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Biomedical subjects

J Gardner

Publications and source records attributed to J Gardner.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
PubMed1966

Twenty years on.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

England↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Variable expression of the fragile X syndrome in heterozygous females of normal intelligence.

The cognitive, linguistic and memory functions of non-retarded fragile X heterozygotes and matched controls were examined by a detailed protocol of neuropsychological measures in order to determine the incidence of specific learning disabilities in this subgroup, and to compare their performance profiles with those of control subjects (mothers of Down syndrome sons). There were no group differences in psychometric intelligence, but the heterozygotes scored significantly lower than controls on most academic achievement tests, as well as on language-based neuropsychological measures. By neuropsychological criteria, 8 of the 15 heterozygotes, but only one of the controls, exhibited performance profiles consistent with a diagnosis of specific learning disability, and similar to cognitive profiles commonly seen in individuals from the general population with developmental dyslexia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Proteolytic activity in human burn wounds.

Wound healing is the result of a dynamic balance between synthetic and degradative processes. After a burn, proteolytic activity increases at the wound site. Excised burn wounds and donor skin were examined from 20 pediatric burn patients, to determine which of two classes of neutral proteinases, serine or metalloproteinases, accounts for the majority of this proteolytic activity in these tissues; to examine messenger RNA expression of three of the principal enzymes and inhibitors of this class; and to measure enzymatic activity of two of these metalloproteinases. The majority of the increased proteolysis was due to metalloproteinases. By polymerase chain reaction assays, messenger RNAs for matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, and -9 were strongly expressed in burn tissue and absent or weakly expressed in unburned skin. Messenger RNA for tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -2 was consistently present in burned and unburned skin. By zymography, there was a significant increase in matrix metalloproteinase-2 (twofold to threefold) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (20- to 30-fold) activity in burned versus unburned skin. We suggest that postburn there is an upregulation of some matrix metalloproteinases that exceeds the level of inhibitors with the net result of an increase in proteolysis in burned tissue. This increased proteolysis may play a role in wound repair and scar formation.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gelatinase activity in keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are characterized by excessive deposition of collagen, which may result from insufficient protein degradation. Little is known about the levels of two gelatinases, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (72 kD type IV collagenase) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9; 92 kD type IV collagenase) in these abnormal scars. The purpose of this study was to determine levels of these proteinases in tissue from hypertrophic scars, keloids, and donor skin. Ten hypertrophic scar samples, 9 keloid samples, and 10 donor skin samples were frozen, pulverized, homogenized, clarified by centrifugation, and analyzed for matrix metalloproteinases by quantitative zymography. Identity of matrix metalloproteinases was determined using a conditioned media reference standard, molecular weight ladders, and Western blotting. Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity were very low or undetectable in all samples. However, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity was significantly elevated in keloids and hypertrophic scars vs. donor samples: 2.6 and 3.9-fold increases for latent matrix metalloproteinase-2, 7.8 and 6.9-fold increases for active matrix metalloproteinase-2, respectively. We conclude that little matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity (the gelatinase involved in early tissue repair) is present in keloids and hypertrophic scars, while matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity (the gelatinase involved in prolonged tissue remodeling) is present in donor skin and is significantly increased in hypertrophic scars and keloids.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adolescent menstrual characteristics as predictors of gynaecological health.

Ina sample of 54 women who have participated in a longitudinal study since birth there is a significant relationship between adolescent menstrual characteristics and gynaecological health as measured by GYNDEX (Gardner 1982) in the second and third decades postmenarche. The menstrual characteristics were recorded in health histories taken in the 1940s as part of a yearly evaluation of growth, development and health status. Using stepwise multiple regression analysis, the measures of regularity and dysmenorrhoea in adolescence explain 46% of the variation in GYNDEX from 11 to 20 years postmenarche (P less than 0.001). These variables are still significant predictors 21 to 30 years postmenarche, explaining 26% of the variance (P less than 0.005). The risk of having poor gynaecological health (high GYNDEX) is greatly increased for women experiencing both dysmenorrhoea and irregularity in the first few years postmenarche.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes over thirty years in an index of gynaecological health.

The gynaecological index (GYNDEX) was developed to facilitate observing differences in gynaecological health among and between groups of women. It takes into account menstrual characteristics, premenstrual changes, and gynaecological diagnoses and treatments. The objective of this study is to contribute to knowledge of the changes in gynaecological health at different times in the reproductive life cycles of women and to develop a measurement technique which can be used in future studies in women's health. In this investigation a GYNDEX is determined for each of the first three decades postmenarche in a sample of 54 women who have been followed in a longitudinal study since birth, and the characteristics of the changes in the GYNDEX over time are analysed. There is a significant increase in the GYNDEX (P less than 0.05) in each successive decade. Further studies are being done to determine to what extent factors that occurred in the childhood and adolescence act as predictors of adult gynaecological health. Knowledge of these relationships will provide a rationale for planning health care programmes for women of all ages.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of recall by middle-aged participants in a longitudinal study of their body size and indices of maturation earlier in life.

The validity of long-term recall and current assessments of height, weight, and fatness relative to peers was investigated among 91 middle-aged participants in a longitudinal growth study. The recollections of 50-year-old participants concerning perceived body size in comparison to peers during childhood (aged 5-7 years), adolescence (aged 10-18 years), and at ages 30, and 40 years were compared with physical measurements taken at these times. Correlations between perceived and actual body size at all ages from childhood through middle-age were moderate but significant (P less than 0.005) and were influenced by gender and phases of physical growth (early and late adolescence). In general, accuracy of self-reports of current body size were not significantly better than recalls of body size up to 50 years earlier. Respondents' recall of various physiological events was also assessed. Females' actual and recalled year of menarche were correlated (r = 0.67; P less than 0.0001). Age at menarche was recalled within 1 year of the actual event by 84% of the females. Fifty percent of both sexes recalled their year of maximal growth in height within 1 year and recalled the timing of their maturation (early, average, or late) in relationship to their peers equally well (P less than 0.001).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Longitudinal analysis of incomplete adolescent data.

An approach is illustrated for the analysis of longitudinal variables collected during adolescence. Since the method requires complete data, three techniques are compared for application when some individuals have missing values. These methods are implemented in a study of systolic blood pressures and dietary fat intakes collected longitudinally in adolescent girls. The value of adolescent systolic and fat variables in predicting systolic pressure in adult women is investigated.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gelatinase activities in wounds of healing-impaired mice versus wounds of non-healing-impaired mice.

The gelatinases, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9), have been implicated in different aspects of wound repair. However, little is known about MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in animal models of impaired wound healing. We sought to compare serial gelatinase activities for 25 days after full-thickness excisional wounds in genetically diabetic healing-impaired mice and their nondiabetic non-healing-impaired littermates. Wound samples were frozen, homogenized, clarified by centrifugation, and analyzed on zymography gels, and MMP bands were quantitated relative to a conditioned media standard from HT-1080 cells. Gelatinase activity in both diabetic mice and nondiabetic mice increased after the mice were wounded. However, levels of latent gelatinases peaked earlier in the diabetic wounds, and there was more active MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the wounds of the diabetic mice than in the wounds of the nondiabetic mice. Because the higher gelatinase activity in the wounds of the diabetic mice was similar to the higher levels of gelatinase reported in difficult-to-heal wounds such as ulcers and burns, this diabetic mouse model may be useful for studies of these proteinases and their inhibitors in impaired wound healing.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Living with a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.

PURPOSE: To describe the experiences of foster parents who are living with a child diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). DESIGN AND METHOD: A qualitative approach was selected due to the paucity of knowledge on the topic. Eight foster mothers living with children with FAS were studied. These foster parents had parented a collective total of 17 children with FAS, ranging between the ages of 2 and 16. Each in-depth interview was unstructured and consisted of open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Foster parents described many difficult issues needing attention in children with FAS. Cognitive concerns included diminished memory/comprehension, lack of understanding of consequences, and the absence of fear. Behavioral management was a problem due to the frequent occurrence of hyperactivity, aggressiveness, destructiveness, and high pain tolerance. Parents also described problems in coping with daily realities of life with a child with FAS including the necessity of providing consistency, coping strategies, and fears for the child's future. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nurses need to understand the complex problems that face affected children and their families. Understanding the daily realities of living with children with FAS allows nurses to realistically assess childrens' abilities, maximize their development, and provide for their needs more effectively, as well as assisting families to cope with the behavior and cognitive issues so apparent in children with FAS.

Adolescent↗