Biomedical subjects

K M Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to K M Johnson.

331 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Laboratory rat associated outbreak of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome due to Hantaan-like virus in Belgium.

Hantaan-like virus was identified as the cause of three cases of acute renal failure in staff handling laboratory rats on a Belgian university campus. Serological studies revealed infected rat strains at different sites on the campus and evidence of past and recent infections in 39 staff members and of infection in 50% of exposed staff. Hantaan-reactive antibody was very rare in control populations. Staff or rats at three other Belgian institutions had no signs of infection. The origin of the virus was not identified. Infected rats have been removed. These are the first confirmed cases, outside East Asia, of human illness due to rat-borne Hantaan-like virus, and of infection in laboratory rats. Surveillance of rat colonies is also recommended in countries which, like Belgium, have no previously recognised cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The GAINS project: outcome of smoking cessation strategies in four urban Native American clinics. Giving American Indians No-smoking Strategies.

This study was designed to assess the capability of the Doctors Helping Smokers (DHS) model to produce an increase in smoking cessation over controls within four urban Indian Health clinics. A total of 601 Native American smokers were enrolled, surveyed, and measured for cardiovascular risk factors. Of those present in treatment clinics at 1-year follow-up, 7.1% reported being abstinent vs. 4.9% in the control group. Of those who made at least one visit to the clinic during the treatment year, 9.4% self-reported being abstinent in the treatment sites vs. 3.9% in the control group (p = .04). Cotinine validated quits for all enrollees, regardless of whether they attended the clinic during the intervention, are 6.7% (intervention) and 6.8% (control). Number of quit attempts and future quit intentions were greater in the intervention group. Recommendations for future intervention efforts include earlier contact with clinicians, clinic involvement in preplanning, developing the program around the principles and realities of each site, building in more extensive components, and utilizing additional community resources.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transitioning preterm infants with nasogastric tube supplementation: increased likelihood of breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nasogastric tube and bottle supplementation as two means of transitioning preterm infants to breastfeeding within an established breastfeeding support program. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial; mothers and health care providers, who were not blinded. SETTING: Metropolitan private regional perinatal center; 40-bed intensive-care nursery. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-four preterm breastfed infants whose birth weight was 1,000-2,500 g. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of exclusive and partial breastfeeding at discharge from the intensive-care nursery, and at 3 days, 3 months, and 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: Compared with infants receiving bottle supplements, infants receiving nasogastric tube supplements were more likely to be breastfeeding at discharge and at 3 days, 3 months and 6 months, after adjusting for confounding variables. Odds ratios (confidence intervals = 95%) showed that the group receiving nasogastric supplements was 4.5 times (1.4 to 15) more likely to be breastfed at discharge and 9.4 times more likely to be fully breastfed (3.1 to 28.4). There were significantly fewer apnea and bradycardia episodes in the group receiving nasogastric supplements, although they had more episodes that required stimulation for resolution. Groups were not different with respect to length of hospitalization and infant weight at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Using nasogastric tube supplementation during transition to oral feedings increases the likelihood of breastfeeding at discharge, 3 days, 3 months, and 6 months. This intervention requires a program with skilled personnel and an environment that allows the mother and infant to be in close physical proximity. Further study should investigate differences in the effects on maternal confidence, imprinting, and suck mechanism when preterm infants are bottle fed and breastfed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of atrial natriuretic peptide on rat ovarian granulosa cell steroidogenesis in vitro.

PROBLEM: The localization and biological effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) are not limited to cardiac tissue but extend to a number of extra-atrial tissues and organs, including the ovary. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of ANP on granulosa cell steroidogenesis. Hence, the direct effects of ANP on the production of progesterone, 20 alpha-hydroxpregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OH-P), and estrogen by undifferentiated and differentiated rat ovarian granulosa cells were examined in vitro. METHOD: Undifferentiated granulosa cells obtained from the ovaries of diethylstilbestrol-primed, immature rats were treated with increasing doses (10(-12) to 10(-6) M) of rANP for 48 h. RESULTS: ANP evoked a two- and threefold increase in progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-P production relative to untreated controls, respectively. Increasing doses of ANP in combination with porcine FSH (125 ng/well) resulted in a biphasic response in progesterone production above FSH-treated controls. Specifically, a maximal inhibition of 35% in progesterone production was achieved at 10(-9) M ANP, followed by a stimulation to levels comparable with FSH-stimulated controls at higher doses examined. Increasing doses of ANP evoked a twofold increase in FSH-stimulated 20 alpha-OH-P production over respective controls. Following pretreatment of granulosa cells with FSH for 48 h to evoke differentiation, ANP caused a significant dose-dependent inhibition in basal progesterone production that resulted in a 76% suppression at the highest dose examined. In contrast, ANP evoked a 2.8-fold increase in 20 alpha-OH-P production when compared with controls. Finally, in FSH-stimulated differentiated granulosa cells, ANP evoked a threefold increase in progesterone production and a 65% inhibition in 20 alpha-OH-P production. ANP exerted no significant effects on estrogen production by either undifferentiated or differentiated granulosa cells in the presence or absence of FSH. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that ANP can modulate directly progestin steroidogenesis in both undifferentiated and differentiated rat ovarian granulosa cells in vitro and, therefore, may play an important role in granulosa cell differentiation and follicular maturation.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Arthritis in Indian country: determining the prevalence and effects.

OBJECTIVE: This project was designed to determine the prevalence of self-reported arthritis and its effect on the daily lives of Chippewa Indian people on tribal lands in Wisconsin. DESIGN AND METHODS: After review and approval by the LCO Tribal Council and the University of Minnesota Human Subjects Committee, face-to-face interviews with randomly selected tribal residents were conducted, followed by focus group formation, and medical chart reviews. RESULTS: Eighty-one percent (N = 82) of the eligible sample were interviewed. Fifty-six percent (N = 46) self-reported a diagnosis of arthritis, either by physician report or description of symptoms confirmed by a rheumatologist. Seventy-eight percent of this group (N = 36) reported limitations in their activities that can be attributed to arthritis. Only half of the medical charts included the diagnosis of arthritis or any tests to document its diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this Chippewa population, the prevalence of and limitations due to arthritis are extremely high. Reasons for this need further investigation. The implications of these findings for tribal and health planning include housing, community activities, and medical services to accommodate the needs of this group.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Urban Indians' smoking patterns and interest in quitting.

Little is known about smoking patterns of urban American Indians and their interest in quitting. Most published research has focused upon American Indians who live on rural reservations. In this study, personal interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of patients at Urban Indian Health Clinics in four geographically diverse sites: Milwaukee, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and Seattle and Spokane, WA. A total of 419 current smokers and 173 ex-smokers completed interviews. Current smokers reported a median cigarette consumption of 11 per day. Smokers indicated both a moderate desire to quit (mean 5.97, on a scale 0-10) and moderate confidence in their ability to do so (mean 5.56, on a scale 0-10). More than 70 percent of current smokers indicated having previously tried to quit. The most common reasons cited for relapse included craving, social situations, stress, and nervousness. The most common reasons for quitting given by ex-smokers included being "sick" of smoking, health concerns, respiratory problems, and pregnancy. The estimated quit-ratio (former smokers divided by current+former smokers) was 29.7 percent. This quit-ratio, although substantial, is lower than the 45 percent quit-ratio reported for the general U.S. population. Perhaps the most striking findings are the similarities between American Indians and the overall population in both interest in quitting and reasons for doing so. Smoking cessation previously has been viewed as a low priority for this population. The current results suggest the viability of systematic efforts to encourage urban American Indians to quit smoking.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Preliminary note on the presence of antibodies to Ebola virus in the human population in the eastern part of the Central African Republic].

The authors reported a preliminary serological survey on Ebola virus infection in Central African Republic. They have tested 499 sera samples by using indirect immunofluorescent technique. The positivity with Ebola antigen was 3,4% (17 cases). It has been found a high antibody titre (greater than or equal to 1/64) with 3 sera, which reflects a possible recent contact with Ebola virus.

Adolescent↗