Biomedical subjects

Elizabeth Gray

Publications and source records attributed to Elizabeth Gray.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

An autonomous phase-boundary detection technique for colloidal hard sphere suspension experiments.

Colloidal suspensions of monodisperse spheres are used as physical models of thermodynamic phase transitions and as precursors to photonic band gap materials. Current techniques for identifying the phase boundaries involve manually identifying the phase transitions, which is very tedious and time-consuming. In addition, current image analysis techniques are not able to distinguish between densely packed phases within conventional microscope images, which are mainly characterized by degrees of randomness or order with similar grayscale value properties. We have developed an intelligent machine vision technique that automatically identifies colloidal phase boundaries. The technique utilizes intelligent image processing algorithms that accurately identify and track phase changes vertically or horizontally for a sequence of colloidal hard sphere suspension images. This technique is readily adaptable to any imaging application wherein regions of interest are distinguished from the background by differing patterns of motion over time.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Activation of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor initiates insulin secretion from human islets of Langerhans: involvement of protein kinases.

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is usually associated with systemic Ca(2+) homeostasis, but the CaR is also expressed in many other tissues, including pancreatic islets of Langerhans. In the present study, we have used human islets and an insulin-secreting cell line (MIN6) to investigate the effects of CaR activation using the calcimimetic R-568, a CaR agonist that activates the CaR at physiological concentrations of extracellular Ca(2+). CaR activation initiated a marked but transient insulin secretory response from both human islets and MIN6 cells at a sub-stimulatory concentration of glucose, and further enhanced glucose-induced insulin secretion. CaR-induced insulin secretion was reduced by inhibitors of phospholipase C or calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinases, but not by a protein kinase C inhibitor. CaR activation was also associated with an activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and CaR-induced insulin secretion was reduced by an inhibitor of p42/44 MAPK activation. We suggest that the beta-cell CaR is activated by divalent cations co-released with insulin, and that this may be an important mechanism of intra-islet communication between beta-cells.

Aniline Compounds↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The management of pain in multiple sclerosis: a care-study approach.

Pain is a commonly reported symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the literature surrounding pain management for people with MS appears limited. This article describes how pain was managed for one patient. It suggests that the MS nurse is pivotal in ensuring that patients receive adequate pain control. The MS nurse can coordinate timely assessment, monitor effectiveness and side effects linked with a pain management plan, and provide education and support to patients in order to allow them to take responsibility for their own pain management.

Amines↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Understanding the role of the glaucoma specialist nurse.

Primary open angle glaucoma is a life-long condition that is more prevalent in people over 40 years of age. This article explores the available literature on quality of life for patients with glaucoma and considers the role of the glaucoma specialist nurse.

Glaucoma↗