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Biomedical subjects

J E Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to J E Cooper.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Trichomoniasis in birds of prey (order Falconiformes) in Bahrain.

Of 5360 falcons examined at the Sulman Falcon Hospital in Bahrain between 1987 and 1993, 1675 (31.2 per cent) had lesions of trichomoniasis. These lesions were commonly found in the oral and nasal cavities, the infraorbital sinuses, the crop and oesophagus and, more rarely, in the coelomic cavity, attached to the wall of the abdominal air sacs, and in the trachea, partially obstructing its lumen. Several therapeutic methods and the results obtained are described.

Air Sacs↗

Aggressive fibromatosis of the spermatic cord. A typical lesion in a "new" location.

The authors describe a 31-year-old man with a 7 cm aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) of the spermatic cord presenting as a swelling in the left inguinal area that was excised along with the testis and cord. The desmoid tumor is histologically typical, but such tumors arising primarily from the paratesticular structures have apparently not been previously reported and the diagnosis would not be questioned if it not for the unusual site. This tumor is histologically and immunohistochemically indistinguishable from abdominal wall desmoid tumor, with or without Gardner's syndrome. Desmoid tumors at this location should be distinguished from reactive processes, such as pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation (so-called "proliferative funiculitis") and inflammatory fibrous pseudotumor, all of which exhibit fibroblastic/myofibroblastic differentiation. Paratesticular fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma should also be differentiated from desmoid tumor that does not have the metastatic potential of sarcomas. Thirty-four months post-operatively, an 8 cm local recurrence in the remaining portion of the left vas deferens causing left hydroureter and hydronephrosis was detected.

Adult↗

Early intervention for back-injured nurses at a large Canadian tertiary care hospital: an evaluation of the effectiveness and cost benefits of a two-year pilot project.

This study evaluated a two-year multidisciplinary early intervention pilot programme for back-injured nurses employed at a large teaching hospital, using a pre- versus post-programme analysis. The purpose was to ascertain whether this programme could reduce the incidence, morbidity, time lost and cost due to back injuries in the 250 nurses employed on ten targeted high-risk wards. Injuries in the remaining 1395 nurses employed on the other 45 wards were monitored concurrently for comparison. The programme consisted of prompt assessment, treatment and rehabilitation through modified work. Evaluative data were gathered by one research nurse on standardized forms at the time of injury, weekly until return to work, and at a six-month follow-up. Time lost and cost data for up to one-year post-injury were derived from workers' compensation statements. Compared to the two years prior to introduction of the programme, the rates of back injuries and lost-time back injuries decreased by 23% and 43%, respectively, on the targeted wards, while these increased on the control wards. Combined expenditure was 32% lower per injury and 34% lower per lost-time injury for those in the targeted group who consented to take part in the programme compared to their counterparts on the control wards, as the increased assessment and treatment costs per case attributable to the programme were more than offset by the savings in lower compensation (wage loss) costs. This programme thus reduced the incidence and time lost due to back injuries and was cost-beneficial.

Back Injuries↗

Progress toward achieving a common language in psychiatry, II: Results from the international field trials of the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for research for mental and behavioral disorders.

OBJECTIVE: In preparing for the publication of ICD-10, the Division of Mental Health of the World Health Organization developed several versions of chapter V, which deals with mental and behavioral disorders. The version for research purposes is called the Diagnostic Criteria for Research (ICD-10 DCR) and gives operational criteria for the diagnosis of mental disorders. This article describes the results of international field trials undertaken to evaluate the draft criteria and refine them further. METHOD: Data were obtained to assess interrater agreement, the confidence with which diagnoses could be made, and the ease of use of the criteria. Additional substudies examined the concordance between ICD-10 DCR, ICD-10 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines, and other national classification systems (e.g., DSM-IV). The field trials were carried out at 151 clinical centers in 32 countries by 942 clinician/researchers who conducted 11,491 individual assessments of patients. Results for cases assessed by at least two raters are reported here. RESULTS: Most clinician/researchers found the criteria to be explicit and easy to apply. Interrater agreement was high for most diagnostic categories. For some categories, such as those dealing with certain polymorphic psychotic disorders or milder forms of affective disorders, the criteria were rated as somewhat difficult to use, and reliability was lower. Comparison of the results of these field trials with those of the ICD-10 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines demonstrated that there are increases in interrater agreement when the operational criteria are used. CONCLUSIONS: The use of internationally accepted research criteria enhances the reliability of diagnosis of mental disorders made in research settings worldwide.

Adolescent↗

Subtraction hybridisation and shot-gun sequencing: a new approach to identify symbiotic loci.

Traditionally, new loci involved in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis have been identified by transposon mutagenesis and/or complementation. Wide dispersal of the symbiotic loci in Rhizobium species NGR234, as well as the large number of potential host-plants to be screened, greatly reduces the efficiency of these techniques. As an alternate strategy designed to identify new NGR234 genes involved in the early stages of the symbiosis, we combined data from competitive RNA hybridisation, subtractive DNA hybridisation and shot-gun sequencing. On the assumption that the expression of most nodulation genes is triggered by compounds released by the host-plant, we identified, in the ordered cosmid library of the large symbiotic plasmid pNGR234a, restriction fragments that carry transcripts induced by flavonoids. To target genes not present in the closely related strain R. fredii USDA257, we selected fragments that also carried sequences purified by subtractive DNA hybridisation. Shot-gun sequencing of this subset of fragments lead to the identification of sequences with strong homology to diverse prokaryotic genes/proteins. Amongst these, a symbiotically active ORF from pNGR234a, is highly homologous to the leucine responsive regulatory protein of Escherichia coli (Lrp), is induced by flavonoids, and is not present in USDA257.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A non-isotopic DNA hybridisation assay for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from foods.

A digoxygenin-labelled total genomic DNA probe was used to identify Staphylococcus aureus. Isolation and identification of organisms was possible in less than 4 days. Identification alone could be completed in less than 2 days, compared with over 5 days for identification of isolates by multipoint inoculation. The probe showed excellent discrimination of S. aureus from other staphylococci and from a wide range of bacteria commonly associated with milk and meat. The effectiveness of this probe was tested against cultural isolation of staphylococci in milk using Baird-Parker agar followed by identification using multipoint inoculation and API Staph. The probe gave comparable results to the conventional methods and, for large sample numbers, offered lower cost and greater ease of use.

Animals↗

Some factors inhibiting amplification of the Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin C1 gene (sec+) by PCR.

PCR amplification of the sec+ gene for staphylococcal enterotoxin C1 (SEC1) can be achieved from as little as 10 fg total genomic DNA (equivalent to less than 10 cells) using two nested primer pairs. The presence of bacterial cells, particularly thermonuclease-producing staphylococci, and the thermonuclease enzyme (TNase) itself, were found to be factors which individually and together reduced the sensitivity of PCR amplification.

DNA, Bacterial↗

Rhizobia catabolize nod gene-inducing flavonoids via C-ring fission mechanisms.

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses of derivatized culture medium extracts were used to identify the products of flavonoid metabolism by rhizobia. A number of Rhizobium species and biovars degraded their nod gene-inducing flavonoids by mechanisms which originated in a cleavage of the C-ring of the molecule and which yielded conserved A- and B-ring products among the metabolites. In contrast, Pseudomonas putida degraded quercetin via an initial fission in its A-ring, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens displayed a nonspecific mode of flavonoid degradation which yielded no conserved A- or B-ring products. When incubated with rhizobia, flavonoids with OH substitutions at the 5 and 7 positions yielded phloroglucinol as the conserved A-ring product, and those with a single OH substitution at the 7 position yielded resorcinol. A wider range of structures was found among the B-ring derivatives, including p-coumaric, p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, phenylacetic, and caffeic acids. The isoflavonoids genistein and daidzein were also degraded via C-ring fission by Rhizobium fredii and Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234, respectively. Partially characterized aromatic metabolites with potential nod gene-inducing activity were detected among the products of naringenin degradation by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae. The initial structural modification of nod gene-inducing flavonoids by rhizobia can generate chalcones, whose open C-ring system may have implications for the binding of inducers to the nodD gene product.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

Bleeding of pulmonate snails.

A technique for removing blood (haemolymph) by syringe from African land snails (Achatina spp.) is described. The method avoids the need for shell perforation or incision of soft tissues and appears to have few adverse effects on the snail.

Animals↗

Avian pox in birds of prey (order Falconiformes) in Bahrain.

Avian pox is an important disease in birds of prey in Bahrain. A live pigeon pox vaccine was administered to hunting falcons (Falco species) together with other therapeutic methods to arrest the development of primary stage pox lesions and for the treatment of well established secondary stage pox lesions. Quarantine and general hygiene procedures were also used as an integral part of the management and control of the disease.

Animals↗

Progress toward achieving a common language in psychiatry. Results from the field trial of the clinical guidelines accompanying the WHO classification of mental and behavioral disorders in ICD-10.

In preparing for the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), the Division of Mental Health of the World Health Organization organized an international field trial to help evaluate draft clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines that were produced to facilitate use of the chapter dealing with mental and behavioral disorders. These clinical guidelines were prepared in equivalent versions in most of the world's widely spoken languages. The field trial aimed to obtain data that would help in assessing whether the classification fits the diagnoses made in different countries, whether it is easy to use, and whether psychiatrists after a short period of familiarization with the classification can reach agreement about their diagnoses and classification. The field trial was carried out at 112 clinical centers in 39 countries by 711 clinicians who conducted 15,302 individual assessments. The trial included joint clinical assessments of patients and case history exercises. The results of the joint assessment part of the trial are reported here. Most clinicians reported that the draft document was easy to use and that the classification provided a good fit for the vast majority of the clinical conditions encountered. While interrater reliability was satisfactory for most categories, some (for example, those dealing with personality disorders) were somewhat difficult to use, and reliability of assignment for those was lower. The trial demonstrated that the ICD-10 chapter dealing with mental and behavioral disorders is on the whole suitable for general use. It provided valuable indications about changes needed for subsequent versions and demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale international research on classification and diagnosis in psychiatry.

Adult↗