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Biomedical subjects

M Walsh

Publications and source records attributed to M Walsh.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1971

Super-vision.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A rapid agglutination assay to detect anti-streptokinase antibodies.

BACKGROUND: Streptokinase resistance may cause suboptimal thrombolytic therapy. AIM: To develop a rapid latex-bead assay to detect streptokinase antibodies. METHODS: Sera were obtained from 16 patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (MI) before treatment with streptokinase and 1 and 6 months post treatment, and from 100 controls. Sera were assayed for anti-streptokinase antibodies using a functional streptokinase-neutralising assay. RESULTS: Streptokinase-neutralising activity was low in controls (54 +/- 5U/ml) and patients prior to treatment (101 +/- 18), increasing to 2,110 +/- 823 and 1,017 +/- 169 at 1 and 6 months (mean +/- SEM). The latex assay had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 93% for detecting individuals with > 350U/ml of streptokinase resistance, which is sufficient to neutralise the drug clinically. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of streptokinase resistance using an enzyme immunoassay and a latex bead assay correlated well with serum neutralising activity. This assay can rapidly identify patients who have a high level of streptokinase-neutralising activity.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methylprednisolone in acute spinal cord injuries.

BACKGROUND: Methylprednisolone is the only neuroprotective therapy advocated in acute non-penetrating spinal cord injury. Trials indicate improved neurological outcome following early administration of a high dose regime. The National Spinal Injuries Unit (NSIU) has promoted this regime by a simple laminated poster sent to all Irish A&E departments. AIM: To assess the use of methylprednisolone in patients with spinal cord injuries. METHODS: A retrospective audit of patient data for all patients admitted with traumatic neurological impairment over a 12-month period. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-six patients were admitted during the study period, 28 (14%) received intravenous methylprednisolone of which six had clear records documenting compliance. One patient received both dexamethasone and methylprednisolone in high doses and three had incorrect bolus dosages administered. Six patients received methylprednisolone infusion longer than the protocol, while five patients were given infusions shorter than recommended. Three patients were admitted to the unit that could have received the steroid regime at the point of transfer. CONCLUSIONS: There was poor documentation of prescription orders and timing of administration. Only six patients had clear documentation allowing confirmation of adherence to the protocol of the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (NASCIS) III trial.

Acute Disease↗
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Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx.

A rare case of moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (atypical carcinoid) of the larynx is presented. The role of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of the lesion is described. The importance of considering the diagnosis in a patient with prolonged cervical pain with features of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, is discussed.

Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of cellular uptake and gene transfer efficiency of pegylated poly-L-lysine compacted DNA: implications for cancer gene therapy.

Recent success in phase I/II clinical trials (Konstan, M. W.; Davis, P. B.; Wagener, J. S.; Hilliard, K. A.; Stern, R. C.; Milgram, L. J.; Kowalczyk, T. H.; Hyatt, S. L.; Fink, T. L.; Gedeon, C. R.; Oette, S. M.; Payne, J. M.; Muhammad, O.; Ziady, A. G.; Moen, R. C.; Cooper, M. J. Hum. Gene Ther. 2004, 15 (12), 1255-69) has highlighted pegylated poly-L-lysine (C1K30-PEG) as a nonviral gene delivery agent capable of achieving clinically significant gene transfer levels in vivo. This study investigates the potential of a C1K30-PEG gene delivery system for cancer gene therapy and evaluates its mode of cellular entry with the purpose of developing an optimally formulated prototype for tumor cell transfection. C1K30-PEG complexes have a neutral charge and form rod-like and toroid-like nanoparticles. Comparison of the transfection efficiency achieved by C1K30-PEG with other cationic lipid and polymeric vectors demonstrates that C1K30-PEG transfects cells more efficiently than unpegylated poly-L-lysine and compares well to commercially available vectors. In vivo gene delivery by C1K30-PEG nanoparticles to a growing subcutaneous murine tumor was also demonstrated. To determine potential barriers to C1K30-PEG gene delivery, the entry mechanism and intracellular fate of rhodamine labeled complexes were investigated. Using cellular markers to delineate the pathway taken by the complexes upon cellular entry, only minor colocalization was observed with EEA-1, a marker of early endosomes. No colocalization was observed between the complexes and the transferrin receptor, which is a marker for clathrin-coated pits. In addition, complexes were not observed to enter late endosomes/lysosomes. Cellular entry of the complexes was completely inhibited by the macropinocytosis inhibitor, amiloride, indicating that the complexes enter cells via macropinosomes. Such mechanistic studies are an essential step to support future rational design of pegylated poly-L-lysine vectors to improve the efficiency of gene delivery.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of human papillomavirus by the polymerase chain reaction in histologically normal penile skin adjacent to penile warts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anogenital warts frequently recur following ablative treatment, and in the female, has been attributed to the presence of latent HPV infection outside the treatment margins. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To determine whether HPV DNA sequences were detected by PCR in histologically normal penile skin adjacent to penile warts and to correlate recurrence of warts following surgical ablation to the presence of HPV DNA in histologically normal penile skin. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of 25 heterosexual men with penile warts. Biopsies of clinically healthy penile skin 1 cm from the nearest penile lesion (wart with/without surrounding acetowhite changes) were processed for histology and HPV DNA analysis. The penile wart was processed for HPV DNA analysis only. Recurrence of penile warts was correlated to HPV status of adjacent histologically normal penile skin using Fisher's exact test (FET). RESULTS: Sequences homologous to HPV DNA were detected in 77% of biopsies of histologically normal penile skin. Agreement in HPV DNA type between penile wart and the adjacent histologically normal penile skin was only 30%. Recurrence of warts was noted in 46% of men by 16 weeks, and was not predicted by the detection of HPV DNA in the adjacent histologically normal penile skin (P = 0.16, FET). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that extending the treatment margins 1 cm beyond the visible lesion is ineffective in eradicating the virus and preventing recurrence of warts.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses and nurse practitioners. 1: Priorities in care.

Some people perceive nurse practitioners (NPs) as 'mini doctors' concerned more with the biomedical and technical aspects of health care than with the holistic, psychosocial elements. In the first of two articles, these assertions are tested. The views of a group of nurse practitioner graduates and undergraduates are compared with the views of a group of other nurses taking continuing education courses. The results may surprise you.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurses and nurse practitioners. Part 2: Perspectives on care.

The recent growth of the nurse practitioner (NP) movement has coincided with rising interest in the area of professional development. Nurse practitioners have been criticised for moving away from nursing and becoming 'mini-doctors', a charge which they hotly deny, pointing out that they are actually trying to become 'maxi-nurses'. How do nurses and nurse practitioners see their future professional development? If NPs really are intent on becoming 'mini-doctors', might there be evidence of this in their aspirations for professional development? In the second of two articles comparing the perspectives of nurses with those of nurse practitioners, this study investigates opinions about future professional development.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗