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Biomedical subjects

B Blair

Publications and source records attributed to B Blair.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

A molecular genetic approach for forensic animal species identification.

This study investigated potential markers within chromosomal, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) with the aim of developing a DNA based method to allow differentiation between animal species. Such discrimination tests may have important applications in the forensic science, agriculture, quarantine and customs fields. DNA samples from five different animal individuals within the same species for 10 species of animal (including human) were analysed. DNA extraction and quantitation followed by PCR amplification and GeneScan visualisation formed the basis of the experimental analysis. Five gene markers from three different types of genes were investigated. These included genomic markers for the beta-actin and TP53 tumor suppressor gene. Mitochondrial DNA markers, designed by Bataille et al. [Forensic Sci. Int. 99 (1999) 165], examined the Cytochrome b gene and Hypervariable Displacement Loop (D-Loop) region. Finally, a ribosomal RNA marker for the 28S rRNA gene optimised by Naito et al. [J. Forensic Sci. 37 (1992) 396] was used as a possible marker for speciation. Results showed a difference of only several base pairs between all species for the beta-actin and 28S markers, with the exception of Sus scrofa (pig) beta-actin fragment length, which produced a significantly smaller fragment. Multiplexing of Cytochrome b and D-Loop markers gave limited species information, although positive discrimination of human DNA was evident. The most specific and discriminatory results were shown using the TP53 gene since this marker produced greatest fragment size differences between animal species studied. Sample differentiation for all species was possible following TP53 amplification, suggesting that this gene could be used as a potential animal species identifier.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

Pharmacology for renal calculi.

Stone disease is as old as recorded history but despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, it continues to cause significant morbidity. This review summarises the current pharmacologic management of urinary calculi based upon the stone type. All patients with stone disease are advised to increase fluid intake, limit dietary protein and limit sodium. Calcium oxalate stones can be managed on a selective or non-selective basis depending on the cause of the hypercalciuria or hyperoxaluria. Agents currently in use include sodium cellulose phosphate, thiazides, orthophosphates, oral calcium supplements, pyridoxine, cholestyramine, citrate, magnesium and allopurinol. Classically, struvite stones occur in the presence of urea splitting organisms and are composed of magnesium, ammonium phosphate and carbonate apatite. The goal of treatment is to make patients stone free as bacteria retained in stone fragments lead to stone growth. Urease inhibitors, aluminium hydroxide gel, hemiacidrin, and Suby G and M solutions are infrequently used in treatment. Cystine stones are the result of an autosomal recessive disorder. D-Penicillamine, captopril and alpha-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG) are all oral agents that have proven to be efficacious. As more randomised trials are conducted and the understanding of endogenous stone inhibitors progresses, the medical management of stone disease will continue to improve.

Calcium Oxalate↗
PubMed1996

A comparison of abrasion burr arthroplasty and subchondral drilling in the treatment of full-thickness cartilage lesions in the rabbit.

The purpose of this study was to observe the difference in healing of full-thickness articular cartilage defects treated with burr arthroplasty versus subchondral drilling. Cartilage was shaved off the medial femoral condyles of 39 rabbits without penetrating the subchondral plate. In left knees, two 2.0-mm holes were drilled into the condyle until bleeding was obtained. Right knees underwent a burr arthroplasty until punctate bleeding was observed. Animals were sacrificed at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Joint resurfacing and degenerative changes were evaluated grossly and histologically. Degenerative changes in the cartilage surface were observed with both treatments. Rabbits undergoing subchondral drilling had increased fibrocartilaginous healing with time, with a slight increase in degenerative changes. With burr arthroplasty, there was significant decrease in cartilaginous coverage of the exposed surface as well as progressive increase in degenerative changes. Although both techniques were suboptimal, histological evidence at 6 months suggests that subchondral drilling may result in a longer-lived repair than abrasion arthroplasty in the treatment of full-thickness lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus: a laboratory evaluation of ten fixation techniques.

OBJECTIVE: A biomechanical cadaver study was performed to compare the stability and ultimate strength of ten standard fixation techniques used for the treatment of surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus. DESIGN: One hundred twenty (60 fresh frozen, 60 embalmed) proximal humerus specimens were selected and divided into two groups: fresh frozen specimens represented a nonosteopenic group and embalmed specimens an osteopenic group. Simulated fractures were created at the level of the surgical neck, reduced, and randomly assigned to one of ten methods of fixation (six fresh frozen and six embalmed specimens per fixation group). These constructs were then mechanically tested with the humeri oriented to create primarily shear loading of the fixation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The T-plate and screws provided significantly stronger fixation (p < 0.005) in the fresh frozen specimens than all other methods. The Ender nails/tension band construct was the second strongest fixation technique, providing significantly stronger fixation (p < 0.01) than all the remaining techniques. Four Schanz pins with one pin placed through the greater tuberosity followed by the T-plate and screws provided the strongest fixation in embalmed specimens. Tension band fixation in both humeral groups was shown to provide the least effective fixation.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1996

Efficacy of injections of corticosteroids for subacromial impingement syndrome.

A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study was performed to determine the short-term efficacy of subacromial injection of corticosteroids for the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome. Forty patients were randomized to receive either six milliliters of 1 per cent lidocaine without epinephrine (the control group) or two milliliters containing forty milligrams of triamcinolone acetonide per milliliter with four milliliters of 1 per cent lidocaine without epinephrine (the corticosteroid group). The patients were re-examined serially until completion of the study. Nineteen patients, whose mean age was fifty-six years (range, thirty-two to eighty years), were randomized to the corticosteroid group, and twenty-one patients, whose mean age was fifty-seven years (range, thirty-two to eighty-one years), were randomized to the control group. The mean duration of symptoms before the injection was eight months for both groups. Eighteen patients in the corticosteroid group and nineteen patients in the control group had moderate or severe pain before the injection. At the most recent follow-up evaluation, at a mean of thirty-three weeks for the corticosteroid group and twenty-eight weeks for the control group, three patients in the corticosteroid group had moderate or severe pain, compared with fifteen patients in the control group. The mean active range of forward elevation and external rotation improved by 24 and 11 degrees, respectively, for the corticosteroid group and by 10 and 5 degrees, respectively, for the control group. We concluded that subacromial injection of corticosteroids is an effective short-term therapy for the treatment of symptomatic subacromial impingement syndrome. The use of such injections can substantially decrease pain and increase the range of motion of the shoulder.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Basicervical fractures of the proximal femur. A biomechanical study of 3 internal fixation techniques.

A biomechanical cadaver study was performed to compare the stability and ultimate strength of 3 standard fixation techniques used for treatment of basicervical hip fractures. Twenty one pairs of mildly osteoporotic femurs were selected, based on a computed tomography bone density reading of 40-50 Hounsfeld units and a Singh index of III. After initial mechanical characterization of intact femurs, basicervical femoral neck fractures were created, reduced, and then instrumented with random assignment to 1 of 3 methods of fixation: (1) 3 parallel 6.5-mm cannulated cancellous screws; (2) a 135 degrees sliding hip screw with a 4 hole side plate; and (3) a 135 degrees sliding hip screw with a 4 hole side plate and a 6.5-mm cannulated cancellous screw placed proximal and parallel to the sliding screw. Nine pairs were tested to failure in axial loading, 6 pairs in lateral bending, and 6 pairs in torsion. The group instrumented with the multiple cancellous screws had a significantly (p < 0.01) lower ultimate axial load to failure than either sliding hip screw group. However, the multiple screws demonstrated significantly (p < 0.01) less fracture displacement. There were no statistically significant differences in lateral bending or torsional testing behavior between the 3 fixation methods. Use of the sliding hip screw is recommended rather than use of multiple cancellous screws for treatment of basicervical femoral neck fractures. Although a superiorly located cancellous screw may provide rotational control during sliding hip screw insertion, it provides no incremental fixation after the sliding hip screw is placed.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1991

Appropriate reductions in compliance among well-controlled hypertensive patients.

Physicians have traditionally viewed partial compliance with medications as a concern only in hypertensive patients whose blood pressure (BP) is poorly controlled. However, partial compliance also occurs in patients whose BP has become normal on medications; in them, reduced compliance may indicate that they have been prescribed more medication than they need. During enrollment for a study of medication reduction in hypertensive patients, we identified 118 male veterans who were eligible for the study because their diastolic BP had been less than 95 mmHg for more than 6 months. Fifty-nine of these patients (50.0%) agreed to participate in the study, of whom 71% successfully reduced or stopped ("stepped down") one or more of their antihypertensive drugs over a 1-year period. The 59 patients who did not enroll continued to receive routine care for hypertension in the clinic without intensive efforts at stepdown. Nevertheless, 24% of these patients reduced or stopped at least one medication over the same time period. In the year prior to the study, 29 of the 118 eligible patients (24.6%) had obtained less than 80% of their medications, measured by pharmacy refill records. Compliance in obtaining antihypertensive medications prior to the study was lower among eligible patients who stepped down medications during the study year (90.4% +/- 18.7%) than in those who did not (102.1% +/- 26.1%, p = 0.006). After adjustment for other predictors of stepdown (number of medications, duration of clinic enrollment, and pre-reduction systolic BP), each 10% increase in compliance among all eligible patients was associated with a reduction in the odds ratio for successful stepdown of 0.8 (95% CI 0.5-1.0, p = 0.01). We conclude that many well-controlled hypertensives appropriately obtain less medications than they are prescribed. Such patients should be considered for reduction of antihypertensive drugs.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

EMG activity of orbicularis oris superior, orbicularis oris inferior, and masseter muscles of mild and moderate articulatory disordered children.

The peak amplitude of EMG activity was measured from the orbicularis oris superior, orbicularis oris inferior, and masseter muscles for 3 mild and 3 moderately articulatory disordered and 3 normal children. The three groups showed similar levels of average peak EMG activity and variance across the three muscles, suggesting that the disordered children were free to vary their patterns of activity for these muscles when repeating a series of syllable tokens.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed1987

EMG activity with the jaw fixed of orbicularis oris superior, orbicularis oris inferior and masseter muscles of mild and moderate articulatory disordered children.

The peak amplitude of EMG activity was measured from the orbicularis oris superior, orbicularis oris inferior, and masseter muscles of 3 mild and 3 moderately articulatory disordered and 3 normal boys repeating a series of /p ae/ syllable trains with the jaw fixed. Analysis showed similar levels of peak EMG amplitude and variability of performance for all subjects across the three muscles. These data were interpreted to suggest that speech-motor equivalence for simple articulatory acts requiring compensation is functioning within normal limits for the disordered subjects studied here.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed1984

Developmental influences on speech-motor equivalence: some implications for articulatory disordered children.

The peak amplitude of EMG activity was measured from the orbicularis oris superior (OOS), orbicularis oris inferior (OOI) and masseter muscles for 3 normal 4-yr.-old children and compared to past data gathered on a group of articulatory disordered children, normal children, and adults. The 4-yr.-olds evidenced greater average peak EMG activity than the other groups, suggesting that speech-sound production becomes more efficient with maturation. Also, levels of variability obtained for the younger children were considerably smaller than for the normal speakers across the three muscles, showing that motor equivalence changes with age whereby the flexibility in the control of articulators increases. The coefficient of variation for the OOI muscle for the disordered children, however, was similar to that for the 4-yr.-olds, while the corresponding data for the other two muscles paralleled those for normal ones. These findings were interpreted as reflecting a delay in the development of speech-motor equivalence that affects certain muscles while sparing others.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed1977

Ambruticin (W7783), a new antifungal antibiotic.

Ambruticin represents a new class of antibiotics isolated from a strain of Polyangium cellulosum var, fulvum, a bacterium belonging to the class Myxobacteriales. This antibiotic is a cyclopropyl-polyene-pyran acid and is active in vitro against fungi.

Animals↗