Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Pearce

Publications and source records attributed to L Pearce.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

PCR identification of dermatophyte fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. soudanense and T. gourvilii.

Diagnosis of dermatophytosis employing conventional laboratory procedures has been complicated by the slow growth and varied morphological features shown by dermatophytes. After analysis of the nucleotide base sequences of a 1.2-kb fragment amplified from a dermatophyte fungus Trichophyton rubrum by arbitrarily primed PCR with random primer OPD18, a pair of primers (TRIF and TR1R) was designed and evaluated for specific identification of T. rubrum. The sensitivity of the primers TR1F and TR1R was high, as a specific PCR band of c. 600 bp was detected from as little as 7 pg of T. rubrum DNA. By examining 92 dermatophyte strains and clinical isolates, it was found that this pair of primers reacted in PCR with T. rubrum, T. soudanense and T. gourvilii through formation of the specific fragment of 600 bp, but not with any other of the dermatophyte species or varieties, fungi, yeasts or bacteria tested. As T rubrum is one of the most frequently isolated dermatophyte fungi, and T. soudanense and T. gourvilii are relatively uncommon in many parts of the world, these primers can be used for rapid, sensitive and specific identification and differentiation of T. rubrum from other fungi and micro-organisms.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed2002

Understanding patient perceptions of asthma: results of the Asthma Control and Expectations (ACE) survey.

In spite of support among UK healthcare professionals for asthma guidelines, studies continue to show that many patients fail to reach the suggested management goals. Patient expectations and poor communication may be factors in this failure. This survey assessed patients' asthma control, expectations in respect of asthma and communication with healthcare professionals. A structured questionnaire, designed for self-completion, was developed and distributed to asthma patients at participating pharmacies. A total of 1031 questionnaires were returned. Most of the respondents, even among those feeling well, reported lifestyle restrictions because of asthma. These restrictions were not generally discussed with healthcare professionals. One-third did not perceive the benefits of inhaled corticosteroids. Low expectation may be a major contributor to the poor control seen in this survey. The failure to discuss lifestyle restrictions and symptom levels with healthcare professionals gives little scope for recommendation of appropriate and adequate treatment. Improved communication between healthcare professionals and patients may help such understanding and raise patient expectations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A specific PCR assay for the dermatophyte fungus Microsporum canis.

A DNA fragment of approximately 1.2 kb, generated from the common dermatophyte Microsporum canis by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using random primer OPU13, was cloned and sequenced. Based on the resulting sequencing data, a forward primer (MC1F) and a reverse primer (MC1R) have been designed and assessed by PCR for their usefulness in the improved identification of M. canis. The results obtained suggest that these primers are specific for M. canis, as a band of 900 bp was amplified in PCR with genomic DNA from M. canis only, and not from any of the other dermatophyte species or varieties, other fungi or common bacteria examined. Combining this PCR technique with a rapid mini-preparation method for fungal DNA, a definitive diagnosis of M. canis can be achieved within a day from the primary cultures. Future refinement of a DNA purification protocol from clinical specimens would further enhance the potential of the PCR based test for improved detection and identification of M. canis.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed2001

Modulation of redox signal transduction pathways in the treatment of cancer.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated damage to DNA is associated with induction of stress-activated protein kinases leading to secondary and tertiary effects on the nuclear matrix, cytoplasmic transport mechanisms, and altered mitochondrial and cell membranes. The cellular defenses against ROS damage are associated with up-regulation of gene products that can significantly alter cell biology, including antiapoptotic Bax family proteins and inflammatory proteins. Altered cell integrity can occur either directly or by indirect paracrine and juxtacrine interactions within tissues. Previous approaches toward therapeutic intervention against ROS damage have included administration of radical scavenger compounds, use of novel drugs that increase cellular production of constitutive antioxidants, or pharmacologic agents that modify the intracellular transport of antioxidants. Strategies to modify the cellular effects of ROS in hyperbaric oxygen injury to the lung, reperfusion injury to transplanted organs, and cancer have led to novel approaches of gene therapy in which the transgenes for antioxidant proteins can be expressed in specific tissues. Reducing tissue-damaging effects of ROS may have relevance to cancer patients by ameliorating normal tissue damage from ionizing irradiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, and cancer chemotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The role of anti-IgE in managing difficult-to-treat or severe asthma.

Until recently, treatment options for those with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma have been restricted to the use of beta 2-agonists and corticosteroids. It has been increasingly recognised that such patients need a new approach. This article discusses how anti-immunoglobulin E treatment could contribute to the successful management of patients with this condition.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of D-xylose and 1% methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside fermentation tests for distinguishing Enterococcus gallinarum from Enterococcus faecium.

To determine the validity of the rapid xylose and methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (MDG) fermentation tests in distinguishing Enterococcus gallinarum from Enterococcus faecium, 156 well-characterized clinical isolates of enterococci (55 E. gallinarum, 91 E. faecium, and 10 Enterococcus faecalis isolates) known to be of different clones were examined in a blinded fashion. Species identification was confirmed by PCR of the ddl ligase genes of E. faecium and E. faecalis and the vanC1 gene of E. gallinarum. Xylose tests were performed with D-xylose tablets by using a heavy bacterial suspension and were interpreted after 2 h of incubation. Standard MDG fermentation tests were read after 24 h of incubation. The xylose fermentation test had a sensitivity of 98% (54 of 55) and a specificity of 99% (100 of 101) in distinguishing E. gallinarum from E. faecium and E. faecalis. The standard MDG test had a sensitivity of 100% (55 of 55) and a specificity of 95% (96 of 101) after 24 h. The xylose fermentation test is a simple method, easily incorporated into laboratory protocols, that distinguishes E. gallinarum from E. faecium with high sensitivity and specificity in 2 h. The standard MDG test has high sensitivity and can be useful in ruling out the presence of E. gallinarum but requires overnight incubation.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Vertebrate development in the environment of space: models, mechanisms, and use of the medaka.

With the advent of space travel, it is of immediate interest and importance to study the effects of exposure to various aspects of the altered environment of space, including microgravity, on Earth-based life forms. Initial studies of space travel have focused primarily on the short-term effects of radiation and microgravity on adult organisms. However, with the potential for increased lengths of time in space, it is critical to now address the effects of space on all phases of an organism's life cycle, from embryogenesis to post-natal development to reproduction. It is already possible for certain species to undergo multiple generations within the confines of the Mir Space Station. The possibility now exists for scientists to consider the consequences of even potentially subtle defects in development through multiple phases of an organism's life cycle, or even through multiple generations. In this discussion, we highlight a few of the salient observations on the effects of the space environment on vertebrate development and reproductive function. We discuss some of the many unanswered questions, in particular, in the context of the choice of appropriate models in which to address these questions, as well as an assessment of the availability of hardware already existing or under development which would be useful in addressing these questions.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Adults with a history of child sexual abuse: evaluation of a pilot therapy service.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a pilot service offering therapy specifically to adults with a history of child sexual abuse. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey. SETTING: Specialised therapy unit, Breakfree, which offers care, therapy, and support. SUBJECTS: 116 clients presenting to the service who were offered therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores from three psychological questionnaires--the social activities and distress scale, the general health questionnaire, and the delusions, symptoms, and states inventory--and from questionnaires about the clients' abuse, previous use of health services, and opinion of the Breakfree service. RESULTS: Clients had received previous help from health services and other agencies without apparent effect; they were highly distressed according to their psychological scores; and they were very frequent users of the health services. The clients showed significant improvement in their psychological scores (Wilcoxon's matched pairs signed ranks test): social activities and distress scale, z = -3.3, P = 0.001; general health questionnaire, z = -5.8, P < 0.00001; delusions, symptoms, and states inventory, z = -4.8, P < 0.00001). This was most pronounced for those who had completed therapy by the end of the study. Whereas 82/88 clients had a score for the general health questionnaire that indicated clinical distress at the start, only 28/58 did so at the end of the study (only 17/35 among those who had finished therapy). CONCLUSIONS: This group of adults with a history of child sexual abuse were highly disturbed and previous high users of the health service. The specialist service Breakfree was effective in the short term and, if the benefits are sustained, would yield a net cost saving to the health service.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The effects of oral droperidol versus oral metoclopramide versus both oral droperidol and metoclopramide on postoperative vomiting when used as a premedicant for strabismus surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of oral droperidol versus oral metoclopramide, or both oral droperidol and metoclopramide, on postoperative vomiting when used as a premedicant for strabismus surgery. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, prospective study. SETTING: Academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: 154 ASA physical status I and II ambulatory patients, ages 1 to 15 years, scheduled for strabismus surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive colored sugar water containing either droperidol 300 mcg/kg orally, metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg orally, both droperidol 300 mcg/kg and metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg orally, or no active ingredient (placebo group) as a premedicant. The premedications were given orally 1 to 1.5 hours prior to the operation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were analyzed for the number of episodes of vomiting from the time of their emergence from anesthesia through the first 24 hours postoperatively, including the convalescent period at home. Patients were also analyzed for length of hospital stay. There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding age, premedication time, surgery time, or discharge time. Droperidol and droperidol-metoclopramide were significantly more effective (p < 0.012) than either the metoclopramide group or the placebo group in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting following strabismus surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that oral droperidol 300 mcg/kg and the combination of oral droperidol 300 mcg/kg and metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg are effective in reducing the frequency of vomiting within the first 24 hours after strabismus surgery. The combination of oral droperidol and oral metoclopramide is highly effective in reducing the frequency of vomiting postoperatively in strabismus ambulatory surgery patients (p = 0.017). This combination seems to represent an inexpensive alternative to the more costly ondansetron.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Expression and nucleotide sequence of the Clostridium acetobutylicum beta-galactosidase gene cloned in Escherichia coli.

A gene library for Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIB 2951 was constructed in the broad-host-range cosmid pLAFR1, and cosmids containing the beta-galactosidase gene were isolated by direct selection for enzyme activity on X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactoside) plates after conjugal transfer of the library to a lac deletion derivative of Escherichia coli. Analysis of various pSUP202 subclones of the lac cosmids on X-Gal plates localized the beta-galactosidase gene to a 5.1-kb EcoRI fragment. Expression of the Clostridium beta-galactosidase gene in E. coli was not subject to glucose repression. By using transposon Tn5 mutagenesis, two gene loci, cbgA (locus I) and cbgR (locus II), were identified as necessary for beta-galactosidase expression in E. coli. DNA sequence analysis of the entire 5.1-kb fragment identified open reading frames of 2,691 and 303 bp, corresponding to locus I and locus II, respectively, and in addition a third truncated open reading frame of 825 bp. The predicted gene product of locus I, CbgA (molecular size, 105 kDa), showed extensive amino acid sequence homology with E. coli LacZ, E. coli EbgA, and Klebsiella pneumoniae LacZ and was in agreement with the size of a polypeptide synthesized in maxicells containing the cloned 5.1-kb fragment. The predicted gene product of locus II, CbgR (molecular size, 11 kDa) shares no significant homology with any other sequence in the current DNA and protein sequence data bases, but Tn5 insertions in this gene prevent the synthesis of CbgA. Complementation experiments indicate that the gene product of cbgR is required in cis with cbgA for expression of beta-galactosidase in E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Outpatient evaluation of a rapid, direct test for detection of group A streptococci in throat swabs.

A latex agglutination test (Marion Laboratories) was compared with standard culture methods for the detection of Group A streptococci in two studies of 500 throat swabs each. Swabs were first inoculated to sheep blood agar and then tested for Group A streptococcal antigen. The direct test performed with nearly identical sensitivity and specificity in the two phases of the study. Overall, Group A streptococci were isolated from 91 specimens, and 81 (89%) of these were detected by the direct latex test. The predictive value positive for the latex test was 90%, and the accuracy was 98%. The sensitivity of the latex test for detection of specimens having ten or more colonies of Group A streptococci was 95%. Non-Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 65 specimens, and all of these specimens had negative latex tests. The authors' findings suggest that this direct latex agglutination test is a reliable screening method for rapid detection of Group A streptococci in outpatient throat specimens.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1984

Relation of inspired oxygen fraction to hypoxemia in mechanically ventilated adults.

To evaluate the recommendation that all adult patients started on mechanical ventilation (MV) should have an initial fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) of 1.0, 207 consecutive adult patients started on MV in the critical care units were studied. The initial FIO2, the resultant PaO2, and the level of training of the physician ordering the initial ventilator settings were recorded for each patient. Patients treated with an initial FIO2 less than 1.0 had a PaO2 under 60 torr significantly more often than did patients treated with FIO2 of 1.0. Staff-level physicians tended to employ an initial FIO2 less than 1.0 more often than did physicians-in-training, and the latter had a 19% incidence of PaO2 less than 60 torr, while staff-level physicians had no PaO2 values less than 60 torr when using an initial FIO2 less than 1.0. It is concluded that all adult patients started on MV should receive an initial FIO2 of 1.0, especially when the physician ordering the initial FIO2 is a physician-in-training.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed1981

A comparison of the fears of mildly retarded adults with children of their mental age and chronological age matched controls.

Twenty mildly retarded adults were matched for chronological age and sex with twenty non-retarded children using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. All 60 subjects were given an 89-item Fear Survey Schedule with a three-point rating scale. Mildly retarded adults were more fearful in general and showed a more intense level of fear than their chronological age matched controls. However, they reported less overall fear than their mental age matched controls. Differences in type of feared objects or situations were reported between groups. The importance of understanding the degree and types of fear in promoting de-institutionalization in the retarded is stressed.

Adult↗