Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Foster

Publications and source records attributed to S Foster.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone reduces endotoxin-induced liver inflammation.

Alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is a potent anti-inflammatory agent in many models of inflammation, suggesting that it inhibits a critical step common to different forms of inflammation. We showed previously that alpha-MSH inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured macro-phages. To determine how alpha-MSH acts in vivo, we induced acute hepatic inflammation by administering endotoxin (LPS) to mice pretreated with Corynebacterium parvum, alpha-MSH prevented liver inflammation even when given 30 min after LPS administration. To determine the mechanisms of action of alpha-MSH, we tested its influence on NO, infiltrating inflammatory cells, cytokines, and chemokines. Alpha-MSH inhibited systemic NO production, hepatic neutrophil infiltration, and increased hepatic mRNA abundance for TNF alpha, and the neutrophil and monocyte chemokines (KC/IL-8 and MCP-1). We conclude that alpha-MSH prevents LPS-induced hepatic inflammation by inhibiting production of chemoattractant chemokines which then modulate infiltration of inflammatory cells. Thus, alpha-MSH has an effect very early in the inflammatory cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Pyronaridine.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed1996

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: effectiveness and autonomic correlates.

Eighteen subjects distressed by memories of a specific traumatic event were randomly assigned to a single session of one of three conditions: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a Time Interval Condition (TIC), or Tapping Alternate Phalanges (TAP). All subjects treated in the EMDR group showed desensitization as monitored by SUDs, which correlated with the physiological data and cessation of pronounced symptomatology. Only one subject in a control group showed desensitization. Compared to TIC and TAP, autonomic measures showed distinct changes during EMDR: (1) respiration synchronized with the rhythm of the eye movements in a shallow, regular pattern; (2) heart rate slowed significantly overall; (3) systolic blood pressure increased during early sets, invariably declined during abreactions, and decreased overall; (4) finger tip skin temperature consistently increased; and (5) the galvanic skin response consistently decreased in a clear "relaxation response". This relaxing effect of the eye movements suggests that at least one of the mechanisms operating during EMDR is desensitization by reciprocal inhibition, by pairing emotional distress with an unlearned or "compelled" relaxation response.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Magnetic resonance venography versus contrast venography to diagnose thrombosis after joint surgery.

Magnetic resonance venography is a recently developed, noninvasive means of visualizing the proximal veins of the lower extremity and pelvis. Magnetic resonance venography is compared with standard contrast venography in the diagnosis of proximal deep vein thrombosis after total joint arthroplasty. Two hundred seven extremities were evaluated in a blinded study 5 to 7 days after surgery. Standard contrast venography identified 11 proximal deep vein thromboses. Initial interpretations of the magnetic resonance venographies by staff radiologists identified 5 of the proximal vein thromboses (sensitivity 45%). Two patients with negative standard contrast venographies were identified as positive (specificity 99%). A retrospective review of all magnetic resonance venographies by a dedicated magnetic resonance angiographer identified 10 of 11 deep vein thromboses seen on standard contrast venography (sensitivity 91%). Both false negatives were identified as positives. Standard contrast venography remains the gold standard for identifying proximal vein thromboses. Emerging magnetic resonance imaging techniques have created a potential alternative modality by which to identify deep vein thrombosis. The present study suggests that standard contrast venography continues to be the most accurate modality currently available. Although magnetic resonance venography seems to be accurate, its interpretation requires experience. As costs diminish and experience increases, magnetic resonance venography will have increased importance in the clinical recognition of deep vein thrombosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Sharing antenatal care: client satisfaction and use of the 'patient-held record'.

Two hundred women (148 shared care patients and 52 clinic patients) completed a questionnaire about care received during pregnancy and the use of a patient-held record. Women receiving shared care reported higher levels of satisfaction with their care than clinic patients (p < 0.0001). Thirty-six percent of the women in shared care forgot to take their record to an appointment on at least 1 occasion. During the pregnancy, over half of the respondents in both groups made contact with the hospital for reasons other than for their regular visit. For both groups, convenience was the most frequently reported reason for choosing their model of care. Other important issues for shared care patients were that the service was more personal and more information was provided. Among clinic patients, safety and quality of care were identified as important. Problems involved with the patient holding the only complete pregnancy record are discussed.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1996

Differences in the anti-basement membrane zone antibodies in ocular and pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

PURPOSE: Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is a chronic autoimmune cicatrizing disease which affects the conjunctiva and other squamous epithelium, resulting in a scarring process. A similar process, limited only to the conjunctiva, observed in some patients using eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma, is called pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (P-OCP). Immunofluorescence studies demonstrate deposition of immunoglobulins and complement components in the basement membrane zone (BMZ) of the conjunctiva and an anti-basement membrane zone antibody in the serum of patients. A striking association between OCP and MHC class II gene DQB1*0301 has been observed. The purpose of this study was to determine some of the differences in the binding of OCP and P-OCP sera to different lysate in an immunoblot assay, in an attempt to partially characterize the OCP and P-OCP antigens. Furthermore, we wanted to determine if the MHC class II gene association of P-OCP is similar to that of OCP. METHODS: We studied sera from 11 patients with active ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and seven patients with pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and controls. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) studies were done using monkey esophagus and salt split normal human skin as substrate. A sensitive immunoblot assay (IBA) was developed using normal human epidermis, dermis and conjunctiva as substrate. Typing for MHC class II genes was performed on eight pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid patients by dot-blot analysis and compared to 38 matched controls. RESULTS: Weak staining of the basement membrane zone was observed in nine of ten ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera and five of seven pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera in the IIF assay using monkey esophagus. Using salt split human skin as substrate, ten of eleven ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera demonstrated low titer weak binding to the epidermal side of the split. No consistent pattern of staining was seen with pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera. Ten of the 11 ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera demonstrated binding to 230, 205, 160 and 85 kDa proteins in the IBA using normal human epidermis and conjunctiva lysates. When the lysates were first reacted with BP sera and then immunoblotted with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera, the 230, 160, and 86 kDa bands disappeared, and only the 205 kDa band persisted. The sera of five of seven pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid patients bound to 290, 230, 205, 180, 97, and 85 kDa proteins in the epidermis and conjunctiva. However, the 230, 205, 180, and 85 kDa proteins are depleted when the lysates are first reacted with BP and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera. In the dermal lysate, the pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid sera recognize 400, 290, 150 and 45 kDa proteins. None of these are absorbed by BP, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid or pemphigus vulgaris or epidermolysis bullosa acquisita sera. The 290 kDa proteins identified in the dermis and epidermis are distinct from each other. No binding was seen with control sera with the 3 lysates. Statistically, dot-blot analysis did not demonstrate a significant increase in the frequency of the MHC DQB1*0301 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid produce several autoantibodies. However, there are similarities and differences between them. The MHC class II genes associated with pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid are different from those with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. This provides a new model system to study the immune abnormalities in idiopathic and drug-related organ specific autoimmunity.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1996

Significant savings achieved by implementing event related outdating.

The event related outdating(ERO) theory is based on the assumption that items that are properly cleaned, wrapped, sterilized, stored and handled will remain sterile indefinitely unless the integrity of the package becomes compromised. The authors describe how one Surgical Suite (performing approximately 600 cases/month) implemented an ERO program with estimated annual savings of almost $10,000/year.

Alberta↗
PubMed1995

Benefits of HIV screening of blood transfusions in Zambia.

Blood transfusion continues to be an important route of transmission of HIV in developing countries, especially for young children following the perinatal period. Testing for HIV is costly and reliable donor support for the purchase of test kits is often essential, yet difficult to secure. The costs of screening transfusions for HIV and the financial benefits in terms of savings on treatment costs averted were calculated for a district hospital in Zambia where seroprevalence among donors was 15.9%. Financial benefits exceed costs by a factor of 2.7-3.5. In 1991, 1073 transfusions were given and an estimated 150 cases of transfusion-related AIDS were prevented by screening, of which 59% were in children aged 5 years or under and 31% were in women. The total cost of HIV screening was 3061 pounds ($4745), and the cost per case of HIV infection prevented was 20.40 pounds ($31.62); the cost of this protection for the population served by the hospital was 0.02 pounds ($0.03) per person. An estimated 3625 undiscounted healthy years of life were saved, of which nearly 69% were in children under 6, at a cost of 0.85 pounds ($1.32) per year of life saved. It is essential that financial and political support for HIV screening of blood for transfusion is maintained.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1995

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. A case report of monozygotic twins discordant for the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the major histocompatibility complex markers and the autoantibody associated with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) in a proband, her unaffected cotwin, and the children of the cotwin. Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the conjunctiva and other squamous epithelium. It is associated with the major histocompatibility complex class II alleles that are presumed to provide enhanced susceptibility to the disease. We encountered a pair of monozygotic female twins, one of whom has OCP. In addition to totally identical physical appearances since birth, the two sisters have identical blood groups. METHODS: The following studies were performed on the patient, her unaffected cotwin sister, and her children: (1) polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class II genes by DNA typing, (2) sequence analysis of DQ beta gene second and third exons, and (3) serologic evaluation for the presence of anti-basement membrane zone autoantibodies specific for OCP by Western immunoblot with the use of skin and conjunctiva lysates as substrates. RESULT: Both monozygotic twins had the same HLA haplotypes. The sequence analysis of the second and third exons of DQ beta genes revealed no significant differences between the proband and her unaffected cotwin. Autoantibodies specific to OCP were detected only in the patient's serum. The serum of the unaffected cotwin and the other relatives did not demonstrate the presence of the OCP autoantibody. CONCLUSION: This isolated family study does not support a single-gene theory for the development of OCP. It is most likely due to a multigene effect and associated with environmental factors.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

gp120-induced programmed cell death in recently activated T cells without subsequent ligation of the T cell receptor.

In most individuals, HIV infection is characterized by a progressive decline in the number of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes, and while the number of CD4+ cells is within the normal range, defects in immune function are detectable. To date neither the decline in function nor the decline in cell number have been satisfactorily explained. Here we describe a mechanism which may contribute to the immunodeficiency and decline in CD4+ cell numbers in HIV-infected individuals. We show that recently activated T cells are susceptible to apoptosis when exposed to HIV gp120 in the presence of anti-gp120 antibody.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1995

Resolution of hepatitis B virus-related membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis after orthotopic liver transplantation.

The most well-described renal disease associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is membranous glomerulonephritis; membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is described much less frequently. The course of HBV-associated renal disease after liver transplantation has not been described to date. We present a 15-year-old girl with HBV-associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and end-stage liver disease, in whom, after cadaver liver transplantation, clinical and histological resolution of renal disease was observed. Resolution was associated with diminution of circulating HBV surface antigen levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

G protein gene mutations in patients with multiple endocrinopathies.

Point mutations of G protein genes that result in the constitutive activation of G proteins have been described. Such mutations have been shown to occur in a number of endocrine diseases. We have examined tissues from patients having more than one organ affected by an endocrine disorder and patients having separate distinct endocrine diseases for G protein gene mutations. G protein genes encoding for Gs alpha and Gi2 alpha were examined for activating mutations at codons 201 and 227 (Gs alpha) and codons 179 and 205 (Gi2 alpha) using site-directed oligonucleotide hybridization and direct sequencing of tissue DNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Tissues from six patients were examined. The only mutation that was identified was at codon 201 of Gs alpha (gsp), which encoded a change from arginine to cysteine. Patient 1 had the mutation in a corticotroph adenoma, a chemodectoma, and a nodular hyperplastic adrenal gland. patient 2 had the mutation in an extraadrenal pheochromocytoma, but an adrenal gland with medullary hyperplasia was wild-type. Patient 3 had an aggressive corticotroph adenoma and developed Nelson's syndrome after bilateral adrenalectomy. The corticotroph adenoma was wild-type, but both hyperplastic adrenal glands had the mutation. Patient 4 had the mutation in a parathyroid adenoma and in two hyperplastic parathyroid glands. Patient 5 had the mutation in both a primary and a metastatic pheochromocytoma. Patient 6 had the mutation in a parathyroid adenoma and also in histologically normal thyroid and parathyroid tissue. Leukocyte DNA was examined from five patients and was found to be wild-type in all cases. We conclude that G protein gene mutations occur in a wider range of endocrine conditions than has been recognized hereto. In addition, the presence of gsp mutations in different endocrine disorders in the same patient is suggestive of a common underlying etiology.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The impact of HIV on the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.

The article examines the impact of admission of AIDS (and related TB) patients to an African Teaching Hospital. Because of limited resources available in general but also because of the gravity of the AIDS patients' state, non-HIV patients are being discharged too early. The article explains patient management techniques for minimizing the general negative impact on the quality of patient care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Parental stress and growth outcome in growth-deficient children.

OBJECTIVE: In order to examine the relationship between parental stress, child psychosocial factors, anemia, lead poisoning, and growth deficiency (GD), 48 children attending a GD referral program were recruited consecutively and matched with 50 comparison subjects from a primary care program. METHOD: Parents completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) with subscales and provided demographic data. Children received developmental screening, hemoglobin levels, Pb levels, and growth evaluation. They also received medical evaluation for GD. T tests were used to evaluate group differences. Spearman Rho correlation analyses were computed between group coefficients and PSI scales, Pb, and hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: No differences were found on the PSI with regard to overall parental stress. GD parents perceived themselves as less competent (P < .001), and their children as less adaptable (P < .006). They also reported more social isolation (P < .05). The GD group had more anemia and Pb poisoning (P < .002 and P < .001, respectively); however, these variables were not related to differences in child adaptability or growth outcome. A high sense of parental competence and high child adaptability were associated with improved growth outcomes (P < .001 and P < .02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that parents of GD children seen in an outpatient referral setting show no difference in overall perceived stress levels versus comparison subjects. Increased parental competence and child adaptability are strongly associated with improved growth outcome. Decreased child adaptability may contribute to GD pathology. These findings challenge the traditional view of GD etiology.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Treatment of malaria outside the formal health services.

Self-medication for malaria is widely practised around the world, and although many home treatment episodes are successful, the risk of under or over-dosing is always present. Reasons for the widespread use of self-medication range from the distance and cost of seeking care from the formal health services to cultural beliefs which suggest that traditional care is more appropriate, and even that modern care may be fatal. But self-medication constitutes an important resource for malaria treatment, and much could be done to improve the self-medication practices of the population. Measures to be taken include dissemination of clear messages about malaria as a part of health education, formulation of realistic treatment policies which take account of resource constraints, lowering or removal of economic barriers, especially user charges, and further research into cultural beliefs about malaria and ways to promote compatibility of beliefs with appropriate treatment. If these suggestions could be taken into account in developing malaria treatment strategies, the chances of success would be greatly enhanced.

Attitude to Health↗