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Biomedical subjects

C Smith

Publications and source records attributed to C Smith.

At least 1,243 records · Page 69Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Joint damage and disability in rheumatoid arthritis: an updated systematic review.

Joint damage and disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) both increase with disease duration but the nature of their relationship is uncertain. This review updates knowledge of the progression and inter-relationship of joint damage and disability in treated RA and provides a synopsis of the main predictive factors for damage and disability. In early RA 39-73% of patients develop one or more erosions in their hands and wrists by 5 years. In established RA the average annual increase in radiological damage scores is 1.9% maximal damage. After 20 years RA patients have on average 43% of maximum possible damage. These data suggests that joint damage progresses constantly over the first 20 years of RA. The average annual increase in HAQ scores is 0.033 per year (1% of possible maximum disability). In the first years of disease there is a "J-shaped" curve with an initial fall in HAQ scores followed by an increase over the next four years. In cross-sectional studies there is either no correlation or a weak correlation between damage and disability in early RA; this absence of correlation is explained by the "J-shaped" curve of disability with disease duration in early RA. As disease duration increases the correlation between damage and disability becomes more obvious; 9 studies show correlation coefficients between 0.31 and 0.75. The most predictive factors of damage and disability are rheumatoid factor status and disease activity. The validity of our conclusions are limited by the potential indirect link between small joint damage and disability, with large joint damage being a more important predictor, and the presence of ceiling effects on X-rays. In conclusion, joint damage accounts for a substantial proportion of the disability associated with the disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the VIDAS Listeria (LIS) immunoassay for the detection of Listeria in foods using demi-Fraser and Fraser enrichment broths, as modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06 (AOAC Official Method 2004.06).

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS LIS immunoassay with the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria in foods using an enrichment modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06. The modified enrichment protocol was implemented to harmonize the VIDAS LIS assay with the VIDAS LMO2 assay. Five food types--brie cheese, vanilla ice cream, frozen green beans, frozen raw tilapia fish, and cooked roast beef--at 3 inoculation levels, were analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1206 test portions were tested, of which 1170 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 433 positive by the VIDAS LIS assay and 396 positive by the standard culture methods. A Chi-square analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting average Chi square analysis, 0.42, indicated that, overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LIS assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adult Wilms' tumor. Intraoperative cytology and ancillary studies performed in a case as an adjunct to the histologic diagnosis.

A case of blastema-predominant Wilms' tumor in a 64-year-old woman is reported. Intraoperative cytology of a renal mass was used to rule out malignant lymphoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma. Light and electron microscopy, immunocytochemical staining and flow cytometry (FCM) were also performed. Immunoperoxidase studies of smears showed positive staining for vimentin and negative staining for cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen. FCM DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue showed no aneuploid peak. Frozen section interpretation of such tumors as seen in this case may be difficult, requiring distinction among several small-blue-cell neoplasms, including Wilms' tumor, neuroendocrine carcinoma and malignant lymphoma; intraoperative cytology can provide a valuable adjunct to frozen section diagnosis.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The temporal relationship of psychosocial stress to cellular immunity and herpes labialis recurrences.

This study used a prospective single-subject study design and time series analysis for repeated measures data to investigate the hypothesis that variations in psychosocial stress are associated with changes in cellular immunity in a study subject with recurrent herpes labialis. A study subject who was antibody positive for HSV-1 but reported no clinical manifestations of disease served as a control. Psychosocial stress, as measured by a questionnaire; cellular immunity, as measured by the monoclonal antibodies CD4 (OKT4), which defines the helper/inducer subset of T lymphocytes; and CD8 (OKT8), which defines the suppressor/cytotoxic subset, were measured weekly over the 32-week study period. Analysis of data using bivariate time series (ARIMA) demonstrated significant inverse correlations between stress level scores and percent CD4 helper/inducer T lymphocytes in both subjects. In the study subject with recurrent herpes simplex labialis, a Mann-Whitney U statistic determined that the percent of CD4 in the early stages of a recurrence were significantly lower than the percent of CD4 at other times when blood samples were drawn. The data presented are repeated measures on two individuals with positive antibodies to the herpes simplex virus, one with recurrent herpes and one without a history of recurrent herpes. Relevance for stress research is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A collaborative approach to nursing field placement.

The numbers of nursing students undertaking pre-registration education in higher education courses in South Australia has expanded rapidly over the last four years. This paper describes collaboration between Schools of Nursing to coordinate student placements in clinical venues. A computerised system has been developed which is unique in Australia and its positive results are identified.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of self-help groups in California for parents of children with chronic conditions.

PURPOSE: To gather information on the descriptive characteristics and function of self-help groups for parents of children with chronic conditions. METHOD: Thirty-two self-help groups for parents of children with chronic conditions were surveyed by telephone interview with the contact person from each group. Content analysis of the data was done. RESULTS: The majority (70%) have been in existence less than 6 years, and most were crisis oriented in purpose. Although functions of the groups were multifaceted, the majority (72%) were concerned with providing emotional support to parents. CONCLUSION: There is a gap between services currently available for parents and what is purported in the literature as necessary to promote optimal long-term outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation of cytomegalovirus from synovial cells of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Synovial cells from the joint of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showed foci of cytopathic effects during their 3rd subculture in vitro. Electron microscopy of these cells revealed findings characteristic for cytomegalovirus (CMV), and immunofluorescent staining using antiserum specific for CMV was positive. The patient had classical seropositive RA, was not taking immunosuppressive agents, and had no clinical manifestations of CMV disease at the time of synovectomy 3 months earlier. Titers of antibodies to CMV were studied in the sera and synovial fluids of 3 additional patients with RA, and in 1, elevated IgM antibodies to CMV were found, indicating recent infection. Additional studies for CMV in RA are indicated.

Adult↗