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Biomedical subjects

K A Ward

Publications and source records attributed to K A Ward.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Morphology of the plantar calcaneocuboid ligaments.

The plantar calcaneocuboid ligaments have various configurations and are referred to in the literature by different names. The aims of this study were to classify the form and attachments of the plantar calcaneocuboid ligaments and to determine their dimensions to describe their morphology. The plantar aspects of 59 cadaver feet were dissected to expose the associated ligaments. The long and short plantar ligaments showed several structural variations of shape, band number, and attachments. The variations that were seen have led to confusion in the literature, which needs to be resolved. A new nomenclature is suggested based on the observed morphology. These findings agree with previous reports, and data are also presented that describe the shapes of the ligaments.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1997

A pilot study to investigate the treatment of anogenital warts with Topical Lithium Succinate cream (8% lithium succinate, 0.05% zinc sulphate).

The incidence of anogenital warts (condyloma acuminatum) is rapidly increasing while there is still no totally satisfactory treatment available. In light of the emphasis of experimental approaches toward the prevention of viral replication and evidence of the antiviral action of lithium salts it was proposed to investigate the efficacy of Topical Lithium Succinate cream (LSC) in the treatment of anogenital warts. A total of 101 patients (42 women, 59 men) were randomized to receive either active or placebo treatment for a period of 4 weeks. Assessment of the number, location, size and area of coverage of the warts was made by the clinician at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 6 and 12. Compliance to the study protocol following cessation of treatment at week 4 was extremely poor. The high drop-out rate after this was felt to invalidate data collected after that point. It was therefore decided that the analysis should concentrate on the treatment period. Of 101 patients entering the trial 51 received active (30 male and 21 female) and 50 received placebo (29 male, 21 female). The primary efficacy variable was percentage change from baseline in the overall coverage of lesions. Over all patients LSC treatment resulted in a reduction of 42% (P<0.02) in the overall coverage of lesions. Separate analyses for male and female patients showed that for males there was a highly significant reduction in the coverage of lesions of 65% (P<0.02). However for females the reduction of 11% was not significant. A possible explanation for this difference between the sexes is that as many of the lesions in the female patients were internal therefore this could lead to difficulty in both application of the cream, and subsequent lesion assessment.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1997

Transfer of an ovine metallothionein-ovine growth hormone fusion gene into swine.

An ovine metallothionein-1a (oMT1a)-ovine growth hormone (oGH) fusion gene was microinjected into 400 pig zygotes, the zygotes were transferred into recipient females, and 15 founder transgenic pigs were born. Of 12 transgenic pigs assayed, five expressed high levels of oGH (> 900 ng/mL plasma), one expressed low levels of oGH (10 to 30 ng/mL), and six did not express oGH. Dietary supplementation with 2,000 ppm of zinc for 6 d induced a 20-fold increase in plasma oGH in the transgenic pig with low expression but did not induce expression in the six transgenic pigs with no constitutive oGH expression. The average daily gain of five transgenic pigs with elevated oGH was similar to that of non-transgenic littermates during a 9-wk feeding trial (P = .52). The liver, kidney, adrenal, and thyroid weights were all significantly heavier for the oGH-expressing transgenic pigs than for non-transgenic littermates. Total carcass fat, longissimus muscle fat, subcutaneous backfat thickness, and loin eye area were lower and carcass protein and water content and beta R fiber area of longissimus muscle were higher in the transgenic pigs with elevated oGH than in their littermate controls (P < .05 for each). The data indicate that even though the oMT1a promoter was more inducible by zinc than was previously reported for the mouse MT promoter in swine, the former provided a higher level of oGH expression than the mouse MT promoter.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Subungual squamous cell carcinoma in Darier's disease.

We report the first case of subungual squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with Darier's disease (keratosis follicularis). The presence of human papillomavirus DNA was confirmed, consistent with its probable role in carcinogenesis at this site. The role of an altered immune state is discussed as an additional factor. Squamous cell carcinomas may be overlooked when they occur among the other cutaneous manifestations and complications of Darier's disease. A solitary, ulcerating nail bed lesion warrants biopsy to exclude squamous cell carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Introduction and expression of the bacterial glyoxylate cycle genes in transgenic mice.

The glyoxylate cycle, catalysed by two unique enzymes: isocitrate lyase (ICL; EC 4.1.3.1) and malate synthase (MS; EC 4.1.3.2), is necessary for the net conversion of acetate into glucose. This metabolic pathway operates in microorganisms, higher plants and nematodes. Two bacterial genes, encoding ICL and MS, were modified in order to introduce them into the mouse germ line. The ovine metallothionein-Ia (MT-Ia) promoter-ace B gene-ovine growth hormone (GH) gene (3' GH sequence) construct was fused to the ovine, MT-Ia promoter-ace A gene-ovine GH gene (3' GH sequence). Therefore, in this single DNA sequence, both ace A and ace B are under independent MT-Ia promoter control and can be induced by zinc. Transgenic mice were generated by pronuclear microinjection of the ace B-ace A gene construct. We now report the establishment of four mouse lines carying these two transgenes. Studies on the progeny of these lines indicate that one line (No. 91) is expressing both genes at the mRNA and enzyme levels in the liver and intestine, whereas another line (No. 66) has a much lower expression. Both enzyme activities were detected in the liver and intestine at levels up to 25% of those measured in fully derepressed Escherichia coli cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Primary and metastatic malignant tumors in soft tissue of skin. Diagnostic, surgical, and prognostic considerations for the foot.

Benign and malignant soft-tissue tumors are those that arise from mesenchymal (and some neuroectodermal) nonosteogenic and nonchondrogenic cells. The various primary malignant tumors are sarcomas with invasive and metastatic potential and are the same types that arise in the deeper tissues. In addition to sarcomas that arise directly in the dermis or subcutis, these tissue areas may be invaded by sarcomas from the deeper structures and by carcinomas and sarcomas metastatic to the skin. Dermal or subcutaneous cancers may appear clinically nondescript but are nonetheless dangerous, requiring an appropriately considered biopsy for identification and subsequent planning of patient care.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1995

The commercial and agricultural applications of animal transgenesis.

The potential for commercial application of transgenic technologies in domestic animals is discussed in relation to the areas where a significant impact on agriculture might be expected. These are the endocrine system, novel biochemical pathways, structural proteins of milk and of textile fibers, and the immune system. Manipulation of the endocrine system has been investigated for some years and it is clear that very accurate control is needed over gene expression if this approach is to prove commercially useful. The area most advanced in commercial application is the production of high-value pharmaceutical proteins in the mammary glands of domestic animals. Other applications that are discussed remain to be proven in larger animals despite being demonstrated laboratory test animals. These include a functional cysteine biosynthetic pathway and a functional glyoxylate cycle transferred from bacteria to mice, and alterations to the proteins of hair that change the physical properties of the resultant fibers. Research is also actively directed toward novel approaches for providing domestic animals with resistance to insects.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1995

Education and infection control audit.

Education and training forms an important part of the role of the infection control team. It is equally important that the infection control nurse and doctor have mechanisms in place to monitor staff utilization of the knowledge gained, in their clinical practice. The infection control audit which I have developed in Southern Derbyshire has been used in various health care settings over the last six years to monitor compliance with local infection control policies. It has proved to be a valuable tool in improving standards of infection control practice, by providing opportunities for education and generally raising the awareness of both staff and managers. Although originally developed for hospital use, it has been modified for general practice premises, ambulance stations and vehicles, and dental practices.

Antisepsis↗
PubMed1995

Detection of human papilloma virus DNA sequences in oral squamous cell papillomas by the polymerase chain reaction.

Nineteen clinically diagnosed, and histologically confirmed oral squamous cell papillomas were analyzed for the presence of human papilloma virus DNA sequence by the highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction technique, followed by dot blot hybridization of the polymerase chain reaction product with digoxigenin-labeled, type-specific oligonucleotide probes for human papilloma virus DNA types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Human papilloma virus DNA types 6 and 11 were identified in 68% of these oral lesions, which raises the possibility of an etiologic role for human papilloma virus in the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell papillomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Human piebaldism: relationship between phenotype and site of kit gene mutation.

Human piebaldism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by congenital depigmented patches of skin and hair. Piebaldism results from mutations of the kit proto-oncogene, which encodes a cell-surface receptor, tyrosine kinase, whose ligand is the stem/mast cell growth factor. We report four unrelated patients with piebaldism and consider the variations in phenotype in relation to the site of the kit gene mutation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Predictors of successful PTCA using coronary perfusion balloon catheters.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to define clinical, angiographic and procedural predictors of successful PTCA using perfusion balloon catheters (PBC). Age, gender, diabetes, clinical state (stable or unstable angina), coronary vessel, AHA/ACC lesion type, lesion contour, pre-procedural thrombus, percent stenosis, lesion length, balloon size, maximum PBC pressure, and maximum inflation time were analyzed for 207 lesions in 193 successive patients. Unsuccessful results occurred more frequently in patients with unstable angina, pre-PTCA thrombus, and those treated with smaller balloon catheter diameter. Logistical regression analysis identified larger balloon size (odds ratio [OR] = 0.447 [95% confidence interval 0.203, 0.986], p < .05); and absence of thrombus (OR = 2.217 [95% confidence interval 1.066, 4.610], p < .05) as predictors of success. This study suggests that small vessel size, approximated by balloon size selection, and the presence of pre-PTCA thrombus reduces the likelihood of success, especially in the setting of unstable angina. In these cases other percutaneous interventions may be warranted.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

The cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome: a manifestation of the Noonan syndrome?

The cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome has several features in common with the Noonan syndrome, but is distinguished by the presence of hyperkeratotic skin lesions, abnormal hair, and a lack of familial cases. We describe a family who clearly satisfy the criteria for the CFC syndrome, and show other features which have been reported in the Noonan syndrome but not in the CFC syndrome, namely a haemorrhagic diathesis and ocular abnormalities. This supports the concept that the CFC syndrome is a manifestation of the Noonan syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Evidence for genetic homogeneity of Setleis' syndrome and focal facial dermal dysplasia.

A healthy 14-month-old boy had multiple, circular, scar-like depressions on both temples, which had been present since birth. Delivery had been normal, and had not required the use of forceps or other instruments. His mother and one sister had similar, but less obvious, lesions on the temples. The three affected family members had similar facial features, with laterally deficient eyebrows, and a prominent upper lip with down-turned mouth. Additional features in the baby were sparse lower eyelashes, medial epicanthal folds, and skin dimpling on one side of the chin. Focal facial dermal dysplasia (FFDD) denotes a condition in which there are bitemporal, round, scar-like lesions. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance and expressivity, and there are no associated features. Setleis' syndrome is recessively inherited, and is characterized by similar bitemporal defects associated with other dysmorphic features, including deficient eyelashes and a prominent upper lip. This report of dominantly inherited bitemporal dermal defects with characteristic facies supports the idea that FFDD and Setleis' syndrome are a single disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The prevalence of preferential nasal breathing in adults.

The prevalence of preferential nasal breathing was studied in an awake adult population. One hundred and ninety-four people consented to gentle manual compression of the nostrils. They were advised to 'breathe in and out', but no further information regarding breathing was given to avoid influencing the patient. One hundred and eighty patients (92.8%) commenced immediate regular relaxed breathing. Fourteen patients (7.2%) had difficulty with oral breathing which ranged from irregular mouth breathing associated with distress to no spontaneous respiration. The prevalence of preferential nasal breathing was strongly associated with increasing age (chi 2 for trend, P = 0.007). In addition, a weakly significant association was demonstrated between a history of asthma and this phenomenon (P = 0.047). These findings suggest a tendency for the elderly person to revert to the infant pattern of obligate nasal breathing. Physicians should be aware of this possibility in the elderly patient, especially prior to any procedure which may induce nasal obstruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Introduction and expression of the bacterial genes cysE and cysK in eukaryotic cells.

The coding sequences of the cysE and cysK genes from Escherichia coli, which encode the enzymes of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, namely, serine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.30) and O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (or cysteine synthase [EC 4.2.99.8]), were modified for expression in eukaryotic cells and introduced into murine L cells. A number of fusion genes comprising the cysE or cysK coding sequences joined to the promoter of the ovine metallothionein-Ia (MT-Ia) gene and various portions of the ovine growth hormone (GH) gene were prepared. Significant differences in the level of transcription were observed, depending on the amount and arrangement of the GH gene sequences used, the highest levels being obtained with the constructs MTCE10 and MTCK7, which contained only the GH 3' untranslated gene sequences. These two constructs were fused to produce the gene MTCEK1. In this single DNA sequence, each bacterial gene is under independent MT-Ia promoter control. Expression of the cysK sequence in this construct (MT-Ia promoter-cysE-3' GH sequence-MT-Ia promoter-cysK-3' GH sequence) was elevated compared with expression of the cysK gene in MTCK7. However, expression of the cysE sequence in MTCEK1 was only 40% of that of the cysE gene cloned into MTCE10. The double-promoter configuration, which enhances the expression of the second gene in MTCEK1, is proposed as a model for the modification of bacterial genes in general.

Acetyltransferases↗