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Biomedical subjects

J Arthur

Publications and source records attributed to J Arthur.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Comparison of propofol with thiopentone for treatment of bupivacaine-induced seizures in rats.

Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were paralysed with pancuronium and their lungs ventilated mechanically with 70% nitrous oxide and 0.5% halothane in oxygen. Bupivacaine 2 mg kg-1 min-1 was infused continuously i.v. until the animals died. At the onset of seizures, animals were given an i.v. bolus of propofol 1 mg kg-1 (n = 10), thiopentone 2 mg kg-1 (n = 10) or lipid vehicle (n = 10). Administration of propofol or thiopentone was repeated each time seizures restarted and lipid vehicle administrations were repeated at 2-min intervals until the electroencephalogram became isoelectric. All animals developed seizures, arrhythmias, isoelectric EEG and asystole. Administration of lipid vehicle induced no obvious changes in ongoing epileptiform activity. The initial doses of thiopentone and of propofol stopped epileptiform activity in all animals, usually within 6 s after administration. The seizure-free period after the initial administration of thiopentone and of propofol lasted, on average, 0.98 min and 1.72 min, respectively. We conclude that propofol may have value in treating seizures induced by bupivacaine.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Intranuclear foci containing low abundance herpes simplex virus latency-associated transcripts visualized by non-isotopic in situ hybridization.

During latent infection of neurons with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), several RNA transcripts of varying abundance arise from a single locus within the virus repeats. The functions of latency-associated transcripts (LATs) are unknown and the relationship between the various RNA species requires further clarification. Reported here is a novel approach to the study of HSV transcripts during latency, based on the increasing realization that cellular and viral RNAs are synthesized and processed by macromolecular complexes that occupy discrete compartments within the nucleoplasm of a cell. High resolution non-isotopic in situ hybridization was used to study the intranuclear topology of HSV-1 LATs in primary sensory neurons of latently infected mice and humans. Low abundance (minor) LATs were localized to sharply defined intranuclear foci of 1 to 3 microns in diameter. On average, there were 2.6 to 2.8 foci/LAT+ neuronal profile (5 microns), representing 13 to 14 foci/cell. In contrast to the focal deployment of minor LATs, the more abundant latency-associated RNAs were distributed diffusely throughout the nucleoplasms of latency infected neurons, with prominent sparing of nucleolar regions. These data establish a foundation for studying the synthesis, processing and transport of LATs in vivo. It should now be possible to investigate the nature of those cellular products which associate with HSV-1 encoded LATs in vivo and thereby determine whether minor LATs are associated with previously characterized macromolecular complexes, such as those responsible for processing of pre-messenger RNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A randomised prospective study comparing the new vacuum extractor policy with forceps delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare assisted vaginal delivery by forceps with delivery by vacuum extractor, where a new vacuum extractor policy was employed which dictated the cup to be used in specific situations. DESIGN: Multicentre randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Four district general hospitals in the West Midlands. SUBJECTS: Six hundred-seven women requiring assisted vaginal delivery, of whom 296 were allocated to vacuum extractor delivery and 311 to forceps. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Delivery success rate, maternal perineal and vaginal injuries, maternal anaesthetic requirements, neonatal scalp and facial injuries. RESULTS: Of the vacuum extractor group, 85% were delivered by the allocated instrument compared to 90% in the forceps group (odds ratio (OR) 0.64; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.4-1.04). However, more women in the vacuum extractor group were delivered vaginally (98%) than in the forceps group (96%). There were significantly fewer women with anal sphincter damage or upper vaginal extensions in the vacuum extractor group (11% vs 17%, OR 0.6; 95% CI, 0.38-0.97). There were significantly fewer women in the vacuum extractor group requiring epidural or spinal anaesthetics (25.4% vs 32.7%, OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.49-0.99) or general anaesthetics (1% vs 4%, OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.04-0.76). Although there were significantly more babies in the vacuum extractor group with cephalhaematomata (9% vs 3%, OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.4-7.4) there were fewer babies in the vacuum extractor group with other facial injuries. There were three babies in the forceps group with unexplained neonatal convulsions. CONCLUSIONS: Assisted vaginal delivery using the new vacuum extractor policy is associated with significantly less maternal trauma than with forceps. Further studies are required to assess neonatal morbidity adequately.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Foodhandling practices of Dunedin caterers: a cause for concern.

AIM: Foodhandling practices in the Dunedin catering industry were assessed to determine if they were correct, preventing the transmission of foodborne disease to the public. METHOD: A random sample of 300 foodservice outlets was selected. Information was collected during personal interviews with managers using a prepared questionnaire. Potentially dangerous practices were further analysed and summed to identify "at risk" operations. RESULTS: Response rate was 71%. Thirty-six percent of restaurants, 27% of takeaway bars and 25% of deli-bars and butchers could have been considered at risk operations. Few managers had any formal training in preparing and serving food, and less than 20% of managers and personnel had any food hygiene training. CONCLUSIONS: Current legislation and its enforcement is unable to adequately address incorrect food handling practices. It is recommended that revisions of the law emphasise the importance of correct practices and their enforcement. Food hygiene training should become compulsory for all who work in the catering industry.

Cooking↗
PubMed1992

Two patterns of persistence of herpes simplex virus DNA sequences in the nervous systems of latently infected mice.

The number of herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome equivalents recovered from latently infected mouse spinal ganglia was compared with the proportion of neurons containing latency-associated transcripts (LATs). Two distinct patterns of HSV persistence were observed, depending on the anatomical location of ganglia with respect to the site of cutaneous inoculation. The location of the bulk of latent viral DNA did not correspond with the highest prevalence of LAT+ neurons. Viral DNA was most abundant in spinal ganglia directly innervating the inoculation site and the amount recovered, which was similar to that found previously in human trigeminal ganglia, suggested that LAT+ neurons each contain hundreds of copies of HSV DNA. In stark contrast, although LAT+ neurons were most abundant in neighbouring ganglia, viral DNA was scarce (approx. 20 copies/LAT+ cell). These data indicate that amplification of HSV DNA sequences is greatest in ganglia previously shown to be associated with viral antigen expression during the productive phase of primary infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Amebiasis at an evacuation site on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Symptomatic intestinal amebiasis was highly endemic among the Cambodians living at Green Hill, an evacuation site on the Thai-Cambodian border between June 1987 through May 1989. Monthly incidence rates of intestinal amebiasis were determined to be inversely proportional to cumulative monthly rainfall. The highest incidence of amebic dysentery was 63/1000 in children 12-23 months old. Behavioral risk factors were investigated by conducting a case-control study. A questionnaire was administered to 73 families, each having at least one member with confirmed intestinal amebiasis within the past 3 months, and to 95 randomly selected control families having no individual with diarrhea for at least 3 months. Individuals from families with greater than 4 members were at higher risk for acquiring intestinal amebiasis. No significant differences in behavioral risk factors were identified between case and control families. Eighty-six percent of 51 water samples drawn from wells where amebiasis patients obtained their drinking water had greater than 10 coliforms/100 ml. The main route of transmission of E. histolytica was not identified, but was most likely via the fecal-oral route.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Local hyperthermia benefits natural and experimental common colds.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether inhaling fully humidified air at 43 degrees C gave more benefit to cold sufferers than inhaling air at 30 degrees C. DESIGN: Randomised double blind trial. Setting--General practice and the common cold research unit. SUBJECTS: 87 Unselected patients with typical acute nasal and upper respiratory symptoms (general practice study), and 84 volunteers aged 18-50 without a history of chronic or allergic diseases. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects breathed from apparatus delivering 40 litres of room air heated to 43 degrees C or 30 degrees C and fully humidified (relative humidity 100%) per minute. End point--Reduction in severity of disease. MEASUREMENTS and main results--Patients recorded their symptoms (general practice study) and observers recorded symptoms and signs, weight of nasal secretions, isolation of virus, and antibody responses in volunteers. Patients treated for 20 minutes at 43 degrees C had in the succeeding days roughly half the score for symptoms of those treated at 30 degrees C. Volunteers treated for 30 minutes on three occasions when they were starting a cold showed an 18% [corrected] reduction in symptoms. Treatment of volunteers for 20 minutes at the onset of the cold and for 10 minutes on succeeding days showed no difference between 43 degrees C and 30 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal hyperthermia can improve the course of a common cold and also give immediate relief of symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence and significance of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related retinal microvasculopathy.

We performed ophthalmologic examinations on 127 subjects with or at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection over a one-year period to determine the prevalence and significance of retinal cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages (AIDS-related retinal microvasculopathy). Of 26 asymptomatic homosexual men, of whom 13 were HIV seronegative and 13 were HIV seropositive, none manifested this retinopathy. Three of 34 patients (9%) with AIDS-related complex and 29 of 67 patients (43%) with AIDS manifested retinopathy on the initial examination. This difference in the prevalence of retinopathy between groups was statistically significant (P less than .05). Patients with AIDS demonstrated 7.2 times greater odds of manifesting retinopathy than patients with AIDS-related complex (P less than .05). Within the group of patients with AIDS, the T helper (CD4) to suppressor (CD8) cell ratio was significantly associated with retinopathy at the initial ocular examination. The CD4:CD8 ratio of the total group of AIDS and AIDS-related complex patients with retinopathy was significantly lower than that of patients without retinopathy (P less than .05). There was no significant association between retinopathy and any specific past or concurrent opportunistic infection or neoplasm. The presence of retinopathy was not associated with symptoms in any patient. The lesions of AIDS-related retinal microvasculopathy may be an important finding in the evaluation of patients suspected to have HIV-related disease.

AIDS-Related Complex↗