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Biomedical subjects

S Day

Publications and source records attributed to S Day.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Partner notification for gonorrhoea: a comparative study with a provincial and a metropolitan UK clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare partner notification practice and outcomes at a provincial and a metropolitan clinic. DESIGN: Prospective study, following standardisation of partner notification policy. SETTINGS: Sheffield Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital and Jefferiss Wing Centre for Sexual Health, St Mary's Hospital, London. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients with culture positive gonorrhoea between October 1994 and March 1996 who were interviewed by a health adviser. RESULTS: In Sheffield, 235 cases reported 659 outstanding contacts, of whom 129 (20%) were subsequently screened, and 65 (50%) had gonorrhoea. At St Mary's 510 cases reported 2176 outstanding contacts, of whom 98 (5%) were known to have been screened, and 53 (54%) had gonorrhoea. Patient or provider referral agreements appeared more productive in Sheffield, where 60% resulted in contact attendance, compared with 13% at St Mary's. Provider referral was used more frequently in Sheffield, for 44% of referrals, compared with 1% at St Mary's. Multivariate analysis showed that partner notification was less effective for casual and short term (< 7 days) partnerships in both centres, and for homosexual men at St Mary's. CONCLUSION: Partner notification outcomes were better in the provincial setting where contact attendance could be recorded more reliably and provider referral was used more extensively. The high proportion of contacts who remained untraced in both settings indicates the need for complementary screening and prevention initiatives.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Sexual histories, partnerships and networks associated with the transmission of gonorrhoea.

We aimed to describe and compare sexual links among people with gonorrhoea, by studying patients in 2 UK departments of genitourinary medicine. Interviews were completed for 510 and 235 cases in London and Sheffield respectively. There was a greater proportion of cases in men, homosexual men, non-white and non-British people and fewer female sex workers in London. Total networks of 1738 people in London and 570 people in Sheffield were described. Large linked heterosexual networks identified in Sheffield were associated with local contact, including men with higher numbers of sexual partners. Condom use for vaginal sex was reported for 11% of heterosexual partnerships in Sheffield, and 27% in London, with little difference between regular and casual partners. It was more difficult to define networks in London due to a high proportion of relatively anonymous contacts. These difficulties suggest that research and interventions may profitably focus upon venues for meeting partners as well as partner notification.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The use of cold compression dressings after total knee replacement: a randomized controlled trial.

This prospective, controlled study compared cold compressive dressings with wool and crepe in the postoperative management of patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR). Forty TKR patients were assessed for blood loss, pain, swelling, and range of motion. Patients in the cold compression group had less blood loss through suction drainage (982 mL versus 768 mL). A higher proportion of patients in the treatment group did not require blood transfusion postoperatively. Mean opiate requirements were lower in the cold compression group (0.57 versus 0.71 mg/kg/48 hours). The cold compression device appeared to reduce blood loss and pain following TKR.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Reduction of trachoma in a sub-Saharan village in absence of a disease control programme.

BACKGROUND: Trachoma is a leading cause of blindness in the developing world and is most prevalent among people who live in poor rural communities in arid locations. METHODS: We analysed the results of surveys of trachoma prevalence in Marakissa, a rural village in The Gambia. These surveys were undertaken in 1959, by the Medical Research Council, and in 1987 and 1996 by the Gambian National Eye Care Programme. FINDINGS: During this 37-year period, the prevalence of active inflammatory trachoma among children aged 0-9 years fell from 65.7 cases per 100 children in 1959 to 2.4 cases per 100 children in 1996. The prevalence also fell dramatically among people of 10-19 years (52.5 to 1.4 per 100) and among people of 20 years and older (36.7 to 0 cases per 100). INTERPRETATION: The dramatic fall in disease occurrence was paralleled by improvements in sanitation, water supply, education, and access to health care in the village. Of particular importance is that the decline in trachoma occurred without any trachoma-specific intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Molecular mechanism underlying the action of a novel fusion inhibitor of influenza A virus.

In the initial stages of influenza virus infection, the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza virus mediates both adsorption and penetration of the virus into the host cell. Recently, we identified and characterized BMY-27709 as an inhibitor of the H1 and H2 subtypes of influenza A virus that specifically inhibits the HA function necessary for virus-cell membrane fusion (G.-X. Luo, R. Colonno, and M. Krystal, Virology 226:66-76, 1996). Studies presented herein show that the inhibition is mediated through specific interaction with the HA protein. This binding represses the low-pH-induced conformational change of the HA protein which is a prerequisite for membrane fusion. In an attempt to define the binding pocket within the HA molecule, a number of drug-resistant viruses have been isolated and characterized. Sequence analyses of the HA gene of these drug-resistant viruses mapped amino acid changes responsible for drug resistance to a region located near the amino terminus of HA2. In addition, we have identified inactive analogs of BMY-27709 which are able to compete out the inhibitory activity of BMY-27709. This finding suggests that inhibition of the HA-mediated membrane fusion by this class of compounds is not solely the result of binding within the HA molecule but requires specific interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Sex workers and the control of sexually transmitted disease.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and assess measures to control sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among sex workers and their partners. METHODS: A review of medical, historical and social literature, focusing on selected cases. RESULTS: Measures to control disease in sex workers today are often prompted by concerns about HIV transmission. However, the literature shows that prostitution varies from one place and time to another, together with the risk of sexually transmitted disease. A broad social definition of prostitution rather than a narrow reference to levels of sexual activity is important for effective disease control, as an understanding of the relation between social disadvantage and sexual activity enables the provision of occupational services that sex workers actually want and use. Social prejudice and legal sanctions cause some sex workers and their partners to avoid even the most appropriate and accessible specialist services. Therefore targeted programmes can only complement, and not replace, general measures to control STDs, which are developed for other social groups or the local population as a whole. CONCLUSIONS: Sex workers and sex work differ from one place to another and so a single model for STD control is inappropriate. None the less, occupational health risks suggest a general need for specialist services. Where these do not compound the disadvantages that sex workers already suffer, medical services are likely to offer significant benefits in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of STDs. As the stigma of prostitution leads many people to remain invisible to services, a general health infrastructure and anti-discriminatory measures will be equally important to effective disease control.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1995

Aspartate at position 57 of nonobese diabetic I-Ag7 beta-chain diminishes the spontaneous incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

MHC class II genes have been shown to influence the development of the autoimmune disease insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. In human IDDM it has been suggested that the presence of an aspartate at position 57 of the DQ beta-chain might be important in determining resistance to development of IDDM. The involvement of MHC class II genes in IDDM was investigated through the introduction of MHC encoding transgenes. We show that introduction of a mutated I-Ag7 Ab gene which encodes an aspartate at position 57 reduces the incidence of IDDM but does not prevent insulitis, sialadenitis, or the development of insulin and nuclear autoantibodies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Vision development in the monocular individual: implications for the mechanisms of normal binocular vision development and the treatment of infantile esotropia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to study the vision development in monocular individuals so as to better understand normal binocular vision development and to refine the treatment of infants with infantile esotropia. METHODS: Thirty-six subjects with one clinically normal eye and one eye with no vision (no light perception or history of enucleation) are studied. In addition to measurement of standard parameters of development such as visual acuity, measurement of motion processing is made by both optokinetic and electrophysiologic techniques. A comparison is made of vision development among three populations: the monocular population, the normal population, and patients with a history of infantile esotropia. Such comparison is made to study the relative effects of interruption of binocularity and binocular competition. The monocular population represents individuals who have interruption of binocularity, whereas the infantile esotropia population has both interruption of binocularity and binocular competition. RESULTS: The OKN data suggest that the monucular population is more similar to the normal population than the esotropia population. The electrophysiologic data shows a statistically significant difference in the three populations. Motion processing is more fully developed in the monocular population than in the infantile esotropia population when compared to the normal population. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The development of motion processing appears to be particularly vulnerable to abnormal experience during the first year of life. 2. Monocular subjects have a less abnormal motion processing system when compared to patients with infantile esotropia even when monocularity is congenital. 3. The results indirectly support the premise that prealignment alternate occlusion is of benefit to the patient with infantile esotropia prior to realignment. 4. Development of the motion processing system does not necessarily parallel the development of other binocular functions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Petrol octane booster and methaemoglobinaemia.

We highlight the case of a 35-year-old male who suffered a respiratory arrest as a result of methaemoglobinaemia secondary to skin contamination and inhalation of petrol octane booster following a road traffic accident. It is important that petrol octane booster is stored safely in leak-proof containers and that suitable warnings are displayed to alert the user of potential toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

EMG-force relationship of the cat soleus muscle studied with distributed and non-periodic stimulation of ventral root filaments.

Distributed stimulation of ventral root (VR) filaments and pseudo-random interpulse intervals (based on a Gaussian distribution with a coefficient of variation of 12.5%) were used to modulate electromyographic activity (EMG) and force of the cat soleus muscle to assess the EMG-force relationship. A protocol consisting of addition and rate modulation of ten VR filaments that contain alpha motoneurones to the soleus muscle was adopted. EMG was measured using indwelling electrodes and forces were measured at the distal tendon using a strain transducer. EMG records obtained using this approach were similar in the time and frequency domains to those obtained during voluntary contractions. Force records obtained from stimulation of single VR filaments showed summation effects typical of irregular interpulse intervals. The overall relationship between integrated rectified EMG (IEMG) and mean force was found to be non-linear. At low and high stimulation levels, IEMG tended to increase proportionally more than mean force. In the intermediate stimulation region (i.e. producing forces between approximately 5% and 88% of the maximal tetanic force), the IEMG-mean force relationship was virtually linear. Muscles with a homogeneous fibre type composition, such as the cat soleus muscle, have been reported to have a linear EMG-force relationship.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effects of muscle length on the EMG-force relationship of the cat soleus muscle studied using non-periodic stimulation of ventral root filaments.

The effects of changing the length of the cat soleus muscle on electromyographic (EMG) signals, muscle force and the corresponding EMG-force relationship were assessed using distributed stimulation of ten ventral root filaments and irregular interpulse intervals. EMG-force relationships were first determined for four muscle lengths using a protocol of simultaneous addition and rate modulation of ventral root filaments. In the second test, three submaximal levels of stimulation were applied at eight muscle lengths. EMG signals were obtained using surface and wire electrodes, and force was measured using a strain transducer. For most muscle lengths, the relationships between integrated EMG and mean force obtained using wire and surface electrodes were sigmoid with a linear intermediate region. The effects of muscle length on EMG signals were likely to be associated with movement of the recording electrodes relative to each other and to the active motor units. Mean forces increased with increasing muscle length and with increasing levels of stimulation. Mean force-length relationships obtained using submaximal stimulation were not simply scaled down versions of the force-length relationship obtained using supramaximal stimulation of the soleus nerve, but appeared to be shifted towards longer muscle lengths.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1994

Mycobacteria precipitate an SLE-like syndrome in diabetes-prone NOD mice.

Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop organ-specific autoimmunity and are widely used as a model for diabetes. Aged NOD mice also exhibit some features of non-organ-specific autoimmune rheumatic disease such as anti-nuclear antibodies and late-onset haemolytic anaemia. Here, we report that a single dose of 2.6 x 10(7) heat-killed bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) i.v. in 8-week-old NOD mice prevented diabetes but precipitated a syndrome similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Treated mice developed haemolytic anaemia, anti-DNA and anti-Sm anti-nuclear autoantibodies and an increased severity of sialadenitis. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in the kidneys and glomerular immune complex deposition were also found. The action of BCG appeared to be mediated by an adjuvant-like activity as treated mice showed a substantial increase in reticuloendothelial cell function and enhanced antigen presentation capacity.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗