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Biomedical subjects

S Finch

Publications and source records attributed to S Finch.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Plasma pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxic acid and their relationship to plasma homocysteine in a representative sample of British men and women aged 65 years and over.

Concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxic acid were measured in fasting plasma samples from British men and women aged 65 years and over, participating in a National Diet and Nutrition Survey during 1994-5, selected to be representative of the population of mainland Britain. In this population, the concentration of pyridoxal phosphate declined, whereas pyridoxic acid rose, with increasing age and frailty; however, both status indicators were strongly and directly (with a positive coefficient) correlated with estimates of vitamin B6 intake. This was little affected by the inclusion of food energy and protein intakes in the model. Forty-eight percent of the participants living in the community and 75% of those living in institutions had plasma pyridoxal phosphate concentrations below a range considered normal from other studies. In a univariate regression model, plasma pyridoxal phosphate concentrations were inversely correlated with plasma homocysteine concentrations, consistent with the hypothesis that vitamin B6 status may influence plasma homocysteine levels, and hence vascular disease risk. However, this relationship was partly attenuated in a multiple regression model including age, sex, domicile and biochemical status indices, including those of folate and vitamin B12. There was evidence that plasma pyridoxal phosphate was sensitive to metabolic conditions associated with inflammation and the acute-phase reaction, and that plasma pyridoxic acid was sensitive to renal function. Thus, neither index is an ideal predictor of vitamin B6 status in older people, unless these confounding factors are allowed for. Since poor vitamin B6 status may have health implications, e.g. for immune function, cognition, and for essential intermediary metabolic pathways in older people, it needs to be investigated as a possible public health problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Estimation of the use of dietary supplements in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey: people aged 65 years and Over. An observed paradox and a recommendation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the evidence derived from blood biochemical status indices with the evidence from a questionnaire and from a 4-day weighed dietary record of micronutrient supplement use in the British National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of People Aged 65 Years and Over; to resolve some apparent incompatibility between nutrient intake and status estimates, and to recommend an approach towards supplement recording that should improve accuracy. DESIGN: The survey procedures described in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Report (1998) included a health-and-lifestyle questionnaire, a 4-day weighed diet record, and fasting blood and urine sample for biochemical indices, including a wide range of micronutrients. SETTING: Eighty randomly selected postcode sectors from mainland Britain during 1994-1995. SUBJECTS: Of 2060 people interviewed, 1467 provided a blood sample and 1217 provided both a blood sample, and a complete 4-day diet record. About 20% were living in institutions such as nursing homes, and the remainder were living in private households. RESULTS: After assigning the subjects to four categories by the use of dietary supplements (A, those not taking supplements (by questionnaire or by the 4-day record); B, those taking supplements (excluding prescribed ones) by questionnaire only; C, those taking supplements by 4-day record only; and D, those taking supplements by both questionnaire and 4-day record), these categories were then compared with respect to estimated total nutrient intakes and blood biochemical indices. Those in category B had estimated (4-day) nutrient intakes (from foods and supplements) that were indistinguishable from those in category A, but had biochemical indices that indicated significantly higher dietary intakes of several vitamins. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: The 4-day weighed intake record may not have identified all of the subjects who were regularly taking micronutrient supplements in amounts sufficient to improve their biochemical status. Because survey respondents may use supplements irregularly or change their usual patterns of supplement use during a period of intensive diet-recording, it is important to design a dietary instrument that will minimise this potential source of inaccuracy. We therefore recommend that population surveys in which an accurate estimate of micronutrient intakes is required, from supplements as well as from food, should record supplement use for a period longer than 4-days. It is likely that a better estimate of long-term intakes can be achieved by combining a 4-day weighed diet record with a structured recall or several weeks of diary records, which focus specifically on the use of supplements.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Does vitamin C reduce blood pressure? Results of a large study of people aged 65 or older.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize relationships among blood pressure, pulse rate, vitamin C status and other protective and risk factors for older British people, from a national survey. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of survey data. SETTING: A population study, representative of mainland Britain. SUBJECTS: Among 914 people of both sexes living in the community, 373 were taking blood-pressure-lowering drugs and were therefore excluded from the analyses. INTERVENTIONS: Completion of an interview on health, lifestyle and dietary habits, recording of a 4-day dietary record, anthropometry and taking of a blood sample to determine haematological and biochemical status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate, indices of micronutrient status including plasma ascorbate concentration, nutrient intake and haematology. RESULTS: Plasma ascorbate concentration was inversely correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rate. Other covariates of blood pressure included age, sex, domicile, plasma retinol, fibrinogen and gamma-tocopherol concentrations, erythrocyte count, prothrombin time and urine sodium: creatinine ratio. Covariates of pulse rate included sex, domicile, plasma fibrinogen and platelet count. Blood pressure was also correlated to intake of vitamin C. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma ascorbate concentration and intake of vitamin C are covariates of blood pressure in older people living in Britain. New intervention studies are now needed, to test for possible causalities.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Mutual attachment, personality, and drug use: pathways from childhood to young adulthood.

Young adult drug use stemming from childhood aggression, the parent-child mutual attachment relationship, and the effect of unconventionality were studied. Youngsters and their mothers were interviewed when the former were early adolescents, late adolescents, and young adults. Additional data were collected from the mothers when their youngsters were children. The analysis was conducted on youngsters who had complete data at all 4 points in time. The findings were in accord with the family interactional model; that is, the parent-child mutual attachment relationship affects unconventionality in the youngster, which, in turn, affects young adult drug use. The results indicate that the parent-child mutual attachment relationship does so through (a) the stability of the attachment relationship from childhood to young adulthood, (b) the stability of unconventional personality and behavioral attributes from early adolescence to young adulthood, and (c) the stability of drug use from early adolescence to young adulthood. The findings imply that (a) early intervention with respect to aggression, (b) interventions that focus on strengthening the parent-child bond and conventional behavior, and (c) interventions aimed at early drug use should be most effective in reducing young adult drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Plasma total homocysteine in a representative sample of 972 British men and women aged 65 and over.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a reference range for plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), an independent risk factor for vascular disease, and to explore relationships with nutritional indices for people aged 65 y and over, in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). DESIGN: The survey procedures described in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Report (1997) included a health-and-lifestyle interview, a four-day weighed diet record, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements and a fasting blood sample for biochemical indices, including tHcy. SETTING: Eighty randomly selected postcode sectors from mainland Britain during 1995-1996. SUBJECTS: Of 2060 people interviewed, 1527 were visited by the nurse, 1276 gave a blood sample and 972 had tHcy measured. About 80% were in their own homes and the remainder were in nursing homes or similar institutions. RESULTS: Significant cross-sectional relationships, both univariate and multivariate were found between tHcy and index concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 (P < 0.0001), and between tHcy and plasma creatinine, urea, calcium, zinc, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, lutein and cysteine (P = 0.013 to < 0.0001). Dietary nutrient analyses showed an association with folate intake. tHcy was also correlated with age and with domicile (free-living or institution), with history of vascular disease and with use of four classes of drugs, two of which are prescribed for vascular diseases. There was a north-south gradient in tHcy (P = 0.005), and also in food choices, blood micronutrient indices and vascular disease prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of tHcy found in this study provide a reference range for people aged 65 y and over, in mainland Britain. tHcy is a valuable functional index of micronutrient status and intakes for British people aged 65 y and over, which can assist the development of health-promotion strategies.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Aggression, intrapsychic distress, and drug use: antecedent and intervening processes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the interrelation of childhood aggression, early and late adolescent intrapsychic distress, unconventionality, and drug use. METHOD: Data were obtained from the subjects when they were 5 to 10 years old. Follow-up interviews were conducted when the subjects were between 13 and 18 years old and again when they were 15 to 20 years old. RESULTS: A LISREL analysis indicated that childhood aggression was related to later intrapsychic distress, unconventionality, and drug use. There were significant pathways from childhood aggression to drug use at 15 to 20 years of age, with mediation through intrapsychic distress and unconventionality, and during adolescence there was a pathway from intrapsychic distress to unconventionality, leading to legal and subsequently illegal drug use. There was also considerable stability in intrapsychic distress, unconventionality, and drug use. CONCLUSION: Intrapsychic distress and unconventionality are important mediators of childhood aggression and adult drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Role of mutual attachment in drug use: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines childhood aggression, mutual attachment and later drug use. METHOD: Data on 397 children and adolescents at three points in time were collected and analyzed. Mothers and their children were individually interviewed. RESULTS: A weak parent-child mutual attachment in girls can be viewed as a consequence of childhood aggression. Moreover, mutual parent-child attachment affects later drug use through three stabilities: (1) the stability of attachment during adolescence, (2) the stability of unconventionality during adolescence, and (3) the stability of drug use during adolescence. CONCLUSION: The multiple pathway perspective on drug use poses a number of ways in which to think about interventional approaches. First, interventions may be targeted toward those risk factors showing the strongest relations with later drug use. A second mode of orientation to intervention would deal with the amenability of the target to particular interventional agents. Interventions may be geared to intraindividual characteristics or may focus more attention on familial characteristics. A third way of considering interventions, as suggested by the developmental pathways to drug use, seeks to address the temporal order of risk factors leading to drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Childhood aggression, adolescent delinquency, and drug use: a longitudinal study.

The interrelation of childhood aggression, early and late adolescent delinquency, and drug use was explored. Data were obtained for the subjects when they were 5-10 years old. Follow-up interviews were conducted when the subjects were between 13-18 years old and again when they were 15-20 years old. A LISREL analysis of the three waves of data indicated that childhood aggression is a precursor of adolescent drug use and delinquency, and that early adolescent drug use is correlated with contemporaneous delinquency as well as with later drug use and delinquency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Enrichment of murine hematopoietic stem cells. Reconstitution of syngeneic and haplotype-mismatched mice.

A method is described to purify murine hematopoietic stem cells. The procedure involves fluorescence-activated cell sorting of nonadherent nucleated bone marrow cells for the presence of the antigen, Thy1.2, and the absence of the lineage-specific antigens, Lyt2, L3T4, Mac1, B220, and J11D.2. These Thy1.2+T-B-M-J- cells are 200-800-fold enriched in in vitro colony-forming units. Moreover, this narrow subset shows enhanced ability to form spleen colonies and engraft lethally irradiated mice. Data reported herein demonstrate that these purified pluripotent stem cell populations also have enhanced potential for the rescue of lethally irradiated haplotype-mismatched mice.

Animals↗