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Biomedical subjects

W Holland

Publications and source records attributed to W Holland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Comparison of serological tests for Trypanosoma evansi natural infections in water buffaloes from north Vietnam.

In the present study, a collection of 415 water buffalo serum samples originating from the north of Vietnam was used for evaluation of different diagnostic antibody detection methods available to detect infections with Trypanosoma evansi. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a direct card agglutination test (CATT/T. evansi), an indirect card agglutination test (LATEX/T. evansi) and a newly developed antibody detection ELISA (ELISA/T. evansi) was calculated on the basis of parasitological results, obtained by mouse inoculation, and compared for all assays. The immume trypanolysis assay with the predominant T. evansi RoTat 1.2 variable antigen type was used as reference test for antibody presence. All parasitologically confirmed animals (n=8) were positive in all tests. Diagnostic specificity was highest in CATT/T. evansi (98%) followed by the ELISA/T. evansi (95%) and the LATEX/T. evansi (82%). Concordance of the variant specific immune trypanolysis test with the other tests was calculated and revealed that few (1-8%) false positive results were actually due to a specific reactions, and that LATEX/T. evansi and ELISA/T. evansi detected more immune trypanolysis positives than the CATT/T. evansi. It was concluded that, apart from the immune trypanolysis test, which is not generally applicable, ELISA/T. evansi with a 30% positivity cut-off and LATEX/T. evansi, thanks to their superior capacity of detecting T. evansi specific antibodies, would be suitable as epidemiological tools detecting both active infections and persisting T. evansi specific antibodies. The ELISA/T. evansi with a 50% positivity cut-off and the CATT/T. evansi on the other hand, seem more appropriate to detect true infected water buffaloes.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2000

Detection of Polarized Millimeter and Submillimeter Emission from Sagittarius A*

We report the detection of linear polarization from Sgr A* at 750, 850, 1350, and 2000 µm which confirms the contribution of synchrotron radiation. From the lack of polarization at longer wavelengths, it appears to arise in the millimeter/submillimeter excess. There are large position angle changes between the millimeter and submillimeter results, and these are discussed in terms of a polarized dust contribution in the submillimeter and various synchrotron models. In the model that best explains the data, the synchrotron radiation from the excess is self-absorbed in the millimeter region and becomes optically thin in the submillimeter. This implies that the excess arises in an extremely compact source of approximately 2 Schwarzschild radii.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Computer-controlled flow resistance.

A computer-controlled flow resistance (CCR), to be used in a computer-controlled lung model, is presented. Flow is forced through a slit between a cylinder and a sleeve around the cylinder. The resulting flow resistance depends on the width, circumferences and the variable length of the slit. The variation in the length is computer-controlled by the position of the sleeve with respect to the cylinder. The total flow resistance also depends on inlet and outlet resistance at both sides of the slit and on flow. The dependence on flow is primarily due to the shape of the inlet of the slit. The resistance of the slit itself is almost independent of flow. The resistance is calculated during a calibration phase at different positions of the sleeve, for flow values from 0.05 to 1.0 litre.s-1 (inflow) and from -0.05 to -1.0 litre.s-1 (outflow). To simulate a required resistance pattern, as, for instance, will occur during breathing, at each moment the set position of the sleeve is calculated by means of an interpolation from the relationship between flow resistance and position of the sleeve. The internal diameter of the sleeve is fixed. To tune the resistance range for a specific simulation, the cylinder is changed for one with different diameter, changing the width of the slit.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1998

Coexisting Sjögren's syndrome and sarcoidosis in the lung.

CONTEXT: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and sarcoidosis are diseases of unknown origin that are considered to result from abnormal regulation of the immune system. Pulmonary involvement by SS and sarcoidosis may have similar clinical and radiographic manifestations, making it difficult for the clinician to distinguish between these diseases. OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to analyze the characteristics of SS and sarcoidosis in the lung to identify distinguishing features that may assist clinicians in the differentiation of these conditions. DESIGN: We present two cases with severe pulmonary impairment in which the distinction between SS and sarcoidosis required lung tissue biopsy. The literature regarding the pulmonary manifestations of these diseases is reviewed. RESULTS: The clinical, pathological, radiographic, and physiological characteristics of lung disease in the setting of SS and sarcoidosis can be very similar, preventing a diagnosis solely on clinical grounds. This is exemplified in the two cases reported. In one patient who carried the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, examination of lung tissue revealed lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis consistent with SS. In the other patient, who had previously been diagnosed with SS on clinical grounds, examination of lung tissue showed lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis with scattered noncaseating granulomas, suggesting the possibility of coexisting SS and sarcoidosis. A literature review indicated that lung involvement by SS may be difficult to distinguish from that of sarcoidosis. Furthermore, several cases have been reported in which both diseases coexisted. CONCLUSIONS: Because SS and sarcoidosis may coexist and present with similar pulmonary manifestations, aggressive evaluation including tissue biopsy may be required. However, even tissue biopsy may not distinguish between these entities unless noncaseating granulomas are seen (in the case of sarcoidosis) or isolated lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis is detected (in the case of SS). When both features (ie; noncaseating granuloma and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis) are encountered in the same organ, we believe these diseases are coexisting. Distinguishing both conditions may have prognostic implications, because sarcoidosis may present as an autolimiting process and frequently resolves spontaneously without significant residual functional impairment. In contrast, pulmonary involvement with SS often leads to permanent defects and may progress to incapacitating disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The calamus root: a study of American gay poetry since World War II.

This paper traces the development of gay poetry in America after World War II. A taxonomy and publishing history is outlined for various poetic movements. An overview is given of the aesthetic and thematic characteristics of the tradition and its connection to homosexual writing in the nineteenth century.

Female↗
PubMed1996

Case-finding.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

In sickness and in health.

Public health problems are predominantly of a chronic disease nature and can only be tackled through a more integrated approach by professional groups, says Walter Holland.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1990

Avoidable death as a measure of quality.

Age standardized mortality rates (SMR) vary between 43 and 162 per 100,000 inhabitants from cervical cancer in different areas in England, between 19 and 250 from tuberculosis, between 31 and 249 for asthma, between 0 and 263 from rheumatic heart disease, from 0 to 379 for acute respiratory disease, from 18 to 279 for abdominal hernias, and from 0 to 228 for appendicitis. Essentially similar differences were found for some of these diseases between five EEC countries. Many differences persist when correlated against social variables, and high quality health services should respond to possible differences in incidence. Reasons for so-called avoidable mortality vary. In cervical cancer failure to include high risk groups in screening programmes or failure to follow up screening results have been encountered, in hypertensive disease, failure of follow up.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Working for which patients and at what cost?

The Government's white-paper Working for Patients proposes introducing a system in which publicly financed resources for hospital and community health services will be distributed to districts and general practitioners with practice budgets for them to choose between competing providers from both the public and private sectors. The NHS Management Board in 1986 observed that such a system would be costly and impractical and would require careful pilot work in situations where its benefits are likely to outweight its costs. This paper shows that there is no reason for changing that judgement.

Adult↗