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Biomedical subjects

K Crane

Publications and source records attributed to K Crane.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in an Australian high school student population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections among an Australian high school adolescent population. METHODS: Over a 4 year period, 14 high schools were selected in which an infertility prevention programme targeting C. trachomatis was delivered to senior student populations. Coded first catch urine specimens were analysed by Amplicor PCR and infected students treated. Data retrospectively obtained from chlamydia screening programmes conducted among disadvantaged young people detached from formal education were also collated for comparison. RESULTS: Of a total student test population of 1174, 15 (1.3%; 95% CI 0.7% to 2.1%) were diagnosed with C. trachomatis. Of 516 females and 658 males, 12 (2.3%; 95% CI 1.1% to 4.1%) and 3 (0.5%; 95% CI 0.1% to 1.4%) were tested positive respectively. Data collated for three populations of disadvantaged youth returned at total of 89 C. trachomatis infections out of 560 people (15.9% 95%CI 13.0-19.2%). CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis infection among this population of senior high school adolescents is low, and significantly differs from the higher chlamydia rates detected in disadvantaged adolescents detached from formal schooling (p<0.0001).

Adolescent↗

An admission avoidance team: its role in the Accident & Emergency department.

The recent problems and pressures felt by Accident and Emergency departments around the country led a team at Newham Hospital, London, to develop a scheme to prevent frail elderly and vulnerable younger patients being unnecessarily admitted, thus blocking acute hospital beds. This paper outlines the creation of the scheme, its aims and practice, and early results.

Aged↗

Communication skills and self-esteem in prevention of destructive behaviors.

This study demonstrates the long-range effectiveness of SAY IT STRAIGHT training as a school-based program for the prevention of destructive behaviors by comparing juvenile police offenders among trained and untrained 9th-12th graders for 1 1/2 years following training. In the 1984-85 school year, 357 of the 740 9th-12th graders in a southwestern town completed SAY IT STRAIGHT training. Participation was voluntary and required parental permission. During a five-month pretraining period which began with the first day of school, the number of juvenile police offenders was not significantly different among students who would eventually be trained or not be trained. During the following 7 months including summer vacation, there were significantly fewer offenders among the trained students. The following school year and summer vacation there were again significantly fewer offenders among the trained students. During the whole 1 1/2-year study, the untrained students had about 4.5 times as many criminal offenses as the trained students and their offenses were more severe. Finally, 9th, 10th, and 12th graders as well as 11th-grade females who had been trained showed a significant shift toward behavioral intentions reflecting a greater willingness to implement their constructive decisions and feel comfortable doing so. This study extends the applicability of SAY IT STRAIGHT training which previously has been reported to significantly reduce alcohol/drug-related school suspensions among 6th-8th graders.

Adolescent↗

Mutant cell lines resistant to azetidine-2-carboxylic acid: alterations in the synthesis of proline from glutamic acid.

Two mutant Chinese hamster lung fibroblast lines have been isolated that are resistant to the toxic proline analog L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. The line designated AZCA-1 has 30-fold elevated activity of pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase and a large increase in the rate of proline production and release compared to controls. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase activity is not elevated in the resistant line designated AZCA-4, but the enzyme is less sensitive to inhibition by ornithine and proline than control enzyme. Intracellular proline is elevated in AZCA-4 cells, with no change in the rate of release of proline synthesized from glutamate. Resistance to azetidine carboxylic acid in both mutant lines is attributed to the expanded intracellular proline pool that results from alterations in pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase. These results indicate that intracellular proline levels are determined at least in part by the regulated activity of pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase.

Animals↗

Alcaptonuria and sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in three offspring of a consanguineous marriage.

Intestinal brush border membrane hydrolases and HLA lymphocyte antigens have been examined in three siblings with sucrose intolerance and alcaptonuria, and their consanguineous parents. Sucrase-isomaltase activity was absent in the three patients, and corresponded with the gel electrophoresis of SDS-solubilized brush border membranes, which failed to demonstrate the protein band normally associated with sucrase-isomaltase complex. The activities of all brush border membrane enzymes in the mother were normal, while those of the father were generally low. The use of hydrolytic capacity ratios, however, permitted the designation of both parents as heterozygotes. Significant homogentisic aciduria was found only in the three propositi, and no effect of homogentisic acid on the sucrase activities of two normal, unrelated children could be demonstrated in vitro. The HLA lymphocyte antigen profiles of all seven family members demonstrated remarkable histocompatibility in five of them.

Adolescent↗