PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Simon R Maxwell

Publications and source records attributed to Simon R Maxwell.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prediction of serum total antioxidant activity from the concentration of individual serum antioxidants.

BACKGROUND: Redox mechanisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases and several assays of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) have been reported. Large epidemiological databases contain information on individual serum antioxidants as well as disease-specific phenotypic data. However, antioxidants work co-operatively in biological systems and it is important to be able to translate individual antioxidant measures into those of global antioxidant defence. Models therefore need developing to quantify contributions made by individual species to global antioxidant defence. OBJECTIVE: To develop a predictive model that translates individual antioxidant concentrations into an index of TAOC, enabling interrogation of epidemiological databases that contain information about individual antioxidants, but not about TAOC. METHODS: Sera from 256 volunteers were simultaneously assayed for key antioxidants and TAOC by enhanced chemiluminescence (TAOC(ECL)). A predictive model was developed for serum TAOC using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The model explained 86% of TAOC(ECL) variability in serum. The strongest predictor of TAOC(ECL) was uric acid (1 SD increase associated with TAOC(ECL) increase of 103 micromol/l Teq-95% CI: 96.8-109), followed by vitamins A, C, E. CONCLUSIONS: The reported model represents a powerful tool for interrogating databases where individual serum antioxidant concentrations are known, and TAOC measures are required.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2003

Do doctors rely on pharmaceutical industry funding to attend conferences and do they perceive that this creates a bias in their drug selection? Results from a questionnaire survey.

PURPOSE: To determine the sources of funding for doctors attending conferences and meetings and the doctors' perception on whether their involvement with the pharmaceutical industry created a conflict of interest or bias in their drug selection. METHOD: A postal questionnaire was distributed to 622 hospital doctors and 515 general practitioners (GPs) working in the Edinburgh area in Scotland, UK. RESULTS: The pharmaceutical industry funded approximately half of the meetings and conferences attended by doctors. Less than 20% of the doctors funded themselves. One-third of the meetings would not have been attended if funding from the industry had not been available. Hospital doctors and GPs had similar views on conflict of interest and bias. A minority of doctors (40%) thought that industry involvement created a conflict of interest but the majority of doctors (86%) thought that it did not create a bias in their own drug selection. CONCLUSIONS: If continuing medical education (CME) for doctors is going to rely on pharmaceutical industry funding in the future, then we need more explicit codes of conduct. It is of concern that while many doctors recognise the potential for the industry to influence their prescribing habits, few recognise that they themselves are susceptible.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗