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Biomedical subjects

J Williams

Publications and source records attributed to J Williams.

At least 1,261 records · Page 70Linked to original sources
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Orienting foreign nurse graduates through preceptors.

Many staff development departments have difficulty orienting foreign nurse graduates. Some of the difficulties foreign nurses themselves have are described in this article, as are difficulties American nurses have in orienting them. Nursing preceptors trained to understand and solve the problems of foreign nurse graduates may make orientation more successful for the nurse and the unit.

Communication Barriers↗
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[Research on Pisa University student's life style and health].

Surveys on life and health conditions of university students besides providing useful epidemiologic data partly related to the young population. They are potentially useful for the intervention planning aimed to remove possible environmental or behavioural risk factors. Following these purpose a survey sample about 1200 student attending the University of Pisa was carried out through an anonymous questionnaire about 41 questions focused on behaviours and lifestyles of young people, possible health problems, self-perception of the health state, the use of public health services, and the more commonly used (or preferred) sources of information on health topics. The results suggest that although the self perception of the state of health is broadly positive for the majority of students, there is also a significant frequency of individuals declaring significant at risk behaviours (persistence of sexual practices at risk, drug use, alcohol and smoke abuse). The consumption, also sporadic, of psicoattive substances has been declared gives beyond 40% of the students, in particular 37% asserts to have tried drugs. The habit to smoke appeared diffused much between the students; the percentage of smokers turns out equal to 41% in total (40% females, 42% males). 76% of the interviewed ones has declared to be sexually active, the percentage of those who have declared multiple relations or occasional is elevated (12%), and 47% of the students asserts to use the condom with fixed partner and 77% with occasional partner. Moreover there seems to be a significant association between the changes in the diet and other lifestyles that are due to the "university lifestyle" (as a consequence of leaving the family or increased commuting) and the insurgence of several types of sickness, e.g. gastroenteric disturbances and fever attacks. Finally, the present investigation suggests that few interventions on services offered to students (such as accommodation, teaching structures and especially the creation of a "health office" where students can acquire information on health and other topics related to their condition) could have a significantly beneficial impact on the general state of health of the university population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biofilm formation on peritoneal catheters does not require the presence of infection.

The presence of biofilm is thought to accompany infection or colonization of chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters, and to be an important pathogenetic factor in the recurrence or persistence of peritonitis. In the current study, the characteristics of identifiable biofilm associated with the PD catheter were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy in six consecutive cases requiring catheter removal for a variety of indications. Biofilm characteristics in each case were rated in blinded fashion by three independent observers, and findings were then correlated with the clinical histories and microbiologic findings. Surprisingly, two of the three cases with the most severe biofilm formation occurred in patients with no history or microbiologic findings of recent infection, and the positive findings of leukocytes, macrophages, fibrillar matrix, and other structures on these catheters did not correlate with detectable infection. In addition, extracellular spherical lipoid structures and intracellular lipoid vacuoles in mesothelial-like cells were prominent in four of six cases, did not correspond to the presence of infection, and suggested possible mesothelialization of the catheter. The findings of this study do not necessarily controvert the microbial origin of some components of the biofilm, or the possible role of biofilm in some cases of persisting peritoneal infection. However, it is clear that many important components of the biofilm arise, not from microorganisms, but rather from host origin in the absence of detectable infection. Moreover, such "endogenous" biofilm production can result in extensive accumulation of catheter-associated matrix.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Issues in the statistical analysis of sperm motion data derived from computer-assisted systems.

Computer-assisted sperm motion measurements present certain features that must be accounted for in statistical analyses. Some are specific to this type of data, whereas others are standard considerations. For example, the measurement of multiple sperm from individuals creates correlations that must be accounted for if each sperm's measurement is used, and unequal variances may arise that need to be addressed if an average measurement from the individual is used. Also, the limitations on the ranges of some measurements create discrepancies between observed and actual means and may make treatment-related effects more difficult to detect--a circumstance that has an impact on study design. When variables that are truly continuous are measured in a discrete fashion, odd effects may arise and care is needed. Other considerations, such as the shapes of distributions and correlations among various measurements, should also be examined. Attention to these details of statistical analysis are vital to proper interpretation of data.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular and cellular biology of Wilms' tumour.

Wilms' tumour is an embryonal kidney tumour which exists in an hereditary and sporadic form. Apart from its obvious importance as a model for renal development and differentiation, the tumour has recently been exploited as an example of the action of tumour suppressor genes (or anti-oncogenes). The latter genes are characterised by a somatic loss of genetic information in tumour development, specifically from the short arm of human chromosome 11 in Wilms' tumour. To further study the developmental aspects of the tumour we have established in vitro cell cultures from tumour tissues, which, unlike the majority of Wilms' tumour cell lines, have been genotyped according to their chromosome 11 gene status and their antigen expression patterns, compared to the original normal kidney and tumour tissues. The cell cultures exist both as primary and secondary cultures, and their limited life span in culture has been extended by transfection of SV40 large T antigen. The mechanism of tumour suppression by the Wilms' locus has been explored by producing cell hybrids between the immortalised kidney cells, and an "indicator cell" (HeLa), whose chromosome 11 genotypes have been monitored in vivo and in vitro by restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Non-random patterns of inheritance of the mutant allele have also been investigated, both in tumour tissue and in syndromes, like the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, which pre-dispose to development of Wilms' tumour (and other embryonal tumours). It is also apparent that allele-specific methylation occurs in Wilms' tumour tissues, probably resulting in changes of gene expression patterns. Significant elevation of transcription of the N-myc oncogene was detected in the blastemal cells of the most malignant Wilms' tumours, whereas a marked decrease in the expression of HLA class I, at both RNA and protein levels was observed in the same cells. Wilm's tumour provides a clear illustration of the requirement for a combination of dominantly and recessively acting genes, in order to produce a malignant embryonal tumour.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
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Levels of insulin, corticosterone, T3, T4 and insulin sensitivity in fat and lean chickens.

The late generations of fat (FL) and lean (LL) chickens were compared. In the fasted state, plasma glucose was lower in FL chickens, whereas insulin, T3, T4 and corticosterone were unchanged. In the fed state, plasma insulin and T4 were increased in FL chickens whereas glucose, T3 and corticosterone were unchanged. During ad libitum refeeding both plasma glucose and insulin, and to a lesser degree T3, were lower and T4 higher in FL chickens whereas corticosterone remained unchanged between lines. The low glucose and insulin levels observed in FL during refeeding, which were not observed in the F4 generation, were also found after force-feeding. In contrast, during oral glucose tolerance test, as in previous generations, a better glucose tolerance, higher plasma insulin and slightly higher free fatty acid levels were found in FL chickens. The hypoglycemic effect of exogenous insulin was very similar (and poor) in both lines in the fed state and was higher in FL than in LL chickens in the fasted state. From the present and previous studies, a change in the glucose-insulin balance and possibly, in T3, could account for the differences in fattening of both lines.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gestational diabetes.

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Diet, Diabetic↗