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Biomedical subjects

Michael D Brown

Publications and source records attributed to Michael D Brown.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Evaluation of Melanotaenia duboulayi (Atheriniformes: Melanotaeniidae), Hypseleotris galli (Perciformes: Eleotridae), and larvicide VectoLex WG (Bacillus sphaericus) for integrated control of Culex annulirostris.

Australian freshwater fish species Melanotaenia duboulayi and Hypseleotris galii were selected for a small plot field evaluation of an integrated pest management strategy using native fish and VectoLex WG (Bacillus sphaericus) for the control of Culex annulirostris Skuse, the principal freshwater vector of arbovirus Ross River virus in Australia. When tested alone, the level of control afforded by M. duboulayi and H. galii was highly dependent on the prerelease density of mosquito larvae; and even when stocking rates as high as 10 g per pond (>30 kg/ha) were used, larval abundance was too high to attain adequate control from fish alone. In contrast, treatment with VectoLex WG at 500 g/ha resulted in 100% mortality of Cx. annulirostris immatures, but no residual activity was evident. The delayed reduction of Cx. annulirostris immatures in ponds stocked with fish alone, and the recolonization by Cx. annulirostris in ponds after treatment with B. sphaericus, did not occur when both treatments were combined.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Preparation, properties and structures of the first series of organometallic Pt(II) and Pt(IV) complexes with stibine co-ligands.

The planar Pt(II) monomers [PtMe2(L-L)] and [(PtMe2)2(L'-L')2] dimers (L-L = R2Sb(CH2)3SbR2, o-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2; L'-L' = R2SbCH2SbR2; R = Me or Ph) are obtained in good yield via reaction of [PtMe2(SMe2)2] with L-L or L'-L' in benzene. The Pt(iv) stibines, [PtMe3(L-L)I] (L-L = R2Sb(CH2)3SbR2, o-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2 or 2 x SbPh3, SbMePh2 or SbMe2Ph) are obtained by treatment of [PtMe3I] with L-L in chloroform. These represent the first series of stable Pt(IV) stibine complexes. All of the products have been characterised by 1H, 13C{1H}, 195Pt NMR spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry and analysis. Crystal structure determinations on [PtMe3{R2Sb(CH2)3SbR2}I], [PtMe3{o-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2}I] and [PtMe3(SbPh3)2I] confirm the distorted octahedral environment at Pt, with fac Me groups and mutually cis Sb donor atoms. The Sb-Pt-Sb angle in the seven-membered chelate ring of the o-C6H4(CH2SbMe2)2 complex is ca. 96 degrees , compared to <90 degrees in the complexes with six-membered chelates. The C1-distibines R2SbCH2SbR2 afford only the dinuclear [(PtMe3)2(mu-R2SbCH2SbR2)(mu-I)2] in which the stibine ligand and two I atoms bridge two Pt atoms giving an edge sharing bioctahedral geometry which has been confirmed by a crystal structure analysis. The Pt(II) species undergo oxidative addition with MeI to give the corresponding Pt(IV) species, while the Pt(IV) species reductively eliminate ethane upon thermolysis.

Antimony↗
PubMed2005

Estimating the pretest probability threshold to justify empiric administration of heparin prior to pulmonary vascular imaging for pulmonary embolism.

Expertly interpreted pulmonary vascular imaging (either ventilation-perfusion scan or computed tomography chest angiography) is not uniformly available at most hospitals, including those in the US. When evaluating a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism during times when pulmonary vascular imaging is not available, clinicians frequently face the decision of whether to administer heparin while awaiting availability of imaging. In this report, we analyze published data to quantitate the probability of death or disability from untreated pulmonary embolism versus the probability of serious bleeding for one, two and seven days of heparin therapy. For these three time points, we estimate the pretest probability of pulmonary embolism to justify the empiric administration of heparin.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed2005

DNA sequence variation in the promoter region of the VEGF gene impacts VEGF gene expression and maximal oxygen consumption.

In its role as an endothelial cell proliferation and migration factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can affect peripheral circulation and therefore impact maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2 max). Because of the role of VEGF, and because variation in the VEGF gene has the ability to alter VEGF gene expression and VEGF protein level, we hypothesized that VEGF gene polymorphisms are related to VEGF gene expression in human myoblasts and Vo2 max before and after aerobic exercise training. We analyzed the effects of the VEGF -2578/-1154/-634 promoter region haplotype on VEGF gene expression by using a luciferase reporter assay in cultured human myoblasts and found that the AAG and CGC haplotypes resulted in significantly higher hypoxia-stimulated VEGF gene expression than the AGG and CGG haplotypes. Consistent with these results, we found that individuals with at least one copy of the AAG or CGC haplotype had higher Vo2 max before and after aerobic exercise training than did subjects with only the AGG and/or CGG haplotype. In conclusion, we found that VEGF -2578/-1154/-634 haplotype impacts VEGF gene expression in human myoblasts and is associated with Vo2 max. These results have potential implications for aerobic exercise training and may prove relevant in the study of pathological conditions that can be affected by angiogenesis, such as coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Novel protein markers of acute coronary syndrome complications in low-risk outpatients: a systematic review of potential use in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Published literature was systematically reviewed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of new protein markers of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in symptomatic outpatients at low risk of ACS and related complications comparable to patients evaluated in emergency department chest pain units. METHODS: Studies were identified by a MEDLINE (1966 to May week 3, 2005) search. Abstracts were reviewed for relevance, and manuscripts were included by the independent consensus of 2 observers based on explicit criteria restricting the analysis to studies relevant to screening ambulatory patients with symptoms suggesting ACS. Publication bias was identified by a modified funnel plot analysis [study size (y) vs the inverse of the negative likelihood ratio (x)]. Results of individual markers were reported separately. When 3 or more eligible studies were identified, data were aggregated by use of the summary ROC (SROC) curve. RESULTS: Twenty-two protein markers in 10 unique populations met the inclusion criteria. Data required for SROC analysis (true- and false-positive rates) were available for 17 markers, in 9 unique populations, from publications and personal communications. Of these, only C-reactive protein was published in more than 2 populations to allow aggregation (6 studies total). C-Reactive protein demonstrated poor diagnostic performance on SROC curve analysis, with an area under the curve of 0.61 and a pooled diagnostic odds ratio of 1.81 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.07). CONCLUSION: Published evidence is not sufficient to support the routine use of new protein markers in screening for ACS in the emergency department setting.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

NADPH oxidase p22phox gene variants are associated with systemic oxidative stress biomarker responses to exercise training.

Systemic oxidative stress plays a role in many degenerative diseases. Although regular physical activity has been known as the most effective nonpharmacological intervention to alleviate the oxidative stress, the beneficial effect varies between individuals. We investigated whether NADPH oxidase p22phox gene C242T and A640G polymorphisms are associated with systemic oxidative stress level response to exercise training (ExTr). Fifty-nine sedentary middle-aged to older Caucasians with relatively high cardiovascular disease risk factors underwent a 6-mo standardized ExTr program. Body mass index, plasma lipoprotein-lipid profiles, cardiovascular fitness, and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured before and after ExTr. Demographic and initial levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors were similar among genotype groups for both polymorphisms. Overall, TBARS was decreased by 16% with ExTr in the entire group (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in TBARS changes with ExTr among the C242T genotype groups. However, A allele carriers showed greater reduction in TBARS than noncarriers at the A640G locus (P = 0.05). There was a significant interaction (P = 0.05) between ExTr and A640G polymorphism in TBARS changes with ExTr. This interaction remained after accounting for age and baseline TBARS level. Furthermore, diplotype analysis showed that TBARS was decreased to a greater extent in the C242/A640 haplotype carriers compared with the noncarriers (P < 0.05). We found that p22phox polymorphisms, especially A640G, were associated with differential changes in systemic oxidative stress with aerobic exercise training.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

The role of the ND5 gene in LHON: characterization of a new, heteroplasmic LHON mutation.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) causes central vision loss from bilateral optic neuropathy. Although 13 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are strongly associated with LHON, only three account for roughly 90% of cases and thus are found in multiple independent LHON families. The remaining LHON mutations are rare. Here, we describe the clinical and genetic characterization of a new LHON mtDNA mutation. The 12848T mutation alters a highly conserved amino acid in the ND5 complex I gene, is not found in controls, and is heteroplasmic. Despite ND5 being the largest of the mtDNA complex I genes, ND5 mutations are quite rare in LHON.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Parenteral dihydroergotamine for acute migraine headache: a systematic review of the literature.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Many therapies are used in the treatment of acute migraine headache, with little agreement on effectiveness. This systematic review is designed to determine the effectiveness of parenteral dihydroergotamine in reducing pain, nausea, and relapse for episodes of acute migraine in adults. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, other computerized databases, hand searching, bibliographies, and contacts with industry and authors. Studies in which dihydroergotamine (alone or in combination with an antiemetic) was compared with placebo or any other common migraine therapy were considered. Relevance, inclusion, and study quality were assessed independently by 2 reviewers. RESULTS: From 281 potentially relevant abstracts, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Solitary dihydroergotamine use was compared to sumatriptan and phenothiazines in 3 studies; results failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of dihydroergotamine over these therapies. In 8 combination treatment studies, heterogeneity in study methodology prevented statistical pooling. However, dihydroergotamine administered with an antiemetic was as effective as or more effective than meperidine, valproate, or ketorolac across all pain, nausea, and relapse outcomes reported in all studies. CONCLUSION: This evidence suggests that dihydroergotamine is not as effective as sumatriptan or phenothiazines as a single agent for treatment of acute migraine headache; however, when administered with an antiemetic, dihydroergotamine appears to be as effective as opiates, ketorolac, or valproate. Given its nonnarcotic properties, parenteral dihydroergotamine combined with an antiemetic should be considered as effective initial therapy in clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in indigenous populations of the southern extent of Siberia, and the origins of Native American haplogroups.

In search of the ancestors of Native American mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups, we analyzed the mtDNA of 531 individuals from nine indigenous populations in Siberia. All mtDNAs were subjected to high-resolution RFLP analysis, sequencing of the control-region hypervariable segment I (HVS-I), and surveyed for additional polymorphic markers in the coding region. Furthermore, the mtDNAs selected according to haplogroup/subhaplogroup status were completely sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses of the resulting data, combined with those from previously published Siberian arctic and sub-arctic populations, revealed that remnants of the ancient Siberian gene pool are still evident in Siberian populations, suggesting that the founding haplotypes of the Native American A-D branches originated in different parts of Siberia. Thus, lineage A complete sequences revealed in the Mansi of the Lower Ob and the Ket of the Lower Yenisei belong to A1, suggesting that A1 mtDNAs occasionally found in the remnants of hunting-gathering populations of northwestern and northern Siberia belonged to a common gene pool of the Siberian progenitors of Paleoindians. Moreover, lineage B1, which is the most closely related to the American B2, occurred in the Tubalar and Tuvan inhabiting the territory between the upper reaches of the Ob River in the west, to the Upper Yenisei region in the east. Finally, the sequence variants of haplogroups C and D, which are most similar to Native American C1 and D1, were detected in the Ulchi of the Lower Amur. Overall, our data suggest that the immediate ancestors of the Siberian/Beringian migrants who gave rise to ancient (pre-Clovis) Paleoindians have a common origin with aboriginal people of the area now designated the Altai-Sayan Upland, as well as the Lower Amur/Sea of Okhotsk region.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗
PubMed2005

Abdominal adiposity assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry provides a sex-independent predictor of insulin sensitivity in older adults.

BACKGROUND: An increase in total adiposity and in particular an abdominal distribution of adiposity may contribute to the decline in metabolic insulin sensitivity observed in older men and women. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine which measure of abdominal adiposity would provide the best sex-independent predictor of metabolic insulin sensitivity in older men and women. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity and abdominal adiposity were measured in healthy, nondiabetic older (64 +/- 6 years; mean +/- standard deviation) men (n = 23) and women (n = 31). Metabolic Insulin Sensitivity Index (S(I)) was determined from a frequently sampled insulin-assisted intravenous glucose tolerance test. Body fat mass and abdominal fat mass were determined from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Anthropometric measures included waist and hip circumferences, height, and body weight. RESULTS: Although waist circumference, waist index (waist circumference divided by height), and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were all lower in women than in men, there was no sex difference in DXA L1-L4 fat mass. In univariate analyses, S(I) was significantly inversely related with body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist index, percentage of total body and abdominal fat, and DXA L1-L4 fat mass but not with WHR. The DXA L1-L4 fat mass was identified as the best independent predictor of S(I), accounting for 41.2% of the variance (p <.0001) in a stepwise multiple regression model that controlled for sex. CONCLUSIONS: WHR is not associated with S(I) in either men or women. Abdominal adiposity measured by DXA L1-L4 fat mass provides a sex-independent predictor of S(I) in older men and women.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2005

An emergency department guideline for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: an outcome study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical outcome of patients suspected of pulmonary embolism (PE) following implementation of an emergency department (ED) diagnostic guideline. METHODS: A prospective observational study of all patients suspected of PE who presented to the ED during a four-month study period. The authors' modification of the Charlotte criteria recommended D-dimer testing in those younger than 70 years of age with a low clinical suspicion of PE and no unexplained hypoxemia, unilateral leg swelling, recent surgery, hemoptysis, pregnancy, or prolonged duration of symptoms. The primary outcome was the identification of venous thromboembolism during a three-month follow-up period. The negative predictive value of the overall diagnostic strategy and the test characteristics of D-dimer were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 1,207 consecutive patients were evaluated for suspected PE; 71 (5.8%) were diagnosed with venous thromboembolism. One missed case of PE was identified on follow-up, yielding a negative predictive value of 99.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 99.5% to 100%). The missed case was a patient who presented with pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath; a chest radiograph revealed pneumothorax, and the physician decided not to pursue the positive D-dimer result. The patient returned six weeks later with PE. Subgroup analysis of patients having D-dimer performed (n = 677) yields a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% CI = 0.77 to 0.98) and a specificity of 0.74 (95% CI = 0.70 to 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a PE diagnostic guideline in a community ED setting is safe and has improved the specificity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay D-dimer test when compared with previous studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Parenteral metoclopramide for acute migraine: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the evidence from controlled trials on the efficacy and tolerability of parenteral metoclopramide for acute migraine in adults. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, LILACS, CINAHL, conference proceedings, clinical practice guidelines, and other sources. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials of parenteral metoclopramide for acute migraine in adults. RESULTS: We reviewed 596 potentially relevant abstracts and found 13 eligible trials totalling 655 adults. In studies comparing metoclopramide with placebo, metoclopramide was more likely to provide significant reduction in migraine pain (odds ratio 2.84, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 7.68). Used as the only agent, metoclopramide showed mixed effectiveness when compared with other single agents. Heterogeneity of studies for combination treatment prevented statistical pooling. Treatments that did include metoclopramide were as, or more, effective than comparison treatments for pain, nausea, and relapse outcomes reported in all studies. CONCLUSIONS: Metoclopramide is an effective treatment for migraine headache and may be effective when combined with other treatments. Given its non-narcotic and antiemetic properties, metoclopramide should be considered a primary agent in the treatment of acute migraines in emergency departments.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis, spectroscopic and structural properties of hexavalent molybdenum complexes with thio- and seleno-ether ligands.

The highly unusual Mo(VI) thioether complexes [MoO(2)X(2)(L-L)][space](X = Cl or Br; L-L = MeS(CH(2))(2)SMe or EtS(CH(2))(2)SEt) were obtained by reaction of MoO(2)X(2) with L-L in rigorously anhydrous CH(2)Cl(2) solution. Similar reaction of MoO(2)Cl(2) with the diselenoether MeSe(CH(2))(2)SeMe gives the very reactive [MoO(2)Cl(2)[MeSe(CH(2))(2)SeMe]] as a yellow solid. These compounds are very moisture sensitive and were characterised by IR, diffuse reflectance UV-vis and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C[(1)H], (77)Se and (95)Mo) NMR spectroscopy. The data are consistent with distorted 6-coordination at Mo(vi)viatrans X ligands, mutually cis oxo groups and a chelating dithio- or diseleno-ether ligand. Variable temperature (1)H and (13)C[(1)H] NMR data indicate fast pyramidal inversion at the coordinated chalcogen atoms occurs at room temperature, but cooling slows this process to reveal resonances consistent with the meso and dl forms. The (95)Mo NMR spectra are single resonances in the region 200-300 ppm, as expected for Mo(vi) complexes, and show inverse dependence of the chemical shifts upon both halide and chalcogen type. Crystal structures of three of the dithioether complexes are described and provide unequivocal evidence for Mo(vi) thioether coordination, confirming chelation of the dithioether through long Mo-S interactions of ca. 2.7 [Angstrom]. Attempts to extend the range of compounds by using other chalcogenoether ligands failed, indicating that to obtain complexes involving these extremely mis-matched metal ligand combinations requires both the favourable 5-membered chelate ring and small terminal alkyl substituents on the chalcogen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis in a family with early-onset dystonia and optic atrophy.

The combination of optic atrophy and dystonia has been etiologically associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. We report here on the complete mtDNA sequence from the proband of a consanguineous family exhibiting "mitochondrial-like" optic atrophy and dystonia. A candidate tRNA(Gly) mutation was identified that was unique to the family. However, the mutation was homoplasmic in both affected and unaffected family members and we were unable to demonstrate a biochemical defect in patient mitochondria. Hence, it is unlikely that a mtDNA mutation accounts for the phenotype in this family.

Adult↗