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Biomedical subjects

S Russell

Publications and source records attributed to S Russell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

BRIDGE 2 (Building the Relationship Between Body Image and Disordered Eating Graph and Explanation): interventions and transitions.

BRIDGE 2 (Building the Relationship Between Body Image and Disordered Eating Graph and Explanation): Interventions and Transitions, builds upon the framework presented in the first publication of BRIDGE. BRIDGE 2 moves beyond increasing the understanding of the relationship between body image and eating disorders and encourages a movement into action. First, it suggests the appropriate point of intervention for both parents and teachers. Second, the continuum of health care from promotion to prevention, to early intervention, and to basic and specialized treatment services is positioned on the BRIDGE framework. This added dimension offers a new level of understanding specific to eating disorders by utilizing concepts from mental health promotion and mental illness prevention literature.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Regulatory mutations of the Drosophila Sox gene Dichaete reveal new functions in embryonic brain and hindgut development.

Sox domain proteins encompass a conserved family of transcriptional regulators that are implicated in a variety of developmental processes in eukaryotes from worm to man. The Dichaete gene of Drosophila encodes a group B Sox protein related to mammalian Sox1, -2, and -3 and, like these proteins, it is widely and dynamically expressed throughout embryogenesis. In order to unravel new Dichaete functions, we characterized the organization of the Dichaete gene using a combination of regulatory mutant alleles and reporter gene constructs. Dichaete expression is tightly controlled during embryonic development by a complex of regulatory elements distributed over 25 kb downstream and 3 kb upstream of the transcription unit. A series of regulatory alleles which affect tissue-specific domains of Dichaete were used to demonstrate that Dichaete has functions in addition to those during segmentation and midline development previously described. First, Dichaete has functions in the developing brain. A specific group of neural cells in the tritocerebrum fails to develop correctly in the absence of Dichaete, as revealed by reduced expression of labial, zfh-2, wingless, and engrailed. Second, Dichaete is required for the correct differentiation of the hindgut. The Dichaete requirement in hindgut morphogenesis is, in part, via regulation of dpp, since ectopically supplied dpp can rescue Dichaete phenotypes in the hindgut. Taken together, there are now four distinct in vivo functions described for Dichaete that can be used as models for context-dependent comparative studies of Sox function.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Generation and rescue of a murine model of platelet dysfunction: the Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

The human Bernard-Soulier syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder of platelet dysfunction presenting with mild thrombocytopenia, circulating "giant" platelets and a bleeding phenotype. The bleeding in patients with the Bernard-Soulier syndrome is disproportionately more severe than suggested by the reduced platelet count and is explained by a defect in primary hemostasis owing to the absence of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V membrane receptor. However, the molecular basis for the giant platelet phenotype and thrombocytopenia have remained unresolved but assumed to be linked to an absent receptor complex. We have disrupted the gene encoding the alpha-subunit of mouse GP Ib-IX-V (GP Ibalpha) and describe a murine model recapitulating the hallmark characteristics of the human Bernard-Soulier syndrome. The results demonstrate a direct link between expression of a GP Ib-IX-V complex and normal megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet morphogenesis. Moreover, using transgenic technology the murine Bernard-Soulier phenotype was rescued by expression of a human GP Ibalpha subunit on the surface of circulating mouse platelets. Thus, an in vivo model is defined for analysis of the human GP Ib-IX-V receptor and its role in the processes performed exclusively by megakaryocytes and platelets.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The Drosophila dominant wing mutation Dichaete results from ectopic expression of a Sox-domain gene.

The dominant Drosophila wing mutation Dichaete is characterised by the deletion of proximal wing structures. By analysing a number of new Dichaete alleles, phenotypic revertants and enhancer piracy lines, we show that the wing phenotype results from ectopic expression of the Sox-domain gene Dichaete. Ectopic expression of the Sox gene results in an increase in cell death in the proximal region of the wing imaginal disc and leads to alterations in the normal expression of wingless. Since ectopic expression of wingless in the proximal region of the wing disc can rescue aspects of the Dichaete phenotype, it is likely that Dichaete specifically interferes with the establishment or maintenance of a critical domain of wingless expression in the wing disc.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

A Drosophila group E Sox gene is dynamically expressed in the embryonic alimentary canal.

We have identified a novel Drosophila Sox-domain gene, Sox100B, related to the vertebrate group E genes Sox9 and Sox10. In vertebrates, group E Sox genes are expressed in the developing gonad, adult kidney and gut as well as other tissues. During embryogenesis in Drosophila, Sox100B is expressed in two rows of large intestinal cells, in midgut basophilic cells, in the Malpighian tubules and at the posterior cap of gonadal mesoderm. Our observations indicate that aspects of tissue-specific expression, as well as sequence, are conserved between vertebrate and invertebrate group E Sox proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Fusagene vectors: a novel strategy for the expression of multiple genes from a single cistron.

Transduction of cells with multiple genes, allowing their stable and co-ordinated expression, is difficult with the available methodologies. A method has been developed for expression of multiple gene products, as fusion proteins, from a single cistron. The encoded proteins are post-synthetically cleaved and processed into each of their constituent proteins as individual, biologically active factors. Specifically, linkers encoding cleavage sites for the Golgi expressed endoprotease, furin, have been incorporated between in-frame cDNA sequences encoding different secreted or membrane bound proteins. With this strategy we have developed expression vectors encoding multiple proteins (IL-2 and B7.1, IL-4 and B7.1, IL-4 and IL-2, IL-12 p40 and p35, and IL-12 p40, p35 and IL-2 ). Transduction and analysis of over 100 individual clones, derived from murine and human tumour cell lines, demonstrate the efficient expression and biological activity of each of the encoded proteins. Fusagene vectors enable the co-ordinated expression of multiple gene products from a single, monocistronic, expression cassette.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Continuity of care after discharge from ICU.

Patients and their relatives may feel unsupported in general wards and the community after the high level of care received in ICUs. Some general nurses may not have enough experience to deal with the high-dependency needs of patients discharged from ICUs to ward care. It is recommended that a follow-up nurse assess the needs of ICU patients and ensure provision has been made for their return to the community.

Australia↗
PubMed1999

The 82F late puff contains the L82 gene, an essential member of a novel gene family.

Metamorphosis in Drosophila results from a hierarchy of ecdysone-induced gene expression initiated at the end of the third larval instar. A now classical model of this hierarchy was proposed based on observations of the activity of polytene chromosome "puffs" which distinguished "early" puffs as those directly induced by ecdysone and "late" puffs as those which become active as a secondary response to the hormone. We report here the isolation and characterization of the L82 gene corresponding to the extensively characterized late puff at 82F. L82 is a complex gene that spans at least 50 kb of genomic DNA, produces at least seven different nested mRNAs, and has homology to a novel gene family. In contrast to most previously characterized puff genes, the broad developmental expression pattern of L82 suggests that it is controlled by both ecdysone-dependent and ecdysone-independent regulatory mechanisms. L82 mutations were identified by transgene rescue of developmental delay and eclosion lethal phenotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Promoting cancer screening among the first-degree relatives of breast and colorectal cancer patients: the design of two randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: In this paper two large nationwide trials are described, both of which will test a comparable telephone-based counseling intervention to promote cancer screening among the first-degree relatives (FDRs) of breast and colorectal cancer patients. The unit of randomization will be the family unit of eligible FDRs. Access to FDRs will be obtained from their relatives with cancer. Selected intervention and design issues are reviewed, including how both projects will respond to FDRs who exhibit significant levels of cancer-specific anxiety or distress and how potential high-risk cancer families will be accommodated. METHODS: Pursuant to the development of both studies, two feasibility surveys were conducted to determine whether patients would grant access to their FDRs and whether the FDRS identified by these patients would be receptive to the telephone intervention. RESULTS: Approximately 80% (106 of 132) of breast cancer patients agreed to provide access to their eligible FDRs when contacted on-site at participating hospitals and clinics. Of those subsequently selected for telephone follow-up (n = 95 or 90%), 80% (n = 76) were successfully contacted by telephone, and of these 97% (n = 74) provided the names and telephone numbers of their FDRs. Among colorectal cancer patients contacted on-site (n = 46), 96% (n = 44) agreed to provide access to their FDRs, and of those contacted by telephone (n = 33 or 75%), 91% (n = 30) provided the requested information about their FDRs. Once contacted, 95% of breast cancer FDRs (55 of 58) and 91% of colorectal cancer patients (51 of 56) endorsed the intervention strategy. CONCLUSIONS: It is argued that this intervention, if proven effective, could provide an exportable strategy for reaching large numbers of high-risk individuals to promote cancer screening.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Risk factors for conduct disorder among Navajo Indian men and women.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the risk factors for conduct disorder before age 15 among Navajo Indians. METHODS: The study was based on a survey of a stratified random sample of adult Navajo Indians between the ages of 21 and 65 living on and adjacent to two different areas of the Navajo Reservation. There were 531 male and 203 female respondents. The average age (SD) of the men was 38.7 (10.5) years and of the women 35.5 (9.0) years. Conduct disorder was diagnosed retrospectively using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule first developed for the Epidemiological Catchment Area study. The responses were combined into a continuous scale. RESULTS: Significant risk factors for increased scores on the conduct disorder scale were: histories of physical and sexual abuse in childhood; abusive maternal drinking; a small number of households per camp; younger age; and being male rather than female. Measures of social status and religion in which subjects were raised were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the risk factors that are associated with conduct disorder in other populations are also risk factors in the Navajo population. There is suggestive evidence that some of these risk factors have become more common since World War II, raising the possibility that conduct disorder has become more prevalent, as is thought to be the case nationwide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Selective transduction of protease-rich tumors by matrix-metalloproteinase-targeted retroviral vectors.

We recently showed that retroviral vectors can be targeted through protease substrate interactions. Infectivity is blocked by a polypeptide fused to the viral envelope glycoprotein (SU) and is restored when a protease cleaves the connecting linker, releasing the inhibitory polypeptide from the viral surface. Protease specificity is achieved by engineering the sequence of the linker. Here, using two different matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-activatable vectors, we demonstrated highly efficient and selective transduction of MMP-rich target cells in a heterogeneous cell population. In vivo, the MMP-targeted vectors showed strong selectivity for MMP-rich tumor xenografts. Protease-activatable vectors offer new possibilities for in vivo targeting of gene delivery.

Endopeptidases↗
PubMed1999

An exploratory study of patients' perceptions, memories and experiences of an intensive care unit.

In the research reported, 298 patients were asked to describe their memories of the Royal Melbourne Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU). The data were collected by either self-reported questionnaires or structured interviews and examined from a bio-psycho-social perspective using both qualitative and quantitative methods. These recollections demonstrate that the close surveillance by both technological support and health care practitioners provide many patients and their families with a feeling of safety. Patients' memories of ICU also highlighted the presence of power relations which are inherent in clinical practice. This paper provides examples of actions and remarks within ICU that were not only remembered by patients and their families but also continued to effect patients 6 months after their discharge. The data in this research indicate that some of the psychological problems experienced after discharge may have been prevented by improved communication between staff and patients in ICU. This study also demonstrated the importance of providing feedback to the nurses working in ICU. This feedback raised awareness of patients' perceptions of both ICU itself and the behaviour of the staff. It also reminded staff that some patients remember everything about their admission of ICU. The data indicate that while patients found the presence of good communication in ICU both therapeutic and reassuring, they found the lack of good communication distressing. Poor communication not only caused anxiety while the patient was in ICU but also contributed to less than optimal recoveries after discharge. Finally, it will be argued that the provision of information from nurses not only diminished feelings of anxiety but also empowered patients to become involved in decisions about their care.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of morphine sulphate and codeine phosphate in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

We undertook a double-blind study to evaluate equianalgesic doses of intramuscular morphine sulphate (0.15 mg.kg-1) and codeine phosphate (1.5 mg.kg-1) in 40 healthy children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. There were no significant differences in pain scores, analgesic requirements or sedation scores between the two groups over the following 24 h. More children vomited in the morphine group (60%) than the codeine group (30%) between one and six h after the procedure (P < 0.05). Codeine phosphate is associated with less postoperative vomiting than morphine sulphate while providing comparable postoperative analgesia for adenotonsillectomy.

Adenoidectomy↗
PubMed1999

Alcohol dependence and conduct disorder among Navajo Indians.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between conduct disorder before age 15 and subsequent alcohol dependence, and to describe the lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence among Navajo Indian women and men. METHOD: This was a case-control design which included both men (n = 735) and women (n = 351) and in which the Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used for the diagnosis of the lifetime history of alcohol dependence and conduct disorder. Alcohol dependent cases were selected from inpatient and outpatient treatment programs (204 men, 148 women). Whenever possible, controls were matched for age, sex and community of residence and were randomly selected and interviewed until a nonalcohol dependent individual was found. Among the men, there were 374 alcohol dependent controls and 157 nonalcohol dependent controls. Among the women, the figures were 60 and 143, respectively. When combined, the controls comprise samples of the adult male and female populations from which estimates of lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence, and of the amount of alcohol dependence in the population attributable to conduct disorder, may be inferred. RESULTS: Conduct disorder is a risk factor for alcohol dependence among both men and women. Lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence in this population is high (70.4% for men and 29.6% for women), but the amount of alcohol dependence in the population attributable to conduct disorder is low. On the other hand, among the alcohol dependent, those with conduct disorder had the most severe alcohol- and nonalcohol-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: The potential limitations of the study are those common to case-control designs, especially biased recall by cases. There are also potential sampling biases among the controls. It is shown that none of the potential biases invalidate the findings, which support the hypothesis that in this population conduct disorder is a risk for alcohol dependence. The implications for primary prevention of alcohol dependence are discussed.

Adolescent↗