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Biomedical subjects

K Perry

Publications and source records attributed to K Perry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Case reviews in the family physician's office.

The majority of patients with emotional or psychiatric disorders are treated in the primary care setting without psychiatric input. Psychiatrists need to find ways of helping family physicians manage these patients without necessarily taking over their care. One way of achieving this is for a psychiatric consultant to visit the family physician's office on a regular basis to discuss the physician's problem cases. This paper describes such a pilot project, outlines the kinds of problems family physicians discussed and recommendations that were made, and discusses the benefits of this collaborative approach.

Community Mental Health Centers↗
PubMed1991

mRNA processing in the Trypanosomatidae.

Members of the Trypanosomatidae, which include the African trypanosomes, the American trypanosomes and the leishmanias, cause disease in vast proportions in man and his livestock and are a major detrimental factor to the social and economic well-being of the third world. Current research using the techniques of molecular biology has revealed two unusual types of mRNA processing in these protozoans; these are the addition of a shared leader sequence to the 5' ends of nuclear mRNAs by a mechanism of trans splicing, and the insertion and deletion of specific uridine residues in mitochondrial transcripts by RNA editing. The presence of these two mRNA processing pathways in the Trypanosomatidae has profound consequences for the organization and expression of their genetic information.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Clinical pharmacology of predisintegrated ibuprofen 800 mg tablets: an endoscopic and pharmacokinetic study.

Thirty-five healthy adults were randomized to receive either: (1) ibuprofen 800 mg tablets; (2) ibuprofen 800 mg aqueous suspension; (3) ibuprofen 800 mg orange juice suspension; or (3) 325 mg aspirin tablets. All treatments were tid for 7 days. Pharmacokinetic sampling was conducted on days 1, 4 and 8. Gastroduodenoscopy was performed on days 1 and 8. Side effects and safety laboratory tests were monitored throughout the study. On day 8 the aspirin group showed significantly more gastric irritation than all of the ibuprofen groups (P less than .005). Both ibuprofen suspension groups showed more gastric irritation than the ibuprofen tablet group (P less than .1). The duodenal scores did not differ among the treatment groups. The aspirin group experienced a higher rate of tinnitus and abdominal pain. The rate and extent of absorption of the ibuprofen suspensions were significantly less than that of the tablets. These data suggest that the taking of ibuprofen as an extemporaneous suspension is therapeutically inferior to ibuprofen tablets and therefore should be discouraged.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The comparative in-vitro activity of ofloxacin.

The antibacterial activity of ofloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, was evaluated against a wide range of clinical bacterial isolates and compared with that of nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, enoxacin, pefloxacin and ciprofloxacin by determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Ofloxacin was very active against nalidixic acid-susceptible isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae (MIC less than or equal to 0.12 mg/l) and was also active against strains resistant to nalidixic acid (MIC less than or equal to 2 mg/l). The activity was similar to norfloxacin, enoxacin and pefloxacin but some four-fold less than that of ciprofloxacin. All of the fluoroquinolones were highly active against Vibrio cholerae (MIC less than or equal to 0.015 mg/l), V. parahaemolyticus (MIC less than or equal to 0.12 mg/l) Aeromonas hydrophila (MIC less than or equal to 0.03 mg/l), Plesiomonas shigelloides (MIC less than or equal to 0.015 mg/l), Campylobacter jejuni (MIC less than or equal to 0.5 mg/l), Neisseria spp., Haemophilus influenzae, H. ducreyi, Bordetella pertussis and Legionella pneumophila (MIC less than or equal to 0.06 mg/l for all species). Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin (MIC less than or equal to 1, 2 and 2 mg/l, respectively) showed similar activity against Staphylococcus spp. and were somewhat more active than enoxacin (MIC less than or equal to 4 mg/l) and norfloxacin (MIC less than or equal to 8 mg/l). Ofloxacin was moderately active against beta-haemolytic Streptococcus spp. (MIC less than or equal to 2 mg/l), Corynebacterium diphtheriae (MIC less than or equal to 1 mg/l) and Cory. jeikeium (MIC less than or equal to 2 mg/l) and somewhat less active against alpha- and non-haemolytic Streptococcus spp., Str. pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes (MIC less than or equal to 4 mg/l for all species) and Str. faecalis (MIC less than or equal to 8 mg/l). The activity of ofloxacin, against these species, was similar to ciprofloxacin and four to eight times greater than norfloxacin, enoxacin and pefloxacin. Ofloxacin, and all of the fluoroquinolones, were less active against anaerobic than aerobic bacteria. Clostridium perfringens (MIC less than or equal to 1 mg/l) was more susceptible to ofloxacin than were other anaerobic species and Cl. difficile (MIC less than or equal to 16 mg/l) was more resistant. Ofloxacin was the most active compound tested against Chlamydia trachomatis SA2f (MIC less than or equal to 0.5 mg/l) with only ciprofloxacin (MIC less than or equal to 1 mg/l) approaching similar activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed1987

The potential use of implanted radiolabelled bovine nasal cartilage in dialysis tubing to evaluate agents affecting cartilage degradation in vivo.

Cartilage which undergoes extensive autolysis in vitro (spontaneous or stimulated) is characterized by proteoglycan loss. Experimental conditions and inhibitor profils studies suggest neutral metalloproteinases induce the autolysis. In these preliminary studies we compared the degradation of Na2 35SO4 labeled bovine nasal cartilage (BNC) plugs placed in dialysis tubing in vitro and in vivo. The dialysis tubing was used to exclude large molecules (molecular weights greater than 2000) like proteinases, and proteinase inhibitors (e.g. alpha 2-macroglobulin) but not potential test agents from the implanted cartilage. Cartilage autolysis occurred with live tissue but not with heat-killed tissue in both the in vitro and in vivo systems. In addition retinoic acid and phenanthroline were effective when placed inside or outside the dialysis tubing. A potentially useful procedure to evaluate agents which affect cartilage degradation is described.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Not guilty by reason of insanity: a research note.

The question of the insanity defense centers around the moralist-determinist debate. Insanity defense laws are premised on the assumption that individuals choose between right and wrong, and are responsible for that choice. Mental disease, however, can overpower, and thus, not of their own volition, insane persons become out-of-control. Hence, they cannot be held responsible for their behavior or subject to criminal punishment. It is the purpose of the insanity defense, of course, to distinguish between offenders in need of punitive disposition and ones where a medical-custodial disposition is best. The research presented here indicates that defendants who successfully raise the plea of NGRI do not beat the rap. In other words, they do not spend fewer days in confinement via an NGRI plea than had they been convicted and sentenced. Thus, for the reasons of justice, equity, and fairness the insanity defense should be kept intact. The wave of public fear and reaction to the decision in a few highly publicized cases is insufficient grounds for eliminating the plea. Not only is the use of the insanity defense infrequent, but defendants who select it give up important safeguards. Namely, they are unable to plea bargain, are stigmatized as "mad and bad," have no access to probation or parole, and are confined for an indeterminate amount of time. That some would call this leniency we find surprising. And, of course, we should not forget the findings reported here. NGRI acquittees spend more time being locked up. Defendants who successfully raise the NGRI plea are confined until professionals say they are no longer dangerous.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Colorado↗
PubMed1986

Proteoglycan- and collagen-degrading enzymes from human interleukin 1-stimulated chondrocytes from several species: proteoglycanase and collagenase inhibitors as potentially new disease-modifying antiarthritic agents.

Human IL-1-stimulated chondrocytes derived from rabbit, bovine, and human articular cartilage produce proteoglycan- and collagen-degrading enzymes. These studies demonstrate that the biological activity of IL-1 is not species specific. Several thiol, carboxyalkyl, and hydroxamic acid peptide inhibitors showed differential effects. The thiols were equipotent inhibitors of both the collagen- and proteoglycan-degrading enzymes whereas the carboxyalkyls appear to inhibit solely the proteoglycan-degrading enzyme(s). The hydroxamic acid peptides, the most potent inhibitors, appear to be more active against the proteoglycan-degrading enzymes. These synthetic inhibitors of proteoglycan- and/or collagen-degrading enzymes may represent a new class of disease-modifying antiarthritic agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Iron poisoning: assessment of radiography in diagnosis and management.

Severe acute iron poisoning developed in a 1 1/2-year-old child who had eaten an iron preparation that resembles a popular chocolate candy. Tablets containing iron, with and without vitamins, and the sugar-coated candy of similar appearance, were radiographed with human gastric juice in vitro. Times of dissolution of the radiopaque tablets were noted, to assess the value of abdominal radiographs in the diagnosis and management of acute iron poisoning.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1978

Cell-cell recognition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: regulation of mating-specific adhesion.

Mating-specific adhesion between haploid yeast cells of opposite mating type (a and alpha) was studied by using a quantitative agar plate assay. Washed a and alpha cells that had not previously been exposed to their respective opposite mating type ("naive" cells) adhered relatively weakly. In water, only 5 to 10% of the a cells stuck tightly enough to alpha cells to give rise subsequently to diploid clones on the assay plates. Under optimum conditions (pH 6 to 7, at least 0.1 M Nacl or 0.01 M Mg(2+)), there was about 20% adhesion. Nevertheless, this weak binding defined a mating type-specific interaction because, even under optimum conditions, the homologous interactions (a with a and alpha with alpha) yielded only 3 to 5% cohesion. In contrast to these results, washed cells that had been preincubated in the cell-free culture medium of their opposite mating type ("preconditioned" cells) adhered quite strongly. The degree of adhesion between preconditioned cells (40 to 50%) was essentially unaffected by extremes of ionic strength, pH, and temperature and by the absence of divalent cation. This strong interaction was also mating type specific since cohesion between preconditioned cells of like mating type was only about 5%. The increase in agglutinability was obtained if only the a cells were preconditioned and could be induced by highly purified preparations of natural or synthetically prepared alpha-factor, an oligopeptide pheromone released by the alpha cells. The appearance of increased adhesiveness was blocked by an inhibitor of RNA synthesis and by an inhibitor of protein synthesis, but not by an inhibitor of polysaccharide synthesis. Adhesion between preconditioned cells could be inhibited by pretreatment with functionally univalent succinylated concanavalin A or with extracts from preconditioned cells of the opposite mating type. These results confirm in a quantitative manner that the recognition between conjugating cells of S. cerevisiae is a developmentally regulated event that is under the control of the mating type locus.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1971

Rapid methods for determining decarboxylase activity: ornithine and lysine decarboxylases.

A rapid biochemical method for the determination of ornithine and lysine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.18) activity has been developed for use in the routine clinical laboratory. It is based on the detection of the amine end product produced in response to the single key amino acid added to a synthetic medium. A modified ninhydrin reagent is used to detect the amine after a chloroform extraction. This procedure can be used with a 1- to 4-hr incubation period (utilizing an initial concentrated inoculum) or with an overnight culture. Thus, measurements based on the alkalinization of the medium after a lengthy incubation period are avoided. Optimal parameters for enzyme activity are discussed.

Amines↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Peritoneal cytology for suspected acute appendicitis: an economic evaluation.

Suspected acute appendicitis is a common reason for surgery. Unfortunately, diagnosis is not always simple and, in recent years, considerable attention has been devoted to developing better diagnostic techniques. Peritoneal cytology is one such technique. It is simple, minimally invasive, and has been established as clinically effective. This paper reports on an economic evaluation of peritoneal cytology, carried out at Wellington Hospital, New Zealand. The analysis is based on two trials totalling 192 patients. The perspective taken initially is that of a hospital financial manager, seeking to minimise costs. In the first trial, there was a marginal increase in overall cost per person presenting with suspected acute appendicitis, from using the test. In the second, there was a reduction. In both trials there were significant health benefits--unnecessary operations were avoided, and necessary operations done more quickly. Also, the practice developed, in the second trial, of sending patients home immediately following a negative test result. This further increased savings. We then discuss the results from a broader perspective. We conclude that the additional personal benefits--less time convalescing, and lower mortality, on average--ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs of the test.

Acute Disease↗