PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Gillespie

Publications and source records attributed to C Gillespie.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Comparative endocrinology of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein.

Emerging early in chordate evolution, the IGF-regulatory axis diverged from an insulin-like predecessor into a vertebrate regulatory system specializing in cell growth activation and allied anabolic functions. Essential to the divergence of the IGF and insulin systems was an early presence of soluble IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which bind IGF peptides at much higher affinity than that of the insulin receptor but at comparable affinities to that of the IGF receptor. IGFBPs have no homology with IGF receptors. Instead, IGFBPs are a derived group of proteins within a superfamily of cysteine-rich growth factors, whose members are found throughout the animal taxa. While blocking IGF actions through the insulin receptor is a fundamental role, IGFBPs evolved within the vertebrate line into centralized, 'integrators' of the endocrine growth-regulatory apparatus. IGFBPs have substantial influences on the distribution and bioavailability of IGF peptides in the cellular and physiological environments, but they have a variety of other properties. The six principal mammalian IGFBPs exhibit an array of specialized properties that appear to be derived from a complex evolutionary history (including cell membrane association, interaction with proteins that post-translationally modify them, direct IGF-independent effects on cells, and others) and they are regulated by a diversity of 'outside' factors (e.g. other hormones, metabolic status, stress). Thus, IGFBPs are multifunctional integrators having diverse physiological 'agendas'. Much less is known about IGFBPs and their properties in the other vertebrate taxa. Increasingly, however, it is being recognized that they play equally important endocrine roles, in both conserved and non-conserved ways, when compared with those currently defined in mammals. This review highlights selected 'comparative aspects' in current IGFBP research, in an attempt to view this essential group of endocrine regulators from a wider, biological perspective.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

C-reactive protein and body mass index in children: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and body mass index (BMI) in children. STUDY DESIGN: With the use of data from 5305 children aged 6 to 18 years in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988 to 1994), a cross-sectional health survey, we examined whether CRP concentrations were elevated among overweight children. RESULTS: Among children whose BMI was below the age- and sex-specific 15th percentile, 6.6% of boys and 10.7% of girls had an elevated CRP concentration (>2.1 mg/L) compared with 24.2% of boys and 31.9% of girls whose BMI was > or =95th percentile. After adjustment was done for age, sex, race or ethnicity, poverty income ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, white blood cell count, and history of chronic bronchitis, the adjusted odds of having an elevated CRP concentration were 2.20 (95% CI 1.30, 3.75) for children with a BMI of 85th to <95th percentile and 4.92 (95% CI 3.39, 7.15) for children with a BMI of > or =95th percentile compared with children who had a BMI of 15th to <85th percentile. The associations did not differ significantly by age, sex, or race or ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: In a large representative sample of US children, CRP concentration was significantly elevated among children with a BMI > or=85th percentile, thus confirming previous findings of this association in children and extending previous research in adults to children. Excess body weight may be associated with a state of chronic low-grade inflammation in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Serum retinol distributions in residents of the United States: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate vitamin A status has been a potential nutritional problem for some segments of the US population, particularly children and the poor. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated serum retinol concentration by using population-representative data from 16058 participants aged 4 to >/=90 y in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. DESIGN: We used multivariate regression to examine the simultaneous associations of sociodemographic, biologic, and behavioral factors with serum retinol concentration. RESULTS: In children, serum retinol concentrations were greater with greater age, body mass index, serum lipids, and the use of supplements containing vitamin A. In adults, male sex, serum lipids, alcohol consumption, and age were positively associated with serum retinol concentration in most racial/ethnic strata. Household income was not associated with serum retinol concentration in children; associations were inconsistent in adults. The prevalence of serum retinol <0.70 micromol/L was very low in all strata; the prevalence of serum retinol <1.05 micromol/L was 16.7-33.9% in children aged 4-8 y and 3.6-14.2% in children aged 9-13 y, depending on sex and racial/ethnic group. The prevalence of serum retinol<1.05 micromol/L was higher in non-Hispanic black and Mexican American children than in non-Hispanic white children; these differences remained significant (P < 0.0001) after covariates were controlled for. Among adults, nonwhite women were significantly (P < 0.0001) more likely than white women to have serum retinol <1.05 micromol/L after covariates were controlled for. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically low serum retinol concentration is uncommon in US residents aged > or = 4 y, although racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in serum retinol concentration still exist.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Serum retinyl esters are not associated with biochemical markers of liver dysfunction in adult participants in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988--1994.

BACKGROUND: Serum retinyl ester concentrations are elevated in hypervitaminosis A. It was suggested that retinyl esters >10% of total serum vitamin A indicate potential hypervitaminosis, but this cutoff was derived from small clinical samples that may not be representative of the general population. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the distribution of serum retinyl ester concentrations and associations between retinyl ester concentrations and biochemical markers of liver dysfunction in a nationally representative sample. DESIGN: We assessed the associations between serum retinyl ester concentrations and 5 biochemical indexes of liver dysfunction by using multivariate linear and multiple logistic regression techniques and controlling for age, sex, use of supplements containing vitamin A, alcohol consumption, smoking status, and use of exogenous estrogens in 6547 adults aged > or =18 y in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988--1994. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of the sample had serum retinyl ester concentrations >10% of total serum vitamin A and 10% of the sample had serum retinyl esters >15% of total vitamin A. We found no associations between serum retinyl ester concentrations and 1) concentrations of any biochemical variable (multiple linear regression) or 2) risk of having biochemical variables above the reference range (multiple logistic regression). We did not find a serum retinyl ester value with statistically significant sensitivity and specificity for predicting increases in biochemical indexes of liver dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of serum retinyl ester concentrations >10% of the total vitamin A concentration in the NHANES III sample was substantially higher than expected but elevated retinyl ester concentrations were not associated with abnormal liver function.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

High serum retinyl esters are not associated with reduced bone mineral density in the Third National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.

Hypervitaminosis A is sometimes associated with abnormalities of calcium metabolism and bone mineral status. A recent study found a negative association between reported dietary vitamin A intake and bone mineral density (BMD). Some segments of the U.S. population have high fasting serum retinyl ester concentrations, a physiological marker that may reflect high and possibly excessive vitamin A intake. We examined the association between fasting serum retinyl esters and BMD in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 (NHANES III), a large, nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. BMD was measured for the femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, and total hip on all nonpregnant participants aged > or = 20 years; 5,790 participants also had complete data on fasting serum retinyl esters and covariates including age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary supplement use, diabetes, physical activity, and, among women, parity, menopausal status, and the use of oral contraceptives or estrogen-replacement therapy. The sample included non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American men and women. We examined the association between fasting serum retinyl esters and BMD at each site, controlling for covariates with multiple linear regression. We examined the association with osteopenia and osteoporosis with multiple logistic regression. Although the prevalences of high fasting serum retinyl esters concentration and low BMD were both substantial in this sample, there were no significant associations between fasting serum retinyl esters and any measure of bone mineral status.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Beverage choices affect adequacy of children's nutrient intakes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between beverage choices and the adequacy of nutrient intakes among children and adolescents. DESIGN: Beverages reported in 24-hour recall records were classified as milk, 100% juice, fruit-flavored drinks, or carbonated sodas. Recommended intakes were based on Recommended Dietary Allowances or Dietary Reference Intakes. PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand seventy children aged 2 to 5, 6 to 11, and 12 to 17 years participating in the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The likelihood of achieving recommended intakes of selected nutrients on the day of recall was assessed with multiple logistic regression including ounces of milk, juice, fruit-flavored drinks, and carbonated sodas in the model while controlling for sex, age in years, race/ethnic group, household income, and total energy intake. RESULTS: Milk consumption was positively (P<.0001) associated with the likelihood of achieving recommended vitamin A, folate, vitamin B(12), calcium, and magnesium intakes in all age strata. Juice consumption was positively (P< or =. 001) associated with achieving recommended vitamin C and folate intakes in all age strata and magnesium intakes among children aged 6 years and older. Carbonated soda consumption was negatively (P< or =. 01) associated with achieving vitamin A intake in all age strata, calcium in children younger than 12 years, and magnesium in children aged 6 years and older. CONCLUSION: Beverage choice can have a significant effect on the nutrient adequacy of the diets of children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A rapid food screener to assess fat and fruit and vegetable intake.

BACKGROUND: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that Americans lower dietary fat and cholesterol intake and increase fiber and fruit/vegetables to reduce prevalence of heart disease, cancer, stroke, hypertension, obesity, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the United States. To provide preventive services to all, a rapid, inexpensive, and valid method of assessing dietary intake is needed. METHODS: We used a one-page food intake screener based on national nutrition data. Respondents can complete and score the screener in a few minutes and can receive immediate, brief feedback. Two hundred adults self-administered the food screener. We compared fat, fiber, and fruit/vegetable intake estimates derived from the screener with estimates from a full-length, 100-item validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The screener was effective in identifying persons with high-fat intake, or low-fruit/vegetable intake. We found correlations of 0.6-0.7 (p<0. 0001) for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and fruit/vegetable intake. The screener could identify persons with high percentages of calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, or cholesterol, and persons with low intakes of vitamin C, fiber, or potassium. CONCLUSIONS: This screener is a useful tool for quickly monitoring patients' diets. The health care provider can use it as a prelude to brief counseling or as the first stage of triage. Persons who score poorly can be referred for more extensive evaluation by low-cost paper-and-pencil methods. Those who still have poor scores at the second stage ultimately can be referred for in-person counseling.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A controlled trial of exercise training in older coronary patients.

BACKGROUND: This study compared the effects of a formal exercise conditioning program of 3 and 12 months duration to spontaneous recovery in a population of older, post-coronary event patients. METHODS: Indices of peak exercise and submaximal exercise performance such as oxygen consumption, treadmill work capacity, minute ventilation, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure were assessed before and after conditioning in 60 post-myocardial infarction and post-coronary bypass surgery patients (mean age 68 +/- 5 years) and compared to measures of fitness in a usual care control group (n = 23, mean age 68 +/- 5 years). RESULTS: Maximal treadmill work capacity increased by 47% in the intervention group at 3 months compared to no improvement in the usual care control group. However, both groups increased peak oxygen consumption similarly at 3 and 12 months, increasing by 16% and 20% in the intervention group at 3 and 12 months and by 7% and 14% in the control group (p = n.s.). Only the exercise training group manifested submaximal indices of conditioning such as a lower heart rate and minute ventilation at a standard workload. CONCLUSION: While spontaneous improvements in peak oxygen consumption are seen in older coronary patients in the months following a coronary event, a formal exercise training program results in significantly greater increases in peak exercise capacity and in peak and submaximal exercise efficiency.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Enhanced potency of truncated insulin-like growth factor-I (des(1-3)IGF-I) relative to IGF-I in lit/lit mice.

The relative potencies of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and the N-terminal truncated derivative, des(1-3)IGF-I, have been compared in lit/lit mice. Injection of 30 micrograms IGF-I, 30 micrograms des(1-3)IGF-I or 3 micrograms des(1-3)IGF-I daily for 3 weeks increased total length and nose-rump length of the animals substantially more than in controls or animals treated with 3 micrograms IGF-I daily. Body weight changes were not statistically significant. The lower dose of des(1-3)IGF-I, but not that of IGF-I, led to increases in kidney and heart weights relative to controls, while the higher dose of either IGF-I or des(1-3)IGF-I also increased the weights of liver, lungs and stomach. These results indicate that the higher potency of des(1-3)IGF-I demonstrated in cultured cells also applies in vivo to at least one strain of GH-deficient animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The EMT Oath.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Emergency Medical Technicians↗
PubMed1989

A request for antenatal advice.

An informed older woman in her first pregnancy often has greater than usual anxieties about the well-being of her baby. She is likely to seek advice about how to have a healthy pregnancy and which antenatal tests to have. Giving the correct guidance, however, is not so straightforward.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1989

Increase in proteinuria and reduction in number of anionic sites on the glomerular basement membrane in rabbits by infusion of human nephrotic plasma in vivo.

1. Intraortic suprarenal infusion in vivo of New Zealand White rabbits with plasma from patients with the nephrotic syndrome reduced the number of anionic sites labelled by the cationic polymer polyethyleneimine in the lamina rara iterna to 14.0 +/- 2.7 per 1000 nm of lamina rara interna (mean +/- SD) compared with 18.7 +/- 2.1 (P less than 0.005) after infusion of plasma from normal subjects. 2. Proteinuria increased in all nine animals infused with nephrotic plasma and in two of seven infused with control plasma (P less than 0.01). The mean increase in proteinuria in the animals infused with nephrotic plasma was 246 mg/l (P less than 0.05), whereas in those infused with control plasma there was no increase. 3. We conclude that nephrotic plasma contains a factor(s) capable of neutralizing the charge of these anionic sites and concomitantly increasing proteinuria.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Development, validation and application of computer-linked knowledge questionnaires in diabetes education.

Multiple choice questionnaires (MCQs) capable of being marked manually or by a newly developed optical mark reader, or by use of an inexpensive inter-active microcomputer system have been developed for the separate assessment of insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent patient knowledge. Forty-six insulin-related and non-insulin-related multiple choice questions covering six main areas of knowledge were constructed for inclusion into draft questionnaires. From the responses of a total of 180 completed questionnaires, piloted in 18 randomly selected clinics in 14 Regional Health Authorities in England, psychometric analysis was performed to determine reliability, discrimination coefficients, and facility indices. Seventy-three per cent of insulin-dependent diabetic patients (IDDM) and 92% of non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients (NIDDM) MCQ correct options had facility indices within the acceptable range of 30 to 90%. 82% IDDM and 93% NIDDM correct options had discrimination coefficients exceeding 0.2. Questionnaire reliability (internal consistency) using the Kudor-Richardson (KR20) formula was IDDM 0.87 and NIDDM 0.82. Evidence in support of the IDDM questionnaire's criterion validity was based on significant differences (p less than 0.05) identified between a number of knowledge area scores stratified according to HbA1 levels. Prescriptive correction for screen display and automatic hard copy feedback was designed for both incorrect and omitted question options, providing both educational (patient) and analytical (clinic) documentation. Both technical and psychometric properties of these knowledge assessment instruments should be acceptable for diabetic knowledge evaluation and instruction.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1987

A study of genetic linkage in schizophrenia.

Families with more than one member affected by schizophrenia were identified and their members were interviewed. Four standardized diagnostic definitions (PSE, DSM-III, ICD-9, Feighner) were applied to all subjects who were classified as schizophrenic or not schizophrenic according to each definition. Non-schizophrenic psychiatric disorders which have been shown to be familially associated with schizophrenia were also identified. Twenty blood markers were ascertained for all subjects and evidence of co-segregation with schizophrenia was sought. No selective segregation was found and therefore there was no evidence suggesting linkage or supporting a monogenic theory of transmission of susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Genetic Linkage↗
PubMed1985

Platelet monoamine oxidase: specific activity and turnover number in schizophrenics and their families.

Monoamine oxidase specific activities and molecular turnover numbers have been measured in families with at least two schizophrenic members. Neither measure of monoamine oxidase was different in schizophrenics compared with their first degree relatives. Molecular turnover number was remarkably similar in males and females and when the group was considered by age, diagnosis, drug status and family membership. Neither specific activity nor turnover number could be used in risk estimation for the development of schizophrenia in members of these families.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with multiple myeloma.

IgA lambda multiple myeloma was diagnosed in a 58-year-old white woman after the onset of nephrotic syndrome. Serial renal histology demonstrated progressive mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Electron microscopy revealed subepithelial electron dense deposits. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated granular staining of peripheral capillary loops with IgG and C3. No IgA was present. No evidence of deposition of the myeloma protein in the glomeruli was found. The temporal relationship of occurrence of the two diseases and the progression of glomerular disease suggest that multiple myeloma be added to the list of malignancies causing immune complex glomerulonephritis.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1985

NH4Cl inhibition of transport in the rabbit cortical collecting tubule.

Ammonium has previously been found to inhibit transport in a number of tissues. The present experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of ammonium chloride on transepithelial voltage (VTE) and cation transport in the isolated rabbit cortical collecting tubule perfused in vitro. Peritubular NH4Cl (2-10 mM) inhibited VTE in these tubules independent of bath or lumen pH. Luminal NH4Cl had a similar effect. However, VTE did not change with bath NH4Cl in tubules treated with amiloride or ouabain. Furthermore, when bath PCO2 was lowered simultaneously with the addition of NH4Cl to the bath, little change in VTE occurred, raising the possibility that intracellular pH falls after addition of NH4Cl to the bath. Consistent with the voltage effects, 5 mM NH4Cl in the bathing solution inhibited net sodium reabsorption by 36% and potassium secretion by 44%. Unidirectional lumen-to-bath tracer fluxes were consistent with predominant inhibition of the sodium reabsorptive flux and the potassium secretory flux. These findings may have relevance to metabolic acidosis in vivo because ionic ammonium concentrations attain the levels used in this study.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗