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Biomedical subjects

J Fawcett

Publications and source records attributed to J Fawcett.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning of ICAM-3, a third ligand for LFA-1, constitutively expressed on resting leukocytes.

The co-ordinated function of effector and accessory cells in the immune system is assisted by adhesion molecules on the cell surface that stabilize interactions between different cell types. Leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is expressed on the surface of all white blood cells and is a receptor for intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) 1 and 2 (ref. 3) which are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The interaction of LFA-1 with ICAMs 1 and 2 provides essential accessory adhesion signals in many immune interactions, including those between T and B lymphocytes and cytotoxic T cells and their targets. In addition, both ICAMs are expressed at low levels on resting vascular endothelium; ICAM-1 is strongly upregulated by cytokine stimulation and plays a key role in the arrest of leukocytes in blood vessels at sites of inflammation and injury. Recent work has indicated that resting leukocytes express a third ligand, ICAM-3, for LFA-1 (refs 11, 12). ICAM-3 is potentially the most important ligand for LFA-1 in the initiation of the immune response because the expression of ICAM-1 on resting leukocytes is low. We report the expression cloning of a complementary DNA, pICAM-3, encoding a protein constitutively expressed on all leukocytes, which binds LFA-1. ICAM-3 is closely related to ICAM-1, consists of five immunoglobulin domains, and binds LFA-1 through its two N-terminal domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Antibody to NGF inhibits collateral sprouting of septohippocampal fibers following entorhinal cortex lesion in adult rats.

We have used an antiserum raised against mouse 2.5S NGF to examine the involvement of endogenous neurotrophins in the collateral sprouting of septohippocampal fibers in the adult rat brain. The antiserum was administered intraventricularly. Immunocytochemical techniques indicated that the injected antibodies penetrated into brain tissue that included the basal forebrain, cortex, striatum, corpus callosum, and hippocampus. Unilateral lesioning of the entorhinal cortex was done to evoke the sprouting of the cholinergic septohippocampal fibers. At 8 days postlesion, the sprouting was much advanced, as evidenced by an increase in density of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining in the outer molecular layer (OML) of the dentate gyrus and by the associated increase in the absolute number of AChE-positive fibers in the OML. As well, there was a widening of the inner molecular layer (IML), interpreted as being due to sprouting of noncholinergic axons in that region. In rats injected daily with anti-NGF or anti-NGF Fab fragments, no increase in AChE density, or in the population of AChE-positive fibers, was observed in the OML. In contrast, the widening of the IML seemed to be unaffected by the anti-NGF treatment. No changes were observed in the AChE related parameters in the dentate gyrus of nonlesioned animals treated similarly for 8 days with anti-NGF; there was, however, a decrease of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunostaining in the ChAT-positive cells of the basal forebrain. Our findings and the confirmation that our polyclonal anti-NGF also recognizes other members of the NGF neurotrophin family, specifically brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, indicate that at least one of these neurotrophins plays a key role in the collateral sprouting of the cholinergic septohippocampal fibers (but not that presumed to occur within the IML) following an entorhinal cortex lesion.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1992

Women's perceptions of cesarean and vaginal delivery: another look.

Perception of the birth experience was examined in a sample of 106 women who had unplanned cesarean deliveries, 113 who had planned cesarean deliveries, and 254 who had vaginal deliveries. Vaginally delivered women had more positive perceptions than their unplanned cesarean counterparts (p < .001). There were no differences in perceptions between the unplanned and planned cesarean groups, or between the planned cesarean and vaginal groups. General anesthesia for cesarean delivery was associated with more negative perceptions than regional anesthesia, and regional anesthesia for vaginal delivery was associated with more negative perceptions than no or local anesthesia. Pain intensity and physical distress were negatively correlated with perceptions.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1992

Cell adhesion molecules and cancer.

Cell adhesion molecules are complex protein and carbohydrate molecules of many different types found on the surfaces of all cells. They are important in many aspects of cell biology including development, differentiation, and motility. These processes are frequently disturbed in cancer and recent work has demonstrated that disturbances in cell adhesion molecule expression are also common in malignancy.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Conceptual models and nursing practice: the reciprocal relationship.

There is a reciprocal relationship between conceptual models of nursing and nursing practice. Conceptual models influence clinical nursing practice by specifying standards for and purposes of practice; identifying relevant clinical problems, settings for practice, legitimate recipients of nursing care, and the content for the nursing process; suggesting methods for delivery of nursing services; and by providing frameworks for clinical information systems, patient classifications systems and quality assurance programmes. Nursing practice, in turn, provides data that can be used to determine the credibility of the conceptual models. Sources of data from clinical practice for credibility determination include evaluations of nursing interventions, the recipient's perspective of nursing care and quality assurance reviews.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Renal cortical endosomes participate in the degradation of insulin.

It has long been thought that metabolism of insulin by kidney proximal tubule cells takes place only in lysosomes. But previous studies with the perfused rat kidney and a proximal tubule-like cultured kidney cell line suggested that insulin degradation occurred in a nonlysosomal compartment. In this study we show that endosomes isolated from rat kidney cortex degrade insulin and that this process is ATP and pH dependent.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Biochemical clues to a fibromyalgia-depression link: imipramine binding in patients with fibromyalgia or depression and in healthy controls.

Both fibromyalgia and depression may be related to disturbed serotonin metabolism, and an association between the 2 disorders has been postulated. We measured 3H-imipramine binding (IB), a biochemical indicator of serotonin uptake, pretreatment, in 10 nondepressed women with fibromyalgia, 14 subjects with major depression, and 10 volunteer controls. Our objective was to determine if IB in the 2 patient groups differed and in the same direction from the control values. Compared with depressed women, IB was significantly lower both in the women with fibromyalgia and in the men with depression. However, no women with fibromyalgia or men with depression had IB levels that were significantly different from control women and men. There was a trend for higher IB levels in depressed compared to control women.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Efficacy and side effects of methylphenidate for poststroke depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression after stroke impedes the rehabilitation process and causes additional suffering to patient and family. Few studies have systematically examined pharmacologic treatments of poststroke depression. In the present paper, the use of the stimulant methylphenidate is studied in a depressed, elderly stroke population. METHOD: Ten subjects (mean age = 73.2 years) meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depression were followed-up during a 3-week efficacy and side effect trial involving methylphenidate. Subjects were selected from rehabilitation patients referred for psychiatric consultation. RESULTS: A total of 80% (8 of 10) of the subjects showed either a full or partial response as measured by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores. The incidence of problematic side effects was low, and no subjects had to be discontinued from the study. CONCLUSION: Results of this methylphenidate trial for poststroke depression in elderly patients suggest that it is a safe and effective treatment for poststroke depression. Future studies are called for in which methylphenidate is compared with placebo controls and antidepressant medication.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Images of nephrology nursing practice: report of a survey.

The results of a survey designed to identify existing images of nephrology nursing practice are reported. The sample included 374 attendees at meetings sponsored by the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA). Content analysis revealed that the typical nephrology patient is elderly, has a chronic illness and negative affect, is not compliant, and is dependent on others. The typical nephrology nurse-patient interaction emphasizes teaching and support. The most common nursing activities are assessment, teaching, dialysis treatment, and psychological support.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Suicide risk factors in depressive disorders and in panic disorder.

Suicide has been associated traditionally with major depression, alcoholism, and schizophrenia and in the past several years with alcoholism and comorbid depression. More recently, however, panic disorder has been linked with suicide attempts, and the importance of severe anxiety symptoms (panic attacks, psychic anxiety, and agitation) as possible predictors of suicide risk in patients with major affective disorder has been studied. The author discusses data sets from three such studies: (1) the Clinical Studies of the National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Program on the Psychobiology of Depression, (2) a study on 17-hydroxycorticosteroid concentrations in inpatients with major affective disorder, and (3) a study on inpatient suicides. The author concludes by suggesting that anxiety, which is readily treatable, may in fact be one of the most clinically important symptoms in depressive disorders.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMed1992

Enhancing adaptation to breast cancer: the addition of coaching to support groups.

This article describes a framework for research involving a modification of traditional cancer support groups (CSGs) that includes the presence of a caring partner who acts as a coach to facilitate the woman's adaptation to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The modified CSG and relevant response variables were derived from the Roy Adaptation Model of Nursing. Using the successful models of childbirth and diabetes education, the concept of coaching was introduced to breast CSGs. A review of the literature provides support for reduced symptom distress, reduced emotional distress, greater functional status, and higher quality of interpersonal relations as appropriate outcomes of participation in CSGs with coaching. The results of a pilot study of support groups with coaching are reported, and the goals of a currently ongoing experimental study testing the intervention have been identified.

Adaptation, Psychological↗