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Biomedical subjects

R James

Publications and source records attributed to R James.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Short-term methotrexate administration by low-dose infusion--does it influence clearance of psoriasis?

Twenty-four patients between them received 86 low-dose methotrexate infusions (given over 36 or 48 h) delivered by a Graseby syringe pump in addition to conventional topical therapy during hospital admission for treatment of severe psoriasis (either erythrodermic or severe widespread plaque-type). The average length of hospital stay, usually the time taken to achieve complete clearance, and the average relapse time in the group of patients overall showed no differences from a control group of 25 patients (matched for age and sex) having a similar severity of psoriasis treated without methotrexate. However, separation of the patients into three sub-groups (erythrodermic, severe and 'unstable' widespread plaque-type, and severe and 'stable' widespread plaque-type disease) revealed that erythrodermic patients, as expected, cleared significantly quicker when receiving methotrexate although severe and 'unstable' widespread plaque-type patients had their clearance times possibly prolonged by short-term methotrexate administration. Although methotrexate is commonly used for long-term management of patients with severe psoriasis, short-term methotrexate administered in this manner cannot necessarily be recommended for severe widespread plaque-type disease. Measurement of methotrexate levels in a further 24 patients with severe psoriasis receiving 47 low-dose infusions revealed relatively constant and predictable methotrexate concentrations. Acute side-effects of methotrexate given by the infusion method were minor and uncommon, the infusion being well tolerated by patients. However, the low-dose infusion technique did not, apparently, offer any advantage over conventional methotrexate administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Implementing a public cholesterol screening campaign: the North Coast experience.

Several community-based interventions in the United States have indicated that it is possible to economically screen the blood cholesterol levels of large numbers of the population and to assist those with elevated levels to reduce their blood cholesterol. The North Coast Cholesterol Check Campaign was designed to involve existing community health staff and community volunteers in a Health Promotion Campaign to: increase community awareness of the importance of cholesterol levels in relation to coronary heart disease; to offer participants immediate blood cholesterol analysis; and to offer dietary advice to those participants who were above the recommended 5.5 mmol/L level. Fifty-two Cholesterol Check Points were conducted on the North Coast of NSW between 1 September and 15 December, 1987. Each Check Point featured a rapid cholesterol analysis with a finger-prick procedure on the Boehringer-Mannheim Reflotron System and immediate dietary counselling by trained staff for participants with elevated levels. A total of 12,067 persons participated in the Campaign: 43 per cent were found to have cholesterol levels that exceeded the recommended desirable levels set by the Australian National Heart Foundation. A 4-5 month follow up of 61 per cent (3,164) of these individuals indicates that 72 per cent lowered their blood cholesterol levels and 65 per cent reduced their BMI. Mean cholesterol change was 0.65 mmol/L and mean BMI change was 0.51. The results indicate the potential for similar community-based nutrition education programmes to reduce cholesterol levels in Australia. This paper details the rationale for the North Coast Cholesterol Check Campaign and the issues concerned with implementation of the campaign.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Food intolerance and the irritable bowel syndrome.

Two hundred patients (156 women) with the irritable bowel syndrome were treated with dietary exclusion for three weeks. Of the 189 who completed this study, 91 (48.2%) showed symptomatic improvement. Subsequent challenge with individual foods showed that 73 of these 91 responders were able to identify one or more food intolerances and 72 remained well on a modified diet during the follow up period (mean (SD), 14.7 (7.98) months). Of the 98 patients who showed no symptomatic improvement after three weeks of strict exclusion only three were symptomatically well at follow up (mean (SD), 12.48 (8.09 months). There was no close correlation between response and symptom complex. There was a wide range of food intolerance. The majority (50%) identified two to five foods which upset them (range 1-14). The foods most commonly incriminated were dairy products (40.7%) and grains (39.4%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Issues regarding public screening for cholesterol levels in Australia.

Several large studies from the USA and Europe show that there is a continuous graded relationship between serum cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD). All cholesterol levels above 5.2 mmol/L are associated with an increased CHD risk. There will be a considerable reduction in heart disease in Australia if the population can lower its cholesterol levels. Diet modification (less fat) is the preferred approach to treating high cholesterol levels. The National Heart Foundation advises all adult Australians to know their cholesterol level and make the appropriate dietary modification if necessary. Studies show that public cholesterol screenings offer an effective and cost efficient strategy for increasing community awareness of cholesterol as a risk factor in heart disease and for assisting individuals to make appropriate dietary modifications. It is important, however, that screening programs conform with certain minimum standards.

Australia↗
PubMed1988

An evaluation of the accuracy of the Reflotron system in the field.

The Reflotron system (Boehringer-Mannheim, West Germany) is a dry-chemistry analyser which has been used in cholesterol screening in the United States and Australia. The accuracy and precision of the instrument for use as a screening device for whole-blood cholesterol levels have been evaluated in clinical settings in both the United States and Australia; however, questions still arise from healthy practitioners about its performance in the field. We selected 30 participants in a community-screening programme to undergo a comparative analysis of cholesterol measurement by the Reflotron system compared with two standard laboratory procedures (one of which was carried out in a World Health Organization accredited laboratory). Analysis of the data showed that, after a minimum of training, results can be obtained on the Reflotron system in a community setting which are acceptable when compared with results that have been obtained on more commonly-used laboratory instruments.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Relationship of cellular oncogene expression to inhibition of growth and induction of differentiation of Daudi cells by interferons or TPA.

Human alpha or beta interferons inhibit the proliferation of Daudi Burkitt lymphoma cells and induce the differentiation of these cells towards a mature plasma cell phenotype. Similar responses are seen when Daudi cells are treated with the phorbol ester, TPA. Both interferons and TPA down-regulate expression of the c-myc oncogene in these cells. Although TPA can mimic the effect of interferon on cell differentiation, it does not induce 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase or the interferon-sensitive mRNAs, 6-16 or 9-27. Thus chronic stimulation of protein kinase C by TPA cannot mimic all of the effects of interferon treatment on gene expression. Inhibition of ADP-ribosyl transferase activity by 3-methoxybenzamide impairs interferon- or TPA-induced differentiation of Daudi cells. This agent induces a higher level of c-myc mRNA in the cells and stimulates the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA; although these effects are partially counteracted by interferon or TPA treatment, the elevated expression of the c-myc gene may be sufficient to prevent terminal differentiation and allow cell proliferation to continue.

Benzamides↗
PubMed1988

Low density lipoprotein causes general cellular activation with increased phosphatidylinositol turnover and lipoprotein catabolism.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL), at concentrations high enough for receptor binding but not high enough to saturate the receptor, induces activation of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) turnover in a variety of cell types with various biological functions. Using both biochemical and electron microscopic studies, we have shown that blood platelets take up and degrade LDL in a manner reminiscent of phagocytic cell types. The activation of both PtdIns turnover and LDL metabolism is inhibited by high density lipoprotein. Thus, LDL at hormonal concentrations causes general cellular activation. Since all cell types studied responded to LDL with increased PtdIns turnover and uptake of LDL cholesterol, the PtdIns cycle may also be involved in the cellular regulation of LDL cholesterol metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Molecular cloning of the Shv-1 beta-lactamase gene and construction of an Shv-1 hybridization probe.

We have cloned the Shv-1 beta-lactamase gene from the R1010 plasmid into pACYC184. By subcloning and transposon mutagenesis we have localized the gene to a 1.6 kb BscI-SalI fragment of R1010, which is present in the recombinant plasmid pUB8. A 900 bp PstI fragment of pUB8 was shown to be a specific hybridization probe by testing against plasmids which encode 17 different beta-lactamase enzymes. A comparison was made of the sensitivity of the Shv-1 probe labelled with either [35S]dCTP or with photobiotin.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1988

Molecular cloning and purification of klebicin B.

A novel klebicin, klebicin B, produced by an isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae has been identified. It is encoded by a 5.5 kb plasmid, pKlebB-K17/80, which is mobilized into K. pneumoniae UNF5023 by a large plasmid found in the same strain. The 5.5 kb plasmid has been cloned into the high-copy-number vector pUC19 and the restriction map of the resulting recombinant plasmid pRJ180 has been determined. Using sub-cloning and transposon mutagenesis, the klebicin B structural gene, the klebicin B immunity gene and the mitomycin C (MC) sensitivity gene (lys) present on pRJ180 have been localized. Transposon inserts which inactivated klebicin production also abolished lysis protein production encoded by pRJ180, but did not affect klebicin B immunity. Using SDS-PAGE an MC-induced polypeptide of 85 kDa was observed in cultures of K. pneumoniae UNF5023(pRJ180). This polypeptide was absent in cultures carrying plasmid pRJ180 with a Tn1000 insert which inactivated klebicin production. Analysis of the polypeptides present in the medium of Escherichia coli JM83 hsdR(pRJ180) or K. pneumoniae UNF5023(pRJ180) indicated that the 85 kDa polypeptide is specifically secreted from the producing cell. Klebicin B has been purified, using gel filtration, from a cell-free extract of K. pneumoniae UNF5023(pRJ180) which had been induced with MC. After boiling in sample buffer the purified klebicin B gave rise to two peptides on SDS-PAGE, one of 85 kDa and the other of 11 kDa. Klebicin B-resistant mutants of K. pneumoniae UNF5023 were sensitive to klebicin A, colicin B and colicin D.

Bacteriocins↗
PubMed1988

What should hospitals be doing in health promotion services?

The role of health services in Australia is slowly changing from illness treatment to illness prevention. The Health Targets and Implementation Committee has indicated that there needs to be a distribution of resources and services within the health care system to better enable us to actively promote the health of the community. This paper discusses the level of health promotion services that each hospital or Area Health Service should offer the community. A model for the delineation of health promotion services is presented. This model offers a useful tool for senior administrators who are responsible for the planning and delivery of the new "health promotion services".

Health Promotion↗