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Biomedical subjects

M Wright

Publications and source records attributed to M Wright.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Use of the double immuno gel diffusion test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to distinguish false from true reactors in the complement fixation test for Brucella ovis.

A gel diffusion test with sonicated Brucella ovis antigen and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on heat-extracted antigen were used to distinguish false from true reactions in a complement fixation test based on heat-extracted antigen. Of 142 complement fixing reactors (occurring in supposedly Brucella ovis-free, accredited flocks), the gel diffusion test correctly identified the status of 139 animals as compared to 128 with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A combination of the two methods resulted in a correct identification of 141 animals. The procedures provide an easy, cheap and quick way to determine the true status of reactors that show up during routine use of the complement fixation test in Brucella ovis re-accreditation procedures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Use of monoethylglycinexylidide as a liver function test in the liver transplant recipient.

The hepatic conversion of lignocaine to monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) has been used as a real time monitor of liver function in liver transplant recipients. Data are reported for the first 4 weeks after transplant in 50 consecutive orthotopic liver grafts in 47 adults. The MEGX concentration was significantly depressed by approximately 50% in those patients in whom there was a complicated clinical course (excluding steroid-sensitive rejection) after transplantation, compared with patients in whom major complications did not occur. The MEGX concentration in the recipients after transplant was independent of the donor MEGX concentration, but, in addition to the patient's clinical status, was strongly influenced by the recipients pretransplant biochemical profile, being inversely related to the pretransplant bilirubin concentration. MEGX concentrations < 25 micrograms/L in the first 36 hr after revascularization were predictive of greater morbidity and mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Intercellular signalling in Vibrio harveyi: sequence and function of genes regulating expression of luminescence.

Density-dependent expression of luminescence in Vibrio harveyi is regulated by the concentration of an extracellular signal molecule (autoinducer) in the culture medium. A recombinant clone that restored function to one class of spontaneous dim mutants was found to encode functions necessary for the synthesis of, and response to, a signal molecule. Sequence analysis of the region encoding these functions revealed three open reading frames, two (luxL and luxM) that are required for production of an autoinducer substance and a third (luxN) that is required for response to this signal substance. The LuxL and LuxM proteins are not similar in amino acid sequence to other proteins in the database, but the LuxN protein contains regions of sequence resembling both the histidine protein kinase and the response regulator domains of the family of two-component, signal transduction proteins. The phenotypes of mutants with luxL, luxM and luxN defects indicated that an additional signal-response system controlling density-dependent expression of luminescence remains to be identified.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1993

The resource implications of severe necrotizing pancreatitis treated by necrosectomy.

This study reviews the resource utilization of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with severe necrotizing pancreatitis treated by early necrosectomy. For 21 patients there was a total of 221 abdominal operations, 2365 hospital days, 565 ICU days and 1185 days of parenteral nutrition. The mortality rate was 43%. The treatment for patients with necrotizing pancreatitis is 10 times more resource intense than other admissions to the ICU. The implications of necrotizing pancreatitis treated by necosectomy in the context of a Diagnosis-Related Groups Prospective Payment model of hospital funding are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A survey of workload measurement systems: the occupational therapy manager's perspective.

Interest in measuring workload for budget specific purposes has increased in recent years as health care managers are being forced to cope with the demands of cost containment and fiscal accountability. This paper reports on a survey of senior occupational therapy managers of Ontario facilities accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). Respondents were surveyed on their experiences with, and attitudes toward, occupational therapy workload measurement systems and the ability of these systems to assist in management activities. The survey found that most departments were using the National Hospital Productivity Improvement Program (NHPIP) system. Seventy eight percent of managers indicated they were somewhat or very satisfied with the system, but 60% also indicated that it did not adequately meet all of their management needs. In terms of desirable features of a revised workload system, 87% of managers reported wanting a system based on diagnostic or case mix group recording. Client variables (91%), physical and psychosocial aspects of client care (89%) and therapist variables (85%) were also rated as important factors to address in developing new workload systems.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1993

Surviving the management game: workload measurement systems in a cost-conscious environment.

Using a procedure-based occupational therapy workload measurement system developed at, and applied by, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, this paper explores the objectives of such a system from the point of view of the occupational therapy manager. It also takes into account the synergistic relationship between the occupational therapist and the administrative/business aspect of health care, paying special attention to past and present trends in health-care accountability. In this paper it is argued that occupational therapy managers must relate their procedures and overhead costs to actual client care, if they are to be included in programme management and client costing. The process used by occupational therapy to describe its own procedures for the system is outlined. The system was then developed in conjunction with other institutional, financial and management tools for the client cost conversion process. By using a procedure based workload measurement system, occupational therapy is able to accurately describe client costing, thereby articulating our role in client care.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1993

Spontaneous Clostridium perfringens lung abscess unresponsive to penicillin.

Clostridial necrotising pneumonia is a rare complication of aspiration, bronchial tumour or foreign body, pulmonary infarction, trauma and debilitating medical conditions. Although spontaneous clostridial pneumonia has been reported previously, close scrutiny of those case reports suggests that most of the patients had a recognised predisposing cause. We report a case of true spontaneous Clostridium perfringens pneumonia complicated by septic shock, pneumothorax and pulmonary necrosis. The patient responded poorly to conventional treatment with benzylpenicillin, and although the addition of metronidazole produced dramatic resolution of the sepsis, lobectomy was required to effect cure.

Clostridium Infections↗
PubMed1993

gamma-Tubulin participates in the formation of the midbody during cytokinesis in mammalian cells.

Animal cells undergoing cytokinesis form an inter-cellular bridge containing two bundles of microtubules interdigitated at their plus ends, which constitute the midbody. Polyclonal antibodies raised against three specific amino acid sequences of gamma-tubulin (EEFATEGGDRKDV, NIIQGEADPTDVHKSL and EYHAATRPDYISWGTQEQ) specifically stained the centrosome in interphase, the spindle poles in all stages of mitosis, and the extremities of the midbody in mammalian cells (Potorous, human, Chinese hamster, mouse). This staining was prevented by the corresponding peptides, by Xenopus gamma-tubulin, but was not modified by purified alpha beta-tubulin heterodimer. An identical staining was obtained with affinity-purified antibodies against the carboxyl-terminal amino acid sequence of human gamma-tubulin. No gamma-tubulin could be detected in the interzone during anaphase and early telophase. Material containing gamma-tubulin first appeared in the two daughter cells on each side of the division plane in late telophase, and accumulated transiently at the minus ends of the two microtubule bundles constituting the midbody for one hour after metaphase. Micro-injection of gamma-tubulin antibodies into anaphase cells prevented the subsequent formation of the microtubule bundles between the two daughter cells. In contrast with previous views, these observations suggest that the microtubules constituting the midbody may be nucleated on special microtubule organizing centres, active during late telophase only, and assembled on each side of the dividing plane between the daughter cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

gamma-Tubulin is present in acentriolar MTOCs during early mouse development.

gamma-Tubulin, a recently discovered member of the tubulin superfamily, is a peri-centriolar component considered to be essential for microtubule nucleation. Mouse oocytes and early embryos lack centrioles until the blastocyst stage. Thus, early mouse embryos allowed us to study the location of gamma-tubulin in animal cells in the absence of centrioles. For this, we used an antiserum directed against a specific peptide of the gamma-tubulin sequence, which is conserved among species. This serum has been characterised both in PtK2 and mouse cells. We found that it specifically-stained the spindle poles and the cytoplasmic microtubule organizing centers in metaphase II oocytes and the spindle poles in mitosis during the cleavage stages. In contrast, no interphase staining could be detected during cleavage. Since the overall level of gamma-tubulin did not decrease during interphase, as shown by immunoblotting experiments, this absence of staining during interphase is probably due to a cytoplasmic dispersion of gamma-tubulin. A single dot-like interphase reactivity appeared at the 32-cell stage. In parallel, electron microscopy studies allowed us to detect centrioles for the first time at the 64-cell stage. The possible roles of gamma-tubulin in microtubule nucleation and in centrosome maturation are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Structural characteristics of Australasian psychiatric practice.

A questionnaire examining structural and basic process characteristics of psychiatric practice was prepared by the RANZCP Quality Assurance Committee and circulated to all Fellows of the College in 1991. There were 830 replies (48%). A one in two sample of the replies was analysed and forms the basis of the descriptive report presented in this paper.

Australia↗
PubMed1993

Hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion of Taxol in rats and humans.

To date there have been limited studies of the metabolism and disposition of Taxol in animals and humans. Renal disposition of unmetabolized Taxol has been documented to account for a maximum of 5% to 10% of an administered dose of Taxol in humans, but the principal processes involved in drug disposition, particularly the roles of biliary excretion and drug metabolism, have not been evaluated. Therefore, the biliary excretion of Taxol has been studied in rats and in a human patient receiving Taxol in a phase I trial. Of the total doses administered to rats and the patient, 40% and 20%, respectively, were excreted in the bile in the forms of unmetabolized Taxol and Taxol metabolites until 24 hours posttreatment. Although the biliary excretion of unmetabolized Taxol accounted for 10% and 3% of total drug disposition in the rats and in the patient, respectively, the remaining portion consisted of several metabolites. Nine metabolites were detected in rat bile, and five metabolites were detected in human bile. The chemical structures of four of the rat metabolites and three of the human metabolites have been identified thus far. With the exception of baccatin III, a minor metabolite found only in rat bile that lacks the side chain at C-13 position of the taxane ring, the other metabolites were monohydroxylated or dihydroxylated and had intact taxane rings and side chains at taxane ring positions C-2 and C-13. The taxane ring and both the C-2 and C-13 side chains were susceptible to hydroxylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Severe botulism after eating home-preserved asparagus.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of adult botulism acquired in Queensland. CLINICAL FEATURES: After eating home-preserved asparagus, a 33-year-old man presented with internal and external ophthalmoplegia, bilateral facial nerve palsies, and descending muscle weakness culminating in a sudden respiratory arrest. Electrophysiological testing demonstrated normal nerve conduction velocities and an incremental response of evoked motor potentials on repetitive stimulation, confirming the clinical diagnosis of botulism. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Treatment with trivalent antitoxin, oral treatment with vancomycin and supportive mechanical ventilation for four weeks resulted in complete clinical recovery. Plasmapheresis was also used but its contribution to the patient's improvement is dubious. CONCLUSIONS: Although botulism is rare in Australia, clinicians should be aware of the clinical presentation and the rapidity of confirmation of the diagnosis by electrophysiological testing. Patients should be nursed in an intensive care setting. Regular testing of vital capacity should be performed to determine the need for mechanical ventilation.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Microtubule assembly protects the region 28-38 of the beta-tubulin subunit.

Polyclonal antibodies have been raised against the peptide 28-38 of the beta-subunit of the tubulin heterodimer in order to study the accessibility of this region in the tubulin heterodimer and in various tubulin assemblies. These antibodies were specific for all beta-tubulin subunits, except for beta'-tubulin isotypes, and did not recognize the alpha-tubulin subunit. The 28-38 region does not play a role in the interaction between the alpha- and beta-subunits since it was accessible to the antibodies on the native heterodimer. The accessibility of the antibodies was not modified by several microtubular poisons. In contrast, in all tubulin assemblies obtained in the presence of microtubular associated proteins, the region 28-38 was not available to the antibodies. These antibodies did not react with microtubules or tubulin spirals assembled either from microtubule proteins or from pure tubulin when these tubulin assemblies were probed in the absence of free tubulin after centrifugation on glass coverslips. In addition, antibodies failed to interact with the microtubule cytoskeleton in cultured Ptk2 cells indicating that the 28-38 region of beta-tubulin is also protected in cellular structures. These observations suggest that the 28-38 region of the beta-tubulin subunit is either located in a zone of interaction between two successive tubulin dimers within a protofilament or hidden by an allosteric conformational change which occurs during tubulin assembly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Spontaneous evolution of nuclear size and DNA content of non-small-cell-lung cancers grafted onto nude mice.

We monitored the biological evolution of four human non-small-cell lung cancers labeled KLX6, KLX7, KLX9, and KLX14 that had been grafted onto nude mice. This monitoring was carried out by means of digital cell image analysis which assessed morphometric (nuclear area, NA) and densitometric (nuclear DNA content, DI) features on Feulgen-stained nuclei from imprint smears. In each of the four models, the biological evolution of the NA and DI was characterized through their progression during serial passaging onto nude mice. The results show that of the four lung cancer models analyzed, one (KLX6) remained definitively stable with respect to its DNA content (DI assessments), while the other three, i.e., KLX7, KLX9, and KLX14, varied significantly. As assessed by the morphometric parameter, i.e., the NA, the four xenografted lines also varied significantly over serial passaging. In conclusion, we show that digital cell image analyses of Feulgen-stained cell nuclei including morphometric and densitometric parameters are a powerful tool for monitoring the biological evolution of human lung cancers grafted onto nude mice. We think therefore that the ploidy level of a tumor might be dependent upon its age and/or its related clinical stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Fulminant primary Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia and septicaemia in previously well adults.

We report two cases of primary, community acquired, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, occurring in previously well adults without any recognisable environmental risk factors. Both patients died within 36 h of the onset of symptoms, despite broad spectrum antibiotics and aggressive supportive care. In neither case was the diagnosis considered in life and neither patient received adequate anti-pseudomonas therapy. Heightened awareness of this rare, fulminant, variant of primary Pseudomonas pneumonia is required if specific anti-pseudomonas therapy is to have any impact on outcome.

Adult↗