expenditures for the treatment of acute glycemic and chronic complications of diabetes are well documented, little is known about the costs of treating general medical conditions among persons with diabetes. Accordingly, data from the 1991 National Hospital Discharge Survey and the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey were used to estimate the risk of hospitalization for general medical conditions among middle-aged (45-64 yr) and elderly (> or = 65 yr) persons with diabetes and the associated in-patient expenditures attributable to diabetes in the United States. In 1991, there were 371,814 hospitalizations of middle-aged persons with diabetes and 712,725 hospitalizations of elderly persons with diabetes for treatment of general medical conditions. Both middle-aged and elderly persons with diabetes remained hospitalized longer than their nondiabetic peers (8.1 vs. 6.3 days and 10.1 vs. 8.9 days, respectively). Compared to their nondiabetic peers, middle-aged persons with diabetes were at greatest risk of hospitalization for peritonitis/intestinal abscess [relative risk, 13.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 12.5-13.8] and respiratory failure (relative risk, 5.0; 95% CI, 4.9-5.1) and elderly persons with diabetes were at greatest risk of hospitalization for liver diseases (relative risk, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.9-3.0) and septicemia (relative risk, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.8-2.9). In-patient expenditures for the treatment of general medical conditions attributable to diabetes were estimated at +4.12 billion, nearly twice the in-patient expenditures incurred for the treatment of chronic complications of diabetes. These results demonstrate the disproportionate resources devoted to treating patients with diabetes for conditions that are neither acute glycemic nor chronic complications of diabetes.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Peptide and protein antigens require distinct antigen-presenting cell subsets for the priming of CD4+ T cells.

Priming of naive CD4+ T cells to Ag requires an antigen-presenting cell (APC) that can take up the Ag and present peptide bound to MHC class II molecules. We have used both in vivo and in vitro approaches to demonstrate that the APC used to prime naive CD4+ T cells depends on the initial form in which an Ag is administered. Although Ag delivered as a peptide was presented most efficiently to CD4+ T cells by DC, these APC were poor at priming to a protein form of the same Ag. In contrast, the presence of B cells was a requisite for priming to protein Ag.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Orogastric magnet removal of ingested disc batteries.

Ingestion of disc batteries by infants and small children is an increasing problem. Batteries that remain in the stomach can corrode and damage mucosa and/or produce poisoning. Between 1989 and 1992, 37 children who had swallowed a total of 46 disc batteries presented to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, and were referred for battery removal by use of an orogastric magnet under fluoroscopy. Thirty-nine batteries were removed successfully (without anesthesia) from 32 children, using a magnet attached to an orogastric tube. In three cases the battery had passed into the small bowel. In one case, magnet extraction failed, but the two batteries the child had ingested subsequently passed into the small bowel. In two cases the patients refused to swallow the tube. In one of these cases the battery was removed successfully by the magnet, with the patient under general anesthesia; in the other it passed spontaneously into the small bowel. The authors conclude that orogastric magnet removal is a minimally invasive, well-tolerated method of removing ingested disc batteries.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Fine needle aspiration in infected hip replacements.

Ninety painful prosthetic hips from 88 consecutive patients underwent fine needle aspiration and the results compared with clinical progress, operative findings and culture. Fourteen of the 15 cases proven to be infected at operation were correctly identified by fine-needle aspiration. The one hip with a false negative aspirate had an arthrogram which showed a cavity suggesting infection. There were three false positive aspirates. One grew a different organism at surgery from the original aspirate. The other two had no growth on surgical culture. Both had had pre-operative antibiotics. Eleven cultures of doubtful significance were repeated or regarded as negative and the patients carefully followed-up. One repeat culture confirmed infection emphasizing the importance of repeating doubtful aspirates. The sensitivity of aspiration is 93%, specificity is 96%. The accuracy is 95% confirming that aspiration is a simple and reliable method of diagnosing infection in hip prostheses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

A PCR-based genetic map for human chromosome 3.

Oligonucleotide primers for 125 simple sequence repeat microsatellite-based genetic markers have been assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the CEPH reference family panel. These microsatellites include 101 dinucleotide repeats as well as 24 new tetranucleotide repeats. The average heterozygosity of this marker set was 72.4%. Genetic data were analyzed with the genetic mapping package LINKAGE. A subset of these microsatellite markers define a set of 56 uniquely ordered loci (> 1000:1 against local inversion) that span 271 cM. Sixty-seven additional loci were tightly linked to markers on the uniquely ordered map, but could not be ordered with such high precision. These markers were positioned by CMAP into confidence intervals. One hundred thirteen of the microsatellite markers were also tested on a chromosome 3 framework somatic cell hybrid panel that divides this chromosome into 23 cytogenetically defined regions, integrating the genetic and physical maps of this chromosome. The high density, high heterozygosity, and PCR format of this genetically and physically mapped set of markers will accelerate the mapping and positional cloning of new chromosome 3 genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Solid state NMR imaging of irreducible water in reservoir cores for spatially resolved pore surface relaxation estimation.

The use of solid state NMR imaging in reservoir core applications has long been proposed. This paper describes the use of a simple, robust technique in the first such application. One- and two-dimensional images of the irreducible brine in a sandstone and carbonate reservoir core are demonstrated. The applicability of solid state NMR imaging to pore surface relaxation estimation is discussed.

Carbonates↗
PubMed1994

Pneumatic reduction of intussusception: clinical experience and factors affecting outcome.

Between 1987 and 1992, 54 patients (32 male, 22 female) underwent 62 attempts at pneumatic reduction of intussusception. The mean age at presentation was 12.5 months (range 2.5 to 4 years 4 months). A retrospective review of all cases was performed to identify success rate and factors affecting it. Successful reduction was achieved in 46 cases (74%). One case was complicated by perforation and four cases (7%) by early recurrence. Patients with failed pneumatic reduction were more likely than those with successful reduction to have: (1) long duration of symptoms; (2) bleeding per rectum; (3) small bowel obstruction. Among the 16 cases of failed reduction, surgical findings were: five cases of ileo-ileo-colic intussusception, one with ileo-ileal, one with perforated ischaemic colon during air enema and one whose intussusception was found to be reduced at surgery. Three patients had lead points: Meckel's diverticula in two and a pinworm in one. Resection was required in three cases for non-viable bowel and in another two for the Meckel's diverticula. Pneumatic reduction of intussusception offers a high success rate with few complications. Performing an air enema earlier in the course of the disease may increase the chance of successful reduction.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1994

Duplex ultrasound surveillance of infrainguinal bypass grafts: auditing the process.

The effectiveness of an infrainguinal bypass graft surveillance programme using duplex scanning was assessed over a 2-year period. Of 220 infrainguinal bypass grafts (123 vein and 97 PTFE grafts; 114 to the above knee level, 94 below knee and 12 distal to popliteal artery) in 203 patients, 208 (94.5%) were available for follow-up surveillance. The protocol called for duplex scans at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Fifty-seven grafts (27%) were found to have a V1/V2 ratio equal to or greater than 1.5 and in this group 25 grafts occluded. The median time between primary operation and positive duplex finding was 4 months. Thirty-nine grafts failed during follow-up (at time of analysis median follow-up was 12 months [range 2-83 months]). There were 18 interventions resulting from surveillance-detected stenoses. The median time between positive duplex finding and further investigation was 2 months. Further, there were significant differences in the site of abnormal findings between ePTFE and vein grafts. The value of a surveillance programme may be reduced if there are low rates of intervention and/or excessive delays in intervention following the demonstration of graft-related stenoses. Surveillance programmes and subsequent interventions need to be audited.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A radiation hybrid map of the BRCA1 region.

A locus on chromosome 17q, designated "BRCA1," has been identified as a predisposition gene for breast cancer. A panel of chromosome 17-specific radiation-reduced somatic cell hybrid clones has been assembled for high-resolution mapping of chromosome 17. A series of 35 markers, known to span the BRCA1 locus, were tested against this hybrid panel by PCR assays. Statistical analysis of these data yields a BRCA1 radiation hybrid map at a density sufficient to initiate YAC cloning and pulsed-field gel electrophoretic mapping of the candidate region. In addition, many of the markers reveal genetic polymorphisms and may be tested in breast cancer families and in loss-of-heterozygosity studies of sporadic breast cancers to better define the BRCA1 gene candidate region.

Animals↗