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Biomedical subjects

L Carlson

Publications and source records attributed to L Carlson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Cardiovascular risk factors in homeless adults.

Homelessness is a growing problem in the United States, with population numbers ranging from 300,000 to several million. This article reviews five studies that focused on identification and assessment of cardiovascular risk factors in the homeless population. A case study presents the successful outcome of a homeless male with several risk factors. Assessment and intervention by a nurse practitioner led to his re-entry into the domiciled population. Implications for clinical practice and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The signal response of IkappaB alpha is regulated by transferable N- and C-terminal domains.

IkappaB alpha retains the transcription factor NF-kappaB in the cytoplasm, thus inhibiting its function. Various stimuli inactivate IkappaB alpha by triggering phosphorylation of the N-terminal residues Ser32 and Ser36. Phosphorylation of both serines is demonstrated directly by phosphopeptide mapping utilizing calpain protease, which cuts approximately 60 residues from the N terminus, and by analysis of mutants lacking one or both serine residues. Phosphorylation is followed by rapid proteolysis, and the liberated NF-kappaB translocates to the nucleus, where it activates transcription of its target genes. Transfer of the N-terminal domain of IkappaB alpha to the ankyrin domain of the related oncoprotein Bcl-3 or to the unrelated protein glutathione S-transferase confers signal-induced phosphorylation on the resulting chimeric proteins. If the C-terminal domain of IkappaB alpha is transferred as well, the resulting chimeras exhibit both signal-induced phosphorylation and rapid proteolysis. Thus, the signal response of IkappaB alpha is controlled by transferable N-terminal and C-terminal domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Activation of the serum response factor by p65/NF-kappaB.

This study demonstrates that the NF-kappaB subunit p65 can act like an accessory protein for the serum response factor (SRF) in transfection assays. p65 functionally synergizes with SRF to activate the transcription of a reporter construct dependent only on the serum response element (SRE). The synergy of the two factors requires neither a kappaB motif nor direct contact of p65 with DNA. Consistent with these results, a physical complex containing p65 and SRF is observed in vitro. Synergy of the factors is independent of the previously described activation domains present on p65, ruling out indirect effects of p65, but synergy is dependent on the activation domain of SRF. The complexing of p65 and SRF is mediated by a segment of the SRF DNA binding domain, a region of the protein which has also been reported to inhibit its own activation domain. We speculate that p65, upon direct or facilitated interaction with SRF, may relieve the inhibitory activity of this segment, thus enabling the activation domain of SRF to become fully functional. In contrast to p65, the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB does not interact significantly with SRF, either functionally or physically. The data suggest the intriguing possibility that NF-kappaB may participate in the regulation of SRE-dependent promoters, expanding the range of activities of this rapidly activatable transcription factor.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Blessed are the flexible: the George Team.

Our educational efforts produced several intersecting interdisciplinary groups: faculty, students, faculty/students and our community sites, with faculty, clinical staff, and students. As we worked through the issues, these interdisciplinary teams found that commitment to change, caring for patients, and open, honest communication were essential to keeping the project teams on track. We have increased our understanding of both the complexity and value of interdisciplinary collaborative education. The LIT faculty provided the initial guidance and support, the students energized the process, and our community sites made our learning and our contributions readily available to our patient populations. It is not easy to learn and teach the language and tools of continuous improvement, but doing so infinitely improves the educational process and the clinical outcome. We must learn to carefully listen to each other so that our patients can fully reap the benefits of our interdisciplinary team efforts. As a result of what we learned, the members of the George Team have expanded our motto to "Blessed Are the Flexible--and the Perseverant!"

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1996

A multisite collaborative for the development of interdisciplinary education in continuous improvement for health professions students.

In 1994, The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in Boston, Massachusetts, formed the Interdisciplinary Professional Education Collaborative (the Collaborative). The mission of the Collaborative is to create an interdisciplinary teaching and learning environment in which future health professionals learn to work together to improve health care delivery. Apart from emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, the Collaborative focuses on teaching the methods of continuous improvement (CI), a system of management first developed for manufacturing industries that is increasingly being used in the management of health care delivery. The Collaborative consists of four local interdisciplinary teams (LITs): the Cleveland LIT, the "George" LIT (a collaboration between George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia), the South Carolina LIT, and the Pennsylvania LIT; and a coordinating committee. This paper describes each LIT's approach to achieving the Collaborative's commitment to give health professions students the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams to learn about and practice CI methods, training the Collaborative believes will enable them to be effective providers in a variety of health care systems. The paper describes the overall goals of the Collaborative, presents reports from the four LITs, and discusses common lessons learned.

District of Columbia↗
PubMed1996

Pediatric phase I drug tolerance: a review and comparison of recent adult and pediatric phase I trials.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the ratio of pediatric to adult maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) from 70 Phase I studies conducted between 1975 and 1995. The aim of this study was to determine whether previously observed differences in drug tolerance between adult and pediatric Phase I patients have persisted over the 20-year period of this analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Phase I trials of pediatric and adult patients with solid tumors as the predominant diagnosis and sharing similar dosing regimens were evaluated. For consistent comparison between Phase I studies, the MTD was defined as the drug dose one level below that yielding dose-limiting toxicity in >30% of patients. The ratio of pediatric to adult MTDs was calculated and plotted chronologically by year of pediatric study closure. Statistical evaluation of MTD ratios included regression and correlation analysis. The extent of therapy before Phase I study entry was also examined. RESULTS: Ninety-three Phase I studies were reviewed. Twenty-one drugs (70 studies) met our criteria for paired review of MTDs and analysis of the variation of ratio with time. The pediatric to adult MTD ratios ranged from 0.4 to 2.8, with a median of 1.2. Regression analysis of the ratio of MTD versus date of pediatric study closure supports a linear relationship of decreasing ratio with time (p<0.01). Analysis of the regression line predicts MTD ratios of 2.02 and 0.76 for 1974 and 1995, respectively. Of patients included in this analysis, 37.1% and 68.6% of adult and pediatric patients, respectively, were considered to have been heavily pretreated before study entry. A significant (p<0.001) downward trend with time was observed in the proportion of adult patients entering Phase I studies who had received both radiation and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this review continue to show an equal or greater drug tolerance in the pediatric population when compared with adult patients for most drugs studied during Phase I trials. However, there appears to be significant trend of decreasing differences in drug tolerance between pediatric and adult Phase I patients with time, as defined by the descent of the MTD ratio toward values <1.0. Mechanisms to explain greater drug tolerance in children and the observation of decreasing maximum tolerated dose ratios with time are discussed. Limited data suggest that changes in degree of therapy before Phase I study entry may be influencing the MTD ratio.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Control of I kappa B-alpha proteolysis by site-specific, signal-induced phosphorylation.

I kappa B-alpha inhibits transcription factor NF-kappa B by retaining it in the cytoplasm. Various stimuli, typically those associated with stress or pathogens, rapidly inactivate I kappa B-alpha. This liberates NF-kappa B to translocate to the nucleus and initiate transcription of genes important for the defense of the organism. Activation of NF-kappa B correlates with phosphorylation of I kappa B-alpha and requires the proteolysis of this inhibitor. When either serine-32 or serine-36 of I kappa B-alpha was mutated, the protein did not undergo signal-induced phosphorylation or degradation, and NF-kappa B could not be activated. These results suggest that phosphorylation at one or both of these residues is critical for activation of NF-kappa B.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Physician and parent behavior during invasive pediatric cancer procedures: relationships to child behavioral distress.

Observed 51 children with cancer, their parents, and their physicians during routine bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures. Child distress was measured via the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress (OSBD); adult behaviors were coded via the Child Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale (CAMPIS). In general, physicians were less verbally interactive than parents both before and during the procedure. As expected, several parent behaviors were positively related to child distress. However, physician behaviors were uniformly negatively related to child distress. Findings are discussed in terms of the physician-patient relationship and the possible role of physicians as change agents in reducing child distress during invasive procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Aspartate aminotransferase and glutaminase activities in rat olfactory bulb and cochlear nucleus; comparisons with retina and with concentrations of substrate and product amino acids.

The quantitative distributions of aspartate aminotransferase and glutaminase were mapped in subregions of olfactory bulb and cochlear nucleus of rat, and were compared with similar data for retina and with the distributions of their substrate and product amino acids aspartate, glutamate, and glutamine. The distributions of both enzymes paralleled that of aspartate in the olfactory bulb and that of glutamate in the cochlear nucleus. In retina (excluding inner segments), there were similarities between aspartate aminotransferase and both glutamate and aspartate distributions. The distribution of gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) was similar to those of both enzymes in olfactory bulb, to aspartate aminotransferase in cochlear nucleus, and to glutaminase in retina (excluding inner segments). The results are consistent with significant involvement of aspartate aminotransferase, especially the cytosolic isoenzyme, and glutaminase in accumulation of the neurotransmitter amino acids glutamate, aspartate, and GABA, although with preferential accumulation of different amino acids in different brain regions.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1994

Case study of the anemic patient: epoetin alfa--focus on exercise.

Physical functioning of patients with chronic renal failure is often low. An exercise program can enhance their capacity for physical activity and thus improve their quality of life. Dialysis staff can use a four-step approach to develop strategies to encourage exercise. In addition, staff support can help motivate patients to take part in exercise programs.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Mineral Products of Pyrrhotite Oxidation by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The biological leaching of pyrrhotite (Fe(1-x)S) by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was studied to characterize the oxidation process and to identify the mineral weathering products. The process was biphasic in that an initial phase of acid consumption and decrease in redox potential was followed by an acid-producing phase and an increase in redox potential. Elemental S was one of the first products of pyrrhotite degradation detected by X-ray diffraction. Pyrrhotite oxidation also yielded K-jarosite [KFe(3)(SO(4))(2)(OH)(6)], goethite (alpha-FeOOH), and schwertmannite [Fe(8)O(8)(OH)(6)SO(4)] as solid-phase products. Pyrrhotite was mostly depleted after 14 days, whereas impurities in the form of pyrite (cubic FeS(2)) and marcasite (orthorhombic FeS(2)) accumulated in the leach residue.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Solid-phase products of bacterial oxidation of arsenical pyrite.

Bacterial leaching of an As-containing pyrite concentrate produced acidic (pH < 1) leachates. During the leaching, the bacteria solubilized both As and Fe, and these two elements were distributed in solution-phase and solid-phase products. Jarosite and scorodite were the exclusive crystalline products in precipitate samples from the bacterial leaching of the sulfide concentrate.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Hepatorenal syndrome.

The exact physiologic mechanism of the hepatorenal syndrome remains unclear; however, it always develops in the presence of liver failure. A number of theories have been postulated to explain the syndrome, which are discussed in this review. None of the proposed theories is able to explain the syndrome completely, and continued research is necessary. Management of hepatorenal syndrome is directed at supporting the patient and maintaining/restoring hepatic function to prevent further renal damage. Liver transplantation has been considered an effective method of treatment for this patient population. Nursing care is supportive and focuses on maintaining the patients' internal environment and psychologic well-being.

Critical Care↗
PubMed1991

Seasonal variation of radionuclides in Fucus vesiculosus L. from the Oresund, Southern Sweden.

The activity concentrations of radionuclides (60Co, 54Mn, 137Cs, 40K) in whole plants of Fucus vesiculosus of different ages, and also in tissues of different ages from the same plants were investigated in the vicinity of the Barsebäck nuclear power plant in southern Sweden. Activity concentration differed between the tissues of different age of the plants, depending on the radionuclide as well as the time of year. The highest concentrations of 60Co and 54Mn were measured in the older parts of the plants in spring and summer, while the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K were highest in receptacles and new vegetative fronds. The discharge of radionuclides from the nuclear power plant was reflected in the measured activity concentration in the algae. For 60Co, the response seemed to be smoothed out when considering the whole plant, while the new vegetative tissue better reflected the discharge during the autumn. Thus, it is important to have knowledge about the autecology of the organism when it is used as an indicator for radionuclides.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Contribution of centrifugal innervation to choline acetyltransferase activity in the cat cochlear nucleus.

Using a quantitative microchemical mapping approach combined with surgical cuts of fiber tracts, the contributions of centrifugal pathways to choline acetyltransferase activity were mapped three-dimensionally in the cat cochlear nucleus. Large reductions of choline acetyltransferase activity, averaging 70%, were measured in almost all parts of the lesion-side nucleus following transection of virtually all its centrifugal connections. More superficial cuts, penetrating just through the olivocochlear bundle, also led to significant reductions of enzyme activity, especially most rostrally in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and superficial granular region, where the reductions were similar to those following the complete cuts. Lesions encroaching upon the superior olivary complex gave bilateral effects. Transverse cuts between rostral and caudal parts of the cochlear nucleus gave some small effects. The results suggest that, as in rats, most choline acetyltransferase activity in the cat cochlear nucleus is associated with its centrifugal innervation. However, unlike the situation in rats, the enzyme activity in cats is related more to olivocochlear branches than to ventral fibers in the trapezoid body region. Also, the choline acetyltransferase activity related to olivocochlear collateral innervation is much less uniformly distributed within the cochlear nucleus in cats than in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

DNA probe culture confirmation assay for identification of thermophilic Campylobacter species.

We studied the ability of a new DNA probe-based assay system to correctly identify isolates of the thermophilic campylobacters Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. laridis grown in vitro. We examined 424 organisms, including 214 Campylobacter isolates and 210 other aerobic and anaerobic isolates. The probe assay, which uses a new homogeneous system in which all reactions take place within a single tube, demonstrated 100% accuracy, producing neither false-positive nor false-negative results. The assay does not, however, distinguish among C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. laridis.

Campylobacter↗