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Biomedical subjects

F Ross

Publications and source records attributed to F Ross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

An example of psychological adjustment in chronic illness: Hirschsprung's disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes after definitive surgical correction for children with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) and the psychosocial impact of HD on the child and family. The total sample comprised 72 children with HD along with their families. The development of a condition-specific questionnaire measured the functional and psychosocial outcomes for children with HD with parental perception of their child's condition. Psychiatric measures were also examined to assess psychiatric morbidity. The greatest functional problem after definitive surgery for HD was faecal soiling (76%). The principle findings of the study were that (1) HD did not have a significant impact on the child's rate of psychiatric morbidity and levels of hopefulness in comparison to the normal population, (2) surgical and psychosocial functioning improved with increasing age and, (3) families remain troubled about their future with HD and dealing with psychosocial difficulties related to the condition (such as distress because of faecal soiling). Specifically, faecal soiling was found to be physically, emotionally and psychosocially distressing complication. Bowel functioning and psychosocial distress improves with increasing age and parental and medical professional support. Despite the significant impairment of faecal continence, we found that children/young adults with HD have minimal psychiatric morbidity, yet experience condition-specific psychosocial problems (e.g. embarrassment and distress/discomfort). HD does not increase the rate of clinical psychiatric morbidity in children and families with HD, but does determine the context of their daily distress and concern.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

HIV testing in Scotland. Are we meeting the standard? BASHH Scotland national audit 2004.

Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. The draft Scottish Sexual Health Strategy (2003) proposed that 'HIV testing [should be] offered to all GUM clinic attendees not known to be HIV infected who present with a new STI. ... Reasons for non-uptake should be recorded.' We performed a national audit comparing practice in Scottish genitourinary (GU) medicine services against these standards. The results show that practice is highly variable but overall in 2004 Scottish GU medicine clinics were failing to meet the strategy standard.

Female Urogenital Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Disruption and aberrant expression of HMGA2 as a consequence of diverse chromosomal translocations in myeloid malignancies.

Chromosomal translocations that target HMGA2 at chromosome band 12q14 are seen in a variety of malignancies, notably lipoma, pleomorphic salivary adenoma and uterine leiomyoma. Although some HMGA2 fusion genes have been reported, several lines of evidence suggest that the critical pathogenic event is the expression of truncated HMGA2 isoforms. We report here the involvement of HMGA2 in six patients with myeloid neoplasia, dysplastic features and translocations or an inversion involving chromosome bands 12q13-15 and either 7p12, 8q22, 11q23, 12p11, 14q31 or 20q11. Breaks within or very close to HMGA2 were found in all six cases by molecular cytogenetic analysis, leading to overexpression of this gene as assessed by RT-PCR. Truncated transcripts consisting of HMGA2 exons 1-2 or exons 1-3 spliced to intron-derived sequences were identified in two patients, but were not seen in controls. These findings suggest that abnormalities of HMGA2 play an important and previously unsuspected role in myelodysplasia.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of leg ulceration in a London population.

BACKGROUND: Current prevalence estimates of chronic leg ulceration are frequently based on studies from the 1980s. During the last decade, major changes have occurred in the application of evidence-based practice to this condition. AIM: To determine the prevalence and cause of leg ulceration in a defined geographical population after 8 years of providing standardized evidence based protocols of care. DESIGN: Prospective survey. METHODS: Patients with leg ulceration of >4 weeks duration) within an integrated acute and community leg ulcer service were ascertained, interviewed and clinically assessed, using a standardized questionnaire on medical history, ulcer details and non-invasive vascular investigation to describe causes. Ulcers were classified by aetiology. RESULTS: We identified 113 patients in a population of 252 000, giving a crude prevalence of 0.45/1000 (95%CI 0.37-0.54/1000): 0.34/1000 in men, 0.54/1000 in women. Rates were highly dependent on age, increasing to 8.29 (men) and 8.06/1000 (women) in those aged >85 years. Of the responders, 62/113 (55%) had their ulcer for >1 year. Uncomplicated venous ulceration was observed in only 59/138 (43%) ulcerated limbs; a further 21 had ulceration primarily due to arterial disease. Complex causes were present in 48 (35%) limbs, mostly venous disease in combination with diabetes (35%), lymphoedema (42%) and rheumatoid arthritis (26%). DISCUSSION: Our prevalence of chronic leg ulceration is approximately one-third of that predicted by previous studies using similar methodologies in the 1980s. Patients with ulceration have more complex aetiologies than previously recognized, which may be a consequence of both increasing ulcer chronicity and age.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Dietetic guidelines: diet in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (first update, June 2003).

AIM: To update dietetic guidelines summarizing the systematic review evidence on dietary advice to prevent further events in people with existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) (secondary prevention). METHODS: The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE were comprehensively searched to November 2002 for systematic reviews on aspects of diet and heart health. Reviews were included if they searched systematically for randomised controlled trials relating to diet and secondary prevention of CVD. Two members of the UK Heart Health and Thoracic Dietitians Group critically appraised each review. The quality and results of each review were discussed and summarized in a meeting of the whole group. RESULTS: Providing evidence-based dietary information (including increasing omega-3 fat intake) to all people who have had a myocardial infarction will save more lives than concentrating dietary advice on just those in need of weight loss or lipid lowering. The practice of prioritizing dietetic time in secondary prevention to those with raised lipids is out of date since the advent of statin therapy. However, effective dietary advice for those with angina, stroke, peripheral vascular disease or heart failure is less clear. CONCLUSION: There is good systematic review evidence that dietary advice to those with coronary heart disease can reduce mortality and morbidity as well as modify some risk factors. Dietary advice that does this most effectively should be prioritized.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2002

Genetic abnormalities detected in ependymomas by comparative genomic hybridisation.

Using comparative genomic hybridisation, we have analysed genetic imbalance in a series of 86 ependymomas from children and adults. Tumours were derived from intracranial and spinal sites, and classified histologically as classic, anaplastic or myxopapillary. Ependymomas showing a balanced profile were significantly (P<0.0005) more frequent in children than adults. Profiles suggesting intermediate ploidy were common (44% of all tumours), and found more often (P<0.0005) in tumours from adults and the spinal region. Loss of 22q was the most common specific abnormality, occurring in 50% of spinal (medullary) ependymomas and 26% of tumours overall. Genetic profiles combining loss of 22q with other specific abnormalities--gain of 1q, loss of 6q, loss of 10q/10, loss of 13, loss of 14q/14--varied according to site and histology. In particular, we showed that classic ependymomas from within the cranium and spine have distinct genetic profiles. Classic and anaplastic ependymomas with gain of 1q tended to occur in the posterior fossa of children and to behave aggressively. Our extensive data on ependymomas demonstrate significant associations between genetic aberrations and clinicopathological variables, and represent a starting point for further biological and clinical studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Probability of assertive behaviour, interpersonal anxiety and self-efficacy of South African registered dietitians.

OBJECTIVES: There is little information on the probability of assertive behaviour, interpersonal anxiety and self-efficacy in the literature regarding dietitians. The objective of this study was to establish baseline information of these attributes and the factors affecting them. METHOD: Questionnaires collecting biographical information and self-assessment psychometric scales measuring levels of probability of assertiveness, interpersonal anxiety and self-efficacy were mailed to 350 subjects, who comprised a random sample of dietitians registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. RESULTS: Forty-one per cent (n=145) of the sample responded. Self-assessment inventory results were compared to test levels of probability of assertive behaviour, interpersonal anxiety and self-efficacy. The inventory results were compared with the biographical findings to establish statistical relationships between the variables. The hypotheses were formulated before data collection. CONCLUSION: Dietitians had acceptable levels of probability of assertive behaviour and interpersonal anxiety. The probability of assertive behaviour was significantly lower than the level noted in the literature and was negatively related to interpersonal anxiety and positively related to self-efficacy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Multicentre analysis of patterns of DNA gains and losses in 204 neuroblastoma tumors: how many genetic subgroups are there?

PROCEDURE: Analysis of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) data of 120 tumors from four different studies, and data of 84 previously unpublishied tumors, allowed delineation of at least six different genetic subsets of neuroblastomas. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A small number of tumors show no detectable imballances. A second group of tumors presents with gains and losses of whole chromosomes and is found predominantly in prognostically favorable stage 1 and 2 tumors. The remaining groups are characterized by the presence of partial chromosome imbalances, and are found mostly in stage 3, 4, and 4S tumors. The third group shows 17q gain without 11q loss, 1p loss, or MYCN amplification (MNA). The fourth group has 1p deletion or MNA, and finally, a fifth group shows 11q loss without 1p deletion or MNA, and is found mainly in stage 4 tumors. The latter group is significantly associated with losses of 3p, 4p, and 14q.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed2001

History of tobacco use among Kentucky women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer: 1997-1998.

An association between cigarette smoking and cervical cancer has been demonstrated by numerous epidemiologic studies. However, just because there is an association does not mean that there is an etiologic connection between tobacco use and cervical cancer, although some studies do indicate such a relationship. There are numerous potential explanations, including smoking as a behavior being associated with other behaviors that place women at increased risk of HPV infection. In a state like Kentucky, where the prevalence of smoking is so very high, one would expect that the disease burden from cervical cancer would also be high. A review of available data on invasive cervical cancer cases from the Kentucky Cancer Registry shows that this is indeed the case, with the incidence rate of invasive cervical cancer in Kentucky being as much as 40% higher than the SEER rate during the 1991-1998 time period. An analysis of available tobacco use history data from the KCR on women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer during 1997-1998 shows that 61% of them indicated a history of tobacco use.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of a highly complex region in Xq13 and mapping of three isodicentric breakpoints associated with preleukemia.

The chromosomal abnormality represented by an isodicentric X chromosome [idic(X)(q13)] is associated with a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and preleukemia observed in elderly females. A previous study localized the breakpoints of two acquired isodicentric X chromosomes associated with myelodysplasia to a 450-kb region proximal to the XIST gene. Here we report the construction and extensive characterization of a reliable 1-Mb P1 artificial chromosome and bacterial artificial chromosome contig covering a highly problematic region in Xq13 that includes the previously described isodicentric breakpoint region. In addition to mapping of the brain-specific gene (NAP1L2) and the phosphoglyceryl kinase alpha subunit 1 gene (PHKA1) and generation and mapping of a large number of STSs throughout the contig, we have mapped a putative transcriptional regulatory protein (HDACL1), and 35 ESTs. Sequencing data, Southern blot analysis, and fiber-FISH analysis have permitted characterization of extensive region-specific duplications and triplications in addition to an unusually high concentration of long interspersed repeat elements, both of which could be implicated in isodicentric chromosome formation and other Xq13 chromosome aberrations. FISH analysis of metaphase chromosomes from two previously unpublished AML patients and one preleukemic patient using cosmid clones and selected subclones allowed mapping of the idic(X)(q13) breakpoints to a 100-kb interval, consistent with the involvement of an X-linked gene in the genesis of this form of preleukemia, disruption of which may represent a preliminary step in progression to AML. Assembly and physical mapping of this complex 1-Mb contig establish a foundation for ongoing sequencing and gene identification projects in the region.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of older people: politics and practice in primary care.

This paper reviews some of the key policy changes in the United Kingdom in relation to older people that have influenced assessment practice across health and social care, and have implications for nursing within emerging primary care groups. The role of assessment in purchasing care packages raises tensions and paradoxes for health and social care professionals that the paper sets out to elucidate with particular reference to district nurses. The issues for nursing have not been well described previously and questions such as key accountability, rationing, multiagency and interprofessional working, and the consumer voice, are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Learning together in medical and nursing training: aspirations and activity.

CONTEXT: Policy documents about service innovation, education priorities and professional development exhort professions to learn together and work collaboratively. However, the literature suggests that the existence of shared learning in medical and nursing pre-qualifying education is patchy. AIM: This paper does not claim to be research. It sets out to reflect on the trends and tensions in key policy directions, relating these to aspirations and a mapping of current intiatives in the sphere of medical and nursing pre-qualifying education. APPROACH: A limited national information gathering exercise was conducted during the planning phase of seminars hosted by the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE) in 1996 and 1997. This involved directly contacting all medical schools and departments of nursing and midwifery in geographical proximity, or with an institutional relationship. Information was sought on current or planned activity in shared learning, defined as medical and nursing students and/or working together. EMERGING THEMES: There were a few examples of shared learning identified by the mapping exercise. The paper discusses these and draws on the consensus that emerged from the seminars on objectives and topics for shared learning. It concludes with a discussion of what makes for success or failure in such ventures with suggestions for future educational policy development.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed2000

A new in vivo and in vitro B cell lymphoma model, pi-BCL1.

We report a new variant of the BCL1 syngeneic mouse B-cell lymphoma model, which we have called pi-BCL1. pi-BCL1 can be established as a syngeneic tumor in BALB/c mice. Tumors can be removed, prepared and easily grown in liquid culture and subsequently transferred back successfully as syngeneic tumors. As a syngeneic tumor pi-BCL1 behave more like a lymphoma with solid tumor masses, than a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of the original BCL1 model. The immunophenotype and the growth characteristics of the pi-BCL1 and BCL1 tumors appear very similar. Cytologically, pi-BCL1 appears to be a transformation from a small lymphocytic lymphoma to a more diffuse large cell centroblast-like higher-grade lymphoma. We are not aware of any previous reports of such transformation events in a syngeneic animal model of B cell lymphoma. We believe pi-BCL1 provides a useful new tool for the study of B cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo and enables reduced numbers of tumor passage in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Imbalances of chromosome 17 in medulloblastomas determined by comparative genomic hybridisation and fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

AIMS: To investigate the status of chromosome 17 in a series of medulloblastomas using comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). METHODS: Frozen tissue and formalin fixed, paraffin was embedded tissue from 27 medulloblastomas were analysed by CGH and FISH, respectively. CGH ratio profiles for chromosome 17 were compared with the results of FISH, for which loss or gain of 17p or 17q was assessed in two distinct ways using a combination of differentially labelled subtelomeric and centromeric probes and analysing 200 nuclei in each tumour. RESULTS: CGH revealed imbalances consistent with isochromosome 17q in eight of 27 tumours. Either loss of 17p or gain of 17q was identified in a further nine tumours, whereas 10 tumours were apparently balanced. Using control results from preparations of paraffin wax embedded tonsils, thresholds for the detection of abnormalities by FISH were established, either by determining the dominant pattern of signals in each case, or the mean ratio of subtelomeric to centromeric signals. Results by CGH and FISH were concordant in 21 of 27 tumours. In the remainder, most discrepancies related to methodological differences. CONCLUSIONS: CGH has a role in disclosing common, genome wide chromosomal gains or losses in tumours, the clinical relevance of which can then be studied in large archival series of paraffin wax embedded tumours using FISH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The burden of cancer in Kentucky: the 1997 Kentucky cancer incidence report.

The purpose of collecting this important disease burden information is of course not simply for reports like this one. The real value lies in use of data for program planning, resource allocation, program design, and evaluation. Data in the annual KCR report and on the website should be a valuable resource for district and county health departments in their assessment of health problems in their area and as critical decisions are made about how to utilize limited intervention resources. The Kentucky Cancer Registry will continue to work very closely with the Community Outreach Division of the Kentucky Cancer Program to make this data available on an annual basis to District Cancer Councils to help guide their assessment and planning process. District and local health departments are encouraged to actively participate in the District Cancer Councils and in the cancer control activities guided by the regional community outreach coordinators.

Adolescent↗