PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Dougherty

Publications and source records attributed to R Dougherty.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The cardiopulmonary cost of backward walking at selected speeds.

Backward walking has been advocated as a method of maintaining cardiovascular conditioning in patients undergoing knee rehabilitation because it may decrease patellofemoral joint compressive forces. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) and backward walking speed. Twenty-five healthy males, aged 18-35 years, participated in this study. The rate of oxygen consumption and heart rate were measured at the backward walking speeds of 0.89, 1.12, 1.34, 1.56, and 1.79 m/sec (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 miles/hour, respectively). Analysis revealed a direct, curvilinear relationship between VO2 and backward walking speed. This research provides information that can be used to prescribe a backward walking rehabilitation program which may be appropriate to maintain aerobic fitness levels during rehabilitation of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Recombinant bovine GM-CSF primes superoxide production but not degranulation induced by recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta in bovine neutrophils.

Bovine neutrophil activation, superoxide production, and beta-glucosaminadase release induced by various biological stimuli were examined. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta (r-BoIL-1 beta) induced superoxide production and beta-glucosaminadase release in bovine neutrophils. When these two responses were compared, the dose requirement for maximum activation was similar for PAF (1 x 10(-6) M). However, the concentration of r-BoIL-1 beta required for the maximum degranulation (2.5 x 10(-7) M) was 100-fold higher than that for the maximum superoxide production (2.5 x 10(-9) M). Furthermore, pretreatment of cells with recombinant bovine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (r-BoGM-CSF) enhanced both superoxide production and beta-glucosaminidase release induced by PAF. In contrast, whereas superoxide production induced by r-BoIL-1 beta was enhanced by r-BoGM-CSF priming, beta-glucosaminidase release induced by r-BoIL-1 beta was significantly reduced by pretreatment with r-BoGM-CSF. CL 184,005, a PAF antagonist, inhibited PAF-induced glucosaminidase release and superoxide production but did not inhibit r-BoIL-1 beta-induced superoxide production and degranulation. In addition, it did not inhibit the priming effect of r-BoGM-CSF on r-BoIL-1 beta-induced superoxide production. These results suggest that (1) PAF and r-BoIL-1 beta activate bovine neutrophils by different mechanisms, (2) r-BoGM-CSF primes superoxide production and degranulation induced by PAF, (3) r-BoGM-CSF primes superoxide production but not degranulation induced by r-BoIL-1 beta, and (4) the priming effect of r-BoGM-CSF is not mediated by PAF.

Animals↗

Prevention and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections with recombinant cytokines.

Antibiotic therapy is only moderately efficacious for bovine Staphylococcus aureus mastitis. We have used recombinant bovine cytokines to activate the natural host defenses, to prevent and treat bovine mastitis. Uninfected mammary glands infused with GM-CSF or IL-2 increased the percentage of phagocytic cells in the milk by 2-3 fold. IL-1 increased the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the milk, enhanced their inducible oxygen radical formation, and had no effect on phagocytosis. Treatment with IL-2 increased the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the milk, enhanced their inducible oxygen radical formation, and enhanced their phagocytosis. GM-CSF had no effect on the number polymorphonuclear cells in the milk but enhanced their inducible oxygen radical formation, and enhanced their phagocytosis. All cytokines were effective in preventing S. aureus infections (20-100%). 52% of all chronically infected mammary gland quarters treated with three doses of IL-2 responded to therapy and 32% of the treated quarters remained cured. 75% of all mammary glands treated with three doses of IL-1 beta responded to therapy by clearing the infection and 22% of the treated glands remained cured. These studies demonstrate that recombinant bovine cytokines can be used effectively to prevent infections as well as treat established chronic infection.

Animals↗

Potentiation of antibiotic therapy for bovine mastitis by recombinant bovine interleukin-2.

Adjunct therapy with recombinant bovine interleukin-2 and antibiotics for Staphylococcus aureus IMI was investigated in an attempt to improve the therapy of antibiotics alone. Treatment of established S. aureus IMI with Na-cephapirin or Cefa-Lak produced average cures of 32.0 and 41.8%, respectively. When Na-cephapirin treatment was combined with recombinant bovine interleukin-2 at either 3.3 or 10 mg, the therapeutic efficacy was improved by an average of 20 to 30%. When Cefa-Lak treatment was combined with recombinant bovine interleukin-2 at 10 mg, the therapeutic efficacy was improved on average by 20%. Recombinant bovine interleukin-2, formulated in the excipient of the commercial Cefa-Lak, also improved the therapeutic efficacy by 16% compared with Cefa-Lak alone. Recombinant bovine interleukin-2, formulated in Cefa-Lak, maintained biological activity at room temperature for at least 21 d. After intramammary infusion of recombinant bovine interleukin-2, no biologically active interleukin-2 was detected in milk 48 h (four milkings) after administration. These data suggest that cytokines may be used as adjunct therapy with existing mastitis antibiotics or formulations of existing commercial products to improve the therapeutic efficacy.

Animals↗

Staphylococcus aureus mastitis: pathogenesis and treatment with bovine interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-2.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes play a central role in the pathogenesis of bovine mastitis. Intramammary challenge with Staphylococcus aureus was shown to induce both quantitative and qualitative changes in mammary gland polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Intramammary infusion of recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-2 elicited a similar cellular response. Staphylococcus aureus, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-2 all increased the number of somatic cells after intramammary infusion and activated the inducible superoxide production in milk polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Interleukin-2 also activated phagocytosis of these cells, and their activation was maintained for 3 to 5 d after intramammary administration. Interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-2 were moderately effective in the therapy of experimental S. aureus mastitis. Approximately 54% of the glands treated with interleukin-1 beta responded to therapy by transiently clearing the milk of S. aureus, 30% of which relapsed, and a total of 38% of the treated glands remained cured. In contrast, 83% of glands treated with interleukin-1 beta responded to therapy, but 50% of these quarters relapsed. A total of 42% of the quarters treated with interleukin-1 beta remained cured. Homologous recombinant cytokines are effective immunomodulators that augment natural defensive mechanisms similar to the normal response to pathogens and may prove to be suitable alternatives to, or may be used in combination with, antibiotics as effective mastitis therapeutic agents.

Animals↗

Dietary fat and blood pressure: an intervention study on the effects of a low-fat diet with two levels of polyunsaturated fat.

The role of dietary fat in human blood pressure control was studied among 84 middle-aged subjects (mainly couples) in two semirural communities in North Karelia, Finland. The families were randomly allocated into two groups that, after a baseline period of 2 weeks, changed their diet for a 12-week intervention period so that the proportion of energy derived from fats was similarly reduced in both groups, from 38 to 24%, but the polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio was increased--from 0.2 to 0.9 in group I and to 0.4 in group II. After the intervention period, both groups switched back to their usual diet for a period of 5 weeks. During the intervention period, total serum cholesterol was reduced by 16% in group I and 14% in group II. Mean body weight and urinary sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium excretion changes were small or nonexistent. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased 4 mm Hg in group I (P less than 0.01) and 3 mm Hg in group II (P less than 0.01), and mean diastolic blood pressure decreased 5 mm Hg (P less than 0.001) and 4 mm Hg (P less than 0.01), respectively. The reductions were reversed during the switch-back period (P less than 0.01). These results confirm previous findings of the blood-pressure-reducing effect of a low-fat/high-P/S diet. Although a number of possible confounding factors can be ruled out, the dietary constituent accounting for the blood pressure change cannot be ascertained definitely. The results showed no significant further blood pressure reduction with more than a moderately increased P/S ratio when the saturated fat intake was markedly reduced.

Adult↗

Dietary intervention study among 30 free-living families in Finland.

A dietary intervention study to reduce risk factors for coronary heart disease was carried out among 30 free-living middle-aged couples in North Karelia, Eastern Finland. During the study, the subjects changed their normal diet for six weeks. The main changes in the diet were decrease in the consumption of fat (from 39% to 24% of total calories), increase in the P:S ratio from 0.15 to 1.22, and increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. The changes in the food consumption pattern were facilitated by giving the families free food items, such as skim milk, vegetable margarine, vegetables, and fruit. The food consumption and nutrient intakes were measured by food consumption records kept every other day. Also, duplicate diets were collected once during each study period for chemical analysis. Compliance with the dietary changes was better than expected, and the acceptability and the palatability of the diet were reported to be good. The decrease in the fat content of the diet increased the nutrient density of the diet; i.e., the concentration of vitamins and minerals improved. This study showed how even more drastic dietary changes than those recommended by health authorities can be realized among ordinary Finnish people.

Adult↗

Controlled, randomised trial of the effect of dietary fat on blood pressure.

57 couples living in two communities of North Karelia, aged 30-50 years, were randomly allocated to three groups. After a 2-week baseline period group I followed a diet low in fat (23% of energy) with a high polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) ratio (1 . 0), group II reduced daily salt intake from 192 mmol to 77 mmol, and group III (control group) continued the usual diet. After the 6-week intervention period groups I and II reverted to their usual diets. In group I systolic blood pressure declined from 138 . 4 to 129 . 5 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure from 88 . 9 to 81 . 3 mm Hg during the intervention period; the values rose during switch-back. The fall was greater among hypertensive than among normotensive subjects. In groups II and III the mean blood pressure changed very little during the study.

Adult↗

Effect of diet on serum lipoproteins in a population with a high risk of coronary heart disease.

The population of North Karelia, a county in Finland, has a high rate of coronary heart disease. It also has a high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, but whether this reflects a diet rich in animal fats or is a result of genetic factors is unclear. We studied the effect on serum lipoproteins of a low-fat diet with a high ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids in 54 middle-aged volunteers in North Karelia. Total serum cholesterol decreased, from 263 +/- 8 mg per deciliter (mean +/- S.E.) to 201 +/- 5 mg in men (P less than 0.0001) and from 239 +/- 8 to 188 +/- 8 mg in women (P less than 0.0001), along with low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and apoprotein B. High-density lipoprotein decreased from 54 +/- 2 mg per deciliter to 44 +/- 2 in men (P less than 0.0001) and from 56 +/- 3 to 47 +/- 2 mg in women (P less than 0.0001). A small but significant reduction occurred in serum apoprotein A-I, whereas apoprotein A-II increased slightly. The individual changes in low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol correlated with those in high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. The changes in serum lipids and apoproteins were reversed when the participants returned to their original diets. Our results suggest that the hypercholesterolemia characteristic of this population is due at least in part to dietary factors.

Adult↗

Histological ageing of bruises in lambs and calves.

Groups of 10-day-old calves and 5-month-old lambs were bruised 48 hours, 24 hours, 8 hours, or the instant before slaughter. By gross examination, 48-hour-old calf bruises had a characteristic red-yellow colouration, but other bruises could not be differentiated reliably. By microscopic examination, bruises of all ages could be differentiated by cellular criteria common to both species. Unlike fresh lesions, 8 hour bruises contained numerous neutrophils. Twenty-four hour old bruises contained equal numbers of macrophages and neutrophils and at 48 hours macrophages, fusiform cells and new capillaries were present in the damaged muscle. The criteria established in this study could be used to determine the ages of spontaneous bruises in abattoir carcases and so provide a basis for an investigation aimed at detection of the traumatic episode from which they result.

Animals↗

A new roentgenographic method for estimating mucous velocity in airways.

A new roentgenographic method is described for the estimation of mucous velocity in airways. Radiopaque discs of teflon mixed with bismuth trioxide were deposited in the trachea, and their motion was observed by a fluoroscopic image intensifier. Simultaneous measurements of disc movement were obtained by a previously reported cinebronchofiberscopic method and by the roentgenographic method in 6 anesthetized dogs. Mean +/- SD tracheal mucous velocity was 8.5 +/- 7.3 mm per min by the roentgenographic method, and 7.6 +/- 7.1 mm per min by the cinebronchofiberscopic method. Discrepancies between the 2 methods for individual disc velocities could be accounted for by the cumulative errors of both methods. The roentgenographic method was also used in 7 normal volunteers who did not have topical anesthesia of the tracheobronchial tree. The discs were blown through the inner channel of a bronchofiberscope, the tip of which was located just above the vocal cords. Placement of the discs on the tracheal mucosa generally did not produce coughing. Tracheal mucous velocity ranged from 7.4 to 19.4 mm per min as estimated from videotape recordings of the image intensifier images. There was no consistent difference in velocity between the erect or supine position, or after topical anesthesia with lidocaine.

Adult↗