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Biomedical subjects

J Wilkinson

Publications and source records attributed to J Wilkinson.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of pentachlorophenol and other chemical preservatives on the health of wood-treating workers in Hawaii.

The morbidity and mortality of workers occupationally exposed to wood treating chemicals used in Hawaii for the years 1960 to 1981 were evaluated. The specific chemical exposures investigated were CCA (chromated copper-arsenate), TBTO (tributyl tin oxide) and PCP (pentachlorophenol). Results of detailed medical histories, laboratory and physiological tests, and physical examinations of 88 wood treaters were compared with those of 58 matched controls. The occupationally exposed cases had a significantly higher mean level of urinary PCP as compared to the controls (mean of 174 ppb vs. 35 ppb, micrograms/kg). There were no significant differences between the groups for the other urinary pesticide residues. The medical histories and physical examinations revealed no significant variations between the wood treaters and the comparison group. Review of all organ systems and laboratory data showed no clinically significant differences between exposed and nonexposed cohorts, although elevated hepatic enzymes in both groups merit further study. The results indicated no adverse health effects or increased incidence of mortality resulting from exposure to wood preservative chemicals in wood treaters who had worked in the industry for 0.33 to 26.3 years with a median of 6.5 years. Only 6 deaths were reported, 5 of cardiovascular disease, one of cause undetermined and none of cancer. Total number of deaths were less than the 8 anticipated for this age group.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis and evaluation of analogues of 4-androstene-3,17-dione as aromatase inhibitors.

Twenty-three synthetic analogues of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (androstenedione) have been evaluated as inhibitors of human placental microsomal aromatase enzyme. Among the most potent of these compounds were the 4-hydroxy, 6 alpha-fluoro, 6 beta-fluoro, and 4-fluoroandrostenediones and 4-fluoro-19-nor-4-androstene-3,17-dione. 4-Hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (4HAD) is an irreversible inhibitor of aromatase in vitro, whereas the four fluoro analogues are reversible inhibitors. 4HAD and 4-fluoro-4-androstene-3,17-dione caused significant regression of the nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumor in rats, but the other fluoro derivatives were inactive.

Androstenedione↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pain following colonoscopy: elimination with carbon dioxide.

Fifty-six patients have been examined in a prospective randomized study on the effects of air and carbon dioxide on post-procedural discomfort following colonoscopy. A significant reduction in post-procedural pain was observed at 6 hours (p = < 0.0005) and was still present the next day (p = 0.01). This was associated with a difference in the grading of flatus at 6 and 24 hours (p = < 0.0001 and < 0.05, respectively). An abdominal radiograph 1 hour after the procedure showed minimal gas in the CO2 patients, while the patients who had air showed distention of large and small bowel (p = < 0.0001 and < 0.01, respectively). Seventeen of 29 patients who had air suffered post-procedural pain, compared with 2 of 27 of the CO2 patients. Fifty-seven percent of the patients who were given air had colonic diameters over 6 cm on a 1-hour post-colonoscopy radiograph and 18% over 10-cm diameter. Provision by equipment manufacturers of simple and safe devices for routine delivery of CO2 for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy is long overdue.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fluorescent neoglycoproteins: antibody-aminodextran-phycobiliprotein conjugates.

New, highly amino-substituted dextran or aminodextran (hereafter denoted Amdex) of various sizes between about 20 and 1000 kDa molecular mass and degrees of amino-substitution between 7 and 40% were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These aminodextrans together with others commercially available were shown by static light scattering, viscosity, and refractive index measurements to adopt a globular structure in aqueous salt solutions. Antibody and fluorescent protein dye, phycoerythrin, or its tandems with cyanin 5. 1 and TEXAS RED, were covalently conjugated to the aminodextrans. The conjugates contained multiple dye molecules and were shown by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy to assume either globular structure or aggregates thereof. Streptavidin could be substituted for antibody to prepare streptavidin-aminodextran-PE conjugates, which were then used with biotinylated antibody to label subpopulations of white blood cells. The conjugates yielded up to 20-fold amplification of fluorescence intensity over direct antibody-dye conjugates in labeling white blood cells for flow cytometry.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Blood group variation in the Isle of Lewis.

Blood groups and protein and enzyme polymorphism distributions were studied in 285 residents on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. As well as gene frequency calculations for individual loci, genetic distance estimations were made and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The results indicated several major differences from North-west European populations, with high values of R2(CDe), Rz(CDE) and P1. Among protein and enzyme polymorphisms Hp1, EAPA and PGM1(1) had very high frequencies. Genetic distances show Lewis to be unlike both Western and Eastern North European populations, while the phylogenetic tree shows a common, but rather distant, ancestry with Icelanders. This genetic uniqueness of Lewis as a whole is accompanied by a considerable degree of heterogeneity within the island itself, especially in the ABO and Rh systems. Stornoway, with a greater proportion of residents descended from immigrant stock, shows a greater degree of similarity with neighbouring populations. The reasons for both the overall uniqueness and the heterogeneity within Lewis are discussed, but in the absence of a large time-depth and adequate vital records, the various roles of selection, drift and migration in producing them are difficult to establish.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cost effectiveness of alternative Helicobacter pylori eradication strategies in the management of duodenal ulcer.

Published data and techniques for decision analysis were used to construct a model to estimate the cost effectiveness of nine alternative strategies for the management of patients diagnosed with uncomplicated duodenal ulcer. Two strategies of intermittent therapy with either ranitidine or omeprazole, one strategy of continuous maintenance treatment with ranitidine, and six strategies for ulcer healing and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection were considered. Healing time curves were estimated by using published data, allowing for estimation of expected time for acute healing episodes. The expected number of weeks to heal per patient, in a one-year period, was estimated by combining healing time data with probability of ulcer recurrence. It was found that patients that underwent any of the six H pylori eradication regimens had fewer days with ulcer per year than those who underwent maintenance or intermittent ranitidine. Four eradication regimens had lower costs and better outcomes than ranitidine therapy. In comparing H pylori strategies, the two strategies of omeprazole plus one antibiotic (either amoxicillin or clarithromycin) are most costly than omeprazole plus two antibiotics (specifically amoxicillin and metronidazole or clarithromycin and metronidazole) and result in similar outcomes. Although omeprazole-based eradication regimens are more costly than ranitidine bismuth triple therapy, they are associated with fewer recurrences of ulcer and days of symptoms. A limitation of the analysis is that it did not incorporate issues of compliance and metronidazole resistance; however, the former concern may be less of an issue as H pylori regimens become simpler and shorter in duration.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Candidate gene and mutational analysis in asthma and atopy.

BACKGROUND: Using quantitative phenotype scores, we have genotyped four markers close to the FcepsilonRI-beta gene on chromosome 11q and 17 markers on chromosome 12. We have also determined the frequency of the I181L/V183L and E237G polymorphisms in our population. METHODS: 131 randomly ascertained families and 109 families with an asthmatic proband were recruited. Written and video questionnaires, bronchial challenge, and skinprick tests were administered and IgE levels measured. Phenotype scores were derived using principal-component analysis. The asthma score incorporated the questionnaire data reduced to two variables (wheeze and video), the ratio of predicted to observed FEV1, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness calculated as the slope of the dose-response curve. Total IgE, with the highest heritability of the atopy variables, was used as the atopy score. I181L/V183L polymorphism was determined by sequencing and E237G polymorphism by the amplification refractory mutation system. The data were analyzed using the BETA programme. RESULTS: No examples of the I181L/V183L polymorphism were identified. The E237G polymorphism was identified with a frequency of 3.5% with weak evidence for linkage (lod 1.522) to asthma. Linkage was found to markers on chromosome 12 and asthma. The largest single locus lod was achieved for D12S366 and wheeze (lod 3. 307). Using multipoint analysis, a maximum lod score of 2.29 centres around D12S97 at location 173.5 cM for the asthma score. CONCLUSION: The linkage results for chromosome 12 justify further interest in this region. Future endeavours will be directed towards fine mapping in the hope of identifying novel candidate genes.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing a concept analysis of autonomy in nursing practice.

This article presents a concept analysis of autonomy and offers some insights into the quest for and operationalization of autonomous nursing practice. Recommendations are made regarding automony and nursing practice at the level of the individual practitioner. This concept is also examined in relation to the context in which nursing care is delivered. The conclusions drawn as a result of this analysis serve as a focus for debate on the challenges that nurses and those involved in their education face.

Clinical Competence↗
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Understanding memory to enhance nursing practice.

A key aspect of compliance is that the advice given is remembered. Nurses who have an understanding of human memory processes are better in formed to offer healthcare advice to their patients and may do so in such a way that it is more likely to be remembered. They can also enhance their own memory to promote job performance and enhance study skills. This article demonstrates that human memory is an active information-processing activity. The processes of registration, storage and retrieval are explained, and recommendations are made on how an awareness of memory function can be used to improve practice.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Understanding motivation to enhance patient compliance.

Motivation as a psychological concept is important in health care because frequently good care is dependent on the motivation of the patient, his/her family and the practitioners within the healthcare team. In addition, nurses need to be motivated to keep up to date with professional developments. This article describes George Kelly's framework of motivation and suggests recommendations to enhance practice in this area. The main conclusion is that although external determinants can encourage a person to engage in a particular activity the most effective kind of motivation is that which is internally mediated.

Defense Mechanisms↗