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Biomedical subjects

K Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to K Phillips.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Path analysis of seven fear factors in adult twin and sibling pairs and their parents.

A multivariate path model of genetic and environmental transmission, used to derive expected covariances among adult twin and sibling pairs and their parents, was fitted to fear factor data from 250 twin families and 91 sibling families, with the use of a maximum-likelihood estimation procedure. The full model, with 259 free parameters, provides for parental cultural transmission, common twin and sibling environment, genotype-environment correlation, direct assortative mating, and genetic and environmental correlations. Significant effects were indicated for heritable transmission of common fears and phobias, and a single genetic factor accounted for most of the genetic covariance among the traits. Moderately high levels of common twin environment and a small effect for direct isomorphic marital assortment were also found. There was no evidence for cultural transmission, genotype-environment correlation, or common sibling environment.

Biometry↗

Responses to partial nasal obstruction in sleeping infants.

Partial nasal obstruction was performed during a morning of quiet sleep (QS: non-REM) and active sleep (AS: REM) at ages 1 week, 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 months on 12 normal infants, 15 subsequent siblings of victims of the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and 12 infants admitted for investigation of infant apnoea ('near-miss' SIDS). In all three groups the numbers failing to arouse after 240 s (FTA-240) in QS were significantly greater than those in AS. After 2 months of age all groups showed a decrease in the number FTA-240 in AS, whereas in QS the number did not change significantly. Subsequent siblings of SIDS had a significantly higher number FTA-240 in QS than controls. There was no significant difference in FTA-240 in QS between controls and infant apnoeas, although there was a trend for this to be higher in subsequent siblings of SIDS than infant apnoeas. It was concluded that arousal from AS is more marked than from QS, that after 2 months of age the ability to arouse from AS increases, and that in relation to SIDS, QS is the sleep state in which the infant is less able to arouse. Furthermore, subsequent siblings of SIDS differ from normal infants in their ability to arouse from QS.

Airway Obstruction↗

Transcriptional control of synthesis of acid-soluble proteins in sporulating Bacillus subtilis.

The major acid-soluble spore proteins (ASSPs) isolated from mature spores of Bacillus subtilis are designated alpha, beta, and gamma (about 60, 60, and 100 amino acids in length, respectively). Alpha and beta are very similar, and gamma is very similar to a less predominant ASSP called delta (about 115 amino acids). A minor and very basic ASSP called epsilon is the same size as alpha and beta but is unrelated antigenically. These and several minor ASSPs comprise at least three related families of sporulation-specific gene products. Expression of the alpha and beta genes, detectable as functional mRNA in vitro, coincides with the time of synthesis of all of the major ASSPs in vivo. This apparently coordinate expression is dependent on at least the spo0A, spoIIA, and spoIIIA loci, but not on the spoIVA or spoVA loci, consistent with the late stage of this expression (initiating at 3.5 h after the start of sporulation and peaking at 5 h after start of sporulation). A few minor ASSPs may be asynchronously expressed.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Contemporary table salt practices and blood pressure.

Salt intake of 978 subjects when compared to 1954 data demonstrated a trend toward the decreased use of table salt. When hypertensives in treatment were excluded, persons reporting low salt use had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures than those reporting high salt use. These findings were the reverse of the relationships found in 1954.

Adult↗

Effects of prednisolone and medroxyprogesterone on corneal wound healing, ulceration, and neovascularization.

Albino rabbits were treated four or six times daily with 1% prednisolone acetate, 1% medroxyprogesterone acetate, or a control vehicle, after one of three conditions. First, after 3-mm linear perforating stromal incisions; drugs were given for seven days, and wound bursting strength was determined. Prednisolone suppressed wound tensile strength by 20%; medroxyprogesterone suppressed it by 11%. Second, after trephination, drug administration for 14 days decreased collagen formation in the scar buttons by 43% in the prednisolone-treated group and 39% in the medroxy-progesterone-treated group. Third, after thermal burns; when drug application followed the burn immediately, deep ulceration or perforation developed in 85% of the controls, in none of the prednisolone-treated group, and in 17% of the medroxyprogesterone-treated group. When drug delivery was withheld until day 6, severe ulceration developed in 44% of both groups. In both experiments, stromal neovascularization was markedly suppressed by prednisolone, but only moderately decreased by medroxyprogesterone.

Animals↗

Pethidine, atropine, metoclopramide and the lower oesophageal sphincter.

The effects of an intramuscular injection of pethidine (1.5 mg/kg) plus atropine 0.5 mg, or pethidine (1.5 mg/kg) plus atropine 0.5 mg plus metoclopramide 10 mg on the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure have been studied manometrically in human volunteers. The mean barrier pressure in the former group was significantly lower than the baseline for the 75 minutes studied. In the latter group the mean barrier pressure was significantly lower than the baseline value for the first 45 minutes only of the study. The addition of atropine 0.5 mg to pethidine 1.5 mg/kg further lowers the barrier pressure when compared with the depression seen with pethidine alone in a previous study. While the addition of intramuscular metoclopramide to the mixture of pethidine and atropine fails to return the mean barrier pressure to the baseline value, it does raise the mean barrier pressure to a level which is probably above the opening pressure of the lower oesophageal sphincter.

Adult↗

Osteomyelitis of the skull.

Osteomyelitis of the skull is a direct infection of the bone. It can be an acute or chronic disease. It usually has an insidious initial onset. Complications can be life-threatening and even fatal. The most frequently associated organism responsible for the disease is Staphylococcus aureus. Tissue specimens must be obtained for definitive culture and sensitivity reports. It is also important that devitalized bone and sequestra be removed as part of adequate therapy. A typical presentation on skull series is a moth-eaten appearance; however, this may not be recognized radiographically for several months. The antibiotic chosen must be given in high enough doses to assure adequate serum levels to eradicate the organism responsible for causing the disease. Length of treatment depends on the clinical course and the extent of infection but may involve several months or longer. Good nursing care is essential in dealing with osteomyelitis and involves preventive as well as therapeutic management. Patient education and support are important aspects of nursing care in helping the patient cope with the disease.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗