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Biomedical subjects

J Robertson

Publications and source records attributed to J Robertson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Quality and costs of community-based residential supports, village communities, and residential campuses in the United Kingdom.

The costs, nature, and benefits of residential supports were examined for 86 adults with mental retardation living in village communities, 133 adults living in newly built residential campuses, and 281 adults living in dispersed housing schemes (small community-based group homes and supported living). Results indicated that (a) the adjusted comprehensive costs of provision in dispersed housing schemes were 15% higher than in residential campuses and 20% higher than in village communities; (b) dispersed housing schemes and village communities offered a significantly greater quality of care than did residential campuses; and (c) there appeared to be distinct patterns of quality of life benefits associated with dispersed housing schemes and village communities, with both approaches offering a greater quality of life than did residential campuses.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The Language of Classic Maya Inscriptions1.

Recent decipherments of Classic Maya hieroglyphs (ca. a.d. 250 to 850) reveal phonological and morphological patterns that, through epigraphic and historical analyses, isolate a single, coherent prestige language with unique and widespread features in script. We term this language "Classic Ch'olti'an" and present the evidence for its explicable historical configuration and ancestral affiliation with Eastern Ch'olan languages (Ch'olti' and its still-viable descendant, Ch'orti'). We conclude by exploring the possibility that Ch'olti'an was a prestige language that was shared by elites, literati, and priests and had a profound effect on personal and group status in ancient Maya kingdoms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

The Language of Classic Maya Inscriptions1.

Recent decipherments of Classic Maya hieroglyphs (ca. a.d. 250 to 850) reveal phonological and morphological patterns that, through epigraphic and historical analyses, isolate a single, coherent prestige language with unique and widespread features in script. We term this language "Classic Ch'olti'an" and present the evidence for its explicable historical configuration and ancestral affiliation with Eastern Ch'olan languages (Ch'olti' and its still-viable descendant, Ch'orti'). We conclude by exploring the possibility that Ch'olti'an was a prestige language that was shared by elites, literati, and priests and had a profound effect on personal and group status in ancient Maya kingdoms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

The Language of Classic Maya Inscriptions1.

Recent decipherments of Classic Maya hieroglyphs (ca. a.d. 250 to 850) reveal phonological and morphological patterns that, through epigraphic and historical analyses, isolate a single, coherent prestige language with unique and widespread features in script. We term this language "Classic Ch'olti'an" and present the evidence for its explicable historical configuration and ancestral affiliation with Eastern Ch'olan languages (Ch'olti' and its still-viable descendant, Ch'orti'). We conclude by exploring the possibility that Ch'olti'an was a prestige language that was shared by elites, literati, and priests and had a profound effect on personal and group status in ancient Maya kingdoms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A comparison of methods for measuring socio-economic status by occupation or postal area.

Seven methods of estimating socio-economic status (SES) were compared, including four based on data specific to individuals (Blishen, Pineo-Porter, British Registrar General, Hollingshead) and three based on the average characteristics of the postal code area in which people live (income alone, education alone, income and education combined). Data from the files of 151 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were used. The four individual scales were highly correlated among themselves (Spearman's correlation coefficient between 0.6 and 0.9) but only moderately correlated with the measures based on postal code (Spearman's correlation coefficient between 0.2 and 0.3).

Educational Status↗
PubMed1999

The identical 5' splice-site acceptor mutation in five attenuated APC families from Newfoundland demonstrates a founder effect.

Inherited mutations of the APC gene predispose carriers to multiple adenomatous polyps of the colon and rectum and to colorectal cancer. Mutations located at the extreme 5' end of the APC gene, however, are associated with a less severe disease known as attenuated adenomatous polyposis coli (AAPC). Many individuals with AAPC develop relatively few colorectal polyps but are still at high risk for colorectal cancer. We report here the identification of a 5' APC germline mutation in five separately ascertained AAPC families from Newfoundland, Canada. This disease-causing mutation is a single basepair change (G to A) in the splice-acceptor region of APC intron 3 that creates a mutant RNA without exon 4 of APC. The observation of the same APC mutation in five families from the same geographic area demonstrates a founder effect. Furthermore, the identification of this germline mutation strengthens the correlation between the 5' location of an APC disease-causing mutation and the attenuated polyposis phenotype.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1999

Isolation and species typing of Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes from UK patients with erythema migrans.

Skin biopsies taken from UK cases of erythema migrans rash were cultured for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Reverse line blotting was used to type the infecting genospecies in PCR-positive cultures and biopsies. B. garinii or B. afzelii was identified in 56% (5/9) of biopsies/cultures tested. All patients were tested by conventional serology. PCR confirmed infection in two patients where serological testing failed to detect antibody.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1999

Effects of information framing on the intentions of family physicians to prescribe long-term hormone replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the way in which information on benefits and harms of long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is presented influences family physicians' intentions to prescribe this treatment. DESIGN: Family physicians were randomized to receive information on treatment outcomes expressed in relative terms, or as the number needing to be treated (NNT) with HRT to prevent or cause an event. A control group received no information. SETTING: Primary care. PARTICIPANTS: Family physicians practicing in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. INTERVENTION: Estimates of the impact of long-term HRT on risk of coronary events, hip fractures, and breast cancer were summarized as relative (proportional) decreases or increases in risk, or as NNT. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intention to prescribe HRT for seven hypothetical patients was measured on Likert scales. Of 389 family physicians working in the Hunter Valley, 243 completed the baseline survey and 215 participated in the randomized trial. Baseline intention to prescribe varied across patients-it was highest in the presence of risk factors for hip fracture, but coexisting risk factors for breast cancer had a strong negative influence. Overall, a larger proportion of subjects receiving information expressed as NNT had reduced intentions, and a smaller proportion had increased intentions to prescribe HRT than those receiving the information expressed in relative terms, or the control group. However, the differences were small and only reached statistical significance for three hypothetical patients. Framing effects were minimal when the hypothetical patient had coexisting risk factors for breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Information framing had some effect on family physicians' intentions to prescribe HRT, but the effects were smaller than those previously reported, and they were modified by the presence of serious potential adverse treatment effects.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Effects of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on postprandial serum glucose and insulin concentrations in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of acarbose on baseline and postprandial serum glucose and insulin concentrations in healthy dogs, if effects of acarbose were dosage related, and if acarbose caused any short-term adverse effects. ANIMALS: 5 healthy dogs fed a high-fiber diet. PROCEDURE: A Latin-square design was used. During each 1-week treatment period, dogs were given a placebo or 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg of acarbose, PO, twice daily immediately prior to feeding. There was a 1-week interval between periods. At the end of each treatment period, serum glucose and insulin concentrations were measured prior to feeding and at 30- to 60-minute intervals for 6 hours after feeding. RESULTS: Baseline serum glucose and insulin concentrations, insulin peak response, and total glucose absorption were not significantly different following treatment with placebo and treatment with acarbose; however, total insulin secretion was significantly decreased when dogs were treated with 100 or 200 mg of acarbose. Four dogs developed soft to watery stools when treated with 200 mg of acarbose, and 2 dogs lost weight during the study. Results of CBC and serum biochemical analyses were within reference ranges throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose did not induce any serious adverse effects and was effective in healthy dogs in reducing total postprandial insulin secretion when administered immediately prior to meals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that acarbose may help control hyperglycemia in dogs with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Additional studies designed to evaluate the effect of acarbose on postprandial blood glucose concentrations in dogs with diabetes mellitus are indicated.

Acarbose↗
PubMed1999

Job satisfaction in a rural differentiated-practice setting.

This article reports the findings of a 3-year study that assessed the job satisfaction of nursing personnel in a rural nursing center that uses a differentiated practice model. Job satisfaction was measured using the Brayfield Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Survey, and the Job Descriptive Index. A high level of job satisfaction was found across all 3 years. Factors associated with job satisfaction are also described. The findings of this study add to the growing body of literature on the importance of differentiated practice in creating satisfying work environments.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1999

Interactions between peripherin and neurofilaments in cultured cells: disruption of peripherin assembly by the NF-M and NF-H subunits.

Neurofilaments are the principal intermediate filament type expressed by neurons. They are formed by the co-assembly of three subunits: NF-L, NF-M, and NF-H. Peripherin is another intermediate filament protein expressed mostly in neurons of the peripheral nervous system. In contrast to neurofilaments, peripherin can self-assemble to establish an intermediate filament network in cultured cells. The co-expression of neurofilaments and peripherin is found mainly during development and regeneration. We used SW13 cells devoid of endogenous cytoplasmic intermediate filaments to assess the exact assembly characteristics of peripherin with each neurofilament subunit. Our results demonstrate that peripherin can assemble with NF-L. In contrast, the co-expression of peripherin with the large neurofilament subunits interferes with peripherin assembly. These results confirm the existence of interactions between peripherin and neurofilaments in physiological conditions. Moreover, they suggest that perturbations in the stoichiometry of neurofilaments can have an impact on peripherin assembly in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Prescribing patterns in general practice. A comparison of two data sources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare data captured by an electronic general practice prescribing package with prescribing data from the Health Insurance Commission (HIC). METHODS: Twenty GPs from the Hunter Urban Division of General Practice (HUDGP) used the electronic prescribing package. Data for June-July 1996 were analysed. Prescribing data for all GPs (n = 369) in the HUDGP were extracted from HIC files to provide the comparison. RESULTS: Each data source had limitations, and provided different, but complementary information. HIC data allowed calculation of prescribing rates (prescriptions per 100 Medicare services), but had incomplete capture of information on some classes of drugs, and no information on the patients receiving the drugs or the indications for the use of the drugs. The HUDGP database could only provide information on choice of agent when the decision to prescribe something had been made. However, it provided the context information (patient characteristics, indication for use, other medications) that could permit some assessment of the appropriateness of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: HIC data may be useful for an overall assessment of divisional activities. However, for a full assessment of the quality of prescribing at the level of individual GPs, additional patient related information is required. This requires much wider use of electronic prescribing packages that can capture the clinical details needed to review the appropriateness of treatment decisions.

Australia↗
PubMed1998

The inducible prostaglandin biosynthetic enzyme, cyclooxygenase 2, is not mutated in patients with attenuated adenomatous polyposis coli.

Germ-line mutations in the APC gene cause adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a syndrome in which patients develop hundreds to thousands of precancerous adenomatous colorectal polyps. We described previously an attenuated form of APC (AAPC) resulting from very 5' mutations in APC in which affected patients exhibit fewer colorectal polyps and a later age of onset of colorectal cancer. However, because striking variations in colorectal polyp numbers occur among patients carrying identical AAPC mutations, alleles of another gene may modify the expression of the APC disease phenotype. We tested the hypothesis that loss of function of human cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), known to modify the APC phenotype in the Apc delta716 mouse, results in a decreased tumor burden in AAPC patients that develop very few colorectal polyps. Genomic DNA sequence analysis of human COX-2 revealed a silent mutation in exon 3 that was evenly distributed between two classes of patients with AAPC, those with small or large numbers of colorectal polyps. We also found no difference in levels of COX-2 mRNA in transformed blood lymphocytes among AAPC patients of either class or patients with classical APC, and no alterations that correlated with a lesser or greater number of colorectal polyps were detectable within approximately the first 1 kb of the promoter sequence. Therefore, mutation of the human COX-2 gene does not appear to be responsible for a low tumor burden among AAPC subjects.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1998

Crystalline retinopathy associated with chronic retinal detachment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of crystalline opacities located at the level of the inner retina in patients with chronic retinal detachment. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records, fundus photographs, and fluorescein angiograms of patients with superficial retinal crystals in the presence of a chronic retinal detachment. RESULTS: Eleven eyes in 11 patients with chronic retinal detachment were found to have these peculiar crystalline opacities on the inner retinal surface. In 5 patients, the crystalline opacities were noted on initial assessment prior to surgery and persisted without change in appearance or number after surgical repair. In 6 eyes, the crystals were not appreciated until after surgical repair of the retinal detachment. The crystals appeared similar in all 11 eyes, were highly refractile, and were located in the posterior pole. Eight of the eyes had retinal detachment associated with retinal dialysis and 6 of these had a history of trauma. There was a definite history of vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eyes. The crystals did not seem to be associated with any visual deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic retinal detachment can be associated with crystals on the inner retinal surface. The cause and composition of these crystals are unknown. They seem to be visually inconsequential and unchanging.

Adult↗