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Biomedical subjects

C Morrison

Publications and source records attributed to C Morrison.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Maternity services for drug misusers in England and Wales: a national survey.

A postal questionnaire was sent to the 213 National Health Service maternity units in England and Wales to identify their current involvement with drug misusers. The response rate was 89.5%. Data indicated that only 29% had formal links with their local drug agency. Child protection case conferences were automatically convened in 52%, and 57% routinely admitted babies to high dependency areas. Twenty-seven per cent of the units did not offer hepatitis B screening to pregnant women, and 32% did not offer hepatitis B prophylaxis to babies whose mothers were infected. Local Health purchasing authorities should ensure that their providers are offering appropriate services to pregnant drug misusers in order to encourage such women to seek help without fear of discrimination. Liaison between health care agencies should be encouraged and areas with low levels of drug misuse should receive help with formulating policies, and training, from units with more experience.

England↗
PubMed1994

The impact of the PCR plateau phase on quantitative PCR.

The quantitative use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is often compromised by the variability of the amplification. The most useful system for quantitation by PCR involves the use of controls which are almost identical to the target and which can be amplified using the same primers as the sequences of interest. In this paper, we use a model system consisting of differently sized targets amplifiable with varying primers to demonstrate the effects of the plateau phase of PCR on quantitation by PCR. This model confirms two commonly observed results: (i) when varying amounts of a single target are amplified, a constant maximum level of product is obtained and (ii) coamplification of different concentrations of different targets results in retention of the initial proportions. The inherent contradiction in these results is examined by replacement of the key elements of the reaction including enzyme, dNTPs or primers, none of which have an effect on the plateau. Pyrophosphate is found to exert no inhibitory effect on the reaction, nor does the exonuclease action of the enzyme cause the plateau. Levels of amplification attained during amplification are both theoretically and empirically defined as being insufficient to lead to the plateau due to competition between self-annealing of product DNAs and primer binding. We conclude that, pending further biochemical enquiry into the enzyme(s) used in the PCR, none of reasons conventionally proposed for the plateau phase of the PCR are sufficient to explain the phenomenon. This being so, we define the plateau as being a feature of the reaction as a whole and, since the onset of this phase is simultaneous for all amplicons, quantitation using the internal control system need not require exponential amplification. This therefore greatly simplifies the quantitative application of PCR.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

TGF-beta s and TGF-beta type II receptor in human epidermis: differential expression in acute and chronic skin wounds.

Exogenously applied transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) isoforms enhance wound healing processes in animal models; however, little is known about the expression of endogenous TGF-beta s and TGF-beta receptors in intact human skin or during wound healing. The present study has revealed several unexpected findings by means of in situ hybridization and immunohistology techniques. In humans, TGF-beta 3 is constitutively expressed in the epidermis of intact skin and in that of acute and chronic wounds--a pattern of expression closely mirrored by the TGF-beta type II receptor. Although not detected in intact skin, TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression was observed in the regenerating epidermis of acute (thermal) wounds but was not found in chronic decubital (pressure) wounds. TGF-beta 2 mRNA expression was not detected in the epidermis of any human skin or wound biopsies. From these findings we suggest that constitutive expression of TGF-beta 3 is important for maintenance of epidermal differentiation and that an induction of TGF-beta 1 expression is essential for re-epithelialization of human skin wounds. Lack of TGF-beta 1 expression in chronic pressure wounds may be associated with their protracted healing tendencies.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Practices of epilepsy during pregnancy: a survey of Canadian neurologists.

The optimal management of epilepsy in epileptic pregnancies remains controversial. We surveyed all neurologists in Canada to determine their usual practice in managing epilepsy during pregnancy. We identified 436 neurologists in the 1990 edition of the Canadian Handbook of Medical and Surgical Specialists. We mailed a questionnaire enquiring with respect to details of management of epilepsy during pregnancy to all neurologists; in the case of nonrespondents, a follow-up questionnaire was mailed eight weeks later. We achieved a 65% response rate. We found that carbamazepine was the antiepileptic drug of first choice for the management of epilepsy during pregnancy among the majority of neurologists (75%), while phenobarbital (10%) and phenytoin (11%) were recommended much less frequently. Eight percent of respondents never used polytherapy during pregnancy. Despite recent controversy over the reproductive safety of carbamazepine, monotherapy with carbamazepine is regarded by the vast majority of Canadian neurologists as the therapy of first choice for epilepsy during pregnancy.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1993

Diurnal variation in myeloid bodies of the chick retinal pigment epithelium.

Myeloid bodies (MBs) are distinct lamellar regions of the normally branched tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. These organelles are present in the retinas of many lower vertebrates. Previous investigations have reported a relationship between outer segment disk shedding and phagocytosis by the RPE, and the formation of MBs. The current morphometric study was undertaken to establish if a temporal relationship existed between MB occurrence and the phagocytosis of shed photoreceptor outer segment tips in the chick retina. We report on the occurrence of phagosomes, MBs, and for the first time, MB precursors (templates) in the RPE over a 24-hr diurnal cycle. Phagosome numbers were observed to be highest within 2 hr following lights on, and again following lights off, while MB precursors were most prevalent at two time points, immediately prior to the times for rod and cone outer segment shedding at lights on and lights off respectively. Traditional MBs of the small (0.06 to 0.239 microns2) and medium (0.24 to 0.99 microns2) variety increased both in size and number from 01:00 hr of a 24 hr time period, with smaller and fewer MBs being present late in the dark part of the diurnal cycle, and larger and more numerous MBs in the later part of the light portion and into the early part of the dark portion of the cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Delivery systems for the care of persons with HIV infection and AIDS.

HIV infection and AIDS are pathologic conditions that more than any other disease require the concerted, cooperative efforts of the health care profession and the community. This article discusses the development of delivery systems for the care of persons with HIV infection and AIDS, highlights what systems have been successful, and indicates the areas in which further research and development are needed. Topics discussed include the costs of care; identifying and meeting the specific health care needs of the HIV-infected population; and long-term, community-based, hospice, and hospital care.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

An NGF-inducible octamer binding protein activity in a C1300 neuroblastoma cell line.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces a protein in the C1300 mouse neuroblastoma cell line which recognises the octamer DNA consensus sequence 'ATGCAAAT'. This protein is absent, or only minimally present, in C1300 cells prior to induction with NGF. This induced octamer binding protein is detectable by gel retardation analysis within 3 h of NGF treatment and increases progressively with 24 h and 72 h of exposure to NGF.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The HIV epidemic. Ethical issues for the next decade.

The HIV epidemic and ethical issues will continue to be a major topic of discussion over the next decade. It is now evolving into a new phase and we are experiencing a change or shift in the populations that are affected. This article focuses on the issues of early intervention, access to care, and the continuum of care including a discussion of case management, the changing populations, drug trials, and issues surrounding confidentiality.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1992

Effect of age, family status, and physical activity on selected dietary components of TAC pilots.

This study gathered dietary data on Tactical Air Command (TAC) pilots for descriptive and analytic purposes. One hundred eighteen TAC pilots from five bases were interviewed concerning their diet, age, family configuration, and exercise level. Dietary information was recorded using the PruCal 3-day dietary report form, while the remaining information was recorded on a personal interview form. Pilots were grouped according to age (three levels), family configuration (three levels), and exercise (three levels). The groups in each category were tested (analysis of variance) for differences in their intake of protein, carbohydrates, fat, alcohol, and caffeine, and for demographic differences. Differences between exercise groups were found for weight and carbohydrates consumed. Age group differences were seen in alcohol intake and fat consumption. Further findings suggest pilots do not have diets which meet dietary guidelines. There appears to be a need for nutrition education, dietary modification programs, and further study of the diets of TAC pilots.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Astigmatically neutral sutured small incision.

The desire for rapid visual rehabilitation following phacoemulsification for cataract and intraocular lens implantation has stimulated a quest for an "astigmatically neutral" incision. We have evaluated an underemphasized aspect of wound closure technique for a small incision wound (5.1 mm). The essential element of the technique is reinflation of the anterior chamber after a nylon shoelace suture is placed and tied once but before the knot is finally secured. The resulting changes in corneal curvature are analyzed. Results are presented at two weeks and six weeks postoperatively. We have termed this technique post-suture inflation.

Astigmatism↗
PubMed1991

Syme's two-stage amputation in insulin-requiring diabetics with gangrene of the forefoot.

Thirty-five insulin-requiring adult diabetic patients underwent 38 Syme's Two-Stage amputations for gangrene of the forefoot with nonreconstructible peripheral vascular insufficiency. All had a minimum Doppler ischemic index of 0.5, serum albumin of 3.0 gm/dl, and total lymphocyte count of 1500. Thirty-one (81.6%) eventually healed and were uneventfully fit with a prosthesis. Regional anesthesia was used in all of the patients, with 22 spinal and 16 ankle block anesthetics. Twenty-seven (71%) returned to their preamputation level of ambulatory function. Six (16%) had major, and fifteen (39%) minor complications following the first stage surgery. The results of this study support the use of the Syme's Two-Stage amputation in adult diabetic patients with gangrene of the forefoot requiring amputation.

Adult↗