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Biomedical subjects

W J Jones

Publications and source records attributed to W J Jones.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Thermococcus guaymasensis sp. nov. and Thermococcus aggregans sp. nov., two novel thermophilic archaea isolated from the Guaymas Basin hydrothermal vent site.

Thermococcus strains TYST and TYT isolated from the Guaymas Basin hydrothermal vent site and previously described were compared by DNA-DNA hybridization analysis with the closest Thermococcus species in terms of physiology and nutritional aspects. On the basis of the new data and taking into consideration the molecular, physiological and morphological traits published previously, it is proposed that strains TYT and TYST should be classified as new species named Thermococcus aggregans sp. nov. and Thermococcus guaymasensis sp. nov., respectively. The type strain of T. aggregans is strain TYT (= DSM 10597T) and the type strain of T. guaymasensis is strain TYST (= DSM 11113T).

DNA, Archaeal↗
PubMed1998

Clinical integration in a population-based planning framework.

Population-based planning provides context and scope to the goal of clinical integration. It also is a transforming process for organizations and programs devoted to a hospital-centric care system, as well as source of language that can support collaboration among buyers, payers, providers, and community groups. At the clinical care level, population-based planning recognizes the differences in how people perceive health and use health care services, as an important corollary to understanding specific diseases and clinical service needs.

Community Health Planning↗
PubMed1997

Biochemical and phylogenetic characterization of two novel deep-sea Thermococcus isolates with potentially biotechnological applications.

The partial 16S rDNA gene sequences of two thermophilic archaeal strains, TY and TYS, previously isolated from the Guaymas Basin hydrothermal vent site were determined. Lipid analyses and a comparative analysis performed with 16S rDNA sequences of similar thermophilic species showed that the strains isolated from deep-sea vents were not identical to the other species belonging to the genus Thermococcus. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analyses, lipid analyses, and previously reported physiological data, we believe that strains TY and TYS are significantly different from the previously described Thermococcus species. According to specific physiological and molecular features, we propose the use of these isolates as potential tools for the development of biotechnological applications in the field of starch processing and DNA technology.

Archaea↗
PubMed1997

A cost-effectiveness analysis of anemia screening before erythropoietin in patients with end-stage renal disease.

The treatment efficacy of erythropoietin (EPO) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) can be limited by deficiencies of iron, folate, or vitamin B12, by hyperparathyroidism, or by aluminum intoxication. Since EPO costs are significant, this study attempted to determine the cost-effectiveness of performing a panel of screening tests for anemia before starting EPO. Anemia screening was performed prospectively in 48 new-onset ESRD patients at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center before EPO treatment was started. Serum iron, transferrin, folate, vitamin B12, parathyroid hormone, and aluminum levels were determined, and transferrin saturation (Tfsat) was calculated at the first dialysis session. At presentation for dialysis, the mean hematocrit was 0.264 +/- 0.036 and the mean blood urea nitrogen was 32 +/- 2 mmol/L. Eighteen patients (37.5%) had a serum iron level lower than 7 micromol/L, suggesting iron deficiency. Twenty-five patients (52%) had Tfsat less than 0.20, consistent with overt iron deficiency. No patient was found to be vitamin B12 deficient, to be aluminum intoxicated, or to have significant hyperparathyroidism. One patient had folate deficiency. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed assuming that (1) EPO would be given at an average starting dose of 6,000 U/wk at a cost of $14/2,000 U of EPO; (2) that without screening 1 month would elapse before a poor response was identified; and (3) that the failure to treat aluminum intoxication and hyperparathyroidism or to replete iron, vitamin B12, or folate deficiency would significantly impair the response to EPO. The Tfsat screen had a cost-effectiveness ratio of 0.2019, saving approximately $5.00 in EPO use for each dollar of test administration. All other screens had cost-effectiveness ratios greater than 1.0, indicating that their testing costs exceeded dollar savings in EPO use. In conclusion, iron deficiency is common in anemic patients starting dialysis, but other causes of anemia are not. It is imperative that current clinical practices be influenced by cost-effectiveness considerations. Given the cost of laboratory screens, and the relative ineffectiveness of the other screens examined here to identify factors known to impair the response to EPO, anemia screening before initiating EPO therapy should be limited to tests to identify iron deficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Genomic organization of the mouse double minute 2 gene.

Transfection of the mouse double minute 2 (Mdm2) oncogene has been found to induce immortalization of primary cells and to transform cultured cells. Amplification and/or overexpression of human MDM2 has been documented in a large percentage of human cancers. Mouse and human Mdm2 cDNA have been cloned from transformed cells and the cDNA sequence of both genes have been reported previously. In this report, we present the gene structure of mouse Mdm2. Comparison of the coding sequences of the Mdm2 gene with the previously reported cDNA sequence and with Mdm2 sequences obtained from an Mdm2-bearing cosmid clone capable of inducing transformation revealed that the reported cDNA sequence was in error, and that Mdm2-induced transformation of cells does not require an activating mutation in Mdm2. Ligation-anchor PCR analysis of transcripts produced from the P1 and P2 promoters indicates that transcription initiates at sites upstream of those reported previously for both promoters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Regulation of RAD53 by the ATM-like kinases MEC1 and TEL1 in yeast cell cycle checkpoint pathways.

Mutants of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) homolog MEC1/SAD3/ESR1 were identified that could live only if the RAD53/SAD1 checkpoint kinase was overproduced. MEC1 and a structurally related gene, TEL1, have overlapping functions in response to DNA damage and replication blocks that in mutants can be provided by overproduction of RAD53. Both MEC1 and TEL1 were found to control phosphorylation of Rad53p in response to DNA damage. These results indicate that RAD53 is a signal transducer in the DNA damage and replication checkpoint pathways and functions downstream of two members of the ATM lipid kinase family. Because several members of this pathway are conserved among eukaryotes, it is likely that a RAD53-related kinase will function downstream of the human ATM gene product and play an important role in the mammalian response to DNA damage.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Trauma management therapy: a preliminary evaluation of a multicomponent behavioral treatment for chronic combat-related PTSD.

The development and initial evaluation of a new, comprehensive and multicomponent behavioral treatment (Trauma Management Therapy, or TMT) for chronic combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is described. The program utilizes elements of intensive exposure therapy, programmed practice, and structured social and emotional skills training to target the multiple aspects of chronic combat-related PTSD. The treatment was found to be effective in alleviating a broad spectrum of difficulties in combat veterans with chronic PTSD, most of whom had co-occurring Axis I and/or Axis II disorders. The results are discussed with respect to the implementation of the new treatment and the general need for a comprehensive approach to treating combat-related PTSD. Implications for the potential cost-effectiveness of the treatment program also are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A priority queuing model to reduce waiting times in emergency care.

Investigates the increased waiting time costs imposed on society due to inappropriate use of the emergency department by patients, seeking non-emergency or primary care. Proposes a simple economic model to illustrate the effect of this misuse at a public or not-for-profit hospital. Provides evidence that non-emergency patients contribute to lengthy delays in the ER for all classes of patients. Proposes a priority queuing model to reduce average waiting times.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed1996

Capitating physician group practices.

To prepare for capitated payment, physician group practices must gather essential data on service utilization and cost of services, must develop appropriate compensation and incentive plans for physicians, and must analyze and, if necessary, modify their practices's clinical and business operations. Those group practices that take these steps will be positioned to profit from capitated payment.

Capitation Fee↗
PubMed1996

Norplant prescribing in family practice.

BACKGROUND: This study describes the Norplant prescribing experience, training, and attitudes of South Carolina family practice and general practice (FP/GP) physicians. METHODS: A survey was mailed to all FP/GP physicians licensed in South Carolina, with two follow-up mailings to nonrespondents. RESULTS: Responses were received from 520 physicians, representing 43% of all licensed FP/GP physicians and 73% of all board-certified FP physicians. Norplant had been inserted by 39% of the respondents, and fewer than 10% reported encountering complications during the insertion process. Norplant removal was reported by 135 physicians, averaging 4.4 removals per year. Complications during removal were reported by 52% of physicians, with the most common problem being difficulty finding the capsules. Some degree of training in Norplant insertion was reported by 82% of physicians; 69% reported having had some training, formal or informal, in removal; but only 57% reported having received formal training either during residency or at a workshop. Training reduced insertion time but did not affect removal time or the number of complications encountered. Formal training was more likely to prepare physicians to successfully manage procedural complications. CONCLUSIONS: FP/GP physicians are important providers of Norplant. Improved training is needed to ensure that insertion is performed properly and to disseminate effective removal techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Allied health workforce shortages: the systemic barriers to response.

Over the last decade, the increasingly severe workforce shortages developing in some allied health professions have drawn the attention of university, government, and institutional researchers and policymakers. A 1991 American Hospital Association survey shows allied health professions dominating the "vacancy rate" list, with physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) at the top. Separate surveys have documented growing shortages in the OT and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) areas. According to a recent survey by the South Carolina Hospital Association, hospital vacancy rates in OT and PT are particularly severe, but there are also significant shortages in the CRNA and Medical Technologist (ASCP) subfields. The imperatives of cost containment are increasing the demand in South Carolina and elsewhere for rehabilitative and outpatient care provided by many allied health professionals, but there is growing concern that the educational system will not be able to respond adequately to these growing workforce needs. These predictions of growing shortages are further confirmed by recent occupational forecasts issued by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Allied health researchers do not completely agree on the reasons for the development of subfield shortages, or on how severe they really are. Improving alternative career prospects for females low public and professional images, and employee burnout, among other factors, have been suggested. A survey of the allied health literature shows four additional broad areas of investigation.

Accreditation↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with capillary gas chromatography in the separation of phenols, anilines and polynuclear aromatics potential field-screening applications of MEKC.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is known to be complementary to liquid chromatography, but comparison of CE with capillary gas chromatography (GC) for applicable analytes has not been extensive. Capillary GC has been the preeminent separation technique for environmental analysis, but CE has yet to be applied systematically to the determination of environmental analytes. We present data on separations of three classes of semivolatile analytes of interest to environmental analysis: phenols, anilines and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs). Standard GC conditions were used to illustrate typical separations observed on 30-m and 40-m columns. Rapid analyses were addressed using a high-temperature 15-m column of thinner film. CE separations employed borate buffer with sodium cholate as the micellar agent in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The effects of organic additives were studied using methanol, acetone and tetrahydrofuran. gamma-Cyclodextrin was also used in MEKC to enhance the separation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and to examine its effects on separations of phenols and anilines. Short capillaries effected very rapid (< 3 min) compound-class characterization, an approach which has potential use in site characterization/remediation (field-screening) studies.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1994

Metal-induced inhibition of anaerobic metabolism of volatile fatty acids and hydrogen.

The effects of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) on the biotransformation of organic acids (acetate, propionate and butyrate) and H2 were assessed in serum-bottle microcosms. Experiments were performed over a range of metal concentrations (20-200 mg/l) using biomass from an anaerobic bioreactor fed continuously with ethanol distillery waste as inoculum. In general, the added metals inhibited the biotransformation of organic acids with increasing metal concentration. However, the extent of inhibition varied for the different biotransformations and for the different metals tested. For example, the concentration of CuCl2 effecting a 50% reduction in the rate constant for biotransformation of acetate, propionate and butyrate was 60, 75 and 30 mg/l, respectively. Cu and Cr (VI) were the most inhibitory metals in organic acid transformation, whereas Pb was the least toxic. The rate of biotransformation of acetate was reduced by half at Cu and Cr concentrations of 60 and 40 mg/l respectively, whereas Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations of 160 to 200 mg/l had little effect. The activities of hydrogenotrophic methanogens were much less affected by the same metals and metal concentrations.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1994

Regional health care systems: implications for health care reform.

Not only should there be payment reform, but health care delivery should be redesigned to achieve the triple goals of access to services, quality improvement, and cost control. The authors review the forces that have formed multihospital and health care systems in the past, and the seven stages that health care systems traverse toward competency. They briefly discuss the implications of those realities for reform implementation. One premise is that the natural evolution of such health care systems toward competency will take a longer time than most nonproviders expect.

Community Health Services↗