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Biomedical subjects

C Walker

Publications and source records attributed to C Walker.

450 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Nicotine replacement combined with a novel compound (ProBAN) for smoking cessation: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation rates with available pharmacological therapies remain suboptimal. Anecdotal observations with a combination of sublingual pralidoxime and ipratropium (ProBAN) suggested that these agents in combination with nicotine gum improved quit rates. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ProBAN together with nicotine replacement improves quit rates compared with nicotine replacement alone. DESIGN: A 12-week, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled pilot study. SETTING: University-affiliated outpatient clinic. POPULATION STUDIED: Healthy adult smokers were recruited via advertisements. Of 107 subjects seen at the screening visit, 27 were excluded because of comorbid illness or concomitant medication use. INTERVENTIONS: Of 80 eligible subjects, 40 were randomly assigned to receive treatment with ProBAN sub- lingual tablets and nicotine gum (treatment group), and 40 to receive placebo tablets and nicotine gum (control group) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was complete continuous abstinence of smoking from one through 12 weeks after the quit date. MAIN RESULTS: There were no adverse effects in the treatment group. At one week after the quit date, 35% of ProBAN-treated subjects had quit compared with 18% of control subjects (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 7.2). Corresponding quit rates at four weeks were 28% and 15% (OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.7 to 6.5), at eight weeks were 25% and 13% (OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.7 to 7.6), and at 12 weeks were 23% and 13% (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.6 to 6.7), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicated that ProBAN combined with nicotine replacement doubled the continuous sustained quit rate compared with nicotine replacement alone, with no adverse effects. Although not statistically significant due to the size of the study, this result suggests that it may be an effective therapy for smoking cessation, and larger studies are warranted.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular genetics of renal carcinogenesis.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common tumor of the adult kidney, accounting for approximately 85% of renal neoplasms. RCC is heterogeneous in appearance, displaying diverse histologic and cytologic characteristics, with the clear cell variant being the most common. Individuals at high risk for this disease include persons with end-stage renal disease, those with hereditary predispositions such as von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) or tuberous sclerosis (TSC), and individuals with significant environment exposures such as smoking or analgesic abuse. Recently, several of the genetic targets for alterations involved in the development of human RCC have been identified. Solid RCC of the clear cell type is associated with alterations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene and hereditary papillary RCC is associated with alterations of the c-met protooncogene. In the rat, the most commonly seen tumors are of the non-clear cell type and it is the Tsc-2 tumor suppressor gene, rather than the VHL tumor suppressor gene, that appears to be the primary target for both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mutations in these animals. These data suggest that different variants of RCC have distinct molecular etiologies and that there are species-specific determinants that modulate the involvement of specific tumor suppressor genes in RCC. Interestingly, many of the genes involved in RCC also play significant roles in kidney development. The Wilm's tumor suppressor gene, WT-1, and Pax-2 regulate the mesenchymal epithelial transition that occurs during nephrogenesis and both these genes exhibit altered expression patterns and/or are mutated in renal tumors. Other genes such as c-met and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor are also involved in normal development and tumorigenesis, suggesting that tumors arise as a result of altered functions that are reflective of events that occur during nephrogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a novel TNF alpha ligand-receptor binding assay for screening NATCHEM Libraries.

The TNF alpha receptor is a major therapeutic target since over production of TNF alpha plays a key role in the development of septic shock following bacterial infection and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. To screen our NATCHEM Libraries for novel natural product inhibitors of this target we have developed a sensitive immobilised TNF alpha receptor binding assay based on a commercially available recombinant soluble TNF alpha receptor (p55) and [125I]-TNF alpha.

Antigens, CD↗
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Interdependence and life care planning.

Today's society is more litigant in accidental injury occurrences. With many injuries involving children, malpractice suits have resulted in an influx of information and rehabilitation supports. To address the growing need for legal representation in life care planning for injured persons, this easily understood tool provides the injured party with a viable approach to community interdependence and inclusion. Contrary to the conventionally medical model, where the person with a disability is viewed as needing 'fixed', this approach examines culture, community and the long term effects of disability. The individual with a disability is seen and understood within four aspects of personhood: capacities, gifts and passions; inclusive relationships; personal involvement; and understanding their culture and community. This life care planning process examines five eras in one's life cycle: formative/school age years, early work years, later work years, and retirement years. The specific needs of the individual in each life era are examined and specific costs itemized. The provision of adequate services and supports affords tremendous opportunities and inclusion into the community.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bullied to death.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical effect of a triclosan-containing dentifrice on plaque and gingivitis: a six-month study.

A total of 294 adult male and female subjects completed a 6-month, double-blind clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of a dentifrice which contained 0.3% triclosan in conjunction with 2% of a methoxyethylene/maleic acid copolymer in a 0.243% sodium fluoride/silica base, relative to a control dentifrice, on supragingival plaque accumulation and gingivitis. Plaque and gingivitis were scored after 3 and 6-month use of the assigned dentifrice. At the end of the study, the triclosan group showed an average reduction, relative to the control group, of 12% in plaque accumulation and 20% in gingivitis. Both were statistically significant at p < or = 0.0001. The effect of the triclosan dentifrice was most pronounced on the more severe manifestations of plaque and gingivitis. The improvement in the gingival parameters at 6-months relative to the control dentifrice was statistically significant at p < or = 0.0001. It was concluded that the twice-daily use of the triclosan-containing dentifrice resulted in significant reduction in supragingival plaque formation and a significant improvement in gingival health without the presence of any extrinsic staining or objectionable taste.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between blood eosinophils, T-helper cell activity markers and pulmonary function in patients with allergic and intrinsic asthma.

We studied 21 asthmatic patients (17 with allergic asthma and 4 with intrinsic asthma) who on the date of admittance to our clinic presented eosinophil values higher than 400 eosinophils/mm3 and a marked alteration in pulmonary function. From the day of admittance, eosinophils/mm3 were followed-up for 28-30 days, along with T-helper cell activity markers (IL-2R+) and pulmonary function markers. In patients with allergic asthma with or without topical corticoid treatment, and in patients with intrinsic asthma under treatment with topical corticoids, we observed that the number of eosinophils/mm3 and the number of activity markers (IL-2R+) decreased progressively, with subsequent clinical recovery and improvement in pulmonary function. This was not observed in patients with intrinsic asthma not treated with topical corticoids. We conclude that, as previously demonstrated, the activation and proliferation of eosinophils bear a close relationship with the previous activation of T-helper cells (CD4).

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of glioblastoma multiforme with epithelial differentiation and adenoid formations.

Rare examples of high-grade gliomas show focal epithelial differentiation, which may require distinction from colliision tumors. These epithelial constituents are not well-characterized immunophenotypically and have rarely been subjected to genotyping. We describe a case of a 54-year-old female with a short history of hemiparesis who was found to have an absolute lymphocytosis and a heterogeneously enhancing frontotemporal tumor. Cytological and histological examination of brain biopsies confirmed the presence of a glioblastoma multiforme also containing CAM5.2/CK7/BerEP4/CEA/EMA-immunopositive and GFAP-immunonegative nests of epithelial cells with a high proliferative index and focal glandular differentiation. Hematological investigations confirmed a diagn of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with no demonstrable CNS involvement. Genetic analysis using microsatellite markers and specimens obtained by laser capture microdissection of the CNS tumor and normal brain tissue, showed that both the glial and epithelial components of the brain tumor had identical losses of 2/2 informative markers on chromosome 17p13 and 5/5 informative markers on chromosome 10q22-26. The glial and epithelial components also shared an identical 2 base pair deletion in the TP53 gene at codon 209, exon 6, introducing a stop codon at codon 214. No losses at any of the above loci and no TP53 mutation were detected in the leukemic cells. These results suggest both components of the brain tumor, although differing in phenotype, share the same genetic lineage.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The orthopaedic management of hypophosphataemic rickets.

The orthopaedic management of 19 patients with hypophosphataemic rickets was reviewed. Three groups of patients could be identified: teenagers or young adults without knee problems, those with knee problems, and adults or elderly patients with stiff joints due to mineralisation of ligaments. Osteotomies were best staged. Diaphyseal osteotomies were performed at all ages with stabilisation over an intramedullary nail; metaphyseal osteotomies were most successful at or close to maturity. Early degeneration of the knees with shedding of the articular cartilage was seen in young adults, and osteochondritis-like lesions were seen in some teenagers. Stiffness and bone pain were a feature in elderly patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The evolution of a unit for the cognitively impaired elderly.

The MDE unit has filled a significant gap in the care of the psychogeriatric patient. Prior to its existence, the aggressive demented patient was generally managed by physical or chemical restraints. As community needs increase and require changes in the type of institutional care provided, the program will continue to respond with adaptive programs and expanded staff expertise. In the future the program may play a larger role. Due to gaps in the health care system, this type of program may have to admit more psychogeriatric patients. Also, this unique patient population could provide material for scientific research on dementia and its treatment. The MDE program depends not only on physicians and medications but also on a dedicated interdisciplinary team to manage this interesting and exceptional population.

Aged↗