Laboratories should spot haemoglobin variants.
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Diabetes Mellitus↗
Biomedical subjects
D Griffin
Publications and source records attributed to D Griffin.
Epidural steroid injection for nerve root compression. A randomised, controlled trial.
We have assessed whether an epidural steroid injection is effective in the treatment of symptoms due to compression of a nerve root in the lumbar spine by carrying out a prospective, randomised, controlled trial in which patients received either an epidural steroid injection or an intramuscular injection of local anaesthetic and steroid. We assessed a total of 93 patients according to the Oxford pain chart and the Oswestry disability index and followed up for a minimum of two years. All the patients had been categorised as potential candidates for surgery. There was a significant reduction in pain early on in those having an epidural steroid injection but no difference in the long term between the two groups. The rate of subsequent operation in the groups was similar.
Adult↗
Numerical modeling of humic colloid borne americium (III) migration in column experiments using the transport/speciation code K1D and the KICAM model.
The humic colloid borne Am(III) transport was investigated in column experiments for Gorleben groundwater/sand systems. It was found that the interaction of Am with humic colloids is kinetically controlled, which strongly influences the migration behavior of Am(III). These kinetic effects have to be taken into account for transport/speciation modeling. The kinetically controlled availability model (KICAM) was developed to describe actinide sorption and transport in laboratory batch and column experiments. Application of the KICAM requires a chemical transport/speciation code, which simultaneously models both kinetically controlled processes and equilibrium reactions. Therefore, the code K1D was developed as a flexible research code that allows the inclusion of kinetic data in addition to transport features and chemical equilibrium. This paper presents the verification of K1D and its application to model column experiments investigating unimpeded humic colloid borne Am migration. Parmeters for reactive transport simulations were determined for a Gorleben groundwater system of high humic colloid concentration (GoHy 2227). A single set of parameters was used to model a series of column experiments. Model results correspond well to experimental data for the unretarded humic borne Am breakthrough.
Americium↗
Lameness in feedlot cattle.
This article examines the various causes of lameness in feedlot cattle, with an emphasis on clinical signs, treatment, and prevention. Specific conditions are discussed, including interdigital necrobacillosis, laminitis, feedlot injuries, and feedlot lameness associated with Mycoplasma bovis. Immune management of the foot is also reviewed.
Animals↗
Determination of 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the active component of the antifertility agent nicarbazin, in chicken, duck, and goose plasma.
4,4'-Dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) was extracted from chicken, duck, and goose plasma and isolated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. DNC was detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 347 nm and quantified by comparison to a calibration standard. Recovery data were determined by analyzing DNC-fortified control plasma. The mean recovery of DNC in fortified chicken plasma samples was 99.7 +/- 1.9% for 0.18 and 9.1 ppm DNC, and in fortified duck and goose plasma samples was 99.5 +/- 4.9% and 101.4 +/- 4.5%, respectively, for 0.18, 9.1, and 18 ppm DNC.
Animals↗
Testing parameters in structural equation modeling: every "one" matters.
A problem with standard errors estimated by many structural equation modeling programs is described. In such programs, a parameter's standard error is sensitive to how the model is identified (i.e., how scale is set). Alternative but equivalent ways to identify a model may yield different standard errors, and hence different Z tests for a parameter, even though the identifications produce the same overall model fit. This lack of invariance due to model identification creates the possibility that different analysts may reach different conclusions about a parameter's significance level even though they test equivalent models on the same data. The authors suggest that parameters be tested for statistical significance through the likelihood ratio test, which is invariant to the identification choice.
Humans↗
B-cell function in chronic heart failure: antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine.
BACKGROUND: Several immune system abnormalities have been noted in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) including autoantibody production and abnormalities in tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 2, interleukin 6, natural killer cells, helper/inducer lymphocytes, lymphocyte reactivity, and subtherapeutic responses to the influenza vaccination. Patients with CHF have a higher risk of nosocomial infections, mainly pulmonary. Immune function abnormalities in patients with CHF raise concern over the ability of patients with symptomatic CHF to mount an effective and protective B-cell response. METHODS AND RESULTS: B-cell function was assessed by measuring antibody production in response to pneumococcal vaccination. Antibody levels were increased markedly for all serotypes tested (P <or= .001), and all patients had an increase in the number of serotypes for which they had protective antibody levels from a mean of 7.9 to 10.5 of 12 serotypes tested (P <or= .001). These responses are consistent with normal responses to vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence of multiple immune system abnormalities, patients with CHF seem to have an intact B-cell function and the etiology of CHF does not affect antibody response. The normal response to vaccination confirms the potential utility of the vaccination.
Adult↗
Laxative-induced dermatitis of the buttocks incorrectly suspected to Be abusive burns.
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Burns↗
People focus on optimistic scenarios and disregard pessimistic scenarios while predicting task completion times.
Task completion plans normally resemble best-case scenarios and yield overly optimistic predictions of completion times. The authors induced participants to generate more pessimistic scenarios and examined completion predictions. Participants described a pessimistic scenario of task completion either alone or with an optimistic scenario. Pessimistic scenarios did not affect predictions or accuracy and were consistently rated less plausible than optimistic scenarios (Experiments 1-3). Experiment 4 independently manipulated scenario plausibility and optimism. Plausibility moderated the impact of optimistic, but not pessimistic, scenarios. Experiment 5 supported a motivational explanation of the tendency to disregard pessimistic scenarios regardless of their plausibility. People took pessimistic scenarios into account when predicting someone else's completion times. The authors conclude that pessimistic-scenario generation may not be an effective debiasing technique for personal predictions.
Affect↗
More than skin deep.
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
Differences in circulating concentrations of total, free and bound leptin relate to gender and body composition in adult humans.
We describe a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for total leptin and a gel filtration procedure for the separation of free and bound leptin in human serum. The RIA, based on a locally prepared antibody, has a minimum detection limit of 0.9 ng/mL, a working range (CV < 10%) of 2.5-50 ng/mL, inter-assay precision of 10.2, 7.2 and 8.9%CV at 7.9, 15.4 and 30.0 ng/mL, respectively, 94% recovery of exogenous leptin (range 81.1-120.6%), exhibited parallelism and demonstrated no significant cross-reactivity or interferences. A difference plot of results from this method and those from a commercially available kit (Linco Research) demonstrated satisfactory agreement up to concentrations of 50 ng/mL total leptin, with no significant bias. A gender-dependent correlation was obtained between body mass index (BMI) and total leptin (r = 0.91, P<0.001, n = 75 for men; r = 0.79, P<0.001, n = 72 for women), with women having higher leptin concentrations than men for any given BMI. Gel filtration studies (inter-assay precision: 4.7%CV, n = 18) demonstrated that a variable fraction (between 10% and 40%) of total leptin in serum was bound with high affinity (Keq = 1.0-1.45 x 10(9) L/mol) to a non-albumin, non-lipid macromolecule. Binding affinities were found to be similar irrespective of gender or fat mass. A significant positive correlation between free or bound leptin concentrations and BMI was obtained for both men and women (r = 0.87-0.94); free and bound leptin concentrations were also significantly higher in women (P<0.01) than in men for any given BMI, and higher in obese (P<0.01) than in lean individuals. We conclude that leptin 'resistance' associated with obesity cannot be accounted for by reduced free leptin concentrations in serum and that the methods described are suitable for the investigation of total, free and bound leptin for both clinical and research purposes.
Body Mass Index↗
Molecular cytogenetic analysis of sperm from infertile males undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
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Abortion, Spontaneous↗
Contulakin-G, an O-glycosylated invertebrate neurotensin.
We have purified contulakin-G, a 16-amino acid O-linked glycopeptide (pGlu-Ser-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn-Ala-Thr-Lys-Lys-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu-OH, pGlu is pyroglutamate) from Conus geographus venom. The major glycosylated form of contulakin-G was found to incorporate the disaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1-->) attached to Thr10. The C-terminal sequence of contulakin-G shows a high degree of similarity to the neurotensin family of peptides. Synthetic peptide replicates of Gal(beta-->3) GalNAc(alpha-->)Thr10 contulakin-G and its nonglycosylated analog were prepared using an Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) protected solid phase synthesis strategy. The synthetic glycosylated con- tulakin-G, when administered intracerebroventricular into mice, was found to result in motor control-associated dysfunction observed for the native peptide. Contulakín-G was found to be active at 10-fold lower doses than the nonglycosylated Thr10 contulakin-G analog. The binding affinities of contulakin-G and the nonglycosylated Thr10 contulakin-G for a number of neurotensin receptor types including the human neurotensin type 1 receptor (hNTR1), the rat neurotensin type 1 and type 2 receptors, and the mouse neurotensin type 3 receptor were determined. The binding affinity of the nonglycosylated Thr10 contulakin-G was approximately an order of magnitude lower than that of neurotensin1-13 for all the receptor types tested. In contrast, the glycosylated form of contulakin-G exhibited significantly weaker binding affinity for all of the receptors tested. However, both contulakin-G and nonglycosylated Thr10 contulakin-G were found to be potent agonists of rat neurotensin receptor type 1. Based on these results, we conclude that O-linked glycosylation appears to be a highly unusual strategy for increasing the efficacy of toxins directed against neurotransmitter receptors.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The chicken HPRT gene: a counter selectable marker for the DT40 cell line.
We describe the cloning, characterisation and chromosomal mapping of the chicken hprt gene together with the construction of two counter selectable hprt-/- DT40 derived cell lines. One of these cell lines contains a stably integrated gene encoding a conditionally active cre recombinase and thus allows efficient manipulation of targeted loci by site-specific recombination. These cell lines will enhance the utility of the hyper-recombinogenic DT40 cell line as a system for the genetic analysis of cell autonomous functions in vertebrates and as a tool for mammalian chromosome engineering.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Novel method for the production of multiple colour chromosome paints for use in karyotyping by fluorescence in situ hybridisation.
The development of 24-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) has led to significant advances in cytogenetic research and offers the potential for automated karyotypic analysis. However, these techniques are not in routine research or clinical use because of limitations in methods of probe preparation. This article presents new probe construction protocols and strategies for multiple-colour karyotyping by chromosome painting, which makes the technique more efficient and may lead to more widespread implementation. We used paints generated by our protocols to demonstrate the presence of a cryptic translocation t(13;11;22) in the paediatric sarcoma cell line RMS 1598.
Chromosome Painting↗
Frequency, probability, and prediction: easy solutions to cognitive illusions?
Many errors in probabilistic judgment have been attributed to people's inability to think in statistical terms when faced with information about a single case. Prior theoretical analyses and empirical results imply that the errors associated with case-specific reasoning may be reduced when people make frequentistic predictions about a set of cases. In studies of three previously identified cognitive biases, we find that frequency-based predictions are different from-but no better than-case-specific judgments of probability. First, in studies of the "planning fallacy, " we compare the accuracy of aggregate frequency and case-specific probability judgments in predictions of students' real-life projects. When aggregate and single-case predictions are collected from different respondents, there is little difference between the two: Both are overly optimistic and show little predictive validity. However, in within-subject comparisons, the aggregate judgments are significantly more conservative than the single-case predictions, though still optimistically biased. Results from studies of overconfidence in general knowledge and base rate neglect in categorical prediction underline a general conclusion. Frequentistic predictions made for sets of events are no more statistically sophisticated, nor more accurate, than predictions made for individual events using subjective probability.
Bayes Theorem↗
Influence of specialty on pathology resource use in evaluation of cervical dysplasia.
OBJECTIVE: Colposcopy is performed by different providers, including nurse practitioners, family physicians, and gynecologists. The training and experience of these providers vary. The fiscal impact of provider type is unknown. This study evaluates pathology resource use by gynecologists and nongynecologists at the time of colposcopy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Data were collected by review of pathology reports and records of all patients with cervical dysplasia treated with cervical excision by loop electrosurgical excision procedure or cold knife conization at our institution between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 1997. Data were analyzed according to type of provider performing the colposcopy before the cervical excision. RESULTS: Gynecologists obtained a total of 190 biopsy specimens in 127 patients, with a mean number of 1.5 +/- 0.75 per patient and a median of 1. Nongynecologists took a total of 148 biopsy specimens in 44 patients, with a mean of 3.4 +/- 1.14 per patient and a median of 3 (P < .001). These differences persisted irrespective of presenting cytology. Nongynecologists were more likely to do endocervical curettage than gynecologists (95% compared with 82%, respectively, P < .001). Cervical dysplasia was diagnosed equally well, even though fewer biopsies were taken by gynecologists. CONCLUSION: Both groups of providers were equally capable of identifying dysplastic lesions. Despite equivalent diagnostic accuracy, nongynecologists used two to three times more pathology resources. If this pattern of use of resources exists at other clinical sites, patients with cervical dysplasia and payers would be better served by gynecologic rather than nongynecologic care.
Adult↗
Electrospray and tandem mass spectroscopy as tools for anthocyanin characterization.
The utility of electrospray and tandem mass spectroscopy (ES-MS and MS-MS) in anthocyanin characterization was tested using different anthocyanin extracts. Anthocyanins were semipurified by using a C-18 resin, washed with acidified water followed by ethyl acetate, and recovered with acidified methanol. Samples were directly injected into a mass spectrometer in either aqueous or methanolic solutions. The positive charge of anthocyanins favored fast and effective ES-MS detection of intact molecular ions. Little interference from other compounds was observed when the ethyl acetate cleaning procedure was used. Tandem mass spectroscopy provided clear and characteristic fragmentation patterns. The voltage used affected only the proportions at which these fragments were present. ES-MS may be used as a fast procedure for identification of anthocyanins, requiring minimal sample preparation. In combination with HPLC, ES-MS and MS-MS could be very powerful tools for anthocyanin characterization and monitoring the authenticity of anthocyanin-containing fruit juices and vegetable extracts.
Anthocyanins↗