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Biomedical subjects

S Ireland

Publications and source records attributed to S Ireland.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Emergency department investigation of deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVES: To apply a previously validated clinical model for predicting pre-test probability of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to patients attending an emergency department with symptoms suggestive of DVT and assess its reproducibility in the patient population. To measure the diagnostic value of the SimpliRED D-dimer assay in effectively excluding DVT. METHOD: Prospective study between March 1999 and October 2000 of adult patients attending with suspected DVT. Patients were assessed using Wells' clinical prediction tool and risk stratified. SimpliRED D-dimer estimations were then performed and compression ultrasonography arranged. The pre-test probabilities of DVT in the low, moderate, and high risk groups of Wells' original cohort were compared with the authors' figures and the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the SimpliRED assay calculated for the patient population. RESULTS: Application of Wells' criteria to patients in the department permitted stratification into high, moderate, and low risk groups (prevalence of DVT 58.3%, 8.9%, and 1.5% respectively). SimpliRED D-dimer assay sensitivity was 63.4% with specificity of 74.8%, with a likelihood ratio of 2.52 for a positive test and 0.49 for a negative test. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical risk stratification allowed patients to be categorised into high, moderate, and low risk groups, albeit with less discriminatory power than originally described by Wells. The low sensitivity of the SimpliRED D-dimer assay when used routinely in a busy emergency department raises substantial doubt over the use of this test to rule out DVT, even in low risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

G protein-mediated neuronal DNA fragmentation induced by familial Alzheimer's disease-associated mutants of APP.

Missense mutations in the 695-amino acid form of the amyloid precursor protein (APP695) cosegregate with disease phenotype in families with dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease. These mutations convert valine at position 642 to isoleucine, phenylalanine, or glycine. Expression of these mutant proteins, but not of normal APP695, was shown to induce nucleosomal DNA fragmentation in neuronal cells. Induction of DNA fragmentation required the cytoplasmic domain of the mutants and appeared to be mediated by heterotrimeric guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins (G proteins).

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1996

The effect of damage of the brachium of the superior colliculus in neonatal and adult hamsters and the use of peripheral nerve to restore retinocollicular projections.

Using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing technique, we were able to confirm the critical age in hamsters as reported previously (SO et al., 1981). Thus, following transection of the retinal fibers at the brachium of the superior colliculus (BSC) on postnatal-day 4 (P4) or later, no retinocollicular projections were observed in the adult stage. However, the retinal fibers were observed to reinnervate the superior colliculus (SC) if the BSC was cut on P3 or earlier. Physiological recording showed a close to normal retinocollicular map following a BSC damage on P0. Although retinal fibers did not reinnervate the SC following a BSC cut on or after P4, they could be observed to grow along a membrane over the damaged site. Bridging the site of BSC damage in adult hamsters using a segment of peripheral nerve (PN), retinal fibers labelled with WGA-HRP were observed to reinnervate the SC along the PN graft and visual evoked responses could be recorded in the SC showing the PN graft is effective in restoring damaged central visual pathways in adult mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Policing pubs: what happens to crime?

The aim of this study was to test the effect of heightened police enforcement of the NSW Liquor and Registered Clubs Acts on overall criminal offences and, specifically, the number of assaults. Ten police patrols were included in the study. Five of these patrols were allocated to the experimental condition and five were allocated to the control condition. Beat police in the experimental controls conducted frequent but random visits to predesignated licensed premises over a 2-month period. Police in the control patrols maintained their normal duties. Numbers of offences in the experimental and control patrols were then compared for 2 months before the intervention, for the 2-month intervention phase and for 2 months post-intervention. Results of the study indicated a significant increase in the number of offences in the experimental patrols during the intervention phase. Reasons for this increase are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Laparoscopy for intrauterine insemination and embryo recovery in superovulated ewes at a commercial embryo transfer unit.

Of 111 variable age, pedigree ewes subjected to a range of superovulatory regimens and then submitted to embryo recovery by laparoscopy, nine had adhesions corresponding to a mid-line laparotomy (presumably from a previous attempt to recover embryos) and could not have their embryos recovered by the laparoscopic technique. Of the remainder, 27 ewes (26.5%) had less than three ovulations or had prematurely regressing corpora lutea at the selected time for embryo recovery (Days 5 to 6 following insemination), and no attempt was made to recover embryos from them. For the 75 ewes subjected to laparoscopic ovum recovery following laparoscopic intrauterine insemination, the average number of ovulations (+/- SEM) was 7.9 +/- 0.6; the average ovum recovery (mean of values for each ewe) was 51.7% +/- 3.5; and the percentage of recovered ova that were fertilized was 87.3%. For a further nine 3-yr-old crossbred ewes the mean values for ovulation and ovum recovery were 7.6 +/- 1.2 and 70.1 +/- 7.7, and were not significantly different for the two insemination methods used (laparoscopic intrauterine vs cervical). In general, ovulation rates for ewes given pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) tended to be lower (5.2 +/- 0.7) than for those given porcine follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH, 7.7 +/- 0.8) or human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG, 7.7 +/- 2.3). Ova recovery rates were similar on Days 5 and 6 (Day 0 = insemination), and were not affected by method of insemination (laparoscopic intrauterine vs cervical).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Curious neurologic sequelae in galactosemia.

Two siblings with classic transferase deficiency galactosemia that was detected at birth have been treated with lactose restriction since the neonatal period. Both patients developed a unique and progressive neurologic syndrome of mental retardation, tremor, and ataxia. Careful review of the family history and medical records, the absence of metabolic disturbances other than those related to galactosemia, and the aggregate physical findings and neurodiagnostic studies ruled out other neurologic disorders in these siblings. It is therefore proposed that these patients represent a subgroup of transferase-deficient galactosemic patients, who develop characteristic neurologic sequelae with conventional dietary management. The existence of this subgroup should be considered in evaluations of therapeutic responses in cohorts of patients with galactosemia. Further, galactosemia should be included in the differential diagnosis of tremor and ataxia in the setting of mental retardation.

Adolescent↗