Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V Martin

Publications and source records attributed to V Martin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Characterisation of a novel interspersed Toxoplasma gondii DNA repeat with potential uses for PCR diagnosis and PCR-RFLP analysis.

A novel Toxoplasma gondii interspersed repeat element (TgIRE), present in most of the tachyzoite chromosomes, was characterised. Two regions on the TgIRE sequence showed high identity to two different T. gondii expressed sequence tag cDNAs of unknown function, which seems to be TgIRE pseudogenes. Two set of primers were designed, 2-2' and 2-3, that amplify products of 1.02 and 0.62 kb, respectively. T. gondii DNA from RH and Me49 strains was amplified with TgIRE 2-2' primers, and the respective 1.02 kb products were digested with several endonucleases. Different fragment patterns by gel electrophoresis were found only with MboI. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the set 2-3 was more sensitive than 2-2', detecting by gel visualisation the amount of DNA equivalent to 1 and 10 parasites, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Influence of ultra-long-term fatigue on the oxygen cost of two types of locomotion.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of fatigue induced by a 65-km ultramarathon on the oxygen cost of running (Cr) and cycling (Ccycl). The day before and immediately after the race, a group of nine well-trained male subjects performed two submaximal 4-min exercise bouts: one cycling at a power corresponding to 1.5 W x kg(-1) body mass on an electromagnetically braked ergometer, and one running at 11 km x h(-1) on a flat asphalt roadway. Before oxygen cost determinations, the subjects performed 12 "ankle" jumps at a given frequency that was fixed by an electronic metronome (2.5 Hz). From the non-fatigued to the fatigued condition, there was a significant increase in minute ventilation for both running (P < 0.01) and cycling (P < 0.0001). Significant changes were also found in respiratory exchange ratio both for running (P = 0.01) and cycling (P < 0.0001). However, running and cycling differed in that Cycyc increased significantly by [mean (SD)] 24.2 (11.5)% (P < 0.001), suggesting an alteration of muscle efficiency, while Cr did not change with fatigue [186.8 (14.1) mlO2 x kg(-1) x km(-1) vs 186.8 (18.7) mlO2 x kg(-1) x km(-1)]. In addition, contact times during hopping increased significantly from 0.173 (0.019) ms to 0.194 (0.027) ms (P < 0.01). Analysis of the factors that determine Cr indicate that the subjects modified their movement pattern in order to decrease the mechanical cost of running in such long-term fatigue conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Emerging diseases of Africa and the Middle East.

The term "emerging diseases" has been used recently to refer to different scenarios, all of which indicate changes in the dynamics of disease in the population. Of the OIE List A diseases, major changes have been experienced with rinderpest, peste des petit ruminants (PPR), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, lumpy skin disease, and Rift Valley fever. Rinderpest represents a success story of the 1990s, thanks to the programs of the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC). The situation has changed from that of the 1980s when rinderpest was widespread throughout most of Tropical Africa and the Middle East. PPR is a disease that has become of increasing importance throughout Tropical Africa and the Middle East. CBPP, which had previously been reduced to sporadic incidence within endemic areas, invaded new areas, causing heavy mortality. African swine fever has extended to West Africa and to Madagascar, in both regions resulting in heavy losses. Climatic changes in both East and West Africa were associated with an upsurge of Rift Valley fever. Deficiencies in national veterinary services have contributed to failures in early detection and response; in many regions investigation and diagnosis services have deteriorated. The continuing structural adjustment program for national veterinary services will need to take into account their transformation from providers of services (e.g., vaccinations, medicines) to inspection and quality assurance services. Surveillance, early warning, and disease emergency preparedness will need to be pursued more vigorously in Africa and the Middle East as vital components of national veterinary services.

Africa↗
PubMed2000

Platelet Ca(2+)ATPases : a plural, species-specific, and multiple hypertension-regulated expression system.

Gaining insight into nonmuscle Ca(2+) signaling requires basic knowledge of the major structures involved. We investigated the expression of platelet Ca(2+)ATPases in normal and hypertension-associated abnormal Ca(2+) signaling. First, overall identification of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat Ca(2+)ATPases was attempted by looking for newly described human platelet 3'-end alternatively spliced sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPases (SERCA) 3b mRNA and plasma membrane Ca(2+)ATPase (PMCA) 1b and 4b proteins, in addition to SERCA2b and SERCA3a isoforms. For SERCAs, comparative analyses of human and Wistar-Kyoto rat SERCA3 platelet mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by sequencing established that human platelets coexpressed SERCA3b and a third SERCA3c, while rat cells were devoid of them but expressed a still unknown splice variant that we termed rSERCA3b/3c. Its identification using 3'-end SERCA3 gene and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR studies showed that it results from an additional SERCA3 alternative splicing process, which uses a second alternative polyadenylation site located in the last intron. For PMCAs, with the use of gene-specific RT-PCR followed by sequencing and Western blotting using 5F10 monoclonal antibody, expression of human and rat platelet PMCA1b and PMCA4b was similar. Second, comparative analysis of these newly identified Ca(2+)ATPases and SERCA3a in age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rat platelets demonstrated (1) a marked downregulation of rSERCA3b/3c, which became null, and a 1.71-fold increase in SERCA3a and (2) an opposite regulation of the 2 PMCAs, namely, a 3.3-fold decrease in PMCA1b mRNA and a 3.7-fold increase in PMCA4b mRNA. Hence, platelets coexpress multiple, diverse, and species-specific Ca(2+)ATPases, including a novel fourth SERCA3. Moreover, expression of PMCA (1b and 4b), SERCA3a, and rSERCA3b/3c was modulated in rat hypertension. Hence, Ca(2+)ATPases should be regarded as constituting a new rational basis for the understanding of nonmuscle cell Ca(2+) signaling.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Solid cell nests and thyroid pathologies. Retrospective study of 1,390 thyroids].

Solid Cell Nests (SCN) of the thyroid gland were considered as embryonic remnants or as squamous metaplasia of follicular epithelium. In a retrospective study of 1 390 thyroids, SCN were found in 9.7 % of thyroids (16 % men and 8 % women, chi(2) : p <0, 01). The number of SCN rises with increasing number of sections examined. No statistical differences were found with age or thyroid disorders and presence of SCN, excluding the metaplastic theory. SCN contained in 38 % of cases, neuroendocrine cells (calcitonin and/or calcitonin gene related peptide, chromogranin A) and thyroglobulin cells was observed in 78.3 % of SCN. The different cell types of SCN fitted with the ultimobranchial remnant theory. Thus, some rare carcinomas (like mixed medullary and vesicular carcinoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma) might originate from SCN.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2000

Improving pharmacy supply-chain management in the operating room.

Anesthesia services can account for a significant portion of a healthcare organization's costs. Deaconess Hospital of Evansville, Indiana, used a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort to implement process improvements that yielded significant cost savings while improving patient care. Shifting responsibility for drug distribution from the operating room (OR) nurses to a pharmacist, the hospital established a satellite pharmacy service for the OR. As a result, the hospital was able to improve control of drug distribution and record-keeping, reduce turnaround time for medication preparation, lower its medication charge error rate, and increase the percentage of surgeries that start on time. The success of the OR satellite pharmacy led the hospital to expand satellite pharmacy services to labor and delivery, the cardiac cath laboratory, and the intensive care units.

Anesthetics↗
PubMed1999

Leukotriene binding, signaling, and analysis of HIV coreceptor function in mouse and human leukotriene B4 receptor-transfected cells.

The mouse leukotriene B4 receptor (m-BLTR) gene was cloned. Membrane fractions of human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably expressing m-BLTR demonstrated a high affinity and specific binding for leukotriene B4 (LTB4, Kd = 0.24 +/- 0.03 nM). In competition binding experiments, LTB4 was the most potent competitor (Ki = 0.23 +/- 0.05 nM) followed by 20-hydroxy-LTB4 (Ki = 1.1 +/- 0.2 nM) and by 6-trans-12-epi-LTB4 and LTD4 (Ki > 1 microM). In stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, LTB4 inhibited forskolin-activated cAMP production and induced an increase of intracellular calcium, suggesting that this receptor is coupled to Gi- and Go-like proteins. In Xenopus laevis melanophores transiently expressing m-BLTR, LTB4 induced the aggregation of pigment granules, confirming the inhibition of cAMP production induced by LTB4. BLT receptors share significant sequence homology with chemokine receptors (CCR5 and CXCR4) that act as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coreceptors. However, among the 16 HIV/SIV strains tested, the human BLT receptor did not act as a coreceptor for virus entry into CD4-expressing cells based on infection and cell-cell fusion assays. In 5-lipoxygenase-deficient mice, the absence of leukotriene B4 biosynthesis did not detectably alter m-BLT receptor binding in membranes obtained from glycogen-elicited neutrophils. Isolation of the m-BLTR gene will form the basis of future experiments to elucidate the selective role of LTB4, as opposed to cysteinyl-leukotrienes, in murine models of inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Working together to develop health services managers.

The developing emphasis in health and social care on working across traditional boundaries will demand different approaches to staff development. If we are to retain the strengths of expertise in the enormous number of areas represented in health and social care we will need to develop better ways of understanding each other in order to work together more effectively. This paper focuses on some of the issues raised in management development programmes which have multiple objectives demanding educational and developmental support. The emphasis is on identification of issues which arise in collaboration amongst those delivering a programme when they come from the different backgrounds of training and development, personal development and higher education. Some of the issues raised in partnership working between commissioning and providing organisations are also considered.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1998

Expression of two isoforms of the third sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA3) in platelets. Possible recognition of the SERCA3b isoform by the PL/IM430 monoclonal antibody.

Human platelets express several sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) isoenzymes: SERCA2b of 100 kDa apparent molecular mass and two distinct enzymes of 97 kDa, one of them identified as being the SERCA3a isoform. The molecular identity of the third enzyme specifically recognized by the PL/IM430 monoclonal antibody has remained elusive. First, the study of the 3'-end part of platelet SERCA3 mRNA, by means of RT-PCR amplification using sets of primers covering the N-3 to N (ultimate) exons of the human SERCA3 sequence, revealed the presence of two distinct mRNA sequences, SERCA3a and a longer variant. Second, this additional sequence was identified as SERCA3b and found to refer to the insertion of a new exon of 73 bp, located at bp 349 from the beginning of the intronic sequence, linking the penultimate (N-1) exon to the last exon (N) of the human SERCA3 gene. Third, a relationship between the expression of this SERCA3b mRNA and the PL/ IM430 recognizable SERCA protein was observed. SERCA3b mRNA was found to be absent in epithelial HeLa cells not recognized by the PL/IM430 antibody and the expression of this SERCA3b RNA species correlated with that of the SERCA protein recognized by PL/IM430 which was down-modulated in the platelet precursor megakaryocytic CHRF 288-11 cell line as well as upon in vitro lymphocyte activation. Taken together, these results strongly support the notion of the presence of the SERCA3b protein in human cells by showing SERCA3b mRNA in platelets and the fact that the protein corresponding to this mRNA species is very likely the 97 kDa protein recognized by the PL/IM430 antibody.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Perceptions, safety behaviors, and learning needs of parents of children brought to an emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted at a level II Pediatric Trauma Center to assess the perceptions, safety behaviors, and learning needs of parents who brought their children to the emergency department. METHODS: Surveys were distributed in the emergency department, and 412 parents/caretakers responded. A descriptive design provided the framework for data analysis. RESULTS: A profile of caretakers of children in three age groups (1 to 4, 5 to 12, and 13 to 15 years) emerged. Whereas most parents and older children knew how to call 911, only half of the parents knew child CPR. Parents tended to underestimate their children's risks for motor vehicle-related and immersion injuries and were more concerned about kidnapping and assault. Less than half of the parents believed that most injuries can be prevented. Learning needs were indicated by 34% of parents, and CPR was mentioned most frequently. Parents' desires for learning tended to focus on care after injuries happened. DISCUSSION: Health professionals need to spend more time teaching parents about the link between child development and risks for injury, to emphasize prevention. Interventions based on study results include the hospital Safety Helmet Discharge Plan.

Adolescent↗