Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Kennedy.
This paper (i) reviews the current clinical and molecular genetic data which strongly suggest that endometriosis has a genetic basis; (ii) outlines the general principles of affected-sib pair analysis; and (iii) describes the Oxford Endometriosis Gene (OXEGENE) Study which aims, using a positional cloning approach, to identify susceptibility genes involved in the development of the disease.
Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports collaborations among health departments (CA, FL, GA, IL, MA, NJ, NY), correctional facilities, and community-based organizations to improve services to HIV-infected inmates, particularly as they return to the community. Additionally, HRSA funded the Evaluation and Program Support Center to guide the implementation of a multi-site evaluation of the Corrections Demonstration Project (CDP). The authors present a model approach to the problem of health disparities that involves forging collaborations among federal funders, public health departments, corrections, community-based organizations, and the scientific research community. They show how such collaboration can promote the reduction of racial/ethnic health disparities. The authors examined disease screening activities in five county jails. Screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was offered during the medical intake process and during HIV prevention education sessions. One thousand twenty inmates were tested from July 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, for HIV infection, and 171 (17%) positive cases were identified (largely due to confirmatory testing). Of HIV-positive inmates, 83 (49%) were started on antiretroviral treatment. Additionally, 2,160 were tested for chlamydia, 1,327 for gonorrhea (largely duplicated), and 937 (duplicated) for syphilis. Across all three STIs, 78% of those who tested positive were treated. The remaining 22% either declined treatment, were released prior to notification of results, or were released prior to starting treatment. The CDP offers a model approach for addressing the poor health status of members of racial/ethnic minority groups by developing collaborations between corrections, public health departments, community-based organizations, and academia. An outgrowth of this collaboration is the improved capacity to detect and treat disease, which is a necessary component of a comprehensive HIV risk reduction program.
While limited data suggest significant gender differences in mental and physical health risks following marital disruption, men have not been studied as intensively as women. In this study, self-report data and blood samples were obtained from 32 separated or divorced men and 32 sociodemographically matched married men. Separated/divorced men were more distressed and lonelier, and reported significantly more recent illness than did married men; the former also had significantly poorer values on two functional indices of immunity (antibody titers to two herpesviruses), while not differing significantly on quantitative indices (percentages of helper and suppressor cells and their ratio). Among married men, poorer marital quality was associated with greater distress and a poorer response on one functional immunological measure, antibody to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as well as lower helper/suppressor ratios. Among separated/divorced subjects, those who had separated within the past year and who had initiated the separation were less distressed, reported better health, and had a better performance on one functional immunological assay (EBV antibody titers) than did noninitiators. These data are discussed in the context of research on longer-term adaptation to marital disruption.
Each of a series of three hepatitis B (Hep B) inoculations was given to 48 second-year medical students on the 3rd day of a 3-day examination series to study the effect of academic stress on the ability to generate an immune response to a primary antigen. Those students who seroconverted after the first injection (25%) were significantly less stressed and anxious than those who did not seroconvert at that time. In addition, students who reported greater social support demonstrated a stronger immune response to the vaccine at the time of the third inoculation, as measured by antibody titers to Hep B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the blastogenic response to a HBsAg peptide (SAg).
The magnetic field dependence of the water proton nuclear magnetic relaxation induced by a nitroxide radical both free and covalently bound to serum albumin has been measured from 0.23 mT to 0.7 T. The field dependence of the water proton 1/T1 shows only a minor dependence on the degree of radical immobilization, though the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum is very sensitive to the correlation time of the radical. The results and theory are described in more detail elsewhere (Journal of Chemical Physics, in press). The observed relaxation behavior arises because the long electron relaxation time of the nitroxide forces the correlation time for the magnetic interaction driving the water proton relaxation to become the correlation time for the relative translational motion of the water and the nitroxide. The relative insensitivity of the water proton relaxation to nitroxide immobilization should not change if the nitroxide is used as a contrast reagent for magnetic imaging in vivo.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging techniques in preoperative sizing for allograft meniscus transplantation. Twelve cadaveric knee specimens underwent sequential radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging scans, and arthrotomy. Meniscus dimensions were measured in multiple planes for the purpose of determining accuracy of imaging studies in comparison with actual meniscus dimensions. Overall, magnetic resonance imaging proved only slightly more accurate than conventional radiography. The mean difference between magnetic resonance imaging measurements and actual meniscus dimensions was 2.25 +/- 2.04 mm. The mean difference between radiographic measurements and actual meniscus dimensions was 2.35 +/- 1.79 mm. Neither imaging technique was accurate for measuring individual meniscus dimensions, with only 35% of images measuring within 2 mm of actual meniscus dimensions. Using less stringent criteria for accuracy (within 5 mm), radiography and magnetic resonance imaging were 79% and 83% reliable, respectively. Failure to obtain true anteroposterior or lateral images (15 degrees of external and internal rotation) increased measurement inaccuracy. Intraobserver agreement was significantly higher for magnetic resonance imaging than for radiography. Further research into the development of alternative techniques for more reliable meniscus sizing and better understanding of the tolerance for meniscus size mismatch is necessary.
Thousands of Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) died in the Caspian Sea from April to August 2000. Lesions characteristic of morbillivirus infection were found in tissue specimens from dead seals. Canine distemper virus infection was identified by serologic examination, reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing of selected P gene fragments. These results implicate canine distemper virus infection as the primary cause of death.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A wide variety of somatic cells are being explored for the introduction of foreign genes with a view toward gene therapy. A prime requirement for successful gene therapy is the sustained expression, effective dosing, and systemic delivery of the therapeutic gene product. Microvascular endothelial cells offer several advantages over other cell types as a somatic cell gene delivery vehicle in that they provide direct secretion of protein into the blood stream and they are amendable to highly stable retroviral-based protein expression. Importantly, they also offer a large surface volume to size ratio in that they can be induced with angiogenic factors to form organized capillary-like structures in vitro when grown in a three dimensional culture system using collagen gels. These genetically-modified capillary endothelial cells (the ENCEL system) maintained in collagen gels can be stably transplanted and removed. The unique biological properties of microvascular capillary endothelial cells allows the ENCEL system to provide large numbers of cells in a small volume which offers the highly desired opportunity for providing a sustained and effective dose of a therapeutic protein. Alexion is currently applying its Unigraft immunotherapeutic and engineering technologies to commercialize a non-human ENCEL system acceptable for implantation into any patient.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.