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D Baird

Publications and source records attributed to D Baird.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Kv3.3b: a novel Shaw type potassium channel expressed in terminally differentiated cerebellar Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei.

A two-step hybridization/subtraction procedure was employed to isolate markers for the later stages of Purkinje cell differentiation. From this screen, a novel Shaw potassium channel cDNA (Kv3.3b) was identified that is developmentally regulated. Expression of this channel is highly enriched in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum, where its expression is confined to Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei. Sequence analysis revealed that it is an alternatively spliced form of the mouse Kv3.3 gene, and that the previously reported Kv3.3 mRNA (Ghanshani et al., 1992) is not expressed in cerebellum. Expression of the Kv3.3b mRNA begins in cerebellar Purkinje cells between postnatal day 8 (P8) and P10 and continues through adulthood, coinciding with elaboration of the mature Purkinje cell dendritic arbor. The timing of expression of Kv3.3b mRNA is maintained in mixed, dissociated primary cerebellar cell culture. These results suggest that the Kv3.3b K+ channel function is restricted to terminally differentiated Purkinje cells, and that analysis of the mechanisms governing its expression in vivo and in vitro can reveal molecular mechanisms governing Purkinje cell differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of a method to teach cardiothoracic surgery to medical students.

This report describes a method to teach undergraduate students the knowledge base and skills needed to maximize the educational value of a subsequent cardiothoracic surgical clerkship. Sixty-three fourth year medical students underwent a structured teaching programme in which groups of five students rotated through a series of six teaching stations. Subject material, presented during 20 min at each station, covered the key issues relating to coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, chest trauma, lung cancer, prosthetic heart valves, pacemakers, thoracic sepsis and dysphagia. Group knowledge increased significantly (P < 0.001) from a mean mark of 23% (s.d. 12) in a pre-test to a mean mark of 46% (s.d. 12) in a test conducted 1 month after the teaching. The time taken to conduct the structured teaching/assessment was 5 h compared with 32 h to run the same programme by the traditional ward tutorial system. The dollar cost to stage the structured teaching was less than that to run the traditional tutorial programme. It was concluded that the teaching method is effective, economical and practical and that it has a role in an undergraduate curriculum to prepare students for clinical clerkship.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1993

Iatrogenic vascular trauma associated with intra-aortic balloon pumping: identification of risk factors.

The most important noncardiac consequence of use of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is associated iatrogenic vascular trauma. A retrospective analysis was undertaken of all patients at our institution (n = 90, mean age 60 years) who had insertion of an IABP over a 10-year period to assess the possibility of preoperative identification of patients at high risk of IABP associated vascular injury. Catheters were introduced via the common femoral artery (n = 84; 30 percutaneous, 4 open Seldinger technique, 50 via a dacron sleeve), external iliac artery (n = 2), and ascending aorta (n = 4). Thirty patients (33.3%) developed one or more complications, with 25 vascular complications, six major septic complications, and four deaths. Variables identified as significant risk factors for IABP complications were female gender (P < 0.01) and concomitant peripheral vascular disease (P < 0.05). Site of insertion, method or difficulty of insertion, age, duration of counterpulsation, and use of anticoagulation and antibiotics did not significantly affect the incidence of vascular complications (P > 0.05). In conclusion, prior to cardiac surgery, we recommend screening for peripheral vascular disease to identify patients at increased risk of complications should IABP counterpulsation be required. Ankle/brachial systolic pressure indices may be used to detect subclinical disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Alternative management of choledocholithiasis.

This paper is presented to clarify the role of ERCP in conjunction with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. As the field of surgery moves more toward less invasive procedures, our management schemata may also need revision. With the popularity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy came a large increase in the number of patients treated with cholelithiasis, and therefore an increase in patients with choledocholithiasis. The authors believe that treatment options exist to avoid open common bile duct procedure in most cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect Toxoplasma gondii in human blood samples.

AIMS: To assess the value of detecting Toxoplasma gondii in human blood samples using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: Blood samples in lithium heparin were examined from 34 patients with suspected toxoplasmosis, and six healthy volunteers with or without the addition of doubling dilutions of toxoplasma tachyzoites. Products of a nested PCR, using oligonucleotide primers of the B1 gene, were analysed by electrophoresis and stained by ethidium bromide. The primary product was 194 base pairs in length; the nested products were 160 or 97 base pairs. RESULTS: When toxoplasma tachyzoites were added to the leucocytes of six different volunteers, eight to 16 parasites were detected by nested PCR in one experiment and one to four parasites in eight experiments. All nine experiments were negative in samples without added tachyzoites. Of 34 patients, PCR was negative in 13 with recent lymphadenopathy; nine with persisting IgM, including two pregnant patients; four with reactivated infection due to immunodeficiency; and five with no evidence of active infection. Positive PCR results were found in three patients with reactivated infection. There was only one discrepancy between PCR and animal culture results; this was in an immunocompromised patient with a positive PCR and negative culture. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR technique was rapid, sensitive, and specific in human blood samples. Negative PCR results in patients with persisting IgM suggested that the fetus was not at risk, or that treatment was not indicated in myalgic encephalomyelitis-like illness. PCR results in immunocompromised patients permitted appropriate management--no treatment if negative, treatment if positive.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Safe performance of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been advocated for the treatment of uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease, but has not been widely advocated for the management of more complicated gallbladder disease such as acute cholecystitis, previous surgery, or common duct stones. During the last 9 months, 360 patients underwent laparoscopic removal of their gallbladder. A total of 138 had a complicated presentation, making surgery more difficult. This article discusses the management of these patients with acute cholecystitis, previous surgery, or common duct disease. Using the described techniques, there were no complications or mortality. Laparoscopic management of difficult gallbladder problems is safe and effective.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Pneumococcal septic arthritis after splenectomy in Felty's syndrome.

A patient with Felty's syndrome who developed bilateral knee septic arthritis and septicaemia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is described. She had had a previous splenectomy for symptomatic thrombocytopenia, having received pneumococcal vaccine before the operation. Measurement of antibody to the 23 vaccine serotypes showed protective concentrations before infection to just two. The infecting serotype was not represented in the vaccine, but a vigorous antibody response to this serotype occurred. The patient also developed glomerulonephritis due to immune complex deposition.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The Nithsdale schizophrenia surveys. VIII: Do relatives want family intervention--and does it help?

Sixty-three relatives of 52 schizophrenics living at home were offered a package of treatments by professionals working in an everyday NHS setting: educational seminars, relatives' groups, and family meetings. Thirty-two relatives refused intervention. Of the 31 relatives who agreed, 14 attended neither the educational seminars nor the relatives' groups. Seventeen relatives had a mean of ten treatment sessions, but there was little change in their level of expressed emotion after intervention. The number of patients who relapsed was the same in the 18 months before and after intervention, although the total number of relapses fell after intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy and choledocholithiasis.

The management of common bile duct stones during laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy (LLC) is uncertain. Open common bile duct exploration is the least desirable option since it defeats the purpose of LLC. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with papillotomy has become the procedure of choice since it has a high rate of success and results in minimal morbidity. Intraoperative techniques using balloon catheters and the flexible choledochoscope via the cystic duct may obviate the need for ERCP in selected cases.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1990

Characterisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by biotyping, immunoblotting and restriction enzyme fragmentation patterns.

We have characterised 45 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Glasgow Royal Infirmary by means of simple biotyping, immunoblotting of exported proteins and restriction enzyme fragmentation patterns (REFP) of plasmid DNA. The strains were subdivided into four groups (A-D) on the basis of biotype. Immunoblotting and restriction enzyme fragmentation generated a number of unique patterns. Analysis of these patterns by means of Dice coefficients of similarity separated them into two major immunoblot groups (Blot1 and Blot2) and two major REFP groups (FP1 and FP2). There was strong positive correlation between Blot1 and FP1 groups and between Blot2 and FP2 groups. In addition, Blot1-FP1 isolates were almost exclusively of biotypes A or C, whereas Blot2-FP2 isolates were of biotypes B or D. The methods described here have provided comprehensive epidemiological information which has been valuable in studying the origin and spread of MRSA.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1989

A prospective evaluation of the psychosocial effects of coronary artery bypass surgery.

Eighty-nine patients were prospectively studied to determine psychological and psychosocial impairment prior to and after coronary artery graft surgery (CAGS). Psychological morbidity prior to surgery was high, with one-third having clinically significant levels of depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Scores on the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale indicated a generally high level of psychosocial impairment pre-operatively, with vocational and domestic functioning being most severely affected, social and sexual functioning being less impaired, and extended family relationships being largely unaffected. In general, there was a significant reduction in psychological morbidity and an improvement in psychosocial functioning at 6 months, which remained at 12 months. Vocational and domestic functioning showed the greatest improvement. Sexual and social functioning showed modest improvements overall, with significant numbers reporting residual impairment due to their heart disease. These findings add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating generally favourable psychological and social outcome following CAGS.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans, and systemic lupus erythematosis associated with insulin receptor antibodies.

We report a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) who developed diabetes secondary to extreme insulin resistance, associated with severe hyperandrogenism and acanthosis nigricans. Her insulin resistance was found to be associated with high titers of insulin receptor antibodies. The hyperandrogenism has been favourably influenced by cyclical treatment with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol, but the insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans have remained unmodified after 15 months of follow up.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗
PubMed1986

Precipitating a crisis: family therapy and adolescent school refusers.

This paper describes the use of family therapy with adolescent school refusers. School refusal is assessed and formulated from a family systems perspective, and therapy proceeds with the crisis precipitated by insisting on the adolescent's early return to school. Some of the common problems encountered in this approach are considered along with its results.

Adolescent↗