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Biomedical subjects

G Rowe

Publications and source records attributed to G Rowe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Positive affect increases the breadth of attentional selection.

The present study examined the thesis that positive affect may serve to broaden the scope of attentional filters, reducing their selectivity. The effect of positive mood states was measured in two different cognitive domains: semantic search (remote associates task) and visual selective attention (Eriksen flanker task). In the conceptual domain, positive affect enhanced access to remote associates, suggesting an increase in the scope of semantic access. In the visuospatial domain, positive affect impaired visual selective attention by increasing processing of spatially adjacent flanking distractors, suggesting an increase in the scope of visuospatial attention. During positive states, individual differences in enhanced semantic access were correlated with the degree of impaired visual selective attention. These findings demonstrate that positive states, by loosening the reins on inhibitory control, result in a fundamental change in the breadth of attentional allocation to both external visual and internal conceptual space.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

In-vitro evaluation of the PALL Leukotrap Affinity Prion Reduction Filter as a secondary device following primary leucoreduction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A filter (PRF1) designed to remove abnormal prion proteins from red-cell units has been developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of red cells produced using this device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Leucocyte-depleted red-cell units (CPD, CPD-A1 and CPD/SAGM) processed according to standard UK practices were filtered using PRF1. Filtered and control units were stored and sampled on day 1, day 7 and on the date of expiry and were tested using standard measures of red-cell quality. RESULTS: Filtered units were found to have significantly higher percentage haemolysis levels, lower haemoglobin levels and a smaller volume compared with controls. All results, however, were well within the permitted 0.8% haemolysis level at the end of storage and all units met the UK guidelines for haemoglobin and volume. The other test parameters measured showed no significant differences between the test and control units. CONCLUSIONS: The PRF1 filter was found to be easy to use and resulted in red-cell units that met all relevant UK and European Guidelines.

Erythrocyte Transfusion↗
PubMed2001

Fitness and microsatellite diversity estimates were not correlated in two outbred anuran populations.

Larval fitness traits were investigated in two anuran species (Bufo calamita and Rana temporaria) under controlled laboratory conditions, and allelic diversity measured in the same individuals at five and seven microsatellite loci, respectively. For both species there were significant differences among sibships in larval growth and development rates, and in some cases also in microsatellite heterozygosity and mean d2 (a measure of diversity based on differences in allele sizes). However, there were no significant correlations between any of the fitness and genetic measures either among all individuals, among sibships or among individuals within sibships. Under the conditions and within the statistical power of the study there was no relationship between fitness-related quantitative trait variation and that seen at presumed-neutral microsatellite loci in these outbred populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Differences in expert and lay judgments of risk: myth or reality?

This article evaluates the nine empirical studies that have been conducted on expert versus lay judgments of risk. Contrary to received wisdom, this study finds that there is little empirical evidence for the propositions (1) that experts judge risk differently from members of the public or (2) that experts are more veridical in their risk assessments. Methodological weaknesses in the early research are documented, and it is shown that the results of more recent studies are confounded by social and demographic factors that have been found to correlate with judgments of risk. Using a task-analysis taxonomy, a template is provided for the documentation of future studies of expert-lay differences/similarities that will facilitate analytic comparison.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

On measuring inequalities in health.

In a recent series of papers, Murray et al. have put forward a number of important ideas regarding the measurement of inequalities in health. In this paper we agree with some of these ideas but draw attention to one key aspect of their approach--measuring inequalities on the basis of small area data--which is flawed. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the problem. An alternative approach drawing on longitudinal data is outlined, which preserves and enhances the most desirable aspects of their proposal. These include the use of a life course perspective, and the consideration of non-fatal health outcomes as well as the more usual information on mortality patterns.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

Newspaper reporting of hazards in the UK and Sweden.

Public understanding of risks is likely to be informed by the media. We report a cross-national study looking at how newspapers in Sweden and the United Kingdom characterize a variety of risks, focusing on two months around the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. Approximately four times as many reports about risks were found in Sweden as in the U.K., possibly reflecting a Swedish safety culture. The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) crisis dominated reporting in both countries, especially in the U.K. The proportion and pattern of reports on Chernobyl was similar across countries. However, in Sweden, there was an increase in reports about other nuclear hazards after the anniversary, suggesting that generalization of media concern may have occurred. Generally, BSE was discussed using a greater number of characterizations in the U.K., while Chernobyl was reported using more characterizations in Sweden. Reports about hazards tended to be alarmist rather than reassuring, and rarely used statistics to express degrees of risk.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Archive contributions to a molecular phylogeography of the toad Bufo calamita in Britain.

A complete phylogeographic analysis of any species requires sampling throughout its biogeographical range. In the case of the natterjack toad Bufo calamita in Britain, recent local extinctions have left substantial areas of its historical range without extant populations. We therefore obtained tissue samples of archived Bufo calamita from four museums in the United Kingdom. A range of tissues (tongue, liver, skin, lung, and larval tail) was sampled from a total of 33 individual animals. DNA was extracted and eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were scored. One or more loci were amplified successfully from 27 individuals, and sufficient data were obtained from regions with few or no surviving populations to supplement a phylogeographic analysis based on extant populations.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Role of ischaemia in the genesis of oedema surrounding meningiomas assessed using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

Oedema surrounding meningiomas is well known, but its pathogenesis remains obscure. Perfusion and metabolism in this peritumoural parenchyma were studied preoperatively in eight patients using magnetic resonance imaging, dynamic perfusion scanning and proton spectroscopy. Relative cerebral blood volumes (CBV) and metabolite ratios were calculated for the tumour and peritumoural brain. All meningiomas showed gadolinium enhancement, high choline (Ch), low creatine (Cr) and low N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) [Ch: (Ch + Cr) 0.67, SD 0.13, NAA: (Ch + Cr) 0.18, SD 0.15]. Lactate was present in four tumours [lactate: (Ch + Cr) 0.32, SD 0.27]. Extremely low gadolinium passage and low CBV were seen in the 2 cm peritumoural region, with elevated lactate [lactate: (Ch + Cr) 0.26, SD 0.18]. Four centimetres from tumour margin the CBV was still reduced (65, SD 20% with less lactate [lactate: (Ch + Cr) 0.12, SD 0.01]. Relative CBV is reduced around meningiomas and is associated with lactate, suggesting that oligaemia and altered metabolism may be part of the pathology in peritumoural oedema. Such changes may be important in determining functional recovery after surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Substance abuse and psychiatric illness: treatment experience.

The purpose of this paper is to describe an outpatient dual-diagnosis treatment program and 1-year clinical outcome and hospital utilization data. Subjects were 118 consecutive admissions to the Seattle Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center's Dual Disorders program over the period from June 1, 1992, to August 31, 1994. Program eligibility requirements included having a current substance use disorder and an active non-substance-related major Axis I disorder (typically major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder). The treatment frame involved group-based programming (including support, medications management, and psychoeducation), routine urine drug screening, and crisis interventions. Results showed that subjects averaged 1.5 non-substance-related Axis I psychiatric disorders (54% involving psychotic symptoms) and 1.8 active substance use disorders. Patients stayed engaged in treatment for a median of 217 days, with 60% of patients having no positive drug screens, and the overall sample having a 40% reduction in the number of inpatient bed days in the year after intake. Conclusions were that, for a number of patients with comorbid disorders, psychiatric stabilization and cessation of substance use can be accomplished within an outpatient treatment frame that averages two completed clinical contacts per week.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Case report: anti-Coa in a Co-(a+)-typed patient with chronic renal insufficiency.

The recently identified molecular structure of the Colton blood group system is characterized by an amino acid substitution at position 45 (Colton a: alanine, Colton b: valine) of the archetypical water channel protein Aquaporin-1 (AQP1), which regulates water homeostasis in the erythrocyte membrane and in the proximal tubule of the nephron. We identified a patient with the unique constellation of an antibody with the specificity anti-Coa and the Co (a+) phenotype. The serological antigen typing was confirmed by molecular typing with PCR-RFLP. The antibody has to be interpreted as an antibody against a partial Colton a antigen or as an autoantibody despite a negative direct antiglobulin test (DAT). The patient is suffering from chronic renal insufficiency of unknown origin, rising speculation about a pathophysiological relationship between the serological constellation and the clinical disease under the aspect of localization of the Colton antigens on AQP1.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Public perceptions of everyday food hazards: a psychometric study.

In this paper, we discuss the conduct and results of a study aimed at eliciting public perceptions of food-related hazards. This study employs the psychometric approach of Paul Slovic and colleagues and aims to extend the recent work of Sparks and Shepherd on defining the primary dimensions of food-related risk perceptions. The study surveyed a nationally representative sample of the general public (respondents = 293; adjusted response rate = 30.1%). Respondents provided ratings on subsets of 22 potential food hazards (e.g., food irradiation and presence of listeria) on a total of 19 risk characteristics (e.g., "perceived severity of risk" and "adequacy of governmental regulations"). In spite of the use of a number of new characteristics and food hazards, Principal Components Analysis revealed a broadly similar factor structure to that obtained by Sparks and Shepherd, suggesting the generalizability of the key dimensions (concerning the severity and awareness of hazards). Interestingly, the positioning in the factor space of potential hazards about which little was generally known (e.g., campylobacter) as being serious and in need of regulation, may suggest a possible "starting position" in the perception of new hazards that have not previously been the subject of risk communications.

Communication↗
PubMed1995

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane) is superior to oxidized regenerated cellulose (Interceed TC7+) in preventing adhesions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the impact of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane; W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ) and oxidized regenerated cellulose (Interceed TC7, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc., Arlington, TX) on the development of postsurgical adhesions. DESIGN: A multicenter, nonblinded, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: University medical centers. INTERVENTIONS: Each barrier was allocated randomly to the left or right sidewall of every patient. PATIENTS: Thirty-two women with bilateral pelvic sidewall adhesions undergoing reconstructive surgery and second-look laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adhesion score (on a 0- to 11-point scale), the area of adhesion (cm2), and the likelihood of no adhesions. RESULTS: The use of both barriers was associated with a lower adhesion score and area of adhesion postoperatively. However, those sidewalls covered with PTFE had a significantly lower adhesion score (0.97 +/- 0.30 versus 4.76 +/- 0.61 points, mean +/- SEM) and area of adhesion (0.95 +/- 0.35 versus 3.25 +/- 0.62 cm2). Overall, more sidewalls covered with PTFE had no adhesions (21 versus 7) and, when adhesions were present on the contralateral sidewall, the number of sidewalls covered with PTFE without adhesions was greater than those covered with oxidized regenerated cellulose (16 versus 2). CONCLUSION: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene was associated with fewer postsurgical adhesions to the pelvic sidewall than oxidized regenerated cellulose.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Laparoscopy Implant and Long Term Efficacy of the GORE-TEX Surgical Membrane: Preliminary Report

A prospective clinical study to determine the ease of use of the GORE-TEX Surgical Membrane in laparoscopic surgery to enhance fertility was undertaken. A secondary aim of the study was to report on short and long-term safety of the product and its effectiveness when implanted laparoscopically. Ten centers enrolled 36 patients to date in this preliminary report. During the initial operation, the time to accomplish the operative procedure, time necessary to implant the surgical membrane, and a subjective rating of the ease of implant were evaluated. If an adhesion was lysed at the implant site, the adhesion was scored using a standard system. The time spent in implantation was calculated for each implant site. The uterine sites had a smaller time spent in implantation than either the pelvic sidewall or cul-de-sac. Less time was spent in implanting the surgical membrane with staples than clips or sutures. There have been no reports of immediate or long-term postoperative complications attributable to the surgical membrane. Most patients were implanted with the intention of keeping the surgical membrane in place long-term. Five patients had second-looks; one had a filmy, avascular adhesion, while the remaining patients had no adhesion formation to the implant site, the surgical membrane and its edges or the anchoring devices. There were no postoperative complications in the latter patients. In conclusion, the surgical membrane is easily used at laparoscopy, with the most rapid fixation accomplished through the use of laparoscopic staples. Short and long term complications have been nil, while efficacy after laparoscopic implantation has been good in a limited second-look series.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

The neuronal nuclear antigen recognized by the human anti-Ri autoantibody is expressed in central but not peripheral nervous system neurons.

Anti-Ri is a human autoantibody that recognizes a neuronal nuclear antigen (Ri). Biotinylated IgG from serum of two patients with high titers of anti-Ri antibodies was used to study the distribution of the Ri antigen in a panel of normal human tissues. the expression of the Ri antigen was evaluated by an avidin-biotin peroxidase technique and confirmed by immunoblotting. The Ri antigen was restricted to the neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) and some pituitary cells. Most neurons in dorsal root, Gasserian and sympathetic ganglia, and myenteric plexus were negative or, a few of them, very weakly positive. The functional implication of the different expression of the Ri antigen between neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system is presently unknown.

Antigens↗