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Biomedical subjects

B Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to B Wilson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Irreversible inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication by topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide: a new strategy for the treatment of human cytomegalovirus infection.

We demonstrated previously that human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections could enhance the expression of cellular topoisomerase II and this enzyme activity is essential for CMV to replicate in vitro (Benson and Huang, 1988; Benson and Huang, 1990). In this study, we further show that in addition to m-AMSA and VM26 which we had previously reported, a widely used and clinically available drug, etoposide (VP-16 or VePesid) can irreversibly inhibit CMV replication at the drug concentration (2.5 micrograms/ml) greatly below toxic levels to stationary phase cells. Growing cells were more sensitive to etoposide than stationary phase cells and slight growth inhibition occurred at 2.5 micrograms/ml level. This inhibitor does not prevent the expression of CMV immediate-early and early genes, but can inhibit viral DNA and late viral-proteins synthesis. Because of their irreversible inhibitory effects and approval usage in clinical oncology, it is suggested that this group of compounds, particularly etoposide (VP-16), can be used to control life-threatening CMV infections, such as CMV pneumonitis and CMV retinitis, in cancer and immunocompromised patients or patients with AIDS.

Amsacrine↗
PubMed1992

Developmental changes in the recognition and comprehension of facial expression: implications for frontal lobe function.

Children aged 6-15 years old and adults (over 18) were given three tests designed to test perception and comprehension of facial expression. In the first test subjects were given two composite symmetrical faces made from the left or right half of a normal face, the subjects' task being to indicate which composite more closely resembled the original face. In the second test the subjects matched a series of photographs from Life magazine with key photographs of one of six distinct emotions (sad, fear, happy, anger, disgust, surprise). In the third test the subjects chose a key photograph that was appropriate for the face of a faceless character in a cartoon. On the composite faces test the subjects in all groups exhibited a preference for the left visual field composite, implying that all age groups were processing the faces in a similar manner. The results of the other two tests showed that there was an improvement in the perception of facial expression between the ages of 6 and 8 years, little change until about 13 years, and then a second improvement to adult performance at about 14 years. The performance of the 8- to 13-year-old children was similar to that of adult patients with frontal lobe injuries, which could be taken as evidence that the regions of the frontal lobe involved in the performance of these tasks may not be mature until about 14 years of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Neuropsychological and psychiatric abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis: a preliminary report.

Ten patients attending one general medical hospital clinic who fulfilled operational criteria for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and with a history longer than three months, underwent a series of standardized neuropsychological and psychiatric tests. Nine were able to complete the tests and were individually matched with a normal control group for age, sex, educational background and premorbid intelligence. The ME subjects showed inferior performance to the controls on two tests of verbal memory. Their personality scores displayed less extraversion and less psychoticism. This is the first report of objective neuropsychological abnormalities in patients with ME, suggesting a discrete deterioration of short-term memory. The findings may also suggest a concurrent psychiatric component of the condition, but the direction of causality remains to be clarified.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1992

Recovery and compensatory strategies in head injured memory impaired people several years after insult.

A follow up study of 29 patients with traumatic head injury who were referred for memory therapy five to 10 years earlier is described. Of the original sample, 28 were traced, one had died, and one refused to take part, thus leaving 26 subjects who were seen and reassessed. Most (21) were living in their own homes with relatives, friends or alone; the others were in long term residential care or residential college or in warden controlled accommodation. Eleven subjects were in paid employment, although only one was in a position comparable to pre-injury status. On a standardised memory test some 58% of subjects showed no change since their last assessment several years earlier; 31% improved; and 11% deteriorated. The most encouraging finding was that subjects were using more memory aids and strategies now than before or at the end of their rehabilitation programme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Reliability and construct validity of the Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills.

The Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills (COMPS) is a screening tool for children with motor incoordination. A study of reliability (test-retest, interrater, and internal consistency) and construct validity with 132 children, both with and without developmental coordination disorder, is reported here. Test-retest reliability over 2 weeks was high: .92 for a group of 48 children. Interrater reliability for occupational therapists experienced in pediatrics was also excellent: .87 for a group of 72 children. Internal consistency of the COMPS was high, particularly when one of the seven items (Schilder's arm extension) was deleted. The test discriminates well between children with and without motor problems and has many properties of a good screening test.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Interdisciplinary management of hemicorporectomy after spinal cord injury.

Hemicorporectomy (HCP) is infrequently used, but its effects can devastate the patient's body image, autonomic function, and physical abilities even more than a spinal cord injury of comparable level. Interdisciplinary management is of the utmost importance. This report describes the 2 year course, including four separate rehabilitation admissions, of a patient who was initially paraplegic, and then underwent a HCP for complications secondary to a cauda equina ependymoma. The patient's expectations for functional independence were established by his successful initial spinal cord rehabilitation. The HCP was performed 6 months after initial discharge secondary to infected Harrington rods and rapid spread of the tumor. Extensive use of the interdisciplinary team approach allowed comprehensive analysis and treatment of the patient's comfort, mobility, skin tolerance, and upper extremity functional abilities. Four successive prostheses were developed and modified, until all concerns were successfully addressed. The patient ultimately became completely independent at the wheelchair level. The evaluations, treatment plan, and emphasis of each discipline, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation nursing, therapeutic recreation, social work, vocational rehabilitation, and physiatry are summarized. Differences between the patient's course and standard spinal cord rehabilitation are detailed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Immunocytochemical characterization of large granular lymphocytes in normal cervix and HPV associated disease.

A quantitative immunocytochemical study of large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) in the normal cervix and in human papillomavirus (HPV) associated disease was performed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies which included those for LGL surface markers CD56, CD16, and CD57. Only CD56-positive cells were found within the ectocervical epithelium and these cells increased in number in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in comparison with normal cervix. Examination of serial sections and double labelling suggests that these cells are CD3+, CD8+, CD56+, CD16+. The observed increase in number of this subset was not associated specifically with HPV infection but was related to CIN. Lymphocytes expressing all three LGL markers were found in the stroma and CD16(+)-positive cells clustered around endocervical glands with occasional cells extending into the endocervical epithelium. These results indicate that a small subset of LGLs which express T-cell markers is increased in number in CIN. Cells expressing classical NK markers are restricted to the stroma and are not found within the ectocervical epithelium.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test for Children (RBMT-C): a preliminary evaluation.

This article reports the development of a children's version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (a screening test for memory impairment in adults). The test is based on memory tasks involved in normal daily life, and has four parallel versions to allow monitoring of change. Eighty-five children between the ages of 5:0 and 10:0 years each experienced two versions of the adapted test, and undertook additional intelligence and memory tests drawn from the British Ability Scales and the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children-Revised. Performance on the adapted test correlated with Intelligence score for 5- and 6-year-olds only, with Digit Span performance for 7- and 8-9-year-olds, and with Memory score for 6-year-olds only. The results establish the feasibility of using a test of everyday memory with children as young as 5:0 years, and justify trials of the test with abnormal populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of commercially available cytokeratin antibodies in normal and neoplastic adult epithelial and non-epithelial tissues.

Five commercially available cytokeratin antibodies (lu-5, AE1/AE3, CAM 5.2, MFN116 and anti-cytokeratin 18) were used to stain a wide range of normal and neoplastic epithelial and non-epithelial tissues to assess their potential value in diagnostic histopathology. All five showed good specificity, with some cross-reactivity in smooth muscle cells. The wider reactivity of AE1/AE3, lu-5, and MFN 116, which includes cytokeratins 8,18 (Moll's catalogue) expressed in simple epithelia and their tumours, as well as cytokeratins expressed in complex stratified squamous epithelia, permits identification of a wider range of epithelial derived tumours. This wider spectrum of reactivity may allow these antibodies to be used in a diagnostic panel for the identification of poorly differentiated tumours.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Performance of age-matched controls on a battery of visuo-spatial neglect tests.

Examination of 47 independent elderly subjects, matched with a population of patients with acute stroke, found that 55% made at least one omission on a battery of neglect tests. Up to 43% made omissions on any one test. Increasing age and other evidence of cognitive impairment were associated with impaired performance on the battery. Omissions were attributed to an age-related decline in visuo-spatial function. Cut-off points are provided to distinguish between such age-related impairment and visuospatial neglect. The importance of age-matched control studies in developing tests of cognitive impairment in stroke research is highlighted.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The assessment of visuo-spatial neglect after acute stroke.

Forty four consecutive patients with acute hemispheric stroke and forty seven elderly controls with no neurological disease were assessed for visuo-spatial neglect, using a modified neglect test battery. Neglect was found to be equally common in patients with right hemisphere and left hemisphere stroke three days after stroke (72% versus 62%). It was more severe in those with a right hemisphere stroke and resolved more frequently in those with a left hemisphere stroke. The battery was validated against an occupational therapist's assessment of neglect on self-care tasks. The inter-observer reliability was good and it was possible to monitor changes over time with the battery.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

The effect of drugs on male sexual function and fertility.

Drugs may have negative effects on male libido, erection, ejaculation and orgasm, as well as on fertility, and research on these effects is increasing. Libido may be decreased by drugs that block dopamine or testosterone, or that cause dysphoria. Erection may be decreased by drugs that divert blood flow from the penis, or drugs that affect spinal reflexes. Ganglion blockers may also inhibit erection. Ejaculation may be diminished by drugs that affect spinal reflexes or be inhibited by ganglion blockage. Enervation of the vas deferens and epididymis may be blocked and cause a smaller emission. Retrograde ejaculation may occur due to blockage of the internal urethral sphincter. Orgasm is usually inhibited by the drugs that inhibit ejaculation. Fertility is impaired by drugs that affect sexual performance or spermatogenesis. Major groups of drugs that may affect male sexual function include drugs of abuse, CNS depressants, antihypertensives, anticholinergics, psychotherapeutics, hormones, and cancer therapeutics, in addition to miscellaneous other agents. Information about these drugs has been arranged in tables so that the provider has a convenient reference to use when explaining to men the effect of drugs on sexual response and fertility.

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions↗