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Biomedical subjects

A Bridges

Publications and source records attributed to A Bridges.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Relative contributions of years since menopause, age, and weight to vertebral density in postmenopausal women.

Vertebral mineral density (VMD) was measured by quantitative computerized tomography (QCT) in 16 premenopausal and 243 untreated postmenopausal women without vertebral compression. The mean VMD in the premenopausal group was 157 +/- 10.1 mg/mL, which is close to previously reported values. In the postmenopausal women, VMD fell significantly with age and years since menopause (YSM) separately and together, but the relation to YSM was more significant than that to age. After logarithmic transformation of YSM, the fall in bone density with logYSM was highly significant (P less than 0.001), and that with age was not quite significant. In 36 pairs of women matched for YSM, there was no significant difference in VMD between the subjects up to and over 55 yr of age. In 32 pairs matched for age, VMD was significantly lower in those over 55 yr than in those up to 55 yr (P = 0.005). There was also a significant correlation between VMD and body weight. After this was allowed for, the correlation between VMD and logYSM remained highly significant, but the correlation with age was not significant. We conclude that the fall in vertebral body trabecular bone in postmenopausal women is self-limiting, amounts to about 35% bone loss in 25 yr (most of it in the first 5 yr), and corresponds to but is proportionately greater than the trabecular component in postmenopausal forearm bone loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with connective tissue disease.

Four patients with PCP complicating a CTD are described. Rising serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were documented during an asymptomatic period associated with corticosteroid dosage tapering, weeks prior to the development of acute pulmonary symptoms. The diagnosis of PCP was established by FOB in each patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Relationship of changes in helplessness and depression to disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

We investigated the relationship between changes in helplessness and depression to disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixty-three men with RA were examined at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Joint counts, immunophenotypic analyses of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and measures of psychological status were obtained at each examination. Zero-order correlations between psychological change and disease activity change from baseline to 6 months were not significant, but hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that changes in affective state were significantly related to joint counts at 6 months. Additionally, changes in absolute numbers of HLA-DR+ (human leukocyte antigen DR type) cells were significantly related to joint counts at 6 months. When absolute numbers of HLA-DR+ cells were entered prior to affective state in a hierarchical multiple regression, affective state was only marginally statistically significant. The study shows that longitudinal relationships between affective changes and disease activity are moderated by intervening variables such as immunologic activation.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in continuous ambulatory dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative cell damage due to the production of free radical species has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease for which dialysis patients are at increased risk. Plasma lipid peroxides (malon-dialdehyde), the antioxidants plasma albumin thiol, and red cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) were therefore measured in 18 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 20 hemodialysis patients, and 30 normal controls. SETTING: Renal dialysis unit. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were significantly higher in dialysis patients compared to controls (p less than 0.001) and were significantly higher in CAPD patients compared to hemodialysis patients, p less than 0.001 (CAPD, median and range: 11.25 (8.4-15.5) nmol/mL; hemodialysis: 8.75 (7.0-12.6) nmol/mL; controls: 6.65 (5.2-9.6) nmol/mL). Plasma thiol and red cell SOD were significantly lower in dialysis patients compared to controls, but there was no significant difference between CAPD and hemodialysis patients (CAPD thiol: 333.5 (282-480) mumol/L; hemodialysis thiol: 344 (203-468) mumol/L; control thiol: 421.5 (351-504) mumol/L; CAPD SOD: 78.2 (42.4-112.8) u/1/2 mL red cells; hemodialysis SOD: 89.4 (44.6-121.1) u/1/2 mL red cells; control SOD: 96.8 (66.8-153.4) u/1/2 mL red cells). Red cell SOD was significantly negatively correlated with duration of dialysis in CAPD patients (r = -0.683, p less than 0.01). CONCLUSION: In dialysis patients there is indirect evidence for increased free radical activity, which may be further influenced by the mode of dialysis.

Erythrocytes↗
PubMed1991

Whole blood granulocyte aggregation in vitro in dialysis-dependent patients.

Whole blood granulocyte aggregation in vitro was measured in 17 haemodialysis (HD) patients, 18 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, and 30 age-matched normal controls. Granulocyte aggregation was significantly increased in dialysis-dependent patients compared to controls (P less than 0.001) and was statistically significantly higher in CAPD patients compared to HD patients (P less than 0.01). [CAPD patients, median (range): 56.5 (44-71)%; HD patients: 53.0 (32-67)%; Controls; 42.5 (33-56)%.] Since granulocyte hyperaggregability has been linked with the pathogenesis of ischaemic vascular disease, abnormal granulocyte activity in dialysis-dependent patients may be of many factors contributing to their increased cardiovascular morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Perception of pitch contours in single words in alaryngeal speech.

The perception and production of pitch contours were investigated in single words produced by two groups of alaryngeal speakers: tracheo-oesophageal (TE) and oesophageal (E) speakers. High quality tape-recordings of three tonal patterns by four oesophageal and eight tracheo-oesophageal speakers in monosyllabic words were judged by a group of six speech and language therapy listeners. The results indicated that tonal patterns can be produced with a relatively high level of reliability for both speaker groups. Some individual speakers from both groups approached predicted normal levels. These findings emphasise the importance of providing the opportunity for patients to acquire either of these speech modes in alaryngeal rehabilitation, rather than simply being provided with an artificial larynx, particularly in countries where tone languages are used. The high variability between groups also suggests that other variables apart from alaryngeal speech mode may be relevant in determining ability to signal tonal patterns.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Acceptability ratings and intelligibility scores of alaryngeal speakers by three listener groups.

Acceptability and intelligibility of three groups of alaryngeal speakers were examined: four oesophageal speakers, four tracheo-oesophageal puncture speakers using a tracheostoma valve and four tracheo-oesophageal puncture speakers using digital occlusion. Speakers were video-taped producing samples from the Assessment of Intelligibility of Dysarthric Speech, in addition to a section of spontaneous speech. Three groups of listeners were used: nine speech and language therapists, five ENT surgeons and ten naïve listeners. Specific variables including fluency, rate, quality, intensity, extraneous noise, effort required, pitch and general acceptability were rated on a 7-point scale. Overall no significant difference was found between the speaker groups but listener groups did obtain significantly different intelligibility scores with speech and language therapists scoring highest and ENT surgeons lowest. Analysis suggests that speech and language therapist listeners cope equally well with all speaker groups but ENT surgeons and naïve listeners cope best with tracheo-oesophageal puncture speakers using the tracheostoma valve; only the data from ENT surgeons showed a significant difference between scores for the different speaker groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Oxidative damage in chronic heart failure: protection by captopril through free radical scavenging?

The pathogenesis of heart failure is not yet fully understood. In animal models there is some evidence to suggest a role for free radicals (FRs). We have investigated malondialdehyde - LM in plasma of patients with heart failure and found it to be raised when compared to controls. We present data to show that Captopril, a drug with an ACE inhibitory effect is a FR scavenger both in vitro and ex-vivo in patients with heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Malabsorption of calcium in corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

We have examined the relation between radiocalcium absorption and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3] levels in a set of 60 postmenopausal women on corticosteroid therapy (29 with and 31 without vertebral compression fractures) and compared these results with those from 31 normal postmenopausal women age-matched with the "normal" corticosteroid-treated women. Radiocalcium absorption was a function of serum 1,25(OH)2D3 in both corticosteroid-treated groups and in the set as a whole, but the impaired calcium absorption in the corticosteroid-treated patients with osteoporosis was not accounted for by their slightly reduced serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels. This apparent resistance to the intestinal action of 1,25(OH)2D3 was quantified by a Z score which expresses, in standard deviation units, the difference between the measured calcium absorption and that predicted from the 1,25(OH)2D3 level. The Z score was significantly reduced in the osteoporotic group. Vertebral mineral density (VMD) was measured by quantitative computed tomography in 43 of the corticosteroid-treated cases and in all the normal postmenopausal women; analysis by VMD yielded similar conclusions.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of monoclonal antibodies to K88, K99, F41 and 987P fimbrial adhesins for the detection of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in paraffin-wax tissue sections.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies against fimbrial adhesins of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were evaluated for the detection of enteric colibacillosis in paraffin-wax embedded sections of piglet small intestine. Using the immunoperoxidase technique, monoclonal antibodies were used to detect epitopes on the K99 adhesin and on the a and c regions of the K88 adhesin. However, monoclonal antibodies to the F41 and 987P adhesins failed to react in sections with organisms colonising the intestine of gnotobiotic piglets monoinfected with strains bearing those adhesins, whereas corresponding polyclonal antisera gave positive results. In contrast to apparent expression of all K99 organisms, only a proportion of organisms were identified by monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies as expressing K88. In some instances, failure of immunostaining was attributed to prolonged storage of tissue in formalin.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1989

Captopril: a free radical scavenger.

The use of captopril in heart failure and hypertension is becoming increasingly accepted. Captopril has a sulphydryl group in its molecular structure. We wondered if this might confer free radical scavenging activity on the drug and have investigated this in an in vitro system. Results show that captopril is a free radical scavenger and we suggest that this action might be relevant in its use in heart failure and other vascular diseases.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1989

Antigen-specific recognition of autologous leukemia cells and allogeneic class-I MHC antigens by IL-2-activated cytotoxic T cells from a patient with acute T-cell leukemia.

Culturing of leukemic blood lymphocytes from a patient with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with interleukin-2 (IL-2) yielded T-cell line AK-1 with a remarkable cytotoxic specificity. This line mediated strong lysis of tumor target lines expressing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens, such as Raji, CEM, and Molt-4 cells, but no killing of K562 and Daudi cells, which are deficient in MHC class I. In contrast, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from normal donors destroyed all these tumor targets, without MHC restriction. Line AK-1, originating from residual normal T cells present in the leukemic blood, lysed autologous leukemic blasts and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from many but not all allogeneic individuals but failed to kill autologous remission lymphocytes. Destruction of the autologous leukemic targets by AK-1 could be inhibited by unlabeled competitor target cells that were lysed by AK-1, but not by target cells that were not lysed. This suggests that AK-1 specifically recognized an alien determinant on the autologous ALL cells, crossreactive with allogeneic MHC class I antigens. This reactivity with some degree of tumor specificity may be a leukemic equivalent to responses reported for populations of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) seen in some solid tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Pathogenicity of experimental infection with 'pneumotropic' porcine coronavirus.

Virus localisation and lesions were studied in 14-one-week-old piglets following combined intranasal-oral inoculation with a British isolate of 'pneumotropic' porcine coronavirus (PCV) and were compared with the effects of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) infection in five piglets. Unlike TGEV-infected piglets, all PCV-inoculated piglets remained clinically healthy. Seroconversion was detected at seven days after inoculation. Mild bronchointerstitial pneumonia involving terminal airways was consistently present at two days after infection and thereafter. Both PCV and TGEV infected bronchiolar epithelium and alveolar macrophages but, unlike TGEV, replication by PCV in villous enterocytes was limited and did not cause villous atrophy.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of nandrolone decanoate and antiresorptive therapy on vertebral density in osteoporotic postmenopausal women.

Conventional antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis can delay bone loss, but secondary inhibition of bone formation appears to prevent an increase in bone density. Recently, anabolic steroid therapy has been shown to increase total body calcium and forearm density in osteoporotic patients, perhaps by causing an increase in bone formation. It is not known if these agents affect vertebral density. We have measured vertebral mineral density in 71 postmenopausal osteoporotic women before and after treatment with either the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate or antiresorptive therapy. After a mean treatment period of 14 months, there was a mean increase of 20% in vertebral mineral density in the former group, and no significant change in the latter group. The difference in the time-weighted mean rates of change between the two groups was significant. The results suggest that nandrolone decanoate therapy increases bone formation.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Familial type II protein C deficiency associated with warfarin-induced skin necrosis and bilateral adrenal hemorrhage.

A family is described in which venous thromboembolic disease is associated with reduced plasma protein C activity and normal levels of protein C antigen. Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of protein C antigen gave an abnormal pattern in all affected members, suggesting that the disorder is related to the presence of a structurally and functionally abnormal form of protein C. The propositus developed simultaneous warfarin-induced skin necrosis and bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. This is the first reported instance of warfarin-induced skin necrosis associated with a dysfunctional protein C molecule and the first reported instance of simultaneous warfarin-induced skin necrosis and bilateral adrenal hemorrhage.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1988

The relation between forearm and vertebral mineral density and fractures in postmenopausal women.

Vertebral and forearm mineral density (VMD and FMD, respectively) were determined in 124 postmenopausal women with no crushed vertebrae or peripheral fractures, 51 who had sustained peripheral fractures only since the menopause, 62 with vertebral compression(s) only and 75 with both types of fracture. There was a very significant correlation between the two measurements in the whole set. The scatter could not be accounted for by methodological error but was partly accounted for by body weight, since VMD was related to body weight and FMD was not. Whatever criterion was used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis (whether fracture or density) the percentage of misclassified cases was very similar by the two methods. However, VMD was relatively more reduced than FMD in vertebral fracture cases and FMD was marginally more reduced than VMD in peripheral fracture cases. There is little to choose between vertebral and forearm density in the diagnosis of osteoporosis but vertebral densitometry is slightly superior to forearm densitometry in describing the severity of osteoporosis in vertebral fracture patients.

Body Weight↗