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Biomedical subjects

M Milner

Publications and source records attributed to M Milner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Molecular phylogeny in 3-D.

Molecular phylogenetic trees are constructed in three dimensions relative to the distribution of MW and pl classes and immunocrossreactivity against polyclonal antibodies to lens crystallins, as well as multiple sequence alignment between amino acid sequences, coding nucleotide sequences and the gene nucleotide sequences for beta-globin. Euclidian distances are estimated to position species in x, y, z space by multidimensional scaling and merged with bootstrap-tested branching pattern of Fitch & Margoliash plots to obtain 3-D phylogenetic tree. Compared to single attributes, phylogenetic trees based on multiple parameters allow significant repositioning of rodents, chiroptera and primates.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Energy metabolism after 2 y of energy restriction: the biosphere 2 experiment.

BACKGROUND: An adaptive decrease in energy expenditure (EE) in response to 6 mo of severely restricted energy intake was shown in a classic semistarvation study-the Minnesota experiment. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine whether such adaptation also occurs in response to less severe but sustained energy restriction. DESIGN: Body composition, 1-wk total EE (TEE), 24-h sedentary EE, and spontaneous physical activity were measured in 8 healthy subjects (4 men and 4 women) at the end of a 2-y confinement inside Biosphere 2. Unexpectedly, the food supply was markedly restricted during most of the confinement and all subjects experienced a marked, sustained weight loss (9.1 +/- 6.6 kg; P: < 0.001) from the low-energy (7000-11000 kJ/d), low-fat (9% of energy), but nutrient-dense, diet they consumed. RESULTS: The TEE inside Biosphere 2, assessed 3 wk before exit, averaged 10700 +/- 560 kJ/d (n = 8). Within 1 wk after exit, the adjusted 24-h EE and spontaneous physical activity were lower in the biospherians (n = 5) than in 152 control subjects (6% and 45%, respectively; both P: < 0.01). Six months after exit and return to an ad libitum diet, body weight had increased to preentry levels; however, adjusted 24-h EE and spontaneous physical activity were still significantly lower than in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In lean humans, an adaptive decrease in EE appears to occur not only in states of life-threatening undernutrition, but also in response to less severe energy restriction sustained over several years.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Substance abuse in an Irish antenatal population.

Substance abuse is prevalent in Ireland. The potential sequelae for abuser and carer are many. In pregnancy there are further problems. We assessed the prevalence of substance abuse in our antenatal population using an anonymous questionnaire and urine toxicology screening. We examined 522 women and 18 (3.4%) had positive urine toxicology. The anonymous questionnaire failed to identify all of these women. No typical patient profile emerged when the demographic features were studied. We believe that our study has underestimated the true prevalence of substance abuse in our antenatal population and many factors may have contributed to this. Substance abuse in pregnancy remains a difficult problem to quantify and for the future the main focus of attention must be on education and prevention.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Rapid method for fluorescent in situ ribosomal RNA labelling of Cryptosporidium parvum.

A method for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is described that requires less than 1 h duration. Oocysts were resuspended in 50% ethanol and incubated at 80 degrees C for 10 min for simultaneous fixation and permeabilization. Samples were than incubated with the oligonucleotide probe at 48 degrees C for more than 30 min. The rRNA binding specificity of the optimized protocol was confirmed. FISH was found to be valuable as a second label for oocysts presumptively identified immunofluorescently, but required more than an order of magnitude signal amplification for independent use. The number of oligonucleotide probes bound per oocyst was compared with the copy number of 18S rRNA molecules per oocyst to provide a measure of the labelling efficiency of the FISH method. Hybridization kinetics were also analysed. These data indicate that significant further increases in the brightness of FISH-labelled oocysts cannot be achieved by further optimization of the pre-treatment and hybridization conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Ovarian function after hysterectomy in an Irish hospital population.

A group of 52 women following hysterectomy with conservation of one or both ovaries was compared with an age-matched control group attending with menstrual irregularity/menorrhagia, in terms of proportions of women with postmenopausal endocrine profiles, and climacteric symptoms. The mean age for the groups was 42 years, and the mean interval between hysterectomy and the time of the study was 3.5 years. Endocrine levels were postmenopausal in six study and two control patients, and this difference was not significant. Vasomotor symptoms were a complaint of 28 (54%) of the study group and 18 (35%) of the control group, while 30 (58%) and 18 (35%) respectively had at least two other non-specific symptoms. In the absence of prospective studies elucidating the effect of hysterectomy on ovarian function, endocrine profiles should be performed in hysterectomised women complaining of symptoms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Load dependence of left atrial and left ventricular filling dynamics by transthoracic and transesophageal Doppler echocardiography.

This article evaluates the pattern and effect of varying loading conditions on pulmonary venous flow and transmitral flow obtained by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. We have conducted a two-stage study. A transthoracic echocardiographic study was performed in 15 patients with coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular function. The transesophageal approach was used before open heart surgery where hemodynamic conditions were invasively monitored. Sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) was administered to lower systolic blood pressure (mean 18 mm Hg) and resulted in a significant decrease in the peak passive left ventricular diastolic filling velocity (E wave) from 72 +/- 23 to 49 +/- 16 cm/s without marked changes in pulmonary venous flow pattern. In the transesophageal part of the study, Doppler-derived systolic (J), diastolic (K), and retrograde (R) phases of pulmonary venous flow, and passive (E) and active (A) phases of mitral flow were measured. Hemodynamic data were obtained invasively. Loading conditions were increased by infusion of saline and phenylephrine and reduced by NTG. Increased preload resulted in an augmented mitral E wave, an increased J wave, and an increased retrograde flow wave from the pulmonary veins. These changes were reversed by reduction of preload with NTG. Monitoring mitral and pulmonary venous flow may provide a relatively noninvasive means to assess directional changes in left ventricular preload.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

The potential of technological innovations for the disabled.

Technical innovations have enormous potential for enhancing the lives of people with disabilities, often providing means for substantial independence and contributing to their dignity. This paper uses a framework related to the personal needs of individuals throughout the hours of waking and rest. Examples of various potentialities are provided and discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Transesophageal echocardiography.

During the past ten years, two-dimensional echocardiography has become a major tool in the assessment of cardiovascular diseases. With the advent of pulsed, continuous wave, and color flow Doppler, the field of echocardiography is now accepted as the ideal noninvasive technique for assessing left and right ventricular function; determining valvular stenosis or regurgitation; assessing pericardial disease (i.e., constrictive pericarditis, pericardial effusion); determining diastolic dysfunction; estimating pulmonary artery pressures; examining for cardiac source of emboli; and evaluating for endocarditis. During the past five years, semi-invasive applications have included intracardiac echocardiography, guiding pericardiocentesis, assisting in percutaneous mitral valvotomy, catheter placement for ablation procedures, optimizing pacemaker hemodynamics, and using contrast agents to assess myocardial viability. With the miniaturization of transducers, bioengineers have developed probes small enough to be incorporated into the tip of a flexible gastroscope, thus accelerating the development of one of the most exciting and innovative techniques in cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Sixth nerve palsy: an unusual manifestation of preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic abnormalities may occur in pregnancy as a manifestation of neurologic or systemic disease. We present an unusual case of preeclampsia presenting with a sixth nerve lesion. CASE: A 33-year-old woman, gravida 2, presented at 38 weeks' gestation with sixth nerve palsy. She was hypertensive and proteinuric, with plasma urea of 24 mg/dL. Labor was induced and hypertension escalated in the early puerperium, with concomitant worsening diplopia. Blood pressure control and resolution of preeclampsia were followed by resolution of the sixth nerve lesion. There was no evidence of other pathology on extensive investigations. CONCLUSION: Sixth nerve palsy is an unusual manifestation of preeclampsia.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMed1993

Setting up a specialist menopause clinic in Ireland: the initial experience.

The Rotunda Hospital Dublin set up a Menopause Clinic in February 1990. Eighty-one new patients were seen in the first 6 months of operation. Most presented either with symptoms attributable to oestrogen deficiency (36%) or non-specific symptoms associated with depression or ageing (26%). There was a high incidence of significant family/social/martial problems (25%) and abnormal vaginal bleeding (20%). The case is made for such specialised clinics; expertise with respect to hormone replacement therapy and its manipulation develops, problems of specific socio-cultural settings can be identified, and screening programmes for disease coordinated.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Rehabilitation technology: exploitation of R&D and current technologies.

This paper summarizes the contributions made by all of the authors in Session (1) of the 1st TIDE Congress and highlights the potentialities for exploitation of research and developments in areas of technology relevant to aspects of interfaces relating to visual perception, facilitation of human communication, prosthetics and orthotics, robotics and signal processing. Means by which promising technological developments can be expedited for more widespread availability are discussed together with aspects of consumer involvement and teamwork through consortia of relevant expertise.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The impact of maternal age on pregnancy and its outcome.

There were 28,600 deliveries of 500 g or more to women at the Rotunda Hospital between January 1st 1985 and December 1st 1989. Of these, 595 were to women aged 40 years and over. Thirty-five variables of clinical significance were analyzed, comparing those of 40 years of age and more with those under 40. The older group had significant increases in gestational diabetes, ante-partum hemorrhage, fetal distress, prematurity, low birth weight and perinatal mortality. Chromosome congenital abnormalities were significantly higher, particularly Down syndrome. There were significantly increased rates of induction and cesarean section in the older women. Some evidence of interaction of age with other factors was found, however these were difficult to separate out in the clinical setting. We therefore recommend it wiser to manage all elderly gravidas in a high risk manner dealing with cases individually within this framework. Intervention should, however, need to be justified in the older as in the younger woman.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of seat-surface inclination on postural stability and function of the upper extremities of children with cerebral palsy.

This study investigated the effects of seat-surface inclination on parameters of postural stability and functional use of the upper extremity. 10 non-impaired children and 10 children with cerebral palsy, aged between four and 15 years, were studied. Seat-surface inclinations of 0 degree, 5 degrees anteriorly and 5 degrees posteriorly were used as the experimental conditions. Significant differences were observed on most dependent measures between the two groups. The results suggest that anteriorly tilting the seats of children with cerebral palsy may disturb postural stability, without improving performance of the upper extremity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Ventilation and swallowing interactions of normal children and children with cerebral palsy.

The respiratory inductance plethysmograph was used to analyse the ventilatory cycle during drinking, chewing and swallowing of normal and cerebral-palsied children aged between five and 12 years. 33 children were divided equally into three groups: normal, spastic CP and athetoid CP. A few of the children with spastic CP and over half of those with athetoid CP were unable to perform the 'big breath' task. In the remaining trials, the children with CP held their breath for a shorter time than normal children. Many children with CP required multiple swallows to consume 5mL of liquid. In the majority of trials, normal children swallowed liquids at or near the peak of inspiration, whereas the children with CP did not. Supplementary swallows and solid-bolus swallows occurred at any point in the ventilatory cycle in all groups. The children with CP had a greater need to inspire at the end of liquid tasks, especially during the 75mL task.

Cerebral Palsy↗