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Biomedical subjects

D Barkley

Publications and source records attributed to D Barkley.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Selection of twisted scroll waves in three-dimensional excitable media.

The selection of shape and rotation frequency for scroll waves in reaction-diffusion equations modeling excitable media is investigated. For scrolls with uniform twist about straight filaments, asymptotic methods are used to derive free-boundary equations at leading and first order. Both orders are validated against full solutions of the reaction-diffusion equations. Using these two orders and with no adjustable parameters, the shape and frequency of waves are correctly predicted except possibly near the point of propagation failure where the core becomes large.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

Modeling the dynamics of cardiac action potentials.

The nonlinear dynamics of cardiac action potentials is explained via simple model equations describing the membrane potential and the inward and outward currents through the membrane. The equations approximate ionic models, yet are expressed as polynomial functions, and robustly capture the phase-space dynamics of action potentials.

Action Potentials↗

Bifurcation theory for three-dimensional flow in the wake of a circular cylinder

A bifurcation scenario is presented for three-dimensional vortex shedding in the wake of a circular cylinder for Reynolds numbers up to 300. Amplitude equations are proposed to describe the nonlinear interaction between two three-dimensional modes of shedding with different spanwise wave numbers and different spatiotemporal symmetries. The amplitude equations explain many features of the transition scenario observed experimentally.

Journal Article↗

Evaluation of an inservice training program on dementia and wandering.

This study assessed the impact of an inservice training program in four nursing homes on nursing staff's knowledge of dementia, pacing/wandering behavior and management strategies, staff satisfaction, and their perceptions of work difficulty and quality of care. Additionally, unit-level behavioral observations of agitated behavior and the nature of resident interactions with staff members and other residents were also performed to assess whether changes in nursing staff's knowledge impacted the residents or interactions with the residents. Analyses revealed that quiz scores were significantly improved immediately following the inservice program as compared to pretest but returned to near pretest levels at the 1-month follow-up. Additionally, nursing staff reported that residents were allowed to pace/wander to a greater extent at follow-up compared to pretest. Methods for improving the effectiveness of inservice training are discussed.

Aged↗

Antibodies to the mycobacterial 65-kd heat-shock protein are reactive with synovial tissue of adjuvant arthritic rats and patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The expression of 65-kd mycobacterial heat-shock protein (HSP)-related antigens in synovial membrane from rats and humans with arthritis was studied using three monoclonal antibodies and one polyclonal antiserum directed to antigens of mycobacteria. The antibodies labeled synovial tissue sections from both adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats and from patients with either rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA); especially the synovial lining cells appeared to be positive. The cytoplasmic staining patterns in rats and humans were essentially the same and were not related to the extent of inflammation ie, the size of lymphoid infiltration. In control tissues no cytoplasmic staining was observed. The results suggest a role for a 65-kd HSP or a cross-reactive molecule in the immunopathologic process of arthritic disease.

Animals↗

Cytokine production in the rheumatoid joint: implications for treatment.

Cytokines are protein mediators that play a part in inflammation, the immune response, cell growth, repair, and fibrosis. All of these are continuing processes in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and so it would be expected that many cytokines would be actively produced in RA joints. Here, the molecular strategies devised to study the possible role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of RA, are reviewed and some of the initial results described. The relative abundance of various cytokines is 'catalogued' and then attention is turned to an attempt to discover which cytokines are of major importance in the pathogenesis. Neutralising antibodies to cytokines were used for that purpose, and it was found that tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) is one of the major signals regulating the production of interleukin-1 in the RA, but not in the osteoarthritic joint. To understand further the dynamics of the cytokine network localisation of the cytokine producing cells by immunostaining--for example, TNF alpha, is currently being established.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

The detection by immunofluorescence of distinct cell populations producing interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta in activated human peripheral blood.

An immunofluorescent staining method using specific monoclonal antibodies was used to detect IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in individual cells in stimulated human peripheral blood. No staining was seen in unstimulated cells but intense, maximal staining of approximately 5% of the cells was seen 20-24 h after activation with PHA/PMA. The large irregularly shaped stained cells were surrounded by smaller unstained cells with lymphocyte-like morphology. By 44 h post activation a few cells only showed weak staining. The staining pattern was different for the two molecules studied, with a granular pattern for IL-1 alpha staining and diffuse cytoplasmic staining for IL-1 beta. Staining post-activation could be abolished by preincubation of the monoclonal antibody with the appropriate recombinant IL-1, but not by pre-incubation with the other IL-1 type. When both anti-IL-1 alpha and anti-IL-1 beta were used together two populations of cells were identified; one had the granular staining as seen with anti-IL-1 alpha alone and the other had the diffuse staining pattern as seen with anti-IL-1 beta. The percentage of cells showing bright staining with anti-IL-1 alpha and anti-IL-1 beta together was approximately equal to the sum of the percentage of cells staining for IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta alone. This study demonstrates a method for the detection of individual IL-1 alpha- and IL-1 beta- producing cells and suggests that in activated human peripheral blood IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are produced by separate populations of cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Increased expression of HLA-DQ antigens by interstitial cells and endothelium in the synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis patients compared with reactive arthritis patients.

We investigated cellular phenotypes and expression of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens on endothelium and cellular infiltrates in synovium from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or reactive arthritis, using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The RA specimens showed synovial lining layer hypertrophy and several focal accumulations of lymphocytes, both of which were absent in the reactive arthritis synovium. The percentage of cells expressing monocyte/macrophage markers was significantly higher in RA specimens. The percentages of cells expressing B and T cell markers were similar in both diseases. There was no significant difference in the expression of HLA-DR or DP by endothelium in the 2 diseases, but a marked increase in expression of HLA-DQ by endothelium was observed in the RA synovium versus that from patients with reactive arthritis. This overexpression of HLA-DQ was also seen in the interstitial cells of RA patients compared with reactive arthritis patients. In the reactive arthritis synovium, a significant population of cells (30%) was noted to be HLA-DR positive, and negative for macrophage and lymphocyte markers. Some of these cells had a dendritic morphology. The coexpression of HLA-DQ and HLA-DR may play an important role in antigen presentation and disease chronicity in RA.

Adult↗