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M J Cox

Publications and source records attributed to M J Cox.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Tryptic peptide mapping of ubiquitin and derivatives using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

The conditions for tryptic digestion and subsequent peptide mapping of the ATP-dependent proteolysis cofactor ubiquitin and its derivatives are described. In aqueous solution, the native ubiquitin which is composed of 76 amino acids undergoes only a single cleavage at arginine-74. Full digestion of ubiquitin was obtained in 6.5 M urea, although cleavages at lysine-33 and arginine-74 were slow. Peptide mapping was achieved by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with a C18 column using a trifluoroacetic acid/triethylamine buffer system and acetonitrile as eluants. The peptides, separated using a linear gradient, were identified by amino acid analysis. Derivatives analyzed by this method include oxidized, monoiodotyrosyl, and diiodotyrosyl ubiquitin. This technique will be useful in examining peptides of chemically modified ubiquitin with respect to extent and specificity of modification. In addition, this technique will be useful in comparing ubiquitin peptides of different organisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The ontogeny of fetal lamb electrocortical activity: a power spectral analysis.

With the use of a relatively inexpensive microcomputer-based system for power spectral analysis, we have been able to provide quantitative information on maturational changes in electrocorticogram waveforms in the third-trimester fetal lamb. Twenty-six electrocorticogram recordings were obtained from nine fetal lambs, with gestational ages ranging from 114 to 139 days' gestation. The transition from disorganized to cyclic electrocorticogram activity (high-voltage slow activity and low-voltage fast activity) occurred at approximately 115 to 120 days' gestation. However, quantitative changes in waveform characteristics of the electrocorticogram continued throughout the rest of gestation. These maturational changes occurred primarily in the low-voltage fast activity periods, with a decrease in power density in the delta (0.3 to 3 Hz) band and an increase in the maximum frequencies detected in the beta (15 to 30 Hz) band. There were no significant changes in the power spectrum of the high-voltage slow activity periods as a function of gestational age.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗

The development of electrocortical activity in the fetal and neonatal guinea pig.

We have developed techniques for chronic recording of electrocortical activity in the fetal and neonatal guinea pig with subsequent power spectral analysis. Thirty-four unanesthesized, unrestrained pregnant Hartley guinea pigs were studied 1 to 14 days following surgical procedures. Twelve neonatal animals instrumented during the first week of life were studied at 3 to 30 days. Spontaneous, undifferentiated electrocortical activity was recorded from the youngest fetuses studied, with high-voltage slow activity appearing at 50 days' gestation. Cycling electrocortical activity and sleep spindles could be observed in the late-term fetal and neonatal animals, with rapid eye movements and behavioral state defined in the latter. Power spectral analysis demonstrated more predominant delta activity, faster beta frequencies, and better-developed sleep spindles in the neonatal animal as compared to the fetus.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗

Changes in the chondroitin sulfate-rich region of articular cartilage proteoglycans in experimental osteoarthritis.

The chondroitin sulfate-rich region was cleaved from cartilage proteoglycans of experimental osteoarthritic canine joints to establish whether changes in this region of the molecule contribute to the well-documented increase in the chondroitin sulfate to keratan sulfate ratio in osteoarthritis. Experimental osteoarthritis was induced in eight dogs by severance of the right anterior cruciate ligament, the left joint serving as a control. Proteoglycans were extracted from the femoral cartilage of both joints, isolated as A1 fractions by associative density gradient centrifugation and cleaved with hydroxylamine. The chondroitin sulfate-rich region was isolated by either gel chromatography or dissociative density gradient centrifugation. The chondroitin sulfate-rich region from the proteoglycans of the experimental osteoarthritic joints was slightly larger in hydrodynamic size and had both a higher uronate/protein weight ratio and galactosamine/glucosamine molar ratio than the corresponding control. We conclude that the chondroitin sulfate-rich region of proteoglycans in articular cartilage of experimental osteoarthritic joints is larger and has more chondroitin sulfate than that of proteoglycans of normal cartilage.

Amino Sugars↗

The prediction of intrapartum fetal metabolic acidosis by fetal heart rate monitoring.

Fetal heart rate characteristics during the 8 hours prior to delivery have been studied in 200 patients in whom the fetus had evidence of a metabolic acidosis at delivery, and compared to those in 200 patients in whom the fetus had a normal acid-base at delivery. Baseline fetal heart rate moderate bradycardia and tachycardia, decreased baseline variability, and decreased fetal heart rate accelerations are predictors of intrapartum fetal hypoxia with metabolic acidosis. Marked patterns of total decelerations and late decelerations are predictive of intrapartum fetal hypoxia with metabolic acidosis. The probability of fetal metabolic acidosis in the presence of a marked pattern of total decelerations is 25%, and with late decelerations it is 48%, in a population of high-risk pregnancies.

Acidosis↗

The effect of maternal, labor, and fetal factors upon fetal heart rate during the intrapartum period.

The effect of maternal labor, and fetal characteristics upon fetal heart rate behavior during the intrapartum period has been studied in 400 patients. Abnormal labor in comparison to normal labor has a higher baseline fetal heart rate with an increased incidence of baseline tachycardia and an increased incidence of absent or decreased baseline variability. A decreasing fetal weight gestational age percentile is associated with an increased incidence of variable decelerations. Segmental epidural and Demerol analgesia carefully administered has little effect upon fetal heart rate behavior.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

Dynamics of malaria parasitaemia associated with febrile illness in children from a rural area of Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Active community and self-reporting surveillance techniques have been used to describe the dynamics of febrile illness and associated malaria infection in children aged 2 to 15 years from a rural area of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Both history of fever and fever in association with parasitaemia appeared to be reliable indicators of malaria morbidity in this endemic area. Parasite density was observed to be a major determinant of mild malarial disease at both the population level and within an individual. Age-specific prevalence of febrile illness correlated with age-specific patterns of parasite density but not of parasite prevalence. Seasonal changes in fever incidence correlated with parasite density. The transition from afebrile to febrile state within an individual was generally associated with an increase in parasite density. Surveillance and self-reported febrile cases (which differ in severity on the basis of the perceived need for treatment) could be distinguished on the basis of parasite density. Thus surveillance techniques divide clinical malaria in rural PNG into 'mild' and 'very mild' forms. The age-specific pattern of decline of prevalence of malaria-associated febrile illness and parasite density is best explained by induction of strain-specific anti-disease immunity upon infection with a given strain of Plasmodium falciparum. The fever threshold in self-reporting febrile cases was seen to decrease with age and can be explained by an age-specific decline in anti-toxic immunity.

Adolescent↗

A new hazard of cornstarch, an absorbable dusting powder.

Cornstarch is currently the only powder used in the manufacture of surgical and examination gloves. The purpose of this study was to determine if cornstarch damages local tissue defenses in contaminated wounds. It was found that in contaminated wounds, cornstarch enhanced the growth of bacteria and elicited exaggerated inflammatory responses as measured by wound induration. As a result of this investigation, we do not recommend the use of gloves with cornstarch powders.

Animals↗

Considerations in the selection of surgical gloves for tape wound closure.

One of the reasons that tape closure of wounds is rarely used in the emergency department is that it is difficult for the emergency physician wearing powdered, latex gloves to handle skin closure tapes. Because the skin closure tapes adhere aggressively to powdered latex gloves, it is difficult for the emergency physician to separate the tape from his glove and apply the tape to the skin. The advent of a new powder free glove allows the emergency physician to handle the tapes and accomplish tape wound closure.

Adhesiveness↗

Ease of donning surgical gloves: an important consideration in glove selection.

It is a commonly held belief among physicians that powder free surgical gloves are more difficult to don than cornstarch powdered gloves. This difficulty is supposedly enhanced when the physician's hands are wet, a situation commonly encountered when regloving during surgical procedures. This investigation dispels these beliefs by demonstrating that the forces required to don powder free gloves do not differ significantly from those required to don gloves coated in cornstarch lubricant. Moreover, Biogel, a new powder free glove with an inner hydrogel lining, is shown to don easily and safely without ripping, even with wet hands, a circumstance not encountered with other gloves.

Emergency Medicine↗

Measles antibody levels in a vaccinated population in Brazil.

An epidemiological study of measles-specific immunoglobulin G antibody levels was conducted using a representative sample of a vaccinated suburban population in São Paulo State, Brazil. The study aimed to determine immunity status in relation to age and infection or vaccination experience. 549 age-structured samples of sera, collected in 1990, were screened and calibrated to the international reference serum, using measles nucleoprotein in an enzyme immunoassay. In the age group with direct experience of vaccination (9 months to 15 years), whether routine or campaign, over 90% had detectable antibody > or = 50 miu/mL. However, 14% of these had antibody concentrations between 50 and 100 miu/mL and 30% between 50 and 255 miu/mL. In those over 15 years of age, 94% had antibody levels > 255 miu/mL, assumed to be the result of past infection. The study suggested that, within highly vaccinated populations, a proportion of individuals had measles antibody levels which may be insufficient to protect against reinfection or clinical disease. The implications of these results, and similar findings elsewhere, in relation to the persistence of measles requires investigation; this has particular relevance in São Paulo following the recent measles outbreak.

Adolescent↗

"Scientific basis of wound closure techniques." Evaluation of a new training program.

A formal training program in wound repair entitled "Scientific Basis of Wound Closure Techniques" has been developed and is accredited by the Dannemiller Memorial Educational Foundation. This course is now available at no cost to medical schools, residencies, and continuing education programs for graduate physicians. A manual with its complementing videotape allow the course participant to gain the necessary psychomotor skills to repair wounds. Evaluation of the course taken by third-year medical students and first-year residents demonstrates a high level of satisfaction. After instituting the course, there was a noticeable change in the types of barriers, instruments, and wound closure techniques practiced in our emergency department.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗

I am your nurse.

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Empathy↗