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Biomedical subjects

S Owen

Publications and source records attributed to S Owen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

TCR Vbeta expression in the small bowel of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and gluten sensitive enteropathy. Limited expression in dermatitis herpetiformis and treated asymptomatic gluten sensitive enteropathy.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a blistering skin disease characterized by cutaneous deposits of IgA and an associated, most often asymptomatic, gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE). Gluten sensitive enteropathy is also seen in patients that do not have skin disease or cutaneous IgA deposits, but do have significant gastrointestinal (GI) complaints. Patients with DH and with GSE without skin disease have similar small bowel morphologic changes and HLA associations and both the skin disease and the GI symptoms can be controlled by a gluten free diet. It is not known what factors allow almost all patients with DH to continue to eat gluten and not develop symptomatic gastrointestinal disease. We have examined the expression of the Vbeta T-cell receptor (TCR) in the small bowel of patients with DH (n=11) and of patients with both symptomatic (n=10) and asymptomatic (n=7) GSE without skin disease to determine if differences in the pattern of TCR Vbeta expression are associated with differences in the clinical manifestations of these diseases. TCR Vbeta expression was analyzed using RT-PCR from small bowel biopsies. Patients with DH and those with GSE without skin disease that were on a gluten free diet and asymptomatic were found to express 6.6 and 5.6 out of 20 Vbeta families respectively, with no single family preference. Examination of peripheral blood lymphocytes from these patients did not reveal any restriction of TCR Vbeta family expression. In contrast, patients with symptomatic GSE expressed 12.6 Vbeta families (P< 0.05), with no consistent preferential expression of any single Vbeta family between patients. Patients with DH, who are continuing to ingest wheat, show a more restricted pattern of TCR Vbeta utilization, similar to that of treated patients with GSE without skin disease, and significantly different from GSE without skin disease patients eating gluten. These findings suggest that the restricted nature of the TCR Vbeta expression may play a role in the different clinical manifestations of dermatitis herpetiformis and isolated gluten sensitive enteropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Development of a calibration system to evaluate VOC losses in a branch enclosure.

Considerable uncertainties are associated with the experimental estimates of emission rates of different volatile organic compound (VOC) species from the biosphere to the atmosphere. Some of this uncertainty derives from the sampling and analytical procedures used in emission rate measurements. A calibration system was developed in order to evaluate possible errors in the measurements of biogenic emission rates using a branch enclosure system. Two types of calibration procedures were tested, a standard additions technique and an internal standard procedure. Both techniques were used to evaluate possible losses while sampling isoprene and monoterpenes, which are the most abundant VOCs of biogenic origin. The losses to Teflon lines and the empty sampling system were tested and losses to the branch enclosure system installed on two VOC emitting plant species were evaluated. A considerable loss of isoprene (approximately 18% of inflow concentration 65 ng l(-1)) to the empty enclosure system and to the system installed on the plant was measured, but no losses of monoterpenes were observed.

Calibration↗
PubMed1999

Patients' experiences of having an underwater seal chest drain: a replication study.

The nursing management of patients who have a chest drain in situ has received little attention. The findings of a single small-scale study previously indicated that such patients' needs for information are not always fully met and pain control is inadequate. This small-scale study was replicated to produce broadly similar findings in a second hospital 2 years later. Despite some differences in the approach to management it was apparent that patients were still not well prepared pre-operatively and there was scope for improving pain control. All the patients reported considerable discomfort and pain of moderate to severe intensity. The type of pain described is typical of deep somatic/visceral pain.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Vocal disinhibition (grunting) does not increase dead lift force in college athletes or nonathletes.

31 17-35 yr.-old men (15 college athletes and 16 nonathletes) performed three dead-lifts with and three without grunting, the order of which was randomly assigned. No differences were found across the grunting trials and grunting did not affect maximal force production. Grunting does not appear to increase maximum force production significantly during a large muscle group, force output activity (isometric dead lift).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

An evaluation of services for women with long-term mental health problems.

This paper presents the results of an evaluation study of services for women with long-term mental health problems. The study, which was conducted in a long-term rehabilitation and community care service, examined the adequacy, accessibility, and responsiveness of services provided for women users; explored differences between the men and women using the service and those newly admitted to it; and explored the views and experiences of service providers and the women users themselves. The results of the study confirm and extend those of previous studies and suggest a number of service recommendations. The unevenness in attention to the needs of women across services needs to be addressed. Services should be more attractive to women. Agencies and facilities for women outside mental health services should be supported to ensure that they can accommodate women with long-term mental health problems, and the women themselves need to be offered the support necessary to ensure they have access to such facilities. Finally, efforts must be made to ensure that services both recognize the losses that women with long-term mental health problems have experienced and foster their continued hopes and aspirations for the future.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

'I wanted to be a nurse ... but I didn't get that far': women with serious ongoing mental health problems speak about their lives.

Within mental health services there are fewer women than men with serious mental health problems and there is evidence that their needs are relatively neglected resulting in specific deleterious effects. In research, as in services, the abilities of women with serious mental health problems appear to be under-estimated, and there is almost a total absence of research into the views and experiences of such women. This study aimed to explore the lives of women with serious ongoing mental health problems and their experience of services, to develop understanding of the context and impact of mental distress. In a series of 5 focus group interviews, the women, who were using a range of services for people with long-term mental health problems, described lives which, even before the onset of mental health problems, were marked by material, social and personal disadvantage. Their mental health problems led to numerous losses: loss of homes, jobs, relationships, children and loss of 'normality', yet the women retained hopes and aspirations for the future. The women clearly identified aspects of the service that they valued, in particular the support and company of women workers and other women service users. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to planning and providing mental health services for women.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

Slicing the pie. Correlating HbA--values with average blood glucose values in a pie chart form.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the correlation between HbA1c values and the percentage of home blood glucose (HBG) measurements within given ranges in a pie chart in three age-groups of subjects with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: HbA1c values were compared with HBG measurements in subjects who did at least three blood glucose tests per day over 30 days in three age groups: 5-11, 12-16, and 17-35 years. The blood glucose values were arbitrarily divided into three groups, defined as the percentage of HBG measurements within, above, and below target range. Each range was then compared with the corresponding HbA1c value. Longitudinal data were also collected for 279 of the subjects after a mean of 139 days. RESULTS: A strong correlation (P = 0.001) was found between HbA1c values and the average blood glucose, and also with the percentage of HBG measurements within, above, and below target range in each of the three age-groups (P < 0.001). Analyses of longitudinal data showed a strong correlation of the changes in HbA1c values to the changes in blood glucose values. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that a pie-shaped graph of the HBG data can be useful as a clinical parameter in helping patients and families attain desired HbA1c values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

In vitro and in vivo predictors of the anti-emetic activity of tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists.

The ability of tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists to inhibit GR73632 (D-Ala-[L-Pro9,Me-Leu8]substance P-(7-11))-induced foot tapping in gerbils was employed as an indirect measure of brain penetration and this was compared with their ability to prevent acute emesis induced by cisplatin in ferrets. (+)-GR203040 ((2S,3S and 2R,3R)-2-methoxy-5-tetrazol-1-yl-benzyl-(2-phenyl-piperidin- 3-yl)-amine), CP-99,994 ((2S,3S)-cis-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenyl piperidine) dihydrochloride), and L-742,694 (2-(S)-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyloxy)-3-(S)-phenyl-4-(5-(3-oxo-1,2, 4-triazolo)methylmorpholine) potently inhibited GR73632-induced foot tapping (ID50 < or = 0.85 mg/kg), and acute retching induced by cisplatin (ID50 < or = 0.18 mg/kg). RPR100893 ((3aS,4S,7aS)-7,7-diphenyl-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-[(S)-2-(2-m ethoxyphenyl)proprionyl] perhydroisoindol-4-ol) was not a potent antagonist of retching (ID50 4.1 mg/kg) or foot tapping (ID50 > 10 mg/kg). High doses (3-10 mg/kg) of CGP49823 ((2R,4S)-2-benzyl-1-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-N-[(4-quinolinyl)methyl] -4-piperineamine) dihydrochloride), FK888 (N2-[(4R)-4-hydroxy-1-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)carbonyl-L-propyl]-N-methy l-N-phenylmethyl-L-3-(2-naphthyl)-alaninamide), and LY303870 ((R)-1-[N-(2-methoxybenzyl)acetylamino]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-[N-(2-(4-(pi peridinyl)piperidin-1-yl)acetyl)amino]propane) were required to inhibit foot tapping; these agents were not anti-emetic in this dose range. SR140333 ((S)-1-[2-[3-(3,4-dichlorphenyl)-1 (3-isopropoxyphenylacetyl)piperidin-3-yl] ethyl]-4-phenyl-1 azaniabicyclo [2.2.2]octane; 3-10 mg/kg) failed to inhibit foot tapping or emesis. Affinities for the human and ferret tachykinin NK1 receptor were highly correlated (r = 0.93, P = 0.0008). Inhibition of foot tapping in gerbils, but not NK1 receptor binding affinity, predicted anti-emetic activity in ferrets (r = 0.75, P < 0.01). These findings confirm that the anti-emetic activity of tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists is dependent on brain penetration.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

An assessment of steroid hypersensitivity in asthma.

In dermatological practice, allergy to topical corticosteroids used to treat eczema is a recognized and common event. The typical presentation is of an eczema which fails to improve or deteriorates with treatment. Topical corticosteroids are also used to treat mucosal disease. This study assesses allergy to inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatics. In the patient group selected, there was no evidence of relevant corticosteroid allergy.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

Report on primate supply for biomedical scientific work in the UK. EUPREN UK Working Party.

A Working Party of the UK group of European Primate Resources Network (EUPREN) considered primate supply for scientific work in the UK. Through a questionnaire, which achieved a very good response, it obtained details of primate use, sources and breeding in the UK and it put forward options to ensure that animal welfare is the best possible whilst ensuring continued supply. The questionnaire showed that contract research laboratories and pharmaceutical companies use about 80% of the 4233 primates used annually at the moment, with the rest accounted for by academic establishments and public sector laboratories. Fifty-four per cent are cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), of which nearly 90% are captive-bred outside the European Union (EU), the remainder being bred in the UK. Nearly 90% of cynomolgus macaques are used by only five institutions. Thirty-seven per cent of primates used are marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus), all of which are bred in the UK. Most of the rest are rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), about half of which are captive-bred outside the EU, the other half being bred in the UK. Overall primate use has increased from about 3000 per year in 1990 and users predict that requirements for all species except baboons (Papio sp.) will be maintained or increase. Marmoset breeding in the UK is already closely matched to use, and it could be increased reasonably easily if necessary. Some of the existing breeding centres of macaques in the UK would be prepared to consider expanding to supply others, although investment and imported breeding stock would be needed and it is likely that a large investment would be needed to breed a significant fraction of the macaque use in the UK. A further problem is that the users of only about 10% of the cynomolgus macaques said that they could replace this species by rhesus macaques, which are easier to breed in the UK. The questionnaire showed that much of the use of macaques would be transferred to other countries equally remote from the natural source countries of the animals, if constraints on primate use became more severe in the UK. Users felt that it is unlikely that much of the work could be transferred to the natural source countries themselves. A review of the literature revealed a paucity of information on the effects of transport on primate welfare. The importance of obtaining this information before making decisions about alternative means of supply is stressed. Current schemes for the accreditation of primate breeders were reviewed. A list of options is presented for discussion. Users vary so much in their requirements that it is unlikely that one means of supply will be applicable to all. Animal welfare will benefit and supply will be more certain if cooperation between those concerned (preferably through the UK group of EUPREN) is maintained.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1997

Underwater seal chest drains: the patient's experience.

Chest drains are routinely inserted during thoracic surgery and to conservatively manage spontaneous pneumothorax. An extensive search of the literature revealed only a small number of highly prescriptive articles to advise the nurse on the specific care needs of this patient group. An exploratory study undertaken with 18 patients drew attention to the persistent discomfort and pain experienced by patients throughout the entire time that the chest drain remained in situ. Most of the patients also experienced short-lasting but intense pain when the chest drain was removed. Patients appeared ill-prepared for their experiences despite opportunities to obtain verbal and written information from staff.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

N-heteroaryl-2-phenyl-3-(benzyloxy)piperidines: a novel class of potent orally active human NK1 antagonists.

The preparation of a series of N-heteroarylpiperidine ether-based human NK1 antagonists is described. Two of the compounds 3-[-(2S,3S)-3-(((3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methyl)oxy)- 2-phenylpiperidino}methyl]-1,2,4-triazole (11) and 5-[¿(2S,3S)-3-(((3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)methyl)oxy)-2- phenylpiperidino}methyl]-3-oxo-1,2,4-triazolone (12)), in particular, are orally bioavailable and exhibited significant improvements in potency, both in vitro and in vivo, over the lead (carboxamidomethyl)piperidine ether 1. Rat liver microsome studies on a selected number of compounds from this series show the triazolone heterocycle to be considerably more stable than the others. Furthermore, both 11 and 12 have been profiled in a number of assays that may be predictive of the clinical utility of substance P antagonists.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

In vivo resistance to a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteinase inhibitor: mutations, kinetics, and frequencies.

Resistance to saquinavir (Ro 31-8959), an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type I proteinase, was studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived proviral DNA from patients undergoing prolonged treatment. A Leu90-->Met exchange was the predominant resistance mutation in vivo; Gly48-->Val or doubly mutant virus was rarely observed. After 8-12 months of treatment with saquinavir alone (600 mg, 3 times/day) or in combination with zidovudine (200 mg, 3 times/day), approximately 45% of all patients carried provirus with mutant proteinase; the incidence was lower (22%) in patients treated with a combination of saquinavir, zidovudine, and dideoxycytidine. There was a good relationship between genotypic analysis of saquinavir resistance and data from virus assays, confirming that Leu90-->Met and Gly48-->Val are the essential exchanges in the proteinase that determine loss of sensitivity to this inhibitor. Absence of genotypic resistance correlated with a sustained decrease in plasma viral RNA. There was a positive correlation between a Met90 mutation and some residues at natural polymorphic sites (positions 10, 36, 63, and 71).

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1996

Evaluating services for women with serious and ongoing mental health problems: developing an appropriate research method.

Despite an increase in the literature on women with less disabling or transitory mental health problems, there is little relating to women with serious and ongoing difficulties. In considering the means by which the needs of this population might be studied, tension arises over methodology. Research comparing the clinical, functional and service use characteristics of women and men might demonstrate their different mental health problems but would neither elucidate women's particular needs nor examine the social reasons for this difference. A feminist methodology would, however, offer a means of exploring the experiences of women, a framework for understanding sex differences, and generate findings that would be beneficial to women. The present study gives an insight into ways in which the exploration of sex differences can be combined with a study of women for women without compromising the relevance and impact of the findings.

Female↗
PubMed1995

The future role of the mental health nurse.

In the light of rapidly changing mental health care provision, education programmes need to adequately prepare practitioners for the future. Legislative and policy initiatives, the professional and research literature, and local mental health priorities are reviewed to guide educational developments. The reliance on skill development associated primarily with problem removal and short term care is questioned. Current and future trends in mental health nursing education challenge educationalists to place greater emphasis on the development of skills to empower clients with severe and persistent mental health problems in diverse care settings.

Forecasting↗