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Biomedical subjects

J Hammond

Publications and source records attributed to J Hammond.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Expression of the rabies virus glycoprotein in transgenic tomatoes.

We have engineered tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill var. UC82b) to express a gene for the glycoprotein (G-protein), which coats the outer surface of the rabies virus. The recombinant constructs contained the G-protein gene from the ERA strain of rabies virus, including the signal peptide, under the control of the 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus. Plants were transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of cotyledons and tissue culture on selective media. PCR confirmed the presence of the G-protein gene in plants surviving selection. Northern blot analysis indicated that RNA of the appropriate molecular weight was produced in both leaves and fruit of the transgenic plants. The recombinant G-protein was immunoprecipitated and detected by Western blot from leaves and fruit using different antisera. The G-protein expressed in tomato appeared as two distinct bands with apparent molecular mass of 62 and 60 kDa as compared to the 66 kDa observed for G-protein from virus grown in BHK cells. Electron microscopy of leaf tissue using immunogold-labeling and antisera specific for rabies G-protein showed localization of the G-protein to the Golgi bodies, vesicles, plasmalemma and cell walls of vascular parenchyma cells. In light of our previous demonstration that orally administered rabies G-protein from the same ERA strain elicits protective immunity in animals, these transgenic plants should provide a valuable tool for the development of edible oral vaccines.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗
PubMed1995

Withdrawal of triazolam's product licence: effect on patients 18 months later.

The product licences for triazolam in Britain were suspended in October 1991. We aimed to determine whether the sudden withdrawal of a benzodiazepine from the market constitutes a major impetus for patients to reduce or stop their benzodiazepine consumption. Patients in 10 London general practices who were prescribed triazolam in the 12 months prior to the withdrawal of its licence were interviewed. Data from written and computerized general practice records were also studied. One hundred and forty-seven patients were identified, of whom 107 (73%) were interviewed; 38 were chronic users; 68 patients had a history of serious physical illness while 33 had a history of psychiatric problems; 45% of chronic and 66% of intermittent triazolam users had stopped receiving prescriptions for benzodiazepines from 6 months after the withdrawal of triazolam's licence up to 18 months later. Only 12 (11%) recalled suffering significant withdrawal effects. We conclude that official action to curb prescribing of a benzodiazepine acts as an important stimulus for patients to reduce or stop their use of all psychotropic medication without increasing psychological morbidity or leading to unacceptable side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Clinical and molecular epidemiology of enterococcal bacteremia in a pediatric teaching hospital.

An apparent increase in the incidence of enterococcal bacteremias from 7 to 48/1000 bacteremias during 1986 to 1991 (p < 0.01) prompted this descriptive clinical and molecular epidemiologic study of 83 episodes occurring in 80 children between 1986 and 1992. Most community-acquired cases were in infants, in comparison with nosocomial episodes (24/26 and 34/57; p < 0.01); many of them were neonates (10/26 and 6/57; p < 0.01). Nosocomial cases were associated with underlying conditions including major surgery 56%, immunosuppression 49%, organ and tissue transplants 30%, and cardiac 32%, pulmonary 25%, renal 21%, and hepatic 21% disorders. Nosocomial episodes developed after a median of 32 days. There were 58 primary and 25 secondary bacteremias. Thirty-two episodes were polymicrobial and 44 organisms were involved. Twenty-six percent of the patients died. In 15%, death was preceded by septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and polymicrobial bacteremia (p < 0.01). Of 75 isolates, 82% were Enterococcus faecalis and 14% were Enterococcus faecium. Fourteen E. faecalis strains produced hemolysin; none produced beta-lactamase. Three had high-level resistance to gentamicin and 13 to streptomycin; two E. faecium and none of the E. faecalis strains were vancomycin resistant at a low level (p < 0.01) and one was ampicillin resistant. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of whole-cell DNA digested with restriction enzymes Sma I and Eag I showed five isolates with a homogeneous pattern, two with another homogeneous pattern, and 68 with distinct heterogeneous patterns. The increase in enterococcal bacteremias was not due to a clonal strain dissemination but to an increase in cases of heterogeneous enterococcal strains. We conclude that enterococcal septicemia is now an important cause of serious morbidity and death in critically ill children.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1994

Response to venepuncture for monitoring in primary schools.

The feasibility and acceptability of collecting blood from children by venepuncture was assessed in a sample of 593 children from seven primary schools in Canterbury. Venepuncture is necessary to obtain blood for the measurement of haemoglobin, ferritin, and cholesterol in line with Department of Health surveys in England. Return of consent forms was 87%; 75% of parents in the total sample allowed their child to be tested. Response rates differed between schools. Only 4% of eligible children refused to participate at the time of testing. In 22 (3.7%) children a blood sample could not be obtained or the volume was insufficient for analysis. There was a significant difference in the failure rate between phlebotomists. Venepuncture in the school setting was technically feasible and acceptable. The reluctance of some groups in the community to participate may bias the sample.

Bloodletting↗
PubMed1994

Serum total cholesterol and ferritin and blood haemoglobin concentrations in primary schoolchildren.

Serum total cholesterol and ferritin and haemoglobin concentrations were measured in blood samples obtained by venepuncture in 378 of 593 children aged 5-6 or 8-9 years from seven primary schools in Canterbury. This study formed part of an investigation to assess the feasibility of including a venepuncture procedure for monitoring purposes in primary schoolchildren. Although only one child had a very low haemoglobin concentration of 61 g/l, a large percentage, 25% in the rising 6 years and 7% in the rising 9 years, had concentrations between 100 and 115 g/l--that is, less than the reference fifth centile. Eight per cent had a serum ferritin concentration less than 8 micrograms/l. Cholesterol concentrations higher than 5.2 mmol/l were found in 20% of the 5-6 year olds and 23% of the 8-9 year olds, and in 19% of boys and 25% of girls. About 5% of children had cholesterol concentrations above 6 mmol/l. The number of children with anaemia, iron deficiency, and high cholesterol raises serious concerns about the nutritional and coronary heart disease risk of British children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Morbidity and mortality in medium chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.

Medium chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency presents with episodic fasting, hypoketotic hypoglycaemia, and coma. It is known to be potentially lethal, but the outlook for survivors is thought to be good. We reassessed all patients with MCAD deficiency diagnosed in New South Wales (population six million) to explore long term morbidity and mortality. There were 16 probands and two siblings were confirmed and two presumed to be affected. Assuming an incidence of 1:20,000 births, these represented about 22% of the total number of expected cases. Five (25%) of the 20 patients died aged 3 days-30 months, all during the first episode of illness. Seven others had only one episode and one affected sibling was asymptomatic. Eight had had significant neonatal symptoms. Only two had a significant, serious life threatening episode after diagnosis. Of 15 survivors, one has severe handicap after a single severe episode, and four, aged 9-17 years, have mild intellectual handicap. Eight (including six aged less than 7 years), have apparently normal development. Two are lost to follow up. Our study of unselected patients with MCAD deficiency from a defined population shows not only a substantial risk of death, but also of long term morbidity.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1994

The use of Technetium-99 pyrophosphate scanning in management of high voltage electrical injuries.

The surface thermal burn associated with high voltage (HV) electrical injuries represents only the tip of the iceberg. Occult muscle damage may not become apparent for 5 to 10 days. In this study, the efficacy of Technetium-99m (Tc) pyrophosphate scanning was investigated. Early scanning (within 3 days of injury) of 19 limbs in 15 patients demonstrated a sensitivity of 75 per cent, with a specificity of 100 per cent. The predictive value of a positive test, however, was 100 per cent. Compared to a control group of 17 patients treated without Tc scan, the scan was not associated with reduced hospital length of stay or with decrease in the number of surgical procedures.

Arm Injuries↗
PubMed1994

Estimation in community surveys of total body fat of children using bioelectrical impedance or skinfold thickness measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To compare skinfold thickness measurements with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as a measure of body fat for use in a survey of children (the National Study of Health and Growth). DESIGN: Part cross-sectional, part repeated measurement study. SETTING: A junior school in Bath. SUBJECTS: 42 boys and 33 girls aged from 9 to 11 years. INTERVENTIONS: Measurements of BIA, height, weight, and triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds. RESULTS: All measurements were highly repeatable with intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.90. The level of agreement between estimates of percentage of body fat derived from prediction equations based on impedance or skinfold measurements respectively was poor: the mean difference (impedance estimate minus skinfold estimate) was 4.67% (95% range -3.47 to 12.82) for boys and 7.81% (95% range 1.27 to 14.34) for girls. The two estimates were found to correlate highly (r = 0.83 for boys and r = 0.81 for girls) because weight, used to convert estimates of fat-free mass derived from impedance to fat mass, was highly correlated with impedance and moderately highly correlated with skinfold thicknesses. The correlations of resistance (R) and (H)2/R with skinfold thicknesses were very low. There was a moderate correlation of R and H2/R with log(weight-for-height index), but lower than that of log(weight-for-height index) with each of the skinfolds. CONCLUSIONS: As currently available equations for converting impedance-based estimates of total body water to fat mass are not fully developed for use in children of varying ages, estimates of body fat calculated from skinfold thickness measurements remain preferable in epidemiological studies of children's health and growth.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1993

Pregnancy and fetal long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.

We report on eleven pregnancies in 5 mothers. 6 of the babies had long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency, and each of the pregnancies was complicated by features such as fatty liver and HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. By contrast, 3 of the mothers also gave birth to unaffected babies, and these pregnancies were largely uncomplicated. We conclude that there may be adverse effects on maternal liver function from a fetus with LCHAD deficiency. Heterozygosity in the mother cannot alone account for the adverse effects because of the segregation of these effects with fetal LCHAD status.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1993

Neonatal symptoms in medium chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.

Medium chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency has not been thought to be associated with significant neonatal symptoms. To determine the validity of this, all known MCAD cases from New South Wales were reassessed. A total of 16 confirmed and three presumed cases has been identified in New South Wales, from 15 families. The casenotes of patients were reviewed, and where possible the mothers interviewed, either directly or by telephone, to obtain information about neonatal events. Six of the 16 confirmed cases had significant neonatal symptoms, with onset from 17 hours to 3 days of age. All required intravenous dextrose and four of the six needed other interventions, including hospital transfer. One baby died. All six were breast fed, but so were five of the eight asymptomatic neonates for whom information was available. Four of the six symptomatic neonates were homozygous for the common MCAD mutation, an A to G transition at position 985, and one was heterozygous. It is concluded that serious neonatal symptoms are common in MCAD. Newborn siblings of MCAD cases must have careful monitoring and support during the first few days of life.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1993

Validation of a food frequency questionnaire for assessing dietary intake in a study of coronary heart disease risk factors in children.

A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was designed and validated for use in an epidemiological survey measuring coronary heart disease risk factors in British children. The questionnaire asked about the frequency of children's consumption of 35 food items over the previous month and was completed by parents/guardians. Food items represented a range of food groups from which children may eat, with emphasis on foods with a high fat and fibre content. The questionnaire was validated against 14 daily recalls of consumption, using the same food list as the FFQ. The sample consisted of 272 children, aged 5-11 years, The response rate for the FFQ was 92% and for the recall, 82% in the first week and 66% in the second week. The level of agreement between the FFQ and the recall was measured by calculating (McGinnis JM & Nestle M, 1989, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 49, 23-28) the median difference between results from the two methods and (Willett WC (ed.), 1990, Nutritional epidemiology, ch. 15; Oxford University Press) the percentage of children classified by FFQ to within +/- 1 day per week of the recall. Median differences between individual items on the questionnaire and the recall were < or = 0.5 days for 91% of items and equal to 1 day for the remainder. The percentage agreement to within +/- 1 day per week between frequencies reported in the two methods ranged from 99.8% for lamb to 46.8% for low-fibre cereal. Better agreement was found for food items representative of fat intake than those of fibre intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗
PubMed1992

Contract culture.

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Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMed1992

Potyvirus serology, sequences and biology.

Amino acid sequences of the cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusion protein (CIP), large nuclear inclusion protein (NIb), and coat protein (CP) of potyviruses were re-examined in light of reported serological relationships, and correlated with known and deduced biological functions. No obvious correlations were observed between either amino acid sequences or epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies and the natural host ranges of the potyviruses examined. Whereas the identified sequence motifs of the RNA helicase (CIP) and replicase (NIb) are predicted to be antigenic, most of the conserved sequences and epitopes in the CIP, NIb and CP were presumed to be maintained for structural rather than functional reasons. Three possible potyvirus clusters are proposed on the basis of the length and composition of the virion surface-exposed amino terminal extension of the CP; these clusters do not correlate with overall CP sequence homology, host range, or vectors, but are of potential evolutionary significance and hence of possible taxonomic value.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Improved compliance with quality assurance markers during trauma room resuscitation using trauma nurse specialists.

Trauma nurse specialists (TNS) have been shown to reduce the burden on house staff and to facilitate patient care on trauma wards. In the authors' facility, this expertise has been extended to the emergency department where TNS contribute to an improved standard of care by (1) nursing assessment and injury recognition and (2) continuity of care. As specially trained individuals, TNS expand upon the role of the emergency department staff nurse. The TNS could be shown to improve compliance with trauma resuscitation room protocol and quality assurance markers of direct patient management at a statistically significant level.

Emergencies↗