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E Smith

Publications and source records attributed to E Smith.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Mandatory anonymous HIV-surveillance in Denmark. Experience with the new notification system].

A newly implemented mandatory, anonymous HIV surveillance system in Denmark is described. The system is based on a serially numbered form that is circulated among the laboratories, the physicians, and the national surveillance unit. All laboratories doing confirmatory tests for HIV antibodies must send a report form along with any positive test result. Before forwarding the form to the physician, the laboratory is to fill in the top part of the form with its own name, the name and address of the requesting physician and the date of testing. The back copy must be send to the surveillance unit. The Danish physicians are by law mandated to fill in the form with data on the patient and then send the original to the surveillance unit. The two copies are for the patient's file and for the physicians' own centralized filing system. After a revision of the system in 1992, a response rate of 95% was obtained during the first year. An increasing number and proportion of first-time identified HIV-infections in Denmark are acquired heterosexually, many of these infections are identified among foreigners. The newly developed mandatory HIV surveillance system is based on anonymous reporting but it allows routine evaluation of the completeness of reporting as well as nonresponding physicians to be reminded of their duty to report. Also, the system allows nested studies to be carried out among selected HIV-infected subpopulations of special research interest without compromising the anonymity of the patient.

Confidentiality↗
PubMed1995

Expression of cell cycle regulatory factors in differentiating osteoblasts: postproliferative up-regulation of cyclins B and E.

The representation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) was analyzed during progressive development of the bone cell phenotype in cultures of normal diploid rat calvarial osteoblasts. Three developmental stages were examined: (a) proliferation; (b) monolayer confluency; and (c) mineralization of the bone extracellular matrix. We demonstrate that the presence of cyclins and cdks is not restricted to the proliferation period. Consistent with their role in cell cycle progression, cdc2 and cdk2 decrease postproliferatively. However, cdk4 and cyclins A, B, and D1 persist in confluent cells. Cyclin E is significantly up-regulated during the extracellular matrix mineralization developmental period. Examination of the cytoplasmic levels of these cell cycle regulatory proteins indicates a marked increase in cyclin B in the late differentiation stage. The elevation of nuclear cyclin E and cytoplasmic cyclin B is not observed in osteoblasts maintained under culture conditions that do not support differentiation. Furthermore, treatment with transforming growth factor beta for 48 h during the proliferation period renders the cells incompetent for differentiation and abrogates the postproliferative up-regulation of cyclins B and E. Density-induced growth inhibition of ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells is not accompanied by up-regulation of nuclear cyclin E and cytoplasmic cyclin B when compared to the proliferation period. This observation is consistent with abrogation of both growth control and differentiation regulatory mechanisms in tumor cells. These results suggest that cell cycle regulatory proteins function not only during proliferation but may also play a role in normal diploid osteoblast differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[HIV testing in Denmark in 1993: were the tests relevant?].

In order to describe HIV-testing activity among adults in Denmark, a cross-sectional study was designed using an anonymous questionnaire, which was forwarded with all HIV-test results in a given two-week period in 1993. Notified first-time identified HIV-positive cases were used for comparisons. The response rate was 50%. A total of 996 women and 834 men were included, among whom 68% of men and 62% of women were classified as having a behaviour that put them at increased risk for acquiring HIV, p < 0.02. Women were younger than men, p < 0.001. Around 1/3 of both men and women had previously been HIV-tested, a proportion that increased with increasing risk for HIV, p < 0.00001 for trend. HIV-tested adults were younger and less frequently living in the Copenhagen area than the first-time identified HIV-infected persons reported to the mandatory national HIV-surveillance system. The overall HIV prevalence was 0.3%, being 0.5% among men and 0.2% among women. Estimates showed that the yearly number of first-time identified HIV-infections among tested homo/bisexual men per 10(5) men were 100 times as high as among the heterosexual population. Also, 12% of Danish homo/bisexual men had an HIV test per year, a proportion that was 2.3% among adult women and 1.8% among adult heterosexual men without i.v. drug use. The yearly test-activity decreases with increasing age among both men and women. In conclusion, studies among the HIV-tested population along with results from systematic surveillance of first-time identified HIV-infections are useful in order to estimate the frequency and the relevancy of HIV testing in the entire population. Also, these results may help when planning national information campaigns.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cerebral arterial fat embolism in the rabbit.

This study was designed to measure the effects of cerebral arterial fat embolism on cerebral blood flow and function. Rabbits were injected via the left internal carotid artery with the neutral triglyceride triolein. Left cerebral blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry, and left sided brain function by electrocorticogram and cortical somatosensory evoked responses following electrical stimulation of the forepaw. Readings were taken for 2 h before injection to establish a baseline, and for 3 h after injection. Cerebral blood flow was significantly decreased at 45 min after the injection of the lipid, then progressively decreased further to approximately 50% of baseline after 2 h, at which level it remained for the last hour of the experiment. The electrocorticogram was rapidly, but transiently, suppressed. The evoked responses did not differ from baseline at each of the time points measured. Using 125I-triolein, 2.49% of the injected dose was measured in the brain 3 min after injection. The results show that in this rabbit model of cerebral arterial fat embolism only a small percentage of injected lipid passes into the brain, but this is sufficient to cause a reduction in cerebral blood flow over the following 2 h. The evoked responses never alter significantly from baseline values.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Vertebrate brains contain a broadly active antiviral substance.

Brain tissue extracts from vertebrates were examined for non-specific, broad-spectrum virus inhibitors, previously identified and characterized from other body tissues and fluids. An antiviral activity found in human, bovine, ovine, porcine, lapine, murine and piscine brain tissues shares some properties with a contact blocking-virus inhibitor, which was previously found only in cell culture supernatants. The inhibitor was active against (in order of sensitivity to inhibitor) Banzi, Sindbis, Bunyamwera, Newcastle disease, herpes simplex I, Semliki forest, polio I, mengo, vaccinia and vesicular stomatitis viruses. It is approximately 4000 kDa and possesses a complex structure containing protein, carbohydrate and lipid moieties. The inhibitor does not directly neutralize virus or induce an antiviral state in cells, but appears to act early in the replication cycle, most likely by preventing virus attachment to target cells. Its occurrence in concentrations sufficient to reduce virus yield in cell cultures at least 30-fold may indicate a role in limiting viral infections of the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The use of ultrasound for monitoring breast tumour response to pro-adjuvant therapy.

In a prospective study, use of serial ultrasound (US) for monitoring tumour response to pro-adjuvant chemotherapy was assessed in 16 patients. Comparison was made with mammographic and pathological tumour size measurements. Clinical and radiological response to treatment was assessed using UICC (International Union Against Cancer) criteria. Comparison of clinical and US response to treatment showed some agreement in 60% and disagreement in 40%. This was comparable with clinical versus mammographic responses (55% and 45%). Correlation between calliper and pathological measurement was similar to that between US and pathological measurement (r = 0.51, P = 0.05; r = 0.50, P < 0.05). Mammography showed poorer correlation (NS). For assessment of final tumour size, US clinical measurements were comparable and better than mammography. US may be a useful tool in monitoring the response of breast tumours to pro-adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Increasing prevalence of femoral lysis in cementless total hip arthroplasty.

A follow-up study was made of 94 primary total hip arthroplasties in 86 patients with a Harris-Galante (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) porous-coated femoral component implant to determine the change in prevalence of femoral lysis and its clinical significance. At a mean follow-up period of 53 months (range, 16-86 months), femoral lysis was present in 31% of the femurs. In the first report of this condition, the incidence was 3%. The mean patient age was 54 years (range, 30-69 years). The most common diagnosis was osteoarthritis (62 hips). Of the 29 hips with femoral lysis, 11 were graded as extensive. Of the 14 hips in which the femoral component was defined as loose, 12 had femoral osteolysis; however, the mean Harris hip score among those with lysis was not reduced in those with femoral osteolysis (88 compared with 90 the entire group). Pelvic osteolysis, in contrast, was present in only one hip, around a screw. In this series, femoral lysis was a major complication, whether the femoral component was stable or not, and the prevalence of lysis increased sharply over time.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Different effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta on the two platelet-derived growth factor receptors' expression in scleroderma and healthy human dermal fibroblasts.

Previous studies have demonstrated that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) alpha receptor expression is up-regulated by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in scleroderma dermal fibroblasts, but not in healthy control fibroblasts. We asked whether this selective effect in scleroderma cells was TGF-beta 1-specific or a general response by studying responses to other growth factors. In this study, we compared the expression of alpha and beta PDGF receptor subunits (mRNA and protein levels) in these two cell types in response to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and TGF-beta 1. bFGF coordinately stimulated mRNA levels of alpha and beta receptor subunits in healthy fibroblasts, but did not change PDGF receptor expression in scleroderma fibroblasts. Conversely, and in agreement with previous observations, TGF-beta 1 induced PDGF alpha receptor expression in scleroderma fibroblasts, but not in healthy fibroblasts. PDGF beta receptor mRNA levels were induced to similar degrees by TGF-beta 1 in both cell types. PDGF alpha receptor protein levels correlated directly with mRNA levels, induced by bFGF only in healthy fibroblasts and by TGF-beta 1 only in scleroderma fibroblasts. However, PDGF beta receptor protein levels were not altered by either growth factor in either cell type. Thus, the activated state of scleroderma fibroblasts does not include receptor-signaling pathways to bFGF. This distinct pattern of expression of PDGF alpha receptors in scleroderma fibroblasts suggests a possible role for the coordinately expressed PDGF AA ligand/alpha receptor system in the development of fibrosis.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1995

Predictors of mortality in alcoholic men: a 20-year follow-up study.

This study investigates the predictors of mortality in 156 male alcoholics who were psychiatrically hospitalized between 1967 and 1968 and followed for > 20 years. The findings showed that an older age, liver cirrhosis, and separation or divorce at intake were all associated with a shorter time to death. These results corroborate those of other follow-up studies that have identified age, health, and social support as independent correlates of mortality in alcoholics. From a therapeutic standpoint, the most alterable predictor is social support. Thus, the establishment of a salutary social network and social support system should be an integral part of the alcoholic's treatment plan.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1995

Assessing gender interactions in the prediction of mortality in alcoholic men and women: a 20-year follow-up study.

This study investigates the predictors of mortality in 259 male and female alcoholics who were psychiatrically hospitalized between 1967 and 1968 and followed for > 20 years. The findings showed that, in addition to age, marital status, medical complications, and non-antisocial personality comorbidity were important independent predictors of time to death. Data pointed to gender interactions, in that marital disruption tended to be a stronger predictor of mortality in men, and delirium tremens tended to be a stronger predictor of mortality in women. Knowing and understanding that certain events and processes may differentially affect the survival of male and female alcoholics will allow for the development of more individualized and gender-specific therapeutic interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Bilateral patellar tendon rupture secondary to repeated local steroid injections.

A case is reported of bilateral patellar tendon rupture in a fit man after a fall. He had a history of repeated local steroid injections into both tendons and histology confirmed steroid-induced changes. The history of repeated local steroid administration has to be implicated as the cause of this extremely rare injury in this patient, which can also be associated with hyperparathyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. All doctors performing repeated local steroid injections into the patellar tendon should be aware of the possible dangers of inducing tendon rupture and should ensure that the steroids are not delivered into its substance.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Nutritional homeostatic capacity of a three-breed cross in poultry and associated effects of genotypes at the pea comb and endogenous viral element 1 loci.

The effect of varying combinations of dietary CP, at 16, 18, and 20%, with ME, at 2,900 and 3,100 kcal ME/kg, on BW and feed conversion (FC) at 2 to 6 wk of age for a three-breed cross was evaluated. Additionally, effect of genotypes at the pea comb (P) and endogenous viral element 1 (ev1) loci on dietary treatments were evaluated. Average weekly feed intake per bird varied from 25.6 to 32.6 g for birds on 16% CP, 3,100 kcal ME/kg and 20% CP, 2,900 kcal ME/kg diets, respectively. Weekly BW and FC were highest for birds on a combination of 20% CP and 3,100 kcal ME/kg diet. On 18% CP and 3,100 kcal/ME diet, males with pea comb had significantly higher BW than those with a single comb. At the ev1 locus, differences among genotypes were significant only for BW of females on a diet consisting of 20% CP and 2,900 kcal ME/kg. Pooled data from the dietary treatments revealed that males with pea comb had significantly higher BW than males with single comb at 3 to 6 wk of age. Birds heterozygous at the ev1 locus had higher BW than those homozygous at this locus. Results of the current studies provide information necessary to develop the optimal protein and energy combination for BW and FC for a three-breed cross involving Araucona, White Leghorn, and Rhode Island Red. These studies also provide additional evidence of the possible effects of the P locus and a gene linked to it, ev1, on production traits in chickens.

Animals↗