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W Smith

Publications and source records attributed to W Smith.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester reduces the incidence of IDDM in BB/E rats.

Evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in cytokine-mediated islet beta-cell dysfunction and destruction in vitro has led to the hypothesis that increased production of NO may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This study demonstrates that oral administration of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (an inhibitor of NO synthase) from 30 to 150 days of age significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the incidence of IDDM in diabetes-prone BB/E rats. This supports the idea that NO plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of IDDM in this animal model.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Investigation and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Canadian Inuit: enhancing access to care.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a major cause of morbidity among Circumpolar women. Cervical cancer comprised 15% of all cancers in Canadian Inuit women from 1969-1988. The age standardized incidence for invasive cervical cancer in Canadian Inuit women is 3.1 times the rate in the general Canadian population. Management of CIN in women of remote Arctic regions has traditionally required multiple visits to specialized medical centres for diagnosis, therapy and follow-up. Such centralized care requires separation of women from their families, resulting in significant medical, emotional and economic costs for the patient, her family and community. In the Canadian Central Arctic, a program for the diagnosis and therapy of CIN has been established using colposcopy with loop electrosurgery, performed by a trained local family practitioner and visiting gynecologist. Early program evaluation has indicated reduction in medical expenditures due to travel costs, minimal procedure-related morbidity and discomfort, and improved patient satisfaction associated with reduced separation from family and community. It is hoped that the program design, which harnesses technology in order to provide improved care closer to home, will be applicable to other Circumpolar regions.

Arctic Regions↗
PubMed1995

Increasing response rates in telephone surveys: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Sampling frames and mode of contact and administration of questionnaires are important factors contributing to response rates and selection bias in population-based research. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether contact by mail before contact by telephone increases response rate, and to assess the concurrent validity of telephone surveys for collecting health research and service data. METHODS: Two thousand households were randomly selected from electronic white pages. Half were randomly allocated to receive or not to receive an explanatory letter before telephone contact. Interviewers were blinded to whether a household received a letter. Respondents aged 18 years or over were randomly selected from within each household using a Kish grid and interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 68 per cent [confidence interval (CI) 66-70]. The response rate of those who received the letter was 76 per cent (CI 73-79), and of those who did not receive the letter was 60 per cent (CI 56-63). Use of the Kish grid to select randomly a respondent decreased the response rate by less than 10 per cent. The internal validity of the data was as follows: in a 10 per cent sub-sample, the Kish grid had been correctly applied in 93 per cent of households, and in 99 per cent of households the exclusion criteria had been correctly adhered to. The external validity was as follows: comparisons with data obtained from the same reference population using similar instruments administered face-to-face revealed no meaningful or significant differences in population estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Mail-out before telephone contact greatly increases response rates at low cost. Telephone surveys can yield valid, useful data for health research and service evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

An outbreak of gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neonatal ward.

Gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (GRKP) was isolated from nineteen patients in the neonatal ward of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman. Thirteen cases were infected and six were colonized. Two infected patients died due to septicaemia, eight cases occurred within SQUH and eleven cases were imported from other hospitals. Sixteen isolates were of the same serotype (K25), three were non typeable. Referred patients from peripheral hospitals were the source of the organism and hand carriage the probable vehicle of transmission. The first strain of gentamicin-sensitive Kleb. pneumoniae was isolated five months after combating the outbreak.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1994

Sex and species differences in the effects of cohabitation on vasopressin messenger RNA expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

Three days of male and female cohabitation dramatically reduces the density of vasopressin-immunoreactive (AVP-ir) fibers in the lateral septum and lateral habenular nucleus of male, but not of female prairie voles. Here we tested whether this reduction is associated with changes in AVP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), the presumed source of these fibers, and with changes in testosterone levels, which may influence AVP biosynthesis in the BST. In addition, we tested whether similar changes can be found in meadow voles, which unlike prairie voles do not dramatically change their social behaviors after mating. In both species, males showed more AVP mRNA-labeled cells in the BST and more grains per labeled cell than females. In prairie vole males, cohabitation increased the number of AVP mRNA labeled BST cells and the density of grains per labeled cells. It also raised plasma testosterone levels. No changes were found in prairie vole females nor in meadow voles of either sex. The changes in prairie vole male suggest that cohabitation stimulates AVP biosynthesis. The previously observed decrease in AVP-ir fiber density in the lateral septum and lateral habenular nucleus may therefore reflect increased synaptic release of AVP, which may contribute to mating-induced changes in social behaviors in prairie vole males.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cost-effectiveness and safety of selective use of low-osmolality contrast media.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We estimated our potential institutional savings by switching from universal to selective use of low-osmolality contrast media. METHODS: A total of 42,598 radiocontrast studies (26,595 with high-osmolality contrast agents and 16,003 with low-osmolality contrast agents [LOCA]) were performed over 42 months. Every radiocontrast reaction was classified and documented. All costs associated with the subsequent treatment of adverse reactions were recorded and added to the cost of contrast agents. The actual cost of contrast agent administration was determined and compared with the theoretical cost of total conversion to LOCA. RESULTS: The overall rate of adverse reactions was 1.18%. The cost of radiocontrast materials and treatment of adverse reactions was $2,599,593. Over the same period, total conversion to LOCA would have cost $5,968,507. CONCLUSIONS: Our institution saved an estimated $962,548 annually through the selective use of LOCA. The incremental cost of treating adverse reactions associated with selective use was minimal compared with the cost of total conversion to LOCA.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed1994

Retention and use of personal health records: a population-based study.

A parent-held record has been issued to all children born in New South Wales (NSW), Australia since 1988. Five years after its introduction, an evaluation was undertaken to determine its retention rate over time, rate of documentation of immunization status and other important child health information, and its perceived usefulness to parents. The cross-sectional study comprised an interviewer administered questionnaire to 622 households derived from a stratified random sample of 25 local government areas, representative of 73% of all households containing children under 5 years of age in NSW. A concurrent postal survey assessed the attitudes and use of the Personal Health Record (PHR) among a stratified random sample of 911 health care providers. Results showed that the PHR was well retained, with 89% claimed retention at 4 years, and over 78% of parents able to produce the record for inspection at interview. Of the records examined, 91% had at least one immunization recorded while 68% had a complete regimen documented by age 4 years. Overall, 93% of parents expressed satisfaction with the PHR, while 64% of all health care providers also felt that the PHR was 'beneficial to the health care children received', although only 53% of these used it regularly to record their findings. It is concluded that the PHR currently issued in NSW is well retained and valued by parents, and used by and useful to a range of health professionals.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1994

The time has come to lift the economic embargo against Cuba.

The United States embargo against Cuba, which makes trade illegal, contributes to that country's death and disease. The policy is obsolete, counterproductive and should be changed to bring peace between the two nations and help restore the health of the Cuban people. Along with the ban on trade is the ban on traveling. The United States' controls contradict the most fundamental values upon which this country stands. Despite current restrictions, physicians can travel to Cuba and they should in order to observe the island's system for themselves.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Idiopathic megacolon in the BB rat.

It has been assumed that idiopathic megacolon occurring in the spontaneously diabetic BB rat results from metabolic decompensation associated with diabetes. In a large prospective necropsy study we have documented the incidence of idiopathic megacolon and its distribution between diabetic and non-diabetic animals in the BB rat colony in Edinburgh. A significantly increased incidence of megacolon was found in non-diabetic rats in the diabetes-prone subline compared with diabetic rats in the diabetes-prone subline and with non-diabetic rats in the diabetes-resistant subline. Affected animals were found to have an inflammatory infiltrate in the wall of the large bowel with destruction of both autonomic ganglia and muscularis propria. These necropsy observations indicate that megacolon cannot be a result of the metabolic disturbance due to the hyperglycaemia associated with diabetes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Purification, primary structures, and antibacterial activities of beta-defensins, a new family of antimicrobial peptides from bovine neutrophils.

A new family of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides from bovine neutrophils was isolated and characterized. Thirteen structurally homologous peptides were purified to homogeneity from a granule-rich cytoplasmic fraction of purified blood neutrophils. The complete sequences of the peptides were determined by a combination of enzymatic digestion, Edman degradation, and additional biochemical characterization of the carboxyl termini. The peptides are characterized by a highly cationic 38-42-residue chain which includes 6 invariantly spaced cysteines which form three disulfides. They share a highly conserved consensus sequence which is also found in a recently described epithelial antimicrobial peptide from bovine trachea. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the 13 neutrophil peptides, determined in assays using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as test organisms, demonstrated that each peptide possessed antimicrobial activity, and that several were as active as the most potent neutrophil defensin, rabbit NP-1. Though the structural and functional attributes of the bovine neutrophil peptides are similar to those of defensins, the two peptide families are distinguished by their unique consensus sequences and additionally by differing tridisulfide motifs. We therefore propose that this new defensin-like antimicrobial peptide family be named beta-defensins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Lymphoma in the BB/E rat: c-myc translocation identified.

In a prospective necropsy study involving 257 animals in the BB rat colony in Edinburgh, there was an increased incidence of lymphoma (average 10.9 per cent in all three subgroups: 8 per cent in diabetic, 20 per cent in non-diabetic diabetes-prone, and 3.2 per cent in diabetes-resistant rats). The incidence was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the non-diabetic diabetes-prone subgroup. These results differ markedly from previous results and indicate that the relationship between lymphoma and diabetes is more complex than previously suggested. All the lymphomas bar one involved the ileocaecal nodes and were classified as immunoblastic lymphomas of B-cell origin. There was a striking resemblance both in tissue distribution and in histological classification to the lymphoma seen in the established B-cell lymphoma model, the LOUVAIN rat. Southern blot analysis carried out on the BB rat lymphomas revealed a translocation of variable length involving the c-myc oncogene. Such a translocation has not been demonstrated in the BB rat before.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Quit and win smoking cessation contests: how should effectiveness be evaluated?

BACKGROUND: In societies where there are both multiple influences on smoking cessation and a downward secular cessation trend, the attribution of cessation effects to particular interventions poses challenging evaluation problems. Quit smoking lotteries are gaining popularity as mass-reach smoking cessation strategies. Most published evaluations of the lotteries have reported impressive cessation rates within samples of entrants. However, none has considered the possibility that the lotteries merely concentrate a secular quitting trend around a researched event or whether they increase the cessation rate of the whole community from which entrants derive. RESULTS: Results from a lottery run in a smoking population (n = 101,277) are presented. Of the 1,167 people who entered, 29.2% self-reported being smoke-free at 4 months. These results are considered against a prediction that the campaign might increase the cumulative background 4-month quit rate (708/101,277 or 0.7%) by a minimum of 10%. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that such a realistic hope, even if achieved, could in practice never be measured. Implications for evaluating the impact of discrete health promotion evaluations in large communities are discussed in terms of the dilemmas posed by the case study.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Infection control in home care agencies.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of home care agencies, including the nature of care provided and the presence of infection control standards and education. METHODS: Study design was cross-sectional and descriptive; the survey of home health agencies included questions about agency type, nature of care delivered, and infection control policies and educational programs. The sample included all directors of home care agencies in northern California. RESULTS: The response rate was 33.5%. Agency directors reported that 15.3% of their clients required high-technology nursing care; in response to a list of invasive procedures generally considered high in infection risk, more than 90% cared for urinary drainage devices, some categories of wound care, and intravenous management. Of those performing high-risk procedures, more than 75% had policies covering the procedures. Nearly all (87.7% to 100%) had policies on universal precautions, handwashing, handling of needles and sharps, and the cleaning and disinfection of equipment; however, nearly a quarter (24.6%) had no education program regarding the handling of contaminated equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Among agencies responding to this survey, care that is considered high risk for infection is delivered and the agencies for the most part have infection control policies and educational programs. Research is needed to define more clearly infection control efforts in home health care. More work is needed to adapt the knowledge of infection control in hospitals to the home setting.

California↗
PubMed1993

Undergraduate education about cancer. A survey of clinical oncologists and clinicians responsible for cancer teaching in Australian medical schools.

Undergraduate cancer education in Australian medical schools is not integrated and there is little evidence of change in content or structure in recent years in spite of major changes in knowledge about cancer epidemiology and cancer biology, and in cancer management. A recent survey of graduating students/interns from all Australian medical schools revealed a disturbing variability in experience and lack of important knowledge. There was evidence of substantial differences in knowledge of, and rating of teaching between the different disciplines involved in cancer control and cancer management. To examine possible reasons for this, we surveyed cancer clinicians and teachers of oncology in the undergraduate curriculum at Australian medical schools. We asked them the same questions of knowledge as the students, and also to comment on the type and emphasis of teaching desirable in the medical students' cancer curriculum. The results indicate not only that the survey instrument was seen to be relevant, but also that some of the bias and misinformation detected in the student experiences may be attributed to attitude, knowledge and differences of opinion of the teachers. The results highlight the need for an integrated cancer curriculum to inform graduates about an illness which will be diagnosed in more than a quarter of the Australian population.

Australia↗
PubMed1993

Expression of human CD18 in murine granulocytes and improved efficiency for infection of deficient human lymphoblasts.

The CD18 gene encodes the beta 2-subunit of leukocyte integrins, and mutations in this gene cause extreme host susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infection. Because expression of CD18 is restricted to bone marrow-derived cells, this disorder is considered an excellent candidate for somatic gene therapy utilizing ex vivo infection of bone marrow stem cells. We have constructed a retroviral vector expressing CD18 with the Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) long terminal repeat (LTR) as the promoter, and high-titer ecotropic and amphotropic producer cell lines were isolated using the GP+E-86 and GP+envAM12 safe packaging cell lines. Infection of CD18-deficient lymphoblasts resulted both in expression of immunodetectable CD18 at 35-40% of normal levels on 55-60% of cells and in functional restoration of CD18-dependent aggregation. All of 16 mice transplanted with syngeneic bone marrow infected with the CD18 retrovirus expressed human CD18 on 17-36% of granulocytes at 2 weeks after transplantation, and expression was appropriately up-regulated in response to stimulation with zymosan-activated serum. This recombinant retrovirus should prove useful for further studies of somatic gene therapy for CD18 deficiency.

3T3 Cells↗