Biomedical subjects

A Marsland

Publications and source records attributed to A Marsland.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

CARD15/NOD2 single nucleotide polymorphisms do not confer susceptibility to type I psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: A psoriasis susceptibility locus on chromosome 16q was identified recently. This region coincides with a locus predisposing to Crohn's disease. Patients with Crohn's disease have a fivefold greater relative risk for development of psoriasis. In Crohn's disease mutation of the caspase recruitment domain family, member 15 (CARD15) gene (chromosome 16q12.1) confers susceptibility. In light of the overlap in linkage data, and the observation of comorbidity between Crohn's disease and psoriasis, it is plausible that both diseases share a common genetic factor. OBJECTIVES: To assess the genetic contribution of CARD15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pathogenesis of type I psoriasis. METHODS: Eight SNPs in CARD15 were genotyped in 148 patients with type I psoriasis and 192 unrelated controls, following a test for population stratification. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared along with estimated SNP haplotype frequencies. RESULTS: No differences were observed in genotype allele or haplotype frequencies between the case and control cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The most complete assessment of CARD15 SNPs in type I psoriasis to date reveals no evidence of association to type I psoriasis.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Effects of lovastatin on the immune system.

Laboratory investigations have demonstrated that blockade of HMG-CoA reductase in vitro reduces lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens as well as other facets of the immune system, such as natural killer cell cytotoxicity. However, in this randomized and double-blind clinical investigation, treatment with 20-mg lovastatin for 6 months did not significantly alter several enumerative and functional characteristics of circulating immune cells.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Immune system differences in men with hypo- or hypercholesterolemia.

Substantial epidemiologic evidence indicates that relative hypocholesterolemia in apparently healthy individuals is associated with increased subsequent mortality from cancer and other nonatherosclerotic causes of death. To test a hypothesis potentially underlying these unexplained associations, we evaluated whether individuals with hypo- and hypercholesterolemia differ in various enumerative and functional indices of the immune system. Nineteen healthy adult men with a mean age of 46 years and a mean total cholesterol concentration of 151 mg/dl constituted a low cholesterol group and were compared with 39 men of a similar age whose total cholesterol averaged 261 mg/dl. Relative to the high cholesterol group, hypocholesterolemic men had significantly fewer circulating lymphocytes, fewer total T cells, and fewer CD8+ cells (P's < 0.05). Trends toward fewer CD4+ cells and less IL-2 release in response to PHA were also noted in the low, compared to the high, cholesterol group. The low and high cholesterol groups did not differ in number of B lymphocytes, level of PHA-induced proliferation, number of natural killer (NK) cells, or degree of NK cytotoxicity. These data provide preliminary evidence of immune system differences in healthy individuals with hypo- and hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Absence of enhanced sympathoadrenal activity and behaviorally evoked cardiovascular reactivity among offspring of hypertensives.

To determine whether offspring of hypertensives show enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity, we evaluated several indices of sympathoadrenal activation and cardiovascular responsiveness to behavioral stimuli among 90 normotensive, young adult men having either one or two hypertensive parents (PH+(-), PH++) or normotensive parents only (PH--) (n = 30/group). Measurements included heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) reactions to three mental stressors (the Stroop test, mental arithmetic, mirror tracing), a cold pressor test, postural adjustment (60 degrees upright tilt), isometric exercise and bicycle ergometry, as well as the 24-h excretion of catecholamines (epinephrine [E], norepinephrine [NE]) and venous plasma catecholamine concentrations, both at rest (seated and supine) and in response to the Stroop test and upright tilt. The three groups did not differ in age, education, body mass index (BMI), estimated aerobic fitness, resting HR, cardiac preejection period (PEP) and PEP:LVET (left ventricular ejection time) ratio, 24-h Na or K excretion, or fasting lipids, insulin or plasma renin activity. Resting systolic and diastolic BP varied as a function of parental hypertension, and were significantly higher in PH++ than among PH-- subjects (P < .05). No significant group difference was observed on any measure of plasma or urinary catecholamines, nor did offspring of hypertensives (PH++ or PH+-) showed greater HR or BP reactions than PH-- subjects to any of the several laboratory challenges. In sum, we find no evidence of enhanced sympathetic activity or heightened cardiovascular responsiveness among normotensive young adults who are familially predisposed to essential hypertension.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

The accuracy of manual diagnosis for cervical zygapophysial joint pain syndromes.

The ability of a manipulative therapist to diagnose symptomatic cervical zygapophysial joint syndromes accurately was evaluated in a series of 20 patients. In 11 patients the presence, or absence, of a symptomatic joint was established by means of radiologically-controlled diagnostic nerve blocks. These patients were assessed by the manipulative therapist, without knowledge of the medical diagnosis. Another nine patients were first seen by the manipulative therapist whose diagnosis was then evaluated by means of diagnostic blocks. The manipulative therapist identified correctly all 15 patients with proven symptomatic zygapophysial joints, and specified correctly the segmental level of the symptomatic joint. None of the five patients with asymptomatic joints was misdiagnosed as having symptomatic zygapophysial joints. Thus, manual diagnosis by a trained manipulative therapist can be as accurate as can radiologically-controlled diagnostic blocks in the diagnosis of cervical zygapophysial syndromes. However, before generalized claims about the reliability of manual diagnosis can be made, further studies of this nature are required to validate intertherapist reliability and the ability of manual techniques to diagnose other spinal pain syndromes.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

PubMed1988

The cervical zygapophysial joints as a source of neck pain.

Diagnostic cervical medial branch blocks and zygapophysial joint blocks were used to test the hypothesis that the cervical zygapophyseal joints can be the source of pain in patients with idiopathic neck pain. Complete temporary relief of all symptoms was obtained in 17 out of 24 consecutive patients. Two major groups of patients were those with neck pain and headache stemming from the C2-3 joints, and those with neck pain and shoulder pain stemming from the C5-6 joints. Internal-control observations in nine of the 17 patients established the diagnostic validity of the blocks used. The high yield of positive responders in this study probably reflects the propensity of patients with zygapophysial joint syndromes to gravitate to a pain clinic when this condition is not recognised in conventional clinical practice.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Technical limitations to the efficacy of radiofrequency neurotomy for spinal pain.

Prompted by clinical failures of percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy in the treatment of back pain and neck pain, we performed a study to determine the shape and size of lesions made by radiofrequency electrodes. Experimental lesions were made in egg white and fresh meat at temperatures recommended in clinical practice. The cardinal finding was that lesions do not extend distal to the tip of the electrode. They only extend radially around the electrode tip in the shape of an oblate spheroid, with a maximal effective radius of only 2 mm. Consequently, if electrodes are directed perpendicularly onto a nerve, the nerve may not be encompassed by the lesion generated. Some of the clinical failures of percutaneous medial branch neurotomy ("facet rhizotomy") may be due to this phenomenon. We suggest modified techniques for medial branch neurotomy in which the electrodes are introduced parallel to the target nerve whereupon it is more readily encompassed by the radial spread of the lesion.

Back Pain↗

PubMed1986

On the concept of third occipital headache.

One of the putative causes of headache is osteoarthritis of the C2-3 zygapophysial joint. A technique for blocking the third occipital nerve which innervates this joint was devised and used as a screening procedure for headache mediated by this nerve. Seven out of ten consecutive patients presenting with suspected cervical headache were found to suffer pain mediated by the third occipital nerve and stemming from a C2-3 zygapophysial joint. Because third occipital headache may be indistinguishable clinically from tension or other forms of headache, third occipital nerve blocks are advocated as means of establishing this largely unrecognised diagnosis.

Adult↗