Spinal fractures in deer.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Accidents, Traffic↗
Biomedical subjects
J Lewis
Publications and source records attributed to J Lewis.
A nuclear cap binding protein complex involved in pre-mRNA splicing.
A cap-binding protein complex (CBC) present in the nuclei of HeLa cells has been characterized. Purified CBC consists of two previously identified proteins, CBP80 and CBP20. These proteins are shown to cofractionate to apparent homogeneity and to be coimmunoprecipitable with anti-CBP80 antibodies. Analysis of the inhibition of pre-mRNA splicing in vitro and in vivo by chemically modified analogs of the cap structure, and of the binding of these analogs to CBC in vitro, suggests a role for the complex in splicing. Extracts immunodepleted of CBC do not efficiently splice an adenoviral pre-mRNA owing to blockage of an early step in splicing complex formation. CBC may therefore play a role in pre-mRNA recognition.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Report of the 16th meeting of the British Inflammation Research Association. Topic: measuring bone and joint disease progression: biochemical quantification.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in health research in developing countries: lessons from the Triangle Programme in Sri Lanka.
The Triangle Programme (1989-1992) aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity for health social science research and intervention in Sri Lanka through the promotion of appropriate international and national partnerships. First, it involved an international partnership (Triangle 1) among two universities in the developed world, i.c. University of Antwerp in Belgium and the University of Connecticut in the USA, and one university in the developing world, i.c. the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. This partnership facilitated the transfer of knowledge, experience, skills across national boundaries and the North/South divide. Second, it developed a national/local partnership (Triangle 2) among the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture and Medicine at the University of Peradeniya by involving them in a joint programme of health social science research and training covering the entire range of activities from proposal development to dissemination of research results. Focusing on the latter aspect (Triangle 2) this paper reviews the results of the programme from the angle of cross-fertilization of disciplines through their collaboration in applied health research in a developing country setting.
Belgium↗
Visualization of superior mesenteric lymph nodes by the combined oral and intravenous administration of the ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide, AMI-227.
Superior mesentric lymph nodes which lie as a chain near the small intestine are difficult to visualize in the rat with MRI either with or without the use of contrast agents. We previously demonstrated that the oral administration of an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (AMI-227) produces a brightening of the lumen of the GI tract with a T1-weighted spin-echo pulse sequence. We have also shown that AMI-227 darkens abdominal lymph nodes. In the present study we show that the combined oral and intravenous administration of AMI-227 produces a brightening of the lumen of the GI tract and a darkening of the superior mesenteric lymph node chain. As a result of these combined and opposing effects on image signal intensity, a necessary contrast is established to reliably locate the superior mesenteric lymph nodes in vivo, which, to our knowledge, have been elusive by other techniques.
Administration, Oral↗
Use of AMI-227 as an oral MR contrast agent.
We report the use of an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide colloid AMI-227 as an oral contrast agent. Due to the small size, AMI-227 has a larger effect on T1 than larger superparamagnetic iron oxides colloids like ferumoxsil. At 2 T, AMI-227 had an R2/R1 of 11.4 compared with an R2/R1 for the superparamagnetic iron oxide ferumoxsil of 179. The R1s of the two agents were 7.1 and 1.6 mM-1 s-1, for AMI-227 and ferumoxsil, respectively. Due to its smaller R2/R1, orally administered AMI-227 can produce brightening or darkening of the lumen of the GI tract, depending on instrument parameters. At 1 mM Fe, image brightening (2 T, TR = 300, TE = 25) or image darkening of the GI tract (2 T, TR = 1500, TE = 80) was obtained. The ability of AMI-227 to produce either image brightening or darkening suggests it may be useful as an MR contrast agent for the GI tract.
Abdomen↗
Multicenter in vitro comparative study of fluoroquinolones after four years of widespread clinical use.
In vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, fleroxacin, lomefloxacin, ofloxacin, and seven other oral antimicrobials including amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (A/C), oxacillin, cefaclor, cefixime, cefuroxime, erythromycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (T/S) were evaluated against 1708 fresh bacterial isolates from four hospital laboratories approximately 4 years after the introduction of ciprofloxacin. T/S and ofloxacin had the lowest MIC90s and greatest percentage of susceptible strains overall, followed by the other three quinolones. Quinolones were the most active drugs tested against Gram-negative bacteria, with little variation in the activity among the four compounds against most species. Quinolone resistance was detected to some degree in the majority of Gram-negative species tested, with Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Xanthomonas, and Providencia demonstrating the highest percentage of resistant strains. Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were relatively more active against Gram-positive bacteria than were fleroxacin and lomefloxacin, but T/S and A/C had more susceptible strains than any of the quinolones. Oxacillin-resistant staphylococci, enterococci, and streptococci exhibited the least quinolone susceptibility. This study showed that while resistance is developing among several previously susceptible bacterial species, quinolones remain important alternatives for the oral treatment of many types of infections. Actions to prevent or limit resistance will be important to maintain the viability of the quinolones as therapeutic agents in both hospital and community environments.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Repair of excisional wounds in the embryo.
Wound healing in the embryo, just as in the adult, comprises two tissue movements: re-epithelialisation and connective-tissue contraction. In this brief review we describe our recent studies of these two movements in both chick and rodent embryo model systems. In the chick we have evidence that the embryonic wound epidermis is drawn forwards by contraction of an actin pursestring extending around the circumference of the wound, rather than by lamellipodial crawling as in adult healing. Significant connective-tissue contraction also occurs. In the rat and mouse embryo we have examined expression of transcription factors and growth factors at the wound edge. We discuss our observations that the immediate-early gene c-fos and the growth factor transforming growth factor beta-1 are rapidly induced at the embryonic wound margin, and the possibility that these signals may trigger proliferation of wound edge cells and contraction of the exposed wound mesenchyme.
Animals↗
Iodine in British foods and diets.
Levels of I were determined in selected foods and dietary supplements, and in samples of the British 'Total Diet'. The average concentration of I in British milk collected in thirteen areas on four occasions during 1990 and 1991 was 150 micrograms/kg (range 40-310 micrograms/kg), compared with 230 micrograms/kg in 1977-79. No difference was found between skimmed and whole milk. Winter milk contained 210 micrograms/kg while summer milk contained 90 micrograms/kg. Regional differences were less pronounced than seasonal differences. Levels in fish and fish products were between 110 and 3280 micrograms/kg. Edible seaweed contained I levels of between 4300 and 2,660,000 micrograms/kg. Kelp-based dietary supplements contained I at levels that would result in a median intake of 1000 micrograms if the manufacturers' recommended maximum daily dose of the supplement was taken, while other I-containing supplements contained a median level of 104 micrograms in the manufacturers' maximum recommended daily dose. Intake of I, as estimated from the Total Diet Study, was 173 micrograms/d in 1985 (277 micrograms if samples with very high I contents were included) and 166 micrograms/d in 1991. These levels are above the UK reference nutrient intake of 140 micrograms/d for adults but well below the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives provisional maximum tolerable intake of 1000 micrograms/d.
Animals↗
The use of AMI-227 as an oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Administration, Oral↗
Inhibition of cap (m7GpppXm)-dependent endonuclease of influenza virus by 4-substituted 2,4-dioxobutanoic acid compounds.
Synthesis of influenza virus mRNA is primed by capped and methylated (cap 1, m7GpppXm) RNAs which the virus derives by endonucleolytic cleavage from RNA polymerase II transcripts in host cells. The conserved nature of the endonucleolytic processing provides a unique target for the development of antiviral agents for influenza viruses. A series of 4-substituted 2,4-dioxobutanoic acid compounds has been identified as selective inhibitors of this activity in both influenza A and B viruses. These inhibitors exhibited 50% inhibitory concentrations in the range of 0.2 to 29.0 microM for cap-dependent influenza virus transcription and had no effect on the activity of other viral and cellular polymerases when tested at 100- to 500-fold higher concentrations. The compounds did not inhibit the initiation or elongation of influenza virus mRNA synthesis but specifically inhibited the cleavage of capped RNAs by the influenza virus endonuclease and were not inhibitory to the activities of other nucleases. Additionally, the compounds specifically inhibited replication of influenza A and B viruses in cell culture with potencies comparable to the 50% inhibitory concentrations obtained for transcription.
Animals↗
Laboratory investigation of a multistate food-borne outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and phage typing.
Two hundred thirty-three isolates of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were analyzed by both pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and bacteriophage typing. All 26 isolates from persons whose illness was associated with a recent multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the consumption of undercooked hamburgers and all 27 isolates from incriminated lots of hamburger meat had the same phage type and the same PFGE pattern. Twenty-five of 74 E. coli O157:H7 isolates from Washington State and 10 of 27 isolates from other states obtained during the 6 months before the outbreak had the same phage type as the outbreak strain, but only 1 isolate had the same PFGE pattern. PFGE thus appeared to be a more sensitive method than bacteriophage typing for distinguishing outbreak and non-outbreak-related strains. The PFGE patterns of seven preoutbreak sporadic isolates and five sporadic isolates from the outbreak period differed from that of the outbreak strain by a single band, making it difficult to identify these isolates as outbreak or non-outbreak related. Phage typing and PFGE with additional enzymes were helpful in resolving this problem. While not as sensitive as PFGE, phage typing was helpful in interpreting PFGE data and could have been used as a simple, rapid screen to eliminate the need for performing PFGE on unrelated isolates.
Animals↗
Deletion and replacement of the mouse adult beta-globin genes by a "plug and socket" repeated targeting strategy.
We describe a two-step strategy to alter any mouse locus repeatedly and efficiently by direct positive selection. Using conventional targeting for the first step, a functional neo gene and a nonfunctional HPRT minigene (the "socket") are introduced into the genome of HPRT- embryonic stem (ES) cells close to the chosen locus, in this case the beta-globin locus. For the second step, a targeting construct (the "plug") that recombines homologously with the integrated socket and supplies the remaining portion of the HPRT minigene is used; this homologous recombination generates a functional HPRT gene and makes the ES cells hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine resistant. At the same time, the plug provides DNA sequences that recombine homologously with sequences in the target locus and modifies them in the desired manner; the plug is designed so that correctly targeted cells also lose the neo gene and become G418 sensitive. We have used two different plugs to make alterations in the mouse beta-globin locus starting with the same socket-containing ES cell line. One plug deleted 20 kb of DNA containing the two adult beta-globin genes. The other replaced the same region with the human beta-globin gene containing the mutation responsible for sickle cell anemia.
Animals↗
The kreisler mouse: a hindbrain segmentation mutant that lacks two rhombomeres.
kreisler is a recessive mutation resulting in gross malformation of the inner ear of homozygous mice. The defects in the inner ear are related to abnormalities in the hindbrain of the embryo, adjacent to the ear rudiments. At E9.5, the neural tube posterior to the boundary between the third and fourth rhombomeres, r3 and r4, appears unsegmented, and the region that would normally correspond to r4 is unusually thick-walled and contains many dying cells. The absence of morphological segmentation in the posterior hindbrain corresponds to an altered pattern of gene expression in that region, with major abnormalities posterior to the r4/5 boundary and minor abnormalities anterior to it. From the expression patterns at E9.5 of Krox-20, Hoxb-1 (Hox 2.9), Hoxb-2 (Hox 2.8), Hoxa-3 (Hox 1.5), Hoxd-4 (Hox 4.2) and cellular retinoic-acid binding protein I (CRABP I), it appears that the fundamental defect is a loss of r5 and r6. Correspondingly, the glossopharyngeal ganglion and nerve, associated with r6 are missing and the abducens nerve, which originates from r5 and r6, is also absent. Examination of Krox-20 expression at stages as early as E8.5 indicates that Krox-20 fails ever to be expressed in its r5 domain in the homozygous kreisler mutant. The abnormal amount of cell death is seen only later. An interpretation is that the cells that would normally become specified at an early stage as r5 and r6 adopt an r4 character instead, producing an excess of r4 cells that is disposed of subsequently by cell death.
Animals↗
Preventing AIDS: knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
1. Because health care providers are the key professionals in advising patients about prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, the degree to which spread can be prevented is at least partially a function of preventive and education measures taken by health care professionals. 2. Nurses surveyed believe that they do not have the right to refuse treatment to patients infected with HIV. 3. Twenty percent of health care professionals indicated they did not have adequate information concerning HIV, with the largest group being nurse executives in long-term care facilities. 4. The survey indicated that more efficient and effective educational methods should be used to increase health care practitioners' knowledge about AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Compartment syndromes causing neuropathy.
Compartment syndromes of the lower extremity can cause significant mobidity when appropriate treatment is not rendered. Paramount to the management of a compartment syndrome is a timely diagnosis. The physician must be intimately familiar with the anatomy as well as the signs and symptoms that a compartment syndrome presents. This familiarity can provide the opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent debilitating sequalae.
Compartment Syndromes↗
Adolescent contraceptive counseling and gynecology: a deficiency in pediatric office-based care.
With the large and increasing numbers of sexually active adolescents, pediatricians must learn to deal with the issues of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). This is particularly true at a time when health care reform will encourage primary care physicians to assume a greater role in general medical management of their patients. One hundred Connecticut general practice pediatricians were randomly selected to examine the frequency, level of comfort, and rationale for involvement regarding sexual history taking, contraceptive counseling, and performance of pelvic examinations. This represents 9% of all Connecticut pediatricians. The response rate was 54%. The results were as follows: Seventy-nine percent of responding pediatricians counseled on STDs, 39% counseled on family planning, and only 62% almost always took a sexual history from the their adolescent patients, ages 10 and up. Thirty-one percent of respondents stated they would refer a male inquiring about contraception to a family planning clinic. Thirty-eight percent never do pelvic examinations on their sexually active adolescent patients. Connecticut pediatricians are providing adolescents with counseling on other high-risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, but provide inadequate care related to adolescent sexual activity.
Adolescent↗
A new species of Neyraia Joyeux et Timon-David, 1934 (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from the Egyptian wild birds.
A new species of the genus Neyraia Joyeux et Timon-David, 1934 is described from Egyptian wild birds; Neyraia epops from the hoopoe Upupa epops. The new species is compared and with the other related species of the genus. The erection of the new species was based primarily on differences in the number of testes and number of the rostellar hooks.
Animals↗