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Biomedical subjects

D Bird

Publications and source records attributed to D Bird.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

The role of library and information services in the modular curriculum.

Radical changes in nurse education, accompanied by advances in library and information services (LIS), set against a background of ever-expanding nursing literature and information, have favoured the development of good practices in curriculum development and student-centred learning. This paper discusses the experience at Keele University of enhanced collaborative effort between curriculum planners and LIS staff, and aims to show how LIS can facilitate student learning and contribute to curriculum planning and delivery, quality resource provision, evaluation processes and life-long learning.

Abstracting and Indexing↗
PubMed1997

Gene targeting is locus dependent in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans.

The effect of altering the conditions of transformation on the efficiency of gene targeting in filamentous fungi was studied using Aspergillus nidulans as a model organism. The niaD and amdS genes of A. nidulans, which are both involved in nitrogen source utilisation, were selected as target loci. Homologous recombination of transforming DNA at these loci resulted in niaD and amdS mutants with an impaired ability to utilise nitrate or acetamide as the sole nitrogen source, respectively. Vectors were constructed that contained the Neurospora crassa pyr4 gene as a selectable marker and an internal segment of the amdS (0.6-1.27 kb) or niaD (0.9-2.15 kb) genes. The parameters investigated for their effect on gene targeting included (a) length of homologous DNA in the disruption cassette, (b) conformation of the transforming vector (circular or linear), (c) transcriptional status (on/off) of the targeted gene, (d) concentration of DNA in the transformation mix and (e) temperature of incubation of the transformation reaction and of protoplast regeneration on selective media. Parameters shown to have an effect on the targeting frequency at the niaD locus were tested at the amdS locus. The level of gene targeting when circular DNA was used was found to correlate with the size of the homologous segment at both loci. Similarly the level of targeting was shown to increase when vectors were linearised within the region of homology. The level of targeting was unaltered at the niaD locus when transcription was induced at different stages in the transformation procedure. Likewise, targeting was unaffected by altering the amount of DNA in the reaction mix over the concentration range tested. The regeneration temperature did have an effect on targeting, with enhanced targeting observed at 25 degrees compared with 37 degrees C. However, the most dramatic effect was the difference between targeting efficiency at different genetic loci, with targeting of niaD being at least five fold more efficient than amdS under all conditions tested.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1996

Diagnostic utility of endocrine and neuroimaging screening tests in first-onset adolescent psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic utility of endocrine and neuroimaging screening tests in first-onset adolescent psychosis. METHOD: 111 consecutively admitted adolescents (aged 13 through 19 years) who presented with a first-onset psychosis and who had an unremarkable medical history and normal physical examination were given a battery of endocrine and neuroimaging screening tests. Diagnostic utility of a screening test was defined as an abnormal result (a positive test) that either led to a previously unknown or unsuspected medical diagnosis or played an important role in the clinical care of the patient. RESULTS: 15.4% of the endocrine screening tests and 11.0% of the neuroimaging screening tests were identified as positive. However, no endocrine and no neuroimaging tests met criteria for diagnostic utility. The direct cost of this screening battery was $636.95 per patient. CONCLUSION: Routine endocrine and neuroimaging screening tests in first-onset adolescent psychosis provide no diagnostic utility and are not cost-effective. Selective use of appropriate endocrine and neuroimaging diagnostic tests in populations with symptoms suggestive of organic disorders should replace routine screening procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Antiinflammatory activity of a Ghanaian antiarthritic herbal preparation: III.

alpha-Amyrin palmitate, present in a Ghanaian antiarthritic herbal preparation of Alstonia boonei, Elaies guineensis and Rauvolfia vomitoria, was synthesised and tested on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Administered orally at 56 mg/kg body weight (BW) daily for 8 days from days 11 to 18 post adjuvant (acute) or at 66 mg/kg BW every 48 h for 5 days from days 32 to 40 (chronic), the drug returned the increases in serum hyaluronate and blood granulocytes towards non-arthritic levels and corrected the moderate anaemia of adjuvant arthritis. Histological examinations of the proximal interphalangeal foot joints showed reduced synovial proliferation and invasion of joints and reduced leucocyte infiltration of bone marrow and periarticular tissue in treated rats. The results suggest that alpha-amyrin palmitate contributes to the previously shown antiarthritic effect of the herbal preparation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Visual laser ablation of the prostate (VLAP).

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a condition which occurs commonly in men as they age. The degree of impedence of the flow of urine from the bladder due to prostate gland enlargement varies from a slight slowing of the stream to complete urinary retention. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) has historically been the most common treatment of this condition. While other alternative treatments are available, the use of lasers to perform Visual Laser Ablation of the Prostate (VLAP) is moving to the forefront as a treatment of choice for many Urologists.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Effect of alpha-amyrin palmitate on adjuvant arthritis.

alpha-amyrin palmitate was synthesized and tested on adult male Wistar rats made arthritic by subplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant. When administered orally at 66 mg/kg BW every 48 h for 5 days from days 32 to 40 post-adjuvant and assessed on day 50, alpha-amyrin palmitate returned the increases in serum hyaluronate and blood granulocytes toward non-arthritic levels and corrected the moderate anaemia of adjuvant arthritis. Histological examinations of the second and third proximal foot interphalangeal joints showed reduced synovial proliferation and invasion of joints and reduced leucocyte infiltration of bone marrow in alpha-amyrin palmitate-treated rats. In addition, the drug prevented or reduced bone (subchondral or cortical) and cartilage (articular) destruction in arthritic rats. The results suggest that alpha-amyrin palmitate is antiarthritic in the adjuvant model of arthritis in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Vaginography: the investigation of choice for vaginal fistulae?

Adequate demonstration of the pathology and site of vaginal fistulae is preferable before surgical intervention is planned. Vaginal fistulae have traditionally been investigated by upper and lower gastrointestinal contrast radiology, often with a failure to demonstrate the fistula. The authors' recent experience confirms that vaginography is a simple and accurate method of assessing many types of vaginal fistulae.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

A comparison of blood gases and acid-base measurements in arterial, arterialized venous, and venous blood during short-term maximal exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between blood gases and acid-base measurements in arterial, arterialized venous, and venous blood measured simultaneously during short-term maximal exercise. Ten well-trained male cyclists performed a graded maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine the power output corresponding to their peak oxygen consumption (test I), and a short-term maximal test on a cycle ergometer at peak power output (test II). During test II arterial, arterialized venous and venous blood were sampled simultaneously for determination of partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide, pH, bicarbonate (HCO3-), base excess (BE), and lactate (La). Samples were taken at rest, the end of 1 min of exercise (1 ME), at the end of exercise (EE), and at 2 min of recovery (REC). During test II, subjects maintained a peak power output of 370.6 (62.1) W [mean (SD)] for 4.5, SD 1.6 min. Except at rest venous and arterialized venous measurements tended to be the same at all sampling intervals, but differed significantly from measurements in arterial blood (P less than 0.05). BE was the only variable that rendered consistently significant correlations between arterial and arterialized venous blood at each sampling interval. The pooled correlation coefficient between arterial and arterialized venous BE was r = 0.83 [regression equation: BEa = (0.84 BEav)-0.51]. Arterial La was significantly higher than venous La at 1 ME (2.8, 0.7 vs 0.8, 0.3 mmol.l-1) and higher than both venous and arterialized venous La at EE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The effects of ingestion time of gliclazide in relationship to meals on plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels.

The effect of altering the timing of gliclazide administration in relation to a meal was studied in ten type 2 (non-insulin dependent) chronically treated diabetics. Gliclazide was given 30 min before, at the start of and 30 min after breakfast or omitted altogether. Plasma gliclazide was present at greater than 2 mg/l throughout the study periods. Administration at 30 min after the meal significantly delayed the time to peak for plasma gliclazide. No significant difference was noted in plasma glucose, insulin or c-peptide patterns with any protocol. It is concluded that, in clinical practice, with chronically treated diabetics the timing of gliclazide ingestion in relation to meals is not critical.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Retinotopic representation of the bifoveate eye of the kestrel (Falco spraverius) on the optic tectum.

Like many diurnal raptors, the American kestrel or sparrow hawk, Falco sparverius, possesses two foveae in each eye. In this study, we used fundus photography and reversed ophthalmoscopy to plot the projection of these foveae onto the visual field, together with other retinal landmarks such as the pecten and ora terminali. From such data, it was determined that the central monocular fovea (CMF) and temporal binocular fovea (TBF) were separated by 36 deg and that the kestrel has 58 deg of binocular overlap when the eyes are appropriately converged. Single-cell and multi-unit recordings were used to systematically explore the tectal surface and map receptive fields (RF) onto a hemispheric screen. A retinotopic map of the tectal surface was produced from such data and revealed an expanded representation for each fovea on the tectum and a systematic increase in RF size from fovea to periphery. The functional significance of this organization is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Early experience with needle localization and biopsy of mammographic lesions.

Increasing awareness of the value of mammography by both physicians and the public has resulted in women presenting more commonly with impalpable breast lesions. This study reviews the radiology and pathology of 58 such lesions biopsied by the Monash Medical Centre Breast Unit between August 1987 and October 1988. Abnormal mammograms were reported by one of two independent radiologists in the normal course of practice and placed into one of five categories according to the radiological appearance. Those lesions scoring greater than or equal to 3 were then needle localized, excised and examined histologically. All mammograms were later reported as unknowns by the other radiologist and similarly scored. Sixteen (28%) of these lesions were invasive or in situ carcinoma and of these a significant number were scored differently by the two radiologists. The results indicate that needle localization biopsy of suspicious mammographic lesions is a safe, accurate method for the diagnosis of early breast cancer. The results also show significant variation between radiologists and demonstrate the need for double reading of screening mammographic films. It is suggested that doubtful lesions require more extensive work-up with compression/magnification and other special views, the aim being more accurate radiological assessment and a reduction in the benign biopsy rate.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1989

The effects of long term gliclazide administration on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity.

Gliclazide (80 mg bd) was administered to nine subjects with type 2 (non insulin dependent) diabetes inadequately controlled on diet only. Twenty-four hour glucose, insulin and c-peptide profiles were obtained before and after one week and four months of therapy. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp before and after four months of treatment. Twenty-four hour glucose levels were significantly lowered after one week and four months. Insulin secretion, as assessed by the areas under the insulin and c-peptide curves, was enhanced after one week. The increase was most noted during the day in response to meals. The enhancement was maintained after four months of treatment with the increase in the postabsorptive phase becoming significant. Glucose utilisation rate was significantly increased at four months. It is concluded that both acute and prolonged gliclazide therapy directly or indirectly 1) enhances both meal stimulated and post absorptive insulin secretion and 2) increases insulin sensitivity. The relative contribution of each to improved diabetic control has not been established.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Adenine nucleotide concentrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinaemia and B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

The adenine nucleotide profiles (AMP, ATP, NAD and NADH2) of peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinaemia (CVH) were similar to those in control cells. AMP and ATP levels were also similar in the lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL). Since CVH and CLL patients have reduced activity of plasma membrane ecto-5'-nucleotidase, our data suggests that this enzyme does not regulate the levels of intracellular adenine nucleotides, at least in "resting" cells.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1987

The pathogenesis of virus-associated encephalopathies: a prospective study of immunological mechanisms.

Thirty-two patients, including 29 children, presenting with acute unexplained encephalopathies were studied prospectively for evidence of virus infection, immunodeficiency, and immunologic involvement in the pathogenesis of their illnesses. Twenty-five of these patients had a clinical diagnosis of encephalitis. Twenty-two of these 25 had laboratory evidence of active virus infection, the majority with viruses usually associated with self-limiting illness outside the central nervous system. In patients with encephalitis, immune competence, as reflected by T-cell numbers and subsets in peripheral blood, in vitro interferon production, natural killer activity, and specific antiviral antibody production, was normal. Transudation of albumin into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a measure of blood-brain barrier breakdown, was seen in 40% of patients. Intrathecal antibody synthesis was suggested by an elevated IgG index in 9/20 CSF/serum pairs but was confirmed by an elevated specific IgG ratio in only 3. The serum IgG1 and IgG3 subclass levels were significantly elevated at the time of the illness and remained elevated 8 months later; IgG2 and IgG4 levels were normal. IgE levels were elevated in 50% of patients. Serum levels of IgM antibodies against Escherichia coli measured 8 months after the neurological illness were also significantly higher in encephalitis patients than in age-matched healthy controls. Human myelin basic protein did not induce proliferation in peripheral blood lymphocytes in any patient. We conclude that most encephalopathies associated with viral infections are not due to an underlying generalized immunodeficiency, and probably result from an inappropriately vigorous immune response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

IgG subclass levels in thermally injured children.

In the light of the recognition of Toxic Shock Syndrome occurring in burned children in our Unit, IgG subclass levels were monitored during the first week post burn in a group of 16 children. There were marked differences between some of the subclasses.

Burns↗
PubMed1985

Reference ranges for IgG subclasses in preschool children.

A normal range for IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 subclasses has been established for children aged 6 months to 5 years using commercially available monoclonal antisera. Of particular interest were the very low concentrations of IgG2 in some healthy children, a finding which casts doubt on the importance of IgG2 deficiency reported in some patients with otherwise unexplained infections. It was not possible to construct a normal range for IgG4 values probably because these segregate into two populations in normal subjects.

Aging↗