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Biomedical subjects

J Brewster

Publications and source records attributed to J Brewster.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Pre-implantation endometrial leukocytes in women with recurrent miscarriage.

Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the leukocyte populations in the endometrium of women suffering recurrent miscarriage. Mid-luteal phase endometrial biopsies were taken from 22 patients with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage and from nine women with normal obstetric histories. The samples were dated histologically and stained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to identify leukocytes. The outcome of any pregnancy in subsequent cycles following the biopsy was determined. Similar numbers of cluster designation (CD)3(+) and CD8(+) cells were seen in both groups. However, CD4(+), CD14(+), CD16(+), CD56(+) and MHC class II(+) cells were significantly higher in the recurrent miscarriage group than in the controls. Two patients had B cells (CD22(+)) in their endometrium. No CD57(+) cells were seen in the controls; however, eight of the patients had a few CD57(+) cells present. Only two patients, both from the recurrent miscarriage group, had CD69(+) leukocytes in their endometrium. Patients who had miscarriages following endometrial biopsy had significantly more CD4(+), CD8(+), CD14(+), CD16(+), and CD56(+) leukocytes in their endometrium than either those who had live births or women with proven fertility. A different population of leukocytes was found in the pre-implantation endometrium from recurrent miscarriage patients as compared to those from fertile controls. These differences were accentuated in women who had a miscarriage subsequent to the biopsy compared with those who subsequently had a live birth.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1989

Pediatric patients, DRG hospital payment, and comorbidities.

To determine whether the diagnosis related group (DRG) hospital payment system is causing financial pressure on pediatric hospitals similar to that shown in our previous work in other settings, we analyzed resource consumption for pediatric patients in any of the 251 DRGs not stratified by comorbidities. The new DRG prospective "all payor system" is in effect at our hospital. Analysis of 12,771 pediatric patients by payer (Medicaid and commercial insurance such as Blue Cross) in these DRGs for a 3-year period demonstrated that, as a group, pediatric patients with more comorbidities generated higher total hospital costs, a longer hospital length of stay, a greater percentage of procedures per patient, financial risk under DRG payment, more outliers (expensive patients), and a higher mortality rate than pediatric patients in the same DRGs with fewer comorbidities. This study confirms major inequities in DRG prospective hospital payment for many pediatric patients.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Expression in Escherichia coli of a fusion protein product containing a region of the adenovirus DNA polymerase.

The bulk of an open reading frame extending from map coordinates 23.3 to 14.2 in region E2b of the adenoviral genome has been cloned and expressed from a chimeric plasmid in Escherichia coli. The cloning strategy used created a fusion protein of 124,000 daltons, which contained greater than 98% adenovirus-encoded sequences. Antiserum raised against this protein reacted with the authentic 140,000-dalton adenovirus DNA polymerase. Another serum raised against a synthetic hexapeptide whose sequence corresponded to the predicted carboxyl terminus of adenovirus-encoded DNA polymerase also reacted with the fusion protein and authentic adenovirus DNA polymerase. These results demonstrate that the cloned region of DNA encodes the adenovirus DNA polymerase.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Minimum detectable level of Salmonellae using a binomial-based bacterial ice nucleation detection assay (BIND).

A modified bacterial ice nucleation detection (BIND) assay was used for rapid and sensitive detection of several Salmonella species. For the BIND assay, Salmonella cells are infected with bacteriophage genetically modified to contain DNA encoding an ice nucleation protein (INP). After infection, de novo protein synthesis occurs and INPs are incorporated into the outer membrane of the organism. After supercooling (-9.3 degrees C), only buffer solutions containing transfected salmonellae freeze, causing a phase-sensitive dye to change color. This technique, and a probability-based protocol modification, provided quantitative detection with a minimum detectable level (MDL) of 2.0 +/- 0.3 S. enteritidis cells/mL in buffer (about 3 h). The MDLs for S. typhimurium DT104 and S. abaetetuba were 4.2 +/- 0.2 and 11.1 +/- 0.4 cells/mL, respectively. Using salmonellae-specific immunomagnetic bead separation technology in conjunction with the modified BIND protocol, we achieved an MDL of about 4.5 S. enteritidis cells/mL with an apparent capture efficiency of 56%.

Algorithms↗