PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

V Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to V Taylor.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Racial misclassification of Native Americans in a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results cancer registry.

BACKGROUND: The cancer incidence for all sites has been reported to be lower in Native Americans than in White Americans. Concerns have been expressed, however, that the observed low incidence may be a result of inaccurate reporting of race. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which racial misclassification may contribute to the observed low cancer incidence among Native Americans. METHODS: A registry of individuals eligible to receive medical services funded by the Indian Health Service was linked by computer to the Puget Sound Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry. RESULTS: Only 137 (60%) of the patients with invasive cancer registered with the Indian Health Service and for whom race was recorded were identified as Native Americans in the SEER registry. Similarly, 55 (69%) of 80 in situ cervical cancer case patients were classified as Native American. A strong association was observed between Native-American blood quantum level and racial misclassification. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the observed low cancer incidence in Native Americans relative to Whites in the northwest United States is at least partially attributable to racial misclassification in the SEER cancer registry.

Adult

Mammography quality assurance in Washington State.

Poor mammography quality control results in the loss of important diagnostic information. Several organizations and agencies recommend or require that mammography quality assurance procedures include the periodic evaluation of equipment. The objective of this study was to assess compliance with published guidelines pertaining to the monitoring of mammography equipment. One hundred eighty-four Washington state mammography facilities were surveyed by mail during late 1989 and early 1990. The response rate was 71%. A large proportion of facilities was not complying with published guidelines concerning the frequency of evaluation of processor parameters and phantom image quality. Results suggest that many facilities were not in compliance with American College of Radiology recommendations concerning annual system evaluation by a physicist. The results of this study reinforce the importance of establishing minimum quality assurance standards and indicate a need for more mammography quality assurance technologist training.

Equipment and Supplies

Risk factors for coronary heart disease: a study in inner London.

A survey was carried out among 281 men and women aged between 30 and 64 years randomly selected from five general practices located in the inner London borough of Tower Hamlets, to determine the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease. Smoking and obesity were both more pronounced in Tower Hamlets than in comparable national studies: 51% of men and 44% of women were smokers and 57% of these were smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day. A body mass index of 30 or more was present in 18% of men and 10% of women and a body mass index of 25 or more in 71% of men and 49% of women. Two or more risk factors for coronary heart disease (smoking and/or hypertension and/or raised cholesterol levels) were present in 25% of men and 22% of women. For every person known by their general practitioner to have established cardiovascular disease, there were an additional two people also at risk on the basis of multiple risk factors. In this inner city population the prevalence of cardiovascular risk, for women as well as men, has major resource and organizational implications for primary care. A strategy for change requires action based on graded multiple risks for both men and women.

Adult

Radioiodinated CGP 42112A: a novel high affinity and highly selective ligand for the characterization of angiotensin AT2 receptors.

CGP 42112A, a potent angiotensin AT2 receptor selective ligand, was radio-iodinated and its binding characteristics compared with those of [125I]angiotensin II. In human myometrium (only AT2 expressed), binding was saturable (Kd 1.03 x 10(-10) M; Bmax 807 fmol/mg) and reversible (K+1 1.89 x 10(8) M-1.min-1; K-1 3.77 x 10(-3) min-1). The order of potency of a number of peptides and non-peptides was the same as when [125I] angiotensin II was used as tracer. No specific binding could be detected on membranes from vascular smooth muscle cells (only AT1 expressed). In rat adrenal glomerulosa membranes (mixed AT1/AT2), [125I]CGP 42112A bound only to AT2. [125I]CGP 42112A can therefore be used as a specific probe for AT2 receptors and will be especially useful in tissues where other subtypes are also present.

Angiotensin II

Angiotensin II AT2 receptors do not interact with guanine nucleotide binding proteins.

We have studied the effect of GTP gamma S on the affinity and binding kinetics of angiotensin II in plasma membrane particulate prepared from tissues expressing either only AT1 (human renal artery smooth muscle cells), only AT2 (human myometrium and bovine cerebellar cortex) or both angiotensin II receptor subtypes (rat adrenal glomerulosa). We also examined the ability of angiotensin II to stimulate GTP gamma[35S] incorporation in these membrane preparations. In contrast to its effects on angiotensin II binding to the AT1 receptor, GTP gamma S does not affect binding parameters to the AT2 receptor. Moreover, in tissues expressing solely AT2 receptors, angiotensin II was unable to induce GTP gamma[35S] incorporation. These findings indicate that AT2 receptors do not interact with G-proteins and that angiotensin II must therefore mediate some of its effects through G-protein-independent mechanisms.

Angiotensin II

Maternal smoking and placenta previa.

We conducted a case-control study of the relation between smoking and placenta previa, using Washington State birth certificate data from 1984 through 1987. The study population was comprised of live, singleton births to women whose pregnancies were complicated by placenta previa (N = 598) and randomly selected controls (N = 2,422) from the same time period. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Maternal smoking approximately doubled the risk of placenta previa after adjustment for the confounding effect of maternal age (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.7-2.5).

Adult

Determination of phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine content in lung surfactant by high performance liquid chromatography.

A rapid isocratic method for determining the total phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine levels in lung surfactant preparations by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. The analysis was performed on a 3.9 x 300 mm mu-Porasil column with detection by refractive index. The lipids were eluted with a solvent system of chloroform-acetonitrile-methanol-water-85% phosphoric acid 650:650:500:130:2 (v/v/v/v/v). A 4.6 x 30 mm silica guard column was used in place of an injector loop which served as a sample concentrator and purifier. Phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol, all known components of lung surfactants, were eluted from the loop column and were prevented from reaching the analytical column. Sphingomyelin and lysophosphatidylcholine elute later than the phosphatidylcholines on the analytical column. The method was developed so that phosphatidylcholines elute as a single peak regardless of the fatty acid chain length (C12-C20). When the sample was first oxidized with a potassium permanganate-potassium metaperiodate solution, and potentially interfering oxidation products were removed by extraction into a basic aqueous phase, then only the disaturated phosphatidylcholines were analyzed.

Animals

Cardiorespiratory function in 16 full-term infants with sudden infant death syndrome.

Twenty-four-hour tape recordings of ECG and breathing movements from 16 term infants (greater than or equal to 37 weeks' gestation) who subsequently died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were compared with recordings from surviving infants from the same populations. Apneic pauses of varying durations, periodic and regular breathing patterns, heart and respiratory rates during regular breathing were measured. Only one of 16 full-term infants with SIDS had findings outside the range of age-matched control infants (an excess of periodic breathing patterns and an absence of regular breathing). When the first recordings of each of infants who died of SIDS, except one who had cyanotic episodes prior to death, were compared to recordings of survivors (six for each case) closely matched for age, gestation, and weight at birth, no differences in breathing patterns or heart or respiratory rates during regular breathing could be demonstrated. These particular measurements of cardiorespiratory function were, therefore, unable to identify the majority of full-term infants at risk for SIDS.

Apnea

Complete rectal prolapse: repair by a simple technique.

A simple technique for the repair of complete rectal prolapse is described, and the results assessed. The method involves posterior rectopexy, suturing the rectum to the sacrum with paired interrupted linen sutures, thus avoiding the insertion of sheets of foreign material. The operation is suitable for all ages, and the minimal pelvic dissection required facilitates its use in high risk patients. The procedure was carried out in 23 patients, aged between 14 and 88, with a follow up period of between 2 months and 6.5 years. There was one postoperative death. The operation has a low morbidity and mortality, and the majority of the patients are now totally asymptomatic. There have been no recurrences of the complete rectal prolapse.

Adolescent

Intact heel decubitus: an innovative treatment with a special cleansing sponge.

An innovative treatment of intact blue-black heel decubitus with a nonmedicated cleansing sponge was investigated. Forty-five patients over an 18-month period were identified with this type of decubitus and were treated tid for 21 days with a soak and massage of the heel. Analysis of variance was based on changes in size, color, and pliability of decubitus.

Analysis of Variance

Ultrasonic diagnosis of choledochal cyst in pregnancy.

Two patients are reported with obstructive jaundice in pregnancy. In one of these ultrasonic scanning confirmed a diagnosis of choledochal cyst, and in the other made this diagnosis. Ultrasonic scanning is suggested as the preliminary radiological examination for obstructive jaundice in pregnancy. Any patient with a clinical diagnosis of choledochal cysts should have an ultrasonic scan.

Adult

Cervical cytology quality assurance in Washington State.

The objectives of this study were to establish a profile of cervical cytology laboratories in Washington State, identify quality assurance problems amenable to correction through education or legislation, and describe differences between large and small cytology laboratories. All 43 Washington laboratories that perform cervical cytology were surveyed by mail during 1989. Completed surveys were returned by 37 (86%) of the laboratories. Nearly half (43%) of the respondents reported processing less than 10,000 Papanicolaou smears annually. Only one-third (35%) of the respondents reported participating in relevant proficiency programs. A proportion of smaller cytology laboratories were compensating their cytotechnologists on the basis of the number of slides read and allowing Papanicolaou smears to be read outside the confines of the laboratory. The results of this study suggest that cytotechnologists in some larger Washington laboratories have been exceeding work load limits recommended by professional associations. Recent legislation includes regulations that address cervical cytology quality assurance. However, continued efforts will need to be made to encourage voluntary adoption of quality control measures not addressed by this legislation.

Female