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Biomedical subjects

J Barry

Publications and source records attributed to J Barry.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Drug users attending general practice in Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) area.

Dublin has an estimated 13,460 opiate drug users. The role of general practice in providing care for this group has increased over the last four years. A Central Methadone Treatment List (CMTL) registers all clients currently on treatment. To obtain a social, demographic and drug using profile of opiate users attending general practitioners (GPs) for methadone maintenance. A cross sectional survey of opiate users attending general practice for methadone maintenance in the Dublin area in early 1999. Data was collected on 571 clients (62% of total number attending general practice), of whom 97% had used heroin in the past and 12% had never injected. Although clients had been receiving methadone maintenance in general practice for a mean of 14 months, 16% were still using heroin, of whom 31% were still injecting. The mean age of first drug use was 15.5 years and of first injecting was 19.4 years. Younger clients are starting both to use drugs and inject drugs at an earlier age. Record keeping was good, with most items of information present in over 70% of the charts surveyed. A total of 17% of clients recorded on the CMTL could not be traced to the GP recorded as providing care. Despite treatment with methadone maintenance, there is a high level of continued risk activity in this group. Furthermore, a trend towards earlier initiation to drug use is apparent. The CMTL registration process requires further exploration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Comparison between self-reported hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV antibody status and oral fluid assay results in Irish prisoners.

Self-reported hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV infection status was compared with the results of oral fluid assays of antibodies to these viruses in prisoners from nine of the 15 prisons in the Republic of Ireland. A total of 1205 out of 1366 prisoners completed a confidential questionnaire and 1193 provided analysable oral fluid specimens for testing for antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), HCV (anti-HCV), and HIV (anti-HIV). The self-reported prevalence of hepatitis infection (hepatitis B: 5%; hepatitis C: 19%) was lower than that derived from oral fluid assays (anti-HBc: 9%; anti-HCV: 37%). The self-reported prevalence of HIV infection was similar to that found by oral fluid assay (2%). Many discrepancies were found between self-reported results and the results of oral fluid assays. Of those who reported being positive for HBV, HCV, or HIV, 48%, 5%, and 58%, respectively, tested negative on the oral fluid assay. Of those who reported a previous negative test result for HBV, HCV, or HIV, 10%, 37%, and 2%, respectively, had positive oral fluid assays. Self-reports of hepatitis and HIV infection status are unreliable and should not be used as a basis for planning preventive and treatment services for prisoners. All prisoners should have the opportunity to be tested for HBV, HCV, and HIV infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1998

Rapid colorimetric assay for the detection of the bcr-abl rearrangement.

The value of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of malignant disorders is well established. However, several factors such as sample type, storage conditions and extraction methodology affect the ability of the PCR to provide a diagnosis. We describe the use of a PCR-product-specific 'capture' oligo to overcome these potential problems. The detection of the captured product by standard ELISA technologies allowed a rapid colorimetric analysis to be performed removing the need for both gel electrophoresis and the performance of a nested PCR in order to reach a diagnosis. In a survey of 14 clinical samples this method was observed to be both more sensitive and specific than the PCR followed by gel electrophoresis.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1998

A comparison of the laryngeal mask airway and cuffed oropharyngeal airway in anesthetized adult patients.

UNLABELLED: We compared the cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) with the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in 120 anesthetized adult patients. We compared 1) placement success rates, 2) airway interventional requirements, 3) airway stability in different head/neck positions, 4) cardiorespiratory tolerance, and 5) intra- and postoperative adverse events/symptoms. A standardized anesthesia protocol was followed by four anesthesiologists experienced with both devices. Observational data were validated by independent analysis of continuous video recordings. Postoperative interviews were double-blind to the device used. The LMA had a more frequent success rate than COPA (97% vs 55%, P < 0.00001), an overall higher success rate (100% vs 83%; P = 0.001), a shorter time to achieve an effective airway (49 vs 188 s; P < 0.00001), a higher oropharyngeal leak pressure (21 vs 16 cm H2O; P = 0.003), and a fewer number of chin lift airway interventions required (0.1% vs 42%; P < 0.00001). When comparing mean tidal volumes in different head/neck positions to assess airway stability, the quality of airway was unchanged in 98% patients with the LMA and 54% with the COPA (P < 0.00001). The incidences of intraoperative adverse events were similar. On removal, blood was detected more often on the COPA (3% vs 14%; P = 0.04). In the late postoperative period, more patients complained of adverse symptoms with the COPA than with the LMA (26% vs 57%; P = 0.001). Late postoperative symptoms occurred more frequently with the COPA (0.87 vs 0.34; P = 0.003). There was more late postoperative sore throat (14% vs 36%; P = 0.0003) and more jaw/neck pain (12% vs 26%; P = 0.0008) in patients managed with the COPA. This study demonstrates that the LMA offers advantages over the COPA in most technical aspects of airway management and in terms of postoperative morbidity. IMPLICATIONS: In this randomized, prospective study, we compared the laryngeal mask airway and the cuffed oropharyngeal airway in anesthetized patients. The laryngeal mask airway offers advantages in most technical aspects of airway management and in terms of postoperative morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effect of cholesterol reduction on myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary disease.

BACKGROUND: Cholesterol lowering is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study sought to determine whether cholesterol lowering also results in a reduction of myocardial ischemia during daily life. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 40 patients with proven coronary artery disease, total serum cholesterol between 191 and 327 mg/dL, and at least one episode of ST-segment depression on ambulatory ECG monitoring. Twenty patients were randomized to an American Heart Association Step 1 diet plus placebo (placebo group) and 20 to the same diet plus lovastatin (treatment group). Serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels and ambulatory monitoring were repeated after 4 to 6 months of therapy. The two groups were comparable with respect to baseline characteristics, number of episodes of ST-segment depression, and baseline serum cholesterol levels. The treatment group had lower mean total and LDL cholesterol levels at study end and experienced a significant reduction in the number of episodes of ST-segment depression compared with the placebo group. ST-segment depression was completely resolved in 13 of 20 patients (65%) in the treatment group versus 2 of 20 (10%) in the placebo group. The treatment group exhibited a highly significant reduction in ischemia (P < .001). By logistic regression, treatment with diet and lovastatin was an independent predictor of ischemia resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol lowering with lovastatin appears to be effective in eliminating myocardial ischemia during daily life in a significant proportion of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Brief cognitive-behavioral group treatment for children's headache.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Using a randomized design with a waiting list control condition, we assessed the effectiveness of an abbreviated cognitive therapy group program for headaches in children 7 to 12 years of age. In the treatment condition, small groups of five to eight children were taught relaxation, distraction, visualization, and stress management skills in two 90-minute sessions. Parent groups, seen concurrently, reviewed the children's program and addressed parenting strategies. The waiting list control groups were treated 5 weeks later. Thirty-six children meeting inclusion criteria were included in the study; complete data were available for 29 participants (mean age, 9.4 years; 66% female). DEPENDENT MEASURES: We obtained children's ratings of headache frequency, intensity, duration, and five other variables in a diary kept for 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after treatment. Parent measures were collected once before treatment and once at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: CHILD RATINGS: The control condition showed a significant reduction in children's self-rated headache frequency, while the treatment condition did not. On all other self-reported variables, there were no significant differences between the control and treatment conditions. Two participants in each condition achieved a 50% or greater reduction in a self-rating headache index. RESULTS: PARENT RATINGS: Follow-up ratings, obtained over the telephone from parents after the children in both conditions had been treated, indicated that the children in both conditions had experienced reduced intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches and that 82% of the children were using the techniques taught in the program. Fourteen children achieved a 50% or greater reduction in a headache index based on parent ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Although parents were very positive about the effectiveness of the program, the results for children's self-ratings do not support the use of this highly abbreviated treatment method.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1997

Isolation and identification of major urinary metabolites of rifabutin in rats and humans.

The antimycobacterial drug rifabutin is extensively metabolized in humans and laboratory animals. About 40% of the dose is excreted in urine as unchanged drug, and lipophilic (extractable with 1-chlorobutane) and polar metabolites. Polar metabolites accounted for 59.1 +/- 2.5% and 88.8 +/- 4.4% of radioactivity in urine collected over 96 hr after intravenous administration of 25 and 1 mg/kg of [14C]rifabutin to Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. After 48 hr, all urinary radioactivity consisted of polar metabolites. The most abundant polar metabolite, identified by electrospray ionization-MS, collision-induced dissociation-MS, and comparison of HPLC retention times with the synthetic standard, was N-isobutyl-4-hydroxy-piperidine. Lipophilic metabolites accounted for <20% of urinary radioactivity. Major lipophilic metabolites, 25-O-deacetyl-rifabutin, 27-O-demethyl-rifabutin, 31-hydroxy-rifabutin, 32-hydroxy-rifabutin, and 20-hydroxy-rifabutin were isolated from both human and rat urine by HPLC and identified by electrospray ionization-MS, collision-induced dissociation-MS, and NMR spectrometry. In addition, two metabolites formed by the oxidation of the N-isobutyl-piperidyl group of rifabutin were found in the urine of rats, but not humans.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Congenital anomalies in the Irish traveller community.

A national population based study of the health of Irish travellers has been carried out. The prevalence of congenital anomalies in this population has been compared to the general population in the Eastern Health Board region. The prevalence of congenital anomalies in travellers was 5.5%, compared to 2.9% in the Eastern Health region, an odds ratio of 1.95. When metabolic conditions were excluded there were no significant difference. There was a trend, not reaching statistical significance, for the prevalence of congenital anomalies among travellers to be greater in offsprings of first cousin marriages (6.5%) then in those born to unrelated parents (3.8%), on odds ratio of 1.73. A balance needs to be sought between being sensitive to cultural reasons for consanguinity and giving information to communities about the negative health consequences of certain cultural practices.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1996

Assessment of light scatter by nucleoids as a rapid predictive assay of radiosensitivity.

A study has been made of the practicality of using the assay of light scatter by nucleoids as a rapid predictive test of cellular radiosensitivity. With this technique the effect of irradiation on DNA organization is measured using flow cytometry after staining irradiated nucleoids with a high concentration of ethidium bromide. Damaged nucleoids fail to respond to the ethidium bromide-induced contraction and scatter more forward-angle light than less damaged nucleoids. Seventeen different cell lines were assessed using a single lysis condition and radiation dose. Significant differences in the levels of radiation-induced forward-angle light scatter by nucleoids were seen between CHO cells and cells of two radiosensitive mutant cell lines (xrs-6, EM9), and between cells of two ovarian carcinoma lines that showed marked differences in radiosensitivity measured using a clonogenic assay. However, other cell lines which differed in clonogenic radiosensitivity showed similar forward-angle light scatter by nucleoids. When all 17 cell lines were included in the analysis, there was no correlation between measurements of radiosensitivity by assays of clonogenicity and light scatter by nucleoids. In addition, although intraexperimental variation was small, the level of interexperimental variability was only slightly smaller (coefficient of variation of 13%) than the degree of heterogeneity observed between the different cell lines (coefficient of variation of 16%). These findings support the notion for a role of nuclear structure as a determinant of intrinsic radiosensitivity for some cell lines but suggest that for others there must be additional, more dominant factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Purification and characterization of bacteriophage T4 gene 59 protein. A DNA helicase assembly protein involved in DNA replication.

The T4 bacteriophage gene 59 protein is required for normal T4 DNA replication. We have purified this protein to homogeneity in two steps and show that it binds both to single-stranded DNA and to the T4 gene 32 protein, a DNA single strand binding protein. In in vitro assays, covering DNA with 32 protein makes this DNA inaccessible to the 41 protein, the highly processive DNA helicase, that associates with the T4 DNA primase (gene 61 protein) to form an active primosome. However, the 59 protein brings about the rapid assembly of 41 protein onto single-stranded DNA, even if this DNA is covered with 32 protein. The 59 protein is therefore a DNA helicase assembly protein. The observed requirements for the 59 protein in the vivo T4 DNA replication are explained by there being two alternative pathways for loading the 41 protein onto a replication fork at early times of T4 DNA synthesis, with only a 59 protein-mediated pathway remaining operative for the recombination-mediated replication that dominates later in infection (Barry, J., and Alberts, B. M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 33063-33068).

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1994

A role for two DNA helicases in the replication of T4 bacteriophage DNA.

The T4 bacteriophage gene 41 protein is the highly processive DNA helicase of the T4 primosome, a central part of the protein machinery that moves the T4 DNA replication fork. The T4 gene 59 protein accelerates the loading of 41 protein onto DNA covered with 32 protein (the T4 single strand binding protein), and it makes the 41 protein DNA helicase activity rapidly available to catalyze replication fork movement through a DNA double helix (Barry, J., and Alberts, B.M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 33049-33062). With the aid of the 59 protein, we show that the T4 primosome (the T4 gene 41 and 61 proteins) can move rapidly through a promoter-bound RNA polymerase molecule that would otherwise stop replication fork movement. A second, very different DNA helicase, the T4 dda protein, provides an alternative pathway for replication past this DNA-bound RNA polymerase (Bedinger, P., Hochstrasser, M., Jongeneel, C. V., and Alberts, B.M. (1983) Cell 34, 115-123). Combined with other data, these in vitro experiments allow us to propose a model that explains why either the 59 protein or the dda protein, but not both, are required to begin efficient DNA replication inside the T4 bacteriophage-infected cell.

Bacteriophage T4↗