Biomedical subjects

D J Stanton

Publications and source records attributed to D J Stanton.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Sequences with the potential to form stem-and-loop structures are associated with coding-region duplications in animal mitochondrial DNA.

Tandem duplications of gene-encoding regions occur in the mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) of some individuals belonging to several species of whiptail lizards (genus Cnemidophorus). All or part of the duplicated regions of the mtDNAs from five different species were sequenced. In all, the duplication endpoints were within or immediately adjacent to sequences in tRNA, rRNA or protein genes that are capable of forming energetically stable stem-and-loop structures. In two of these mtDNAs, the duplication endpoints were also associated with a direct sequence repeat of 13 bp. The consistent association of stem-and-loop structures with duplication endpoints suggests that these structures may play a role in the duplication process. These data, combined with the absence of direct or palindromic repeats at three of the pairs of duplication endpoints, also suggest the existence of a mechanism for generating de novo duplications that is qualitatively different from those previously modeled.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Cloning and characterization of Daphnia mitochondrial DNA.

The mitochondrial genome of Daphnia pulex (Crustacea, Cladocera) was cloned as a single fragment into the plasmid vector pUC12. The genome size, estimated from restriction endonuclease fragment lengths, is 15,400 +/- 200 base pairs. The GC content, estimated from thermal denaturation studies, is 42%. The positions of 39 cleavage sites were mapped for 14 restriction enzymes. The distribution of these sites within the genome is random (P = 0.44). Heterologous hybridizations with Drosophila sylvestris mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) probes indicate that gene orders within Daphnia and Drosophila mtDNAs are similar.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

The psychological impact of intensive therapy: the role of nurses.

The concept of intensive therapy has developed since the early 1950s following the poliomyelitis epidemic when patients required respiratory assistance. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation and the development of large integrated general intensive therapy units where all critically ill patients could be managed has resulted. The environment in the intensive therapy units (ITUs) has thus become increasingly sophisticated with the use of highly specialised equipment. This has led to changes in the role of nurses in critical care areas. As intensive therapy nurses require considerable technical knowledge comparisons have been made with their role and that of a technician. The aim in this paper is to emphasise the importance of the nurses' role in caring for patients in intensive therapy units, by highlighting the psychological impact an intensive therapy unit may have on patients and how a nurse may promote psychological well-being.

Anxiety↗