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Biomedical subjects

A Dan

Publications and source records attributed to A Dan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The incidence of nosocomial infection in the Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: ICU-acquired nosocomial infection surveillance program 1998-1999.

CU-acquired nosocomial infection (NI) remains one of the major causes of ICU mortality. This study presents the incidence of ICU-acquired nosocomial infection in ICU HUKM for the years 1998 and 1999, as part of the ongoing ICU-acquired nosocomial infection surveillance program. The overall incidence was 23%. The main types of NI was lower respiratory tract infection (15.3%), primary bacteraemia (8.1%), ventilator associated pneumonia (5.4%), urinary tract infection (2.0%), skin infection (1.6%) central venous catheter sepsis (1.2%) and surgical skin infection (0.8%). The overall culture positive nosocomial infection rate was only 12.1%, majority from the lungs (12.6%), blood (7.3%), skin swabs (2.0%), and urine (1.6%). The main gram-negative organism cultured was Acinetobacter sp. (19%) and Staph. aureus (8.5%) was the gram-positive organism. The overall ICU mortality rate was 27.5% of which 60.9% of patients who died were attributed directly to sepsis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

An ecological approach to physical activity in African American women.

Physical activity in women has assumed increasing significance as a policy issue as a result of the release of the 1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health. This report revealed that women in the United States were less likely than men to adhere to the recommended guidelines for physical activity. African American women are less likely than white women to participate in leisure time physical activity across age, occupational, and income groups. The purpose of this study was to use the Ecological Model of Health Promotion to explore policy, environmental, and individual factors influencing physical activity of middle- to older-aged African American women in a mixed income community in a large midwestern city. Focus group discussions were held with 3 groups of women -- administrators/community leaders, exercisers, and nonexercisers. Thirty-three women between the ages of 40 and 78 participated in the study. The women identified 6 themes influencing physical activity: perceptions of physical activity and exercise; perceived barriers to exercise; perceived benefits of and motivators to exercise; past and present opportunities for exercise; factors that enhance the successful delivery of an exercise program; and coalition building to deliver an exercise program to women in the community. The results of this study reveal that to successfully increase physical activity in an ethnic urban community, researchers and other concerned individuals need to collaborate at multiple ecological levels, with an initial emphasis on establishing coalitions between institutions, community groups, policy makers, and individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Synthesis and biological evaluations of A-ring isomers of 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The activated vitamin D3 derivative 26,27-F6-1alpha,25(OH)2D3 (2a), its three A-ring diastereomers (2b, 2c, 2d), and 5,6-trans isomer (2e) were prepared. Two analogues (2b, 2c) of these isomers were synthesized by a palladium catalyzed coupling reaction using vinyl bromide 5 and enynes (6a, 6b), which were derived from readily commercially available 2S-(+)-glycidyl p-toluenesulfonate 7, as a common starting material. Competitive vitamin D receptor (VDR) binding affinities of these diastereomers of 2a were evaluated. Interestingly, the stereochemical effects at C-1,3 of 2a were considerably more moderate than those of 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 (1). In particular, isomerization at the 5,6-double bond of 2a only slightly reduced VDR affinity, whereas 5,6-trans-1alpha,25(OH)2D3 had a significantly lower binding affinity than 1.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The health care professional's attitudes towards brain death and cadaveric organ transplantation: the influence of cadaveric donor and transplantation programs--a Malaysian survey.

One of the main reasons for poor response in organ donation is the lack of positive attitudes and knowledge present in health care professionals. Definite legislation, policies and programmes dealing with brain death and cadaveric organ transplantation have shown some favourable results in terms of increasing donor rates. These programmes are mainly Western based; therefore adopting such programmes to be used locally may not be adequate or proper. To address this issue, we decided to carry out a questionnaire in two tertiary hospitals in Malaysia, one with a well establish brain death and cadaveric organ transplantation programme and one with none.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1999

Action of the saliva of Triatoma infestans (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) on sodium channels.

Saliva of Triatoma infestans (Klug) produced a progressive reduction in the amplitude of the compound action potential recorded from rat sciatic nerve. The saliva also inhibited the Na+ current on GH3 cells. The data demonstrate that the saliva of T. infestans has an inhibitory effect on Na+ channels. We conclude that this effect may decrease the generation and conduction of nerve action potential, thereby decreasing the sensitivity of the region in which the insect probes, in a manner similar to that of local anesthetics. This study demonstrates such activity in the saliva of hematophagous insects. The adaptive value of this activity is clear, because the quantity of blood obtained by triatomines is limited by the irritation caused during the feeding process.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1999

Mycoplasmosis associated perosis type skeletal deformity in a saker falcon nestling in Hungary.

A wild, 3-wk-old saker falcon (Falco cherrug) nestling showing uncoordinated movements and a perosis type tarsometatarsus deformity was found abandoned; it was euthanized a week later on 29 May 1997 after an unsuccessful attempt to rehabilitate it. Gross pathological findings included congestion of parenchymal organs and a lateral bowing of the left tarsometatarsal bone. Histopathology revealed initial interstitial hepatitis, focal catarrhal pneumonia, and dyschondroplasia in the epiphysis of the left tarsometatarsus. Mycoplasmas were isolated from the lungs, trachea, bone marrow and brain. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed for the detection of the mycoplasmal 16S rRNA gene. The resulting 262 base pair PCR product was sequenced and compared to the available mycoplasmal sequences but no identical corresponding sequences were found. However, 98% similarity was found to the Mycoplasma buteonis 16S rRNA and the isolate also was positive by immunoblotting against reference sera to the same species.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Psychosocial factors influencing weight control behavior of African American women.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to seek directly from college-educated African American women factors which they perceived influenced their individual weight control behavior, and those that influenced African American women collectively. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted, primarily in their homes, with 36 African American women. Thirteen major categories were identified. Six factors that influenced the women's individual weight control behavior were emotions/feelings, beliefs, life events, self-control, discipline, and commitment. Perceived benefits of the behavior and perceived barriers to the behavior were influential in determining the attractiveness, the type, and the extent of the weight control behavior. Five factors related to the African American culture were identified and described by the women. Recognition of psychosocial determinants of weight control behavior may enable health professionals to design unique interventions relevant to African American women.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 123. Synthesis of 1-(2-deoxy-2-isocyano-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine and related nucleosides as potential antitumor agents.

2'-Deoxy-2'-isocyano-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (8, NCDAC) has been synthesized as a potential antitumor antimetabolite from a corresponding 2'-azido-2'-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil derivative 2a. Uracil and thymine analogues 6a and 6b of 8 were also prepared. Attempts to synthesize 2'-deoxy-2'-isocyanocytidine (14b) failed due to the insertion of the 2'-alpha isocyano group into the 3'-OH group, affording the 2',3'-oxazoline derivative 15b. Stability of the isocyano derivative 6a and 2',3'-oxazoline derivative 15a under basic and acidic conditions were examined. The isocyano group in 6a was stable in basic conditions but unstable even in weakly acidic conditions to furnish the corresponding 2'-beta formamide derivative 17. Compound 15a was easily hydrolyzed the corresponding 2'-alpha formamide derivative 16 on treatment with H2O at room temperature. The cytotoxicity of 8, 6a, and 6b was examined in mouse and human tumor cells in vitro and compared with that of ara-C. Of these nucleosides, 8 was moderately cytotoxic to these cell lines. In vivo antitumor activity of 8 against Lewis lung carcinoma cells was also investigated and 8 showed only moderate tumor volume inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Perimenstrual symptom prevalence rates: an Italian-American comparison.

The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence of perimenstrual symptoms among a randomly selected group of Italian women by using a standardized menstrual symptom instrument and to compare them with those from a census-based sample of free-living American women in the study by Woods et al. (Am J Public Health 1982;72:1257-64). Italian menstrual symptom prevalence rates were obtained as part of a 1984 national health screening project using the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire translated into Italian. A total of 306 of the 426 randomly invited women between ages 20 and 49 years participated (71.8% participation rate). After determination of ineligible participants (those who were postmenopausal, posthysterectomy, and pregnant), a total of 239 subjects were interviewed. Italian women reported the highest prevalence of symptoms during the menstrual phase and the lowest prevalence during the remainder of the cycle. The cross-cultural comparison indicates that, overall, Italian women reported higher prevalence of symptoms across the three phases of the cycle than did the American women, even though this difference was the smallest during the premenstrual phase. Prevalence rates of a number of classic premenstrual symptoms (e.g., breast tenderness) and affective symptoms (e.g., tension and avoid social activities) were found to be similar for the Italian and American samples. This study, while it identifies a sociocultural component to symptom reporting, indicates the presence of premenstrual distress symptoms in diverse cultural settings, even in women who are generally unaware of premenstrual syndrome. These findings lend support to the validity of the premenstrual phase distress experience and suggest the existence of the premenstrual syndrome across diverse cultures.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effects induced by saliva of the aquatic hemipteran Belostoma anurum on the isolated guinea-pig heart.

1. The effects of the saliva of the aquatic hemipteran Belostoma anurum were investigated on the isolated guinea-pig heart, perfused with Locke solution by the Langendorff's method. 2. The electrocardiogram (bipolar lead), the contractile force (g) and coronary flow (ml/min) were simultaneously recorded. 3. The total protein present in the saliva of each belostomatid was 11.17 +/- 2.39 micrograms (N = 10), and SDS-PAGE of the saliva showed a complex protein composition (N = 10). 4. Bolus injections of 0.2 ml saliva obtained from 10 belostomatids elicited complex effects which were divided into two phases (N = 8): an initial phase characterized by sinus bradycardia and/or A-V block associated with a decrease in contractile force and an increase in coronary flow followed by a decrease and a second phase, 0.5-5 min after saliva injection, characterized by a progressive increase in resting tension (ventricular contracture). 5. Since pretreatment of the preparation with atropine or verapamil did not prevent the initial and the late effects (N = 12), we conclude that these effects are not explained either by a muscarinic effect or by a stimulation of calcium channels. 6. Injection of saliva previously mixed with heparin (1000 IU/ml, N = 7), evoked the first but not the second phase (ventricular contracture). 7. Injection of saliva from two belostomatids into the isolated hearts of guinea pigs, not previously treated with heparin, elicited dramatic effects, such as ventricular contracture (N = 6). 8. We suggest that the formation of an acid-base complex (heparin-saliva) would prevent, in part, the toxic effects of the saliva on the heart.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A quantitative survey to measure energy expenditure in midlife women.

The Taylor Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Tecumseh Occupational Physical Activity Questionnaire were modified to measure energy expenditure in midlife women. A three-dimensional measure of female physical activity resulted which reflected leisure, occupational, and household activities. Total daily energy expenditure for the specific activities was calculated using established metabolic units and reported time spent performing the activities. Test-retest reliability was evaluated at two weeks for 15% (n = 59) of the sample of 375 midlife women. There was high agreement on participation in the various activities, but low agreement on the time spent doing the activities. Cardiorespiratory fitness, established with a Monarch bicycle ergometer, was used to test the validity of the energy expenditure measure. Correlations were significant between cardiorespiratory fitness and both leisure activity and household activity, but not between cardiorespiratory fitness and occupational activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis of oligonucleotides carrying linker groups at 1'-position of sugar residues.

A novel 2'-deoxyuridine analogue carrying an aminobutyl linker at 1'-position of the sugar residue was synthesized and incorporated into oligonucleotides, then an anthraquinone derivative was attached to the amino group. The oligonucleotides carrying the linker groups were more resistant to nuclease P1 and venom phosphodiesterase than an unmodified oligonucleotide.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1987

Polyneuropathy with lipid deposits in Schwann cells and axonal degeneration in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.

The present paper is a histological, histochemical and electron microscopic study of biopsied specimens from both right and left Achilles tendon, sural nerve and gastrocnemius muscle in a case of peripheral neuropathy with decreased sensory conduction velocity within a cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis confirmed biochemically in a 29-year-old woman. The tendon specimens contained large deposits of complex, non-homogeneous lipids, distributed intra- and extracellularly. The right sural nerve specimen showed a very severe neuropathy with massive diffuse myelinated fiber loss, presence of foamy macrophages and lipid droplets in Schwann cells. Segmental de- and remyelination was noted in 17% of the teased myelinated fibers. No onion bulbs were observed. Two years later, the left sural nerve specimen revealed a mild diffuse myelinated fiber loss, a more active segmental de- and remyelination (23%) without onion bulbs, and an active regeneration. Lipid storage aspects were absent. The gastrocnemius muscle specimens exhibited slight alterations of neurogenic origin. The pathogenesis of this neuropathy is discussed.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1984

Muscle hypertrophy and a syndrome of continuous motor unit activity in prednisone-responsive Guillain-Barré polyneuropathy.

The clinical, electrophysiological and morphological findings (light and electron microscopy of the sural nerve and gastrocnemius muscle) are reported in an unusual case of Guillain-Barré polyneuropathy with an association of muscle hypertrophy and a syndrome of continuous motor unit activity. Fasciculation, muscle stiffness, cramps, myokymia, impaired muscle relaxation and percussion myotonia, with their electromyographic accompaniments, were abolished by peripheral nerve blocking, carbamazepine, valproic acid or prednisone therapy. Muscle hypertrophy, which was confirmed by morphometric data, diminished 2 months after the beginning of prednisone therapy. Electrophysiological and nerve biopsy findings revealed a mixed process of axonal degeneration and segmental demyelination. Muscle biopsy specimen showed a marked predominance and hypertrophy of type-I fibres and atrophy, especially of type-II fibres.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1984

Neuronal type of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with a syndrome of continuous motor unit activity.

The clinical, genetic and electrophysiological study of 3 patients with an association of a neuronal form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMTD) with a syndrome of continuous motor unit activity (CMUA) are reported, with light and electron microscopy of muscle and sural nerve biopsies in 2 patients. The unusual clinical features of CMTD were associated with fasciculation, cramps, myokymia, impaired muscular relaxation and percussion myotonia with their electromyographic (EMG) correspondent, responsive to valproic acid (VPA) therapy. In Case 3, an important muscle hypertrophy which was confirmed by morphometric data, was noted in addition. Nerve biopsy and electrophysiological findings indicated that axonal degeneration with secondary demyelination and remyelination underlie the hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) in our patients. The hyperexcitability and hyperactivity of peripheral motor axons probably induced by the hereditary neuropathy may, in this instance, be the causative condition of the syndrome of CMUA in our patients.

Adolescent↗