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Biomedical subjects

A Delaney

Publications and source records attributed to A Delaney.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Activation of p38 and p42/44 MAP kinase in neuropathic pain: involvement of VPAC2 and NK2 receptors and mediation by spinal glia.

Activation of intracellular signaling pathways involving p38 and p42/44 MAP kinases may contribute importantly to synaptic plasticity underlying spinal neuronal sensitization. Inhibitors of p38 or p42/44 pathways moderately attenuated responses of dorsal horn neurons evoked by mustard oil but not brush and alleviated the behavioral reflex sensitization seen following nerve injury. Activation of p38 and p42/44 MAP kinases in spinal cord ipsilateral to constriction injury was reduced by antagonists of NMDA, VPAC2 and NK2 (but not related) receptors, the glial inhibitor propentofylline and inhibitors of TNF-alpha. A VPAC2 receptor agonist enhanced p38 phosphorylation and caused behavioral reflex sensitization in naïve animals that could be blocked by co-administration of p38 inhibitor. Conversely, an NK2 receptor agonist activated p42/44 and caused behavioral sensitization that could be prevented by co-administration of p42/44 inhibitor. Thus, spinal p38 and p42/44 MAP kinases are activated in neuropathic pain states by mechanisms involving VPAC2, NK2, NMDA receptors and glial cytokine production.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Reliability of modern microwave ovens to safely heat intravenous fluids for resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if intravenous fluid heated in modern microwave ovens is warmed to a consistently safe temperature, as has been advocated in a number of texts and journals. METHODS: Five, 1L bags of normal saline in Viaflex (Baxter Healthcare, Old Toongabie, NSW, Australia) containers were heated for 2 min on high setting in 16 different microwave ovens. The output power ranged from 650 to 1,000 W. All microwave ovens were equipped with electronic timers and turntables. Initial and final temperatures were recorded with a TestoTerm 1100 electronic thermometer (Dade Behring, Lane Cove, NSW, Australia), accessing the centre of the fluid via the injection port. The average and standard deviation for each measurement was determined for each microwave oven. RESULTS: In nine out of the 16 microwaves (56%) tested, the fluid had reached an average final temperature greater than 42 degrees C and thus was greater than the recommended maximum temperature for the heating of intravenous fluids. All microwave ovens with an output power of greater than 900 W overheated the fluids. However 13/16 microwaves (81%) had a temperature range less than 3 degrees C, thus if correctly calibrated could be appropriate for heating intravenous fluid for resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: The increased output power of modern microwave ovens can lead to overheating of resuscitation fluids, if the simple algorithm currently recommended is followed, leading to potentially serious complications. Microwave heating of intravenous fluid could be a safe, simple, cheap and effective means of heating intravenous fluids for resuscitation, but care needs to be taken to calibrate individual machines to ensure a safe temperature is reached.

Hot Temperature↗
PubMed1996

Detection of HIV type 1 env subtypes A, B, C, and E in Asia using dried blood spots: a new surveillance tool for molecular epidemiology.

Global surveillance of HIV-1 subtypes for genetic characterization is hampered by the biohazard of processing and the difficulties of shipping whole blood or cells from many developing country regions. We developed a technique for the direct automated sequencing of viral DNA from dried blood spot (DBS) specimens collected on absorbent paper, which can be mailed unrefrigerated in sturdy paper envelopes with low biohazard risk. DBS were collected nonrandomly from HIV-1-infected, mostly asymptomatic, patients in five Asian countries in 1991, and shipped via airmail or hand carried without refrigeration to Bangkok, and then transshipped to North America for processing. After more than 2 years of storage, including 6 months at ambient temperatures, proviral DNA in the DBS was amplified by nested PCR, and a 389-nucleotide segment of the C2-V3 env gene region was sequenced, from which 287 base pairs were aligned and subtyped by phylogenetic analysis with neighbor-joining and other methods. From southern India, there were 25 infections with subtype C and 2 with subtype A. From Myanmar (Burma), we identified the first subtype E infection, as well as six subtype BB, a distinct cluster within subtype B that was first discovered in Thailand and that has now appeared in China, Malaysia, and Japan. From southwest China, one BB was identified, while a "classical" B typical of North American and European strains was found in Indonesia. From Thailand, five DBS of ambiguous serotype were identified as three B, one BB, and one E. A blinded control serotype E specimen was correctly identified, but a serotype BB control was not tested. Most HIV-1 in southern India appears to be env subtype C, with rare A, as others have reported in western and northern India. The subtypes BB and E in Myanmar, and the BB in China, suggest epidemiological linkage with these subtypes in neighboring Thailand. DBS are a practical, economical technique for conducting large-scale molecular epidemiological surveillance to track the global distribution and spread of HIV-1 variants.

China↗
PubMed1995

Identification of hepatitis C virus genotypes among hospitalized patients in British Columbia, Canada.

The distribution pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among patients from British Columbia has been investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 5' noncoding region (NCR) and direct DNA sequencing of the PCR product. The sequence data obtained from the British Columbia isolates were compared with HCV sequences for the NCR obtained from GenBank for the construction of a phylogenetic tree using the GDE program, version 2.2. The data show that in British Columbia there are 7 subtypes distributed among major genotypes 1, 2, and 3. The study also shows a new subtype of genotype 1 that represents 29% of the analyzed cases.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Molecular cloning of the cDNA and chromosomal localization of the gene for a putative seven-transmembrane segment (7-TMS) receptor isolated from human spleen.

A family of proinflammatory cytokines sharing several structural features has been described and includes, for example, interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and melanocyte growth stimulatory activity. Recently, the receptors for interleukin-8 have been isolated and found to belong to the seven-transmembrane domain class of G protein-coupled receptors. As other members of this cytokine family likely interact with similar receptors, the polymerase chain reaction was employed to isolate related receptors from human peripheral blood adherent cells. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on the rabbit interleukin-8 receptor sequence were used. The corresponding full-length cDNA was isolated from a human spleen cDNA library. The predicted protein sequence of this clone, designated pBE1.3, was 93% identical to that of a cDNA isolated from bovine locus coeruleus, which apparently encodes a neuropeptide Y receptor, and also shows similarity with the interleukin-8 receptor and the human cytomegalovirus US28 sequences. The gene, designated D2S201E was localized to human chromosome 2q21. By Northern blotting, transcripts hybridizing to this cDNA were present in a variety of tissues and cells, including those of hemopoietic origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Differential 3' polyadenylation of the Huntington disease gene results in two mRNA species with variable tissue expression.

Recently a novel gene containing a CAG trinucleotide repeat that is expanded on HD chromosomes has been identified(1). This gene was shown to detect a single transcript of 10-11 kb by RNA hybridization. We have however, previously identified three cDNAs which are part of the same gene that have been shown to detect two distinct transcripts of 10 kb and one that is significantly larger(2,3). These different mRNA species could be due to use of alternate transcription start sites, alternate splicing or selection of different polyadenylation sites. We have identified cDNA clones spanning the HD gene including two (HD12 and HD14) that share identical protein coding sequences but differ in size and sequence of their 3' untranslated region. HD14 has 3,360 base pairs of additional sequence distal to the previously published 3' end (1). RNA hybridization has revealed that the larger 13.7 kb fragment is the predominant transcript in human brain. cDNA fragments unique to HD14 detected only the larger transcript. Sequence analysis identified two different putative polyadenylation sequences at position 10,326 and 13,645 of the HD14 cDNA. These findings indicate that the two observed mRNA species originate from a single gene and that differential polyadenylation leads to transcripts of different size. The relative increased abundance of the larger transcript in human brain may provide some insights into the mechanism by which a widely expressed gene may exert tissue specific effects.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Intravenous tubing with burettes can be safely changed at 48-hour intervals.

No studies of safety in changing intravenous systems containing in-line burettes at 48 hours in an intensive care setting have been performed. Patients entering a surgical intensive care unit were alternatively assigned to have any line with an in-line burette changed at either 24-hour (64 patients) or 48-hour (59 patients) intervals. Daily quantitative cultures with a 2-mL aliquot of burette fluid were obtained. Contaminated burette fluid was detected in nine of 452 (2.0%; 95% confidence interval, 0.7% to 3.3%) samples from 24-hour interval burettes and in nine of 224 (4.0%; 95% confidence interval, 1.4% to 6.6%) samples from 48-hour interval burettes. Bacterial contamination of burette fluid with ten or more colonies per milliliter occurred in only five (1.1%) cultures from patients in the 24-hour interval group compared with only two cultures (0.9%) in the 48-hour group. None of the contaminated burette fluids was associated with primary bacteremia. Change of in-line burettes in intensive care at 48-hour intervals is safe and should result in substantial cost savings.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1976

Chylopericardium with cardiac tamponade after cardiovascular surgery in two patients.

Two patients developed postoperative chylopericardium leading to acute cardiac tamponade. Delayed diagnosis and urgent throacotomy did not prevent death in three-month-old patient after the Glenn anastomosis of the superior vena cava to the right pulmonary artery, whereas early recognition of chylopericardium following repair of an interrupted aortic arch in an 11-week-old patient was successfully treated by tube pericardiostomy. The literature is reviewed, and an anatomic predisposition for post-surgical chylopericardium is proposed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Managing the claims denial appeals process.

Beyond the traditional, flawed approaches to managing the claims denial appeal process, managed care organizations can avoid spending excessive time and effort by creating a system that satisfies key success criteria.

Decision Making, Organizational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health plan ordered to pay high penalty.

Litigation on the basis of wrongful denial of medical benefits can literally cripple a health plan. If it can happen at Health Net, it can happen to almost any plan.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗