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R Furlong

Publications and source records attributed to R Furlong.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The extended haplotype of the microtubule associated protein tau gene is not associated with Pick's disease.

Pick's disease (PiD) is a rare neurodegenerative condition and is a member of a heterogeneous group of disorders known as tauopathies, so-called because of the predominantly neuronal aberrant tau accumulations found in these diseases. The tauopathy, familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is caused by mutations in the tau gene. Moreover, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is associated with the tau H1 haplotype. In certain familial forms of FTD and in PSP the microtubule-binding four repeat tau isoform principally accumulates in neuropathological lesions. However, in PiD three repeat tau accumulations are found. We therefore investigated whether either the tau H1 or H2 haplotype was associated with PiD. Our results indicate a slight increase in H2H2 frequency in Pick's cases which is not statistically significant.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele has no effect on age at onset or duration of disease in cases of frontotemporal dementia with pick- or microvacuolar-type histology.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common cause of presenile dementia. Here we have investigated the frequency of the epsilon4 allele of the Apolipoprotein (APOE) gene in FTD and in other non-Alzheimer forms of dementia related to FTD such as Motor Neurone disease dementia, semantic dementia, progressive aphasia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. In none of these diagnostic groups did we find a significant increase in the APOE epsilon4 allelic frequency, compared to population values. Neither did we observe any affects of the epsilon4 allele upon age at onset or duration of disease. We conclude therefore that polymorphic variations in the APOE gene do not modulate either the occurrence or progression of these non-Alzheimer forms of dementia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Pick's disease is associated with mutations in the tau gene.

Recently, mutations within the tau gene have been associated with some familial forms of frontotemporal dementia. To investigate whether tau gene mutations are also associated with Pick's disease, we analyzed the tau gene in 30 cases of pathologically confirmed Pick's disease. Two coding mutations were identified in separate cases of Pick's disease. A glycine-to-arginine mutation at codon 389 was detected in 1 case and a lysine-to-threonine mutation at codon 257 was identified in another. Analysis of dephosphorylated tau from the brain of the patient with the codon 389 mutation revealed a prominent band representing tau, with four microtubule-binding domains and no amino terminal inserts. This is in contrast to Pick's disease without any tau gene mutations, which consist of tau with mainly three microtubule-binding domains and only a trace of tau, with four microtubule-binding domains. Functional analysis of tau with these two mutations demonstrated a reduced ability of tau to promote microtubule assembly. Surprisingly, these mutations increased tau's susceptibility to calpain I digestion, suggesting that this feature may be related to the formation of a Pick type of histology. Moreover, these data suggest that Pick's disease is not a separate entity but part of the frontotemporal dementia disease spectrum.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Intravenous adenosine as first-line prehospital management of narrow-complex tachycardias by EMS personnel without direct physician control.

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous adenosine therapy for prehospital treatment of narrow-complex tachycardias with a presumptive field diagnosis of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) by paramedics without direct physician control. A ten-month prospective case series was designed in an urban EMS system that has paramedics operating under standing orders before physician radio contact. All patients with PSVT field diagnosis were included. Diagnosis of PSVT was made by regular, narrow-complex tachycardia with a heart rate greater than 160 beats/min by field ECG. Interpretation was performed solely by paramedics; ECG transmission was not available. In hemodynamically stable patients, vagal maneuvers were followed by intravenous placement and administration of adenosine was recommended by the manufacturer. If three adenosine boluses failed to convert the arrhythmia, patients were monitored and transported, with electrical cardioversion available. Data collection included demographic, history, medications, vital signs, and EGG tracings. Of 14 included patients, 31 were correctly diagnosed with PSVT (75.6%), with mean ventricular rate of 205 beats/min (SD 7 beats/min); one had sinus tachycardia; nine had atrial fibrillation (AF) (22%). Of the 31 cases correctly diagnosed as PSVT, 28 converted to sinus rhythm after adenosine (90.3%). Of those converted, 16 required a single dose (57.1%), nine required one additional dose (32.1%), and three required two additional doses (10.8%). None reverted to PSVT after adenosine conversion during the study period (conversion to arrival at emergency department). No significant difference in length of asystolic pause or in outcome was detected between the true PSVT cases and the AF cases receiving adenosine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine↗
PubMed1993

Six years use of the unmodified Furlong hydroxyapatite ceramic coated total hip replacement.

Long-term fixation of both components of a total hip prosthesis has been a never-ending problem facing replacing surgeons. Even the less frequent use of methyl-methacrylate cement does not seem to have reduced the tendency of femoral components to loosen after perhaps a decade or even less of use. The case is argued that the present methods of attempting long-term fixation both of socket and stem are doomed to ultimate failure be they never so sophosticated nor cunning. The reason is that a locus of pathology is created in the immediate vicinity of the intruder; "gate post"; in the case of the stem. Pathology engenders change and instability, clinically demonstrated by loosening. A new method of fixation is described. It has been used in over 8000 instances spread over seven years without failure. The problem of joining "living to dead material" is accepted and solved in a novel way. The dead material i.e. the metal prosthesis is coated with another dead material i.e. calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic, but this latter material has the capacity of being animated. Once animated, hydroxyapatite ceramic becomes "osteotropic", not to say osteogenic. Placed in a situation that simulates a fresh fracture, union by first intention, primary bone healing, takes place with surprising speed. Local conditions are contrived so as to encourage and accelerate bony union, this is achieved by the design of the prosthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ceramics↗
PubMed1992

Diagnostic use of emergency department echocardiogram in massive pulmonary emboli.

Massive pulmonary embolism represents a small percentage of patients presenting to the emergency department with clinical symptoms suggestive of embolic phenomenon. Definitive therapy with thrombolytics or embolectomy is usually delayed until angiographic verification of the clinical suspicion can be obtained. A case is described in which embolectomy was based on clinical diagnosis and confirmatory echocardiogram obtained in the ED. The rapid diagnostic role of echocardiographic data in a subset of patients presenting with clinical symptoms suggestive of massive pulmonary emboli deserves further evaluation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Purification of scatter factor, a fibroblast-derived basic protein that modulates epithelial interactions and movement.

Scatter factor is a fibroblast-derived protein that causes separation of contiguous epithelial cells and increased local mobility of unanchored cells. Highly purified scatter factor has been obtained by a combination of ion-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography from serum-free medium conditioned by a ras-transformed clone (D4) of mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Under nonreducing conditions scatter factor has a pI of approximately 9.5 and migrates in SDS/polyacrylamide gels as a single band at approximately 62 kDa from which epithelial scatter activity can be recovered. Treatment with reducing agents destroys biological activity and is associated with the appearance of two major bands at approximately 57 and approximately 30 kDa. Whether both the 57-kDa and 30-kDa polypeptides are required for biological activity remains to be established. All the activities observed in crude medium conditioned by cells producing scatter factor are retained by highly purified preparations of scatter factor. These include (i) increased local movement, modulation of morphology, and inhibition of junction formation by single epithelial cells and (ii) disruption of epithelial interactions and cell scattering from preformed epithelial sheets. These changes occur with picomolar concentrations of purified scatter factor and without an effect on cell growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Xamoterol. A preliminary review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic use.

Xamoterol is a partial agonist at the beta 1-adrenoceptor. Haemodynamic studies indicate that xamoterol moderately increases myocardial contractility, improves diastolic relaxation and lowers left ventricular filling pressure at rest and during moderate exercise. At higher levels of sympathetic activity (e.g. strenuous exercise) it produces negative chronotropic responses whilst the reduced filling pressure is maintained. Studies in patients with mild to moderate chronic heart failure demonstrate an advantage for xamoterol 200mg twice daily over placebo and digoxin with respect to improvement in exercise capacity and symptoms. In limited trials to date the initial response seems to be maintained during periods of up to 12 months. Preliminary small studies suggest that xamoterol is useful in the treatment of some patients with angina pectoris, sinoatrial disease or postural hypotension, although further studies are needed to confirm its clinical role in such patients. Xamoterol appears to be generally well tolerated, but deleterious effects in a small number of patients with asthma, or severe heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy indicate the need for cautious use of xamoterol in patients with these diseases. Thus, xamoterol is a promising addition to the drugs available to the physician for treating patients with mild to moderate heart failure although further controlled studies are required to clearly establish its precise role.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1986

A haven for the severely disabled within the context of a comprehensive psychiatric community service.

The priorities accorded severely disabled or disturbed long-stay patients in Regional and District planning strategies vary enormously. A scheme to cater for the needs of this group is described. The scheme includes: non-stigmatising housing; a domestic regime, daytime occupation and leisure activities offering forms of enabling and caring that foster the highest possible levels of functioning; a secure home; private and peaceful outdoor space; and graduated steps towards independence that allow for the possibility of relapse. The central concept is the establishment of a Community for people with severe difficulties in making social contacts. The importance of integrating the scheme into a comprehensive District psychiatric service is emphasised.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Prenatal diagnosis: the experience in families who have children.

Recent investigations have documented the potentially stressful nature of prenatal diagnostic testing but no systematic attention has been paid to the particular experiences of women who already have other offspring in the home. Some evidence suggests an alteration of parent-child relationships. Further support for need to inquire into this issue can be found in the extensive literature concerned with children's reactions to death and bereavement, as well as to miscarriage. Results are presented from a study of the experiences of families in which mothers used prenatal diagnostic testing. The sample consisted of 112 women drawn from an outpatient population receiving prenatal testing and their 175 living offspring who were 4 years old or older. Over two thirds of the mothers indicated they had told at least one child in the family about the testing, and children's reactions were characterized as very interested, with low to moderate levels of anxiety, worry, or confusion about the testing. More extreme, worrisome reactions were the exception. In a few cases children were reported to have been concerned about the possibilities of harm to the mother and about abortion. Some of the preschool age children seem to have been frightened by overly graphic descriptions of the procedure itself. A few mothers also voiced concerns that as a result of knowing about the testing their children might become frightened and feel less secure about their own imperfections.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1984

Impact of prenatal diagnosis in families.

Results are presented from a study of the experiences of families in which mothers utilized prenatal diagnostic testing. Responses indicate that many parents are discussing prenatal testing even with their very young children. Potentially stressful areas for children were seen in their expressed concerns about possibilities of detecting a defect, harm to the mother, and abortion. Preschool age children seemed especially vulnerable to becoming frightened by fantasies about the medical procedures. Recommendations are made for increased social work involvement in screening for and delivering services to families and children who encounter difficulties with the prenatal testing experience.

Abortion, Induced↗