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Biomedical subjects

D Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to D Wilson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of backpacks on students: measurement of cervical and shoulder posture.

The aims of this pilot study were to determine whether the weight of a backpack, its position on the spine or time carried affected adolescents cervical and shoulder posture. Standing posture measured from the sagittal and frontal planes of 13 students was recorded photographically under several load carrying conditions. Cervical and shoulder position angles were calculated and compared. Results revealed that both backpack weight and time carried influenced cervical and shoulder posture. Forward head posture increased when carrying a backpack, especially one with a heavy load. Carrying a backpack weighing 15% of body weight appeared to be too heavy to maintain standing posture for adolescents. These findings have implications for future load carrying studies in adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Changes in coagulability as measured by thrombelastography following surgery for proximal femoral fracture.

The effect of surgery for femoral neck fracture on whole blood coagulation and the relationship of altered coagulation to deep venous thrombosis were investigated in 250 patients. Whole blood coagulation was measured using thrombelastography preoperatively, in the early postoperative period and at 6-week review. Significant hypercoagulability was demonstrated after surgery and persisted to 6-week review. A significant correlation between hypercoagulability and the development of deep venous thrombosis is demonstrated. Hypercoagulability is shown to be a major factor in thrombosis formation following proximal femoral neck fracture surgery.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

New biologicals for prostate cancer prevention: Genes, vaccines, and immune-based interventions.

For at least 100 years, immunologists have proposed activating the immune system to specifically target and eradicate autologous tumor cells. The idea that tumor cells can be recognized as foreign to the host's immune system is an essential concept of tumor immunology that was first postulated by Paul Ehrlich at the turn of the century. Anecdotal reports of spontaneous tumor regression have been presumed to be immunologically mediated. With the advent of molecular gene transfer techniques and increased knowledge of the regulation of the immune response, effective methods for harnessing the immune system as a therapeutic agent are finally being realized. Current results of clinical immune/gene therapy protocols will be reviewed with consideration towards the concept of cancer prevention.

Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic↗
PubMed2001

fMRI-derived cortical maps for haptic shape, texture, and hardness.

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural substrates involved in haptic processing of texture, shape, and hardness. Subjects performed haptic classification tasks on a set of 27 silicone objects having parametrically defined shape, texture, and hardness. The objects were ellipsoids of revolution in which the ratio of the long to the short axis was varied, producing three different shapes. Three surface textures and three hardness levels were used. In three separate experiments, the same subjects classified each object along the three levels of one of the object properties (shape, texture, or hardness). Texture, shape, and hardness processing led to contralateral activation in the postcentral gyrus (PCG). A common region located within relatively posterior portions of the PCG was observed during shape and texture identification whereas a separate and more anterior region was activated during the hardness identification task. The hardness identification task also produced bilateral activation within the parietal operculum.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Protective factors associated with American Indian adolescents' safer sexual patterns.

OBJECTIVES: This paper presents findings from a research partnership with rural American Indian communities to identify protective factors associated with their adolescents' health-related behaviors including 1) delay of sexual debut; 2) not having had intercourse in the past 3 months; 3) birth control use among sexually active adolescents in the past 3 months; 4) condom use in the past 3 months. Our goal was to identify salient characteristics of students and their perceptions of family, school, and friends which could be incorporated or supported in future program planning for adolescents. METHODS: A written survey was administered to 484 Indian students in Grades 6-12 from five rural schools. The survey measured several potential protective factors identified by Problem Behavior Theory, along with self-efficacy and cultural interest and knowledge. Logistic regression assessed the relationship of the protective factors and positive sexual behaviors. RESULTS: Factors significantly associated with abstention from intercourse and/or consistent use of birth control included perceived lower health-risk behavior of friends, higher perceived parental support, higher perceived parental knowledge and monitoring of the adolescent's activities and friends, a higher value on scholastic achievement, higher reported academic performance, and higher self-efficacy for safer sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that Indian adolescents have several protective factors indigenous to their communities which are modifiable. Building on the unique cultural heritage of Indian communities, many of these factors may be addressed through community planned prevention programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The glycaemic index values of Vietnamese foods.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the glycaemic index (GI) values of a range of Vietnamese foods in two racial groups. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Twelve healthy subjects (six Asian and six Caucasian) consumed 50 g carbohydrate portions of a reference food (glucose sugar) and nine Vietnamese foods (three rices, three noodle products and three sweet foods) in random order after an overnight fast. The reference food was tested on two separate occasions, and the Vietnamese foods were each tested once. Capillary blood samples were taken at time 0 (fasting), 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min from the start of each meal. Samples were analysed for plasma glucose and the incremental areas under the plasma glucose curves (AUC) were used to calculate the GI values of the test foods, using glucose as the reference food (ie GI value of glucose=100). The mean GI value of each food was calculated for the entire group of subjects (n=12) and for both racial groups (n=6). RESULTS: The three rices had surprisingly high GI values (86-109), whereas the noodle products had relatively low GI values (39-61). The sugar-rich foods produced intermediate GI values (54-79). The GI values for the nine foods calculated separately for the two racial groups were not significantly different from each other (P=0.26). CONCLUSIONS: The GI values derived from Caucasian subjects are likely to be applicable to Asian populations. Varieties of imported rice from Thailand were found to have high GI values. Alternative low-GI staples, such as rice noodles, may be preferable for Asian/Vietnamese people with diabetes. SPONSORSHIP: This study was funded by the University of Sydney.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of p53 and p16(INK4a) results in pancreatic cancer regression in vitro and in vivo.

Pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis. Current chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens are only moderately successful. The tumour suppressor genes p53 and p16(INK4a)encode cell cycle regulatory proteins that are important candidates for gene replacement therapy. Over 80% of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases lack detectable p16 protein while over 60% contain mutated p53 protein. We used replication-deficient recombinant adenoviruses to reintroduce wild-type p16 and p53 into pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and into subcutaneous pancreatic tumours in an animal model to determine the effect on tumour growth. Significant growth inhibition was observed in all five human pancreatic cell lines with these viruses (P < 0.002) compared with similar control viruses expressing either luciferase or beta-galactosidase. G1 arrest was observed in all cell lines 72 h after infection with Adp16. Infection with Adp53 caused significant levels of apoptosis (P < 0.004). Apoptosis was also observed to a lesser degree (P < 0.03) with the Adp16 vector. Subcutaneous pancreatic tumours, generated in nu-nu mice demonstrated significant growth suppression following injection of Adp53, Adp16 and a combination of both Adp53 and Adp16 (P < 0.0001). These results show that transfer of wild-type p53 and p16 produces significant growth suppression of pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence, morbidity and management of adult asthma in South Australia.

This paper reviews asthma-related data obtained between 1987 and 1997 from self-report population surveys of adults in South Australia. A multistage, systematic, clustered area sample of adults (>15 years) was selected from a random sample of Australian Bureau of Statistics collector districts, and interviewed at home by trained health interviewers. The self-report prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma increased from 5.6% in 1987 to 12.2% in 1997. Morbidity measured as days lost from usual activities and nights awakened by asthma remained high, but hospitalization rates are trending down. The ownership of asthma action plans peaked in 1995 and has declined. The ownership of peak flow meters increased between 1992 and 1997, and the ownership of nebulisers remained constant. Evidence-based interventions are required to improve asthma management.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Segregation of hematuria in thin basement membrane disease with haplotypes at the loci for Alport syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Inherited hematuria is common and is usually attributed to thin basement membrane disease (TBMD). The aim of this study was to determine how often hematuria in families with TBMD segregated with haplotypes at the chromosomal loci for autosomal recessive and X-linked Alport syndrome (COL4A3/COL4A4 and COL4A5, respectively). METHODS: The families of 22 individuals with TBMD on renal biopsy and with urinary glomerular red blood cell (RBC) counts of more than 50,000/mL were studied using phase-contrast microscopy of the urine and DNA microsatellite markers. Eighteen families had at least two members with hematuria. RESULTS: Hematuria segregated with or was consistent with segregation at the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus in eight (36%) families (P < 0.05 in 5 of these) and at the COL4A5 locus in four (18%) families (P < 0.05 in 2). The lack of segregation in the other 10 (45%) families may have occurred because of incomplete penetrance of the hematuria, de novo mutations, coincidental hematuria in other family members, or the presence of a novel gene locus. In four different families, three of which had hematuria that segregated with the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus, four family members with the hematuria haplotype had spouses with coincidental hematuria (4 of 29, 14%). However, none of their four offspring who had also inherited the hematuria haplotype had the clinical features of autosomal recessive Alport syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Hematuria in families with TBMD commonly segregates with the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus and thus results from mutations in the same genes as autosomal recessive Alport syndrome. Sometimes TBMD may be confused with the carrier state for X-linked Alport syndrome. However, nearly half of the families in this study had hematuria that did not segregate with the loci for either autosomal recessive or X-linked Alport syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A comparison of the clinical, histopathologic, and ultrastructural phenotypes in carriers of X-linked and autosomal recessive Alport's syndrome.

Previous series that described phenotypes in carriers of Alport's syndrome did not distinguish genetically between carriers of X-linked and autosomal recessive disease. In this study, modes of inheritance in unselected families with Alport's syndrome associated with two city and two provincial hospitals were determined using microsatellite markers, and carriers of disease haplotypes were identified within these families. All 47 carriers (100%) from 18 families with X-linked Alport's syndrome had dysmorphic hematuria on phase-contrast microscopy, but few developed renal failure (3 of 40 carriers; 8%), clinical hearing loss (2 of 45 carriers; 4%), retinopathy (1 of 30 carriers; 3%), or lenticonus (0 of 30 carriers; 0%). Eleven of the 14 carriers (79%) from 2 families with autosomal recessive disease had dysmorphic hematuria, but none had renal failure, clinical hearing loss, retinopathy, or lenticonus. Urinary red blood cell counts in carriers of X-linked Alport's syndrome were greater than those in carriers of autosomal recessive disease (P < 0.0001), but the frequency of proteinuria and hypertension and levels of proteinuria were not different. There was more tubulointerstitial damage in carriers of X-linked disease (P = 0.012); however, carriers of autosomal recessive disease had more widespread and more uniform thinning of the glomerular basement membrane (P < 0.0001) and less lamellation (P < 0.04).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Dual phase helical CT versus portal venous phase CT for the detection of colorectal liver metastases: correlation with intra-operative sonography, surgical and pathological findings.

AIM: To assess whether dual phase helical computed tomography (DPCT) of the liver improves the detection of colorectal liver metastases compared with portal venous phase (PVP) imaging alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DPCT was performed in 33 consecutive patients before laparotomy for resection of colorectal liver metastases. CT comprised 8-mm slice collimation with a pitch of 1 to 1.25; imaging was commenced 20-25 and 65-70 s after the start of injection of 150 ml of contrast medium at 5 ml/s to coincide with hepatic arterial phase (HAP) and PVP contrast enhancement, respectively. Four blinded observers independently reviewed the HAP, PVP and DPCT images recording the site and size of all lesions. Alternative-free response receiver operating characteristic (AFROC) methodology was used to analyse the results, which were correlated with surgery, intra-operative ultrasound and histology. RESULTS: The mean observer sensitivities for malignant lesion detection were 75.3% for DPCT, 69.7% for PVP imaging and 66.7% for HAP imaging alone. There was a statistically significant improvement in malignant lesion detection using DPCT when compared with PVP imaging alone (P < 0.05). The mean areas under the AFROC curves were 0.84 for DPCT and 0.82 for PVP (P < 0.03) imaging alone. CONCLUSION: The detection of colorectal liver metastases was marginally better with DPCT than with PVP imaging alone, but the discovery of additional lesions did not affect the management of any of the patients in this study.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Ameloblastoma with mucous cell differentiation.

The finding of pale or clear cells in ameloblastomas is an exceptionally rare--but not unreported--phenomenon. The diagnostic implications of the presence of such cells in ameloblastomas are several and relate mainly to the question of histopathologic differential diagnosis. Although mucous cells in ameloblastomas are an accepted phenomenon, their occurrence has been reported only infrequently. This report describes a case of ameloblastoma exhibiting histopathologic evidence of focal mucous cell differentiation. Issues relating to the differential diagnosis of this lesion are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Quality of life in asthma: a comparison of community and hospital asthma patients.

This study compares the quality of life of a community sample of people with asthma in South Australia, using population norms, people suffering from other chronic diseases, and a sample of asthma patients from two hospital clinics. A representative population survey was performed by trained interviewers in spring 1995 of 3001 respondents aged > or = 15 years. A physician's diagnosis of current asthma was reported by 299 (9.9%). The hospital clinic sample had a physician's diagnosis and lung function evidence of asthma (n = 293). All completed the SF-36 health survey. Standardized SF-36 scores, adjusted for age, sex, and social class, were significantly lower for respondents with asthma, compared with population norms, across all subscales of the SF-36 (p < 0.05). Physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were not significantly different in people in the community sample with asthma from scores in people with diabetes and arthritis. PCS and MCS scores did not differ for those with similar symptom frequency in the community and hospital asthma samples, except that hospital patients with frequent symptoms had significantly lower MCS scores (p < 0.01). Asthma has a major impact on the health-related quality of life in the community, comparable to other chronic diseases. The SF-36 performs uniformly in asthma in different situations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The Second Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) Forum: the state of play of CATI survey methods in Australia.

Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) systems are recognised in Australia and internationally for their ability to provide timely and relevant data on the health of the population. The Second CATI Population Health Surveys Forum highlighted the importance of this system for surveillance and using this information to determine priority health issues, develop strategies, monitor effectiveness of interventions, and influence health policy. A national CATI data collection strategy is required to determine priorities for health surveillance. Several development and technical issues need to be addressed for such a national strategy to provide a coordinated approach to health surveillance.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

Personal preferences of obstetricians towards childbirth.

Our objective was to determine obstetricians' personal choices in relation to modes of delivery and long-term outcomes. A structured confidential survey was mailed out to all Australian and New Zealand Fellows, Members, and Australian Trainees with The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology November 1999 edition. The response rate overall was 26% (478). Eleven per cent (54) chose to have an elective Caesarean section (ECS) in the absence of any clinical indication. The most common reason for this was fear of faecal and urinary incontinence (82%). Two-thirds (318) were agreeable to patients requesting an ECS in this same setting. Twenty-six per cent said they would choose ECS if the estimated fetal weight (EFW) was > 4000 g which more than doubled to 55% (261) if EFW was > 4500 g. Ventouse delivery was the most popular method of assisted rotational delivery at 45% (214) followed closely by Keilland's forceps at 40% (189). Caesarean section (CS) was chosen by only 14% (65) in this scenario. ECS was the preferred method for breech delivery at 38% (181) followed by trial of breech delivery at 23% (109). Thirty-two per cent (154) of respondents would attempt external cephalic version prior to deciding mode of delivery. Respondents felt the most important factors for postnatal incontinence included: antenatal incontinence (64%), length of second stage > one hour (50%), forceps delivery (46%), and EFW > 4000 g at term (44%).

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Immunogenetics and clinical phenotype of sympathetic ophthalmia in British and Irish patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a classic example of autoimmune disease where human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genomic associations could provide further understanding of mechanisms of disease. This study sought to assess HLA genetic polymorphism in British and Irish patients with SO, and to assess whether HLA gene variants are associated with clinical phenotype or disease severity. METHODS: High resolution DNA based HLA typing using polymerase chain reaction sequence specific primers was performed in 27 patients with SO and 51 matched healthy controls. Clinical phenotype and markers of disease severity were determined prospectively in 17 newly diagnosed patients and from medical record review and repeat clinical examination in 10 previously diagnosed patients. RESULTS: HLA-Cw*03 (p=0.008), DRB1*04 (p=0.017), and DQA1*03 (p=0.014) were significantly associated with SO. For class II alleles at higher resolution, only HLA-DRB1*0404 (relative risk (RR) = 5.6, p = 0.045) was significantly associated with SO. The highest relative risk for any of the associated haplotypes was with HLA-DRB1*0404-DQA1*0301 (RR=10.9, p=0.019). Patients with the DRB1*04-DQA1*03 associated haplotype were significantly more likely to develop SO earlier, with fewer inciting ocular trauma events, and to require more systemic steroid therapy to control inflammatory activity. CONCLUSIONS: Sympathetic ophthalmia is associated with HLA-DRB1*04 and DQA1*03 genotypes in white patients, similar to Japanese patients. Differences in DRB1*04 gene variant associations (-0404 in Britain and Ireland and -0405 in Japan) may have implications for HLA peptide binding in disease initiation. The DRB1*04-DQA1*03 haplotype is a marker of increased SO susceptibility and severity, as in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, which also has similar clinicopathological and HLA associations.

Alleles↗