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Biomedical subjects

D Davies

Publications and source records attributed to D Davies.

248 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Conformations of immunoglobulin hypervariable regions.

On the basis of comparative studies of known antibody structures and sequences it has been argued that there is a small repertoire of main-chain conformations for at least five of the six hypervariable regions of antibodies, and that the particular conformation adopted is determined by a few key conserved residues. These hypotheses are now supported by reasonably successful predictions of the structures of most hypervariable regions of various antibodies, as revealed by comparison with their subsequently determined structures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Localized microcystic lymphatic malformations--ultrasound diagnosis.

Microcystic lymphatic malformations present with a wide variety of clinical manifestations that may make diagnosis difficult. We present four patients with microcystic lymphatic malformations that have been confirmed by both histology and ultrasound appearance. Five further cases of microcystic lymphatic malformations with unusual presentations, in which ultrasound was used to support the diagnoses, are then presented. The use of ultrasound as a tool to aid in the diagnosis of microcystic lymphatic malformations is then discussed and compared with other investigative techniques.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Metabonomics with 1H-NMR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry applied to the investigation of metabolic changes caused by gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat.

The model nephrotoxin gentamicin was administered to male Wistar-derived rats daily, for 7 days, at 60 mg kg-1 day-1, subcutaneously, twice daily. Conventional clinical chemistry urinalysis showed a significant increase in N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity from day 3. At necropsy on day 9, clear histological damage to the kidney was noted with all animals showing a generally severe nephropathy primarily focused on the proximal convoluted tubules. The urinary excretion pattern of endogenous metabolites over the time course of the study was studied using a combination of 1H-NMR spectroscopy and HPLC-TOF-MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI). Changes in the pattern of endogenous metabolites as a result of daily administration of gentamicin were readily detected by both techniques with significant perturbations of the urinary profile observed from day 7 onwards. The findings by 1H-NMR included raised glucose and reduced trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Changes in metabonomic profiles were observed by HPLC-MS in both positive and negative ESI. The MS data showed reduced xanthurenic acid and kynurenic acid, whilst neutral loss experiments also revealed a changed pattern of sulphate conjugation on gentamicin administration.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of neonatal capsaicin on peptide-containing primary afferent fibres, eosinophil distribution and hyperresponsiveness in rat lung tissue following experimentally induced eosinophilia.

Treatment of neonatal rats with capsaicin causes a 92.4% loss of calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-immunoreactive unmyelinated sensory afferent fibres in the airways epithelium, vascular smooth muscle and perivascular adventitial layer of lung tissue compared with vehicle-treated controls. Rats were administered Sephadex particles i.v. 8-10 weeks after either capsaicin or vehicle treatment at birth in order to induce a granulomatous tissue inflammation, peripheral blood eosinophilia and pulmonary eosinophil invasion [Laycock et al., Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1986;81:363-367]. The animals also exhibited lung hyperreactivity in vitro in response to carbachol and serotonin (5HT). In Sephadex-treated rats, capsaicin pretreatment did not affect the number of inflammatory cells in peripheral blood, the number of eosinophils in lung tissue, or the distribution of eosinophils in the adventitial tissue of blood vessels. Potencies of concentration-related contractures of lung tissue to 5HT and carbachol were increased by 50- to 100-fold in Sephadex-treated animals compared to controls, but in neither group was potency influenced by capsaicin pretreatment at birth. Recruitment and subsequent regional distribution of inflammatory cells in lung tissue and the increase in lung hyperresponsiveness exhibited in this model of asthma do not appear to involve neuropeptides released from primary afferent neurones.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of dietary bran on serum lipids in patients with previous myocardial infarction, with gallstones, and in normal subjects.

Sixteen subjects received between 50 g to 121 g of wheat bran in their diet for between 6 to 26 weeks. Five were normal subjects, 5 had gallstones, and 6 young men had suffered a previous myocardial infarction. The serum cholesterol did not show any consistent change in the normal subjects, but there was a fall in cholesterol at 20 weeks in patients with gallstones; patients with previous myocardial infarction had a rise in cholesterol which returned to normal at 20 weeks. There was no significant change in the serum triglyceride.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing pain in people with profound learning disabilities.

People with profound learning and multiple disabilities are at risk of pain because they experience complex and severe health conditions and frequently undergo surgical procedures that cause pain. Pain assessment in this client group requires a skilled approach, although there is little evidence available to guide nursing practice. In the absence of pain assessment measures specifically designed for use with people with profound learning disabilities, the nurse will need to rely on careful observation and interpretation of the client's communicative behaviour, clinical judgement and knowledge of the person during assessment. Intuition is also an important attribute and can be a valuable source of knowledge when assessing clients who are unable to verbalize their experience of pain. These issues, along with implications for nursing practice, are explored.

Communication↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Making a difference to practice: clinical benchmarking. Part 1.

In the first of two articles, the authors describe how an internal clinical practice benchmarking group was established in Preston to compare and share examples of best practice. The aim was to ensure consistent high standards of care practice across the trust. Activity related to discharge planning and visiting is used here to illustrate the effectiveness of clinical practice benchmarking as a continuous quality improvement tool. The second article will appear in Nursing Standard on May 3.

Benchmarking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Making a difference to practice: clinical benchmarking. Part 2.

In the second of two articles, the authors explore further the use of clinical practice benchmarking. In particular, practice related to improving nutritional care for patients, caring for patients with mental health needs and safely transferring critically ill patients is examined. The authors conclude by summarising the value of clinical practice benchmarking and how it made a difference to practice in their trust. The first article appeared in Nursing Standard last week.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Responding to need.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Self-association of deoxytetraribonucleoside triphosphates d(TpGpCpA) in an aqueous solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy].

Self-association of deoxytetraribonucleoside triphosphate 5'-d(TpGpCpA) molecules in aqueous solution has been studied by one-dimensional and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy (500 MHz). Two-dimensional homonuclear PMR spectroscopy (2D-COSY and 2D-NOESY) was used for complete assignments of tetranucleotide proton signals. Concentration and temperature dependences of d(TpGpCpA) proton chemical shifts have been measured. Experimental results have been analyzed using dimer model of molecules association. Equilibrium association constant, values of limiting chemical shifts of tetranucleotide protons in the associate and thermodynamic parameters delta H and delta S of the association reaction have been determined. Comparative analysis of self-association characteristics for d(TpGpCpA) and its isomeric deoxytetranucleotide d(ApGpCpT) has been made.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The causes of meningitis and meningococcal disease.

This article looks at the different causes of viral and bacterial meningitis, and gives a brief overview of these conditions. Meningococcal disease, including the incidence, signs and treatment, is described

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[1H-NMR study of complex formation between the aromatic dye ethidium bromide and the single-stranded noncomplementary deoxytetranucleotide 5'-d(CpTpGpA) in aqueous solution].

Complex formation between the aromatic dye ethidium bromide (3,8-diamino-6-phenyl-5-ethylphenanthridine) and the single-stranded noncomplementary deoxytetranucleotide 5'-d(CpTpGpA) in aqueous solution was studied by one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy (500 and 600 MHz). Complete assignments of proton signals from the deoxytetranucleotide 5'-d(CTGA) were made using 2D-TOCSY and 2D-NOESY spectra. The concentration dependences of proton chemical shifts of the tetranucleotide were measured at T = 298 K to determine the self-association constants of tetranucleotide molecules in solution. Due to a small probability of tetranucleotide duplex formation, the complexing of dye molecules with the monomer of the tetramer plays the main role in the equilibrium of the complex in solution, which makes it possible to analyze the specificity of interactions of the aromatic ligand with the single-stranded DNA. Different schemes of complex formation were examined, and equilibrium constants for the reactions and the limiting chemical shifts of dye protons in different complexes were determined. The relative content of different types of complexes was analyzed, and specific features of the dynamic equilibrium were revealed as a function of the dye-tetranucleotide concentration ratio. The analysis indicates a sequence-specific binding of ethidium bromide to the single-stranded oligonucleotide. The structures of 1:1 complexes of the dye with the single strand of the tetranucleotide that correspond to two most probable orientations of the dye chromophore in the pyrimidine-purine T-G-site of the tetramer base sequence were constructed using the calculated values of induced chemical shifts of ethidium bromide protons.

Binding Sites↗