Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to D Wilson.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cross-cultural cross-validation of the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire among Zimbabwean school children.

For 568 boys and 698 girls (ages 8 to 17 years), Neuroticism scores were reliable and factorially valid for both sexes but reliability and validity for Extraversion were modest and, while reliable, 45% of Lie scale items did not load on their factor of origin. Also, Psychoticism scores were unreliable and factorially invalid. Careful item analyses must be undertaken and the construct of psychoticism verified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effects of ginkgolide B, a platelet-activating factor inhibitor on insulitis in the spontaneously diabetic BB rat.

The BB rat spontaneously develops insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in association with marked insulitis in the islet of Langerhans. Since platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) is involved in allergic and inflammatory reactions, we tested a PAF antagonist, Ginkgolide B (BN 52021) for potential effects on islet inflammation and diabetes. Diabetes prone BB/Wor rats were treated daily from weaning at 25 days until 105 days of age with either saline (n = 30, controls), 10 (n = 25, low dose) or 20 (n = 30, high dose) mg/kg body weight of BN 52021. The overall incidence of IDDM was unaffected by treatment. Quantitative analysis of insulin area showed a dose-dependent protection of beta cells by Ginkgolide B, reflected in a 6- (low dose) to 8-fold (high dose) (P less than 0.01-0.005) increase in the insulin/glucagon cell ratio compared to the saline treated rats. Ginkgolide B reduced severe insulitis from 84% in the saline rats developing IDDM to 59% (n.s.) in the low and to 33% (P less than 0.001) in the high dose group. These data suggest that PAF inhibitors may prove useful in immunomodulator therapy of IDDM since beta cells are preserved.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Psychosocial predictors of reported HIV-preventive behaviour change among adults in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

In order to reduce HIV transmission, improved understanding of factors that motivate safer sexual behaviour is needed. The Health Belief Model attempts to explain health-related behaviour, including HIV-preventive behaviour. The association of six elements of this model--AIDS knowledge, perceived susceptibility to HIV infection, perceived effectiveness of HIV-preventive measures, self-efficacy, barriers to behaviour change, accessibility of health care/advice and social support for safer sexual behaviour--to three indices of HIV-related behavioural risk reduction--reduced number of sexual partners, increased consistency of condom use and (among males only) reduced prostitute contact--was examined by self-report inventory among 202 men and 100 women in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Multiple logistic regression identified social support for behaviour change, followed by accessibility of health care/advice, as the most consistent predictors of risk reduction across sex and outcome measures. The remaining predictors were not consistently associated with behaviour change. It is concluded that AIDS campaigns must foster the perception that there is concerted normative support for HIV-related behaviour change and that community and small group, face-to-face AIDS education, which may have more impact on perceived social support than mass media campaigns, must be emphasised.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Percutaneous nucleotomy. An anatomic study of the risks of root injury.

Fifteen cadaveric dissections have been performed to determine the anatomic relationships of nucleotomy guide wires. All the 44 guide wires inserted were found to be in contact with at least one nerve root (eight transfixed a root). Guide wires passing anterior to the nerve roots always passed anterior to the center of the disc. Lateral displacement of the skin entry point made safe entry to the center of the disc impossible. Nerve root transfixion is likely to be a significant complication in percutaneous nucleotomy. Entry to the center of the disc avoiding the nerve roots is simplest if the skin entry is as near to the midline as possible.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1990

Structure and expression of the human polymorphic epithelial mucin gene: an expressed VNTR unit.

The human polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) is expressed apically by glandular epithelium and by the carcinomas that develop from these tissues. Previously isolated cDNA clones revealed that the core protein contained a large domain consisting of variable numbers of 60 bp tandem repeats (TR), making it an expressed minisatellite. We now report the full genomic sequence of the PEM gene, including 803 bp of 5' flanking sequence. The gene is composed of 7 exons and varies in size from approximately 4 to approximately 7 kb, depending on the number of tandem repeats in exon 2. Expression of PEM was obtained from a genomic clone in an Epstein-Barr virus based vector, after transfection into a human epithelial cell line, indicating the presence of effective regulatory sequences in this clone.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

High level synthesis of immunoglobulins in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The expression of lambda L and microH chain cDNA was examined in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Each cDNA was linked to a different, amplifiable, selectable drug marker gene, and expression was monitored in the presence of increasing concentrations of the selective drugs. Cells were obtained that produced greater than 60 micrograms/10(6) cells/48 h of assembled antibody. This Chinese hamster ovary cell-synthesized IgM was polymeric, and exhibited specific hapten binding and C fixation. The expression strategy employed here may prove useful for the future production of genetically engineered antibodies and other multi-subunit proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Molecular cloning and expression of human tumor-associated polymorphic epithelial mucin.

Human mammary cells present on the cell surface a polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) which is developmentally regulated and aberrantly expressed in tumors. PEM carries tumor-associated epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies HMFG-1, HMFG-2, and SM-3. Previously isolated partial cDNA clones revealed that the core protein contained a large domain consisting of variable numbers of 20-amino acid repeat units. We now report the full sequence for PEM, as deduced from cDNA sequences. The encoded protein consists of three distinct regions: the amino terminus consisting of a putative signal peptide and degenerate repeats; the major portion of the protein which is the tandem repeat region; the carboxyl terminus consisting of degenerate tandem repeats and a unique sequence containing a transmembrane sequence and a cytoplasmic tail. Potential O-glycosylation sites (serines or threonines) make up more than one-fourth of the amino acids. Length variations in the tandem repeat result in PEM being an expressed variable number tandem repeat locus. Tandem repeats appear to be a general characteristic of mucin core proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

T cells bind to cytokine-activated endothelial cells via a novel, inducible sialoglycoprotein and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1.

The action of human rIL-1 beta on confluent, quiescent monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) has been studied for the induction of new membrane proteins. Two approaches have been taken. The first is a quantitative two-dimensional gel analysis of [35S]cysteine-labeled membrane proteins of HUVEC with and without cytokine treatment. This analysis indicates that there are a restricted number of new membrane proteins synthesized in the first 6 h of IL-1 treatment, on the order of 19 out of a total of over 600 detectable proteins. Second, we have prepared two mAb (1E7 and 2G7) to different epitopes of a major inducible sialoglycoprotein with molecular mass of 114 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.6 to 4.8. These antibodies were compared with two additional antibodies, 3B7 and 7A9, which were shown to react with the endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) protein as expressed in COS cells. The 1E7/2G7 protein is distinct from ELAM-1, based upon biochemical comparisons as well as the inability of the 1E7 and 2G7 antibodies to react with ELAM-1-transfected COS cells. The protein defined as 1E7/2G7 is neither expressed constitutively nor in an inducible manner on PBMC, granulocytes, platelets, fibroblasts, or keratinocytes. The 7A9 and 3B7 antibodies are shown to block granulocyte binding to IL-1-activated HUVEC. The 2G7 antibody is effective at inhibiting the binding of T cells but not granulocytes to IL-1-activated endothelium, suggesting this new protein is an adhesion protein that may be active in vivo in T cell-endothelial cell adhesion-related events such as inflammation or lymphocyte recirculation. In addition, T cells were shown to utilize the ELAM-1 protein in binding to cytokine-activated HUVEC. Antibodies directed to both proteins had additive effects on inhibition of T cell adhesion.

Antigens↗
PubMed1990

IL-1 beta modulation of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes and thyroiditis in the BB rat.

Long term effects of in vivo treatment with human rIL-1 beta on diabetogenesis and thyroid disease were determined in the Biobreeding rat. Administration of high dose (10 micrograms/kg) IL-1 beta accelerated the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus compared to saline-injected controls. High dose treatment resulted in goiter development, pronounced LT, reduced serum T4 levels, and overall growth reduction. In contrast, low dose IL-1 beta (0.5 microgram/kg) administration significantly reduced the frequency of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (48%) compared to placebo (86%) and high dose IL-1 beta (93%) treatment groups. Rats protected by low dose IL-1 beta had unaffected growth rates and minimal to no pancreatic and thyroid pathology. Our results demonstrate that exogenous administration of IL-1 beta modulates Biobreeding rat idiopathic autoimmune diabetes and thyroid disease in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cerebrovascular disease and secondary mania.

A patient who developed chronic bipolar disorder following mitral valvuloplasty is presented. A brief review of literature is offered to compare functional bipolar disorder with those of organic etiology and to elucidate the role of brain and blood-flow imaging studies.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

A pilot study for an HIV prevention programme among commercial sex workers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

In a health education pilot study for a programme to reduce HIV transmission among commercial sex workers (CSWs), 113 CSWs were interviewed and observed in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe during 1989. The educational level of the sample was low and less than a quarter had another job, either as a self-employed vendor/hawker or a domestic servant. Inability to earn income in other ways was the major reason cited for engaging in commercial sex. Nearly half the sample went for check-ups every 3 months or more often. All interviewees had heard about AIDS, but they were uniformed about several facets of AIDS. CSWs reported that they worked an average of 3.6 nights a week, averaged 1.3 clients a night and charged a mean of U.S. $2.8 a session and U.S. $6.5 a night. CSWs reportedly saw a total of 221 clients in the past 7 days and used condoms with 87 (39.3%) clients. Nearly all CSWs said they had done something to reduce the risk of getting AIDS, but when asked what they had done, only 40% said they were using condoms more frequently and many cited ineffective precautions. CSWs who had a job, charged higher fees, experienced little client violence and believed that they were susceptible to AIDS were more likely to use condoms. Clients were a cross-section of Bulawayo society, with widely varying education, incomes and occupations and shared little except an interest in commercial sex. Ethnographic approaches demonstrated a lack of cohesion among CSWs and a consequent need to foster organized, motivated groups for health education, the importance of incorporating clients in health education and the feasibility of using bar security and sales personnel as health educators. It is concluded that health education is urgently needed among CSWs, but that it is equally important to direct health interventions at clients, many of whom are resistant to condom use.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Tumor cell mitochondrial matrix/cristae complexes as potential sites for anticancer therapy with polyunsaturated fatty acid analogues.

The consequences of incubating human cancer cells with ETYA, a competitive analogue of arachidonic acid, and the reported responses of cells cultured with polyunsaturated fatty acids indicate that polyunsaturated fatty acid analogues or their modified congeners could represent potential cytotoxic anticancer agents. The inner mitochondrial membrane and matrix may represent important targets for such agents, since they seem unusually susceptible to ETYA-induced oxidative stress.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal approach for aortic reconstruction: a randomized prospective study.

A prospective, randomized study was conducted to compare the retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach for elective aortic reconstruction. One hundred thirteen patients (transperitoneal = 59, retroperitoneal = 54) were randomized between March 1987 and October 1988. In addition, to assess the changing course of patients undergoing aortic reconstruction similar data were gathered retrospectively on a group of 56 patients undergoing aortic reconstruction by the same surgeons performed via a transperitoneal approach in 1984 to 1985. Randomized patients were identical in age, male to female ratio, smoking history, incidence and severity of cardiopulmonary disease, indication for operation, and use of epidural anesthetics. Details of operation including operative and aortic cross-clamp times, crystalloid and transfusion requirements, degree of hypothermia on arrival at the intensive care unit, and perioperative fluid and blood requirements did not differ significantly for patients undergoing transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal reconstruction. Respiratory morbidity, as assessed by percent of patients requiring postoperative ventilation, deterioration in pulmonary function tests, and the incidence of respiratory complications, was identical in randomized patients. Other aspects of postoperative recovery including recovery of gastrointestinal function, the requirement for narcotics, metabolic parameters of operative stress, the incidence of major and minor complications, and the duration of hospital stay were similar for randomized patients undergoing transperitoneal and retroperitoneal reconstruction. When compared to retrospectively reviewed patients having aortic reconstruction, randomized patients undergoing transperitoneal and retroperitoneal operations had highly significant (p less than 0.001) reductions in postoperative ventilation, transfusion requirements, and length of hospital stay. Such trends were all independent of transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal approach.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aorta, Abdominal↗