Biomedical subjects

M S Rendell

Publications and source records attributed to M S Rendell.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Current perception thresholds in ageing.

We studied 40 healthy elderly and 31 healthy young volunteers and 25 elderly diabetic and 37 young diabetic patients. All subjects received detailed neurological examinations focusing particularly on sensory symptom and physical evaluations. Standardized assessment of symptoms and physical testing of light touch, pain, vibratory and thermal sensation were performed at the hand, wrist, elbow, foot, ankle and knee. The total symptom score (SS) and the total physical score (PS) were defined by summing test scores at each site. Current perception threshold (CPT) testing using constant current sine wave alternating current was completed at the same anatomical sites. CPT findings did not differ significantly between young and old healthy subjects. Older diabetic patients had higher CPTs than younger diabetic patients, but the severity of clinical diabetic neuropathy was greater in the older group. CPTs correlated with the degree of clinical diabetic neuropathy (r = 0.47 with SS and r = 0.60 with PS) rather than with age (r = 0.12). We conclude that current perception does not decline with age. Nor does ageing by itself worsen CPT values in patients with neuropathy. CPT testing is easily performed, clinically applicable and the first objective sensory measure not affected by the process of ageing.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The laser Doppler analysis of posturally induced changes in skin blood flow at elevated temperatures.

Recently, it has become possible to use laser Doppler techniques to separately quantitate the two components of blood flow, microvascular volume and red blood cell velocity. We used these techniques in 21 normal volunteers to quantitate the effect of postural changes in skin blood flow and its components at 35 degrees C and at 44 degrees C. Postural skin blood flow changes have ben studied extensively at basal skin temperature, but not at elevated temperatures. We contrasted changes at sites with arteriovenous anastomotic (AVA) blood flow (toe and finger pulps) with changes at sites with primarily nutritive flow (elbow and knee). Skin blood flow increased markedly with increasing temperature. The increases at the elbow and knee were the products of equivalent increases in both microvascular volume and velocity. In contrast, the increases on the finger and toe pulps were mainly due to increases in velocity. Elevation of both upper and lower extremities brought about a decrease in skin blood flow. Dependency increased blood flow. The magnitudes of observed changes were greater on the lower extremity than on the upper extremity and greater at 44 degrees C than at 35 degrees C. Once again, with postural change, the nutritive areas exhibited similar changes in volume and velocity while the AVA areas primarily showed velocity alterations. The correlation of systolic pulse pressures with blood flow was greater at the AVA areas than at nutritive areas and greater at 44 degrees C than at 35 degrees C. This correlation was with the velocity rather than with the volume component.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Aldose reductase inhibitors.

The present management of diabetes consists of attempting to control blood sugar tightly in the normal range and to treat individual complications such as neuropathy and retinopathy as they appear. Whereas these measures are perhaps effective in slowing the progress of diabetic complications, they do not cure the underlying process. The aldose reductase inhibitors have been investigated as possible remedies for various diabetic complications. Aldose reductase is an enzyme present in several human tissues that reduces glucose to sorbitol. In animal models there is evidence that the production of sorbitol is associated with the development of diabetic complications. Animal and human studies have tested the ability of aldose reductase inhibitors to halt or reverse diabetic complications. The weight of evidence leads to two conclusions: first, that aldose reductase inhibitors may bring significant relief to patients with certain diabetic complications; and second, that the current approach to proving clinical efficacy may not be adequate for these drugs.

Aldehyde Reductase↗

PubMed1989

A comparison of nerve conduction velocities and current perception thresholds as correlates of clinical severity of diabetic sensory neuropathy.

Nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) are the standard measurements used to confirm the presence or absence of diabetic neuropathy. NCVs were contrasted with the newer technique of measurement of alternating current perception thresholds (CPTs) in assessing the quantitative level of correlation with severity of diabetic sensory neuropathy. A very detailed, scored neurological history (symptoms) and physical examination, emphasising sensory assessment, was conducted on 71 individuals with diabetic neuropathy of varying degrees of severity. Sensory and motor NCVs and CPTs at 5, 250, and 2000 Hz of the upper and lower extremities were determined for these individuals. In addition, vibration thresholds (VTs) were measured as a third modality. Twenty eight individuals underwent repeated evaluations at 2, 6, 10 and 12 months after the initial procedures. Using the results of 169 complete evaluations, correlations were determined between physical scores (PS) and symptoms scores (SS) and NCVs. NCV correlations with the SS were weaker than with the PS. The strongest of the correlations were found between the PS and motor NCVs of the median nerve (rho = 0.29) and the tibial nerve (rho = 0.38). Normal NCVs were present in the face of very significant historical and physical abnormality. Correlations of the SS and PS with both VTs and CPTs were higher than with the NCVs. CPTs proved the more effective as predictors of both symptomatic and physical impairment. NCVs appear to lack the resolving power necessary to evaluate subtle differences in clinical state of diabetic sensory neuropathy. The supplementary use of current perception testing may improve the quantitative assessment of this condition.

Arm↗

PubMed1989

Mapping diabetic sensory neuropathy by current perception threshold testing.

Detailed clinical neurological examinations were conducted on 44 nondiabetic volunteers and 59 diabetic subjects. The examinations focused particularly on sensory symptomatic and physical evaluation. Standardized assessment of symptoms and physical testing of light touch, pain, vibratory, and thermal sensation was performed at the hand, wrist, elbow, foot, ankle, and knee. A total symptom score and physical score were defined by summing test scores at each site. Current perception threshold (CPT) testing that used constant sine-wave-alternating current was conducted at the same anatomic sites. CPT correlations with the physical score gave r values of .55 for 5 Hz, .60 for 250 Hz, and .62 for 2000 Hz (n = 618). Correlations with the symptom score were not as strong: r = .45 for 5 Hz, .46 for 250 Hz, and .51 for 2000 Hz. The correlation with symptom score was due primarily to a strong relationship for the symptom of numbness (r = .53 for all 3 frequencies). Correlations with pain and paresthesia were much lower. CPTs for diabetic subjects at the three frequencies were higher at most locations than for the nondiabetic volunteers. However, CPTs were no different from normal values in diabetic subjects without evidence of neuropathy. CPT testing appears to be a useful technique for assessment of diabetic sensory neuropathy.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Constant current sine wave transcutaneous nerve stimulation for the evaluation of peripheral neuropathy.

We have evaluated various forms of peripheral neuropathy with a new device which emits a constant sinusoid stimulus at varying frequencies to quantitate current perception thresholds (CPTs). In normal individuals, CPT measures increase with increasing stimulation frequency, are highest on the toe and lowest on the face. There is a significant effect of age and sex on threshold perception. In patients with neuropathy, there is a marked increase in thresholds on hands and feet, as well as a lesser but still significant increase of facial CPTs. Thresholds furthermore correlated with clinical severity in a group of patients with diabetic neuropathy. Facial thresholds were markedly elevated in the patients with moderate to severe neuropathy, suggesting that the device is sensitive to the systemic nature of peripheral neuropathy. The authors believe the device will be a useful tool in screening for sensory neurologic abnormalities.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Gestational diabetes.

The perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with gestational diabetes can be significantly reduced when cases are recognized and closely monitored. There is much controversy about the diagnosis of gestational diabetes and the practicality of universal screening.

Blood Glucose↗

PubMed1977

Activation of hepatic adenylate cyclase by guanyl nucleotides. Modeling of the transient kinetics suggests an "excited" state of GTPase is a control component of the system.

A three-state model developed originally from analysis of the steady state kinetics of hepatic adenylate cyclase has been extended to account for the transient kinetics of activation by guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p). In contrast to activation by Gpp(NH)p, activation of the enzyme by GTP proceeds not only without a lag phase but is of considerably lower magnitude. These differences between Gpp(NH)p and GTP can be explained by the hypothesis that GTP is hydrolyzed at the nucleotide regulatory site(s) associated with adenylate cyclase and that GTPase activity is revealed uniquely when the enzyme system is in its state of highest adenylate cyclase activity. With this hypothesis, the characteristics of activation by GTP could be simulated. The implications of this model are discussed with respect to the actions of hormones and cholera toxin on adenylate cyclase activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗