Biomedical subjects

Andrew McCulloch

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew McCulloch.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The nitric oxide scavenger cobinamide profoundly improves survival in a Drosophila melanogaster model of bacterial sepsis.

Septic shock has an extremely high mortality rate, with approximately 200,000 people dying from sepsis annually in the U.S. The high mortality results in part from severe hypotension secondary to high serum NO concentrations. Reducing NO levels should be beneficial in sepsis, but NOS inhibitors have had a checkered history in animal models, and one such agent increased mortality in a clinical trial. An alternative approach to reduce NO levels in sepsis is to use an NO scavenger, which should leave sufficient free NO for normal physiological functions. Using a well-established model of bacterial sepsis in Drosophila melanogaster, we found that cobinamide, a B(12) analog and an effective NO scavenger in vitro, dramatically improved fly survival. Cobinamide augmented the effect of an antibiotic and was beneficial even in immune-deficient flies. Cobinamide's mechanism of action appeared to be from reducing NO levels and improving cardiac function.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Variation in children's cognitive and behavioural adjustment between different types of place in the British National Child Development Study.

Several recent studies suggest that there is a link between children's development and the types of neighbourhood in which they live. This paper examines the relationship of a classification of different types of neighbourhood to children's cognitive and behavioural outcomes using British data on children who have a parent who is a member of the 1958 Birth Cohort Study. Substantial variations in children's outcomes were observed between the neighbourhood types. Part of the variation between neighbourhood types was accounted for by various family risk factors but children living in neighbourhoods classified as Deprived City Areas continued to have higher levels of behaviour problems and lower cognitive test scores than average after adjustment for these factors. Significant adjusted associations were also found between living in neighbourhoods described as Middling Britain and lower cognitive test scores and neighbourhoods described as Prosperous Areas and better cognitive test scores. For children's cognitive outcomes, both the size and statistical significance of coefficients on the neighbourhood categories were smaller than those of family-level measures. In contrast, residence in a Deprived City Area was as significant as the family factors in predicting higher levels of behaviour problems. The association between behaviour problems and family risk factors was mediated by the home environment and cohort member parent's psychological health. Mediated effects were stronger for the family risk factors behavioural problems association than for the neighbourhood classification.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

The components of good community care for people with severe mental illnesses: views of stakeholders in five European countries.

Researchers and practitioners collaborated in a project across five European countries aimed at defining the characteristics of good community care for people with severe mental illnesses and to explore the values ofstakeholders in this debate (clients, families, professionals, policy makers, other citizens). In a concept mapping procedure all stakeholders gave highest priority to a trusting and stimulating relationship between clients and professionals. Secondly, good care was seen as effective treatment tailored to the individual needs. Accessibility of services came in the third place. Differences between the views of stakeholders are discussed.

Administrative Personnel↗

PubMed2005

Four more years.

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Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2003

An examination of social capital and social disorganisation in neighbourhoods in the British household panel study.

Recent developments in social science research suggest that social environmental factors may be important for explaining community variations in health. We investigate the structural sources of two mechanisms that produce community variations in health. Using survey data collected from a representative cross-section of British households we examine variations in neighbourhood social capital and neighbourhood social disorganisation across a sample of British neighbourhoods. Adjusting for respondent's attributes, we assess the effects of neighbourhood characteristics measured by the 1991 census in Britain. The results show that concentrated affluence, residential instability and ethnic heterogeneity predict social capital for women. Population density is the only neighbourhood characteristic to predict social capital for men. For both men and women concentrated disadvantage and population density are associated with social disorganisation. Residential instability is additionally associated with social disorganisation for women. For women it was found that neighbourhood characteristics interact with individual social class in accounting for variations in social capital, the effects of neighbourhood characteristics being larger for those in professional and managerial and skilled non-manual occupations. The results show that neighbourhood structural characteristics influence social organisation processes. This helps establish a link between the structural characteristics of neighbourhoods and individual health outcomes.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Dance band on the Titanic: biomechanical signaling in cardiac hypertrophy.

Biomechanical signaling is a complex interaction of both intracellular and extracellular components. Both passive and active components are involved in the extracellular environment to signal through specific receptors to multiple signaling pathways. This review provides an overview of extracellular matrix, specific receptors, and signaling pathways for biomechanical stimulation in cardiac hypertrophy.

Animals↗