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J Wright

Publications and source records attributed to J Wright.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Parents and helpers compensate for experimental changes in the provisioning effort of others in the Arabian babbler.

Biparental investment in birds is implemented through parents making adaptive compensatory adjustments according to the work rate of their collaborator. Predictions for such evolutionarily stable cooperation in parental nestling feeding, and the behavioural mechanisms involved, can also be applied to systems with helpers-at-the-nest. Using the cooperatively breeding Arabian babbler, Turdoides squamiceps, we experimentally increased the provisioning rate of one or two subordinate birds in each group by giving these individuals extra food. Compared with control days before and after, the experimental treatment caused 'fed' birds to increase and 'unfed' birds to decrease their nest visit rates significantly, with no significant changes in load size. Thus, both parents and helpers in this system showed individual compensatory adjustments in their nestling-feeding effort according to the work rates of collaborators. There were no significant increases in total group visits during experimental treatments; therefore this study did not provide evidence for the predicted incomplete compensatory response. These results for helping-at-the-nest are consistent with empirical studies on parental care, and further suggest a central role for nestling begging in any cooperative provisioning of young in the nest. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Relatedness and chick-feeding effort in the cooperatively breeding Arabian babbler.

Individual birds are expected to maximize their fitness by directing their chick-feeding effort only towards broods containing closely related nestlings. We tested this prediction using data from the cooperatively breeding Arabian babbler, Turdoides squamiceps. Individual chick-feeding effort, in the form of visit rates and load sizes delivered to the nest, was compared with three measures of relatedness: (1) band-sharing coefficients derived from multilocus minisatellite DNA fingerprints; (2) coefficients of relatedness based upon pedigrees inferred from observed group histories; and (3) observed information on relatedness that was available to the birds themselves. There was little effect of any of the three measures of relatedness on individual visit rates or load sizes delivered to the nest, both across individuals and within each group separately. In the majority of cases, we conclude that individual birds did not have access to sufficient information concerning their relatedness to the brood. As in certain other group-territorial cooperative breeders, Arabian babblers may best direct their effort towards relatives by simply feeding any nestlings that appear on their territory. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Characteristics of the Functional Independence Measure in traumatic spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: The characteristics of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were examined for spinal cord injury (SCI) in regard to norms over time by level and completeness of injury, differential benefit of motor and cognition subscales, and "ceiling effect" after rehabilitation discharge. DESIGN: Descriptive study of raw FIM data collected prospectively at admission and discharge from acute inpatient rehabilitation, and at 1, 2, and 5 years after injury. SETTING: National Database of the 18 Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems. SUBJECTS: Persons with SCI, age 16 and over, with functionally complete injuries at inpatient rehabilitation admission (ASIA grades A, B, or C), admitted to Model System an average of 8 days after injury (standard deviation = 13, median = 1 day). Maximum sample sizes for which data were available were: at rehabilitation admission, 3,971 cases; at discharge, 4,033; at year 1 postinjury, 903; 2 years, 712; and 5 years, 570. OUTCOME MEASURES: The FIM motor and cognition subscales. RESULTS: There is a substantial ceiling effect of the FIM cognition items even by inpatient rehabilitation discharge, ie, 80% to 90% of the cases average 6 to 7 (independent or modified independence) across the 5 FIM cognition items. At 1 year 89% to 97% of cases were rated independent. FIM motor items were consistent with level of injury and neurologic status. Motor items (excluding locomotion items) were highly intercorrelated (correlations range from .58 to .92 for self care, sphincter control, and mobility items). Trends over years 1, 2, and 5 were stable for both motor and cognition subscales. FIM motor gains were greatest between admission and discharge and gains continued through 1 year after injury, but at a much-decreased rate. CONCLUSIONS: The cognition items are not informative for detecting changes over time in SCI; at best, these items could serve as a crude cognition screening assessment. Motor items, in contrast, appear to reflect well the functional status of individuals. High correlations among several of the motor items suggest item redundancy. FIM motor scores illustrated the improvements in neurologic and ASIA scores in appropriate cases. Individuals with ASIA impairment grades of B or C at admission make the most gains in FIM motor scores.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Follow-up study of individuals with high tetraplegia (C1-C4) 14 to 24 years postinjury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the life circumstances and psychosocial status of individuals with respirator-assisted and respirator-independent high tetraplegia an average of 19 years after spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Survey data were analyzed separately for ventilator-assisted and ventilator-independent groups. SETTING: Three spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers in California, Colorado, and Texas. SUBJECTS: Eighty-two individuals with CI-C4 tetraplegia between 14 and 24 years postinjury who had received acute inpatient rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics, health care utilization patterns, activities of daily living (Katz Level of Free Time Activities Scale), self esteem (Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale), quality of life, and employment. RESULTS: Self esteem and quality of life were, reported as high. Most subjects had some form of health care insurance. More than 90% lived in private homes. Approximately one third of cases had at least a college degree, yet only one quarter reported being employed. One fifth of individuals were married. Almost half of ventilator-independent cases and one quarter of ventilator-assisted cases lived in households with income of less than $20,000 per year. Mean hospital days in the past year were 11 for the ventilator-independent group and 6 for the ventilator-assisted group. The latter group required more nursing level care, significantly more hours of care, and more paid attendants over the year. Ninety-five percent of individuals reported being "glad to be alive." CONCLUSIONS: Assistance in the areas of socialization, financial status, personal assistance services, transportation, and entry into competitive employment were defined as needed. Quality of life was higher than expected, considering the substantial physical limitations of the group. The sample was almost unanimously glad to be alive, including all ventilator-assisted individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Muir-Torre syndrome: case report of a patient with concurrent jejunal and ureteral cancer and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Muir-Torre syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genodermatosis, first described in 1967, characterized by the presence of sebaceous tumors and an internal malignancy in the absence of other predisposing factors. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to review and update published literature on Muir-Torre syndrome. METHODS: We describe a 66-year-old white man with a history of sebaceous tumors and newly diagnosed transitional cell cancer of the right ureter and adenocarcinoma of the jejunum. The literature on Muir-Torre syndrome is reviewed by means of MEDLINE search and available published reports and updated. RESULTS: Only 205 cases of Muir-Torre syndrome with 399 internal malignancies have been reported. The common presentation is the presence of sebaceous tumors along with a low-grade visceral malignancy. Sebaceous tumors appeared before the internal malignancy in 45 cases (22%), concurrently in 12 (6%), and after the internal malignancy in 114 (56%). In 33 (16%) of 205 patients, a temporal relationship was not reported. The total number of sebaceous gland carcinomas reported is 44; 17 of 44 were neoplasms of the meibomian gland. Keratoacanthomas have been noted in 48 (23%) of 205 patients. Gastrointestinal cancers are the most common internal malignancies (61%), followed by genitourinary (22%). CONCLUSION: The presence of sebaceous tumors warrants a search for an internal malignancy. In patients with Muir-Torre syndrome, regular follow-up and search for new malignancy is mandatory. Evaluation and monitoring of the family members of patients are also necessary. Patients and their families should be counseled for genetic testing. Genetic analysis of the primary tumor and skin lesions should be arranged as an added research tool if possible to better understand the disease.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1999

Quality and accountability: Children's emergency services in a managed care environment.

The fast pace of change in the health care system has sparked growing interest among purchasers, consumers, providers, health plans, and others in evaluating and improving the quality of health services. The Emergency Medical Services for Children Program's Managed Care Task Force recommended the development of a white paper to focus on issues related to quality and accountability in children's emergency medical services in a managed care environment. A literature review was conducted, and a panel reviewed and discussed relevant materials. The panelists then developed recommendations as a resource for managed care organizations, providers of care, professional associations, and federal, state, and local policymakers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Mastery of fundamental motor skills among New South Wales school students: prevalence and sociodemographic distribution.

Mastery of fundamental motor skills among children and adolescents is a potentially important contribution to satisfying participation in sports, games and other physical activities and may enhance the development of an active lifestyle. However, few attempts have been made to determine the prevalence of fundamental motor skill mastery among young Australians. The NSW Schools Fitness and Physical Activity Survey, 1997 (N = 5518) randomly selected schools proportionally from all three education sectors and selected students in Years 4, 6, 8 and 10. Performance on six fundamental motor skills (run, vertical jump, catch, overhand throw, forehand strike and kick) was assessed qualitatively. The prevalence of mastery and near mastery of each skill and mastery of each skill component is reported for boys and girls in each school year. The findings indicate that the prevalence of mastery and near mastery of each of the fundamental motor skills was generally low. There were no differences between students from urban or rural schools and the prevalence of skill mastery was directly associated with socioeconomic status more consistently among girls than among boys. Greater curriculum time and resourcing and training of teachers is required to increase the proportion of students who have mastered the skills fundamental to common sports, games and other physical activities.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Team effectiveness: beyond skills and cognitive ability.

On the basis of job analysis results, the validity of using measures of general cognitive ability, job-specific skills, and personality traits jointly at both the individual level and the group level to predict the performance of 79 four-person, human resource work teams was evaluated. Team member trait and job skill scores were aggregated with a conjunctive model of task performance. At the individual level of analysis, measures of personality (i.e., Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) predicted peer ratings of team member performance beyond measures of job-specific skills and general cognitive ability. Similarly, at the group level of analysis, both Agreeableness and Conscientiousness predicted supervisor ratings of work team performance, objective measures of work team accuracy, and work completed. At both the individual and group levels, the trait of Agreeableness predicted Interpersonal Skills.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Retinol, alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids in diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diabetes mellitus on serum levels of vitamin A, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, serum and urine RBP. SUBJECTS: One hundred and seven patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (28-74 y) were recruited from those attending a primary health care clinic in King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh City (Saudi Arabia). They were matched for age and sex with 143 healthy individuals. METHODS: Fasting blood samples and 10h urine collections were obtained from all subjects. Levels of vitamins and carotenoids in serum measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and of retinol binding protein (RBP) in serum and urine by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean serum concentrations of retinol, alpha-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol were similar in both groups after correction of lipid soluble vitamins for serum lipids levels. However, serum beta-carotene concentration was significantly higher in control subjects than diabetics (P = 0.002). Serum and urine RBP concentrations were significantly higher in diabetics than in controls (P = 0.0001). In normal subjects (but not diabetics) serum concentrations of retinol and RBP were higher in men than in women (P = 0.02, P = 0.0001 respectively). In both normal and diabetic subjects, serum levels of alpha-tocopherol (P = 0.007) and urine RBP (P = 0.005), were higher in men than women. Urinary excretion of RBP was significantly higher in diabetic patients with renal impairment than other diabetics or controls (P = 0.0001). There was a negative correlation between fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration and serum beta-carotene (P = 0.008) in the total combined group and a positive correlation between FBG and urinary RBP/creatinine (P = 0.009) in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: Serum beta-carotene concentration was significantly lower in diabetic patients than controls. Serum retinol concentration in patients with diabetes was normal, yet serum and urine RBP concentrations were significantly higher in diabetics than in controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Inhibition of carbohydrate-mediated glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36)amide secretion by circulating non-esterified fatty acids.

Two studies were performed to assess the entero-insular axis in simple obesity and the possible effect of variations in the level of circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) on one of the components of the entero-insular axis, glucagon-like peptide-1 [(7-36) amide]. In the first study, we compared the entero-pancreatic hormone response to oral carbohydrate in obese and lean women. Obese subjects demonstrated hyperinsulinaemia and impaired glucose tolerance but this was not associated with an increased secretion of either glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). These findings therefore provide no support for the hypothesis that overactivity of the entero-insular axis contributes to the hyperinsulinaemia seen in obesity. Indeed, the plasma GLP-1 response to carbohydrate was markedly attenuated in obese subjects, confirming previous observations. In the second study, in which carbohydrate-stimulated GLP-1 responses were again evaluated in obese and lean women, circulating NEFA levels were modulated using either heparin (to increase serum NEFA) or acipimox (to reduce serum NEFA). Treatment with acipimox resulted in complete suppression of NEFA levels and in a markedly higher GLP-1 response than the response to carbohydrate alone or to carbohydrate plus heparin. We suggest that higher fasting and postprandial NEFA levels in obesity may tonically inhibit nutrient-mediated GLP-1 secretion, and that this results in attenuation of the GLP-1 response to carbohydrate. However, although serum NEFA levels post-acipimox were similarly suppressed in both lean and obese subjects, the GLP-1 response was again significantly lower in obese subjects, suggesting the possibility of an intrinsic defect of GLP-1 secretion in obesity. The reduction of GLP-1 levels in obesity may be important both in relation to its insulinotropic effect and to its postulated role as a satiety factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The effect of circulating non-esterified fatty acids on the entero-insular axis.

BACKGROUND: Circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) have been causally associated with impairment of glucose metabolism, although their effect on the entero-insular axis, either in obesity or health, is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36 amide) (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) responses to 100 g of carbohydrate in 400 mL water were evaluated during simultaneous modulation of circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). A total of 10,000 units of heparin (to increase serum NEFAs) and 500 mg of acipimox (2 h before oral carbohydrate ingestion to reduce serum NEFAs) were administered to seven obese [mean +/- SEM: age 40 +/- 3.7 years; body mass index (BMI) 38.9 +/- 2.1 kg m-2] and seven lean (age 39.6 +/- 3.6 years; BMI 22.4 +/- 0.4 kg m-2) women. RESULTS: Higher fasting levels and post-heparin total integrated NEFAs (P < 0.05) and glycerol (P < 0.05) responses were seen in the obese than in the lean group. Incremental integrated GLP-1 responses to oral carbohydrate post-heparin in lean (P < 0.01) and obese (P < 0.05) subjects were significantly lower than after acipimox. Total integrated GIP (P < 0.05) and glucose (P < 0.01) responses were higher post heparin than after acipimox in obese subjects only. CONCLUSION: The inverse relationship in GIP and GLP-1 responses in the obese group after modulation of NEFAs indicates that reciprocal changes between these two hormones may exist to ensure constancy of B-cell stimulation. Our results suggest that in obese subjects compensatory secretion of GIP was incomplete and could not prevent impairment in glucose tolerance after heparin-induced rise in NEFAs. These results may be important in understanding the role of the insulinotropic hormones in carbohydrate metabolism characterized by high NEFA levels such as obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Seasonal variation of Campylobacter types from human cases, veterinary cases, raw chicken, milk and water.

During August 1996 (winter) and February 1997 (summer), a total of 180 Campylobacter isolates from a restricted geographical area were obtained from human and veterinary cases, raw milk and chicken, and untreated water. Isolates were typed by Penner serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of restriction enzyme-produced DNA fragments. Differences were noted between the August and February serotypes with the most, and fourth most frequently isolated serotypes in February being completely absent in August. Two other serotypes were more frequently found in the February isolates, while the reverse was true for two others. In contrast to the serotyping data, one PFGE restriction profile type was dominant in both seasons, and the pattern of distribution of isolates among the other restriction patterns was similar. Five groups of isolates in each month were indistinguishable by both typing methods. Only one group was common to both months. Another group, which was absent in August, dominated the February isolates. Marked differences in the types isolated in the two seasons were therefore evident. Some isolates from human cases were indistinguishable from others isolated from water and raw chicken, indicating possible routes of infection for humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Validation of antroduodenal motility measurements made by echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging.

Echo planar imaging, a development of magnetic resonance imaging, can produce snapshot images of the stomach and antroduodenal segment in as little as 64 msec and can be more useful than conventional techniques when assessing motility. The aim of this study was to compare antroduodenal motility measured by simultaneous perfused tube manometry and echo planar imaging. Ten volunteers were studied following the ingestion of 500 mL water or 500 mL porridge. Antroduodenal images, with acquisition times of 130 msec, were taken at 3-sec intervals, synchronized with motility traces and presented as a split-screen video. This allowed direct visual comparison of gastric wall movement and motility to be made. Contractions were confined to either the stomach or the duodenum or propagated across the antroduodenal segment. Over 4550 images were available for analysis. A larger number of propagated contractions were recorded with echo planar imaging in both water (P = 0.03) and food (P = 0.02) groups, whereas manometry detected a greater number of isolated duodenal pressure waves (P = 0.005). The contraction rate for water and food studies was similar, but direct visualization indicated that the manometric technique under-detected propagated events. The ability of echo planar imaging to record antroduodenal contractile activity provides a new insight into the role of occlusive and nonocclusive contractions during gastric emptying.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A rapid reusable fiber optic biosensor for detecting cocaine metabolites in urine.

Analyte 2000, a four-channel fiber optic biosensor (FOB), was used for analysis of cocaine and its metabolites (COC) in human urine using a competitive fluorescence immunoassay. Binding of antibenzoylecgonine monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the casein-benzoylecgonine Ag-coated, tapered optical fibers was inhibited by COC. Bound mAb, which inversely correlated with COC concentration, was quantitated by fluorescence produced by evanescent excitation of bound cyanine dye-tagged antimouse antibody (CY5-Ab). The effective concentration range of benzoylecgonine (BE) for inhibiting the fluorescent signals was 0.75-50 ng/mL, with IC50 of 9.0 ng/mL. This FOB had similar affinities for BE, cocaine, and cocaethylene, but very low affinities for ecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester. A sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 96% were achieved when 54 human urine specimens were analyzed by FOB (cutoff, 300 ng/mL COC) and GC-MS (cutoff, 150 ng/mL BE). All results were in agreement except for one positive FOB result with a GC-MS BE concentration of 148 ng/mL. In addition, regeneration and reuse of the fiber for multiple analyses were performed successfully with no carryover from specimens containing high COC concentrations to specimens containing low COC concentrations.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Clinical governance: principles into practice.

This paper describes the early development of clinical governance in an acute NHS Trust. Three Trust-wide workshops and 17 individual departmental workshops were held between 1998-1999. The discussions in these workshops were used to define the key founding principles of clinical governance and the operational structure. The philosophy behind clinical governance, to improve quality of services, was recognised as being part of mainstream trust business, not an optional add-on. The authors found that teamwork and multidisciplinary collaboration are essential components of future quality improvement. Effective leadership skills need to be supported and developed, with responsibilities shared between a core group within each department rather than one individual. Contributions should be recognised and rewarded. Collaboration with primary care and involvement of patients are prerequisites. Specific objectives should be agreed by each department and used to monitor progress. More effective use of existing resources (staff, time, IT and training) can be made.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMed1999

Proinsulin and insulin responses to a mixed meal in hypertriglyceridaemic men.

AIM: To investigate the contribution of proinsulin to the "hyperinsulinaemia" of hypertriglyceridaemia. METHODS: Plasma glucose, triglyceride, immunoreactive insulin, and intact proinsulin concentrations were measured before and after a mixed meal in 11 hypertriglyceridaemic men and six healthy normotriglyceridaemic male controls. RESULTS: Hypertriglyceridaemic subjects had greater fasting (101 v 50 pmol/l) and integrated (139 v 81 x 0(-3) pmol/l/h) insulin concentrations than controls. Fasting and integrated glucose and proinsulin concentrations were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Proinsulin does not contribute to the hyperinsulinaemia observed in hypertriglyceridaemic subjects and is therefore unlikely to contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk associated with hypertriglyceridaemia.

Adult↗