Securing biotechnological resources--the place of the resource centre.
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Biological Specimen Banks↗
Biomedical subjects
A Doyle
Publications and source records attributed to A Doyle.
Neurological gene therapy.
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Brain Neoplasms↗
Urinary output of endogenous monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity is related to everyday stress.
The MAO A and B inhibitory components of urinary tribulin were investigated in normal individuals (11 males and 24 females, mean age +/- SD; 27.1 +/- 4.5 years) in relation to everyday stress. Volunteers collected a urine sample at the same time (late evening) on five days over a single week. On each occasion subjects also completed a mood adjective checklist which measured perceived stress levels over the day in question. For each subject all daily measures were aggregated. Mean individual urinary MAO A and B inhibitory activity was found to be positively correlated with stress scores both before (r = 0.38, p < 0.05 and r = 0.37, p < 0.05 respectively, n = 35) and after (r = 0.35, p < 0.05 and r = 0.33, p < 0.05 respectively, n = 35) correction for the effects of urinary volume. These results suggest that in normal healthy individuals high endogenous MAO inhibitory activity in the urine is indicative of a relatively enduring state of everyday stress.
Adult↗
Salivary monoamine oxidase A and B inhibitory activities correlate with stress.
MAO A and B inhibitory activities were determined, for the first time, in saliva samples. Saliva was collected on 4 occasions from 11 normal subjects (students) before and after delivering an important assessed oral presentation, a naturalistic stress inducing procedure. The first sample was collected 30 minutes before the presentation and 3 more within 40 minutes of finishing the presentation. At each collection a mood adjective checklist was completed. Mean MAO A inhibitory activity correlated with mean MAO B inhibitory activity (r = 0.872, p < 0.001, n = 11). Within subject analysis revealed a positive correlation between MAO A and B inhibitory activity and stress (r = 0.400, p < 0.01, n = 44 and r = 0.255, NS, n = 38 respectively). Mean MAO A and B inhibitory activity correlated with mean stress (r = 0.535, NS, n = 11 and r = 0.673, p < 0.05, n = 11 respectively). Peak MAO A and B inhibitory activities correlated with peak stress (r = 0.636, p < 0.05, n = 11 and r = 0.754, p < 0.01, n = 11, respectively). Salivary MAO A and B inhibitory activities were independent of salivary flow rate. We conclude that measurement of MAO A and B inhibitory activities in saliva is preferable to traditional urinary measures as sampling is less invasive and also supports a clear relationship to stress in normal individuals.
Female↗
Prenatal ultrasonographic detection of regression of an encephalocele.
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Adult↗
Ultrasound of soft tissue masses.
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Humans↗
Molecular immunobiology of macrophages: recent progress.
Macrophage molecules involved in adhesion, signalling, secretion and interactions with pathogens and T-helper lymphocytes have been cloned and defined using monoclonal antibodies and genetic disruption. Studies of the regulation of macrophage differentiation and activation by cytokines have yielded insights into the heterogeneity of their functions in natural and acquired immunity, including immunity to infections by mycobacteria and HIV.
Animals↗
Spinal anaesthesia for transurethral surgery: comparison of 2% lignocaine with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine.
We have compared 2% lignocaine 3.5 ml with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 3 ml in a randomized, double-blind study in 30 patients undergoing subarachnoid anaesthesia for transurethral surgery. A sensory level of T10 was produced more quickly (P = 0.0001) and maximum height reached sooner (P = 0.0002) with lignocaine, although there was a greater reduction in systolic arterial pressure (P = 0.03) and a trend towards slower heart rates (P = 0.056). Return of full sensory and motor function occurred earlier with lignocaine (P = 0.00005 and P = 0.02).
Aged↗
Adherence of bacteria to intraocular lenses: a prospective study.
AIMS: The study was designed to investigate the bacterial flora of the operating field during routine cataract surgery and the source of intraocular lens contamination during the surgery. METHODS: The normal flora of the external eye and fornices of 17 patients undergoing selective cataract surgery was determined preoperatively. Swabs taken from the eyelid surface and lashes showed coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) in 90%, Propionibacterium acnes in 62%, Corynebacterium sp in 18%, and Peptostreptococcus in 3% of the patients. The lower fornices of 70% had CNS, 47% P acnes, 6% Staphylococcus aureus, 6% Corynebacterium sp, and 6% Candida. RESULTS: A sterile PMMA intraocular lens was touched on the upper bulbar conjunctiva immediately before the surgery. Eighty two per cent of lenses grew CNS, 18% P acnes, 18% Bacillus sp, 12% S aureus, and 6% Corynebacterium sp. A second sterile PMMA intraocular lens was left on the drape and near the eye during surgery. Forty seven per cent of these cultured CNS, 12% Corynebacterium sp, and 6% Bacillus sp. A high count of bacteria in the operating field, especially CNS and P acnes can contribute to postoperative inflammation and endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: Special measures are needed before and during the surgery to reduce the chance of intraocular inoculation of these bacteria. Use of proper culture media and techniques are necessary to identify these organisms, especially anaerobes, in postoperative inflammation.
Adult↗
Differential regulation of AP-1 and novel TRE-specific DNA-binding complexes during differentiation of oligodendrocyte-type-2-astrocyte (O-2A) progenitor cells.
AP-1 is an ubiquitous transcription factor which is composed of the Jun and Fos proto-oncogene proteins and is thought to play a role in both cell proliferation and differentiation. We have used an immortal, bipotential oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitor cell line (O-2A/c-myc) which can differentiate into oligodendrocytes or type-2 astrocytes in vitro, to investigate whether AP-1 DNA-binding activity fluctuates during glial cell differentiation. Unexpectedly, DNA-mobility shift assays using a TRE-containing oligonucleotide derived from the promoter of the glial-specific gene, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP/AP-1), revealed that O-2A/c-myc progenitor cells were devoid of conventional AP-1 DNA-binding complexes. O-2A/c-myc cells did however contain several novel GFAP/AP-1-specific DNA-binding complexes, which we have termed APprog. APprog complexes recognise the TRE consensus motif present in the GFAP/AP-1 oligonucleotide together with adjacent 3' sequences but do not contain c-Jun or any other known Jun-related proteins. When O-2A/c-myc cells underwent terminal differentiation APprog complexes were lost and conventional AP-1 DNA-binding activity became evident, particularly in astrocytes. These changes appear to be closely linked to the differentiation process since they did not occur in a derivative of the O-2A/c-myc cell line that contains an activated v-ras oncogene and which fails to differentiate under appropriate culture conditions. The inverse regulation of conventional AP-1 and APprog complexes within the O-2A lineage suggests that these factors may play a role in the regulation of glial cell differentiation or glial cell-specific gene expression.
Animals↗
Use of surface molecules and receptors for studying macrophages and mononuclear phagocytes.
Members of the mononuclear phagocyte system use their extensive repertoire of cell surface receptors to interact with their external environment. A number of different assays are available for the study of these molecules and their many functions. In this paper we describe how monoclonal antibodies may be generated against macrophage molecules, and discuss how screening strategies aimed at producing functionally active reagents may be devised. Using the macrophage mannose and scavenger receptors as examples, we describe assays for determining macrophage adhesion to culture plastic surfaces, endocytosis of soluble ligands and phagocytosis of particles in vitro. These assays may be used in the production of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies, as well as in studies of the regulation of macrophage phenotype and activity.
Animals↗
Local variations in old age care in the welfare state: the case of Sweden.
Swedish local municipalities are responsible for the provision of social welfare, including old age care. Local autonomy is far-reaching, and local inequities are indeed great for all kinds of domestic and institutional care for the elderly. Not only coverage rates differ widely but also costs per citizen and spending per elderly person vary vastly. Numerous parameters of the political, economic and geo-social structure of the municipalities explain only very little of these local variations. It seems that local differences are often of long standing: this may explain why 'rational' indicators of needs and local capacity fail to explain much of the inequities. Yet, one factor of socio-political importance emerges as significant: the system of tax redistribution enforced on largely autonomous municipalities.
Aged↗
Fantasy and reality: an essay on incest.
The question of fantasy and reality in incest cases has been and continues to be a complex and much debated issue. From an historical perspective this issue was at its peak following Freud's introduction of the seduction theory. The renunciation of his theory and the silence that ensued for decades placed this debate on hold. Now that incest is again being acknowledged, clinicians are once again confronted with the issue of reality versus fantasy. This paper will demonstrate different ways the relationship between fantasy and reality in incestuous experiences may be expressed. The need to reexamine our positions and to bring the interplay of fantasy and reality back to the forefront will be addressed.
Adult↗
Diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder from parent reports predict diagnoses based on teacher reports.
OBJECTIVE: For DSM-III attention deficit disorder (ADD), it was previously reported that, when a parent report leads to a diagnosis of ADD, it is highly likely that the teacher report will also be positive. This report seeks to generalize that finding to DSM-III-R attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: In a population of 34 children meeting clinical criteria for DSM-III-R ADHD, parents and teachers independently responded to questions about individual ADHD symptoms. RESULTS: Correlations between parents and teachers for individual symptoms were low to moderate; however, there was a 77% probability that the teacher report would result in a positive diagnosis given a positive parent diagnosis. This probability increased to 88% if "broad" teacher diagnoses of ADHD, defined by 35% of the 14 DSM-III-R symptoms, were included. CONCLUSIONS: In clinically-referred children, a clinical diagnosis of ADHD based on parent report is likely to be corroborated by a teacher report.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
A naturalistic study of 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings and echocardiographic findings in children and adolescents treated with desipramine.
OBJECTIVE: Recent studies assessing cardiovascular effects of desipramine (DMI) in pediatric patients consistently have found small, clinically benign, but statistically significant, increases in heart rate and electrocardiographic (ECG) conduction parameters. However, single, routine ECG recordings cannot fully assess potential infrequent rhythm disturbances. METHOD: We analyzed data from 24-hour ECG monitoring, two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography, and expert clinical cardiac examination of DMI-treated patients. Subjects were 71 children (N = 35) and adolescents (N = 36) receiving long-term treatment (means +/- SD = 1.5 +/- 1.2 years, median = 1.0 year) with DMI (means +/- SD = 3.5 +/- 1.6 mg/kg). RESULTS: Compared with previous observations in untreated healthy children. DMI-treated patients had significantly lower rates of sinus pauses and junctional rhythm, but significantly higher rates of single or paired premature atrial contractions and runs of supraventricular tachycardia. There was an association between DMI serum levels and paired premature atrial contractions, but no other associations were detected. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the impression from previous ECG studies that DMI-associated cardiac effects in pediatric patients are quite benign. Nevertheless, it remains to be ascertained whether even minor cardiac abnormalities may predict later, evidently rare, adverse cardiovascular effects that may include sudden death.
Adolescent↗
Convergence of the Child Behavior Checklist with structured interview-based psychiatric diagnoses of ADHD children with and without comorbidity.
We evaluated the convergence of CBCL scales with the diagnosis of ADHD and comorbid disorders in 133 ADHD and 118 normal control boys, aged 6-17 years old. We evaluated the strength of association between each CBCL scale and structured-interview derived diagnoses with Total Predictive Value (TPV) and the odds-ratio (OR). Excellent convergence was found between the CBCL Attention Problems scale with the diagnosis of ADHD, between the Delinquent Behavior scale and the diagnosis of CD, and between the Anxiety/Depression scale and the diagnoses of Anxiety Disorders. These findings indicate that the CBCL could serve as a rapid and useful screening instrument to identify comorbid and non-comorbid cases of ADHD.
Adolescent↗
Patterns of psychiatric comorbidity, cognition, and psychosocial functioning in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE: Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common disorder of childhood, its status as a disorder in adults is not clear. The authors reasoned that if the adult diagnosis of the disorder is a valid clinical entity, it should be similar to the childhood disorder with regard to patterns of psychiatric and cognitive findings. METHODS: Eighty-four adults with a clinical diagnosis of childhood-onset attention deficit hyperactivity disorder confirmed by structured interview who were referred for treatment were studied. Findings were compared with those from a preexisting study group of referred children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nonreferred adult relatives of those children who also had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and adults without the disorder who were relatives of normal children. Subjects were evaluated with a comprehensive battery of psychiatric, cognitive, and psychosocial assessments. RESULTS: The referred and nonreferred adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were similar to one another but more disturbed and impaired than the comparison subjects without the disorder. The pattern of psychopathology, cognition, and functioning among the adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder approximated the findings for children with the disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that referred and nonreferred adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have a pattern of demographic, psychosocial, psychiatric, and cognitive features that mirrors well-documented findings among children with the disorder. These findings further support the validity of the diagnosis for adults.
Adult↗
DNA fingerprinting transforms the art of cell authentication.
The increasing diversity of new cell cultures is seriously stretching the capabilities of traditional methods of identification. DNA fingerprinting is set to play an important role in increasing confidence in the authenticity of cultures in research and industry.
Animals↗