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Biomedical subjects

S Turner

Publications and source records attributed to S Turner.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Rheumatoid arthritis in workers exposed to silica in the pottery industry.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between rheumatoid arthritis and occupational exposure to silica in pottery and related industries. METHODS: Medical records of 8325 men and women born 1916-45 and employed in pottery, refractory material (aluminosilicate or silica), and sandstone industries were examined to identify cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Medical and employment histories were extracted for cases and matched referents. Indices of duration, cumulative exposure, and mean silica concentration were compiled. Conditional logistic regression was used to investigate the relation between rheumatoid arthritis and indices of exposure, having allowed for potential confounders of smoking, employment in the coal mining industry, and number of pregnancies. RESULTS: 58 Cases of rheumatoid arthritis (43 men, 15 women) were identified. Cases had significantly shorter duration of exposure than referents. There was no significant difference between cases and referents in mean silica concentration. Men who had worked in the coal mining industry were particularly at risk (odds ratio 5.36, 95% confidence interval 1.92 to 15.03). CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis after occupational exposure to silica at mean exposures within the current United Kingdom exposure limits.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Psychiatric symptoms in adults with learning disability and challenging behaviour.

BACKGROUND: In people with learning disability one of the most frequent reasons for psychiatric referral is challenging behaviour. AIMS: To determine what proportion of people with challenging behaviour actually have psychiatric symptoms. METHOD: Using an instrument specifically designed for use by informants, a sample of 320 people with administratively defined learning disability, with and without challenging behaviour, was surveyed for the presence of psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS: Increasing severity of challenging behaviour was associated with increased prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, depression showing the most marked association. Anxiety symptoms were associated with the presence of self-injurious behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: There is clearly the potential for reducing challenging behaviour by improved identification and treatment of coexisting psychiatric disorders. The possibility of modifying diagnostic criteria for depression in people with learning disability, by including aspects of challenging behaviour, merits attention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Melting dynamics beneath the tonga-kermadec island arc inferred from (231)Pa-(235)U systematics

Measurement of (231)Pa-(235)U disequilibrium in Tonga-Kermadec island arc lavas (north of New Zealand) permits discrimination of the time scales and mechanisms of fluid addition and partial melting. For Tonga lavas, the ((231)Pa/(235)U) ratios are less than 1 and can be explained by fluid addition from the subducting plate around 60,000 years ago. In contrast, the effects of partial melting overprinted those of fluid addition in the Kermadec lavas resulting in ((231)Pa/(235)U) ratios greater than 1.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Genotoxicity studies on the azo dye Direct Red 2 using the in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test.

The clastogenicity of the azo dye Direct Red 2 (DR2) has been investigated using the murine bone marrow micronucleus assay. A potent dose-dependent response was observed following oral gavage of DR2 up to 4 mg/kg, after which significant toxicity to the erythroid compartment was observed. The route of administration had a significant effect on the frequency of micronucleus formation: intraperitoneal injection was approximately two-fold less clastogenic than the equivalent dose delivered orally (p<0.05). The requirement for activation of DR2 by intestinal microflora was indicated by the fact that mice given acid-treated water prior to administration of DR2 showed a significant reduction (40%; p<0.001) in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte formation. The implications of these findings for the health and safety of occupationally exposed workers are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Isolation and transduction of CD34+ cells from small quantities of peripheral blood from HIV-1-infected patients not treated with hemopoietic growth factors.

A proposed hemopoietic stem cell gene therapy for treatment for HIV infection would involve transduction of CD34+ hemopoietic stem cells with vectors encoding anti-HIV constructs. Peripheral blood has proved to be a useful source of these hemopoietic stem cells and this study exploits this finding. Small quantities of peripheral blood were obtained from HIV-negative patients and HIV-positive patients who were and were not receiving hemopoietic growth factors (HGFs). CD34+ cells were obtained from these samples using a simple technique and scored for frequency of colony type. This demonstrated that HIV-negative patients had the highest frequency of colony-forming units (CFUs). HIV-positive patients not treated with HGFs had a lower frequency of CFUs, but the same colony type distribution as HIV-negative patients. HIV-positive patients treated with HGFs had the lowest frequency of CFUs, but their colony type distribution demonstrated that they had responded to treatment. CD34+ cells selected in this way were also transduced with the murine retroviral MFG vector using a technique that demonstrated transduction efficiencies ranging from 2% to 16% (median, 11.5%). This study simplifies the experimental requirements for development of a hemopoietic stem cell gene therapy for HIV infection and offers the possibility that longitudinal studies could be performed on peripheral blood CD34+ cells from HIV-positive or HIV-negative patients without the need for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of three methods for single nucleotide polymorphism typing for DNA bank studies: sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridisation, TaqMan liquid phase hybridisation, and microplate array diagonal gel electrophoresis (MADGE).

In the near future the number of SNPs identified and mapped will increase and the need for high throughput SNP typing will be paramount for comprehensive examination by association of the role of genomic regions in disease traits. A range of higher throughput methods for typing SNPs is now in routine use in many laboratories worldwide. In this report, we analyse the relative advantages and disadvantages of three such methods, TaqMan, PCR-SSOP, and ARMS-MADGE, currently in use in our laboratories. Throughputs achievable are similar, but there are major differences in cost and time for set-up, equipment, consumables, and staff time, which may determine the choice for individual laboratories.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1999

Adnexal masses in pregnancy: a review of 130 cases undergoing surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine maternal and fetal outcome in patients undergoing surgery for pelvic mass in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Maternal and fetal records of 130 cases of adnexal masses associated with intrauterine pregnancy that required laparotomy or aspiration or that were diagnosed incidentally at the time of cesarean section were reviewed. The chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. A P value of </=.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The incidence of adnexal masses in pregnant women who required surgical management was 1 in 1312 live births. A malignant tumor or a tumor of low malignant potential was found in 6.1% of cases. In 10 patients the only finding at the time of laparotomy was leiomyomas. Ultrasonography was not helpful in distinguishing tumors of low malignant potential from benign neoplasms or in identifying the source of the pelvic mass in patients found to have only leiomyomas. There were 2 intrauterine fetal deaths and 1 neonatal death in this cohort of patients. Patients who underwent laparotomy after 23 weeks' gestation had a significantly higher adverse pregnancy outcome compared with those who underwent laparotomy earlier in pregnancy (P =.005). CONCLUSION: The incidence of an adnexal mass during pregnancy in our population was consistent with what has been reported in the literature. However, the percentage of malignant tumors or tumors of low malignant potential was 2-fold greater than previously reported. Preoperative ultrasonography was not helpful in differentiating tumors of low malignant potential from benign neoplasms.

Adnexal Diseases↗
PubMed1999

A qualitative study of the Victorian critical care nurse labour force.

A perceived shortage of critical care nurses in Victorian public and private hospitals, largely attributed to an increase in attrition from critical care areas and a failure to attract sufficient replacement for those who leave, served as the impetus for this project, which explored registered nurses' (RNs') attraction to and attrition from critical care practice areas. Multiple sources of data were utilised, including a series of individual interviews and focus group discussions with critical care students and past and current critical care nurses, telephone interviews with RNs who had completed a critical care re-entry course, interviews with key informants and an analysis of applications to study in a critical care postgraduate nursing course. Results revealed that the challenge of the work, intellectual stimulation, the high level of autonomy, use of increased knowledge and career development were primary motivators for RNs to engage in critical care practice. Limitations to lifestyle choices, practice demands, political changes within critical care arenas, inappropriate remuneration and a lack of career structure and opportunity were salient features of why employment was discontinued within the critical care practice areas.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Viral modulation of the host response via crmA/SPI-2 expression.

Viruses have evolved numerous strategies to modulate the host response to infection. Poxviruses cause acute infections and need to replicate quickly to promote efficient transmission. Consequently, it is not surprising to learn that poxviruses encode a large number of proteins designed to target various arms of the host inflammatory response. One of the earliest described and most well-studied viral modulatory proteins is crmA/SPI-2. While the biochemical targets and possible modes of action have been well characterized in vitro, the role that crmA/SPI-2 plays during natural infection is less clear. It may have effects in modulating host responses involving apoptosis and inflammation. It is important to further understand the precise mode of action of viral proteins, such as crmA/SPI-2, because this may lead to better therapeutic strategies to combat a range of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Registered nurses' perceptions of teaching: constraints to the teaching moment.

Nursing literature indicates that patient teaching is an integral role function of the nurse. While some authors suggest that patient teaching is an essential part of nursing care, others argue that nurses are not adequately prepared to assume the role of teacher. This study explores the context within which nurses engage in patient teaching, revealing tensions experienced on a day to day basis within the practice setting. The principles of teaching and learning are also explored, raising questions about the extent to which nurses utilize these principles to guide the teaching moment. It is asserted that nurses find it difficult to engage in activities which are pivotal to the provision of quality patient education. Whether this is because they have little awareness or understanding of the principles of education, or whether this is related to the milieu in which teaching takes place, is explored.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Adverse drug reactions to unlicensed and off-label drugs on paediatric wards: a prospective study.

To determine the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to unlicensed and off-label drugs used in paediatric inpatients, we carried out prospective surveillance on five different paediatric wards in a regional children's hospital for 13 wk. Comparison of the use of each drug with its summary of product characteristics was made to determine whether the drug was used in an unlicensed or off-label manner. The presence of an ADR was determined using previously defined criteria. In total, 4455 courses of drugs were administered to 936 patients in 1046 admissions. In 507 (48%) of the 1046 admissions, patients received one or more unlicensed or off-label drugs. ADRs occurred in 116 (11%) of the 1046 patient admissions. ADRs were associated with 112 (3.9%) of the 2881 licensed drug prescriptions and 95 (6%) of the 1574 unlicensed or off-label drug prescriptions. Use of drugs in an off-label or unlicensed manner to treat children is widespread. ADRs are a significant problem following unlicensed or off-label drug prescriptions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Transgenic mice ubiquitously expressing human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP): an additional reporter gene for use in tandem with beta-galactosidase (lacZ).

A fundamental keystone of developmental biology has been the growing use of reporter genes in model transgenic systems. Their use has greatly facilitated investigations of cell lineage and cell fate in addition to aiding experiments aimed at determining patterns of gene expression, gene interaction and gene regulation. Through construction of transgenic mice, ubiquitously expressing human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), we demonstrate the suitability of PLAP as a reporter gene for use in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, beta-galactosidase (lacZ). Our findings demonstrate that over-expression of PLAP has no adverse effects on mouse development or viability, despite a widespread pattern of expression. This technology provides a simple yet effective mechanism based on eukaryotic reporter gene technology to facilitate the identification of transgenic cells within complex in vivo systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Distraction osteogenesis--a review.

This review describes the technique of distraction osteogenesis, outlining its application and current developments for the correction of craniofacial anomalies. Also described are some of the difficulties and complications which can arise with speculation on how this may be overcome. Finally, there is an exploration of how this technique might be routinely used to deal with orthognathic, orthodontic and alveolar problems.

Craniosynostoses↗
PubMed1998

Sequence-based typing provides a new look at HLA-C diversity.

Although extensive HLA-A and HLA-B polymorphism is evident, the true diversity of HLA-C has remained hidden due to poor resolution of HLA-C Ags. To better understand the polymorphic nature of HLA-C molecules, 1823 samples from the National Marrow Donor Program research repository in North America have been typed by DNA sequencing and interpreted in terms of HLA-C diversification. Results show that HLA-Cw*0701 was the most common allele with a frequency of 16%, whereas 28% of the alleles typed as Cw12-18 (serologic blanks). The frequency of homozygotes was 9.8% as compared with previous studies of 18% for sequence-specific primers and 50% for serology. Most startling was the frequency at which new alleles were detected; 19 new HLA-C alleles were detected, representing a rate of approximately 1 in 100 samples typed. These new HLA-C alleles result from 29 nucleotide substitutions of which 4 are silent, such that coding substitutions concentrated about the Ag-binding groove predominate. Polymorphism at the HLA-C locus therefore resembles that at the HLA-A and HLA-B loci more than previously believed, indicating that antigenic stress is driving HLA-C evolution. However, sequence conservation in the alpha-helix of the first domain and a clustering of unique amino acids around the B pocket indicate that HLA-C alleles respond to antigenic pressures differently than HLA-A and HLA-B. Finally, because the samples characterized were predominantly from Caucasians, we hypothesize that HLA-C polymorphism will equal or exceed that of the HLA-A and -B loci as DNA sequence-based typing is extended to include more non-Caucasian individuals.

Alleles↗