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Biomedical subjects

T Costello

Publications and source records attributed to T Costello.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

HIV, STD and hepatitis prevention among women in methadone maintenance: a qualitative and quantitative needs assessment.

In the USA, as well as internationally, rates of HIV infection among women continue to grow. In addition, women who inject drugs are at further increased risk for hepatitis C co-infection. The purpose of this study was to conduct qualitative and quantitative needs assessments for HIV/STD/hepatitis prevention among women in methadone maintenance programmes. Qualitative interviews and a quantitative, self-administered questionnaire were used to develop an understanding of their needs, and perceptions of what they believed would constitute effective prevention intervention programmes. Results supported women's interest in these services and provided feedback on how to structure prevention programmes by placing them in the context of women's lives and addressing concrete barriers (e. g. transportation, child care, confidentiality concerns) to facilitate adherence to these programmes. Respondents indicated a desire for HIV prevention information, but also wanted information on hepatitis, relapse prevention, stress management and accessing services. The development of such programming would require partnering with the target population and their service providers to develop feasible and effective interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Transport of infectious reovirus into bile: class II major histocompatibility antigen-bearing cells determine reovirus transport.

We have previously demonstrated that mammalian reovirus type 1 enters the bile and gut lumen after systemic administration. In the present study, we showed that Kupffer cell uptake is essential for the transport of reovirus into the bile. Furthermore, class II major histocompatibility antigen (I-A)-bearing cells are a major determinant for the transit of reovirus from the hepatic environment, as well as from the intestine, during the course of systemic infection. These findings may provide an approach to the control of viral pathogens that cause systemic disease by selective utilization or modification of I-A-bearing cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Reovirus type 1 is secreted into the bile.

Reovirus type 1, known to be a cause of systemic and intestinal disease in mice, is secreted into the bile of adult A/J mice after viremia. Virus found in the bile in concentrations higher than those in blood may indicate that reovirus type 1 is actively transported into the bile. The transport of virus was independent of levels of virus-specific immunoglobulin A antibody. Modifications of the virus that occurred during transport did not discernibly affect the infectivity of the virus. Entry of virus into the bile may be an important mechanism by which an enteric virus that produces systemic disease reenters the intestine for transmission.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Chemosensitization: do thiols matter?

It is well known that endogenous sulfhydryls are radioprotective in mammalian cells. Their comparable role in chemotherapeutic drug toxicity has been known for almost as long but less well defined. Thiol depletion as a mechanism responsible for enhanced cytotoxicity of melphalan was assayed by pretreatment of cells in vitro with misonidazole and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Hypoxic cell sensitizers, such as MISO, deplete endogenous thiols by metabolic activation under hypoxic conditions to thiol reactive intermediates, whereas BSO specifically inhibits a key enzyme in the synthesis of glutathione. For a given level of thiol reduction, sensitization to melphalan was far greater by preincubation with MISO than it was for BSO. This indicated that thiol reduction itself was not the sole factor involved in chemosensitization by MISO. As evidence that the method of thiol depletion predisposes to the expression of biological damage, it was shown that cells preincubated with MISO were appreciably more vulnerable to oxidative stress than those exposed to BSO. BSO was shown to totally inhibit the repair of damage from a preincubation treatment with MISO, demonstrating that recovery is dependent upon thiol regeneration. Thiol depletion "per se" is a good qualitative but not necessarily a quantitative indicator of chemosensitization--the biological and biochemical function of the thiol depleting agents used influences further drug interactions. The results of the study with these two agents suggest that thiols may play a potentially more critical role in the repair rather than the initiation of drug-induced damage.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Understanding the psychosocial needs of HIV-positive women: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this study was to engage women with HIV disease in a qualitative needs assessment for psychological services. Focus groups/interviews were held to develop an understanding of these women's experiences and perceptions of services needed within a support group format. Results support women's interest in and perceived need for psychosocial group intervention and provide feedback on how to structure groups, including considerations for the facilitator, concrete barriers to address, and attention to group attributes and guidelines. These results support ongoing development of psychosocial support groups for women with HIV disease and further exploration of the efficacy of group models for the diverse subgroups of women with HIV/AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗