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Biomedical subjects

C Dunford

Publications and source records attributed to C Dunford.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Alternating pressure systems: reducing user error.

Pressure sores remain a major clinical challenge for nearly every sector of health care. The Department of Health has recognised this and in the 1994/95 NHS Priorities and Planning Guidance encouraged healthcare providers to set annual targets for the reduction of the prevalence of sores by 5 per cent. It has been argued that this is not straightforward (NHS CRD 1995) especially as many areas do not monitor the problem and so do not know how effective they are at preventing sores. Reduction cannot be attempted unless an effective prevention plan is in place. The causes of pressure sores are multifactorial, so the prevention strategies must reflect this.

Beds↗
PubMed1982

The cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of the bitter melon (Momordica charantia) on human lymphocytes.

We have previously reported that a crude extract from the bitter melon (Momordica charantia) killed human leukemic lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner while not affecting the viability of normal human lymphocyte cells at these same doses (Takemoto et al., 1980). We now report that the crude preparation has both cytostatic and cytotoxic activities which are heat stable and trypsin-sensitive. Time and dose-response curves suggest that the factors act quickly, perhaps by entry into the cell. The effects of the crude extract are complete after only 2 hr of exposure. These activities are not due to the presence of the lectins from bitter melon seeds, as these purified proteins had no activity against human lymphocytic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Guanylate cyclase activity in human leukemic and normal lymphocytes. Enzyme inhibition and cytotoxicity of plant extracts.

Cyclic GMP is thought to be involved in lymphocytic cell proliferation and leukemogenesis. In general, the nucleotide is elevated in leukemic vs. normal lymphocytes and changes have been reported to occur during remission and relapse of this disease. Although the cA/cG ratios are higher for normal lymphocytes the basal guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2) activities do not correlate with altered cyclic GMP levels. The crude guanylate cyclases display classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Kms for Mn-GTP of 463 mumol/l and 20-90 mumol/l for normal and leukemic lymphocytes, respectively. An extract from the bitter melon (Momordica charantia) preferentially inhibits the soluble guanylate cyclase from leukemic lymphocytes. This inhibition correlates with its preferential cytotoxic effects for these same cells. Analyses of nine other cytotoxic plant extracts revealed that only an extract from the Lawson's cypress, Chamaecyparis lawsonianna, exhibits comparable cytotoxicity and guanylate cyclase inhibition levels.

Cyclic AMP↗