Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to J Griffin.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

HIV seropositivity of needles from shooting galleries in south Florida.

Needle/syringe combinations were collected from three shooting galleries in South Florida and tested for the presence of antibodies to HIV-1. Fifteen of 148 needles (10.1 percent) tested positive for HIV-1 antibody. Seropositivity rates did not vary by the day of the week of collection, nor by shooting gallery from which they were collected. When the needle appeared to contain blood residue, 20.0 percent were positive versus 5.1 percent with no blood residue. These findings suggest that needles/syringes used in shooting galleries are likely to serve as reservoirs and/or vectors of transmission of the HIV-1 virus, and that although visual inspection of the needle/syringe may be useful in lessening the chance for transmission, even the visually "clean" needles may result in transmission of infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

A spoonful of competence helps the medicine go down.

The Organisation Development Consultancy based in the training department of the North Western RHA has been involved recently in a variety of projects researching into management competencies. This article outlines the findings from a project undertaken at Tameside and Glossop HA. The aim of the research was to provide an information base on which to build an appropriate recruitment and selection strategy and training and development policy for the continued future development of the district.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Cardiovascular response to gait training and ambulation in a hemiparetic heart recipient.

Little has been reported about the rehabilitation of heart recipients who experience disabling neurologic complications. This is of particular interest to physiatrists because the number of cardiac transplants is increasing and the cardiovascular response of the denervated heart to exercise is altered. The case reported here describes a 42-year-old woman who underwent heart transplantation for ischemic cardiomyopathy. One year after transplantation, the patient was hospitalized for evaluation of headaches and mental status changes. A lymphoma involving the left basal ganglia was diagnosed and the patient underwent a course of radiation therapy. She was transferred for rehabilitation of a left hemiparesis and made functional gains in mobility and self-care skills. Weekly recordings of heart rate and blood pressure were obtained before and after ambulation. Small increases in both heart rate and blood pressure were recorded after ambulation to the point of fatigue. In both parameters, the patient's maximum response was below that reported for nondisabled cardiac recipients, highlighting the need for symptom-oriented exercise guidelines in these patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

Octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a colposcopic study.

488 women were studied to evaluate the use of the molar ratio (%MR) of octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid (18:2(9, 11] to linoleic acid (18:2(9, 12] as a new screening method for cervical cancer and pre-cancer. A combination of Papanicolaou cytology, colposcopy and %MR 18:2(9, 11)/18:2(9, 12) were employed. 86 women (17.6%) were found to have histologically proven cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The %MR was obtained in 452 cases (92%). There was no significant difference in %MR in cervical cell scrapes from women with or without CIN. The %MR of cervical scrapes in some women with anaerobic vaginosis was significantly elevated suggesting bacterial generation of 18:2(9, 11). The %MR of 18:2(9, 11)/18:2(9, 12) is unsuitable for the diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene has properties of a cell cycle regulatory element.

The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product, Rb, is suspected to suppress cell growth. Rb is a 110-114 kd nuclear phosphoprotein. We have previously demonstrated that SV40 T antigen binds only to unphosphorylated Rb, and not pp112-114Rb, the family of phosphorylated Rb. Here we demonstrate the cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of Rb. In G0/G1 cells, virtually all the Rb is unphosphorylated. In contrast, during S and G2, it is largely, if not exclusively, phosphorylated. Rb phosphorylation occurs at the G1/S boundary in several cell types tested. A 14 residue peptide, corresponding to the SV40 T domain required for transformation, is able to compete effectively with SV40 T for binding to p110Rb. We propose a model to explain how Rb may suppress cell growth by acting as a cell cycle regulatory element.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Aberrant free radical activity in cystic fibrosis.

It has been suggested that the molar ratio of octadeca 9,11 dienoic acid to linoleic acid in biological material provides an index of activity along the non-peroxide pathway of a free radical attack on polyunsaturated fatty acids. In 17 adults with cystic fibrosis the 'molar ratio' in nasal epithelial cells--a recognised target of the disease--exceeded that in 20 controls (median 2.09%, range 1.70-3.01% versus 1.56, 0.92-2.23%, p = 0.0002). The difference was also apparent, although less stark, upon analysis of serum in a further 22 CF patients (2.48%, 1.60-5.24%) and 25 controls (1.96%, 0.81-3.90%, p = 0.0348). There was no correlation between the 'molar ratio' and blood white cell count or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, severity of lung or liver disease, indicating that the raised values are a primary feature, rather than reflecting disease severity. Aberrant free radical activity may underlie cellular dysfunction in cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Overview of a research programme designed to address key issues in the planning and delivery of services for people with mental handicap.

This paper describes the programme of mental handicap research funded by the UK Department of Health, which addresses issues of policy, planning and service delivery of key interest to all involved professionals. The author is manager of the research programme and the research discussed covers the provision of good community residential care, hospital contraction, costs, other services in the community, supporting children with mental handicaps at home with their families, and the special needs of certain groups.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

Inability to demonstrate an ultrashort loop feedback mechanism for luteinizing hormone in humans.

hCG has biological properties similar to those of LH, but can be measured separately from LH by current radioimmunometric assays. To investigate the possible existence of an autoregulatory mechanism for LH in humans, we compared the basal LH concentrations and the LH response to a GnRH stimulus with and without prior administration of hCG. On two separate occasions, at least 1 week apart, six normal (eugonadal) males and six normal postmenopausal females were given, in random order, either 10,000 IU hCG or saline followed by iv injection of a 200-micrograms bolus of GnRH. Blood samples were then taken 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 300 min after GnRH. Serum concentrations of LH and hCG were measured at each time by two monoclonal antibody sandwich assays developed in our laboratory. After exogenous hCG, serum hCG concentrations rose rapidly to 200-500 IU/L (15,000-35,000 pg/mL) in both the men and women, remaining at this high level throughout the study. In the men, sex steroid concentrations did not change in response to the hCG during the 9 study hours. Compared to saline-treated controls, hCG had no significant effect in either men or postmenopausal women on the basal LH concentration or the response to a GnRH bolus, as determined by peak response and area under the LH/time curve between 0-300 min after GnRH. We conclude that an ultrashort loop feedback mechanism for LH on its own secretion does not exist in humans, as assessed by the present protocol.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Pulsatile secretion of chorionic gonadotropin during the normal menstrual cycle.

Several groups of investigators have previously reported that small amounts of hCG are present in blood and urine of nonpregnant eugonadal women and men. We have developed highly sensitive and specific, two-monoclonal antibody, sandwich-type assays which can quantify both hCG and LH in sera from postmenopausal women, women at all phases of the menstrual cycle, and men. Using these assays we have also reported that hCG is secreted in a pulsatile fashion in postmenopausal women, is stimulated by GnRH in both men and postmenopausal women, and is suppressed by a GnRH agonist in castrate men. Employing these same sandwich assays, we report herein that hCG is secreted in a pulsatile manner during the follicular and luteal phases of the normal menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase 0.68 +/- 09 (+/- SEM) pulses of hCG occurred each hour, while 0.62 +/- 0.08 pulses of LH occurred. Pulse durations during the follicular phase for hCG and LH, respectively, were 38.3 +/- 4.4 and 62.5 +/- 11.1 min (P less than or equal to 0.05). During the luteal phase there were 0.42 +/- 0.16 pulses/h of hCG and 0.38 +/- 0.08 pulses of LH (P greater than 0.05). Pulse durations were 22.3 +/- 7.5 and 126.4 +/- 19.0 min for hCG and LH, respectively (P less than 0.01). The t1/2 of hCG disappearance was 37.2 +/- 3.8 min during the follicular phase and 22.9 +/- 4.6 min during the luteal phase. The t1/2 values of LH were 82.9 +/- 5.7 and 67.5 +/- 5.12 min during follicular and luteal phases, respectively. The t1/2 of LH was greater than the t1/2 of hCG (P less than 0.01). We conclude that small amounts of hCG are secreted in a pulsatile manner during follicular and luteal phases of the human menstrual cycle.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Failure of ultrasound to detect extra-pancreatic abscesses in severe acute pancreatitis.

The development of intra-abdominal abscesses in patients with severe acute pancreatitis can be associated with a mortality as high as 100%. The clinical findings in these patients may be non specific and therefore imaging is essential. Computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice. However, a satisfactory ultrasound examination may be regarded as sufficient, particularly when there is limited availability of CT. A case of extra-pancreatic abscess complicating severe acute pancreatitis, in whom sonography was "normal", but CT demonstrated the abscess is presented. The importance of CT in these patients in whom an abscess is suspected and our experience with similar cases is discussed.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1988

Congenital absence of peripheral myelin: abnormal Schwann cell development causes lethal arthrogryposis multiplex congenita.

We describe a 37-week gestational age infant who presented with lethal arthrogryposis multiplex congenita due to complete absence of peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin. Schwann cells accomplished successful developmental proliferation, migration, axonal ensheathment, basal lamina production, and subsequent cessation of proliferation, but failed in spiral lengthening and longitudinal growth. Internuclear distance was very short, resulting in marked Schwann cell hypercellularity. No supernumerary Schwann cells (onion bulbs) were found. No PNS myelin proteins (P0, P1, MAG) were detected by immunocytochemical methods, and the Schwann cells adopted many morphologic features characteristic of unmyelinated nerves. The defect appears to be an arrest in Schwann cell differentiation at the stages of mesaxon elongation and longitudinal growth.

Arthrogryposis↗
PubMed1987

Pulsatile secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin in normal adults.

We used very sensitive and specific monoclonal-antibody sandwich assays for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human luteinizing hormone (hLH) to measure both hormones in serum samples from normal men and women. When single serum samples from 92 men were studied, 73 percent had detectable hCG. In normal men, the amount of detectable hCG averaged 8.9 pg per milliliter, with a range of less than 3.0 to 160 pg per milliliter (biologic potency = 13,450 IU per milligram). In postmenopausal women the hCG level averaged 111 pg per milliliter and ranged from 32 to 510. In women of reproductive age the hCG level varied with the menstrual cycle. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone administered to 10 normal men increased both hCG and hLH. When daily serum samples were studied throughout a normal menstrual cycle, hCG concentrations paralleled those of hLH; follicular-phase concentrations were higher than those of the luteal phase, and there was a midcycle ovulatory peak of hCG coincident with the hLH peak. When hCG was measured every 10 minutes for six hours in eight postmenopausal women, distinct pulses were detected in parallel with those of hLH: hLH pulsed at a mean (+/- SEM) frequency of 0.56 +/- 0.08 pulses per hour; hCG pulsed at 0.54 +/- 0.07 pulses per hour. The mean pulse durations were 89 +/- 22 and 56 +/- 20 minutes for hLH and hCG, respectively. We conclude that hCG is produced in a pulsatile fashion, probably by the pituitary, in all normal adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Ultrasensitive immunoradiometric assay for chorionic gonadotropin which does not cross-react with luteinizing hormone nor free beta chain of hCG and which detects hCG in blood of non-pregnant humans.

We have developed a sensitive, non-competitive, two-monoclonal antibody, sandwich-type or immunoradiometric assay for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which shows no cross-reaction with the free beta chain of hCG nor with human luteinizing hormone (LH). In the assay procedure, two, highly selected monoclonal antibodies reacted in solution with hCG to be quantified. One antibody was covalently conjugated to biotin. This antibody was specific for the beta subunit of hCG, and showed no reaction with LH nor the alpha subunit. The second antibody was labelled with 125I and was specific for intact hCG and LH, showing no cross-reaction with beta hCG nor the alpha subunit. The separation system was a polystyrene ball conjugated with biotin. This ball bound via an avidin bridge the monoclonal 'sandwich' containing hCG. Counts per minute bound to the ball were directly proportional to the amount of hCG present. The assay was specific for whole hCG and showed no reaction with beta hCG, beta LH, intact LH nor the free alpha subunit. Sensitivity was adequate to detect 'hCG-like' material in all post menopausal women and, when single samples were obtained, in over 2/3 of normal men. When multiple samples were obtained, 'hCG-like' material was detectable in all eugonadal adults studied.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗