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Biomedical subjects

C Joseph

Publications and source records attributed to C Joseph.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Routine laboratory assessment of nursing home patients.

Little is known about protocols for routine laboratory testing in nursing homes. To determine what laboratory protocols are employed by community nursing homes, directors of nursing service in the 73 long-term-care facilities in Portland, Oregon were surveyed. One-hundred percent responded, and 56% reported having laboratory testing protocols. Ninety percent of protocols employed screening tests, and 88% employed monitoring tests, but content varied widely. Although physicians are ultimately responsible for ordering laboratory tests, protocols were derived from various sources including nursing staff, pharmacy and laboratory consultants, and Department of Health and Human Service guidelines. It is recommended that physicians take a leadership role in helping nursing homes develop clinically useful, cost-effective testing strategies.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed1991

Mechanism of benzylselenocyanate inhibition of azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in F344 rats.

Benzylselenocyanate (BSC), a novel organoselenium compound, has been found to inhibit azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats during initiation. To investigate its mechanism of action, we examined the effects of BSC feeding on the following parameters: (a) metabolism of [14C]AOM to 14CO2 in vivo; (b) metabolic activation of AOM to MAM and of MAM to formic acid and methanol by rat liver microsomes in vitro; and (c) AOM-induced DNA methylation in rat livers and colons. Five-week-old male F344 rats were fed modified (23% corn oil) AIN-76A diets containing 0 (control), 25, or 50 ppm of BSC or benzylthiocyanate (BTC), a sulfur analogue of BSC which does not inhibit the colon carcinogenicity of AOM. After 3 weeks, rats were either sacrificed for the isolation of liver microsomes or were given 15 mg/kg of [14C]AOM s.c. to determine the rate of carcinogen metabolism in vivo. No difference in [14C]AOM metabolism was found between rats fed the BTC diets and those fed the control diet. In contrast, the rate of [14C]AOM metabolism, as determined by exhaled radioactivity, was 2-3 times higher in rats fed the BSC diets. While liver microsomes from rats fed the BTC diets metabolized AOM and MAM at rates not significantly different from those obtained with control liver microsomes, the metabolic activation of AOM as well as of MAM was stimulated severalfold when assayed with liver microsomes from rats fed the BSC diets. An increase in total liver cytochrome P-450 was also observed in the BSC-fed rats. Following the administration of 15 mg/kg AOM, significantly less O6-methylguanine and 7-methylguanine was present in the colon DNA from rats consuming the BSC diets than in rats fed the BTC or control diets. The body weight gains of rats fed the 25- and 50-ppm BSC-containing diets for 3 weeks were less (27 and 43%, respectively) than those of rats fed either the control or BTC-containing diets. These results indicate that dietary BSC significantly induces the hydroxylation of AOM and the oxidation of MAM in rat liver. An increase in the rates of AOM and MAM metabolism in the liver due to enzyme induction by BSC will result in decreased delivery of MAM to the colon via the bloodstream. This will be reflected in decreased DNA alkylation, as observed, and is likely to be a major factor in the inhibition of AOM-induced colon carcinogenesis by BSC.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cryptosporidiosis in the Isle of Thanet; an outbreak associated with local drinking water.

An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis occurred in the Isle of Thanet during December 1990 and January 1991. A total of 47 cases ranging in age from 2 months to 85 years were identified in residents from the Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate areas, with dates of onset of illness from 3 December to 14 January. A case-control study demonstrated a strong statistical association between illness and the consumption of unboiled tap water from a particular source, with evidence of a dose-response relationship. Although no cryptosporidial oocysts were identified in samples of untreated or treated water taken during the investigation, the results were consistent with the view that the source of infection was treated river water which was used to supplement borehole water.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

DNR orders.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

A review of outbreaks of infectious disease in schools in England and Wales 1979-88.

In this review of 66 outbreaks of infectious disease in schools in England and Wales between 1979-88, 27 were reported from independent and 39 from maintained schools. Altogether, over 8000 children and nearly 500 adults were affected. Most of the outbreaks investigated were due to gastrointestinal infections which affected about 5000 children: respiratory infections affected a further 2000 children. Fifty-two children and seven adults were admitted to hospital and one child with measles died. Vaccination policies and use of immunoglobulin for control and prevention of outbreaks in schools have been discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Two outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in Bolton Health District.

In 1988, there were two outbreaks of legionellosis in Bolton Health District. Altogether 37 cases of Legionnaires' disease and 23 cases of non-pneumonic legionellosis were identified. Twenty-five patients with Legionnaires' disease were associated with an engineering plant, 4 with Bolton town centre, and 8 with both the plant and town centre. Twenty-two people with non-pneumonic legionellosis were linked with the engineering plant and one with the plant and the town centre. A case-control study carried out among 37 employees with legionellosis and 109 control subjects at the plant showed that infection was associated with one of the 15 cooling towers on the site. Legionella pneumophila indistinguishable by serological and genetic typing methods was isolated from this cooling tower and from sputum samples from two patients. In the town centre, no one tower was linked with infection and L. pneumophila was not cultured from any of the nine towers identified. Control measures were implemented and to date there have been no further cases of legionellosis associated with Bolton Health District.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A large outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 associated with eggs from overseas.

In February 1989 the largest reported outbreak to date in the United Kingdom of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4) infection occurred following a wedding reception at a hotel. One hundred and seventy-three people met the case definition of illness of whom 118 had the organism isolated from their stools. A further 17 were found to be S. enteritidis PT4 positive, but were asymptomatic. Lightly-cooked, egg-based sauces were the epidemiologically proven vehicles of infection. Investigations showed this outbreak to be the first to implicate imported European eggs as the source of infection. An unusual feature of this outbreak was a reported incubation period of less than 3 h for some of the confirmed cases of salmonellosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evidence that v-src and v-fps gene products use a protein kinase C-mediated pathway to induce expression of a transformation-related gene.

Induction of the transformation-related gene 9E3 by the v-src and v-fps gene products (v-Src and v-Fps) is blocked in chicken embryo fibroblasts depleted of protein kinase C (PKC). PKC agonists induce 9E3 gene expression. Protein kinase inhibitors block v-Src- and v-Fps-induced 9E3 gene expression with the same dose-response curves seen for PKC agonist-induced 9E3 gene expression. These data suggest that v-Src and v-Fps use a PKC-mediated signal-transduction pathway to induce expression of the transformation-related 9E3 gene. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that both v-Src and v-Fps rapidly induce phosphorylation of a 67-kDa PKC substrate.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1989

EEG and autonomic arousal measures in schizophrenics.

EEG and autonomic indices were measured in basal, tonic, and phasic conditions in order to delineate the nature of arousal dysfunction in schizophrenics as compared to normals. The experimental procedure involved six continuous recording sessions consisting of a basal recording before and after four experimental series. Sequentially, these were the visual nonsignal (VNS), the auditory nonsignal (ANS), the visual signal (VS), and the auditory signal (AS) series. The main findings indicated significant differences between the two groups in cardiovascular indices during the basal and tonic conditions and in the EEG and EMG indices of phasic response. These results suggest a dysfunction of basal and tonic autonomic arousal and a modulatory impairement of the central phasic arousal reaction. The findings are in accordance with the two arousal hypothesis postulated by Routtenberg (1968) and disconfirm the unitary concept of arousal for the explanation of psychophysiological abnormality in schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Preliminary findings on skin conductance measures in schizophrenics & normal individuals in India.

Skin conductance measures were investigated during response paradigms, in 18 non medicated schizophrenics and 22 normal individuals. Basal, tonic and phasic skin conductance indices were studied in four experimental series consisting of auditory and visual stimuli differing in signal status. No differences were seen in skin conductance basal levels, tonic levels, phasic response or in the incidence of nonresponse in schizophrenics as compared to normal individuals.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Psychological impact of home apnea monitoring: temporal effects, family resources, and maternal coping style.

Mothers of 30 infants who had experienced an emergency apnea episode and were placed on a home apnea monitor were studied longitudinally, using measures of mood disturbance (anxiety, depression, hostility, fatigue, vigor and confusion). Mothers were assessed at the time of hospitalization immediately following the apnea episode, after approximately one month of home monitoring, and after three months of home monitoring. Measures of family resources, health locus of control, and coping style, involving preference for information under situations of threat, were obtained as predictor variables. A high level of mood disturbance was seen initially, but this was transient, diminishing significantly after the first month of monitoring. Level of family resources was highly predictive of mood disturbance throughout the study period, while health locus of control beliefs were predictive of changes in mood disturbance over time. These findings suggest a means for identifying families at higher risk for maladaptive responses, and in need of more intensive psychosocial support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1987

Plunging ranula: a report of three cases and review of the literature.

Three cases of plunging ranula are reported and the literature reviewed. Extravasation of saliva from the sublingual gland due to trauma or obstruction of its ducts appears to be the most likely cause of plunging ranula. Available data suggest that the submandibular gland is usually not involved, although at the time of surgery it may be extremely difficult to exclude a submandibular origin of the cyst in the neck. Communication between the oral and cervical components of the plunging ranula probably occur via a hiatus in the mylohyoid muscle. Such communication passing directly into the submandibular compartment may simulate submandibular gland involvement. Since 1910, 139 procedures in 89 patients with plunging ranula have been reported in the English literature. The recurrence rate was 70 per cent after incision and drainage of the cyst, 53 per cent after marsupialization, 85 per cent after excision of the cyst in the neck and 2 per cent after excision of the sublingual gland via the cervical or intra-oral route. This review suggests that excision of the sublingual gland with intra-oral drainage of the cervical swelling appears to be the treatment of choice for the plunging ranula.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Infantile spasms. Comparative trial of nitrazepam and corticotropin.

Fifty-two patients were enrolled in a four-week randomized multicenter study comparing nitrazepam and corticotropin in the treatment of infantile spasms. The drugs' efficacy was evaluated in 48 patients, all less than 2 years of age. Both treatments resulted in a statistically significant reduction in spasm frequency from that at baseline, but the difference between treatments was not significant. The number of patients who experienced side effects was similar in the two treatment groups, but the adverse effects encountered among the patients treated with corticotropin were qualitatively more severe and required the discontinuation of treatment in six patients.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1986

Improved methods for venous access: the Port-A-Cath, a totally implanted catheter system.

We prospectively evaluated the performance and rate of long-term complications with the Port-A-Cath (PAC), a totally implanted vascular access system. Two catheter styles were evaluated, a small-bore (SB) catheter (0.51-mm diameter) and a large-bore (LB) catheter (1.02-mm diameter), in conjunction with the use of a strict catheter care protocol. The PAC performed well, and with both SB and LB systems, no significant extravasation, skin necrosis, hematoma, septum damage or leakage, or subcutaneous portal infections occurred after 7,240 days of implantation and 1,435 days of use. Complications with the PAC system consisted of catheter occlusion (seven patients, 21.5%) and one instance of possible catheter infection (3.1%). Occlusions were limited to patients implanted with the SB catheter (seven of 16, 43.8%), and five of the seven (71.4%) occurred in patients receiving continuous infusion chemotherapy and/or total parenteral nutrition. Patency of the PAC system was maintained using a regular flushing schedule once every 30 days, a significant advantage compared with the daily maintenance schedule required with externally placed venous catheters. The results of this study suggest that the PAC system can provide a safe and reliable method for venous access in patients requiring intermittent or prolonged intravenous therapy.

Adult↗