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Biomedical subjects

C Henry

Publications and source records attributed to C Henry.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Evidence-based guidelines for the management of genital chlamydial infection in general practice. (Leicestershire Chlamydia Guidelines Group).

BACKGROUND: Valid clinical guidelines can be effective in improving patient care. Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the commonest curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) in England and Wales and is an important cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancy. No published guidelines exist on managing genital chlamydial infection in British general practice. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop valid guidelines for the management of genital chlamydial infection for use in British general practice. METHODS: A district-wide postal questionnaire survey was used to document current clinical practice. A critical review of the evidence concerning the management of genital chlamydial infection as it relates to British general practice was performed. The information gained from the critical review and survey was used to develop evidence-based guidelines within a multidisciplinary guideline recommendation group. RESULTS: The guidelines covered the diagnosis, investigation, drug treatment and referral of adult male and female patients with genital chlamydial infection in general practice. CONCLUSION: Valid guidelines for the management of genital chlamydial infection have been developed for use in British general practice. Appropriate dissemination and implementation of the guidelines should lead to earlier detection and treatment of men and women with chlamydial infection and thereby reduce the incidence of PID, tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women.

Adult↗

Adjuvant therapy for melanoma in dogs: results of randomized clinical trials using surgery, liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Spontaneous canine oral melanoma (COM) is a highly metastatic cancer, resistant to chemotherapy, and can serve as a model for cancer immunotherapy. Liposome-encapsulated muramyl tripeptide-phosphatidylethanolamine (L-MTP-PE) can activate the tumoricidal activity of the monocyte-macrophage system following i.v. injection. The objective of these studies was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of L-MTP-PE administered alone and combined with recombinant canine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rcGM-CSF) in dogs undergoing surgery for oral melanoma. Ninety-eight dogs with histologically confirmed, clinically staged, oral melanoma were entered into two randomized, double-blind, surgical adjuvant trials. In trial 1, 50 dogs were stratified based on clinical stage and randomized to once a week L-MTP-PE or lipid equivalent (control). When all of the clinical stages were combined, no difference in disease-free survival or in survival time (ST) were detected. However, within stage I, dogs receiving L-MTP-PE had a significant increase in ST compared with control, with 80% of the dogs treated with L-MTP-PE still alive at >2 years. Within each stage II and stage III, there was no difference detected between the treatment groups. In trial 2, 48 dogs were stratified on the basis of clinical stage and extent of surgery (simple resection or radical excision), treated with L-MTP-PE two times a week, and randomized to rcGM-CSF or saline (placebo) given s.c. daily for 9 weeks. Within each stage and when all of the stages were combined, there was no difference between the treatment groups. In both studies, stage I COM is associated with a better prognosis. No effect on survival was observed with regard to tumor location in the oral cavity, sex, type/extent of surgery, or age. In a subset of dogs tested, pulmonary alveolar macrophage cytotoxicity was enhanced with combined rcGM-CSF and L-MTP-PE but not in dogs treated with L-MTP-PE alone. The present study indicates that after surgery, L-MTP-PE administered alone or combined with rcGM-CSF showed no significant antitumor activity in treating advanced stage COM. In early stage COM, L-MTP-PE was shown to result in a prolongation of ST. Furthermore, this study provides additional rationale for the use of the dog model for human malignant melanoma.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

Genomic organization, 5'-flanking region and chromosomal localization of the human glutathione transferase A4 gene.

We have isolated and characterized a human glutathione transferase A4 (hGSTA4) subunit gene from a yeast artificial chromosome containing several other glutathione transferase alpha genes and pseudogenes. The homodimeric protein hGSTA4-4, is involved in the detoxification of 4-hydroxynonenal and other reactive electrophiles produced by oxidative metabolism, and may have a significant role in protecting intracellular components from oxidative damage. The hGSTA4 gene spans nearly 18 kb, contains seven exons, maps onto chromosome 6p12, and lies in close proximity to the 7SK small nuclear RNA gene in a head-to-tail orientation. The intron/exon borders conform to the standard rules, an open reading frame is present beginning at position 154 in exon 2, and the stop codon is at position 822 in exon 7. The transcription initiation site has been determined by primer extension analysis and is located 135 bp upstream of intron 1. Isolation and sequencing of the hGSTA4 gene 5'-flanking region revealed it to be devoid of TATA or CCAAT boxes but it does contain an initiator element overlapping the transcription start site, a GC box and putative binding sites for transcription factors AP1, STAT, GATA1 and NF-kappaB. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that hGSTA4 mRNA was present in all the tissues tested, although in low amounts, suggesting that this subunit may be ubiquitously expressed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning of STK13, a third human protein kinase related to Drosophila aurora and budding yeast Ipl1 that maps on chromosome 19q13.3-ter.

This report describes the identification of a cDNA encoding STK13, a third human protein kinase related to the Drosophila Aurora and the budding yeast Ipl1 kinases. After screening of a human placental cDNA library with a Xenopus laevis cDNA encoding the pEg2 protein kinase and 5' RACE on testis mRNA, a full-length cDNA was isolated. The chromosomal localization of STK13 on 19q13.3-ter between the markers D19S210 and D19S218 was established by a combination of somatic cell and radiation hybrid panel PCR screening. The localization of STK13 on human chromosome 19 was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a genomic clone containing STK13 as a probe.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms in patients with unipolar or bipolar depression.

To explore the involvement of serotonin transporter (5HTT) in mood disorder, we studied two polymorphisms of the 5HTT gene (a variable number of tandem repeats in the second intron (VNTR) and a 44 bp insertion/deletion in the 5HTT linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR)) in a sample of unipolar and bipolar patients and controls. Homozygosity for the short variant of the 5-HTTLPR was significantly more frequent in bipolar patients than in controls (chi2 = 4.68, d.f. = 1, P = 0.03) whereas there was no difference between bipolar patients and controls for allele distribution, suggesting a recessive effect. The interaction between the two markers suggests that the two polymorphisms probably have independent effects to determine the susceptibility to affective disorder. Further studies are required to identify the precise phenotype associated with 5HTT polymorphisms in depressed patients.

Adult↗

Dust in the wind.

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Aerosols↗

Iron mobilisation and cellular protection by a new synthetic chelator O-Trensox.

We tested a new synthetic, 8-hydroxyquinoline-based, hexadentate iron chelator, O-Trensox and compared it with desferrioxamine B (DFO). Iron mobilisation was evaluated: (i) in vitro by using ferritin and haemosiderin; DFO mobilised iron much more rapidly from ferritin at pH 7.4 than did O-Trensox, whereas at pH 4, ferritin and haemosiderin iron mobilisation was very similar with both chelators; (ii) in vitro by using cultured rat hepatocytes which had been loaded with 55Fe-ferritin; here DFO was slightly more effective after 100 hr than O-Trensox; (iii) in vivo administration i.p. to rats which had been iron-loaded with iron dextran; O-Trensox mobilised 51.5% of hepatic iron over two weeks compared to 48.8% for DFO. We also demonstrated the effect of O-Trensox in decreasing the entry of 55Fe citrate into hepatocyte cultures. The protective effect of O-Trensox against iron toxicity induced in hepatocyte cultures by ferric citrate was shown by decreased release of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotranferase (ALT) from the cultures and, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, decreased production of lipid radicals. O-Trensox was more effective than DFO in quenching hydroxyl radicals in an acellular system.

Animals↗

[Results of laparoscopic treatment of abdominal emergencies].

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of the laparoscopic surgical treatment of abdominal emergencies. From May 1991 to September 1995, 200 patients operated by laparoscopy for an acute abdomen were included in this study. The decision to treat the patient by laparoscopy was taken by the surgeon on duty. There were 101 males and 99 females with a mean age of 41 +/- 20 years (range 11-90 years). The main indications for operation were: acute appendicitis (109 patients), acute cholecystitis (52 patients), small bowel obstruction (14 patients) and perforated duodenal ulcer (14 patients). There was no hospital mortality. One per cent of patients experienced an operative complication which was treated by laparotomy. Conversion to laparotomy was needed in 13% of cases. The morbidity rate was 9% and reoperation by laparotomy for acute generalized peritonitis secondary to small bowel perforation was necessary in two cases. Mean postoperative hospital stay ranged from 4 to 7 days. The authors conclude that surgical laparoscopic treatment of the common abdominal emergencies is safe. The conversion rate is low as is the complication rate. These conclusions should be confirmed by a prospective study.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Characterization of 6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucose: a potential new tool to assess glucose transport.

6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucose (6-DIG) was rapidly taken up by adipocytes. Insulin increased 6-DIG transport in adipocytes isolated from both rats and mice. This stimulation was more important in rat than in mouse adipocytes, in agreement with their respective amount of Glut 4 transporters. In two insulin resistant states, the biological behavior of 6-DIG and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was similar. These results indicated that 6-DIG, which was transported into the cells via the glucose transporters, could be potentially useful to measure modifications of glucose transport.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Biological evaluation of two anomeric glucose analogues iodinated in position 6.

Two anomeric analogues of glucose labelled with 123 iodine in position 6, proposed as tracers of glucose transport in vivo, have been synthesized: alpha- and beta-methyl-6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucopyranoside (alpha MDIG and beta MDIG). The aim of this study was to determine whether these molecules interact with the glucose transporter and whether they could be used as tracers of glucose transport in vivo. The biodistribution of alpha MDIG and beta MDIG was studied in the mouse in vivo. To determine if these two anomers enter the cell via the glucose transporter, their uptake was measured in isolated perfused rat hearts, in human erythrocytes in suspension, and in cardiomyocytes of neonatal rat in culture. Both alpha MDIG and beta MDIG had similar repartitions in the mouse: myocardial uptake averaged 7% of the injected dose/g of organ at 2 min postinjection and alpha MDIG competed with D-glucose to enter the cells. Insulin produced a 123% increase of its uptake in isolated perfused rat hearts and a 100% increase in cardiomyocytes of neonatal rat in culture. alpha MDIG uptake was lowered in the presence of glucose transport inhibitors in each experimental model. An interaction between beta MDIG and glucose transporters was observed only in human erythrocytes in suspension. Only alpha MDIG interacts with the glucose transporter, and thus could be used to estimate glucose transport in vivo.

Animals↗

[123I]-6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucose (6DIG): a potential tracer of glucose transport.

A glucose analogue labelled with iodine-123 in position 6 has been synthesized: [123I]-6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucose (6DIG). The aim of this study was to examine its biological behaviour in order to assess whether it could be used to evaluate glucose transport with SPECT. To establish whether 6DIG enters the cells using the glucose transporter, four biological models have been used: human erythrocytes in suspension, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in culture, isolated perfused rat hearts, and biodistribution in mice. 6DIG competed with D-glucose to enter the cells and its entry was increased by insulin and inhibited in the presence of cytochalasin B. The biological behaviour of 6DIG was similar to that of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. 6DIG is a tracer of glucose transport which is very promising for clinical studies.

Animals↗

Conversion of DL-threonine, D-threonine and 2-oxobutyrate into propionate and 2-hydroxybutyrate by Fusobacterium species.

The present investigation examined DL-threonine, D-threonine and 2-oxobutyrate conversion into propionate and 2-hydroxybutyrate by various type strains and clinical isolates of Fusobacterium. Except for Fus. naviforme, the type strains were able to produce varying degrees of propionate and/or 2-hydroxybutyrate from DL-threonine. Additionally, D-threonine was converted into an equimolar amount of propionate by Fus. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum, Fus. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum and Fus. varium, and to a lower but significant amount by Fus. mortiferum and Fus. perfoetens. However, the level of propionate remained unchanged for Fus. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme, Fus. nucleatum subsp. vincentii, Fus. naviforme, Fus. necrophorum subsp. funduliforme, Fus. gonidiaforme and Fus. russii. 2-Oxobutyrate was fermented to propionate by all type strains, although Fus. russii reduced it mainly to 2-hydroxybutyrate. Thus, an attempt was made to make use of these features in order to identify clinical isolates.

Fusobacterium↗