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P Butler

Publications and source records attributed to P Butler.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Choice and use of tracers.

The isotope dilution method has been widely employed to measure glucose turnover in man. The validity of this technique depends upon several assumptions. First, it is assumed that the selected model of glucose kinetics is valid. Under nonsteady state conditions this has recently been challenged for the most commonly used single compartment model. Secondly, it is assumed that the isotope is metabolized in the same manner as unlabeled glucose. If the isotope loses its label when subject to a substrate cycle (for example, [2-3H]glucose in glucose to glucose 6-phosphate cycling), an overestimate of glucose disposal will result. In contrast, if isotope that has been cleared (for example [6-3H]glucose in hepatic glucogen) is recycled into the systemic circulation, an underestimation of glucose turnover will result. Thirdly, it is assumed that measurement of specific activity is accurate. It has recently been shown that many commercially available tritiated (but not 14C) isotopes contain radioactive nonglucose contaminants which have a slower clearance rate than glucose under conditions of high glucose turnover. This can result in overestimates of specific activity and underestimates of glucose appearance, leading to calculated negative hepatic glucose release. While this problem may be avoided with purified tritiated glucose tracers, a similar problem with stable isotopes of glucose remains to be determined. In summary, the choice of glucose isotope should reflect the probability of substrate cycling and isotope cycling in the experiment in question. Care should be taken to ensure purified isotopes are selected and that the model of glucose kinetics used is valid during the conditions to be studied.

Animals

Antimitochondrial antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis recognize both specific peptides and shared epitopes of the M2 family of antigens.

Sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis exhibit variable autoantibody reactivity against mitochondria, the commonest antigen (designated M2) including three structures of approximate M.W. 70, 50 and 40 kD. The nature of these antigens has only recently been established; the 70 and 50 kD are the transacetylase E2 and component X, respectively, of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and are distinct polypeptides. We have demonstrated, by immunoblotting, elution and rebinding of antibodies, unequivocal cross-reactivity between the major bands of the M2 antigen. In addition, cross-reactivity has been shown between antibodies binding to each of the three M2 bands of mitochondria and two major antigenic bands of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Conversely, antibodies eluted from these two bands of Escherichia coli were found to bind all three M2 bands of mitochondria. These results suggest that the antibodies of primary biliary cirrhosis contain both peptide-specific and cross-reacting antibodies, the latter recognizing a common "M2 epitope" that might include nonprotein components of the peptides. However, direct and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays failed to implicate the coenzyme of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, lipoic acid or its amide, as the common antigenic moiety.

Autoantibodies

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Work load and financial implications for a neuroradiology department.

A four year study has been undertaken into the effects on the workload and cost implications of the introduction of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in a large United Kingdom teaching hospital. The increase in workload has been entirely due to the ability to perform intravenous angiography. DSA is cheaper than conventional angiography if more than 210 cases are undertaken each year. This difference is accounted for by the reduced use of X-ray film. However, intravenous angiography is more expensive because of the use of large volumes of nonionic medium.

Angiography

Digital subtraction angiography of the left ventricle.

Twenty-eight patients have been studied by left ventricular angiography and digital subtraction angiography, using either a peripheral venous injection (16) or a central venous injection (12) of contrast medium. Digital subtraction angiography compared favourably to angiography in the qualitative assessment of left ventricular size and function. Measurement of ejection fraction demonstrated a good correlation (r = 0.83) between digital subtraction angiography and left ventricular angiography. In the assessment of left ventricular segmental wall motion the use of a central venous injection, particularly in those patients with severely impaired ventricular function, proved superior to the use of a peripheral injection.

Coronary Disease

Scoliosis examinations: organ dose and image quality with rare-earth screen-film systems.

We determined the dose to the breast and evaluated the image quality when various high-speed, rare-earth screen-film systems were used in conjunction with breast dose reduction methods in children undergoing scoliosis examinations. In addition, normalized organ dose to the breast, active bone marrow, thyroid, eyes, ovaries, and testes were measured in a pediatric anthropomorphic phantom comparing the anteroposterior and posteroanterior projections. The average measured dose to the breast was 6.9 and 4.0 mrad (10(-5) Gy), respectively, for nominal 400- and 600-speed, rare-earth screen-film systems used in combination with breast dose reduction methods. The image quality of these systems as evaluated by three radiologists was rated as adequate. The dosimetry results with an anthropomorphic phantom showed that the posteroanterior projection provides approximately a threefold reduction in breast dose as compared with the anteroposterior view. However, the dose to the bone marrow is doubled. Rare-earth screen-film systems used in combination with simple dose-reduction methods can provide adequate image quality for scoliosis examination while significantly reducing the radiation dose to the breast.

Adolescent

Arterial PaO2 and PaCO2 influence seizure duration in dogs receiving electroconvulsive therapy.

The influence of arterial O2 and CO2 tensions on electroconvulsive seizure duration was investigated in five mongrel dogs under consistent anaesthetic conditions. Seizure durations were measured in a randomized protocol of nine possible combinations of arterial gas tension spanning increased, normal or decreased levels of PaO2 and PaCO2. Seizure duration was directly related to PaO2 (p less than 0.00001) and inversely related to PaCO2 (p less than 0.0001). A significant synergism was evident at the extremes of PaO2 and PaCO2, with seizure duration being greater than predicted for hyperoxia-hypocapnia and hypoxia-hypercapnia and shorter than predicted for hypoxia-hypocapnia and hyperoxia-hypercapnia. We conclude that arterial gas tensions strongly influence ECT-induced seizure duration and through this may influence the therapeutic efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy.

Animals

The incidence of craniocervical bony anomalies in the adult Chiari malformation.

Detailed linear, angular and surface area measurements were undertaken on the lateral skull radiographs of 32 patients with proven idiopathic adult Chiari type 1 malformation. Basal angles were larger, the clivus was shorter and Klaus' index was reduced in patients compared to normal controls. The size of the posterior fossa was smaller in patients than in controls. By discriminant analysis of the skull X-ray data it was possible to identify correctly two thirds of patients as belonging to the patient group. The findings indicate that craniocervical bony anomalies in the adult Chiari malformation are commoner than was previously realised, and they support the view that tonsillar herniation in these patients results from bony occipital dysplasia.

Adolescent

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA): a neurosurgical perspective.

The purpose of this article is to review the contribution of DSA to neurosurgical practice and to outline its advantages and limitations compared to conventional film-screen angiography. DSA is a technique whereby electronic subtraction allows the near instantaneous demonstration of vascular anatomy essentially free of bony detail. Because DSA possesses a high degree of contrast sensitivity, arterial images can be produced after an intravenous injection of contrast medium as well as by selective arterial catheterisation.

Adult

Carotid ligation: what happens in the long term?

The authors reviewed a consecutive series of 115 patients who underwent common carotid ligation during the period 1954-1984. Average follow-up was 10 years. Seventy-three (63%) patients presented following a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and 42 (36%) presented with the mass effect of an unruptured aneurysm. Thirty-nine (34%) patients were lost to follow-up of whom 27 had had a previous SAH. Forty-six (63%) of the 73 patients traced had suffered a SAH and amongst this group, 11 patients (24%) died from a proven or suspected recurrent haemorrhage within 10 years of ligation. The fatal recurrent haemorrhage rate was, therefore, 2.4%/year. Thirty (71%) of the 42 patients who presented with unruptured aneurysms were traced. Seven of these (23%) died: two following haemorrhage, 1 year and 16 years after carotid ligation and three patients died as a direct consequence of carotid ligation. Check angiographic studies were available for 55 patients following carotid ligation, a mean of 8.4 years after the procedure. Thirteen were conventional angiograms and 42 were intravenous angiograms obtained using the digital subtraction technique. Seventy-six per cent of the aneurysms visualised on the initial studies were either smaller or had apparently disappeared. Only four new aneurysms were detected and in two of these instances, the initial angiographic studies had been incomplete. The authors conclude that the annual rate of fatal recurrent haemorrhage from an intracranial aneurysm following common carotid ligation is of a similar magnitude to that of the natural history of conservatively managed ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Moreover, carotid ligation apparently does not prevent haemorrhage from a previously unruptured aneurysm and the procedure appears to carry a significant morbidity and mortality, even in patients with an unruptured aneurysm.

Adult

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography.

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography (ivDSA) is a method whereby arterial images are produced following a peripheral or central venous injection of contrast medium. It is a safe and relatively simple procedure to undertake and is becoming more widely available. The purpose of this article is to review its clinical applications, its advantages and limitations.

Angiography

The relation of preoperative coagulation findings to diagnosis, blood usage, and survival in adult liver transplantation.

A group of 70 adults with end-stage liver disease received 87 homologous liver transplants from 7/11/81 and 7/11/83. The recipients fell into the following diagnostic categories: postnecrotic cirrhosis (PNC) in 22, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in 18, cancer or neoplasia (CA) in 11, sclerosing cholangitis (SC) in 8 and miscellaneous (MISC) in 11. Survival for six months or longer was 46%: survival by group was PBC = 67%, CA = 55%, PNC = 45%, SC = 25%, and MISC = 18%. Preoperative coagulation profiles were evaluated on 64 of the 70 first transplant patients by assigning a score derived from one point per abnormality in each of 8 tests. Mean coagulation abnormality scores (CAS) were strikingly elevated in the PNC and MISC groups. Mean intraoperative blood product usage was 43 units of RBCs, 40 units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), 21 units of platelets, and 9 bags of cryoprecipitate. Direct correlations were found between CAS and RBC usage (+0.454, P = less than .001), CAS, and survival of 6 months or longer (-0.281, P = less than .02), and RBC usage and survival (-0.408, P = less than .001). These findings indicate that the degree of coagulation abnormality and the type of liver disease may be predictive of intraoperative blood usage and survival in liver transplantation in adults.

Adolescent