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Biomedical subjects

M T Smith

Publications and source records attributed to M T Smith.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Dekkera, Brettanomyces and Eeniella: electrophoretic comparison of enzymes and DNA-DNA homology.

The taxonomic status of various species of Dekkera, Brettanomyces and Eeniella was examined by electrophoretic comparison of enzymes, by deoxyribonucleic acid homology and by physiological characterization. These studies demonstrated that two teleomorphic Dekkera species, D. anomala and D. bruxellensis (synonym D. intermedia), and four anamorphic Brettanomyces species, B. anomalus (synonym B. claussenii), B. bruxellensis (synonym B. abstinens, B. custersii, B. intermedius, B. lambicus), B. custersianus and B. naardenensis, can be recognized. The anamorphic genus Eeniella remained as a separate, monotypic taxon.

Base Composition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Post-ERCP pancreatitis: randomized, prospective study comparing a low- and high-osmolality contrast agent.

Diagnostic and therapeutic ERCPs are complicated by pancreatitis in 1% to 10% of patients, and evidence suggests that the contrast agent used for ERCP may be important in the pathogenesis of such pancreatitis. This prospective, double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether the use of a low-osmolality, nonionic contrast agent (Omnipaque 300; iohexol, 672 mOsm/kg H2O) would reduce the frequency and severity of postprocedure pancreatitis as compared to a high-osmolality, ionic contrast agent (Hypaque 50%; diatrizoate sodium, 1515 mOsm/kg H20). Six hundred ninety patients undergoing diagnostic ERCP (pancreatogram, cholangiogram, or both) either with or without sphincter of Oddi manometry and therapy were randomized to iohexol or diatrizoate sodium. Postprocedure pancreatitis was diagnosed when the serum amylase or lipase level was elevated to at least four times the upper limits of normal at 18 hours and was associated with increased abdominal pain persisting for at least 24 hours after the procedure that required administration of narcotic analgesics. The pancreatitis was graded as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the length of hospital stay and the need for intervention. The overall frequency (7.2% versus 7.5%) and severity (4.3% mild, 2% moderate, 0.9% severe for the diatrizoate sodium group versus 4.3% mild, 2.6% moderate, and 0.6% severe for the iohexol group) of postprocedure pancreatitis and the frequency and severity within each procedure category were similar for the two contrast agent groups (p > .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
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The mesograde amnesia of sleep may be attenuated in subjects with primary insomnia.

In this study, we pilot tested one of the more controversial components of the Neurocognitive Model of Insomnia; the proposition that subjects with chronic primary insomnia are better able to recall and/or recognize information from sleep onset intervals than good sleeper controls. Nine subjects participated in this pilot study, five of whom had a complaint of insomnia. The remaining four subjects were self-reported good sleeper controls. Subjects were matched for age, sex, and body mass. All subjects spent two nights in the sleep laboratory. The first night served as an adaptation night. The second night served as the experimental night during which a forced awakening and memory task was deployed. In this procedure, subjects were played single-word stimuli across four time periods: at natural sleep onset (Trial 1) and at the sleep onset transitions following three forced awakenings (Trials 2-4 from Stage 2 sleep). All subjects were awakened after about 6 h had elapsed from lights out and were tested for free recall and recognition memory for the word stimuli. The insomnia subjects, tended to identify more of the word stimuli on the recognition task (average for the four trials) and recognized significantly more of the words that were presented at sleep onset proper (Trial 1). This finding suggests that the natural mesograde amnesia of sleep may be attenuated in subjects with insomnia.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acrylamide causes preimplantation abnormalities in embryos and induces chromatin-adducts in male germ cells of mice.

Acrylamide, a known male postmeiotic germ cell mutagen, caused a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of morphologic abnormalities in preimplantation embryos. Single-cell eggs, growth retardation, and blastomere lysis were detected after paternal treatment with acrylamide (10 to 50 mg/kg, 5 d). The major effects were seen at weeks 1 to 3 after male treatment, with the highest level of abnormalities at the first week (> 90% vs. 5% in control). The frequency of abnormal four-day embryos was similar to preimplantation loss assessed at 15 to 16 d p.c. A > 100-fold elevation of chromatin adducts in sperm was observed during 1st and 2nd week after treatment, after which adduct levels decreased to baseline level. However, morphologic defects in embryos are not fully explained by the spermatid adduct curve. These findings demonstrate the effects of paternal exposure to acrylamide on preimplantation development and indicate a potential risk to the offspring of men exposed to acrylamide.

Acrylamide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Readmission of breastfed infants in the first 2 weeks of life.

OBJECTIVE: Readmission of breastfeeding infants for hyperbilirubinemia and/or dehydration has been increasing in recent years. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the indications for the condition of these infants at readmission, and to determine factors present prior to initial hospital discharge which might have identified them to be at risk. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 125 breastfeeding infants who were admitted to Children's Mercy Hospital from 1995 to 1997 in the first 2 weeks of life with diagnoses of hyperbilirubinemia, dehydration, or feeding problems were reviewed. Infants with hemolytic disease, infection, or other underlying causes were excluded. At readmission, 80 infants had total bilirubin levels > 342 mumol/l (20 mg/dl) and gestational age > or = 38 weeks or total bilirubin levels > 308 mumol/l (18 mg/dl) and gestational age < 38 weeks. Forty-nine infants had a weight loss > or = 12% from birth weight or a serum sodium concentration > or = 145 mmol/l. Twenty-six infants had both hyperbilirubinemia and excessive weight loss or hypernatremia. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of all infants was 38.6 weeks, 95% CI, 38.3 to 38.9 weeks. Mean length of initial hospital stay was 1.8 days (SD 1.03) for vaginally delivered infants compared with 3.4 days (SD 2.1) for those delivered by C-section (p = 0.003). The Cesarean birth rate (9%) was disproportionally low in infants readmitted compared with overall C-section rate in Kansas City, MO (17%) (p = 0.03). There was a significantly lower rate of readmission for infants whose initial hospital stay was > or = 3 days (p = < 0.002), but not for infants whose initial stay was > or = 2 days (p = 0.1). Infants admitted for hyperbilirubinemia only were at 38.3 +/- 1.6 weeks gestation compared with infants admitted for excessive weight loss or hypernatremia, 39.2 +/- 1.3 (p = 0.06), and 1 days older, 5.4 +/- 1.9 days vs. 4.4 +/- 2.5 days (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that prematurity and short hospital stays are risk factors for readmission of breastfeeding infants with hyperbilirubinemia and/or excessive weight loss and hypernatremia. An initial hospital stay > or = 3 days was associated with a reduced risk for readmission of these infants.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

'Thus the Colliers and their wives...': migration, mate choice and population structure of some County Durham parishes in the mid-19th century.

AIM: Historical accounts of the mining population in County Durham, UK, offer two persistent representations of demographic behaviour--substantial mobility and occupational endogamy--which would influence the distribution of genes in the population. The aim of this paper is to test these predictions against 19th-century demographic data, comparing miners with other contemporary occupations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four parishes in County Durham yielded data on 3653 birthplace-residence distances, calculated from locations recorded in the 1851 census enumerators' books, and on occupational endogamy and exogamy for 3784 marriages recorded in the Anglican registers, 1834-76. Endogamy was analysed by log-linear models and odds ratios. RESULTS: Median migration distances were similar in the miners and other occupations, though the proportion of migrants among the miners (99.7%) was higher than agricultural (87.0%) and general labourers (91%). Endogamy in the miners (76%) was higher than in other populations (maximum 39%), but further analysis showed that the miners' tendency to marry women from the same occupational background was less than among agricultural labourers or professional men. CONCLUSION: Predictions of high migration rate and endogamy among the mining populations were upheld, but there was little evidence that the behaviour of the miners differed from other occupational groups.

Coal Mining↗
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Isonymic relationships in the parish of Fylingdales, North Yorkshire, in 1851.

Lasker 's coefficient of relationship by isonymy was used to analyse surname data taken from the 1851 Census returns for Fylingdales parish, North Yorkshire. At this time the population had a thriving maritime economy based on the coastal town of Robin Hood's Bay, as well as agricultural and some industrial activity inland at Thorpe , Raw and Stoupe Brow. There is a marked heterogeneity in the distribution of surnames within the parish, with both place and profession constraining isonymic relationships. Within-group kinship is high among the mariners , fishermen and shipowners of Robin Hood's Bay and Thorpe , and the relationship between these different maritime groups is also very high. Kinship is generally far lower both within and between the land-based occupational groups, and between these and the seafarers .

Adolescent↗
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Changing isonymic relationships in Fylingdales parish, North Yorkshire, 1841-1881.

Lasker's coefficient of relationship by isonymy was used to analyse surname data taken from the 1841-1881 Census returns from Fylingdales parish, North Yorkshire. Relationships were measured between each of the occupational groups: mariner, fisherman, shipowner, farmer, agricultural labourer, alum works labourer and 'other'--with and between census years in each decade. Broadly, there is a clear differentiation of the population genetic structure in the parish over this whole period, and distinct clusters of 'maritime', 'agricultural' and 'other' jobs can be identified. In finer detail, the gradual breakdown of this pattern of genetic differentiation can be observed, as the fishing industry declined, the alum works closed, and as new farming families moved in to the parish.

England↗
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Estimates of historical migration in County Durham.

Twelve parishes in Northumberland and County Durham were used to estimate the accuracy of Anglican marriage registers as indicators of migration between birthplace and marriage. We compared entries in the marriage registers with the annotated baptismal registers which exist for most Northumberland parishes from 1798-1812, and which explicitly document the birthplaces of the parents of the child baptised. By linking individual marriages and subsequent baptisms we showed that the marriage registers systematically underestimate the amount of migration, with values of f (predicted by Wright's Island model) estimated from marriage registers likely to be two to four times the size of those indicated by the baptism registers.

Emigration and Immigration↗