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Biomedical subjects

T Wheeler

Publications and source records attributed to T Wheeler.

118 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of hypoxia on vascular endothelial growth factor and chorionic gonadotrophin production in the trophoblast-derived cell lines: JEG, JAr and BeWo.

Growth of trophoblast tissue in early pregnancy is rapid and accomplished in an unusually hypoxic environment. Hypoxia has been reported to upregulate mRNA production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF receptors have been found on trophoblast cells. These observations suggest that VEGF may have an important role in early placentation. This study examines the influence of hypoxia on both the production of the VEGF message and protein and on the production of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) protein by the cell lines JEG, JAr and BeWo. Cells were grown under normoxic and hypoxic conditions for 72 h. The average oxygen tension in the culture media of the hypoxic cultures (6-7 kPa) was significantly less than in the normoxic cultures (19-21 kPa). RNA was extracted and message for VEGF(121), VEGF(165) and VEGF(189) found in all cell lines by reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These messages were upregulated by hypoxia; findings confirmed by competitive PCR for VEGF and expression of the house keeping gene GAPDH. hCG and VEGF were measured by immunoassay. Hypoxia resulted in an increase in VEGF production (P<0.05) but had inconsistent effects on hCG production. In some experiments the absolute concentrations of hCG and VEGF in the culture media were noted to be significantly correlated (r>0.5, P<0.05). In addition to its role in angiogenesis, VEGF may have direct effects on trophoblast cells encouraging proliferation and invasion. These effects may be regulated in part through oxygen supply and hCG.

Cell Count↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Color pressure garments versus traditional beige pressure garments: perceptions from the public.

Social acceptance of patients with burns may be affected by the color of the pressure garment they wear. The purpose of this study was to ask students (n = 712), health care providers (n = 354), and the public (n = 250) their perceptions of beige versus color pressure garments. It was assumed that beige pressure garments have negative connotations and that colored pressure garments have positive connotations. Data were collected from subjects after they viewed beige, pink, and blue pressure garments. Items on the instrument contained bipolar word pairs rated on a 5-point scale; a rating of 1 indicated positive feelings, and a rating of 5 indicated negative feelings. Cronbach's alpha reliability for the instrument was 0.85, indicating a high internal consistency among items. Paired t test indicated a significant difference between the subjects' perceptions of the beige garments versus their perceptions of the color garments (t = -44.82, p = 0.000) among all subjects (n = 1259). Results indicate that positive feelings toward color garments may lead to social acceptance of the patient with burns, which in turn could increase the patient's self-esteem.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological consequences of malignant melanoma: patients' experiences and preferences.

This article reports on the findings of a literature review exploring the psychological impact of malignant melanoma on patients, from diagnosis to follow up. It examines the preferences expressed by patients with regard to ongoing support from nurses in this field, and draws attention to some implications for practice. A small but significant body of literature provides information on the psychological stress experienced by patients with melanoma, and on their coping strategies. Preferences are expressed on the way that information is given at diagnosis and the support offered by the healthcare team during diagnosis and at later consultations. These preferences and experiences have implications for nurses working in cancer care in general, and skin cancer in particular.

Adaptation, Psychological↗