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Biomedical subjects

S Porter

Publications and source records attributed to S Porter.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Characteristics of myxobacteria isolated from the surface of freshwater fish.

A study was made of 32 nonpathogenic myxobacterial isolates obtained from a variety of fish taken in the Pacific Northwest. Morphological, cultural, biochemical, and serological studies were carried out on these strains. All were found to be members of the genus Cytophaga. Two myxobacterial strains pathogenic to fish were also included in this study for comparative purposes. These pathogenic organisms were found to be culturally and physiologically similar to some of the nonpathogenic strains. Antiserum against the pathogenic species, however, showed no cross agglutination when tested against the other myxobacterial isolates. As a result, serological procedures appear promising as a rapid means for distinguishing pathogenic myxobacteria from one another and from saprophytic myxobacteria commonly found on fish.

Journal Article↗

Memory for murder. A psychological perspective on dissociative amnesia in legal contexts.

There is currently a complex and inconsistent state in the law relating to dissociation and dissociative amnesia (McSherry, 1998). Although dissociative amnesia in defendants is relevant to both competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility in principle, courts have typically assumed a skeptical stance toward such claims in practice. However, there is considerable evidence from both nonoffender and offender populations to support the validity of dissociative amnesia in defendants. Further, there is information available to aid in the evaluation of amnesia, such as the quality of the report itself and characteristics of the person reporting the amnesia (e.g., psychopathy). When consideration is given to the legal response to reports of dissociative amnesia by complainants, the situation becomes even more complex. While some courts have rejected recovered memory evidence, others have convicted defendants of historical offenses based on such evidence. In some cases, judges have argued that jurors should be left to decide on the validity of recovered memories based on their common sense and experience. The uncritical acceptance of the validity of repressed memories in complainants by many courts stands in stark contrast to the response to claims of amnesia from defendants. It seems apparent that the courts need better guidelines around the issue of dissociative amnesia in both populations. We think that the increasing scientific understanding of memory in the past decade (see Schacter, 1999) can meaningfully contribute to the development of such guidelines. Responsible, nonpartisan expert testimony from mental health professionals would be one step in the direction of rectifying the current state of law in regards to dissociation.

Amnesia↗

Defective gap junctional intercellular communication in lung cancer: loss of an important mediator of tissue homeostasis and phenotypic regulation.

Gap junctions provide direct pathways for the exchange of molecules and ions between neighboring cells, a process known as gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). This GJIC is important for homeostasis and regulation of mitosis, differentiation, and apoptosis. Gap junctions are present in lung airway and alveolar epithelial cells and, in addition to the above roles, might coordinate ciliary beating and surfactant secretion. GJIC is decreased in human and mouse lung carcinoma cells because of reduced expression of the gap junction protein, connexin43 (Cx43), and defects in signal transduction pathways that mediate Cx43 function. This reduced GJIC is important in the behavior of lung carcinoma cells because forced expression of Cx43 in lung carcinoma cells inhibits their growth and tumorigenicity. In this report, we summarize our studies on the role of GJIC in lung neoplasia.

Animals↗

Structures of prokaryotic ribosomal proteins: implications for RNA binding and evolution.

After a long hiatus, the pace of determination of the structures of ribosomal proteins has accelerated dramatically. We discuss here the structures of five ribosomal proteins from Bacillus stearothermophilus: S5, S17, L6, L9, and L14. These structures represent several new motifs. Each of these structures has revealed new insights, and we have developed criteria for recognizing RNA-binding regions of each protein and correlating the structures with such properties as antibiotic resistance. The information here should also prove invaluable in an eventual high-resolution picture of the intact ribosome.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Orofacial disease: update for the dental clinical team: 11. Cervical lymphadenopathy.

By far the most common causes of lumps in the neck are swollen lymph nodes. The most common cause of cervical lymphadenopathy is infection in the area of drainage (virtually anywhere in the head and neck). Most frequent of all is an enlarged jugulodigastric (tonsillar) lymph node, inflamed secondary to a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes may also be a manifestation of systemic infection (e.g. HIV/AIDS), or related to malignant disease in the drainage area (e.g. carcinoma) or elsewhere (e.g. leukaemia or lymphoma). These and less common causes are discussed in this, the last article in this series.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Prevalence of medical technology assistance among children in Massachusetts in 1987 and 1990.

In 1987 and 1990 in Massachusetts, surveys were conducted to determine the size, pattern of distribution, and trends in the population of children assisted by medical technology. The authors obtained an unduplicated count of all Massachusetts children from 3 months to 18 years of age who used one or more of the following: tracheostomy, respirator, oxygen, suctioning, gastrostomy, jejunal or nasogastric feedings, ostomies, urethral catheterization, ureteral diversion, intravenous access, or dialysis. By comparing counts obtained from medical and educational sources, the authors were able to perform a capture-recapture analysis to estimate the overall number of children dependent upon these technologies. The number of children identified in our surveys increased from 1,085 in 1987 to 1,540 in 1990. However, the capture-recapture analysis yielded estimates of 2,147 plus or minus 230 for 1987 and 2,237 plus or minus 131 for 1990. This suggests that the population of children dependent upon medical technology was essentially stable during this period, and that the 42 percent increase in the number of children identified in our survey reflected improved sampling techniques. During the 3 years, shifts in the pattern of technology use were noted, however. Use of oxygen and gastrostomy increased, and urostomy use declined. A change in the age distribution of the children was also documented, with a shift in the preponderence of technology use from 12 to 24 months in 1987 to children in the first year of life in 1990. Using the 1990 estimate and the 1990 U.S. census figures, an overall prevalence estimate of 0.16 percent was calculated. Applying this to the U.S.child population yields an estimate of 101,800 children assisted by medical technology nationwide(assuming comparable technology use in other States). This information will facilitate policy analysis and program planning on regional and national levels for this medically complex group of children.

Adolescent↗