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Biomedical subjects

C Cooney

Publications and source records attributed to C Cooney.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The use of EMLA reduces the pain associated with digital ring block for ingrowing toenail correction.

Treatment of ingrowing toenail is commonly performed under local anaesthesia with a digital ring block. Ring block can be associated with significant pain, caused by needle insertion and deposition of the local anaesthetic agent. EMLA, a topical anaesthetic cream, is widely used to alleviate the pain of venepuncture. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the discomfort of digital block could be reduced by prior application of EMLA. Fifty-five patients who were scheduled for ingrowing toenail under local anaesthesia were randomized into two groups. In Group 1 (n = 30), EMLA was applied around the base of the affected hallux for at least 1 h before ring block. In Group 2 (n = 25), a placebo cream was used. In this double-blind study, patients assessed the pain caused by a standardized ring block using 100-mm visual analogue pain score. The mean visual analogue pain score in Group 1 was 28.1 and 50.1 in Group 2 (P < 0.0001). We conclude that EMLA significantly reduces the pain associated with digital ring block.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Preparative purification of supercoiled plasmid DNA using anion-exchange chromatography.

Large scale manufacturing of gene vectors such as plasmid DNA is an important issue in gene therapy. Anion-exchange chromatography is fundamental in the downstream processing of plasmids both as a process and analytical technique. This work reports the use of Q-Sepharose columns (1, 10 and 40 ml) for the preparative purification of plasmid pUC18. NaCl gradient elution enabled the isolation of supercoiled plasmid from low-M(r) RNA, cDNA and plasmid variants. A compact covalently closed, supercoiled form of denatured plasmid carrying large stretches of single-stranded DNA was identified as one of the major contaminants. Anion-exchange HPLC on a Poros QE 20 column was used to quantify plasmid yield. Supercoiled plasmid was recovered in a single fraction with a 62 +/- 8% yield. Loadings higher than 40 micrograms/ml gel could be used but at the expense of a loss of resolution between open circular and supercoiled forms. Plasmid quality was evaluated by gel electrophoresis, restriction analysis, transformation experiments and protein assays.

Anions↗
PubMed1997

Homelessness, mental illness and the law.

One major difficulty that faces both researchers and practitioners who work with the homeless is the lack of definitions and frameworks that assist better understanding of such people's problems and society's response to them. This article reviews the legislation dealing with homeless people's social, civil and legal problems. We tried to give this legislation's historic and social background, including a section on psychiatric disorders in this group because of their relevance to current debate on homeless offenders. We then reviewed the legislation relevant to homeless people in general and the homeless mentally ill in particular, including the recently introduced court diversion schemes.

History, 20th Century↗
PubMed1996

Heparinase III from Flavobacterium heparinum: cloning and recombinant expression in Escherichia coli.

Heparinase III (E.C. 4.2.2.8), formerly heparinase I, produced by Flavobacterium heparinum is an enzyme that specifically cleaves heparan sulfate-rich regions of acidic polysaccharides. In this study, we report the cloning of the heparinase III gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two degenerate oligonucleotides, based on amino acid sequences derived from tryptic peptides of purified heparinase III were used to generate a approximately 1100-bp probe by PCR amplification using Flavobacterium genomic DNA as the template. The PCR-derived probe was used to screen a Flavobacterium genomic DNA library in lambda ZAP II. The open reading frame of the heparinase III gene is 1980 bp in length, encoding a precursor protein of 75,950 Da; 10 of the tryptic peptides mapped onto the open reading frame which corresponded to approximately 18% of the protein. Recombinant heparinase III was expressed in Escherichia coli using the T7 polymerase pET expression system. This is the first report of the cloning and recombinant expression of an enzyme primarily degrading heparan sulfate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Maternal and neonatal hyponatraemia: a comparison of Hartmanns solution with 5% dextrose for the delivery of oxytocin in labour.

We performed a randomised controlled trial to compare the effect on neonatal and maternal serum sodium of using oxytocin in Hartmanns solution compared to the standard 5% Dextrose regimen for induction or augmentation in labour. We found significantly decreased maternal and neonatal serum sodium concentrations in the 5% Dextrose group compared to the Hartmanns group.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Carer informants for dementia sufferers: carer awareness of cognitive impairment in an elderly community-resident sample.

By comparing data obtained from the carers of 170 community-resident dementia sufferers with the results of objective cognitive testing, we assessed carer awareness of a range of cognitive deficits in their dependents. Spouses living with demented patients were the best at estimating the overall severity of cognitive impairment, whereas both first-degree (particularly if living with the dementia sufferer) and second-degree relatives were better at identifying and reporting the severity of memory impairment and topographical disorientation. Only one carer was aware of problems with object recognition, although a definite problem was detected in at least 40% of the study group. The testing instruments used (MMSE and CAMCOG) probably under-detected dysnomia and appeared to be inconclusive when compared with carer reports of difficulties that could be attributable to dyspraxia, highlighting the problem of sole reliance on either these instruments or informant accounts to obtain accurate clinical information.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Induction of lambda prophage by 213 nm laser radiation: a quantitative comparison with 193 nm excimer radiation using image analysis.

We compared the DNA damage produced by radiation from two UV laser wavelengths, 213 nm and 193 nm, with that produced by noncoherent 254 nm radiation. Following irradiation of Escherichia coli BR339, a bacteriophage lambda lysogen containing the lacZ gene, pro-phage induction was measured by assaying for beta-galactosidase. Because of the limited penetration by UV laser wavelengths an agar overlay of the lysogen was used as the irradiation target. Irradiation of 254 nm was performed in buffer suspension followed by transfer of 5 microL spots onto assay plants. Computer image analysis was used to monitor the rate of product formation, observed as an increase in optical density of the irradiated zones on assay plates. We found that the rate of product formation was a more reproducible unit of comparison than the optical density present at the end of the reaction. Although the rate of product formation was not linearly related to enzyme concentration, the data could be fit to a simple logarithmic function. Using this method, we concluded that the DNA damaging ability of 213 nm radiation was 10 times more efficient than 193 nm radiation and about 100 times less efficient than 254 nm noncoherent radiation.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1996

The homeless.

The medical literature on homeless people tends to concentrate on their biographic characteristics or clinical problems without enough attention being given to the social and environmental contexts which they have to survive. This article summarises the literature on the role of social factors in the causation and outcome of health problems of the homeless and emphasises the importance of addressing the social context in effecting intervention. Services that deal with the social needs of the homeless will be more successful in meeting their needs and reducing their distress.

Health Services Accessibility↗
PubMed1995

Elder abuse and dementia--a pilot study.

An anonymous postal questionnaire was distributed to 200 members of a voluntary organisation providing information and support for the carers of dementia sufferers. Carers were asked about the possible occurrence of verbal, physical abuse and neglect. Those carers who admitted to any form of abuse were compared with those who did not and risk factors in both carers and patients were analysed to determine risk factors for abuse. Fifty-five per cent of carers admitted to some form of abuse with verbal abuse being the most common form. Verbal abuse was associated with a poor premorbid relationship and social isolation of the carer and was found to be a risk factor for physical abuse. Those carers who had high GHQ scores and who had been caring for longer were more likely to physically abuse the person they cared for. This study supports the hypothesis that various categories of abuse have different correlates.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Nursing diagnosis: implications for health, with particular concerns for community nursing.

As nursing terminology develops to include positive health/wellness related concepts, the appropriateness of nursing diagnoses is questioned. Nursing diagnoses have the potential to lead community nurses towards a reductionist and simplistic view of the complexities associated with community issues. Concerns and questions are raised in relation to the acceptance of nursing diagnoses in Australian community nursing practice.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1991

Spinal needles.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗