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Biomedical subjects

M Ford

Publications and source records attributed to M Ford.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Influence of gestation on uterine endometrial steroid receptor concentrations in the African elephant, Loxodonta africana.

The modulatory effects of gestational age and circulating concentrations of progesterone, 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione, and estradiol-17beta on the uterine sex steroid hormone receptor levels of the African elephant were investigated. Uterine tissue biopsies and blood samples were obtained from animals culled in the Kruger National Park. Estrogen and progesterone receptor concentrations were determined in uterine biopsies from subadult, lactating, early-, mid-, and late-pregnant elephants, by equilibrium binding assays. Circulating estradiol-17beta and progesterone concentrations were measured by means of RIAs, while plasma concentrations of 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione were determined with an amplified ELISA. Significant inverse correlations of the concentrations of estrogen and progesterone receptors with the gestational stage of the elephants were observed. Pregnant uterine horns of individual animals contained lower levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors than the nonpregnant horns of the same animals. A strong positive correlation existed between uterine estrogen and progesterone receptors levels. Circulating concentrations of 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and progesterone decreased with an increase in the concentrations of progesterone receptors as well as with fetal age. We conclude that the progesterone receptor concentrations are down-regulated with progressing gestation in the African elephant. This down-regulation appears to be linked to an increase in circulatory 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione concentration in the plasma of pregnant animals.

5-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗
PubMed1998

Oxidative stress increases A1 adenosine receptor expression by activating nuclear factor kappa B.

The A1 adenosine receptor (A1AR) contributes to the cytoprotective action of adenosine under conditions known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pharmacological manipulation of A1AR expression has been shown to modulate this cytoprotective role. In this study, we provide evidence that ROS generated could increase the expression of the A1AR and thereby offset the detrimental effects of ROS. Incubation of DDT1MF-2 smooth muscle cells with ROS-generating chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin (2.5 microM) or H2O2 (10 microM), elicited an increase in A1AR expression within 24 hr. The induction by H2O2 was reduced by the ROS scavenger catalase but not superoxide dismutase. Inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (200 microM), dexamethasone (100 nM), or genistein (1 microM) abrogated the cisplatin-mediated increase in A1AR. Cisplatin promoted rapid translocation of NF kappa B (but not AP-1) to the nucleus, as detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and by Western blotting. A putative NF kappa B sequence in the A1AR promoter effectively competed with labeled kappa B probe for binding in nuclear preparations derived from DDT1MF-2 cells. Transient transfection of DDT1MF-2 cells with the A1AR promoter coupled to firefly luciferase reporter gene led to cisplatin-inducible and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate-sensitive luciferase activity, suggesting the presence of functional NF kappa B binding site(s) in the A1AR promoter sequence. Treatment of cells with (R)-phenylisopropyladenosine (1 microM), an agonist of the A1AR, reduced cisplatin-mediated lipid peroxidation, which was reversed after blockade of the A1AR. These data suggest that ROS can increase the expression of the A1AR by activating NF kappa B regulatory site(s) on this gene and thereby enhance the cytoprotective role of adenosine.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Outbreak of gram-negative septicaemia caused by contaminated continuous infusions prepared in a non-clinical area.

An outbreak of Gram-negative septicaemia due to cross infection on an acute cardiology ward is reported. This outbreak was facilitated by two factors: first, an area originally designed for non-clinical purposes was converted into a clean utility area without consulting the infection control team, and second, changes in staff had taken place at the same time. This outbreak emphasizes the importance of continuous staff training in infection control, the involvement of the infection control team in all building alterations and the need to improve recommendations by the Department of Health in the design of clean utility areas.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1997

Note: cyclohexenoesculetin-beta-D-glucoside: a new substrate for the detection of bacterial beta-D-glucosidase.

A new substrate for the detection of bacterial beta-D-glucosidase was evaluated as an alternative to aesculin. This substrate, 3,4-cyclohexenoesculetin-7-beta-D-glucoside, was compared with aesculin for the detection of beta-D-glucosidase in 150 enterococci, 40 streptococci, 12 Listeria sp. and 250 strains of Enterobacteriaceae. In the Gram-positive strains tested, aesculin hydrolysis correlated with hydrolysis of 3,4-cyclohexenoesculetin-7-beta-D-glucoside. In the Gram-negative strains the new substrate was hydrolysed by all aesculin-positive strains and also by four strains (10%) of Escherichia coli which gave a negative aesculin reaction. 3,4-Cyclohexenoesculetin-7-beta-D-glucoside was shown to be a reliable alternative to aesculin and was shown to have significant advantages over aesculin when incorporated into solid media. This was due to the non-diffusible end product produced by hydrolysis of 3,4-cyclohexenoesculetin-7-beta-D-glucoside in the presence of iron.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1997

Outcomes study of a course in breast-cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: The Breast Cancer Screening Module is a professional training course within the Professional Education for Prevention and Early Detection (PEPED) program at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. An outcomes study was done to determine the module's ability to improve screening practices crucial to breast-cancer control. METHODS: The five-day course combines 17 hours of class work with 20 hours of hands-on clinical training. Subjects were followed for one year post-training. Six outcome areas were evaluated: 1) knowledge about breast-cancer prevention; 2) clinical skills; 3) changes in routine practice; 4) numbers of patients screened, referred, and diagnosed; 5) trainee satisfaction with the course; and 6) barriers to implementing screening in routine practice. The study population was 63 subjects (all nurse professionals). RESULTS: Outcomes were positive in all six evaluation areas-significant gains in general and clinical knowledge tests (p < or = 0.05); a significant increase from 54.2% pre-training to 70.5% post-training in risk counseling (p < or = 0.05); a sustained increase in screening practices (4.3 times and 2.8 times greater at 6 and 12 months post-training, respectively); 72% rate of high course satisfaction; and barriers to improved screening practices, such as time limitations among 60.4% of subjects and 57.6% of their employers, were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This unique training enhances breast-cancer prevention and screening practices and early detection.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Bronchoscopic findings in post-obstructive pulmonary oedema.

PURPOSE: To present the first photographed bronchoscopic findings associated with negative pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPE). CLINICAL FEATURES: A previously healthy patient underwent anterior C3-C4 disc removal and arthrodesis. Following tracheal extubation he developed acute respiratory distress manifested as stridor, tachypnoea, restlessness, and desaturation. Once the trachea was reintubated, he displayed the classic findings of pulmonary oedema. Bronchoscopy was performed to confirm tracheal tube position and to rule out tracheal injury secondary to surgical manipulation. Diffuse punctate haemorrhages were noted throughout the visualised tracheobronchial tree. CONCLUSION: We believe that these haemorrhages represent disruption of the bronchial vasculature and may contribute to the clinical presentation of NPPE.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of cyclohexenoesculetin-beta-D-galactoside and 8-hydroxyquinoline-beta-D-galactoside as substrates for the detection of beta-galactosidase.

We describe the synthesis of two new substrates for the detection of beta-galactosidase and evaluate their performance in comparison with that of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-Gal). Of 171 Enterobacteriaceae strains that were able to hydrolyze X-Gal, 166 (97.1%) also hydrolyzed cyclohexenoesculetin-beta-D-galactoside whereas only 96 (56.1%) showed evidence of hydrolysis of 8-hydroxyquinoline-beta-D-galactoside. No false-positive results were observed with either substrate.

Enterobacteriaceae↗
PubMed1996

A component-based, distributed object services architecture for a clinical workstation.

Attention to an architectural framework in the development of clinical applications can promote reusability of both legacy systems as well as newly designed software. We describe one approach to an architecture for a clinical workstation application which is based on a critical middle tier of distributed object-oriented services. This tier of network-based services provides flexibility in the creation of both the user interface and the database tiers. We developed a clinical workstation for ambulatory care using this architecture, defining a number of core services including those for vocabulary, patient index, documents, charting, security, and encounter management. These services can be implemented through proprietary or more standard distributed object interfaces such as CORBA and OLE. Services are accessed over the network by a collection of user interface components which can be mixed and matched to form a variety of interface styles. These services have also been reused with several applications based on World Wide Web browser interfaces.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1995

Two modes of mental representation and problem solution in syllogistic reasoning.

In this paper, the theory of syllogistic reasoning proposed by Johnson-Laird (1983, 1986; Johnson-Laird & Bara, 1984; Johnson-Laird & Byrne, 1991) is shown to be inadequate and an alternative theory is put forward. Protocols of people attempting to solve syllogistic problems and explaining to another person how they reached their conclusions were obtained. Two main groups of subjects were identified. One group represented the relationship between classes in a spatial manner that was supplemented by a verbal representation. The other group used a primarily verbal representation. A detailed theory of the processes for both groups is given.

Cognition↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of neural precursor differentiation in the embryonic and adult forebrain.

1. Precursors form the neuroepithelium of the developing cortex and also from the adult sub-ventricular zone, can be cloned in vitro after stimulation with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and have the potential to give rise to both neurons and glia. The generation of neurons from these clones can be stimulated by either a factor derived from an astrocyteprecursor line, Ast-1, or FGF-1. 2. Neuronal differentiation stimulated by FGF-1 can be inhibited by diacylglycerol-lipase inhibitor and mimicked by arachidonic acid, suggesting that the neuronal differentiation is signalled through the PCL gamma pathway. 3. The sequential expression of FGF-2 and FGF-1 within the developing forebrain neuroepithelium fits with the different functions the two FGF play in precursor regulation. 4. We have shown that the precursor response to FGF-1 is regulated by a heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) expressed within the developing neuroepithelium. Precursors restricted to the astrocyte cell lineage can be stimulated by epidermal growth factor or FGF-2; however, the differentiation into GFAP positive astrocytes appears to require a cytokine acting through the leukaemia inhibitory factor beta receptor.

Adult↗