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Biomedical subjects

L Andrews

Publications and source records attributed to L Andrews.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

A pilot study of detection of DNA adducts in white blood cells of roofers by 32P-postlabelling.

To assess the utility of DNA adducts as biomarkers of exposure to carcinogens in an industrial population, a pilot study of roofers occupationally exposed to a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was conducted. DNA was isolated from peripheral white blood cells of roofers and non-occupationally exposed subjects matched for age, sex and smoking status. Occupational exposures to anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzanthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and benzo[k]fluoranthene were assessed by personal breathing zone air sampling and skin wipes. Exposures to benzo[a]pyrene in air of exposed subjects ranged from 0.60 microgram/m3 to 1.39 micrograms/m3, and exposures to total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (the sum of eight hydrocarbons) ranged from 6.0 micrograms/m3 to 13.8 micrograms/m3 on the day before blood collection. In the biomarker studies 10 of 12 roofers, but only 2 of 12 comparison subjects, had detectable levels of aromatic DNA adducts by 32P-postlabelling assay (p less than 0.01). The two non-roofers with detectable adducts had levels at or near the detection limit of 2 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides. In two roofer samples which were studied in a mixing experiment, the major adduct spots did not co-migrate with the guanosine N2 adduct of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide. These results suggest that the 32P-postlabelling assay may be useful for monitoring exposures to complex mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Normative data on the Kagan Matching Familiar Figures test for adult male incarcerates.

This study presents normative data on the Kagan Matching Familiar Figures test, a measure of impulsivity/reflection, for 200 adult male incarcerates (108 Black, 92 White) in a state correctional system. Also presented are t-tests between groups and correlations between the MFF and a series of demographic and test measures. Low, significant correlations were found between the MFF scores (time, number correct) and race, IQ, education, and reading levels. A comparison with college male and female norms is provided. The value and use of the MFF as a measure of cognitive style are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Neonatal resuscitation in community hospitals. A regional-based, team-oriented training program coordinated by the tertiary center.

Neonatal resuscitation in community hospitals is problematic because of the lack of on-site personnel with adequate training and experience. Even when efforts are made to transport high-risk mothers to tertiary care centers, the most complex resuscitations must occasionally be performed in all obstetric services. This dilemma can result in increased neonatal morbidity and mortality, and is reflected in the obstetric malpractice crisis. We present an approach to the problem in which a tertiary center actively intervenes to assist regional community hospitals to develop and implement resuscitation team capabilities. Key aspects of the system are training and implementation of hospital shift "Code Pink" teams composed of nonphysician professionals, a regional neonatal resuscitation protocol used by all participants, "mock code" resuscitation drills to maintain skills, and extensive quality assurance both at the local hospital and regional levels.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed1989

Endoscopic accessories: friend or foe?

With the variety and number of procedures increasing, it became a constant challenge to supply the needed accessory equipment. A system was developed to provide an adequate supply of accessories while achieving a balance between new patient care standards and cost containment. The system has provided a well organized and highly productive endoscopy unit.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1989

Sequence and structure of the yeast galactose transporter.

The previously cloned GAL2 gene of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactose transporter has been sequenced. The nucleotide sequence predicts a protein with 574 amino acids (Mr, 63,789). Hydropathy plots suggest that there are 12 membrane-spanning segments. The galactose transporter shows both sequence and structural homology with a superfamily of sugar transporters which includes the human HepG2-erythrocyte and fetal muscle glucose transporters, the rat brain and liver glucose transporters, the Escherichia coli xylose and arabinose permeases, and the S. cerevisiae glucose, maltose, and galactose transporters. Sequence and structural motifs at the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the proteins support the view that the genes of this superfamily arose by duplication of a common ancestral gene. In addition to the sequence homology and the presence of the 12 membrane-spanning segments, the members of the superfamily show characteristic lengths and distributions of the charged, hydrophilic connecting loops. There is indirect evidence that the transporter is an N-glycoprotein. However, its only N-glycosylation site occurs in a charged, hydrophilic segment. This could mean that this segment is part of a hydrophilic channel in the membrane. The transporter has a substrate site for the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase which may be a target of catabolite inactivation. The transporter lacks a strong sequence enriched for proline (P), glutamate (E), aspartate, serine (S), and threonine (T) and flanked by basic amino acids (PEST sequence) even though it has a short half-life. Mechanisms for converting the poor PEST to a possible PEST sequence are considered. Like the other members of the superfamily, the galactose transporter lacks a signal sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Health hazards of fire fighters: exposure assessment.

There is growing concern over the detrimental health effects to firefighters produced by exposure to combustion byproducts of burning materials. To assess the types and levels of exposure encountered by firefighters during their routine occupational duties, members of the Buffalo Fire Department were monitored during firefighting activities with personal, portable, ambient environmental sampling devices. The results indicate that firefighters are frequently exposed to significant concentrations of hazardous materials including carbon monoxide, benzene, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, aldehydes, hydrogen chloride, dichlorofluoromethane, and particulates. Furthermore, in many cases of the worst exposure to these materials respiratory protective equipment was not used owing to the visual impression of low smoke intensity, and thus these levels represent actual direct exposure of the firefighters. Many of these materials have been implicated in the production of cardiovascular, respiratory, or neoplastic diseases, which may provide an explanation for the alleged increased risk for these illnesses among firefighters.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1987

Nomarski evaluation of rod outer segment renewal in a hereditary retinal degeneration. Comparison with autoradiographic evaluation.

Differential interference contrast (Nomarski) optics and autoradiography were used to estimate independently the rate of outer segment renewal in the early stages of progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD) in dogs. We have found that significant reductions in renewal rate are demonstrable using the two methods of analysis: autoradiography = 34% reduction; Nomarski method = 18% reduction. Nomarski analysis of affected rod outer segments (ROS) demonstrated optical periodicities (light/dark bands) extending from the base to the tip of the outer segment. Nineteen percent of the cells, however, showed areas where the light/dark bands were not apparent. These homogeneous, "optically silent" regions were interpreted to possibly represent areas where the disc orientation was not perpendicular to the long axis of the ROS.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

An outbreak of fume fever in an electronics instrument testing laboratory.

An apparent outbreak of fume fever was identified among six workers in an electronics instrument testing laboratory during a routine thermal evaluation of conductivity on electrical cable. The employees experienced characteristic symptoms of fume fever. Three employees required hospitalization; they demonstrated fever, leukocytosis with a left shift, and significant arterial-alveolar oxygen gradients, all of which resolved over several hours. To prevent future occurrences, an attempt was made to delineate the etiologic agent by exactly reproducing the circumstances of the event and analyzing for the evolution of metal fumes or pyrolysis products of polymers. The pertinent findings included overall poor ventilation in the laboratory and the development of significant chloride air contamination during the test. This latter finding raises the possibility that a chloropolymer contaminant was the etiologic agent.

Electronics↗
PubMed1986

A common thread.

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Grief↗
PubMed1975

Direct visualization of enveloped Epstein-Barr Herpesvirus in throat washing with leukocyte-transforming activity.

Mature enveloped virions belonging to the herpes class were found in a concentrated, partially purified specimen of throat washings from a patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for prevention of renal homograft rejection. This throat washing contained a high titer of biologically active Epstein-Barr virus and no other human herpesviruses. Epstein-Barr virions were not detected in throat washings from patients with mononucleosis that had only low titers of transforming activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1974

The last night.

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Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological impact of prophylactic oophorectomy in women at increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Women with a family history consistent with a hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome are at significantly increased risk for ovarian cancer. Prophylactic oophorectomy is an option for high-risk women. This study explores the psychosexual impact of prophylactic oophorectomy. A qualitative methodology was selected as most appropriate as no previous research has examined this issue. In-depth interviews were conducted with fourteen women, between 4 months and 7 years after prophylactic oophorectomy. Of these, six were pre- and eight were postmenopausal at the time of oophorectomy. Even though individual differences were observed, a majority view was expressed on several issues. All but one participant reported being satisfied with their decision to undergo oophorectomy. Women emphasised that the procedure had decreased their anxiety about developing ovarian cancer. Postmenopausal women reported no negative impact on their libido. Amongst premenopausal women all but one commenced hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following surgery and, in these women, HRT appeared to mitigate the sexual impact of the procedure. Premenopausal women reported unmet information needs both before and after the procedure, including the effects of surgical menopause and the link between HRT and breast cancer. This exploratory study suggests that prophylactic oophorectomy is a psychologically acceptable risk reduction strategy in high-risk women.

Adult↗