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C Carpenter

Publications and source records attributed to C Carpenter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Safety and immunogenicity of an oral, inactivated, whole-cell vaccine for Shigella sonnei: preclinical studies and a Phase I trial.

Orally delivered, inactivated whole-cell vaccines are safe methods of inducing local and systemic immunity. To increase surface proteins associated with adherence and invasion, Shigella sonnei were grown in BHI broth containing deoxycholate. A whole-cell vaccine (SsWC) was then produced by formalin inactivation. In pre-clinical studies, the SsWC vaccine was immunogenic and protected against S. sonnei-induced keratoconjunctivitis in the guinea pig model. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase I study, 10 evaluable subjects received either three doses of SsWC on Days 0, 14, and 28 (N = 3); five doses of SsWC on Days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 28 (N = 4); or placebo (N = 3). Each dose contained 2.0 x 10(10) inactivated cells. Serum and fecal antibodies against SsWC, LPS, and IpaC were measured by ELISA. A > or = 4-fold increase in titer was considered significant. Both SsWC dosing regimens were well tolerated. No fever or severe gastrointestinal symptoms were noted by any of the vaccinated subjects. Antibody responses were similar in the two dosing groups. Serum IgG or IgA responses to SsWC were seen in six of seven vaccinees (86%), to LPS in four of seven (57%), and to IpaC in five of seven (61%). Fecal IgA responses to these three antigens developed in five of five, three of five, and three of five subjects, respectively. Among the seven vaccinees, geometric mean rises in serum IgA levels to all three immunogens were significant; IgG increases trended toward significance (paired one-tailed t-test). We conclude that SsWC was immunogenic and protective in animal studies and well tolerated and immunogenic in a Phase I trial.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Improved Norway spruce somatic embryo development through the use of abscisic acid combined with activated carbon.

The combination of abscisic acid (ABA) and activated carbon increased Norway spruce (Picea abies L., Karst.) cotyledonary somatic embryo yields, increased the number of genotypes forming cotyledonary embryos, caused embryos to form that exhibited improved maturation characteristics, and reduced embryo production costs. Somatic embryos increased in size, showed larger apical regions, became more zygotic-like in shape, and showed higher percentages of epicotyl development upon germination. Analyses of medium for free ABA in the presence of activated charcoal showed a rapid decrease within a few hours followed by a gradual decline over the next few days with little change from 2 to 6 weeks. Gelling agents strongly affected ABA adsorption, with agar decreasing the adsorption of ABA compared to gellan gum (Gelrite, Phytagel). Over 4,000 somatic seedlings from 20 clones were produced and established in a greenhouse using the methods discussed, and approximately 1,250 seedlings representing seven clones were established in a field setting.

Abscisic Acid↗
PubMed2005

Effect of the New York State cigarette fire safety standard on ignition propensity, smoke constituents, and the consumer market.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines empirical evidence from the New York experience testing tobacco industry arguments made in opposition to fire safety standards for cigarettes. DESIGN: Percentages of cigarettes exhibiting full length burns (FLBs), cigarette sales before and following the implementation of the New York standards, a sample of retail cigarette prices, brand availability, and selected smoke constituent yields were compared between cigarettes sold in New York and two other states. Cigarette paper analysis was conducted on cigarettes sold in New York. RESULTS: New York cigarette brands averaged 10.0% FLBs as compared to 99.8% for California and Massachusetts brands. Reduced ignition propensity (RIP) appears to have been achieved by cigarette paper banding. Cigarette sales, prices, and brand availability do not appear to have been affected by the New York standards. Yields of the majority of smoke constituents tested did not differ substantially between RIP cigarettes sold in New York as compared to the same brands sold in Massachusetts. Average yields of tar, carbon monoxide, and two compounds were slightly higher, the yields of seven compounds were higher for one brand only, and nicotine was lower, among New York brands tested. CONCLUSIONS: RIP cigarette brands have been designed to meet the New York fire safety standards. Their introduction has not affected cigarette sales or prices in New York. There is no evidence that the small increases in smoke constituent yields affect the already highly toxic nature of cigarette smoke. Data on smoking caused fires, deaths, and injuries dating from after the change in law are not yet available. Such data will be able to address the question of whether the demonstrated reduced ignition standards are associated with reduced fires and injuries. Based on the New York experience, prior industry objections to producing RIP cigarettes are unfounded. Other states and nations should adopt similar standards.

Commerce↗
PubMed2001

Pregnancy discovery and acceptance among low-income primiparous women: a multicultural exploration.

OBJECTIVES: As part of a larger study exploring psychosocial factors that influence self-care and use of health care services during pregnancy, we investigated the process of pregnancy discovery and acceptance among a culturally diverse group of women who had given birth to their first child in the year preceding data collection. METHODS: Eighty-seven low-income women from four cultural groups (African American, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and white) participated in eight focus groups held in their communities. The focus groups were ethnically homogenous and stratified by early and late entry into prenatal care. A social influence model guided the development of focus group questions, and the study followed a participatory action research model, with community members involved in all phases of the research. RESULTS: Issues that emerged from the focus groups as possible influences on timing of pregnancy recognition include the role of pregnancy signs and symptoms and pregnancy risk perception in the discovery process, the role of social network members in labeling and affirming the pregnancy, concerns about disclosure, "planning" status of the pregnancy, and perceived availability of choices for resolving an unintended pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The pregnancy discovery process is complex, and when protracted, can potentially result in delayed initiation of both prenatal care and healthful pregnancy behaviors. Enhancing our understanding of pregnancy discovery and acceptance has clear implications for primary and secondary prevention. Future research is needed to further explain the trajectory of pregnancy discovery and acceptance and its influence on health behaviors and pregnancy outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Rac homologues and compartmentalized phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate act in a common pathway to regulate polar pollen tube growth.

Pollen tube cells elongate based on actin- dependent targeted secretion at the tip. Rho family small GTPases have been implicated in the regulation of related processes in animal and yeast cells. We have functionally characterized Rac type Rho family proteins that are expressed in growing pollen tubes. Expression of dominant negative Rac inhibited pollen tube elongation, whereas expression of constitutive active Rac induced depolarized growth. Pollen tube Rac was found to accumulate at the tip plasma membrane and to physically associate with a phosphatidylinositol monophosphate kinase (PtdIns P-K) activity. Phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PtdIns 4, 5-P2), the product of PtdIns P-Ks, showed a similar intracellular localization as Rac. Expression of the pleckstrin homology (PH)-domain of phospholipase C (PLC)-delta1, which binds specifically to PtdIns 4, 5-P2, inhibited pollen tube elongation. These results indicate that Rac and PtdIns 4, 5-P2 act in a common pathway to control polar pollen tube growth and provide direct evidence for a function of PtdIns 4, 5-P2 compartmentalization in the regulation of this process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of clinical manifestations of HIV infection among women by risk group, CD4+ cell count, and HIV-1 plasma viral load. HER Study Group. HIV Epidemiology Research.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of HIV-related symptoms, physical examination findings, and hematologic variables among women whose risk for HIV is injection drug use since 1985 as opposed to sexual contact and to evaluate the influence of HIV plasma viral load and CD4+ cell count on clinical manifestations according to risk. METHODS: Participants of the HIV Epidemiology Research Study (HERS; a multicenter, prospective, controlled study of HIV infection in women) were administered a risk behavior and symptom interview, underwent a physical examination, and received hematologic testing, including CD4+ cell counts done on study entry. Plasma HIV-1 viral loads were performed on stored frozen plasma using an ultrasensitive branched-DNA (b-DNA) signal amplification assay. CD4+ counts were categorized as <200 cells/microl, 200 to 499 cells/microl, or > or =500 cells/microl, and HIV viral loads were characterized in tertiles. RESULTS: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted on data available for 724 HIV-infected women: 387 had a history of intravenous drug use and 337 were infected through heterosexual contact. The median CD4+ count was 376 cells/microl; the median HIV-1 viral load was 1135 copies/ml; and 281 of 724 HIV-infected women (38.8%) had an undetectable HIV-1 viral load. In analyses adjusting for CD4+ cell level alone and for plasma viral load combined with CD4+ cell level, injection drug users (IDUs) were more likely than those infected through heterosexual contact to report a recent episode of memory loss and weight loss, but less likely to have recent episodes of genital herpes; to have enlarged livers and a body mass index (BMI) <24, and to have hematocrit levels <34% and platelet counts <150,000 cells/ml. After adjustment for CD4+ cell level and risk group, high and medium HIV-1 plasma viral load levels were associated with the presence of oral hairy leukoplakia on examination, and only the highest level of plasma viral load was associated with recent histories of fever and thrush, oral hairy leukoplakia, pseudomembranous candidiasis, and BMI <24 on examination, and hematocrit <34%. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of women, the distribution of HIV-1 plasma viral load was lower than that previously reported in populations of HIV-infected men. This study also shows some differences in frequency of signs, symptoms, and laboratory values between risk groups of HIV-infected women, but these results may be due to effects of injection drug use rather than HIV infection. Signs and symptoms identified as associated with increasing levels of viral load that were not different across risk groups suggest more direct association of these findings with HIV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The callipyge phenomenon: evidence for unusual genetic inheritance.

In 1983, a male lamb exhibiting a pronounced muscular hypertrophy, particularly noticeable in the hind quarters, was born into a commercial Dorset flock in Oklahoma. The ram was premonitorily called Solid Gold. He subsequently produced offspring expressing the unusual phenotype, which is referred to as callipyge (Greek: calli- beautiful + -pyge buttocks). Animals demonstrating the callipyge phenotype are all descendants of this founder ram. These animals produce leaner, higher yielding carcasses, but there is some concern with decreased tenderness of the loin. Genetic characterization of the locus has demonstrated a unique mode of inheritance termed polar overdominance, in which only heterozygous offspring inheriting the mutation from their sire express the phenotype. The three other genotypes are normal in appearance. Progeny data indicate that reactivation of the maternal callipyge allele occurs after passage through the male germ line, although this reactivation is not absolute. The callipyge gene has been mapped to the distal end of ovine chromosome 18.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma: a case study.

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma (CIFS) is a rare soft-tissue malignancy most commonly involving the extremities. Metastases are rare; however, local recurrence is common. Because the tumor is so rare and clinical experience is lacking, both diagnosis and treatment are difficult. The complex planning and implementation of neonatal and oncologic care require ongoing collaboration between both nursing specialties. This case study discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of an infant with CIFS, with emphasis on the nursing care of the patient and family.

Female↗
PubMed1997

The origins of nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in photosynthesis. Direct quenching by P680+ in photosystem II enriched membranes at low pH.

In most plants and algae, a down-regulation of photosynthesis under "excess" light conditions occurs which is associated with a quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence. This nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence most likely arises from a mechanism which protects photosystem II from excessive excitation and resulting photoinhibition. In this report, nonphotochemical quenching of variable chlorophyll a fluorescence was induced by low pH in photosystem II enriched spinach thylakoid membranes. The origin of quenching was investigated with picosecond fluorescence decay spectroscopy in samples suspended in buffers ranging from pH 6.5 to pH 4.0. The yield of a relatively slow (approximately 1.5 ns) fluorescence decay process associated with the photosystem II reaction center decreased with decreasing pH. There were no significant changes in the yield of faster decay components associated with photosystem II antenna chlorophyll a processes. These results suggest a reaction center based rather than antenna chlorophyll based mechanism for nonphotochemical quenching in these preparations. Measurements of the photosystem II absorption cross section revealed no decrease in the functional antenna size at low pH which also supports a reaction center quenching mechanism. The kinetics of electron transfer in photosystem II were investigated using a pump probe spectrometer which measured simultaneously the flash-induced absorbance change at 820 nm (formation of oxidized photosystem II reaction center pigment, P680+) and the variable fluorescence yield (formation of reduced photosystem II, electron acceptor, QA-). A large increase in the lifetime of P680+ at low pH was correlated with fluorescence quenching. After flash excitation of photosystem II the loss of fluorescence quenching occurred with the same kinetics as the reduction of P680+. In conflict with reaction center based quenching mechanisms based on charge recombination between P680+ and QA-, the oxidation rate of QA- was unaffected by low pH and under all conditions occurred at a slower rate than the reduction of P680+. Our data are discussed in terms of a model for low pH dependent nonphotochemical quenching in photosystem II based on direct quenching by P680+.

Chlorophyll↗
PubMed1997

Auditory working memory and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Impaired Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) performance has been one critical piece of evidence suggesting frontal lobe dysfunction in schizophrenia. However, the specific cognitive processes underlying impaired performance have not been identified. Impaired WCST performance in schizophrenia might in part reflect a fundamental working memory deficit. METHODS: We examined the performance of 30 normal subjects and 36 patients with schizophrenia on a neuropsychological battery including a novel measure of working memory-letter-number (LN) span. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia were impaired on LN span performance, which was also highly correlated with WCST performance (r = 0.74). Between-group WCST differences were eliminated when we covaried LN span. Regression analyses suggested that LN span performance predicted the WCST category achieved score, whereas measures of set shifting, verbal fluency, and attention were predictive of perseveration. CONCLUSION: Working memory may be a critical determinant of one aspect of WCST performance in schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of renal cell carcinoma with 5-fluorouracil and alfa-interferon.

OBJECTIVES: Renal cell carcinoma is relatively resistant to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Response, survival, duration of response, and toxicity of treatment were evaluated in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma receiving a continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and low dose subcutaneous alfa-2b-interferon. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1994, 21 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma underwent treatment with continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU, 200 mg/m2/day, and subcutaneous injections of recombinant interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha), 1 x 10(6) U/day. RESULTS: Objective response was observed in 9 patients (43%). Complete response occurred in 4 patients (19%): 2 with lung, 1 with bone, and 1 with liver metastasis. Partial response occurred in 5 patients (24%). Three of 4 complete responders remain alive without recurrence. Mean survival rate was 195 weeks among complete responders, 184 weeks among partial responders, and 88 weeks among nonresponders. The overall mean duration of response was 101 weeks. Responders developed progression of disease a mean of 62 weeks after the initial response to therapy. Mild dose-dependent toxicity was related to 5-FU infusion. Nearly all toxicities subsided with the temporary cessation of 5-FU infusion and/or decreasing the dose of the infusion. Few if any of the toxicities appear to be directly related to the low dose interferon injections. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study is based on a small sample size, we believe that the encouraging complete and partial responses, apparent prolongation of survival, and manageable toxicity of this combination therapy warrant further investigation with larger randomized trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica in an elderly patient.

We report a case of dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica in an 87-year-old woman, the oldest patient, to our knowledge, who has presented with symptoms from this disease. Whereas the classic presentation is marked by painless swelling and/or deformity, our patient was found to be diffusely tender without effusion or gross deformity. Plain radiographs showed severe degenerative changes in her right knee with loss of joint space and osteophyte formation, along with an intra-articular osteochondroma. The intra-articular osteochondroma was removed, and an arthroplasty was performed without complication and with full relief of symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

A case-control study of physical activity in relation to risk of cancer of the right colon and rectum in men.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data suggest that physical activity is modestly or moderately protective against colorectal cancer. Additional data are needed to define better the slope of the dose-response curve and to clarify the types of activities that appear most protective. METHODS: We examined the relation between occupational and vigorous leisure time physical activity and risk of cancer of the right colon and rectum in data from a case-control study conducted in New England from 1986 to 1988. We interviewed 163 cases with cancer of the right colon, 242 cases with cancer of the rectum, and 703 community controls. RESULTS: Vigorous leisure time physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of cancer of the right colon; for men exercising > or = 2 hours per week the odds ratio was 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35-1.00) compared with those who did not exercise. Adjustment for potentially confounding factors, including diet, had essentially no effect on the association. Self-reported occupational activity was less strongly related to risk of right colon cancer; the odds ratio for heavy work was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.32-1.51). Occupational activity coded according to job title was essentially unrelated to risk of right colon cancer. An association between physical activity and decreased risk of rectal cancer was not present in these data. CONCLUSIONS: Our data add weight to the evidence that physical activity is related to decreased risk of colon cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗