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Biomedical subjects

D G Macfarlane

Publications and source records attributed to D G Macfarlane.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Antibodies to intermediate filaments in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: a sequential study.

Serum specimens from 35 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA) were obtained sequentially at variable time intervals up to a year from onset of disease. These were tested for antibodies to intermediate filaments by indirect immunofluorescence using HEp2 cells as substrate. Twenty four of 35 (68%) patients' sera at onset of disease were positive at an anti-intermediate filament antibody (AIFA) titre of greater than 1/40 compared with three outs of 19 (15%) control sera. AIFA were predominantly of IgM class, and there was no significant change in AIFA titres on follow up despite clinical remission of disease.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1986

Pilot study of phenytoin in rheumatoid arthritis.

The anticonvulsant drug phenytoin has several interesting immunological properties which could theoretically be of benefit in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. For this reason a pilot study has been carried out on 11 patients with active classical or definite disease. Seven patients completed a 20 week course of treatment and showed continuous improvement at 12 and 20 weeks and some deterioration eight weeks after the drug was stopped. Laboratory and clinical measurements of disease activity responded favourably during the treatment period, suggesting that phenytoin may have second line activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Diuretic-induced gout in elderly women.

During a 21/2-year period, gout was diagnosed in 51 men and 9 women at the Rheumatology Unit in Bristol. The men had a mean age of 52 years and mean age of onset of gout of 46 years, whereas the women had a mean age of 82 years and a mean age of onset of 77 years. All the women were on long-term diuretic therapy compared to 33% of the men; 77% had mild impairment of renal function and 44% had tophi. The men could recall four times as many attacks of acute gout as the women. Elderly women are particularly prone to diuretic-induced tophaceous gout but less likely to present with acute gout than men.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Demonstration of an abnormality of C apoprotein of very low density lipoprotein in patients with gout.

The very low density (VLDL) apolipoproteins of 12 male patients with gout have been studied by analytical isoelectric focusing. The relative percentage distribution of the C apolipoproteins was calculated and compared with that from 12 normolipidaemic and 12 'lipid-matched' controls. In the gout patients apolipoprotein CII (apo CII) represented 19.6% of the VLDL C proteins and the CII/CIII2 ratio was 0.57. In the normolipidaemic controls apo CII represented 28.8% and in the lipid-matched controls 33.1% of VLDL apo C, and the CII/CIII2 ratio approached one in each control group. These differences were significant. This suggests that a reduction in VLDL apo CII may predispose to the hypertriglyceridaemia that is commonly found in patients with gout.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Apatite associated destructive arthritis.

Twelve patients, 11 women and one man, aged 66-83, with a distinctive type of destructive arthropathy are described. The principal joints affected were the shoulders (ten) and knees (seven). Clinical features included pain on use, large cool effusions, instability and rapid progression. Radiographs showed attrition of bone and cartilage with a paucity of reparative changes. Synovial fluids were viscous, with low cell counts, and stained positively for the presence of apatite-containing particles. Extensive calcific material was seen in the synovium of the four patients biopsied, and on the radiographs in seven. Most patients had some associated or preceding joint disorder. The literature on similar cases is reviewed, and the possible role of crystals and other aetiological factors is discussed. It is suggested that a characteristic form of large-joint atrophy can occur in elderly patients at a number of joint sites and in several different clinical settings.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Acute psoriatric arthropathy precipitated by oxprenolol.

A previously normal 58-year-old woman developed a widespread psoriatic rash and asymmetrical peripheral polyarthritis a week after beginning treatment with oxprenolol for hypertension. Skin and joint disease resolved simultaneously after drug withdrawal and have not recurred.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1983

Indolent Wegener's granulomatosis.

Classical Wegener's granulomatosis is a relentlessly progressive and rapidly fatal disease. A pulmonary 'limited form' is associated with a much better prognosis. We report 3 cases of Wegener's granulomatosis which ran a prolonged indolent course despite major manifestations outside the lower respiratory tract and review the literature on survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

A relation between high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and bile cholesterol saturation.

The association of cholesterol gall stones with coronary artery disease is controversial. To investigate this possible relation at the biochemical level, bile cholesterol saturation and the plasma concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) were measured in 25 healthy, middle-aged women. Bile cholesterol saturation index was negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol. It was positively correlated with plasma triglycerides and with total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. These findings provide a biochemical basis for a positive association in women between cholesterol gall stones and coronary artery disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The relationship between blood glycosylated haemoglobin and home capillary blood glucose levels in diabetics.

Serial capillary blood glucose levels from insulin treated patients were recorded over 24 hour periods at fortnightly intervals for three months. Total glycosylated haemoglobin as % of HbA was measured at the end of this period by the Flückiger method, and % HbA1 by column chromatography. There were highly significant correlations between mean blood glucose levels over the three months and % HbA1 (r = 0.93, 95% confidence limits 0.84-0.98), and with total glycosylated haemoglobin (r = 0.88, 95% confidence limits 0.75-0.94). There was also a good correlation between results obtained by the two methods (r = 0.81, p less than 0.0001). There were less strong correlations between % HbA1 and blood glucose levels during each of the three months before the estimation, with percentage of glucose levels greater than 10 mmol/l and with mean fasting blood glucose. These data support the hypothesis that % HbA1 and total glycosylated haemoglobin are satisfactory measurements of short term diabetic control.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A study of platelet aggregation and adhesion in gout.

Platelet aggregation and adhesion were measured in twelve male patients with gout. Tests were performed with the patients off all treatment for six weeks and after the serum uric had been lowered with allopurinol. Results of aggregation and adhesion tests were normal and not influenced by the uric acid level. The increased cardiovascular disease risk in gout is unlikely to be due to an increased thrombotic tendency.

Adult↗