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Biomedical subjects

A Cook

Publications and source records attributed to A Cook.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Depressive symptom differences in hospitalized, medically ill, depressed psychiatric inpatients and nonmedical controls.

This study compared depressive and anxious symptoms in chronic medically ill individuals and depressed psychiatric inpatients using conceptually based standardized measures of cognitions and symptoms. Seventy-five hospitalized medical patients, 52 depressed psychiatric inpatients, and 25 normal controls were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 1987), the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire, Hamilton Rating Scales of Anxiety and Depression, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, Beck Depression Inventory, Cognitions Checklist, and Hopelessness Scale. Analysis revealed that depression in medical patients was best distinguished by symptoms of anhedonia, low positive affect, and physiological hyperarousal, whereas syndromal depression in psychiatric inpatients was specifically characterized by negative cognition symptoms. Implications are discussed for assessing depression in medically ill populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Serological and cellular immune responses to non-structural proteins in animals infected with FMDV.

In order to provide a rational base for the evaluation of FMDV non structural proteins as diagnostic probes, we have performed systematic longitudinal studies of the humoral and cellular immune responses to these proteins in animals infected with different FMDV serotypes. Although primary antibody responses to all the non structural proteins were observed, antibody titres were highly variable, ranging from insignificant in some cases, to clearly positive in others. In general, even the obvious positive responses were of short duration. For this reasons, discrimination between infected and vaccinated cattle is only possible at a herd level, and in our experiments the most useful target was the non structural protein 3A, although addition of 2C and 3C would provide a more sensitive test. As an alternative, with the major advantage of use directly on living cattle in the field, recombinant non structural proteins were evaluated in Delayed Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) skin tests. With this test, which measures Th1 type cellular immune responses, the most T cell immunogenic non structural proteins were 2B, 2C and 3D. Thus, DTH skin test could be a very useful tool to differentiate infected from vaccinated cattle.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Dietary sources of nutrients among US children, 1989-1991.

OBJECTIVE: To identify major food sources of nutrients and dietary constituents for US children. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected from a nationally representative sample of children age 2 to 18 years (n = 4008) from the US Department of Agriculture's 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. For each of 16 dietary constituents, the contribution of each of 113 food groups was obtained by summing the amount provided by the food group for all individuals and dividing by total intake from all food groups for all individuals. RESULTS: Milk, yeast bread, cakes/cookies/quick breads/donuts, beef, and cheese are among the top 10 sources of energy, fat, and protein. Many of the top 10 sources of carbohydrate (yeast bread, soft drinks/sodas, milk, ready-to-eat cereal, cakes/cookies/quick breads/donuts, sugars/syrups/jams, fruit drinks, pasta, white potatoes); protein (poultry, ready-to-eat cereal, pasta); and fat (potato chips/corn chips/popcorn) also contributed >2% each to energy intakes. Ready-to-eat cereal is among the top contributors to folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and zinc intakes. Fruit drinks, containing little juice, contribute approximately 14% of total vitamin C intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Fortified foods are influential contributors to many vitamins and minerals. Low nutrient-dense foods are major contributors to energy, fats, and carbohydrate. This compromises intakes of more nutritious foods and may impede compliance with current dietary guidance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause known of inherited developmental disability. New and widely available techniques in DNA analysis allow both affected individuals and carriers to be tested from a simple blood sample. It is now recognised that a wide range of clinical severity occurs in both sexes. Specific treatment and interventional strategies are now available and of great benefit to individuals, families and carers. Genetic counselling allows families to make informed decisions. General practitioners can play a central role in detection and management of this syndrome.

Fragile X Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

CBP/p300 as a co-factor for the Microphthalmia transcription factor.

The Microphthalmia basic-Helix-Loop-Helix-Leucine Zipper (bHLH-LZ) transcription factor (Mi) plays a crucial role in the genesis of melanocytes; mice deficient for a functional (Microphthalmia) gene product lack all pigment cells. We show here that the Mi activation domain resides N-terminal to the DNA-binding domain and that as little as 18 amino acids are sufficient to mediate transcription activation. The minimal activation region of Mi is highly conserved in the related transcription factor TFE3 and is predicted to adopt an amphipathic alpha-helical conformation. This region of Mi is also highly conserved with a region of E1A known to be essential for binding the CBP/p300 transcription cofactor. Consistent with these observations, the Mi activation domain can interact in vitro with CBP specifically through a region of CBP required for complex formation with E1A, P/CAF and c-Fos, and anti p300 antibodies can co-immunoprecipitate Mi from both melanocyte and melanoma cell lines. In addition, co-transfection of a vector expressing CBP2 (aas 1621-1891) fused to the VP16 activation domain potentiated the ability of Mi to activate transcription, confirming the significance of the CBP-Mi interaction observed in vitro. These data suggest that transcription activation by Mi is achieved at least in part by recruitment of CBP. The parallels between transcription regulation by Microphthalmia in melanocytes and MyoD in muscle cells are discussed.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Immuno-localisation of tumour necrosis factor and its receptors in temporal arteritis.

Temporal arteritis (TA) is an acute vasculitis characterised by destruction of arterial architecture following infiltration of the arterial wall by macrophages, giant cells and lymphocytes. Using immunohistochemical techniques, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was demonstrated in up to 60% of the cells in all areas of inflamed arteries. More cells staining for TNF were detected in the intima and media of inflamed vessels than control uninflamed arteries (P < 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively). In TA, TNF was localised to giant cells and macrophages, suggesting that its predominant source is from the monocyte lineage, but, occasionally, TNF staining was found in areas infiltrated by T cells. Many endothelial cells also contained TNF, but there were no differences between the number of endothelial cells staining in inflamed and normal blood vessels. Of the two TNF receptors, the p75 receptor was sparsely represented in the inflamed vessels in TA. By comparison, the p55 receptor was widely detected on endothelial cells and infiltrating mononuclear cells close to the internal elastic lamina (IEL). Endothelial cells from normal vessels also stained for both TNF receptors, but normal smooth muscle cells in the vessel media expressed the p55 receptor, indicating that they are capable of responding to locally secreted TNF. Localisation of TNF receptors and TNF in close proximity to the IEL suggests that TNF could be involved in the leucocyte infiltration and arterial wall destruction characteristic of TA.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1997

Clinical responses to ingested fungal alpha-amylase and hemicellulase in persons sensitized to Aspergillus fumigatus?

alpha-Amylase and hemicellulase, derived from culture of Aspergillus species, are commonly added to flour as improvers during baking. Two cases of women occupationally sensitized to alpha-amylase who developed allergic symptoms after eating baked bread have been reported. With a randomized, controlled study design, we have investigated whether similar responses occur in those sensitized to Aspergillus species. Seventeen subjects with positive skin prick tests to Aspergillus fumigatus were studied. Symptomatic and physiologic responses after ingestion of bread baked with alpha-amylase and hemicellulase were compared, in a crossover fashion, with those after ingestion of bread baked without enzymes. No increase in respiratory or other symptoms, lung function, or nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity was reported after ingestion of the enzyme-containing bread. We conclude that important clinical reactions to alpha-amylase and hemicellulase in baked bread do not frequently occur in those sensitized to Aspergillus species.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prader-Willi syndrome.

People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and their families provide a unique challenge to the general practitioner. This article provides an outline of the key information and management issues for general practitioners who care for people with PWS and their families.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1997

Reduction of exposure to laboratory animal allergens in the workplace.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence is now accumulating that the prevalence of allergy to laboratory animals is related to the intensity of exposure to animal allergens. Whilst airborne animal allergen concentrations may be influenced by the litter type, cage design and stock density, the effectiveness of methods to reduce personal exposure has not been objectively assessed. METHODS: Air samples were collected at 2 L/min and 180 L/min onto polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters and the rat urinary aeroallergen (RUA) and mouse urinary aeroallergen (MUA) concentrations were measured by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) inhibition. RESULTS: When 545 mice (11.l mice/m3) were housed in ventilated cages (Thoren Maximiser cage system) operated at positive pressure to the environment, the static MUA concentration (n = 24, median = 0.10 microg/m3) was reduced sevenfold when compared with conventional cage systems (n = 12, median =0.67 microg/m3, P< 0.001). MUA could be further reduced if the ventilated cage system was operated at lower pressure; static samples (n = 1) collected at 180 L/min at negative, ambient and positive pressure registered < 0.003, 0.02 and 0.28 microg/m3, respectively. During cleaning out, the intensity of personal exposure to RUA was apparently reduced twofold when soiled litter was removed by vacuum (n = 17, median = 22.87 microg/m3) when compared with tipping (n = 18, median = 38.15 microg/m3), P = 0.002) although the task took twice as long to perform. The RUA exposure associated with handling rats was'reduced 25-fold when performed in a ventilated cabinet (n = 21, median = 2.67 microg/m3) compared with handling of rats on an open bench (n = 17, median = 54.39 microg/m3, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Effective reduction of exposure to animal allergens can now be achieved by the use of ventilated systems both for housing and handling rats and mice providing safety equipment is used correctly. The vacuum removal of soiled litter during the task of cleaning out was less efficient and additional respiratory protection is therefore recommended for this procedure.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

The CBP co-activator stimulates E2F1/DP1 activity.

The cell cycle-regulating transcription factors E2F1/DP1 activate genes whose products are required for S phase progression. During most of the G1 phase, E2F1/DP1 activity is repressed by the retinoblastoma gene product RB, which directly contacts the E2F1 activation domain and silences it. The E2F1 activation domain has sequence similarity to the N-terminal activation domain of E1A(12S), which contains binding sites for CBP as well as RB. Here, we present evidence that the CBP protein directly contacts E2F1/DP1 and stimulates its activation capacity. We show that CBP interacts with the activation domain of E2F1 both in vitro and in vivo. Deletion of four residues from the E2F1 activation domain reduces CBP binding as well as transcriptional activation, but still allows the binding of RB and MDM2. This deletion removes residues which are conserved in the N-terminal activation domain of E1A and which are required for the binding of CBP to E1A. When the E1A N-terminus is used as a competitor in squelshing experiments it abolishes CBP-induced activation of E2F1/DP1, whereas an E1A mutant lacking CBP binding ability fails to do so. These results indicate that CBP can act as a coactivator for E2F1 and suggest that CBP recognises a similar motif within the E1A and E2F1 activation domains. The convergence of the RB and CBP pathways on the regulation of E2F1 activity may explain the cooperativity displayed by these proteins in mediating the biological functions of E1A. We propose a model in which E1A activates E2F not only by removing the RB repression but also by providing the CBP co-activator.

Amino Acid Sequence↗