Neutrophil activity in total knee replacement: implications in preventing post-arthroplasty infection.
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Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee↗
Biomedical subjects
C Wilson
Publications and source records attributed to C Wilson.
Surveillance of nosocomial infections in dermatology patients in a German university hospital.
BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections (NIs) are a growing problem in healthcare today. Thus, surveillance of NIs is an important aspect of modern infection control, which aims to improve the quality of care. OBJECTIVES: To identify overall and site-specific NI rates in dermatology patients in a German university hospital. METHODS: In a prospective study, 1450 patients were surveyed for NIs according to criteria laid down by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case records were reviewed twice a week, microbiology reports were assessed and the ward staff was consulted. RESULTS: Altogether, 37 NIs were identified in 35 patients, of whom two had two NIs. The overall incidence was 2.5 NIs per 100 patients, and the incidence density was 1.9 NIs per 1000 patient days. Twenty-one patients developed superficial surgical site infections (SSIs). Thirteen of the 21 SSIs occurred after surgical removal of basal cell carcinoma (BCC; 172 in total). This represents an infection rate of 7.6% after surgery for BCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that routine surveillance in dermatological wards is not accorded a high priority. However, surveillance of SSIs, especially following surgery for BCC, may be indicated.
Adolescent↗
Reasons for referral and attitudes toward hearing aids: do they affect outcome?
Many patients attending for a hearing aid are not self motivated, but in the majority of cases motivated by a relative. In this study, we have examined whether the reason for referral (self motivated or other) and the attitude toward a hearing aid at assessment affect outcome measures. One hundred and forty first-time hearing aid users were assessed at their initial hearing aid consultation and at review 3 months later. The reason for referral was not found to affect outcome measures. However, attitude towards a hearing aid was found to be significantly related to both satisfaction with it and its use at review. The importance of the attitude toward a hearing aid supports previous work and reiterates the importance of tailoring auditory rehabilitation towards the needs of the individual.
Adult↗
Risk factors for iron deficiency in a hospitalized urban New Zealand population.
OBJECTIVE: To determine which dietary practices and sociodemographic factors are associated with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and iron deficiency (ID) in hospitalized New Zealand children. METHODOLOGY: A prospective study of children 8-23 months of age hospitalized with an acute illness from 1997 to 1999. Iron deficiency was defined as abnormal values for two out of three of serum ferritin (< 10 micro g/L), serum iron saturation (< 10%) and red cell distribution width (> 14.5%). Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was defined as ID + serum haemoglobin concentration <110 g/L. Those with IDA or ID were compared separately with those who were not iron deficient. RESULTS: Three hundred and ninety-one children were enrolled. Two hundred and twenty had IDA, 73 had ID and 98 were not iron deficient. In a multivariate analysis, those children who had a diagnosis of pneumonia (odds ratio 4.43, 95% CI 1.49, 13.13) were Pacific (odds ratio 6.31, 95% CI 2.14, 18.63), were currently drinking breast milk (odds ratio 10.22, 95% CI 2.95, 35.42), had a mother who restricted her meat intake during pregnancy (odds ratio 4.40, 95% CI 1.53, 12.64) or lived in a household with more than three children (odds ratio 7.42, 95% CI 1.88, 29.34) were at increased risk of IDA. Those children who were Pacific (odds ratio 5.44, 95% CI 1.37, 21.65) or who drank tea (odds ratio 7.88, 95% CI 1.10, 56.33) were at increased risk of ID. Those with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis (odds ratio 0.16, 95% CI 0.03, 0.75) were at decreased risk of ID. CONCLUSIONS: Both dietary and non-dietary factors are associated with an increased risk of IDA and ID in New Zealand children. In this hospitalized sample, more non-dietary than dietary factors were associated with poor iron status.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
Improving hearing assessment of children post-meningitis.
The improvement in audiological testing of children post-meningitis with one retrospective and two prospective audit cycles, is described. Direct referral by telephone prior to discharge and liaison with public health colleagues resulted in an increased assessment from 50% to 99% and 89% in successive audits. The proportion seen within six weeks also improved dramatically.
Child↗
Antibodies to Acinetobacter bacteria and bovine brain peptides, measured in bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an attempt to develop an ante-mortem test.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a neurological disease of cattle. Antibody responses to Acinetobacter radioresistens and six other bacteria, as well as to bovine myelin basic protein and bovine neurofilaments were measured in 128 BSE positive animals, 63 BSE negative animals and 64 healthy control animals. Animals positive for BSE had the highest levels of antibodies to Acinetobacter radioresistens (p < 0.0001) and also autoantibodies to bovine myelin basic protein (p < 0.0001) and bovine neurofilaments (p < 0.0001). In an endeavour to develop an antemortem test for BSE, 12 different strains of Acinetobacter were further tested in a MAN (myelin-Acinetobacter-neurofilament) assay involving 28 BSE positive and 18 BSE negative animals and defined bovine brain peptides. Five out of the 12 Acinetobacter bacteria tested [Acinetobacter (sp3), A. haemolyticus (sp4), A. johnsonii (sp7), A. lwoffii (sp8) and Acinetobacter (sp9)] gave 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting BSE. The highest anti-bacterial antibody level compared to controls was obtained with A. johnsonii. Further field studies are required to determine the validity of the MAN assay in detecting animals affected with BSE.
Acinetobacter↗
Macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator NF-kappaB ligand fail to rescue osteoclast-poor human malignant infantile osteopetrosis in vitro.
Malignant infantile osteopetrosis (MIOP) is a disease characterized by failure in bone resorption, leading to dense fragile bones with a severely reduced bone marrow cavity. Normal or increased numbers of osteoclasts are present in the common variant of this disease; in such cases, the defect is likely to be inherent to the mature osteoclast and can be cured by bone marrow transplantation. However, MIOP also results from failure of osteoclast formation (osteoclast-poor MIOP). We report on two infants diagnosed with osteoclast-poor MIOP and utilize modern cell culture techniques to investigate the pathogenesis of disease. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from these children were cultured in the presence of recombinant macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator NF-kappaB ligand for up to 3 weeks. Control cultures included PBMNCs from age-matched children, one of whom had an osteoclast-rich form of MIOP. Formation of osteoclasts (cells coexpressing vitronectin receptor and F-actin rings) occurred in all the control cultures. Significant bone resorption occurred in cultures from PBMNCs of the healthy individuals, whereas almost no bone resorption occurred in the osteoclast-rich MIOP cultures. In contrast, PBMNC cultures from the osteoclast-poor MIOP child formed only very occasional small F-actin ring-positive osteoclasts, which coexpressed vitronectin receptor and cathepsin K, and extremely rare foci of resorption. Because neither macrophage colony-stimulating factor nor receptor activator NF-kappaB ligand rescued the defect in osteoclast differentiation in the two cases of osteoclast-poor MIOP in vitro, there would be little benefit in treating these children with either of these recombinant proteins. Finally, these results demonstrate that this experimental culture model replicates the human osteopetrosis phenotype observed in vivo and should prove useful in analyzing the pathogenesis of the various forms of MIOP.
Actins↗
Randomized comparison of enoxaparin with unfractionated heparin following fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.
AIMS: To compare the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin with unfractionated heparin following fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three-hundred patients receiving fibrinolytic therapy following acute myocardial infarction were randomly assigned to low molecular weight heparin as enoxaparin (40 mg intravenous bolus, then 40 mg subcutaneously every 8 h, n=149) or unfractionated heparin (5000 U intravenous bolus, then 30 000 U. 24 h(-1), adjusted to an activated partial thromboplastin time 2-2.5x normal, n=151) for 4 days in conjunction with routine therapy. Clinical and therapeutic variables were analysed, in addition to use of enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin, to determine independent predictors of the 90-day composite triple end-point (death, non-fatal reinfarction, or readmission with unstable angina). The triple end-point occurred more frequently in patients receiving unfractionated heparin rather than enoxaparin (36% vs. 26%; P=0.04). Logistic regression modelling of baseline and clinical variables identified the only independent risk factors for recurrent events as left ventricular failure, hypertension, and use of unfractionated heparin rather than enoxaparin. There was no difference in major haemorrhage between those receiving enoxaparin (3%) and unfractionated heparin (4%). CONCLUSION: Use of enoxaparin compared with unfractionated heparin in patients receiving fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction was associated with fewer recurrent cardiac events at 90 days. This benefit was independent of other important clinical and therapeutic factors.
Aged↗
Grey zone score for hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) is not associated with embryo implantation defects.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical significance of the grey zone range (50-59%) of the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) on sperm samples. METHODS: Clinical and viable pregnancy rates and implantantion rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were determined in couples where the male partner scored between 50-59% on the HOST. The data were further evaluated according to the discrepancy between viability and HOST. Finally, the study assigned whether treating sperm with the protein digestive enzyme chymotrypsin had any effect on pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: Pregnancy and implantation rates were comparable for couples with grey zone HOST scores with the normal IVF rate for the center. Having a large discrepancy between viability and HOST scores had no clinical significance nor did treatment with chymotrypsin. CONCLUSION: In contrast to HOST scores < 50% where extremely poor implantation rates are noted, grey zone scores have no clinical significance.
Adult↗
Evidence that exclusive use of Follistim may produce better pregnancy results than the use of Gonal-F following in vitro fertilization (IVF) - embryo transfer (ET).
PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the equal mixture of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) to recombinant (r) follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) adversely affects outcome following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Furthermore, to determine if the specific rFSH preparation used has any differing effects on outcome. METHODS: Retrospective study of women using the luteal phase leuprolide acetate-gonadotropin COH regimen. Outcome measures included clinical and viable pregnancy rates (PRs) and implantation rates. RESULTS: The clinical and viable PRs and implantation rates were significantly lower in the group receiving exclusively Gonal-F. Addition of hMG to the treatment protocol not only did not lower the PRs further, but in fact seemed to obviate the adverse effect of Gonal-F. CONCLUSION: Since exclusive use of Gonal-F did not adversely affect fertilization rates or quality of embryos we suspect its exclusive use in some way makes the uterine environment less receptive.
Adult↗
Chelating alkoxy-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver and copper.
Incorporation of an alkoxide functional group into an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand allows the synthesis of the first anionic NHC chelating ligands, which react to give the first neutral, molecular silver(I) alkoxide carbene complex, and a copper(I) derivative containing the first nonmacrocyclic, square planar Cu(I) centres.
Journal Article↗
Diels-Alder adducts of medium-ring carbocyclic dienes prepared by rearrangement of catalytically generated cyclic oxonium ylides.
The novel bicyclic and tricyclic systems dimethyl (4aS*,6S*)-6-methoxy-7-oxo-4a,5,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-2H-benzocycloheptene-3,4-dicarboxylate, C(16)H(20)O(6), (I), dimethyl (4aS*,6R*)-6-methoxy-7-oxo-4a,5,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-2H-benzocycloheptene-3,4-dicarboxylate, C(16)H(20)O(6), (II), (3aS*,9R*,10aS*,10bR*)-9-methoxy-2-oxa-1,3a,4,6,7,8,9,10,10a,10b-decahydro-3H-cyclohepta[e]indene-1,3,8-trione, C(14)H(16)O(5), (III), and (1S*,2R*,9S*,10aR*)-9-methoxy-8-oxo-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,10a-decahydrobenzocyclooctene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, C(15)H(20)O(6), (IV), have been crystallographically characterized, allowing the determination of the relative configuration of the stereogenic centres. The poor quality of the dicarboxylic acid crystals necessitated the use of synchrotron radiation.
Journal Article↗
Bis(mu-2-cyanopyridine-N:N')bis[(2-cyanopyridine-N)silver(I)] bis(tetrafluoroborate): an anion-linked molecular ladder.
In the title compound, [Ag(2)(C(6)H(4)N(2))(4)](BF(4))(2), the Ag(I) cations adopt distorted trigonal-planar coordination geometries. The Ag(I) centres are linked via two bridging 2-cyanopyridine ligands to give a centrosymmetric dinuclear complex in which the Ag(I) coordination environment is completed by monodentate non-bridging 2-cyanopyridine ligands. Bridging Ag...F(BF(2))F...Ag interactions link the dinuclear cations into molecular ladders.
Journal Article↗
Inorganic-organic interpenetrating frameworks: 4,4'-bipyridine N,N'-dioxide as a bridging hydrogen-bond acceptor.
4,4'-Bipyridine N,N'-dioxide (L) acts as a hydrogen-bond acceptor in the compounds ([M(NO3)2(H2O)4].L2) (M = Co, Ni) to form doubly-interpenetrated framework materials with sixfold topological connectivity.
Journal Article↗
Mu-peroxo-bis[trans-chloro(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)cobalt(III)] bis(tetraphenylborate) diacetone solvate.
The title complex, [Co(2)Cl(2)(mu-O(2))(cyclam)(2)](C(24)H(20)B)(2).2Me(2)CO, was obtained when [Co(cyclam)Cl(2)](BPh(4))(2) was crystallized from acetone in air; cyclam is 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, C(10)H(24)N(4). The peroxo O-O moiety straddles a crystallographic centre of inversion (the two octahedral Co atoms are symmetrically bridged by the O(2) moiety), hence only half of the complex cation is in the asymmetric unit. A comparison of the O-O [1.483 (3) A], Co-Cl [2.2647 (8) A] and Co-O [1.894 (2) A] bond lengths with similar bonds in previously determined structures indicates the oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III) during the crystallization process. In the crystal lattice, cation dimers are encapsulated by six [BPh(4)](-) anions, with C-H...pi hydrogen bonds between the cyclam methylene groups and the phenyl rings of the anion.
Journal Article↗
A phenoxyl radical complex of copper(II).
A new N,O-bidentate pro-ligand (HL), [ML2] (M = Cu, Zn) and [CuL2][BF4] have been synthesised; [CuL2].4DMF and [CuL2][BF4].2CH2Cl2 have been crystallographically and spectroscopically characterised; these data indicate that [CuL2]+ cations are constituted as [Cu2+(L.)(L-)]+ and involve the phenoxyl radical L..
Journal Article↗
The Drosophila cell shape regulator c-Jun N-terminal kinase also functions as a stress-activated protein kinase.
Mammalian c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are members of a group of stress-activated intracellular signalling molecules within the MAP kinase family. Molecular genetic analysis of a highly evolutionarily conserved Drosophila JNK homologue, DJNK, has demonstrated that this molecule plays an essential developmental role in cell shape regulation. However, it remains to be determined whether DJNK also responds to the broad range of cellular stresses and other stimuli that affect its mammalian counterpart. Here we demonstrate that c-Jun, a substrate for mammalian JNKs, is a specific substrate for DJNK and that an antiserum that cross-reacts with activated mammalian JNK at the conserved threonyl-prolyl-tyrosyl (TPY) motif within the activation loop also specifically recognises the activated form of DJNK. Using these two assays, we show that DJNK activity is stimulated in cultured cells by several treatments that activate mammalian JNKs, including addition of arsenite, vanadate and ceramide derivatives. It is therefore concluded that in addition to its essential developmental functions, DJNK plays an important role in stress responses that mirrors its mammalian counterpart.
Animals↗
Lanthanum coordination networks based on unusual five-connected topologies.
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Journal Article↗