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Biomedical subjects

D Murphree

Publications and source records attributed to D Murphree.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Transcriptional control of genes encoding CS1 pili: negative regulation by a silencer and positive regulation by Rns.

The adherence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) to the human small intestine is an important early event in infection. Attachment is thought to be mediated by proteinaceous structures called pili. We have investigated the regulation of expression of the genes encoding CS1 pili found on human ETEC strains and find that there are at least three promoters, P1 and P2, upstream of the coo genes, and P3, downstream of the start of cooB translation. We identified a silencer of transcription which extends over several hundred bases overlapping the cooB open reading frame. This silencer is dependent on the promoter and/or upstream region for its negative effect. The DNA binding protein H-NS is a repressor of coo transcription that acts in the same region as the silencer, so it is possible that H-NS is involved in this silencing. Rns, a member of the AraC family, positively regulates transcription of the coo operon and relieves the silencing of CS1 expression.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1994

Patient attitudes toward physician treatment of obesity.

BACKGROUND: Family physicians are frequently faced with the problem of caring for overweight patients since 30% to 40% of American adults are overweight and 10% are obese. The traditional approach of physicians treating obese patients, which includes diet instruction, dietitian referral, and supportive therapy, has demonstrated little success. METHODS: A focus group of obese patients was formed to discuss weight-loss therapy from a patient viewpoint. Three sessions were completed, one each for patients' feelings and life experiences, exercise, and eating habits. The traditional medical approach to weight-loss therapy was discussed. RESULTS: All participants reported having failed physicians' attempts to aid them in weight loss. Similarly, all related negative life experiences, job discrimination, and derogatory remarks that they attributed to their weight. Participants were not supportive of physicians' traditional approach to aiding patients with weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the traditional approach to treating patients' excessive weight is not helpful from the patient viewpoint. Study participants were more supportive of a group approach to the treatment of obesity that would include group exercise and modification of currently used foods rather than new low-calorie recipes. The issues of transportation and child care must be addressed by weight-loss programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Predicting atypical Pap smear progression: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: This case-control study proposed to define risk factors for progression of cervical disease beyond an atypical level, and to explore the possibility of a clinical tool that would aid the clinician in deciding on the need for colposcopy. METHODS: Twenty-three hundred (2,300) abnormal Papanicolaou smears were reviewed to identify documented cases of class II Papanicolaou smears that had progressed. Controls were randomly chosen for each case from the remaining pool of available class II Papanicolaou smears that did not progress. Data analyses were conducted to determine the predictive value of information that would be in a patient's chart with respect to progression from class II Papanicolaou smear to a higher level of disease. RESULTS: A univariate analysis revealed several significant variables, including age, education, attendance at a public clinic, marital status, notification of Papanicolaou results, and a history of sexually transmitted disease. Next, a multivariate analysis demonstrated that a group of significant variables could not be defined, and only notification of an atypical Papanicolaou smear was significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study's findings suggest that the data available in a patient's medical record are not sufficient to develop a risk assessment scale and provide evidence of the need for continued study in this area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Oxygen uptake as a determinant of gastric blood flow autoregulation.

Autoregulation of blood flow in the denervated, autoperfused dog stomach was studied before and during local intraarterial infusion of histamine. Histamine caused an increase in gastric blood flow and oxygen uptake. The increased oxygen uptake was due entirely to an increased blood flow, ie, oxygen extraction was not altered by histamine infusion. When oxygen uptake by the stomach was less than 2.0 ml/min/100 g, there was no evidence of blood flow autoregulation, while an oxygen uptake greater than 4.0 ml/min/100 g was consistently associated with blood flow autoregulation. The data indicate that histamine enhances the ability of the stomach to autoregulate its blood flow. This effect appears to be due to histamine's influence on gastric oxygen uptake.

Animals↗