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Biomedical subjects

E Walsh

Publications and source records attributed to E Walsh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

A spectrum of segmental multicystic renal dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Multicystic renal dysplasia (MCDK) is a common anomaly well described in the literature, but less well described when involving only a portion of a kidney. OBJECTIVE: To present the imaging spectrum, natural history and associated anomalies of six kidneys with segmental MCDK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five children with segmental MCDK (one with bilateral segmental MCDK) referred to our hospital between 1989 and 1996 were reviewed. All had at least one ultrasound examination. Four had a voiding cystogram and three had renal scintigraphy. RESULTS: Four children had antenatal diagnosis of cystic renal abnormality. In two, with obvious duplex kidneys and associated ureteroceles, the diagnosis of upper moiety MCDK was obvious either antenatally or immediately postnatally. In the other three there were diagnostic difficulties. One patient had bilateral widespread cysts obscuring the functioning renal portions. Another presented in utero with a large ureterocele and a cystic upper pole that had involuted by birth. The fifth had a nephrectomy at 3 years for a multiloculated cystic mass. Varying degrees of involution occurred in the five kidneys seen early. Reflux was demonstrated into the ipsilateral functioning lower moiety and midpole. CONCLUSION: In these children as in other studies, the commonest presentation of segmental MCDK is in the upper pole of a duplex kidney associated with a ureterocele at the end of the atretic ureter. Atypical segmental MCDK may present a diagnostic dilemma and should be included in the differential diagnosis of multiloculated cystic masses and cystic kidneys.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1999

Tardive dyskinesia in psychosis: are women really more at risk? UK700 Group.

It is commonly held that women are more at risk of developing tardive dyskinesia (TD). However, recent evidence suggests that this may only be the case in samples of older patients, men being more at risk in the younger age groups. Abnormal movements were measured with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) in a sample of 706 chronic psychotic patients aged not older than 65 years (median age 36 years). Female gender was associated with a lower risk of TD (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.7). The effect of gender was independent of other risk factors such as older age, severity of negative symptoms and exposure to antipsychotic medication in the previous 2 years. There was no evidence that the effect of these risk factors differed between the sexes. In samples of relatively young patients with chronic psychotic illness, who typically represent the majority of patients in community programmes for the severely mentally ill, men are more at risk of TD than women.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and predictors of parasuicide in chronic psychosis. UK700 group.

OBJECTIVE: This study estimates the prevalence of and risk factors for parasuicide in a large community-based sample of patients with chronic psychosis. METHOD: A total of 704 subjects with chronic psychosis were interviewed using a battery of instruments. The 2-year prevalence of parasuicide was estimated and a comparison was made between attempters and nonattempters on a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The 2-year prevalence of parasuicide was 18.8%. Attempters were significantly more likely to be younger, of white ethnic origin, to have a diagnosis of affective disorder, to be currently depressed, to have experienced more auditory hallucinations and to have received treatment with antipsychotic drugs for a longer period. CONCLUSION: Parasuicide was found to present a considerable clinical problem in this group. Continual risk assessment is essential to reduce this unacceptably high rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Two neutralizing human anti-RSV antibodies: cloning, expression, and characterization.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major problem in the newborn and aging populations. Fully human monoclonal antibodies with the ability to neutralize RSV could have a major impact on the immunotherapy of the disease. The generation of human antibodies has been difficult because there exists no general way to activate B cells against an antigen of choice in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human spleen cells from individuals exposed to RSV were used to repopulate SCID mice. Hu-SCID mice were boosted with RSV fusion (F)-protein and subsequently developed B cell tumors. The tumors were removed and cultured and subcloned in vitro, using a feeder layer of CD154-expressing T cells. Two of these tumors produced the antibodies designated RF-1 and RF-2. VL genes were isolated by standard PCR techniques, however, it was necessary to use high-temperature reverse transcriptase to clone the VH genes. RESULTS: RF-1 and RF-2 VH genes were both found to be closely related members of the VH2 family. Vk genes originated from the VK III family. RF-1 and RF-2 recombinant antibodies expressed in CHO cells (cRF-1 and cRF-2) were found to have affinities for RSV F-protein of 0.1 nM and 0.07 nM, respectively, and both were able to neutralize several A and B subtypes of RSV. CONCLUSION: The technique of immortalizing human B lymphocytes, by passage in SCID mice and expression as recombinant antibodies in CHO cells, provides a method by which high-affinity human antibodies can be developed for immunotherapy of viral diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Collaboration between community nurses and nursing faculty using substance abuse prevention focus groups.

Collaboration between community nurses and nurses from a university who conducted focus groups is discussed. The focus groups explored why low-income, inner-city, white women of childbearing age did not abuse drugs. This partnership effort resulted in positive, successful outcomes for both groups of nurses and yielded culturally sensitive information that may be useful in preventing substance abuse. Methods of facilitating this collaboration and results of our joint endeavors are explored.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Ambient particulate matter causes activation of the c-jun kinase/stress-activated protein kinase cascade and DNA synthesis in lung epithelial cells.

Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive association between ambient air pollution and adverse health effects including respiratory morbidity, asthma, and lung cancer. It has been suggested in some experimental studies that airborne particulate matter (PM) can produce inflammatory effects, but nothing is known about the possible proliferative and carcinogenic effects of these particles on cells of the lung. We show here that exposure of pulmonary epithelial cells, a cell type affected in acute lung injury, asthma, and lung carcinomas, to nontoxic concentrations of PM in vitro results in increases in c-jun kinase activity, levels of phosphorylated cJun immunoreactive protein, and transcriptional activation of activator protein-1-dependent gene expression. These changes are accompanied by elevations in numbers of cells incorporating 5'-bromodeoxyuridine, a marker of unscheduled DNA synthesis and/or cell proliferation. Data here are the first to demonstrate that interaction of ambient PM with target cells of the lung initiates a cell signaling cascade related causally to aberrant cell proliferation and carcinogenesis.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1998

Can providing paging devices relieve waiting room anxiety?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of providing individuals who are waiting for surgical patients with digital pagers. Twenty-eight subjects received routine waiting room procedures, and 29 subjects were given digital pagers during surgical procedures. Subjects completed questionnaires concerning activity, state anxiety, and their perceived threat while patients were undergoing surgical procedures. The group that received the paging devices reported significantly greater state anxiety (i.e., P < .03) and a greater percentage of time spent outside surgical waiting rooms (i.e., P < .00) than the group that did not receive paging devices.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Evidence for a frizzled-mediated wnt pathway required for zebrafish dorsal mesoderm formation.

We have used zebrafish as a model system for the study of vertebrate dorsoventral patterning. We isolated a maternally expressed and dorsal organizer localized member of the frizzled family of wnt receptors. Wild-type and dominant, loss-of-function molecules in misexpression studies demonstrate frizzled function is necessary and sufficient for dorsal mesoderm specification. frizzled activity is antagonized by the action of GSK-3, and we show GSK-3 is also required for zebrafish dorsal mesoderm formation. frizzled cooperatively interacts with the maternally encoded zebrafish wnt8 protein in dorsal mesodermal fate determination. This frizzled -mediated wnt pathway for dorsal mesoderm specification provides the first evidence for the requirement of a wnt-like signal in vertebrate axis determination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Cell signaling pathways elicited by asbestos.

In recent years, it has become apparent that minerals can trigger alterations in gene expression by initiating signaling events upstream of gene transactivation. These cascades may be initiated at the cell surface after interaction of minerals with the plasma membrane either through receptorlike mechanisms or integrins. Alternatively, signaling pathways may be stimulated by active oxygen species generated both during phagocytosis of minerals and by redox reactions on the mineral surface. At least two signaling cascades linked to activation of transcription factors, i.e., DNA-binding proteins involved in modulating gene expression and DNA replication, are stimulated after exposure of lung cells to asbestos fibers in vitro. These include nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade important in regulation of the transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1). Both NF kappa B and AP-1 bind to specific DNA sequences within the regulatory or promoter regions of genes that are critical to cell proliferation and inflammation. Unraveling the cell signaling cascades initiated by mineral dusts and pharmacologic inhibition of these events may be important for the control and treatment of mineral-associated occupational diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A colorimetric assay method for the evaluation of neurotrophic activity in vitro.

A colorimetric assay was established to detect neurotrophic activity by measuring the lysosomal enzyme, acid phosphatase (AP) activity of cultured neuronal cells. Neurons from the cerebral cortex of 14- or 15-day mouse embryo were cultured in serum-free medium for 3 days in 96-well culture plates. A linear relationship was obtained between the AP activity and the number of viable neurons counted under a microscope. The AP assay was used to evaluate the neurotrophic activity of basic fibroblast growth factor. This assay is shown to be simple, sensitive and convenient to detect neurotrophic activity.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1993

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance studies of human synovial fluid in arthritic disease states as an aid to confirming metabolic activity in the synovial cavity.

1. A 1H-n.m.r. method was used to measure concentrations of valine, alanine, lactate, acetate, hyaluronan and lipids in synovial fluid obtained, during the normal course of examination from the knee joints of patients attending rheumatology and orthopaedic clinics. Fluid was available from 16 patients with osteoarthritis, 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, four patients with meniscal tear and one patient each with systemic lupus erythematosis, mono-arthritis, synovitis and loose bodies. Four normal specimens were obtained for comparison. 2. Valine, alanine and acetate levels all showed a normal Gaussian distribution, reflecting the distributions within the serum of the sample population. 3. Lactate concentrations divided into two distinct patterns. At concentrations below 2.5 mmol/l the lactate levels showed a Gaussian distribution, reflecting the distribution in normal serum. The normal synovial fluid specimens belong to this distribution. Above 2.5-3.0 mmol/l, lactate levels were asymmetric in distribution with a long tail at higher concentrations. These high levels of lactate can be explained by the generation of lactate through anaerobic metabolism within the synovial cavity. This metabolic process is triggered by a general inflammatory condition such as in rheumatoid arthritis. 4. The distribution of n.m.r.-observable lipid concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis each shows a normal distribution and the mean concentration is significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis. 5. An increased n.m.r.-observable hyaluronan concentration is associated with an inflammatory situation. 6. It is concluded that raised levels of lactate and n.m.r.-observable hyaluronan and lipids are useful markers to aid the clinical distinction between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetates↗
PubMed1992

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to analyze the performance of hollow-fiber bioreactors.

Preliminary experiments were described that demonstrate that MRI is an effective tool for the noninvasive study of hollow-fiber bioreactors. Flow-compensated velocity-encoding pulse sequences were successively applied to analyze the velocity patterns in a module operated without cells, with an artificially induced flow field perturbation. Diffusion damping pulse sequences were also used to spatially resolve regions of cell growth in a bioreactor. These experiments provide the necessary basis from which future flow and spectroscopic studies can be conducted.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Neuronal survival and neurite extension supported by astrocytes co-cultured in transwells.

The influence of astrocytes on the development of cerebral cortical neurons was studied in a co-culture system using transwells with chemically defined medium. Cerebral cortical neurons from 15- or 16-day-old mouse embryo were cultured in the lower wells which were separated by a porous membrane from the upper transwells where cerebral cortical astrocytes from newborn mouse were cultured. Neurons co-cultured with astrocytes for 7 days formed a network-like web and maintained a slightly better survival from 4 to 7 days. However, neurons cultured in conditioned medium obtained from astrocytes did not form any network after 7 days even though they maintained a better cell survival at 4 days.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Pancreatic echogenicity in premature and newborn infants.

Little information is available regarding pancreatic echogenicity in premature infants and neonates. We prospectively studied 65 patients (30 premature infants and 35 neonates) and compared pancreatic echogenicity to a control group of 25 infants and 35 older children. Pancreatic echogenicity was graded relative to hepatic echogenicity measured at a similar depth. In the premature infants and neonates the initial ultrasounds were hyperechoic in 71% compared to 5% in both control groups. Follow up ultrasounds were obtained in 73% of the premature infants and 17% of the neonates. The pancreatic echogenicity became isoechoic in 14 of 19 premature infants and 3 of 4 neonates in whom the initial ultrasound was hyperechoic. We conclude that the normal pancreatic echogenicity in premature infants and neonates is usually hyperechoic relative to liver. Pancreatic hyperechogenicity in premature infants and neonates is not necessarily indicative of disease.

Humans↗