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Biomedical subjects

W Holmes

Publications and source records attributed to W Holmes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Sequence and expression of human protein kinase C-epsilon.

Two human homologues of protein kinase C-epsilon (E1 and E2) were isolated from two distinct cDNA libraries. Sequence comparisons to PKC-epsilon cDNAs from several species indicated that each of these human epsilon clones contained cloning artifacts. Thus, a composite PKC-epsilon (E3) clone was derived from clones E1 and E2. Human PKC-epsilon (E3) has an overall sequence identity of 90-92% at the nucleotide level compared to the previously characterized mouse, rat and rabbit clones. At the amino acid level, the deduced human epsilon sequence shows a 98-99% identity with the mouse, rat and rabbit sequences. Expression of the human PKC-epsilon clone in Sf9 cells confirmed that the recombinant protein displayed protein kinase C activity and phorbol ester binding activity. The recombinant protein was also recognized by two distinct epsilon-specific polyclonal antibodies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Early unplanned readmissions to social work of elderly patients: factors predicting who needs follow-up services.

There are some elderly patients who receive social work services during an initial hospitalization and experience an early unplanned readmission, when they again are in need of social work assistance. This research identified factors which differentiated social work patients who were readmitted to the hospital within one month and were again referred to social work services from those who were not readmitted. Three factors were found to be predictive of readmission to social work: longer length of stay in the initial hospitalization; presence of barriers which complicated the social work service plan undertaken in the first admission; and provision of social work services in the initial admission which were limited to information and referral only.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Specific manipulation in vivo of immunity to skin grafts bearing multiple minor histocompatibility differences.

Naive CBA mice injected with AKR spleen cells via the portal vein (p.v.) subsequently showed decreased stimulation in vitro in a primary MLR or cell-mediated lympholysis assay with irradiated AKR stimulator cells. No inhibition of stimulation by B10.BR cells is seen. These mice also show specific prolongation of survival of AKR skin grafts in vivo and diminished capacity for in vivo priming for (secondary) anti-AKR responses in vitro. These effects are not seen if initial challenge is with AKR cells injected subcutaneously (s.c.) or via the lateral tail vein (i.v.). Moreover, if immune CBA anti-AKR mice are similarly challenged with AKR cells via the portal vein, no suppression of anti-AKR immunity is elicited, as determined by subsequent in vitro assays or in vivo graft rejection. However, spleen cells from CBA anti-AKR immune mice can be used to induce, in further naive CBA mice, a specific suppression of subsequent anti-AKR graft reactivity (assayed in vitro or in vivo). Active T cell-mediated suppression can be documented using both these protocols though the additional involvement of specific serum-mediated suppression cannot be eliminated.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Blood transfusion and AIDS in the USA.

We have examined data for 3518 cases of transfusion-acquired AIDS (TA-AIDS) onsets as reported to the USA Centers for Disease Control (CDC) through 30 June 1990. We discarded 1077 of these records because of missing or uncertain date of infection. We present here infection and onset data on the remaining 2441 cases in a Rees Plot of year of onset vs. year of infection. This is probably the only class of AIDS patients for whom the date of infection is reasonably ascertainable. Also the large number of cases which we present, by cohorts of year of infection, should be useful for epidemiology and for public health planning purposes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Predicting elderly cardiac patients at risk for readmission.

Elder patients with cardiac disease are at high risk for physical deterioration during post hospital recovery and suffer frequent early readmission. It is important to identify such patients who frequently need help with discharge planning from social workers during their first admission. This study utilized computerized data on 628 patients, 238 of whom were readmissions. Question was raised as to what factors (functional, psychological, social and environmental), differentiated patients who were readmitted from those who were not. Using logistic regression, three variables: marital status, presence of coping difficulty and age of patients were identified as predictors of readmission within three months. Those who were married were less likely to be readmitted. Those with coping difficulties and older individuals were more likely to be readmitted. The accuracy of prediction, using these three factors, was 61 percent. Of those patients predicted as not being readmitted, sixty-nine percent were correctly predicted, while 39 percent were readmitted. Of patients predicted as readmissions, 49 percent were correctly predicted, while 51 percent were not. The major limitation of this study was that key physiological determinants of readmission were not collected. It is imperative that a valid screening device for predicting who is at risk for readmission should include physiological preconditions as well as functional and psychosocial data.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of development of Na(+)-dependent hexose transport in renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells by differentiation-stimulating factor for myeloid leukemic cells/leukemia inhibitory factor.

Differentiation-stimulating factor (D-factor)/leukemia inhibitory factor is a cytokine inducing differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemic M1-T22 cells. The effect of recombinant human D-factor on growth and differentiation of pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells was examined. LLC-PK1 cells did not concentrate alpha-methylglucoside during their early growth in culture but developed the capacity to concentrate this hexose as they reached confluence and their growth rate decreased. Purified D-factor caused dose-dependent inhibition of the development of this concentrative capacity. It did not affect the growth rate of the cells, but inhibited the formation of multicellular domes in confluent cultures. LLC-PK1 cells were found to have high-affinity binding sites (831 per cell) for D-factor with a dissociation constant of 197 pM.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Screening elder cardiac patients to identify need for social work services.

Present screening methods to identify older patients in need of posthospital care planning are overly sensitive and lack specificity, with the rate of false-positive screenings reaching 65 percent. Research was undertaken to develop a computerized screening mechanism to identify elderly cardiac patients at high risk for posthospital care needs. Using the data from the Medicus Nursing Productivity and Quality of Patient Care Classification System (NPAQ) as potential predictive factors, the false-positive screening rate was reduced to 26 percent. Early and accurate identification of these patients may prove beneficial to patients and their families and to social workers and hospital administrators. It can improve social worker efficiency in developing and implementing an adequate posthospital care plan, thus enhancing patient recovery.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1990

A comparative double-blind randomised study of single dose fosfomycin trometamol with trimethoprim in the treatment of urinary tract infections in general practice.

A double-blind, double-dummy trial comparing a single dose treatment with fosfomycin trometamol (FT, 3 g) versus trimethoprim (TMP, 200 mg) was carried out in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections. From 51 clinically evaluable patients, 44 were bacteriologically assessable at the 6-week follow-up. The results were as follows in the FT group (n = 22): eradication in 17 (77.3%); recurrence in 2 (9%); reinfection in 2 (9%), and persistence in 1 (4.5%). For the TMP group (n = 22) the results were: eradication in 12 (54.5%); recurrence in 1 (4.5%); reinfection in 1 (4.5%), and persistence in 8 (33.3%). There were no significant adverse events reported with either agent.

Double-Blind Method↗
PubMed1989

An aminopyridine-sensitive, early outward current recorded in vivo in neurons of the precruciate cortex of cats using single-electrode voltage-clamp techniques.

Studies were performed in cortical neurons to determine if voltage- and time-dependent membrane currents could be recognized and characterized in the dynamic, in vivo state. Intracellular measurements made in neurons of the precruciate cortex of awake cats with single-electrode voltage-clamp (SEVC) techniques disclosed an early outward current to depolarizing command steps in 124 of 137 cells studied. The voltage-dependent properties of the early outward current closely resembled those of A-currents studied in vitro in vertebrate and invertebrate neurons. The current was activated rapidly at onset latencies of less than two ms, fell to flat plateau levels within 60-120 ms during sustained depolarization, and was reduced or eliminated in 22 of 23 cells following intracellular administration of 3- or 4-aminopyridine. The magnitude of outward current in response to depolarizing commands was increased by preceding steady hyperpolarization and reduced by preceding steady depolarization. (The steady potentials were of 9.8 s duration and +/- 40 mV apart from the holding potentials.) Since return to the holding potentials occurred 80 ms before the onset of the command steps, the changes in membrane properties that were induced lasted beyond cessation of the steady polarizing stimuli themselves. Spiking did not prevent recognition of the early outward current as judged from its appearance before and after intracellular application of QX-314 to reduce spike activity. Apart from fast inward currents associated with spike potentials, the early outward current was the most conspicuous and characteristic membrane current noted in these recordings. An additional current component that was noted but not characterized in these studies was a slow, depolarization-induced inward current that could be reduced by intracellular injection of QX-314.

Aminopyridines↗
PubMed1989

Neuroleptic and anti-depressant drug treatment abolishes conditioned immunosuppression in mice.

Mice previously exposed to cyclophosphamide in the presence of saccharin-flavored water will show a decreased antibody response to challenge with sheep erythrocytes if simultaneously they are again given saccharin to drink. These mice also show conditioned taste aversion. Treatment of conditioned animals with chlorpromazine or amitriptyline after challenge with erythrocytes in the presence of saccharin reduced the degree of immunosuppression and, though to a lesser degree, the conditioned taste aversion.

Amitriptyline↗