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Biomedical subjects

J S Moore

Publications and source records attributed to J S Moore.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Office ergonomics programs. A case study of North American corporations.

Subject matter experts from 13 North American corporations provided detailed descriptions of the historical development and the current components and operations of their office ergonomics programs. Results were summarized across corporations and presented for the following programmatic topics: backgrounds of key people, initial awareness and preliminary needs assessment, program development, program implementation, program monitoring and evaluation, program components, education and training, workstation and job analysis, early identification of cases, case management, and alternate office environments. The subject matter experts also provided comments about the strengths of their programs, their advice to others, and lessons they learned. These observations suggested the need for an office ergonomics program, and possibly other occupational health programs, to fit into a corporation's culture and capitalize on its infrastructure. Most corporations used multidisciplinary task forces or teams to develop their programs. Communication, which included training, awareness, advertising, and feedback, was also an important issue. Flexibility and simplicity were important attributes of these programs. It is hoped that this descriptive information will be helpful to some occupational health managers interested in or concerned about managerial perspectives and skills related to the development and implementation of programs within their own corporations.

Ergonomics↗

Use of participatory ergonomics teams to address musculoskeletal hazards in the red meat packing industry.

Participatory ergonomics teams from two departments of a pork slaughtering plant analyzed musculoskeletal hazards and proposed ergonomics solutions for several jobs in the plant. The jobs were targeted based on association with a large number of injuries, one or more particularly severe injuries, high workers' compensation expenses, and/or high turnover plus absence of obvious solutions to abate the hazards. The teams used a structured problem-solving method that was generally derived from principles associated with quality improvement processes. Workers performing the targeted jobs were involved in the problem-solving process, even if they were not members of the team. The effectiveness of each team was assessed and compared in terms of the number of problem jobs addressed and feedback from team members. One team addressed all nine of its targeted jobs; the other team addressed eight of 12 targeted jobs. Feedback from team members regarding their teams' methods and performance was generally favorable. The major obstacle to effective team functioning in this project was the scheduling of meetings. There were also some obstacles related to team leadership. Overall, this project demonstrated that the use of participatory ergonomics teams that rely on structured problem-solving methods are able to work effectively to address musculoskeletal hazards, especially related to the upper extremities, in the red meat packing industry.

Animals↗

IL-12 stimulation but not B7 expression increases melanoma killing by patient cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL).

Recent studies have demonstrated that rodent tumour cells engineered to secrete a variety of cytokines, or to express foreign antigens, MHC molecules or co-stimulatory molecules, are rejected by syngeneic animals. These observations have led to the initiation of a number of clinical trials using genetically modified tumour cells, to attempt to stimulate a patient anti-tumour immune response. In this study, a protocol has been developed to test in vitro the specific cytotoxic anti-tumour response generated from melanoma patient lymphocytes. The results showed that IL-12 in combination with IL-2 enhanced the autologous anti-melanoma CTL response, whereas B7.1 antigen expression on tumour cells did not increase anti-melanoma CTL generation. This method could be used to design more appropriate genetically modified tumour vaccines.

B7-1 Antigen↗

A simplified method for the coordinate examination of apoptosis and surface phenotype of murine lymphocytes.

Murine lymphocytes readily undergo spontaneous and glucocortocoid-induced apoptosis in vitro. It has been previously demonstrated that during apoptosis, many cell types including lymphocytes, enzymatically cleave their DNA, thus demonstrating a sub-G0 DNA peak when stained with propidium iodide and analyzed by flow cytometry. In a mixed population, it is often desirable to phenotypically identify distinct populations or subsets undergoing apoptosis, thus requiring multiparameter analysis of surface phenotype and DNA content. Paraformaldehyde fixation procedures, although common for surface evaluation, have not been extensively used in methods quantifying apoptosis. To measure apoptosis in a mixed lymphocyte population, we evaluated a gentle detergent permeabilization and paraformaldehyde fixation procedure combined with propidium iodide (PI) DNA staining, adapted from existing methods for cell cycle studies. With this method and rigorous gating techniques which we defined, we detected both apoptotic and debris fractions within the sub-G0 cell cycle region of a glucocortocoid-treated murine lymphocyte cell line. Using this cell line, WEHI 231.7, as a lymphocyte model, we developed a logical gating strategy to exclude debris from analysis. We further demonstrated that apoptosis in freshly isolated murine lymphocytes detected with paraformaldehyde fixation and PI staining was quantitatively comparable to PI staining with ethanol fixation, or nick translation labeling of DNA strand breaks (TUNEL). Finally, using fresh murine spleen cells, we demonstrated that paraformaldehyde fixation preserves surface protein staining, allowing multiparameter analysis of immunophenotype and apoptotic or cell cycle status in a mixed lymphocyte population. Thus, this method offers an inexpensive and technically simple alternative for assessing apoptosis and surface phenotype.

Animals↗

Expression and physiologic significance of Kit ligand and stem cell tyrosine kinase-1 receptor ligand in normal human CD34+, c-Kit+ marrow cells.

To determine the potential role of autocrine growth factor production in regulating primitive human hematopoietic cell development, we examined highly purified CD34+, c-Kit+ marrow mononuclear cells for expression of c-Kit ligand (KL) and stem cell tyrosine kinase 1 (stk1) ligand (STK1-L). Normal marrow mononuclear cells coexpressing CD34 and c-Kit were isolated by a combination of immunomagnetic bead isolation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Purified cells were then screened for expression of KL and stk1-L mRNA using a sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Using this approach, expression of both cytokine genes at the mRNA level was found in this highly enriched cell population. We then examined the functional significance of these mRNAs by inhibiting their expression with antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). In comparison to untreated or control ODN treated cells, inhibition of KL led to a 70% and 89% inhibition in burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) and colony-forming unit-Mix (CFU-Mix) colonies but had no significant effect on CFU-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) cloning efficiency. In contrast, inhibition of STK1-L alone had no effect on colony formation. However, when STK1-L AS ODN was combined with KL AS ODN, additive inhibition of CFU-GM and CFU-MIX but not of BFU-E colonies was observed. These findings, along with those of our previous studies showing inhibition of primitive hematopoietic cell growth with antisense ODN directed towards the stk1 receptor, suggest the possibility that both receptor/ligand axes regulate primitive hematopoietic cell growth via an autocrine growth loop.

Antigens, CD↗

Reduced surface expression of transforming growth factor beta receptor type II in mitogen-activated T cells from Sézary patients.

Sézary syndrome (SzS), the leukemic form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is characterized by clonal proliferation of CD4+ T cells and immune dysfunctions, raising the possibility of cytokine-related abnormalities. We previously described a decreased response to the growth-inhibitory effects of transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta) in SzS T cells accompanied by apparent loss of surface type II TGF-beta receptor (TGF beta RII). To specifically determine if defects exist in TGF beta RII protein expression and/or transport in SzS patients, we developed a sensitive flow cytometric method to detect TGF beta RII on the surface and intracellularly in the CD4+ T cells. Our results indicate that unlike normal CD4+ T cells, CD4+ T cells from 9 of 12 SzS patients expressed little, if any, surface TGF beta RII in response to mitogen stimulation. At the intracellular level, however, pools of TGF beta RII were comparable to those in normal CD4+ T cells. This indicates that defective trafficking of this inhibitory cytokine receptor may contribute significantly to the development of this disease.

Base Sequence↗

Clinical heterogeneity reflects biologic diversity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

As the incidence of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia increases in an aging population, it becomes more important to re-evaluate our understanding of the disease process and current therapy. Previous treatment strategies have been, for the most part, unsuccessful in prolonging survival and thus new approaches are needed. More intense cellular and molecular research on the biologic diversity of this neoplasm will further our understanding of the causes of clinical heterogeneity and refine our ability to predict progression. New approaches, based on alterations of neoplastic cell growth by cytokines or chemotherapeutic agents, may enable clinicians to 'customize' individual treatments based on the stages of CLL B cell differentiation and our understanding of factors involved in the regulation of apoptosis and proliferation at those stages. Taken together, these efforts should ultimately yield much new information that will lead to reduced morbidity and mortality in B-CLL, the most common form of human leukemia.

Humans↗

Construction of bacteriophage expressing mouse monoclonal Fab fragments directed against the human MN glycophorin blood group antigens.

BACKGROUND: The MN human blood group antigens are complex glycopeptide antigens at the amino terminus of glycophorin A. Many different mouse monoclonal antibodies to these antigens have been produced and characterized. The construction of combinatorial immunoglobulin libraries displaying antibody Fab fragments on the surface of bacteriophage (Fab-phage) represents a novel approach for developing monoclonal reagents, for exploring the diversity of the immune response to specific antigens, and for understanding the molecular basis of the interaction of an antibody with its antigen. However, it is necessary to determine whether Fab fragments displayed on bacteriophage surfaces retain immunologic characteristics similar to the intact antibodies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Fab-phage were constructed from three anti-N (AH7, N61, and N92) and two anti-M (425/2B and M2A1) murine hybridomas. The Fab-phage and parental hybridomas were compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In each case, the Fab-phage and its parental hybridoma antibody had similar immunologic characteristics. In particular, their dependence on the pH of the buffer and on sialylation of the target antigen was similar. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Fab-phage may provide novel reagents with applications in immunohematology and may be useful in the study of the immune response to human blood group antigens.

Animals↗

The Strain Index: a proposed method to analyze jobs for risk of distal upper extremity disorders.

Based on existing knowledge and theory of the physiology, biomechanics, and epidemiology of distal upper extremity disorders, a semiquantitative job analysis methodology was developed. The methodology involves the measurement or estimation of six task variables (intensity of exertion, duration of exertion per cycle, efforts per minute, wrist posture, speed of exertion, and duration of task per day); assignment of an ordinal rating for each variable according to exposure data; then assignment of a multiplier value for each variable. The Strain Index is the product of these six multipliers. Preliminary testing suggests that the methodology accurately identifies jobs associated with distal upper extremity disorders versus jobs that are not; however, large-scale studies are needed to validate and update the proposed methodology.

Hand↗

As ever, B.J.": The Palmer-Stoke correspondence of 1926-1952.

John H. Stoke was a 1920 graduate of the Palmer School and a loyalist among the admirers of B.J. Palmer during the turbulent 1920s in which Palmer leadership was questioned and the Neurocalometer debacle had eroded his following. Stoke, however, was a critical B.J. advocate, and engaged in sometimes detailed analysis of Palmer-Stoke correspondence and the issues which confronted the profession in those difficult times in the early years of this century.

Chiropractic↗

The neurocalometer: watershed in the evolution of a new profession.

The Neurocalometer and its companion devices opened the way for a Pandora's box of instruments that often beguiled the chiropractor. Straight Palmerites were disheartened and confused by B.J.'s emphasis on machines; the definition of "pure" chiropractic was blurred. Some tried to recapture an ultrastraight chiropractic by following D.D.'s admonition that no electrical appliance should enter the adjusting room, while many with mixer tendencies moved toward pan-therapy, choosing from an array of instruments parading before them. Determining the efficacy of any particular one presented a daunting task and helped flame the fires of schism.

Chiropractic↗

Richter's syndrome associated with loss of response to transforming growth factor-beta.

A patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed a large cell lymphoma apparently derived from the same neoplastic B-cell clone (Richter's syndrome). At the same time, mitogen-stimulated proliferation of the patient's circulating leukemic B-cells was no longer inhibited by the regulatory cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), suggesting that such loss of inhibition might be contributing to the clinical and biological progression of the disease.

Aged↗

Upper extremity disorders in a pork processing plant: relationships between job risk factors and morbidity.

Thirty-two jobs at a pork processing plant were semi-quantitatively analyzed in terms of their ergonomic characteristics, then classified as "hazardous" or "safe" in terms of potential risk for elbow or hand/wrist disorders. The spectrum, number, and incidence of such disorders occurring during the preceding 20 months were then compared to the job analyses and hazard classifications. There were 104 disorders associated with 15 job categories. The disorders included epicondylitis (24), nonspecific hand/wrist pain (41), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (21), trigger finger (12), trigger thumb (3), and De-Quervain's tenosynovitis (3). The strength demands of the jobs associated with morbidity were significantly greater than those of jobs without morbidity. Differences in wrist posture were less significant. Type of grasp and repetitiveness were not significantly different. Practically all morbidity (96%) was associated with the hazardous job categories and occurred with a characteristic pattern of co-morbidity. The hazard classification scheme correctly predicted risk of upper extremity morbidity for 13 (87%) of the 15 job categories associated with morbidity and correctly predicted a lack of risk of morbidity for 16 (94%) of the 17 job categories not associated with morbidity. Significantly elevated relative risks were observed for any upper extremity disorder (11.4), any disorder excluding CTS (39.4), all specific disorders (6.9), and all specific disorders excluding CTS (19.4). The relative risk for CTS was 2.8 and not statistically significant. The results of this study provide additional epidemiological evidence that upper extremity musculotendinous disorders and some cases of CTS may be causally associated with work. The exertional demands of a task best explained the occurrence of morbidity.

Arm↗

Meperidine for patient-controlled analgesia after cesarean section. Intravenous versus epidural administration.

BACKGROUND: Although meperidine has been used for patient-controlled analgesia both intravenously (PCIA) and epidurally (PCEA), these routes have not been compared, and many studies have suggested that there is no advantage to the epidural route for administration of lipophilic opioids. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study was conducted for 24 h after cesarean section to compare the analgesic efficacy, side effects, patient satisfaction, drug use, and plasma drug concentrations with meperidine administered either as PCIA or as PCEA. Two groups, stratified for time of cesarean section during epidural anesthesia, postoperatively received either PCEA (group 1) or PCIA (group 2) with identical variables for 12 h before crossing to the other route for an additional 12 h. RESULTS: Results from 45 patients showed a similar speed of analgesic onset but, subsequently, significantly lower pain scores both at rest and with coughing in those receiving PCEA (P = 0.0001). Nausea and pruritus scores did not differ between the groups in the first 12 h postoperatively, but sedation scores were significantly higher with PCIA (P = 0.0001). Patient satisfaction scores and preference significantly favored PCEA (P = 0.0001), with almost 90% of participants preferring the epidural route. Meperidine use was reduced approximately 50% with PCEA (P = 0.0001), and plasma meperidine and normeperidine concentrations were significantly lower (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that after cesarean section, PCEA with meperidine produces high-quality pain relief with few side effects and has significant advantages over PCIA meperidine. With the caveat that neonatal effects in breast-feeding mothers have yet to be evaluated, it can be highly recommended in this population.

Adult↗

Variable region gene analysis of an isotype-switched (IgA) variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell origin (B-CLL) is generally thought to arise by neoplastic transformation of B lymphocytes, which express CD5 and have features of an early stage of B-cell differentiation. To study isotype-switched B-CLL as a potentially more differentiated variant, we performed genetic and functional immunoglobulin (Ig) gene analysis in two cases of CD5+ B-CLL in which the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) secreted predominantly IgA (CLL-249) or IgG (CLL-412) when stimulated with pokeweed mitogen in vitro. By cDNA sequencing and by studies of CLL-heterohybridomas, CLL-249 expresses the heavy chain constant region C alpha as anticipated, while CLL-412 expresses C mu, not C gamma. In CLL-249, the expressed VH gene is 98% homologous to VH26, a germline VH3 gene that occurs frequently in the fetal repertoire, and which has been associated with anti-DNA specificity. The VL gene of CLL-249 is a lambda VL gene for which the germline sequence is not known. In CLL-412, the VH gene is 100% homologous to the VH1 gene of a published anti-DNA antibody (21/28), and is probably a germline gene sequence; the VL gene is 100% homologous to 15AVKI, also a germline gene. The supernatant antibody of the CLL-412 heterohybridoma is an IgM-kappa, which reacts with ssDNA and cardiolipin. The CLL-249 heterohybridoma secreted IgA-lambda, which bound none of the antigens tested, a finding that may be related to amino acid differences from the probable germline V genes. The demonstration of an in vivo isotype-switched variant, such as CLL-249, suggests that B-CLL may be a heterogeneous group of clonal disorders, of which less common variants may have features of more differentiated B-cell stages, such as isotype switching.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Conceptions of alcoholism.

Alcoholism educators have assumed that endorsement of the disease concept of alcoholism would reduce the moral stigma associated with the condition, thereby promoting a more humanitarian approach to the alcoholic. The present study presents data relevant to these assumptions. Measures of beliefs about the medical and moral nature of alcoholism were collected from 1,446 work supervisors in federal agencies. Additionally, social acceptance, tolerance of the alcoholic's absenteeism, and charitable responses to the alcoholic were measured. Results indicated that beliefs about the moral character of the alcoholic and beliefs about the medical nature of alcoholism are significant predictors of social acceptance of the alcoholic, tolerance of work behavior of the alcoholic, and a charitable response to the alcoholic. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of educational efforts aimed at dispelling beliefs about the moral nature of alcoholism.

Absenteeism↗