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Biomedical subjects

P Skinner

Publications and source records attributed to P Skinner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Development of a medical nutrition therapy protocol for female collegiate athletes.

Nutrition intervention can improve athletic performance and reduce the risk of nutrition related problems in women athletes. The current healthcare environment demands that dietitians document the outcomes of the medical nutrition therapy (MNT) they provide. This requires the development and validation of MNT protocols so that outcomes can be documented and compared in similar populations across multiple settings. The purpose of this project was to develop a sports nutrition management MNT protocol for collegiate women athletes. A registered dietitian currently working with collegiate women athletes collaborated with four dietitians from the community to develop an MNT protocol. Further testing and validation using this MNT protocol will help dietitians document the outcomes of their interventions in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The indigenous fisherman divers of Thailand: diving-related mortality and morbidity.

The Urak Lawoi are indigenous fishermen on Thailand's west coast. The population includes an estimated 400 divers who dive using surface-supplied compressed air. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among the 6 major communities of Urak Lawoi, questionnaire-based interviews were administered to active divers, ex-divers, and families or colleagues of divers who had died in the previous 5 years. Six deaths resulting from diving-related accidents were identified, indicating a diving-related mortality rate of approximately 300 per 100,000 person-years, while in the same 5-year period 11 divers had been disabled owing to diving-related events, indicating a diving-related disabling event rate of approximately 550 per 100,000 person-years. Among 342 active divers interviewed, one third reported having suffered from decompression illness, although based on reported current symptoms over 50% were classified as suffering from recurring non-disabling decompression illness. Physical examination conducted on a subset of 98 active divers revealed the presence of spinal injury (clonus, raised muscle tone, and heightened reflexes) and of joint damage (pain in one or more joint, crepitus, or restricted movement) in 24 and 30% respectively. Improved primary prevention and medical treatment are needed to reduce mortality and morbidity among this population.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1999

Outcome after surgical resection for high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (Bowen's disease).

BACKGROUND: High-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (Bowen's disease) may predispose to anal carcinoma. Treatment options include surgical resection but effectiveness remains uncertain. This paper reports long-term follow-up of patients with high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia treated by surgical resection. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1996, 46 patients were identified with high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia. Thirty-four underwent local excision of all macroscopically abnormal disease and the resulting defect was left open, closed primarily or skin grafted. Regular follow-up subsequently included anoscopy and biopsy of any suspicious lesions. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 41 (range 12-104) months. Total excision was difficult; 19 patients had histological evidence of incomplete excision at the time of initial resection. Some 12 of 19 had histo-logically proven recurrent high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia within 1 year. Even with microscopically complete excision two of 15 patients subsequently developed recurrent high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia at 6 and 32 months after operation. No patient developed carcinoma but five had complica-tions of anal stenosis or faecal incontinence. CONCLUSION: Although no definite recommendations can be made for the treatment of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia, these results illustrate some potential drawbacks of surgical excision with a high potential for incomplete excision and persistent disease, even after complete excision in some patients, and a high morbidity rate.

Anus Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

Preferential translation of reovirus mRNA by a sigma3-dependent mechanism.

We have characterized reovirus strains that differ in the degree to which they inhibit cellular protein synthesis and used them to investigate mechanisms regulating gene expression in infected cells. A previous genetic study associated distinct effects of reovirus strains on cellular translation with polymorphisms in viral protein sigma3. In cell extracts, sigma3 sequesters double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and blocks activation of the dsRNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), an interferon-induced enzyme that inhibits translational initiation by phosphorylating elF-2alpha. We found that in infected cells, cellular protein synthesis is translationally regulated in a strain-specific manner. Using immunoprecipitation and indirect immunofluorescence we showed that the effect of a strain on cellular translation is not determined by the level of sigma3, but appears to result from differences in sigma3 localization. In cells infected with a strain that spares cellular translation, sigma3 is present throughout the cytoplasm, whereas in cells infected with inhibitory strains, sigma3 is restricted to perinuclear viral factories. Biochemical studies suggested that diffuse localization of sigma3 is a consequence of low affinity for capsid protein mu1. Our findings are consistent with a model in which the efficiency of cellular translation is determined by the cytoplasmic level of sigma3 that is not complexed with mu1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

S elements: a family of Tc1-like transposons in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster.

The S elements form a diverse family of long-inverted-repeat transposons within the genome of Drosophila melanogaster. These elements vary in size and sequence, the longest consisting of 1736 bp with 234-bp inverted terminal repeats. The longest open reading frame in an intact S element could encode a 345-amino acid polypeptide. This polypeptide is homologous to the transposases of the mariner-Tc1 superfamily of transposable elements. S elements are ubiquitous in D. melanogaster populations and also appear to be present in the genomes of two sibling species; however, they seem to be absent from 17 other Drosophila species that were examined. Within D. melanogaster strains, there are, on average, 37.4 cytologically detectable S elements per diploid genome. These elements are scattered throughout the chromosomes, but several sites in both the euchromatin and beta heterochromatin are consistently occupied. The discovery of an S-element-insertion mutation and a reversion of this mutation indicates that S elements are at least occasionally mobile in the D. melanogaster genome. These elements seem to insert at an AT dinucleotide within a short palindrome and apparently duplicate that dinucleotide upon insertion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Doctors' views on anxiety management in general practice.

Various guidelines have been issued to doctors concerning the treatment of anxiety in primary care and particularly on the use of benzodiazepines. Little has been reported about how this advice has influenced doctors' opinions and practice. This paper describes results of interviews with 15 general practitioners and 15 general practitioner trainees on their management of anxiety problems. Most respondents admitted prescribing benzodiazepines for anxiety but reported doing so only in cases of severe distress and for short periods of time. Trainees appeared more cautious in their use of benzodiazepines than the experienced practitioners. Most doctors agreed that counselling could be as effective as benzodiazepines in treating moderate anxiety but several respondents felt it too demanding of their time. Two-thirds of doctors were in favour of employing counsellors in general practice though many foresaw practical difficulties in doing so. Increased availability of clinical psychology services was the development which most respondents felt would improve their management of anxiety problems in primary care.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1989

Displaced subcapital fractures of the femur: a prospective randomized comparison of internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty and total hip replacement.

In a prospective trial of 278 patients aged over 65 years, treatment of displaced subcapital fractures was randomly allocated to closed reduction and internal fixation with a sliding compression screwplate, Moore hemiarthroplasty, or total hip treatment with a Howse semicaptive prosthesis. One year after operation there was little difference between the three groups in mortality (25 per cent) or general complications. The revision rate within the first year was highest for internal fixation (25 per cent), but many of the replacements also required a further anaesthetic for reduction of a dislocation (Moore, 11 per cent; Howse 12.5 per cent). Total hip replacement resulted in the least pain and most mobility at 1 year, while hemiarthroplasty was worst in these respects. We conclude that internal fixation and particularly primary total hip replacement should be given serious consideration in the management of the elderly patient with a displaced subcapital fracture.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Sjögren's syndrome: association with type-1 diabetes mellitus.

This study of 102 unselected type-1 diabetic patients has shown that sicca symptoms affect 55% of the patients, although sometimes only during hyperglycaemic phases. While these symptoms might be attributable to the diabetes, the frequency of antinuclear antibodies in those suspected of having Sjögren's (25% by HEp-2) and particularly anti-Ro antibodies (32% by ELISA) reinforces the suspicion that Sjögren's syndrome may underlie their presence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Visual discrimination of simple geometrical patterns: I. Measurements for multiple element stimuli.

We describe a method for the measurement of visual discrimination between simple patterns. The target to be discriminated is embedded in a background consisting of multiple, randomly positioned but identical elements, and is distinguished by a single parameter such as magnification or relative rotation. The positions of the target and background elements are varied randomly between presentations and discrimination for different values of the target parameter is measured in terms of the time taken for detection of the target. Using this method, we have studied discrimination of rotation and of magnification for simple pattern elements such as lines, triangles and squares. The results for rotation discrimination are interpreted as evidence for the activity of two discrimination mechanisms, one sensitive to the orientation of the lines from which the pattern elements are constructed and the other to the orientation of the pattern element relative to the visual field.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Cardiocirculatory effects of afterload reduction with oral trimazosin in severe chronic congestive heart failure.

Because improved long-term oral vasodilator therapy for chronic congestive heart failure is needed, the cardiocirculatory effects of the new antihypertensive quinazoline derivative, trimazosin, were evaluated with use of concomitant cardiac catheterization and forearm plethysmography in nine patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure due to coronary disease. After ingestion of 100 to 300 mg (average 172 mg) of trimazosin, the greatly elevated left ventricular filling pressure decreased from 30 to 23 mm Hg and the lowered cardiac index rose from 2.02 to 2.59 liters/min per m2. Considerable improvement in cardiac function occurred within 1 hour after ingestion of trimazosin; peak efficacy was achieved after 2 hours and persisted in the 3rd hour. Heart rate was unchanged and systemic blood pressure was mildly reduced. Because pump performance was enhanced while indexes of myocardial oxygen consumption declined, ventricular efficiency increased. Vascular relaxation was produced in both the systemic resistance and capacitance beds, with venodilation slightly more prominent. This clinical investigation of the acute hemodynamic effects of trimazosin objectively demonstrates that the drug provides considerable hemodynamic benefit in cardiac dysfunction and is therefore a potentially salutary agent for treatment of patients with chronic severe congestive heart failure.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

Relation between sound intensity and the latency and amplitude of the brainstem auditory evoked response.

This study investigated the relation of peak amplitude and latency to signal intensity for the brainstem auditory evoked response (BSAER). One thousand clicks were presented to obtain each averaged response. Responses were obtained to clicks presented at sensation levels of 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 dB. Five adult males who demonstrated normal hearing served as subjects. Latency and amplitude for various wavelets were plotted against signal intensity. A consistent trend of decreased peak latency occurred with increased signal intensity. Contrary to previous reports, the amplitude of Wavelet V showed a linear growth with increased signal intensity.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1978

Effects of signal rise time and frequency on the brainstem auditory evoked response.

Two experiments studied the effects of signal rise time and frequency on the brainstem auditory evoked response. In Experiment 1, five different rise times were presented, fast (10 microseconds), 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 msec at a center frequency of 1000 Hz at three sensation levels, 20, 40, and 60 dB. As rise time was increased, response amplitude and detectability decreased and response latency increased. In Experiment 2, tonal pips were presented at 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz at 40-dB sensation level. Although the effects of frequency and signal rise time were confounded, no frequency effect was apparent.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1977

Electrophysiologic response audiometry: state of the art.

Electrophysiologic response audiometry (ERA) is based upon recording neuroelectric potentials from sites extending from the cochlea to the cortex. These recordings rely on the use of averaging computers to extricate desired neuroelectric responses from the ongoing background electrical activity of the human auditory system and brain. The different neuroelectric responses are distinguished by response latency, response waveform, and probable site of origin. Responses which occur within the latency range of 1 to 5 msec originate from the cochlea and auditory nerve. Responses in the 4- to 8-msec latency range have the brain stem as their origin. Responses with latencies from about 8 to 50 msec presumably arise from the upper brain stem and primary projection areas. Responses with a fast waveform include those with latencies between 1 and 50 msec. Slow wave responses from about 50 to 300 msec originate as a secondary discharge from the primary cortical projection areas and surrounding secondary and association areas. The longest latency potentials (300 msec) are slow shifts that appear to arise from the prefrontal and secondary or association areas of the cortex. These response classes are discussed in terms of their clinical utility for threshold estimation and diagnostic value.

Action Potentials↗