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Biomedical subjects

J Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to J Anderson.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Systemic sporotrichosis treated with itraconazole.

Amphotericin B is recommended for the treatment of systemic infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii. However, this agent is toxic, its use is frequently followed by relapse, and some isolates of S. schenckii are resistant. Recent studies suggest that newer azole compounds, such as itraconazole, are effective in cutaneous and lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis, but data on their efficacy in systemic infections are scarce. We used itraconazole in the sequential treatment of six patients with systemic sporotrichosis: three with bone and joint disease and three with disseminated infection manifested by subcutaneous nodules. In all six cases, symptoms and signs of infection improved, with resolution of subcutaneous nodules, normalization of imaging studies, cessation of wound drainage, and return of joint mobility and function. No toxicity was noted. One patient with disseminated infection had a relapse while receiving 100 mg of itraconazole daily. The average duration of follow-up was 18 months. Thus itraconazole appears promising for the treatment of systemic sporotrichosis. A dose of at least 200 mg/d appears to be needed to prevent relapse.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse experiences in a community sample of women.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to ascertain the prevalence and nature of sexual abuse in childhood for a community sample of women. METHOD: A two-stage design, using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, was employed, providing information on prevalence rates, types of abuse, ages of victims, relationship to the abuser, and cohort effects. RESULTS: Nearly one woman in three reported having one or more unwanted sexual experiences before age 16 years. A significant number of these experiences (70%) involved genital contact or more severe abuse, and 12% of those abused were subjected to sexual intercourse. The abusers were usually known to the victim, being family members in 38.3% of cases and acquaintances in another 46.3%. Stranger abuse accounted for 15% of all abuse experiences. Most of the abusers were young men, disclosure of the abuse was infrequent, and only 7% of all abuse was ever officially reported. Prevalence rates showed no urban/rural differences, no cohort effect with subject age, and no age differences in disclosure rates. CONCLUSIONS: Child sexual abuse is common, serious, infrequently reported, and the abuser is usually known to the child. Preadolescent girls are at greatest risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Coordinate regulation of two opaque-phase-specific genes during white-opaque switching in Candida albicans.

Cells of Candida albicans WO-1 switch spontaneously and frequently between a white and an opaque CFU. Recently, an opaque-phase-specific cDNA, PEP1, was cloned and was demonstrated to code for a pepsinogen. By using a differential hybridization screen, a second opaque-phase-specific cDNA, Op4, has been isolated and its corresponding gene has been cloned. Op4 is coordinately regulated with PEP1 but resides on a different chromosome. During temperature-induced mass conversion from opaque to white, transcription of PEP1 and Op4 is immediately inhibited by the increase in temperature, but transcription of both genes can be rapidly reestablished by a downshift in temperature prior to phenotypic commitment. However, the capacity to rapidly induce both PEP1 and Op4 is lost coincidentally with the second semisynchronous round of cell division and phenotypic commitment during mass conversion. Op4 shows no significant base or amino acid sequence homology with a known gene or protein, respectively. However, the deduced Op4 protein exhibits several interesting characteristics, including a hydrophobic amino terminus with 26 amino acids, a pI of 10.73 for the last 100 amino acids, two serine repeats adjacent to alanine repeats, and the potential for alpha-helical conformation within the alanine-rich sequences. No genomic reorganization was evident in the proximity of Op4 during transcriptional activation and deactivation accompanying the white-opaque transition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Characterization and partial nucleotide sequence of the DNA fingerprinting probe Ca3 of Candida albicans.

The moderately repetitive Ca3 fragment of Candida albicans has been used as an effective DNA fingerprinting probe in epidemiological studies. EcoRI digestion of Ca3 DNA results in seven fragments of 4.2 kb (A), 2.98 kb (B), 2.85 kb (C), 0.77 kb (D1), 0.77 kb (D2), 0.38 kb (E), and 0.30 kb (F). Five of these EcoRI fragments have been mapped in the 5'-3' order C B D1 A D2. The intact Ca3 probe and the three largest EcoRI fragments, A, B, and C, were individually used to probe Southern blots of EcoRI-digested DNA of a set of test strains, transverse alternating field electrophoresis-separated chromosomes of strain 3153A, and Northern (RNA) blots of test strain 3153A. Fragments, A, B, and C each generate a different Southern blot hybridization pattern with EcoRI-digested whole-cell DNA; Ca3 sequences are present in at least five of seven separable chromosomes and a minichromosome of strain 3153A; fragments A, B, and C are distributed differently on chromosomes; and fragments A, B, and C do not cross-hybridize. Ca3 hybridizes to three major transcripts of 2.8, 2.3, and 1.5 kb. Fragment A hybridizes intensely to the 1.5-kb transcript, while fragments B and C both hybridize intensely to the 2.8- and 2.3-kb transcripts. The B fragment, which contains 2,980 bp and contributes to the major portion of the Ca3 pattern, was sequenced. Both direct and inverted repeat sequence motifs were identified. These results provide us with initial insights into the evolution of the Ca3 pattern and the nature of the probe.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Lung retention of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol from liposomes: effects of oxygen exposure and fasting.

Antioxidants such as glutathione may play a role in prevention and treatment of several lung diseases. Liposomes can be used to deliver antioxidants to the lung and increase their retention. In addition, liposomes alone may protect against oxidant-induced damage. In addition, liposomes alone may protect against oxidant-induced damage. This study was designed to characterize the retention and distribution of liposomes in the lung under normal circumstances and during either fasting, exposure to 100% oxygen, or a combination of the two. Positively charged liposomes, consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesterol, and stearylamine plus either [14C]cholesterol or [3H]PC, were instilled intratracheally. Five minutes to 5 days later the lungs were removed and the radioactivity determined. Both [14C]cholesterol and [3H]PC labels had prolonged and equal retention in the lung, but their distribution within lung compartments differed. The cholesterol label increased in lung tissue over time, comprising 78% of the remaining label after 5 days, whereas the PC label persisted at high levels in lavage fluid and became equally distributed between lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Fasting had little effect on the retention of the labels and no effect on their distribution within the lung. Exposure to 100% oxygen increased lung retention of both radiolabels and altered their distribution such that [14C]cholesterol label decreased and [3H]PC label increased in lung tissue. These results demonstrate the prolonged retention of intratracheally administered liposomes or their components in the lung and the effects of two clinically relevant conditions, fasting and hyperoxic exposure. Furthermore, they provide a basis for designing future studies using liposomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Increased levels of glutathione in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with asthma.

Patients with asthma generate increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from peripheral blood cells and cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). ROS produce many of the pathophysiologic changes associated with asthma and may contribute to its pathogenesis. Although antioxidant defenses inhibit the changes produced by ROS, no data are available on local antioxidant defenses in asthma. The present study was designed to begin to explore these defenses by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and total glutathione (GSH) levels in BAL fluid from normal subjects and patients with mild asthma. Baseline pulmonary function and methacholine bronchoprovocation tests were performed on all subjects. BAL was achieved by instilling five 20-ml aliquots of phosphate-buffered saline in each of three lung segments. The fluids recovered from the first 20-ml aliquot and that from the next four aliquots were labeled bronchial and alveolar fluid, respectively. Patients with asthma had a lower FEV1 (p < 0.005), less BAL fluid recovered (p < 0.05), and an increased percentage of bronchial eosinophils (p < 0.05). There were no differences in BAL total cell count or protein concentration. Catalase activity was not consistently detected in the unconcentrated BAL fluid from either group. SOD activity was found in both bronchial and alveolar samples, but it was similar in the two groups of subjects. The GSH concentration in bronchial fluid was higher in the patients with asthma (23.9 +/- 6.2 vs 13.0 +/- 1.8 microM/mg protein; p < 0.05); a similar trend was seen in the alveolar fluid (36.5 +/- 9.4 vs 23.3 +/- 3.0 microM/mg protein).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Evaluating the effectiveness of the "Self-CARE for a Healthy Heart" program with older adults.

"Self-CARE for a Healthy Heart" promotes healthier dietary practices to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. Forty-four adults, aged 60-90, participated. The objectives were to determine if this self-paced program improved dietary habits and to identify how it could be better tailored for elderly. After finishing Self-CARE, 47.8% of respondents reported choosing more low-fat foods. Over 39% reported selecting fewer foods associated with heart disease. Minimal suggestions were made to improve the program. The print format, as a method to learn how to lower blood cholesterol, was preferred by a majority. Over half thought Self-CARE was effective with the elderly. Although measured dietary behavior did not improve, the format and content of Self-CARE were appropriate for use with seniors.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Adsorption and helical coiling of amphipathic peptides on lipid vesicles leads to negligible protection from cathepsin B or cathepsin D.

The processing of antigenic peptides for presentation by MHC molecules to T cells, may depend upon the function of a second, consensus sequence in or near the T cell-presented epitope. One such processing-regulating sequence appears to be composed of amino acids Leu, Ile, Val, Phe, and Met recurring in a fashion to form a longitudinal, hydrophobic strip when the excised peptide is coiled as an alpha-helix. Such a hydrophobic strip-of-helix may: (a) scavenge peptides from lumens onto lipid membranes of digestion vesicles, (b) stabilize peptides there as protease-resistant helices, (c) specify recognition by the antigenic peptide-binding sites of chaperonin proteins, transmembranal transporters, or MHC molecules. By circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance, we demonstrated that peptides with recurrent hydrophobic residues potentially forming longitudinal strips adsorbed to, and partially coiled as helices on, di-O-hexadecyl, D-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DHPC) vesicles. Cathepsin B or cathepsin D cleavages of three such peptides were identified. With either enzyme, it made no significant difference whether a peptide substrate was in solution or bound to vesicles in terms of efficiency and specificity of peptide bond cleavages. We conclude that protease resistance, per se, of membrane-adsorbed, helically coiled peptides is not a major factor in the selection for T cell presentation of epitopes in peptides which have a motif with a longitudinal hydrophobic strip.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1993

Huntington's disease--falling through the net.

A survey was undertaken in Leicestershire of 25 carers of patients suffering from Huntington's Disease. The needs of families suffering from a late onset hereditary disease cross many service boundaries, thus providing a challenge for service providers. The results of the survey show that the service provision for people caring for patients with this disease are poor, particularly the availability and difficulty in access of some services. Two of the carers' most basic needs were for better residential care for their relatives and access to a source of long-term follow-up.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Developing Georgia's telemedicine network.

Passage of Georgia's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act of 1992 resulted in a windfall of $50 million from telephone company over-earnings. Rather than refund the money to consumers, legislators created a fund to finance telecommunications projects in medicine and education. When Governor Zell Miller signed the Act into law more than a year ago, he said, "[It] will immediately catapult Georgia to the forefront of this nation in the use of advanced telecommunications to improve the quality of life of its people." The law also set the state's cable television and telephone companies at odds. Nancy Horne, executive director of the Cable Television Association of Georgia, said that her industry's broadband fiber and coaxial infrastructure is in place to provide the state with telemedicine capabilities, and that transmission of full motion video or high resolution diagnostic images could take hours over standard telephone lines. Representatives of telephone companies argue that new high-speed cell relay switching technology provides instantaneous communications. An appointed Board of Governors holds tightly to the strings that secure a purse containing the $50 million. No grants have yet been awarded. In the middle of the debate stands Georgia's Department of Administrative Services, which moderates the competition between the two industries. And, the Medical College of Georgia created a demonstration project based on telephone technology. Representatives of both institutions gave Healthcare Informatics their views on developments of telemedicine in Georgia.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1993

A national study of periodontal assessment by dental hygienists.

PURPOSE: Periodontal examination is one of the most frequently performed dental hygiene diagnostic services. This examination is the basis for effective dental hygiene treatment throughout long-term care. The purpose of this investigation was to examine how dental hygienists across the United States assess the periodontal status of three patient types: patients new to the practice, periodontally healthy recall patients, and periodontally unhealthy recall patients. METHODS: A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select a random sample of dental hygienists from each of two states randomly selected from four regions of the United States. Questionnaires were mailed in 1989 to 2,618 dental hygienists. Individual responses were scored according to criteria derived from dental literature for conducting seven components of a comprehensive periodontal examination. Results were calculated and analyzed for each state and region, and across regions for each patient type. RESULTS: Responses were received from 1,429 subjects, resulting in a 57.5% response rate of deliverable questionnaires. Overall mean scores (possible 0-7) across all regions were 3.68-new patients, 3.22-healthy patients, and 2.67-unhealthy patients. Of the seven assessment components, three-gingival inflammation, furcation involvement, and radiographs-were performed according to the scoring criteria for all patient types by a majority of respondents. The criterion for periodontal pockets was met by a majority for new patients only. Three assessment component criteria were met by less than 40% of the sample for all patient types-attachment levels, mobility, and plaque control. Differences in the mean scores of certain states were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Specific dental hygiene standards are recommended for initial diagnostic and recall monitoring periodontal examinations. Additionally, dental hygiene administration and management of long-term preventive and supportive periodontal therapy programs should assist in improving effectiveness of care and further delineate the profession of dental hygiene.

Dental Care↗
PubMed1993

Purchasing palliative care: availability and cost implications.

This paper reports on a survey of the availability of palliative care in Scotland, in the context of the internal market introduced as part of the NHS reforms. It is based on a survey of both the cost and availability of such service, with a discussion of the implications of this information for purchasers of palliative care.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1993

Health promotion in rural settings. A nursing challenge.

Health promotion is an exciting and integral part of nursing's domain of practice. Since the days of Florence Nightingale, nursing has identified the importance of health promotion at a variety of levels. Rural community offer the nurse a unique setting for health-promotion programs and activities. A variety of low- or no-cost health promotion programs and support materials are available. These types of programs and activities can be very rewarding to nurses in rural communities.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed1993

Dental hygienists' utilization of periodontal assessment skills and perceived collaboration with dentist-employer.

PURPOSE: As cotherapists in providing total patient care, dental hygienists must foster their pivotal role in the prevention, recognition, and initial therapy of periodontal disease. Cooperation and communication between the hygienist and dentist are necessary to assure the best possible sequence of procedures for a complete periodontal assessment. This study examined the extent of periodontal assessments performed by Ohio dental hygienists treating new patients in private practice and correlated the use of these skills to perceived collaboration with their dentist-employers. METHODS: In January 1990, self-designed mail questionnaires were sent to a cohort of 1,671 licensed dental hygienists randomly selected from the State of Ohio Dental Board Roster. Data were analyzed using standard descriptive statistical methods and the non-parametric Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Responses were received from 1,071 subjects, an 81% response rate of deliverable questionnaires and a 64% response rate of original 1,671 subjects. Results suggest that although hygienists perceive a high level of collaboration with their dentist-employer, periodontal assessments are being performed at a minimal level. There appears to be a fairly consistent, weak positive correlation between overall periodontal assessment and perceived collaboration scores. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that continued emphasis is needed on the hygienist's role in periodontal assessment. Delineation of this role may be enhanced by the establishment of specific collaborative efforts between the hygienist and dentist in defining the practice's periodontal protocol.

Dental Hygienists↗
PubMed1993

Suction tip contamination in the ultraclean-air operating theatre.

The surgical suction tip forms a reservoir for microorganisms during total hip replacement in conventional operating theatres. We assessed the colonisation of the tip in an ultraclean-air operating theatre in 39 patients, and found that 41% of them had evidence of bacterial colonisation with one or more bacteria. To avoid contamination we suggest that the suction tip is changed before preparation of the femoral canal and insertion of cement and prosthesis.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1993

Expression of the leukemia-associated gene, p18, in normal and malignant tissues; inactivation of expression in a patient with cleaved B cell lymphoma/leukemia.

p18 is a well conserved gene coding for an 18 kDa cytosolic phosphoprotein. Although the function of p18 is unknown, it is suspected of playing a role in regulation of cell proliferation or the proliferation-differentiation switch. Here we have found p18 mRNA expression highest in testis, brain, thymus and a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell line and lowest in liver. p18 was also expressed vigorously in all but one of 85 diverse tumor cell lines and primary human malignant specimens examined. In five primary tumors, expression was substantially elevated with respect to expression in contiguous normal tissue. Expression in chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia cells was far greater than in normal blood cells and increased with progression of disease. In liver material, the highest level of p18 was found in a primary hepatoblastoma, a stem cell tumor, whereas a benign adenoma demonstrated very low level expression. Cells from a cleaved B cell lymphoma/leukemia failed to express p18 whereas 18 specimens from other B lymphoid malignancies, including a second cleaved cell malignancy, expressed p18 at substantial levels. These data are consistent with p18 playing a role in control of cell proliferation in at least certain tissues. The questions arise if high level p18 expression in certain malignancies may play a primary role in driving cell proliferation or, based on chromosomal localization and inactivation of p18 expression in one lymphoma, if p18 may act as a tumor suppressor.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗