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K Craig

Publications and source records attributed to K Craig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Test of charge conjugation invariance.

We report on the first determination of upper limits on the branching ratio (BR) of eta decay to pi0pi0gamma and to pi0pi0pi0gamma. Both decay modes are strictly forbidden by charge conjugation (C) invariance. Using the Crystal Ball multiphoton detector, we obtained BR(eta-->pi0pi0gamma)<5 x 10(-4) at the 90% confidence level, in support of C invariance of isoscalar electromagnetic interactions of the light quarks. We have also measured BR(eta-->pi0pi0pi0gamma)<6 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level, in support of C invariance of isovector electromagnetic interactions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Dynamics of the pi(-)p-->pi(0)pi(0)n reaction for p(pi(-))<750 MeV/c.

Data are presented for the reaction pi(-)p-->pi(0)pi(0)n in the range from threshold to p(pi(-))=750 MeV/c. The systematics of the data and multipole analyses are examined for sensitivity to a f(0)(600) ("sigma") meson. A one-pion-exchange mechanism is found to be very weak, or absent. The reaction appears to become dominated by sequential pi(0) decays through the Delta(1232) resonance as the beam momentum increases, along with substantial interference effects from several competing mechanisms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Properties of the Lambda(1670)(1-)/2 resonance.

Recently the Crystal Ball Collaboration measured precise new data for the near-threshold reaction K(-)p-->etaLambda, which is dominated by formation of the Lambda(1670)1 / 2(-). In this Letter, we present results of a unitary, multichannel analysis that incorporates the new Crystal Ball data. For our preferred fit, we obtain mass M = 1673+/-2 MeV, width Gamma = 23+/-6 MeV, and elasticity x = 0.37+/-0.07. This elasticity is significantly larger than previously recognized. Resonance parameters of our preferred fit are in striking agreement with the quark-model predictions of Koniuk and Isgur.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Determination of the quadratic slope parameter in eta-->3pi(0) decay.

We have determined the quadratic slope parameter alpha for eta-->3pi(0) to be alpha = -0.031(4) from a 99% pure sample of 10(6)eta-->3pi(0) decays produced in the reaction pi(-)p-->n(eta) close to the eta threshold using the Crystal Ball detector at the AGS. The result is four times more precise than the present world data and disagrees with current chiral perturbation theory calculations by about four standard deviations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Medical secretaries. Making the grade.

A review of the role of medical secretaries in a surgical directorate has reduced turnover among this group to zero. Previously the directorate had difficulty with recruitment and often had to rely on agency staff. The review led to the introduction of the new post of business coordinator, and all medical secretaries in the directorate have now achieved this level. The review led to an expanded role for medical secretaries which has increased their job satisfaction.

Hospitals, Public↗
PubMed2000

Measurement of pi(0)pi(0) production in the nuclear medium by pi(-) interactions at 0.408 GeV/c.

We report on an investigation of the (pi(-),pi(0)pi(0)) reaction by means of measurements of the pi(0)pi(0) invariant mass distributions from pi(-) interactions on H, D, C, Al, and Cu targets at p(pi(-)) = 0.408 GeV/c. The sharp, strong peak in the pi(+)pi(-) invariant mass near 2m(pi) reported by the CHAOS Collaboration is not seen in our pi(0)pi(0) data. However, we do observe a change in the shape of the pi(0)pi(0) invariant mass spectrum for the different targets, indicating that the pi(0)pi(0) interaction diminishes in the nuclear medium as represented by nuclei D, C, Al, and Cu, compared to hydrogen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Search for the CP forbidden decay eta-->4pi(0)

We report the first determination of the upper limit for the branching ratio of the CP forbidden decay eta-->4pi(0). No events were observed in a sample of 3.0x10(7) eta decays. The experiment was performed with the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer installed in a separated pi(-) beam at the AGS (Alternating Gradient Synchrotron). At the 90% confidence limit, B(eta-->4pi(0))</=6. 9x10(-7).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Severe gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal: a case report and literature review.

We report a case of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) withdrawal resulting in severe agitation, mental status changes, elevated blood pressure, and tachycardia hours after stopping chronic use of GHB. The patient admitted to substantial GHB abuse on a daily basis for 2.5 years. Previous attempts at cessation reportedly resulted in diaphoresis, tremors, and agitation. The patient's symptoms, negative polypharmacy history, and negative urine and blood toxicological analysis for alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, or other substances suggested the diagnosis of GHB withdrawal. Later analysis of a patient drug sample confirmed the presence of GHB. The patient required 507 mg of lorazepam and 120 mg of diazepam over 90 h to control agitation. This is one of the few reported cases of GHB withdrawal and one of the most severe. Given the increasing use of GHB, more cases of severe GHB withdrawal should be anticipated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Predictive value of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pediatric closed head injury.

We studied 26 infants (1-18 months old) and 27 children (18 months or older) with acute nonaccidental (n = 21) or other forms (n = 32) of traumatic brain injury using clinical rating scales, a 15-point MRI scoring system, and occipital gray matter short-echo proton MRS. We compared the differences between the acutely determined variables (metabolite ratios and the presence of lactate) and 6- to 12-month outcomes. The metabolite ratios were abnormal (lower NAA/Cre or NAA/Cho; higher Cho/Cre) in patients with a poor outcome. Lactate was evident in 91% of infants and 80% of children with poor outcomes; none of the patients with a good outcome had lactate. At best, the clinical variables alone predicted the outcome in 77% of infants and 86% of children, and lactate alone predicted the outcome in 96% of infants and 96% of children. No further improvement in outcome prediction was observed when the lactate variable was combined with MRI ratios or clinical variables. The findings of spectral sampling in areas of brain not directly injured reflected the effects of global metabolic changes. Proton MRS provides objective data early after traumatic brain injury that can improve the ability to predict long-term neurologic outcome.

Aspartic Acid↗
PubMed2000

Highly abnormal maternal inhibin and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels along with severe HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome at 17 weeks' gestation with triploidy.

A 17-week pregnancy complicated by severe hypertension is reported. The fetus had multiple anomalies and was found to have triploidy. Assay of maternal serum markers for trisomy 21 revealed elevated levels of inhibin (137.51 multiples of the median) and human chorionic gonadotropin (41.51 multiples of the median).

Abortion, Therapeutic↗
PubMed1999

Expression of the protein kinase C substrate pleckstrin in macrophages: association with phagosomal membranes.

Despite evidence suggesting that protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are important in phagocytosis by Fcgamma receptors, the mechanisms by which the substrates of these kinases act are largely unknown. We have investigated the role of one PKC substrate, pleckstrin, in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Pleckstrin expression in mouse macrophages was induced severalfold in response to bacterial LPS and IFN-gamma. In unstimulated cells, the protein was largely confined to the cytosol. Upon ingestion of IgG-opsonized zymosan particles (OPZ), however, pleckstrin accumulated on the phagosomal membrane. This association was transient, being maximal after 15 min and declining thereafter. Similar kinetics of association was also seen for both filamentous actin and the delta isoform of PKC. Ingestion of OPZ was found to induce phosphorylation of pleckstrin. To examine whether phosphorylation was required for phagosomal association, pleckstrin was expressed in CHO-IIA cells that stably express the FcgammaRIIA receptor and are competent for phagocytosis of OPZ. In these cells, both wild-type pleckstrin and mutants in which the phosphoacceptor sites had been mutated to either alanine (nonphosphorylatable) or glutamine (pseudophosphorylated) were found to accumulate on OPZ phagosomes. Thus, association of pleckstrin with phagosomes is independent of its phosphorylation. Our findings suggest that pleckstrin may serve as an intracellular adaptor/targeting protein in response to particulate stimuli. By targeting interacting ligands to the phagosomal compartment, pleckstrin may serve to regulate phagocytosis and/or early steps during maturation of the phagosome.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The phosphatase Cdc14 triggers mitotic exit by reversal of Cdk-dependent phosphorylation.

Exit from mitosis requires the inactivation of mitotic cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) by an unknown mechanism. We show that the Cdc14 phosphatase triggers mitotic exit by three parallel mechanisms, each of which inhibits Cdk activity. Cdc14 dephosphorylates Sic1, a Cdk inhibitor, and Swi5, a transcription factor for SIC1, and induces degradation of mitotic cyclins, likely by dephosphorylating the activator of mitotic cyclin degradation, Cdh1/Hct1. Feedback between these pathways may lead to precipitous collapse of mitotic CDK activity and help coordinate exit from mitosis.

Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome↗
PubMed1997

Efficacy and safety of lidocaine-prilocaine cream for pain during circumcision.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal circumcision is a painful surgical procedure often performed without analgesia. We assessed the efficacy and safety of 5 percent lidocaine-prilocaine cream (Emla) in neonates undergoing circumcision. METHODS: We carried out a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in 68 full-term male neonates: 38 were assigned to receive lidocaine-prilocaine cream, and 30 to receive placebo. One gram of lidocaine-prilocaine or placebo cream was applied to the penis under an occlusive dressing for 60 to 80 minutes before circumcision. Behavioral (facial activity and time spent crying) and physiologic (heart rate and blood pressure) responses were recorded during the procedure. Blood samples were obtained at various times after drug application for measurements of methemoglobin and plasma lidocaine, prilocaine, and o-toluidine (a metabolite of prilocaine). RESULTS: A total of 68 and 59 neonates were included in the safety and efficacy analyses, respectively. Demographic characteristics such as gestational age and birth weight did not differ between the lidocaine-prilocaine and placebo groups. During circumcision, the neonates in the lidocaine-prilocaine group had less facial activity (P= 0.01), spent less time crying (P<0.001), and had smaller increases in heart rate (P=0.007) than the neonates in the placebo group. Facial-activity scores were 12 to 49 percent lower during various steps of the procedure in the lidocaine-prilocaine group. As compared with neonates in the placebo group, infants in the lidocaine-prilocaine group cried less than half as much and had heart-rate increases of 10 beats per minute less. Blood methemoglobin concentrations (expressed as a percentage of the hemoglobin concentration) were similar (1.3 percent) in both groups. Lidocaine and prilocaine were detected in plasma in 23 (61 percent) and 21 (55 percent) of the infants treated with lidocaine-prilocaine cream, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine-prilocaine cream is efficacious and safe for the prevention of pain from circumcision in neonates.

Anesthesia, Local↗
PubMed1997

Patterns in acute referral to hospital.

This retrospective observational study aimed to assess factors affecting acute referral and subsequent admission to hospital by general practitioners. Data concerning 2,303 consecutive acute referrals to hospital from all GPs in a defined study area were collected over one month. Fund holding practices cared for 13% of the population referred 13% of all referrals resulting in 14% of admissions. Referral through the A&E resulted in significantly more patients being discharged upon initial assessment (p < 0.001). A telephone call accompanying referral dramatically increased the chance of hospital admission (p < 0.001). Referral to hospital was more likely the more socially deprived the patient (p < 0.001) but had no subsequent bearing on admission.

Emergencies↗
PubMed1997

Weighing behavior and symptom distress of clinic patients with CHF.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a prevalent disease that causes patients troubling symptoms, which can be difficult for clinicians to manage. A descriptive pilot study examining the weighing behaviors of patients with CHF and their symptom distress was conducted, and the findings have implications for future research and patient management.

Adult↗