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Biomedical subjects

D Love

Publications and source records attributed to D Love.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Sequence variation within the capsid protein of Australian isolates of feline calicivirus.

The capsid protein of Australian feline calicivirus (FCV) isolates is demonstrably different from the prototype strain F9. Five Australian isolates of FCV, dating from 1970 to 1989, were analysed by western blotting and immunoprecipitation. Varying reactivity to a panel of F9 specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was observed. DNA sequencing of RT-PCR generated clones supported the observation of variation between capsid proteins. Predicted amino acid sequences varied by 11 to 17.5% across the whole capsid when compared to the published F9 sequence. Differences in amino acid sequence were most apparent in previously described hypervariable regions (C and E). Within hypervariable region E differences of 22 to 34% were observed compared to F9. The observed lack of reactivity to F9 MAbs correlated with amino acid changes within previously characterized binding sites within region E.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Institutional influences on the primary cesarean section rate in Utah, 1992 to 1995.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to evaluate institutional and organizational influences on cesarean section rates in Utah and to adjust such rates for differences in patient acuity. STUDY DESIGN: Data on cesarean section rates were derived from the Utah Hospital Discharge Database and adjusted for patient acuity by correcting raw cesarean rates for those patients undergoing cesarean section meeting regional gestational age transport criteria. RESULTS: When analyzed by means of 1-way analysis of variance, the following factors had a significant negative correlation (P < .05) with cesarean section rate: presence of a newborn intensive care unit and maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists, presence on the medical staff of obstetrician-gynecologist(s) as opposed to family physicians only, delivery volume >1500/y, urban location, and 24-hour in-house anesthesiology. When cesarean rates were corrected for acuity, facilities with maternal-fetal medicine specialists and a newborn intensive care unit had significantly lower rates (P < .001) and more uniform rates than otherwise similar institutions. CONCLUSIONS: More medically sophisticated physicians and institutions have lower cesarean rates when patient acuity is taken into account.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed1995

The geographical accessibility of hospitals to the aged: a geographic information systems analysis within Illinois.

OBJECTIVE: This article uses geographic information systems and their related tools to empirically measure and display the geographic accessibility of the aged population to hospital facilities within Illinois. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: Geographic accessibility of Illinois' aged population is measured from each of the state's 10,796 census block groups to the state's 214 hospital facilities. Block group demographic compositions and centroids are obtained from 1990 census files. Hospital coordinates are obtained by the authors. STUDY DESIGN: Of five alternative measures of accessibility considered, empirical estimates are obtained for two: choice set and minimum distance. Access to both general hospitals and the subset having specialized geriatric facilities is measured with special attention to differences in accessibility between the aged within metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and those outside MSAs. Cumulative accessibility distributions and their summary statistics provide a basis of comparison among subgroups. DATA COLLECTION AND EXTRACTION: Geographic information systems (GIS) and their related tools are used as a means of efficiently capturing, organizing, storing, and retrieving the required data. Hospitals and census block groups are geocoded to specific locations in the database, and aspatial attributes are assigned to the hospitals and block groups. The GIS database is queried to produce shaded isarithm and point distribution maps that show the location of hospitals relative to surrounding aged populations. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of Illinois' aged population is within close proximity to hospital facilities. Eighty percent (1,147,504 persons) of the aged in Illinois are within 4.8 miles (7.7 km) of a hospital and 11.6 miles (18.7 km) of two hospitals. However, geographic accessibility differences between the aged living in MSAs and those living outside MSAs to hospitals offering geriatric services are substantial; but there is no evidence that the aged's geographical accessibility to hospitals is less favorable than that of the general population. Detailed accessibility measures permitted by geographic information system technology call into question the continued use of crude empirical accessibility measures.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Apparent association of mental retardation and specific patterns of deletions screened with probes cf56a and cf23a in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

A total of 162 Duchenne (DMD) patients and two girls with a DMD phenotype were analysed for deletions in the central region of the dystrophin gene in order to determine if there was a correlation between mental retardation (MR) and the pattern of deletion. Approximately 43% of the patients studied had deletions with two dystrophin cDNAs, cf23a and cf56a, and among 148 patients who were mentally assessed, 50% were mentally retarded. The average IQ in the group of patients with DNA deletions did not differ significantly from those patients with no detectable deletions. However, six unrelated DMD boys with MR showed an identical pattern of deletion. Our observations in the group of patients who had detected DNA deletions suggest that exon 52 of the dystrophin gene may be functionally significant in the manifestation of MR: 70% (19/27) of patients with a deletion of this exon were mentally retarded, whereas only 38% (15/39) of MR patients had deletions not involving exon 52. This difference was statistically significant.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed1991

Identification and comparative sequence analysis of a gene in equine herpesvirus 1 with homology to the herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D gene.

A homologue of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D gene has been identified in the genome of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1, equine abortion virus). An open reading frame in the middle of the short unique (US) region is capable of encoding a polypeptide of 402 amino acids that has 26% and 20% of its residues matching pseudorabies virus (PRV) gp50 and HSV-1 gD, respectively. Despite this low level of similarity, the positional identity of six cysteine residues and certain motifs, and the location of the EHV-1 gene, clearly define the EHV-1 polypeptide as one of a family of "gD-like" proteins. Two transcripts of 3.3-3.6 kb and 5.4-5.9 kb were identified, consistent with coterminal mRNAs for the EHV-1 gD gene and the adjacent upstream gene, respectively. Partial sequencing of other regions in US also revealed EHV-1 homologues of HSV-1 gE and gI genes, and a possible equivalent gene to PRV gX. By analogy with the ability of HSV-1 gD and PRV gp50 to induce strong anti-viral immune responses, the EHV-1 gD gene product is expected to be an excellent candidate for development as a vaccine antigen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Exclusion of the gene responsible for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH) at 6q23-q27.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH) is an autosomal dominant condition with variable expressivity and age dependent penetrance. Linkage studies still did not exclude regions 11, 2q, 6q, 7p, 8p, 10q, 12p and 14p as possible locations for the FSH gene. In the present study we have analysed 80 individuals (36 patients and 44 normals) belonging to 8 unrelated Brazilian families with 3 probes located on the long arm of chromosome 6:MHB(6q22-q23), ESR(6q24-q27) and TCP1(6q25-q27). Results of linkage analysis suggest that the gene responsible for FSH muscular dystrophy is not in the region 6q23-q27.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6↗
PubMed1990

Screening of deletions in the dystrophin gene with the cDNA probes Cf23a, Cf56a, and Cf115.

We have analysed 38 DMD patients from 34 families and 30 BMD patients from 12 families using the cDNA probes Cf23a and Cf56a, which map near the centre of the dystrophin gene, and Cf115, which is close to the 3' end of this gene. Together, probes Cf23a and Cf56a detected deletions in 50% of the DMD families and 33% of the BMD families. Probe Cf115 detected a deletion in only one DMD patient, which has not been reported before in severe X linked myopathy. Most of the DMD deletions could be detected with Cf56a while all four BMD deletions were detected with Cf23a. The pattern of deletions could not be used to predict the precise clinical course of the disease and no correlation was found between the severity of the disease and the extent of the gene deletion. A higher frequency of deletions was observed in sporadic (73%) compared with familial DMD (28%) and BMD cases (33%). This result, if confirmed in a larger sample, would have important implications for genetic counselling.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Distinct dystrophin mRNA species are expressed in embryonic and adult mouse skeletal muscle.

We have examined dystrophin mRNA in embryonic, newborn and adult mouse skeletal muscle. A discrete nerve-independent increase in mRNA size was observed between embryonic and adult stages, indicating that a developmentally regulated mRNA isoform switch occurs in the expression of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene in skeletal muscle. These distinct mRNAs are most likely generated via selection of alternative transcriptional start sites or RNA processing pathways. In addition, denervation of adult muscle was without effect on the expression pattern.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A laboratory method to evaluate formulation effects on the in vitro antimicrobial activity of topical creams and ointments.

A simple and reproducible method is described to assess the effect of formulation on the bactericidal and fungicidal activity of topical antimicrobial agents. The technique involves direct inoculation of test and control articles followed by aliquot sampling, neutralization of active antimicrobial ingredients and enumeration of viable microorganisms by standard methods. Two silver sulphadiazine cream formulations, differing in their aliphatic alcohol content, were evaluated as manufactured and in diluted forms in this manner using three bacterial and one fungal burn wound isolates. Results were analysed by a multivariate analysis of variance to test formulation effects, concentration effects and their interaction over time. The results demonstrate that the antimicrobial activity of both creams is equivalent.

Burns↗