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Biomedical subjects

J Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to J Thomas.

1,240 records · Page 69Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Managers' expectations of radiographers: a survey.

Radiology department managers in eight Southeastern states were surveyed regarding their expectations of radiographers. Results indicated that managers expected radiographers to be multicompetent, possess communication skills, participate in quality assessment and continuous quality improvement programs, practice cost containment, be aware of legal and ethical responsibilities, display an interest in supervisory skills and practice basic radiography. The survey also showed that managers believe these expectations often are not fulfilled.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A modification of anti-streptolysin-O-test.

In this short communication, we have suggested a simple and economic method of performing ASOT. It is a simpler method than that previously recommended by the Wellcome Reagents Limited, in their pamphlet. It requires only 0.05 ml. of the patient's serum and also smaller quantities of all reagents. This reduces the cost of each investigation considerably.

Antistreptolysin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Characterization by zymograms of R factor-determined beta-lactamases: plasmids of defined and undefined compatibility groups (author's transl)].

An easy biochemical method is described, discriminating the beta-lacta-mases coded by various R factors. Electrophoretic mobility and substrate affinity of beta-lactamases were studied simultaneously for 7 different penicillins and cephalosporins. They are I like R factors assigned into different compatibility groups (N, P, com6, com7, com8, X and com 9), five R factors isolated from piglets faeces and one R factor, RU1, originated from Enterobacter aerogenes. Three electrophoretic types of beta-lactamases were determinated: 1) beta-lactamase which migrates towards the anode (enzyme coded by Bacillus cereus chromosome); 2) beta-lactamase of weak cathodic mobility (e. g. R6K); 3) beta-lactamase which migrates rapidly towards the cathode (e. g. R46, R71). Escherichia coli K12 strains synthesize a penicillinase of this third type, destroying penicillin G. The enzymatic and physicochemical properties are not modified by host bacteria, suggesting the possibility to study the plasmid in wild bacteria.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effective monitoring and modulation of immune reactivity in allograft recipients.

This study demonstrates that current techniques of immune monitoring and modulation are available, which have potential to reduce early cadaver allograft loss from rejection to 5% or less. The techniques center on the monitoring of T lymphocyte levels and T lymphocyte reactivity, using relatively simple and reproducible assays, which give results within 4-72 hrs, depending upon the tests used. In addition, these techniques include modulation of T cell levels and reactivity using quality-controlled anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in low doses during the post-transplant period. High potency ATG demonstrates a significant capability of preventing early (3 mos) graft rejection, as well as maintaining low levels and reactivity of T cells for 3 mos or longer, when intermittent low dose therapy is utilized. Evidence is presented that ATG has a relatively selective effect on T lymphocytes and this may result in a degree of selective immunosuppression not achieved in clinical transplantation to date.

Antilymphocyte Serum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Affective and physiological responses to racism: the roles of afrocentrism and mode of presentation.

Recent experiments have examined the subjective and physiological responses of African Americans to racism using video-taped vignettes or emotional imagery. These studies reported changes in mood and increases in cardiovascular (CV) and electromyographic (EMG) activity when analogs of the stressful situations were encountered. In addition, individual differences in responses were found to be related to various personality measures. The present study examined the mood, CV and EMG responses of 60 African-American women as they encountered social situations that included blatant and more subtle forms of racism. Half of the sample viewed both vignettes while the remainder imagined them. The relationship between responses and Afrocentrism, a measure related to black identity, was examined. Significant changes in heart rate, digital blood flow and facial muscle activity in the corrugator regions resulted. The most pronounced changes occurred when blatantly racist material was encountered. Mood changes tended to be stronger when material was imagined versus viewed. In general, Afrocentricity was not related to physiological responses to the scripts, though mood responses and Afrocentricity were related in several instances. The findings indicate that CV, as well as EMG and mood responses, are sensitive to various forms of racism presented in imagery and video modes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathogenic analysis of Aeromonas hydrophila septicemia.

Aeromonas hydrophila has emerged as a potential pathogen in the immunocompromised host. Various aeromonal infections, including septicemia, have also been reported in apparently healthy individuals. For years, researchers have disagreed over the epidemiologic roles of aeromonads in gastroenteritis. Isolation rates of aeromonads by stool culture among patients with gastroenteritis are not consistently high. Carriers of this bacterium also exist. The septicemic course is, however, often fulminant and fatal, and may lack an obvious focus. Pathogenic mechanisms are complex and largely unresolved. The objective of this study is to report the necropsy findings from a uremic patient who presented with typical aeromonal septicemia of obscure origin asking if such investigation could give insight into some of the questions mentioned previously. Western blot immunostaining for aerolysin (beta-hemolysin of aeromonads) was used to evaluate whether or not such a virulence factor is involved in the process of septic dissemination. The autopsy showed that the skin and liver contained microabscesses. The upper gastrointestinal mucosae and spleen contain patchy putrefactive lesions with adjacent focal hemorrhage. Perimortem blood cultures grew Aeromonas hydrophila. A conventional Western blot analysis of the culture supernatant failed to show aerolysin. A control Aeromonas sobia American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strain produces readily detectable aerolysin. It is concluded that this isolate may be aerolysin-deficient or one secreting low levels of aerolysin; these would require more sensitive methods of detection. The primary focus of infection might be the upper gastrointestinal tract. Other virulence factors including the bacterial proteases and/or phospholipases might be responsible for the pathogenesis of septic dissemination.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Deficit in selective attention and its evolution in depression].

Selective attention was measured in 34 depressed patients and 34 controls using a computerized version of the Stroop test, that included a manipulation of the stimulus onset asynchrony (SCA) in order to explore the efficacy of cognitive inhibition as a function of depression and of clinical amelioration of degression after therapy. Clinical tests included a measure of psychomotor slowing [Echelle de Ralentissement de Widlöcher (ERD), the Hamilton (Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)]. Selective attention was measured with the Stroop test, which includes four measures: Word, Color, Color-Word, and Color-Word minus Color, or interference. All of these measures were deficient in the depressed patients, particularly Stroop interference. Even when additional time was given to inhibit the Stroop distractor in the SOA condition, depressed subjects still showed significantly inferior performance. After four weeks of anti-depressive treatment, fifteen of the patients were retested, and showed significant improvement on all the Stroop measures, particularly on Stroop interference. The improvement in performance on the attentional measures was comparable in magnitude to that seen on the clinical scales, and suggests that the interference measure can be a sensitive indicator of clinical status in depressed patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cold stress, reverse T3 and lymphocyte function.

Following a recently reported rise in serum reverse triiodothyronine levels in response to cold exposure, an initial in vitro study has been carried out on human lymphocyte function. The first part of the study demonstrated that the uptake of rT3 on lymphocyte nuclear receptors increased as the rT3 concentration was raised above the normal serum level. The binding is competitive with triiodothyronine. The lymphocytes were harvested from venous blood donated by young male U.S. naval personnel. The second part of the study involved lymphocyte proliferation assays carried out with the addition of increasing amounts of rT3. Both non-specific (three different mitogens) and specific (recall antigen) stimuli were used. There was an indication that lymphocyte function is depressed by increasing serum concentration of rT3. However, with a small number of test subjects and a resulting low statistical power, it was not possible to establish a statistically significant association. Lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood, which has a very high level of rT3 compared to that in normal adult sera, were also found to have a much reduced lymphocyte stimulation index. The requirements for a more definitive investigation are outlined.

Adult↗