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Biomedical subjects

D Canter

Publications and source records attributed to D Canter.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Spatial patterns of serial murder: an analysis of disposal site location choice.

Although the murders committed by serial killers may not be considered rational, there is growing evidence that the locations in which they commit their crimes may be guided by an implicit, if limited rationality. The hypothesized logic of disposal site choice of serial killers led to predictions that (a) their criminal domains would be around their home base and relate to familiar travel distances, (b) they would have a size that was characteristic of each offender, (c) the distribution would be biased towards other non-criminal activities, and (d) the size of the domains would increase over time. Examination of the geographical distribution of the sites at which 126 US and 29 UK serial killers disposed of their victims' bodies supported all four hypotheses. It was found that rational choice and routine activity models of criminal behavior could explain the spatial choices of serial murderers. It was concluded that the locations at which serial killers dispose of their victims' bodies reflect the inherent logic of the choices that underlie their predatory activities.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

The application of an action system model to destructive behaviour: the examples of arson and terrorism.

This article argues that criminal and deviant behaviour can be productively viewed through an action system framework. The idea is developed by considering two forms of destructive behaviour: arson and barricade-hostage terrorist incidents. Two studies are presented. The first study tests the hypothesis that different forms of arson will reflect the four dominant states that an action system can take; integrative, expressive, conservative, and adaptive. A smallest space analysis was performed on 46 variables describing 230 cases of arson and the results identified the four themes of action system functioning. An examination of the personal characteristics of the arsonists also produced four variable groupings and a combined analysis of the four action scales and four characteristics scales also supported the structural hypothesis of the action system model. The second study applied the action system model to the study acts of terrorist barricade-hostage incidents. A smallest space analysis of 44 variables coded from 41 incidents again revealed four distinct forms of activity, which were psychologically similar to the four modes of arson identified in study one. Overall, these two studies provide support for the appropriateness of the action system framework as a way of classifying different forms of deviant behaviour.

Behavior↗
PubMed2001

Antimicrobial resistance and bacterial identification utilizing a microelectronic chip array.

Species-specific bacterial identification of clinical specimens is often limited to a few species due to the difficulty of performing multiplex reactions. In addition, discrimination of amplicons is time-consuming and laborious, consisting of gel electrophoresis, probe hybridization, or sequencing technology. In order to simplify the process of bacterial identification, we combined anchored in situ amplification on a microelectronic chip array with discrimination and detection on the same platform. Here, we describe the simultaneous amplification and discrimination of six gene sequences which are representative of different bacterial identification assays: Escherichia coli gyrA, Salmonella gyrA, Campylobacter gyrA, E. coli parC, Staphylococcus mecA, and Chlamydia cryptic plasmid. The assay can detect both plasmid and transposon genes and can also discriminate strains carrying antibiotic resistance single-nucleotide polymorphism mutations. Finally, the assay is similarly capable of discriminating between bacterial species through reporter-specific discrimination and allele-specific amplification. Anchored strand displacement amplification allows multiplex amplification and complex genotype discrimination on the same platform. This assay simplifies the bacterial identification process greatly, allowing molecular biology techniques to be performed with minimal processing of samples and practical experience.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

Rapid, high fidelity analysis of simple sequence repeats on an electronically active DNA microchip.

We describe a method for the discrimination of short tandem repeat (STR) alleles based on active microarray hybridization. An essential factor in this method is electronic hybridization of the target DNA, at high stringency, in <5 min. High stringency is critical to avoid slippage of hybrids along repeat tracts at allele-specific test sites in the array. These conditions are attainable only with hybridization kinetics realized by electronic concentration of DNA. A sandwich hybrid is assembled, in which proper base stacking of juxtaposed terminal nucleotides results in a thermodynamically favored complex. The increased stability of this complex relative to non-stacked termini and/or base pair mismatches is used to determine the identification of STR alleles. This method is capable of simultaneous and precise identification of alleles containing different numbers of repeats, as well as mutations within these repeats. Given the throughput capabilities of microarrays our system has the potential to enhance the use of microsatellites in forensic criminology, diagnostics and genetic mapping.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

Assessing the clinical need for short-term conversion from oral to parenteral angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy in hypertensive patients. A quinapril to quinaprilat placebo-controlled model.

UNLABELLED: RATIONALE AND STUDY DESIGN: This study assesses safety and efficacy when hypertensive patients convert from an oral angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, quinapril, to its intravenous counterpart, quinaprilat, and evaluates the need for short-term conversion from oral to parenteral therapy. Blood pressure was measured by clinical measurements using a sphygmomanometer and by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. During a placebo-baseline phase, patients blood pressure had to increase within 3 days in the absence of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Responding patients were stabilized on oral quinapril and then randomized to 3 days of double-blind treatment with one 5 ml or 10 ml injection twice daily of quinaprilat or placebo. RESULTS: Overall response to quinaprilat in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and clinic blood pressure measurements was not statistically or clinically different from the response to oral quinapril therapy during baseline. Withdrawal from quinapril resulted in clinically significant increases in all blood pressure measurements compared with baseline therapy; the differences between placebo and quinaprilat therapy were statistically and clinically significant. Two patients treated with quinaprilat withdrew due to hypotension; one patient required a dosage reduction. Parenteral quinaprilat safely maintained blood pressure control whereas placebo control did not during the 72-h interruption of quinapril.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Quinapril hydrochloride effects on renal function in patients with renal dysfunction and hypertension: a drug-withdrawal study.

Patients with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure > or = 95 and < or = 115 mmHg) and renal dysfunction entered one of two studies to assess the safety of efficacious daily doses of quinapril on renal function and blood pressure. Twenty-four patients with moderate renal impairment (MRI) (creatinine clearance > 30 and < or = 60 ml/min) entered 24 weeks of open-label quinapril treatment; 31 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min) entered 16 weeks of open-label quinapril treatment. Patients with MRI initially received quinapril 5 mg once daily (qd) followed by titration to a maximum dosage of 40 mg/day (furosemide optional at 40 mg only). Patients with CRF initially received quinapril 2.5 mg qd and were titrated up to 20 mg/day (furosemide optional). Open-label quinapril treatment resulted in significant decreases in mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. The 20 patients with MRI and the 28 with CRF who completed the open-label phase were then randomly assigned to continue active drug or to receive placebo in a 4-week, double-blind, drug-withdrawal phase. During the double-blind withdrawal phase, placebo-treated patients had significant increases in mean SBP and DBP from the end of open label. Creatinine clearance was essentially unchanged following open-label quinapril treatment or quinapril withdrawal. In conclusion, in patients with mild to moderate hypertension and renal dysfunction, quinapril in dosages of 5-40 mg qd for patients with MRI and 2.5 to 20 mg qd for patients with CRF significantly reduces blood pressure without adversely affecting renal function.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide combination for control of hypertension: assessment by factorial design. Quinapril Investigator Group.

A factorial design method was applied in this multicentre trial of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor quinapril hydrochloride (Accupril) in combination with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) to assess the additive effects of the combination versus monotherapy, to characterise the dose-response relationship of each drug in the presence of the other and to determine if quinapril would attenuate the hypokalemic effect of HCTZ. Following a two to four week placebo-baseline period, 460 qualifying patients with a DBP > or = 100 mmHg and < or = 115 mmHg were randomised to an eight week double-blind phase with one of 16 parallel treatments: placebo, one of three doses of quinapril monotherapy, one of three doses of HCTZ monotherapy or one of nine possible corresponding combinations of quinapril and HCTZ. Mean reductions in sitting SBP/DBP at trough with combination therapy ranged from 7.8 mmHg/7.2 mmHg to 19.6 mmHg/15.1 mmHg (n = 458). Results of the response surface analyses indicate that the effects of the two drugs were additive and that the maximum antihypertensive effect of quinapril in combination with HCTZ within the doses studied is achieved approximately at a dose of 26 mg quinapril and 25 mg HCTZ. The degree of attenuation of the hypokalemic effect of HCTZ was directly related to the dose of quinapril. At 40 mg quinapril, the HCTZ dose-related decreases of serum potassium were not apparent and overall hypokalemic effects were attenuated by quinapril. Thus, the combination of quinapril and HCTZ given once daily provided additive antihypertensive effects of predictable degrees and the addition of quinapril attenuated the hypokalemic effect of HCTZ.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Predictive value for coronary heart disease of baseline high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among Fredrickson type IIa subjects in the Helsinki Heart Study.

In the Helsinki Heart Study 2,590 subjects (63.5% of total) had a type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia at screening. Baseline low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (mean 193 mg/dl; 5 mmol/liter) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (mean 50.2 mg/dl; 1.3 mmol/liter) showed no statistical correlation (r = 0.046). Both the placebo (1,293 patients) and gemfibrozil groups (1,297 patients) were divided into tertiles by baseline HDL and LDL cholesterol to determine the relative predictive risk of developing coronary artery disease. In a population with elevated LDL cholesterol, it is significant that the lipoprotein fraction with the greatest predictive value was HDL cholesterol. The severity of LDL cholesterol elevation did not provide any differential predictive value for coronary artery disease.

Cholesterol, HDL↗
PubMed1990

The safety profile of quinapril: is there a difference among ACE inhibitors?

The safety of quinapril hydrochloride, a new nonsulfhydryl angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor with an intermediate duration of action, has been evaluated in 3,031 patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF) and has been compared with other ACE inhibitors. A comparison of double-blind studies showed quinapril to have a lower incidence of adverse effects and withdrawals than reported for captopril or enalapril. Analysis of onset of adverse events or withdrawals did not show either a time-dependent or dose-dependent relationship with quinapril. The proportion of patients who experienced orthostatic hypotension was less than that of patients on captopril or enalapril. Double-blind, long-term, and open-label studies with quinapril showed no increase in the incidence of events reported in patients with CHF compared with hypertensive patients. Quinapril produced minimal adverse effects on renal function in both patients with normal renal function and in those with pre-existing renal impairment. Age analysis of data from all studies showed no increase in total reporting of adverse events in older patients who did not take concomitant diuretics.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

ACE inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension in the older patient.

Hypertension is a major potential problem among the increasing number of older persons in the population, threatening their health and shortening their life expectancy due particularly to stroke and congestive heart failure (CHF). Controlled studies have shown that antihypertensive drug therapy reduces the incidence of severe CHF, stroke and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly. Special consideration should be given to altered drug metabolism, altered responses to drugs, and concomitant medications when pharmacotherapy is instituted in the elderly. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are acceptable in the hypertensive older patient as first-line therapy for all grades of hypertension and as second-line therapy for the patient with CHF. Use of ACE inhibitors avoids many of the symptoms and metabolic disturbances associated with beta-blockers and diuretics. Quinapril is a new non-sulphydryl ACE inhibitor whose active metabolite, quinaprilat, has a relatively short accumulation half-life compared with enalapril and lisinopril but has an enhanced affinity for the converting enzyme, allowing rapid excretion of the drug while retaining a 24-hour antihypertensive effect with once-daily dosing. Quinapril is a valuable addition to the ACE inhibitor class, with demonstrated efficacy and safety in the older patient.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Differentiation of malicious and non-malicious fire-alarm calls using multidimensional scaling.

A pilot study was carried out to determine whether malicious and non-malicious fire alarm calls could be distinguished on the basis of their psycholinguistic attributes. Eight malicious and eight non-malicious calls were compared in terms of the number of speech errors of various kinds in the call. Using multi-dimensional scalogram analysis (MSA-I), it was possible to differentiate the two types of call on the basis of the over-all configuration of speech behaviour within the call.

Crime↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prior convictions of child molesters.

Both the stereotypes held by investigating officers and the clinical literature assume that child molesters have distinct characteristics. these are generally expected to be reflected in a prior offence history of assaults on children and sexually deviant behaviour. A further assumption is that there is an escalation of offending, less serious crimes being precursors to more serious ones. To test these assumptions the criminal convictions, if any, prior to the offence were examined for all 416 detected offenders who had committed sexual offences upon children aged between 5 and 12 years, in the Lancashire Police area, during 1987, 1988 and 1989. Of the 183 (44%) of offenders who had previous convictions, 72 involved indecency, 17% of the total sample. Only 9 (2%) of offenders had an exclusive conviction history in respect of indecency. Previous convictions for theft, burglary and violence were all much more frequent. The results also do not generally support the hypothesis that serious offenders have progressed from less serious offences against children. A criminal opportunist model is proposed as of more value for guiding investigations than the existing stereotypes.

Adolescent↗