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Biomedical subjects

J Gilmour

Publications and source records attributed to J Gilmour.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

A new stress-related syndrome of growth failure and hyperphagia in children, associated with reversibility of growth-hormone insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Growth failure without organic aetiology but associated with behavioural disturbance and psychosocial stress has been termed psychosocial short stature. This condition is not a valid diagnostic entity, but encompasses failure to thrive, stunting secondary to chronic malnutrition, and idiopathic hypopituitarism. Some children show spontaneous catch-up growth when removed from the source of stress, without further treatment, but until now precise definition of this subgroup for the purpose of clinical identification has not been possible. METHODS: Hospital-referred children with growth failure unrelated to organic pathology, who came from stressful homes, were compared with children of short-normal stature identified from an epidemiological survey (n = 31). Growth-hormone dynamics were studied in the hospital group by a combination of diurnal profiles and provocation tests. The tests were repeated after a hospital stay of 3 weeks away from familial stress. Standard behavioural measures were obtained from home and school. FINDINGS: In a distinctive subgroup (n = 29), growth-hormone insufficiency was associated with characteristic behavioural features, especially hyperphagia and polydipsia, and a normal body-mass index. When the children were removed from their stressful home circumstances, growth-hormone insufficiency spontaneously resolved only in formerly hyperphagic subjects. 74% of the non-hyperphagic cases (n = 23) were anorexic, with a low body-mass index and normal growth-hormone responses to provocation tests. INTERPRETATION: We present explicit behavioural and developmental criteria by which the novel syndrome of hyperphagic short stature may be recognised clinically. Such children have a capacity for spontaneous recovery of growth-hormone production on removal from or reduction of stress. Discriminant and predictive validity of the core symptoms are demonstrated. Preliminary familial studies indicate a possible genetic predisposition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Reforming the practice of nurses: decolonization or getting out from under.

The practice of nurses has been formed and informed by many disciplinary discourses. We argue that this leads to the subjugation and colonization of nurses' practices and the discipline. By debating and challenging current development in knowledge the opportunity is created for nurses to reform representations of our practices in a way that can privilege diversity, complexity and ambiguity. In particular, modernism and postmodernism are critiqued to highlight the impact of particular philosophical traditions on the practices of nurses.

Colonialism↗
PubMed1996

Short stature--the role of intelligence in psychosocial adjustment.

Short children are often described as having psychosocial problems. These reports may be inaccurate as former studies have relied largely on parental report. Psychosocial functioning of short children was assessed with the aim of using them and their peers as informants. Twenty two short (mean (SD) height -2.53 (0.28) SD score) prepubertal children aged between 6 and 11 years were recruited from growth clinics. Comparison children were recruited from each case child's class at school. Cognitive and psychosocial functioning was assessed. Peer relationships were measured using sociometry. There were no significant group differences in terms of peer acceptance, self perception, and social competence. Although cases described themselves as receiving less social support from teachers, no differences were evident in other areas of social support. Little evidence was found to suggest clinic referred prepubertal short children are psychosocially maladjusted. Further analysis revealed cognitive ability was a better predictor than height for most aspects of behavioural and emotional adjustment.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1995

The role of urocanic acid in UV-induced immunosuppression: recent advances (1992-1994).

Cis-urocanic acid (UCA), formed in the epidermis by UV irradiation of trans-UCA, has been implicated as a mediator of the immunosuppression induced by UV exposure of the skin. This review covers recent work in which the wavelength dependence of cis-UCA formation, the interaction of UCA isomers with DNA, the effects of UCA isomers on the immune system and their interaction with histamine are examined. Results are frequently conflicting, particularly when considering the possible mode of action of cis-UCA but, overall, a multifaceted role for UCA in immunomodulation by UV radiation is substantiated.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Psychosocial assessment of children with short stature: a preliminary report.

Previous studies that have examined the psychosocial adjustment of children with short stature have often been flawed, for two main reasons: first, a lack of sample homogeneity and, secondly, the measures of adjustment used have been limited in terms of their sensitivity. This paper examines psychological functioning in the following four broad areas: cognition, social behaviour, emotional adjustment and self-concept. A sample of children referred to growth clinics (mean height below -2 SDS) and a comparison group, recruited from the referred childrens' classes at school, were assessed. Children were prepubertal (age range, 6-11 years) and had no organic cause for their short stature. Parent, teacher and peer reports were used in the assessment, which included sociometric measures in the classroom. The children with short stature described themselves as equally well supported as the comparison children in terms of social support by parents, teachers, peers and friends. Peers reported the short children to be well accepted within their class. Compared with control children, there was a trend for short children to be described by their peers as socially better adjusted than average. Teacher and parental accounts revealed significant group differences in terms of reported behaviour, with poorer attention and more thought problems among the children with short stature. Further analysis suggested, however, that their slightly lower IQ than children of normal height (95.8 +/- 18.7 (mean +/- SD) compared with 105 +/- 15.4) accounted for a greater proportion of the variance in these findings than short stature per se. There is little evidence to indicate that short prepubertal children are psychosocially maladjusted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1992

Disease conditions affecting common seals (Phoca vitulina) around the Scottish mainland, September-November 1988.

Common seal populations around the Scottish coast were less severly devastated by phocine distemper than those on the Continent. Nevertheless, over a 4-month period, 59 common seals were examined postmortem. The macroscopic and histopathological lesions are described. Forty-two per cent of these seals were considered to be suffering from phocine distemper. Serology on 29 of the 59 seals was undertaken and the results are discussed in relation to the histopathological findings. Bordetella bronchiseptica proved to be an important secondary invader in phocine distemper virus infected seals. Verminous pneumonia was shown to be a frequent problem, particularly in juveniles.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

T cell activation via CD2 [T, gp50]: the role of accessory cells in activating resting T cells via CD2.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) GT2 defines a unique epitope on the CD2 molecule. GT2 triggers T cell mitosis in combination with any MAb directed against 9.6/T11(1) or D66, two previously defined CD2 epitopes. We have shown already that accessory cells (AC) are required for plenary T-PBL activation by any pair of Ab directed against D66 + 9.6/T11(1). In this study, we further investigated their role and found it to vary with the anti-CD2 pair used. When purified T-PBL preparation is used, the level of [3H]TdR incorporation observed with anti-(GT2 + 9.6/T11(1)) Ab was not significant; however, it did prove significant, although greatly reduced, with the other anti-CD2 pairs tested. This was due to qualitative differences in the process of T-PBL activation, and the role of AC, because: anti-(GT2 + 9.6/T11(1)) did not induce IL 2-R expression on purified T-PBL, whereas the other anti-CD2 pairs tested did; anti-(GT2 + 9.6/T11(1)) did not induce detectable IL 2 secretion from purified T-PBL, whereas the other anti-CD2 pairs tested induced a low amount; and anti-CDw18 Ab inhibited the mitogenic effect of anti-(GT2 + 9.6/T11(1)) on PBMC by preventing both IL 2-R expression and IL 2 secretion, whereas anti-CDw18 Ab enhanced the mitogenic effect of the other anti-CD2 pairs tested. Paraformaldehyde-fixed AC fully restored, and recombinant IL 1 partially restored purified T-PBL mitosis triggered by all anti-CD2 pairs tested. To induce IL 2 synthesis, the necessity to cross-link anti-CD2 Ab was demonstrated by coupling one Ab on Sepharose beads and adding the second Ab in the soluble phase: under these circumstances, anti-CD2 pairs were mitogenic solely in the presence of AC. These data can be interpreted as follows. Most anti-CD2 pairs require minimal contact between AC and T-PBL to induce plenary levels of IL 2 synthesis. When anti-(GT2 + 9.6/T11(1)) are used, additional contact is necessary, both for IL 2-R expression and IL 2 synthesis, which would include CDw18 for stabilization. We believe these differences could be related to different conformational changes on the CD2 molecule, depending on the epitope on which the antibodies bind, and could account for different signaling to T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Possible use of monoclonal antibodies to standardize the production and use of human urokinase.

Urokinase, a plasminogen activator found in urine is used in the treatment of pulmonary embolism, and is supplied commercially by several companies in Europe, U.S.A. and Japan. It exists in two forms, of molecular weights 50-55 000 and 33 000 daltons, which may differ in their therapeutic efficiency. A variety of assay systems exist to measure plasminogen activator activity--clot lysis, casein hydrolysis, amidolytic cleavage of synthetic peptide substrates. These assays are time-consuming, relatively insensitive, and cannot accurately assess the amount of the two molecular species in any preparation of urokinase. Standardization therefore presents a problem to manufacturers, control agencies, and clinicians. We have prepared a variety of monoclonal antibodies to human urokinase and have assessed their value as standardizing different commercial preparations of urokinase and measurement of urokinase for therapeutic monitoring.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Handwashing: still a neglected practice in the clinical area.

This article is an adaptation of the winning essay in the preregistration section of the National Board for Northern Ireland Research Awards 1996. The authors conducted a literature review of handwashing after discovering during clinical placements that, despite being well documented, handwashing is still not performed as necessary. The aim of handwashing is to remove transient microorganisms and prevent their transfer to susceptible patients. Inadequate training, lack of resources, chapped hands and poor reinforcement were identified by nurses as factors that accounted for poor handwashing. The Code of Professional Conduct states that 'the professional has a duty to promote and safeguard the interests of clients.' It is only a matter of time before major litigation occurs because of poor handwashing practice. It is concluded that all staff (trained and untrained) require regular educational updating to sustain good handwashing practices. Managers are responsible for ensuring the provision of adequate facilities and supplies of handwashing agents for all nurses in all clinical settings.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A bewildering time.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗