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Biomedical subjects

D Grainger

Publications and source records attributed to D Grainger.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Influence of basal androgen levels in euandrogenic women on glucose homeostasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate possible relationships between insulin action and the normal variations of serum androgens in euandrogenic women. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of insulin action in normal nonobese women using hyperglycemic and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp techniques, correlating insulin action to serum testosterone (T), free T, androstenedione (A), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Statistical analysis used Spearman's rank correlation. SETTING: Yale University Clinical Research Center. PARTICIPANTS: Nonobese females with normal oral glucose tolerance tests, on no medications known to affect glucose metabolism, having the following range of serum androgen levels: T, 0.69 to 3.12 nmol/L; free T, 0.17 to 1.25 nmol/L; A, 2.48 to 11.31 nmol/L; DHEAS, 0.68 to 10.61 mumol/L. Total number of patients studied: hyperglycemic clamps, n = 58; euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps, n = 43. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pancreatic insulin secretion in response to hyperglycemia and insulin action as assessed by insulin-mediated glucose utilization using the euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. RESULTS: We identified no significant correlation between serum androgens and either glucose uptake or insulin-mediated glucose utilization. Glucose-stimulated insulin release was negatively correlated with serum T and free T throughout the normal range of these hormones. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, within the normal range, variations of serum androgens are not correlated with changes in the response to insulin. It seems unlikely, therefore, that modest increases of serum androgens within the normal range are responsible for inducing insulin resistance.

Androgens

Prediction of hip fracture in elderly women: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative importance of osteoporosis of the os calcis, cognisance, and mobility in the risk of subsequent fracture of the hip in elderly women. DESIGN: Prospective study of elderly women in residential care over two years. SETTING: 21 Private or 38 local authority residential homes for the elderly and 4 geriatric hospitals in Doncaster and Hull. SUBJECTS: 1414 Ambulant women aged over 69, in private or local authority residential care or geriatric care. Those who had had bilateral hip surgery were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Broad band ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) index, Clifton assessment procedures for the elderly test (for cognisance), and mobility on a six point scale, and fracture of the hip in the subsequent two year period. RESULTS: 73 Women fractured their hip during the two years. Their mean age was not significantly different from that of the women who did not have a fracture (85.3 (SD 5.6) v 83.9 (6.3); p = 0.07), but their mean BUA index (40.3 (19.3) v 50.9 (22.2) db/MH2), and score for cognisance (median 19 (interquartile range 10.5-27.0) v 24 (17-30)) were significantly lower (both p less than 0.001). These variables had independent associations with fracture of the hip. Women with fractures had a significantly lower score for the psychomotor component of the cognisance test (4.5 (1-8) v 7 (2-10); p less than 0.0025 and were significantly more mobile (1(1-3) v 3 (1-6); p less than 0.02). Subdividing women according to high, medium, and low scores for BUA index and cognisance testing disclosed a high risk group (118 women) with low BUA index and cognisance score, whose incidence of fracture was 12.8%; in the group at lowest risk (136 women) with high BUA index and cognisance score, the incidence of fracture was only 1.5% (relative risk 8.4 (95% confidence interval -2.0 to 35.5]. Further analysis showed that those most at risk were, additionally, most mobile but that less mobile women with good cognisance had a low incidence of fractures, regardless of the BUA index, (1.2%, high index, v 0.9%, low index). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women most at risk of sustaining hip fractures were those with low BUA index, low cognisance test score, and high mobility. Improving bone strength and cognisance in elderly women may reduce their incidence of hip fracture.

Aged

Surface modification for improved blood compatibility.

Several surface modification techniques are currently being used to improve the biocompatibility of blood-contacting devices. These include the immobilization of bioactive materials to prevent thrombus generation and platelet activation, the incorporation of hydrophilic grafts onto practical hydrophobic surfaces (polyurethanes) to reduce protein adsorption, and the concept of microdomain-phase separated surfaces to regulate cellular and protein adhesion.

Animals

Sensitivity to intravenous anaesthetics: a report of three cases.

Three patients with sensitivity to an intravenous anaesthetic-thiopentone, propanidid, and Althesin (alphadolone and alphaxalone)-are described. In the cases of thiopentone and Althesin the reaction was characterized by cardiovascular collapse, while bronchospasm also occurred with thiopentone. The reaction to propanidid was a direct skin sensitivity. All patients had a personal or family history of asthma and all had been previously exposed to the offending drug. A leucocyte challenge test showed an allergic response to thiopentone and Althesin in two patients but gave a negative result in the patient with the skin reaction. Allergic reactions can occur to all types of intravenous anaesthetics in a few patients.

Adult