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Biomedical subjects

E Moodie

Publications and source records attributed to E Moodie.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Perspectives on AAC systems by the users and by their communication partners.

The study examined the perspectives of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users and their 'formal' and 'informal' communication partners in relation to two areas of relevance to AAC: firstly, communication strategies, and secondly, advantages and disadvantages of AAC systems. With respect to communication strategies, it was found that formal communication partners thought that more vocabulary for communicating social purposes was actually available to AAC users and they were less aware of daily routines within day and residential environments. With respect to advantages and disadvantages, three main areas of concern emerged: the effect of the AAC system on the users' communication; features of AAC systems; and the effect of AAC on the users' quality of life. Both high- and low-technology AAC systems were seen as having advantages and disadvantages. This study demonstrates the important contribution to be made by AAC users in the provision of a new set of priorities based on their user experiences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

AAC systems: obstacles to effective use.

This paper investigates some of the issues which contribute to the lack of use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. It presents findings from a two-year research study which examined the communication of 93 adolescent and adult AAC users with cerebral palsy and 186 of their communication partners. The methods of data collection were questionnaires, interviews and field notes. The results show that some of the obstacles to effective use of AAC systems include lack of availability and accessibility of AAC systems, communication partners' lack of knowledge of AAC systems, insufficient amount of therapy provided, type of vocabulary in AAC systems and other modes of communication available to AAC user.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Therapeutic potential of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and gamma-interferon in experimental human ovarian cancer.

We have studied the activity of recombinant human gamma-interferon and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha against four human ovarian cancer i.p. xenografts OS, LA, HN, and DO derived from primary tumor material. In the OS xenograft all control mice died by 42 days and therapy starting 7 days after tumor cell injection with 5 X 10(4) units recombinant human gamma-interferon or 1 microgram recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha alone had no significant effect on cumulative survival in three separate experiments. However, a combination of the two agents resulted in 85% cumulative survival at 150 days. This combination therapy also significantly increased survival of mice treated as late as 21 days after tumor cell injection. In the LA xenograft (where control mice were all dead by 23 days) therapy with either agent alone, or a combination, more than doubled survival time of mice. In the HN xenograft all control mice were dead at 22 days whereas either therapy alone or in combination gave +85% cumulative survival at 100 days. In a fourth xenograft, DO, survival of mice in the combination therapy group was significantly increased. Thus these two biological therapies, alone or in combination, show significant activity against human ovarian cancer cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Human tumor xenografts treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alone or in combination with interferons.

We have studied the activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rHuTNF) on six different human tumor xenografts derived from primary breast and bowel tumors and maintained by passage in nude mice. When 5 micrograms rHuTNF was given daily intratumorally to mice with established (approximately, 0.5 cm) tumors, total tumor regression was observed by 3-4 weeks in three of six xenograft lines. In a further two lines tumor stasis or significant slowing of growth was seen. This antitumor action was not accompanied by any consistent macroscopic change in the tumor such as necrosis, but histological examination revealed tumor cell degeneration and a large peritumoral infiltration of host inflammatory cells after 4-7 days therapy. In contrast to these data, little effect was seen when the same dose of rHuTNF was administered i.p. to nude mice bearing these tumors. In only two of six lines was any significant slowing of tumor growth seen. A 5-fold increase in the i.p. dose resulted in improved activity on only one of two xenograft lines tested. Efficacy of the i.p. rHuTNF dose could, however, be enhanced by simultaneous administration of human interferon, alpha or gamma. No obvious signs of toxicity were observed at all rHuTNF doses administered and weights of control and treated mice at the end of the experiments were comparable.

Animals↗