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Biomedical subjects

D Wood

Publications and source records attributed to D Wood.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

An electrophoretic karyotype of the cultivated mushroom--Agaricus bisporus.

Thirteen chromosomal-sized DNA bands of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus have been resolved using the method of clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) electrophoresis. Using chromosome size standards from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, the estimated size of the chromosomal DNAs ranged from 3.5 to 1.2 megabase pairs (Mb). By Southern hybridization with homologous gene probes, the chromosomal location of cellulase and laccase genes have been mapped. In addition, rDNA has been assigned to chromosomal bands using a heterologous gene probe. Genomic rearrangement is suggested in the commercial heterokaryon, as indicated by the presence of non-comigrating homologous chromosomes, identified by a number of probes for particular DNA sequences.

Agaricus↗
PubMed1993

Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for hip fracture in the elderly.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for hip fracture in the elderly. DESIGN: Population based, case-control study. SETTING: Metropolitan borough of Newcastle upon Tyne. PARTICIPANT: A total of 197 patients aged 50 years and over, resident in Newcastle, and admitted consecutively with a hip fracture, and 382 community controls, matched by age and sex, who had not suffered a hip fracture. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Validated methods were used to assess customary physical activity. Information on body build, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption was also obtained. Grip strength was measured. Physical inactivity was strongly associated with the risk of hip fracture in men and women. Subjects who did not regularly weight-bear, perform muscle-loading activities such as climbing stairs, and perform productive activities such as gardening, were all more than twice as likely to sustain a hip fracture, when compared with subjects at the higher end of the activity spectrum. These increases in risk remained after adjusting for body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and dependence in daily living activities. CONCLUSIONS: Customary physical inactivity is an independent determinant of hip fracture in the elderly. Strategies to improve the day to day activity of elderly people require urgent exploration.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Approaches to the construction of new candidate poliovirus type 3 vaccine strains.

The World Health Organization has called for improvements to oral polio vaccines (OPV), particularly the type 3 component. Our improved understanding of the genetic basis of attenuation and antigenicity of this strain gives rise to possibilities for constructing new derivatives via mutagenesis of infectious cDNA. This article reviews progress made with various approaches to constructing a new type 3 candidate vaccine strain. These include the construction of antigen chimaeras of poliovirus based on the Sabin type 1 strain, the introduction of new genetically stable attenuation mutations into the 5' non-coding region (NCR) of the type 3 poliovirus genome, and the introduction of mutations which may increase the thermostability of the type 3 vaccine.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1992

Paralytic poliomyelitis in England and Wales, 1985-91.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain all cases of paralytic poliomyelitis in England and Wales during 1985-91 and to determine the source of infection in each case. DESIGN: Descriptive study of cases reported between 1985 and 1991. SETTING: All health districts in England and Wales. SUBJECTS: Patients normally resident in England and Wales whose clinical features were consistent with paralytic poliomyelitis or with laboratory evidence of recent poliovirus infection and compatible symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory features in identified cases. RESULTS: Of 54 suspected cases of poliomyelitis, 33 were excluded, leaving 21 cases, of which 13 were vaccine associated (nine recipient and four contact) cases, five were imported cases, and three were cases whose source of infection was unknown. No cases due to indigenous wild polioviruses were identified; two were imported cases due to wild viruses. One patient died during the acute phase of the illness, and two children with previously unrecognised severe congenital immune deficiency died between one and two months after the onset of paralysis after the first or second dose of oral polio vaccine. The estimated risk of vaccine associated paralysis is 1.46 per million for the first dose, 0.49 for the second, zero for the third and fourth doses, and 0.33 for the fifth. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous wild poliovirus seems to have been eradicated, although wild virus may be imported; improved surveillance of suspected cases including immediate notification and characterisation of the virus to ensure that eradication is maintained is essential.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A phase I pharmacokinetic study of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor administered by a 5-day continuous infusion.

Nineteen patients with advanced cancer were entered into a phase I clinical trial of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) which was designed to determine the pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of the recombinant human cytokine in vivo. TNF was administered by continuous infusion for 24 hours followed by pharmacokinetics and a 120-hour infusion repeated every 3 weeks. The initial dose was 40 micrograms/m2 and was ultimately escalated to 200 micrograms/m2. A total of forty 5-day cycles were administered to 18 of these patients; and all were evaluable for toxicity. Toxicities in this trial included fever, chills, rigors, hypotension, headaches, seizures, lethargy, weight loss, and malaise. At all dose levels, but more significantly at the highest doses, hematological toxicities were observed and grade 3 neurotoxicity (headache and confusion), and hypotension were noted. Two patients expired during the study, and this was felt to be related to septic episodes. Because of these severe toxicities, 160 micrograms/m2 was defined as the MTD. At 160 micrograms/m2 peak serum levels occurred within 5-20 minutes of initiation and were not detectable 1 hour later. No anti-tumor responses were observed. No measurable plasma levels of TNF were observed with the administration of doses of 80 micrograms/m2. This dose level could be further studied in phase II studies alone and in combination with other agents, utilizing a continuous infusion schedule.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Immunogenicity and antigenicity of chimeric picornaviruses which express hepatitis A virus (HAV) peptide sequences: evidence for a neutralization domain near the amino terminus of VP1 of HAV.

We evaluated the antigenic characteristics of chimeric picornaviruses created by inserting peptide sequences from hepatitis A virus (HAV) capsid proteins into the B-C loop of VP1 of Sabin strain type 1 poliovirus (PV-1). Fifteen viable chimeras were generated. Each retained the ability to be neutralized by polyclonal PV-1 antisera. Two chimeras (H15 and H2) stimulated production of low levels of HAV neutralizing antibodies in immunized rabbits or mice, although in both cases only a small fraction of immunized animals produced this response. The H15 chimera, which contains residues 13-24 of HAV VP1, elicited HAV neutralizing antibodies in three of nine rabbits and at least one of seven immunized mice. These results indicate that a neutralization domain exists in this region of VP1. However, human sera with high titers of antibodies to HAV failed to neutralize or immunoprecipitate this chimera, suggesting the absence of a significant antibody response to this neutralization domain following natural infection. Sera from rabbits immunized with H15 that did not develop HAV neutralizing antibodies contained antibodies reactive with the HAV peptide segment expressed by the H15 virus, indicating substantial differences in the specificities of antibodies elicited by this peptide segment among individual immunized rabbits. The H15 peptide insert was an effective antigen, as indicated by a high level of sensitivity of the H15 chimera to neutralization by a related anti-peptide antibody which was itself devoid of HAV neutralizing activity. One of 16 rabbits immunized with the H2 chimera (residues 101-108 of HAV VP1) developed HAV neutralizing antibodies, confirming both the presence and the highly conformational nature of a neutralization antigenic site involving these residues of HAV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Prenatal prediction of spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common cause of inherited morbidity and mortality in childhood. The wide range of phenotypes in SMA, uncertainty regarding its mode of inheritance, and the suggestion of linkage heterogeneity have complicated the genetic counselling of parents of affected children. The locus responsible for autosomal recessive SMA has been mapped to 5q11.2-q13.3. The most likely order of loci is cen-D5S6-(SMA,D5S125)-(JK53CA1/2,D5S112)-D5S3 9-qter, with highly polymorphic loci being identified at JK53CA1/2 and D5S39. We describe linkage studies with another highly polymorphic locus, D5S127, that is closely linked to D5S39. This genetic map can be used as the basis for genetic counselling in families with autosomal recessive SMA. Appropriate allowance can be made for sporadic cases owing to non-inherited causes and for linkage heterogeneity or misdiagnoses.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Hospital CEOs view their careers: implications for selection, training, and placement.

A recent survey of hospital CEOs revealed that they seem content with their careers but apprehensive about the future, due particularly to their projections regarding contextual issues in the industry. Hospital CEOs believe that the industry will experience increased financial pressures and regulations and, as a result, anticipate the need to develop new skills. Their views on several career-related topics are compared, and the implications for selecting, training, and placing CEOs are discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Can infant death from child abuse be prevented?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a child abuse surveillance and intervention program in protecting infants at risk. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective review of all children discussed by the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team of the Mater Misericordiae Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, over the five year period January 1986 to December 1990. PATIENTS: A total of 2126 children were discussed by the team; 375 were infants (less than 12 months of age) at the time of the initial discussion. Nine infants died suddenly and these nine deaths were examined in detail. RESULTS: All deaths were considered initially to be due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but autopsy findings in six suggested death was not accidental and in the other three significant doubt was raised by the history. Identifying risk factors for non-accidental injury were clearly present in all cases; however, there were major problems with notification to the appropriate authorities. Even in cases where appropriate identification and notification occurred planned interventions by multiple agencies failed to prevent death of these infants. CONCLUSIONS: There is a growing awareness of child abuse as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries, but intervention is fraught with multiple difficulties and prevention programs are few. Recommendations are offered for improvement in recognition and notification of incipient child abuse as well as appropriate interventions to prevent infant deaths. Inappropriate death recording procedures may result in some sudden deaths being recorded as SIDS when in fact they are caused by child abuse.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1991

Fetal hydronephrosis and renal artery blood velocity.

The renal artery blood velocity waveform was recorded by Doppler ultrasound in 17 fetuses with hydronephrosis in the third trimester of pregnancy. The waveform was analyzed for pulsatility index and related to the degree of dilatation of the renal pelvis. The pulsatility index was found to be above the renal reference range in only five out of the total of 31 kidneys examined. No relationship was found between the degree of dilatation and pulsatility index. A slight relationship was, however, found between abnormal pulsatility index and the need for operative intervention in the neonatal period. Doppler ultrasound is a valuable tool for evaluating renal circulation, but the results suggest limited clinical value in fetuses with hydronephrosis.

Journal Article↗