Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to S Edwards.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica--a report of three cases and review of the literature.

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH) is a term that was first introduced by Badham in 1967 to describe a bullous disorder in which recurrent oral blood blisters appear in the absence of any identifiable systemic disorder. The aetiology of this condition remains obscure. Three cases are described, and their similarities and differences discussed. In one case the histopathology showed an intradermal blister; this feature has not previously been recorded for this condition.

Adult↗

Aerobic fitness, physical activity, and psychophysiological reactions to mental tasks.

The association between aerobic fitness, exercise, and psychophysiological reactivity was assessed in cross-sectional and prospective analyses. Seventy-five healthy but sedentary adults carried out a sub-maximal exercise test and easy and difficult problem solving tasks. Blood pressure, heart rate, skin conductance level, respiration rate, tidal volume, and oxygen consumption were monitored and additional heart rate was also computed. Differences between relatively fit and unfit individuals were found in respiration rate during tasks and in skin conductance level during post-task recovery periods, with a tendency toward diminished heart rate reactivity in fitter people. Subjects were subsequently allocated to four conditions: high intensity aerobic training, moderate intensity aerobic training, an undemanding strength and flexibility program (designed as an attention-placebo condition), and waiting list control. Training programs were conducted over a 10-week period, and were followed by a second laboratory session. Appropriate changes in aerobic performance over the training period were observed in the 12-min run/walk test. There were no important modifications in psychophysiological stress reactions associated with the different experimental conditions. These results are discussed in relation to the literature concerning the effects of fitness and physical activity on physiological response patterns.

Adult↗

The diagnosis of bovine virus diarrhoea-mucosal disease in cattle.

Laboratory diagnostic procedures for bovine virus diarrhoea and mucosal disease are reviewed. For serology, emphasis is placed on the virus neutralisation test and enzyme immunoassays. The techniques and the pitfalls which may be encountered in culture procedures for isolation of the virus are described, with special reference to the use of immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase methods for the detection of non-cytopathogenic virus strains. Viral antigen may also be detected directly in clinical or pathological samples. Monoclonal antibodies are expected to play an increasing role in diagnostic tests, and the application of gene probes for virus detection is anticipated in future years. In the interpretation of diagnostic laboratory test results, the importance is stressed of reviewing them in the context of the herd disease and breeding history, and relating them to current understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the disease.

Animals↗

A blocking ELISA to differentiate hog cholera virus antibodies in pig sera from those due to other pestiviruses.

The blocking ELISA technique was extended to comparative serology by using 3 different pestivirus strains: Hog cholera virus (HCV) Alfort strain propagated in PK15 cell line, Border disease virus (BDV) Aveyron strain in PK15 and BVD NADL** strain in fetal calf kidney (FCK) primary cells. Rabbit antisera to the Alfort HCV strain and Aveyron BDV strain were raised for use in the test. A bovine hyperimmune serum to BVD virus was also used for detecting antibodies specific to BVD virus. The ELISA was compared with the neutralisation test on various groups of field and experimetnal porcine sera. The results obtained with the ELISA were well correlated with the neutralisation test. Therefore the ELISA may be recommended as a differential serological test between HCV and other pestivirus antibodies in pig sera.

Animals↗

Antigenic comparisons of hog cholera virus isolates from Europe, America and Asia using monoclonal antibodies.

Nineteen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with specificity for hog cholera virus (HCV) were prepared. They were used in an immune binding (peroxidase linked) assay to determine the reaction patterns of HCV isolates from Europe, Brazil, USA, Japan and Malaysia, as well as laboratory reference strains of the virus. A further panel of 17 MAbs raised against bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was included in the study, together with 5 MAbs raised against a non-HCV pestivirus of porcine origin. All the MAbs were also tested against representative strains of BVDV and border disease virus. Six MAbs were HCV-specific, reacting with all isolates of HCV and none of the ruminant viruses. Among the other HCV MAbs geographical variation in reaction patterns was observed. There was evidence of antigenic distinction between recent European isolates, and archive material originally isolated more than 10 years ago.

Animals↗

Enhancing the success of NCLEX-RN retesters.

The widely recognized shortage of nurses, together with uncertain trends in nursing school enrollments, poses a dilemma for the health care industry. This dilemma is aggravated by the loss from the work force of graduate nurses who fail the registered nurse licensure examination. Employer institutions fail to reap the benefits of expensive recruiting and orientation, the graduate nurses face a personal and professional crisis, and a shadow is cast over their nursing school. Out of mutual concern, a tertiary care hospital and its affiliated university school of nursing collaborated to develop a model for a clinically based remedial program to increase the likelihood of passing a licensure retest. Developmental aspects and advantages of this model are described. Issues for consideration prior to implementation of such a program are discussed.

Education, Nursing, Continuing↗

Assessment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease: comparison of reflux scintigraphy with endoscopy biopsy and esophageal pH monitoring.

In a study designed to evaluate reflux scintigraphy in 79 patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease, quantitated reflux scintigraphy was found to have predictive values of 73% in detecting reflux as judged by esophageal pH monitoring, of 63% in detecting esophagitis as judged by esophagoscopy and biopsy, and of 77% in detecting the presence of either esophagitis or reflux. However, its sensitivity was only 48, 58 and 42%, respectively. Gastro-esophageal reflux scanning has little value in the routine clinical diagnosis of mild to moderate gastroesophageal reflux disease, but none of the other tests (biopsy, endoscopic appearances of 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring) were sufficiently specific to be taken as a sole diagnostic criterion ("gold standard"). Investigation of gastro-esophageal reflux disease could probably best be limited to endoscopy (especially to detect ulceration or metaplasia and to exclude neoplasia) with 24 hour pH monitoring in addition for those patients with suspected reflux disease but negative endoscopy.

Adult↗

Class II restriction in mice to the malaria candidate vaccine ring infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) as synthetic peptides or as expressed in recombinant vaccinia.

The immune response to three peptides corresponding to the repeat regions of the malaria candidate vaccine ring infected E surface Ag (RESA) were studied. Both antibody responses and lymphocyte stimulation in mice injected with these peptides without carrier were found to be restricted to certain MHC class II haplotypes. Mice bearing IAk were strong responders to all three peptides. Mice bearing IAd were strong responders only to the 3' repeat peptides, the octamer and tetramer. Mice bearing Is or Iq did not respond to any repeat peptides. Remarkably, the pattern of genetic restriction of the antibody response to the entire RESA as expressed in vaccinia indicated that there were no other epitopes besides the three repeats. Because only one class II haplotype (i.e., k) out of five tested responded strongly to this peptide and only two out of five (i.e., k and d) responded to the octamer or tetramer, it may be difficult to achieve a good immune response against RESA in most or all humans.

Animals↗

Clinical and histological sequelae of Roux-en-Y diversion.

Nine post-Polya gastrectomy patients with symptoms of reflux gastritis were studied immediately before and 6 months after Roux-en-Y diversion with a 60 cm jejunal loop. Endoscopy, histology, HIDA radionuclide studies and acid secretory studies were performed to determine the effect of Roux-en-Y diversion. Symptomatic results were pleasing in that all patients were graded as Visick I or II. There was a statistically significant improvement in endoscopic evidence of mucosal damage (median score of 6 reduced to median of 1) and visible bile reflux (median score of 10.5 reduced to 0). Foveolar hyperplasia, superficial chronic gastritis and histological precursors of malignancy all improved. There was a significant decrease in the reflux of 99mTc-labelled HIDA into the gastric remnant while acid secretion remained unchanged. Roux-en-Y diversion with a 60 cm jejunal loop provides not only symptomatic relief but scintigraphic, endoscopic and histological evidence of pancreatobiliary diversion.

Aged↗

The effects of exercise training on mood and perceived coping ability in anxious adults from the general population.

A comparison was carried out of the psychological effects of a moderate aerobic training programme (n = 24) and an attention-placebo strength and flexibility training programme (n = 23) in previously inactive anxious adults from the general population. Training consisted of one supervised and three unsupervised sessions per week for 10 weeks. Effects were assessed with the Profile of Mood States, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and questionnaires indexing perceived coping ability. Seven participants dropped out of each condition during the training period. Expectations of benefit assessed pre-training, and satisfaction assessed post-training, did not differ between conditions. The moderate exercise programme led to significant improvements in aerobic fitness, and was associated with significantly greater reductions in tension-anxiety, depression and other moods than the attention-placebo condition, together with increases in perceived ability to cope with stress. Psychological responses were not correlated with changes in fitness assessed with bicycle ergometry or the 12 min walk/run test. These effects were maintained on 3 month follow up.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The effects of exercise training on mental well-being in the normal population: a controlled trial.

This study was designed to compare the effects of two aerobic training programmes of differing intensities on mood and mental well-being with those of a credible attention-placebo condition. One hundred and nine sedentary adult volunteers from the local population were assigned to four conditions: high intensity aerobic training, moderate intensity aerobic training, attention-placebo and waiting list. Training was carried out over a 10 week period. Subjects were assessed before and after training with psychological measures and the 12 min walk-run test, and follow-up evaluations were undertaken after 3 months. Ninety-four subjects began the programme and the adherence rate averaged 80%, with no significant differences in number of drop-outs between conditions. Appropriate changes in estimated maximum oxygen consumption were observed in the three active conditions with the 12 min walk-run test. Psychological benefits were seen with the moderate exercise condition but not in the high exercise or attention-placebo conditions. These effects were manifest immediately after training on measures of tension/anxiety and confusion, and at follow-up on measures of perceived coping ability. The mechanisms underlying this pattern of results are discussed and the relative importance for health of vigorous activity and physical fitness is considered.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Effects of xylamidine on peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced anorexia.

Rats injected peripherally with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) showed a dose-dependent decrease in food intake following overnight fasting. The peripheral 5-HT-2 antagonist xylamidine had no effect on food intake when administered alone, but antagonised 5-HT-induced anorexia. However, at the highest dose of 5-HT (5 mg/kg), both doses of xylamidine (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) displayed the same degree of antagonism to the anorectic effect, but failed to block it completely. The results are discussed in terms of 5-HT receptor subtypes, and it is suggested that non-5-HT-2 receptors may be partially responsible for the mediation of peripheral 5-HT-induced anorexia.

Amidines↗

Comparative analysis of monoclonal antibodies against pestiviruses: report of an international workshop.

Thirty-three pestivirus strains were grown in cell culture and characterized by immunostaining with 19 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against hog cholera virus (HCV), with 42 MAbs against bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and with 13 MAbs against border disease virus (BDV). Seven MAbs reacted with all pestivirus strains tested, eight MAbs detected only the seven HCV strains, three detected only the 16 BVDV strains. No MAb was found that was specific for BDV. BVDV and BDV strains were broadly cross-reactive with the MAbs, indicating a close relationship between these two species, whereas HCV strains were characterized as distinct from BVDV and BDV.

Animals↗

High intrinsic radiosensitivity of a newly established and characterised human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell line.

A new human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (HX170c) has been established from a paratesticular embryonal tumour in a 5-year-old male. The cells grew as an adherent monolayer with a doubling time of 32 h and showed pleomorphic features. Intermediate filament analysis revealed the line to be mesenchymal in origin (reactivity to vimentin and desmin antibodies). The line was tumorigenic in nude mice, possessed elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase (mainly of the MM isoenzyme form) and had a near diploid mean chromosome number of 50. In vitro cell cloning determinations gave colony forming efficiencies of 0.01% in soft agar and 24% in a monolayer anchorage-dependent assay. Radiosensitivity determinations using a monolayer clonogenic assay with feeder layer support showed the cells to be among the more radiosensitive human tumour cell types (surviving fraction at 2 Gy of 0.26) that have been investigated. Furthermore, experiments utilising continuous low dose rate radiation at 3.2 cGy min-1, showed that, under these experimental conditions, the cells possessed only a very low capacity to recover from radiation-induced damage (dose reduction factor at 1% cell survival of 1.07 for 150 versus 3.2 cGy min-1). As other human tumour cells of an embryonal cell origin (e.g. neuroblastoma and germ cell tumours of the testis) have also been shown to be radiosensitive it appears that sensitivity to radiation may be a common property of this group of tumours.

Animals↗