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Biomedical subjects

N Myers

Publications and source records attributed to N Myers.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Randomised trial of the effect of orlistat on body weight and cardiovascular disease risk profile in obese patients: UK Multimorbidity Study.

The potential effect of orlistat on cardiovascular co-morbidities may have been previously underestimated. This study assesses the efficacy of orlistat therapy for weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor reduction in obese patients with cardiovascular risk. This was a 54-week, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group study with 531 patients being randomised. Mean weight loss was significantly greater with orlistat than with placebo (5.8% vs 2.3%; p<0.0001). Orlistat was also associated with significantly greater improvements than placebo in diastolic BP (-5.5 vs -3.1 mmHg; p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (-6.0 vs -2.3 mmHg; p<0.01), oral glucose tolerance test (-0.37 vs +0.09 mmol/l; p<0.05), fasting glucose (-0.19 vs +0.06 mmol/l; p<0.05), total cholesterol (-1.31% vs +3.78%; p<0.0001), LDL-cholesterol (-7.09% vs -0.55%; p<0.0001) and waist circumference (-5.99 vs -2.60 cm; p<0.0001). Orlistat was well tolerated. Orlistat weight loss is associated with improvements in cardiovascular co-morbidities, and hence cardiovascular risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The biotic crisis and the future of evolution.

The biotic crisis overtaking our planet is likely to precipitate a major extinction of species. That much is well known. Not so well known but probably more significant in the long term is that the crisis will surely disrupt and deplete certain basic processes of evolution, with consequences likely to persist for millions of years. Distinctive features of future evolution could include a homogenization of biotas, a proliferation of opportunistic species, a pest-and-weed ecology, an outburst of speciation among taxa that prosper in human-dominated ecosystems, a decline of biodisparity, an end to the speciation of large vertebrates, the depletion of "evolutionary powerhouses" in the tropics, and unpredictable emergent novelties. Despite this likelihood, we have only a rudimentary understanding of how we are altering the evolutionary future. As a result of our ignorance, conservation policies fail to reflect long-term evolutionary aspects of biodiversity loss.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2000

Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities.

Conservationists are far from able to assist all species under threat, if only for lack of funding. This places a premium on priorities: how can we support the most species at the least cost? One way is to identify 'biodiversity hotspots' where exceptional concentrations of endemic species are undergoing exceptional loss of habitat. As many as 44% of all species of vascular plants and 35% of all species in four vertebrate groups are confined to 25 hotspots comprising only 1.4% of the land surface of the Earth. This opens the way for a 'silver bullet' strategy on the part of conservation planners, focusing on these hotspots in proportion to their share of the world's species at risk.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Oesophageal atresia in twins.

The twin incidence is higher in infants with oesophageal atresia (OA) than in the general population. The purpose of this study was to review the twin OA information from five institutions and evaluate possible links between the development of OA and the twinning process. Data were compared, combined, and analysed. There was a total of 1,215 infants with OA, of whom 50 were from a twin pregnancy and 1 from a triplet pregnancy. Two sets of twins were concordant for OA. Mean birth weights and gestational ages were lower in the twin infants (P < 0.0005) and survival was lower in twins (65%, P < 0.005) than singletons. The anatomical variant of pure OA without fistula was seen in proportionally fewer twins (4%) than in singletons (7%). Multiple anomalies were present in 40% of twins compared with 33% of singletons, although this did not reach statistical significance. OA in our multicentre population was more common in twins. Several possible mechanisms are put forward to explain the apparent link between twinning and OA. Further analysis of this aspect of OA may aid in understanding the aetiology of this congenital anomaly.

Esophageal Atresia↗
PubMed1999

Association of oesophageal atresia and cholecystohepatic duct.

A rare hepatobiliary malformation in which the common hepatic duct drains directly into the gallbladder or the cystic duct (cholecystohepatic duct) is described in two children born with oesophageal atresia. Attention is drawn to the rarity of this combination. A brief review of the literature of cholecystohepatic and accessory hepatic ducts is also presented.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1997

The effects of Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities on survival and management in oesophageal atresia.

Recognisable chromosomal abnormalities occur in over 5% of patients with oesophageal atresia (OA). In a review of 670 patients with OA chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 35 (5.2%), of whom 16 had trisomy 18 and 12 had trisomy 21. In patients with trisomy 18, the diagnosis should be suspected on clinical grounds and confirmed on analysis of chromosomes; no active treatment of the OA is justified because of the extremely poor prognosis. In Down syndrome (DS) 50% will have pure OA with no tracheo-oesophageal fistula. In addition, many of these infants will have associated anomalies typical of those normally seen in DS, eg., Hirschsprung's disease, duodenal atresia, and congenital heart disease. Despite treatment, OA with DS has a high mortality.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1997

Cryo-electron microscopy structure of yeast Ty retrotransposon virus-like particles.

The virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by the yeast retrotransposon Ty1 are functionally related to retroviral cores. These particles are unusual in that they have variable radif. A paired mass-radius analysis of VLPs by scanning transmission electron microscopy showed that many of these particles form an icosahedral T-number series. Three-dimensional reconstruction to 38-A resolution from cryo-electron micrographs of T = 3 and T = 4 shells revealed that the single structural protein encoded by the TYA gene assembles into spiky shells from trimeric units.

Capsid↗
PubMed1996

Environmental services of biodiversity.

Humans derive many utilitarian benefits from the environmental services of biotas and ecosystems. This is often advanced as a prime argument to support conservation of biodiversity. There is much to be said for this viewpoint, as is documented in this paper through a summary assessment of several categories of environmental services, including regulation of climate and biogeochemical cycles, hydrological functions, soil protection, crop pollination, pest control, recreation and ecotourism, and a number of miscellaneous services. It is shown that the services are indeed significant, whether in ecological or economic senses. Particularly important is the factor of ecosystem resilience, which appears to underpin many of the services. It should not be supposed, however, that environmental services stem necessarily and exclusively from biodiversity. While biodiversity often plays a key role, the services can also derive from biomass and other attributes of biotas. The paper concludes with a brief overview assessment of economic values at issue and an appraisal of the implications for conservation planning.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Rendering of mycobacteria safe for molecular diagnostic studies and development of a lysis method for strand displacement amplification and PCR.

Two criteria must be met before mycobacterial specimens can be tested by DNA amplification methods: (i) the sample must be rendered noninfectious, and (ii) the organisms must be lysed to free the DNA. Previous publications reporting DNA amplification of mycobacteria have concentrated on lysis and amplification procedures and have not addressed the issue of sample safety. We have shown that heating of samples below 100 degrees C may not consistently kill mycobacteria; however, heating at 100 degrees C in a boiling-water bath or a forced-air oven for a minimum of 5 min kills mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium thermoresistibile. Furthermore, heating at 100 degrees C for 30 min consistently lyses mycobacteria to produce short fragments of DNA that are suitable for amplification by PCR and strand displacement amplification. This procedure works with clinical samples digested by the n-acetyl cysteine-NaOH method as well as with suspensions of organisms in phosphate buffer. This paper also demonstrates the feasibility of using strand displacement amplification with clinical specimens.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1994

The Cairo crunch.

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Conservation of Natural Resources↗