PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Wiebe

Publications and source records attributed to D Wiebe.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Characteristics of rare or recently described corynebacterium species recovered from human clinical material in Canada.

Nineteen new Corynebacterium species or taxa described since 1995 have been associated with human disease. We report the characteristics of 72 strains identified as or most closely resembling 14 of these newer, medically relevant Corynebacterium species or taxa, as well as describe in brief an isolate of Corynebacterium bovis, a rare pathogen for humans. The bacteria studied in this report were nearly all derived from human clinical specimens and were identified by a polyphasic approach. Most were characterized by nearly full 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Some isolates were recovered from previously unreported sources and exhibited unusual phenotypes or represented the first isolates found outside Europe. Products of fermentation, with emphasis on the presence or absence of propionic acid, were also studied in order to provide an additional characteristic with which to differentiate among phenotypically similar species.

Animals↗

Navigating the time-space context of HIV and AIDS: daily routines and access to care.

Geographers have shown that daily activities and social networks are constrained by time-space, but there are also enabling facets or opportunities created by daily routines for accessing material and emotional resources, improving quality of life, and even challenging existing power relations. Time-geography in this paper is taken as a starting point to assess how individuals living with HIV and AIDS navigate the complex and often difficult time space contexts defining their access to services. The concept of time space windows of access is offered as a way to understand the opportunities created by daily routines and social network interaction even in highly marginalized social, economic, and political circumstances. Survey data and in-depth interviews conducted with a diverse group of persons living with HIV and AIDS are used to illustrate this conceptual argument. Results indicate that the time space characteristics of daily routines, such as frequency of activities, variety or heterogeneity in activities, and whether activities are self- or social network-oriented, serve to define the availability of temporal and spatial windows of access to services. In addition, daily routines seem to matter for specific types of services, and have a limited role to play in terms of primary medical services or those associated with basic needs. The implications of these findings for theorizing and for enhancing access to services are provided.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Glutaraldehyde release from vascular prostheses of biologic origin.

The inhibition of growth by adult human venous endothelial cells in culture forms the basis of a sensitive assay of glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration, valid between 0 and 5 parts per million. This cytotoxicity assay was used to measure residual (unbound) GA in commercial vascular prostheses of biologic origin following manufacturer-recommended rinsing procedures, from which as much as 13.8 ppm GA per gram of tissue per 24 hours continued to be released after 1 month. A brief (1 hour) exposure of cultured endothelial cells to 2 ppm GA delayed growth, while continuous exposure to 4 ppm totally prevented growth for at least 12 days. Endothelial cells exposed to GA demonstrated a reduced efficiency of attachment to standard test surfaces, although prior GA treatment of these surfaces was not detrimental to subsequent cell attachment. GA release from vascular prostheses may contribute to their lack of endothelial cell coverage in human implants and may be indicative of collagen cross-link instability. If so, in vitro cytotoxicity may be helpful in identifying the potential for aneurysm formation in preserved biologic grafts.

Aldehydes↗

Triglyceride integrated concentrations: effect of variation of source and amount of dietary carbohydrate.

The effect of changes in the amount of dietary carbohydrate (45 or 65% of total energy) and in the source of carbohydrate (sucrose or corn syrup) on plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations was studied in eight healthy males. Subjects ingested each of the four formula diets for 10 days in a latin square sequence. Diet-induced response was assessed by measurement of plasma lipid concentrations in blood obtained after overnight fast and by measurement of the mean plasma lipid concentrations--designated the integrated concentration--of blood obtained by 24 hr continuous blood withdrawal. The fasting plasma triglyceride concentration increased significantly during ingestion of the high carbohydrate diet (P less than 0.005) but was not significantly influenced by the source of carbohydrate calories. The 45% carbohydrate diets induced larger meal associated plasma triglyceride variation than 65% diets. Sucrose-containing diets induced significantly higher plasma triglyceride integrated concentrations than corn syrup diets, whether provided as 45% (P less than 0.05) or 65% (P less than 0.005) of total energy. Diet-induced changes in fasting or integrated plasma cholesterol concentration were minimal.

Adult↗

The influence of age, sex, and the use of oral contraceptives on the inhibitory effects of endothelial cells and PGI2 (prostacyclin) on platelet function.

The inhibitory effects of human endothelial cells (ECM) and PGI2 (prostacyclin) on platelet function have been examined in 60 healthy subjects. 5 groups were studied. I. 10 women (19-33 yrs.); II. 10 women (21-31 yrs.) using combined oral contraceptives; III. 10 postmenopausal women (45-66 yrs.); IV. 20 men (24-48 yrs.) and V. 10 men (48-71 yrs.). Spontaneous platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was commonly observed in groups II, III, and V. This was prevented when PRP was incubated with ECM, aspirin (ASA), or PGI2. ADP-induced platelet aggregation (PA) was always reduced by ECM, but significantly less in groups II and III. Collagen-induced PA was inhibited by ECM, but less in groups I, II, III and V than in young men (IV). ECM significantly reduced collagen-induced prostaglandin (MDA) production in platelets. Again, the inhibitory effect was significantly reduced in groups II and III. Platelet factor 3 activity, measured after exposure of PRP to ADP, was significantly reduced by ECM, but was significantly less in groups II, III, and V than in group I. Less of an inhibitory, effect of PGI2 upon ADP-induced PA was shown by all groups of females than by the two groups of males.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Lipoproteins and the inhibitory effect of human endothelial cells on platelet function.

We investigated the effect of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL) on the platelet inhibitory effect of primary cultures of human endothelial cell monolayers (ECM). ECM incubated with lipoprotein-deficient plasma (LDP) for 2 hours at 37 degrees C had an inhibitory effect on ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation and prostaglandin production in platelet-rich plasma similar to that observed when ECM were preincubated with growth medium or plasma. Concentrations of LDL in LDP up to protein concentration of 1600 microgram/ml had an inhibitory effect on the endothelial cells' ability to modulate these platelet reactions. VLDL at the highest concentration (1600 microgram/ml) had a slightly inhibitory effect, whereas HDL showed no such effect. The inhibitory effect of LDL was not observed during the first hour of incubation. When HDL in concentrations similar to or higher than LDL were combined with LDL, the inhibitory effect of LDL was partially reduced. VLDL combined with LDL or HDL did not interfere with the effects of the later fractions. The inhibitory effect of LDL was significantly reduced when LDL were diluted in whole plasma. Prostacyclin which is synthesized and released from the endothelial cells and contributes to the inhibitory effect upon platelets did not change its effect on platelet reactivity by preincubation with the various lipoprotein fractions. The current studies may indicate that LDL have a direct effect on the endothelial cells and that this effect may be partially counteracted by HDL. This effect of LDL on the endothelial cells reduces the endothelium's ability to inhibit platelet aggregation and thus could favor the tendency to thrombus formation.

Blood Platelets↗

Multi-laboratory comparison of three heparin-Mn2+ precipitation procedures for estimating cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein.

Plasma high-density lipoprotein is commonly estimated by measuring the cholesterol remaining in plasma supernatant solutions after other lipoproteins, which contain apolipoprotein B, are precipitated with heparin and Mn2+. The method (method I) now in use by the Lipid Research Clinics, in which Mn2+ is at 46 mmol/liter final concentration, is reasonably accurate, but precipitation and sedimentation of lipoproteins other than high-density lipoproteins is often incomplete. We evaluated two modifications of method I. In method II, the Mn2+ concentration was doubled; the second modification (method III) included the increased Mn2+ concentration in a combined heparin Mn2+ reagent, decreased sample volume (2 ml), and a shorter incubation time (10 min at room temperature). The percentages of samples with turbid supernates (i.e., incomplete sedimentation) by methods I, II, and III were 9, 3, and 2%, respectively. Among non-turbid supernates, the percentages of samples containing measurable apolipoprotein B (incomplete precipitation) were 79, 19, and 16%, respectively. We conclude that method III is the most convenient and accurate of the three procedures.

Chemical Precipitation↗