Biomedical subjects

A Ward

Publications and source records attributed to A Ward.

243 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Sex differences in the corpus callosum with aging.

The present study examined sex differences in the area and age-related atrophy of the corpus callosum (CC) of 76 healthy elderly subjects using magnetic resonance imaging. The cerebellum and pons served as noncortical control structures. CC area and its subregions were also related to cognitive performance. Women had a slightly larger posterior sector of the CC than men. Women but not men showed age-related atrophy of the anterior and middle sectors of the CC but not the posterior sector. Cerebellum and pons size was similar in men and women, and neither showed age-related atrophy. CC area was related to visual memory in women but not men; no other significant cognitive to structure area relationships were found. These findings show that selective age related atrophy of the CC differs in men and women late in life.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression, purification and secondary structure analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae vacuolar membrane H+-ATPase subunit F (Vma7p).

The vacuolar H+-ATPase is an acid pump found in virtually all eukaryotic cells. It shares a common macromolecular organization with the F1F0-ATPase, and some V-ATPase subunits are structural and functional homologues of F-ATPase components. However, the vacuolar complex contains several subunits which do not resemble F-ATPase subunits at the sequence level, and which currently have no specific function assigned. One example is subunit F, the Vma7p polypeptide of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A recombinant form of Vma7p was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Mass spectroscopy confirmed a mass of 13460 Da for Vma7p, and dynamic light scattering showed that the polypeptide was globular and monodisperse even at high concentrations. Analysis of secondary structure by circular dichroism and FTIR showed that Vma7p comprises 30% alpha-helix and 32-42% beta-sheet. The protein fold recognition programme 'Threader 2' produced highly significant matches between Vma7p and five alpha-beta sandwich folds. Relative proportions of secondary structure elements within these folds were broadly consistent with the spectroscopic data. Although Vma7p does not share sequence similarity with the F-ATPase epsilon subunit, the analysis suggests that the polypeptides not only have similar masses and assemble into homologous core complexes, but also share similar secondary structures. It is possible that the two polypeptides are homologous and perform similar functions within their respective ATPases. The production of high yields of homogeneous, folded, monodisperse protein will facilitate high resolution crystallography and NMR spectroscopy studies.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transcriptional regulation and biological significance of the insulin like growth factor II gene.

The insulin like growth factors I and II are the most ubiquitous in the mammalian embryo. Moreover they play a pivotal role in the development and growth of tumours. The bioavailability of these growth factors is regulated on a transcriptional as well as on a posttranslational level. The expression of non-signalling receptors as well as binding proteins does further tune the local concentration of IGFs. This paper aims at reviewing how the transcription of the IGF genes is regulated. The biological significance of these control mechanisms will be discussed.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Foot education improves knowledge and satisfaction among patients at high risk for diabetic foot ulcer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an intensive diabetes foot education program for veterans at high risk for foot ulcer. METHODS: We invited 100 consecutive patients with diabetes from a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center clinic who were insensate to the Semmes-Weinstein 5.07 monofilament to participate in a foot care education program. Two sessions were conducted by a nurse diabetes educator 3 months apart. Multiple educational approaches were used to teach patients foot self-examination, foot washing, proper footwear, and encouragement in enlisting proper physician foot care. Knowledge and satisfaction with care was measured before and after each visit. RESULTS: The 34 patients who attended both education sessions improved their foot care knowledge over the course of the program. After the second session, the mean improvement over baseline was 14%. These patients also reported improved satisfaction with foot care; mean improvement was 33%. CONCLUSIONS: An intensive education program improved the foot care knowledge and behavior of high-risk patients. Those who adhered to a foot care education program were more satisfied with their foot care than prior to the program. Ways to improve accessibility of education sessions must be explored.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Binocular fixation pattern and visual acuity in children with strabismic amblyopia.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was undertaken to compare the binocular fixation pattern and presence of amblyopia in strabismic children. METHODS: Fifty-three children with manifest strabismus and the ability to cooperate with an optotype acuity test were examined. The binocular fixation pattern and logMAR visual acuity were recorded by separate, masked observers under standardized conditions. The binocular fixation pattern was divided into four grades from alternation to uniocular fixation. RESULTS: Patients who freely alternated did not have amblyopia, while those who maintained or preferred fixation with a given eye tended to have amblyopia in the nonpreferred eye. CONCLUSION: The binocular fixation pattern can be rapidly assessed with minimal equipment and training. These findings confirm the usefulness of a graded assessment of the binocular fixation pattern in the detection of amblyopia.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied