Biomedical subjects
Jennifer Ng
Publications and source records attributed to Jennifer Ng.
Experiences with recreational drugs amongst first-year students at Auckland University.
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Nitrous oxide use in first-year students at Auckland University.
In a recent Lancet Case report, a patient presented with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord after recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O). There is very little information about use of this substance as a recreational drug. In a questionnaire-based study, we surveyed 1782 students in their first year at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. 1360 (76%) questionnaires were completed and consistent. 780 (57%) students were aware of recreational use of N2O, 158 (12%) used the substance recreationally, and 39 (3%) inhaled it at least monthly. Users were most likely to be white and to be men. Our results show a high frequency of recreational N2O use in first-year students at Auckland University. Although this study does not accurately reflect use of this substance in the wider community, the high prevalence suggests that presentations of subacute myelopathy in an otherwise fit young person should prompt an enquiry about use of N2O.
Diversity within the DRB1*08 allele family in four populations from a United States hematopoietic stem cell donor database and characterization of five novel DRB1*08 alleles.
The frequencies of DRB1*08 alleles within four major United States populations found within a hematopoietic stem cell volunteer donor database were determined by DNA sequencing of over 60 DRB1*08 positive individuals from each group. Seven of 30 known DRB1*08 alleles were identified within this study population (080101, 080201, 080302, 080401, 0806, 0807, and 0811). Each ethnic group was characterized by a different highly prevalent allele: DRB1*080101 in Caucasians; DRB1*080401 in African-Americans; DRB1*080302 in Asians; and DRB1*080201 in Hispanics. The alleles DRB1*080101, DRB1*080201, and DRB1*080401 were present in all four populations. This report also describes five novel DRB1*08 alleles uncovered during routine human leukocyte antigen typing.
Safety, tolerability, and lack of antibody responses after administration of a PfCSP DNA malaria vaccine via needle or needle-free jet injection, and comparison of intramuscular and combination intramuscular/intradermal routes.
Introduction of a new vaccine requires choosing a delivery system that provides safe administration and the desired level of immunogenicity. The safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of three monthly 2.5-mg doses of a PfCSP DNA vaccine were evaluated in healthy volunteers as administered intramuscularly (IM) by needle, IM by jet injection (Biojector or IM/intradermally (ID) by jet injection. Vaccine administration was well-tolerated. Adverse events were primarily mild and limited to the site of injection (98%). Jet injections (either IM or ID) were associated with approximately twice as many adverse events per immunization as needle IM, but nevertheless were strongly and consistently preferred in opinion polls taken during the study. No volunteers had clinically significant biochemical or hematologic changes or detectable anti-dsDNA antibodies. In conclusion, the injection of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (PfCSP) DNA vaccine appeared to be safe and well-tolerated when administered by any of the three modes of delivery. However, despite improved antibody responses following both jet injection and ID delivery in animal models, no antibodies could be detected in volunteers by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after DNA vaccination.
Randomised double blind trial of etoricoxib and indometacin in treatment of acute gouty arthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of etoricoxib, a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, in comparison with indometacin in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, active comparator controlled trial. SETTING: 43 outpatient study centres in 11 countries. PARTICIPANTS: 142 men and eight women (75 patients per treatment group) aged 18 years or over presenting with clinically diagnosed acute gout within 48 hours of onset. INTERVENTIONS: Etoricoxib 120 mg administered orally once daily versus indometacin 50 mg administered orally three times daily, both for 8 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' assessment of pain in the study joint over days 2 to 5 (primary end point); investigators' and patients' global assessments of response to treatment and tenderness of the study joint (key secondary end points). RESULTS: Etoricoxib showed efficacy comparable to indometacin. Patients' assessment of pain in the study joint (0-4 point Likert scale, "no pain" to "extreme pain") over days 2 to 5 showed a least squares mean change from baseline of -1.72 (95% confidence interval -1.90 to -1.55) for etoricoxib and -1.83 (-2.01 to -1.65) for indometacin. The difference between treatment groups met prespecified comparability criteria. All other efficacy end points, including those reflecting reduction in inflammation and analgesia, provided corroborative evidence of comparable efficacy. Significant pain relief was evident at the first measurement, 4 hours after the first dose of treatment. Prespecified safety analyses revealed that drug related adverse experiences occurred significantly less frequently with etoricoxib (22.7%) than with indometacin (46.7%) (P=0.003), although overall adverse experience rates were similar between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Etoricoxib 120 mg once daily provides rapid and effective treatment for acute gouty arthritis comparable to indometacin 50 mg three times daily. Etoricoxib was generally safe and well tolerated in this study.
The effect of finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. 1992.
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DRB1*03 diversity and DRB3 associations in five major population groups in the United States.
One hundred sixty-one DRB1*03 positive individuals from each of five U.S. population groups (Caucasoids, African Americans, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Native Americans) were randomly selected from a database of 82,979 individuals. DRB1*03 alleles were identified by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe typing. A total of six DRB1*03 alleles out of 21 known alleles were detected. DRB1*03011 was the predominant DRB1*03 allele in all populations. Caucasoids were found to be the least diversified; only DRB1*03011 was observed. African Americans carried DRB1*03021 at a high frequency. This allele was observed in three other populations. DRB1*0304 was found in Asians/Pacific Islanders and DRB1*0305, DRB1*0307 and a new allele, DRB1*0316, was found in Hispanics. A subset of individuals was also typed for DRB3 alleles. DRB3*0101, DRB3*0202, and DRB3*0301 were detected and seven DRB1-DRB3 haplotypes were defined. Testing of other individuals not included in the DRB1*03 frequency study identified a variation of a common extended haplotype, A1, B8, DR3, which carries DRB1*0304 and two previously unreported DRB1*03 alleles, DRB1*0311 and *0320, are also described.
Relative HLA-DRB1*04 allele frequencies in five United States populations found in a hematopoietic stem cell volunteer donor registry and seven new DRB1*04 alleles.
The frequencies of 29 HLA-DRB1*04 alleles were determined for five major U.S. populations found within a hematopoietic stem cell volunteer donor registry. One hundred sixty-one DRB1*04 positive individuals from each of the self-described groups, Caucasians, African-Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Native Americans, were randomly chosen from a database of 82,979 unrelated persons. Subjected to polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) typing, these 805 individuals carried a total of ten different DRB1*04 alleles, ranging from DRB1*0401 to DRB1*0411 with DRB1*0409 conspicuously absent from all five groups. The distribution of DRB1*04 alleles varied among the groups, with DRB1*0401 being predominant in Caucasians, African-Americans, and Native Americans. DRB1*0404 and DRB1*0407 were the two most commonly observed alleles in Hispanics, whereas DRB1*0405 and DRB1*04031 were most common in Asian/Pacific Islanders. The remaining 18 DRB1*04 alleles known at the time of the study were not observed. Although not observed in the frequency study, seven previously unreported DRB1*04 alleles are also described.
Efficacy and tolerability profile of etoricoxib in patients with osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo and active-comparator controlled 12-week efficacy trial.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of 12 weeks of treatment with etoricoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip. METHODS: In the 12-week placebo- and active comparator-controlled period of a randomized, double-blind study, eligible patients were treated with etoricoxib 60 mg once daily (n = 224), naproxen 500 mg twice daily (n = 221), or placebo (n = 56). Western Ontario McMaster's Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and physical function subscales and patient's global assessment of disease status were primary end points. Key secondary and other end points were patient's and investigator's global assessment of response to therapy, WOMAC stiffness subscale, investigator's global assessment of disease status, rescue paracetamol use, proportion of patients discontinuing due to lack of efficacy, and study joint tenderness. RESULTS: Etoricoxib 60 mg demonstrated efficacy significantly superior to placebo (p < or = 0.005) and comparable to naproxen 500 mg twice daily as assessed by the primary efficacy end points. Secondary and other end points confirmed these results. Treatment effects were evident by day 2, maximal by week 2, and sustained over the entire 12 weeks. Etoricoxib was well tolerated for 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Etoricoxib showed rapid and durable treatment effects in patients with OA of the knee or hip. Etoricoxib was generally well tolerated.