Biomedical subjects

Elizabeth Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to Elizabeth Harrison.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Geographical distribution of optic nerve hypoplasia and septo-optic dysplasia in Northwest England.

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) in the Greater Manchester and Lancashire (GM&L) region of Northwest England, and to analyze occurrence by location and over time. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based incidence study was undertaken for cases of SOD/ONH from GM&L. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for each district, relationships between SIRs and possible geographically varying risk factors, and spatial and space-time clustering were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-seven cases had a confirmed diagnosis of ONH/SOD giving an incidence of 10.9/100,000 per year in GM&L. SIRs ranged widely but were significantly elevated (lower confidence limit >100) in three districts: 167%, 192%, and 198%, respectively. All three were high population density, inner-city locations. SIRs were significantly correlated with higher rates of unemployment (r = 0.49, P = .01), dependent children in non-earning households (r = 0.47, P = .02), underage conceptions (r = 0.46, P = .02), and underage pregnancies (r = 0.44, P = .03). There was no evidence of spatial or space-time clustering. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ONH/SOD in GM&L was higher than that reported elsewhere. Cases were more common in areas that had higher unemployment and teenage pregnancy rates.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

Association of pulse waveform characteristics with birth weight in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: An association between birth weight and blood pressure has been reported in many studies, but the strength of this association has been disputed. Birth weight could, however, be associated with alterations in the proximal arterial tree that have little effect on blood pressure. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between birth weight and characteristics of the proximal arterial tree determined by pulse wave analysis. METHODS: An optically derived digital volume pulse was used to obtain indices of pressure wave reflection (reflection index; RI) determined by characteristics of small/medium sized arteries and of large artery stiffness (stiffness index; SI) in healthy young adults (n = 220, 111 women, aged 16-26 years). Birth weight was obtained from maternal recall. RESULTS: Diastolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with birth weight (P < 0.001) but birth weight accounted for only 5% of the variance in diastolic blood pressure. RI was significantly correlated with birth weight in women (r = -0.33, P < 0.001) but not in men, and there was a significant interaction between birth weight and sex (P < 0.001). SI was significantly independently correlated with birth weight in both men and women (r = -0.41 and -0.49, each P < 0.0001) and birth weight accounted for 17% of the overall (men and women) variance in SI. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a close association between birth weight and characteristics of the arterial tree proximal to resistance vessels in young adults and a sex-specific association with characteristics influencing arterial pressure wave reflection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals significant differences in gene expression and signalling pathways between developmental and dark/starvation-induced senescence in Arabidopsis.

An analysis of changes in global gene expression patterns during developmental leaf senescence in Arabidopsis has identified more than 800 genes that show a reproducible increase in transcript abundance. This extensive change illustrates the dramatic alterations in cell metabolism that underpin the developmental transition from a photosynthetically active leaf to a senescing organ which functions as a source of mobilizable nutrients. Comparison of changes in gene expression patterns during natural leaf senescence with those identified, when senescence is artificially induced in leaves induced to senesce by darkness or during sucrose starvation-induced senescence in cell suspension cultures, has shown not only similarities but also considerable differences. The data suggest that alternative pathways for essential metabolic processes such as nitrogen mobilization are used in different senescent systems. Gene expression patterns in the senescent cell suspension cultures are more similar to those for dark-induced senescence and this may be a consequence of sugar starvation in both tissues. Gene expression analysis in senescing leaves of plant lines defective in signalling pathways involving salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene has shown that these three pathways are all required for expression of many genes during developmental senescence. The JA/ethylene pathways also appear to operate in regulating gene expression in dark-induced and cell suspension senescence whereas the SA pathway is not involved. The importance of the SA pathway in the senescence process is illustrated by the discovery that developmental leaf senescence, but not dark-induced senescence, is delayed in plants defective in the SA pathway.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2004

Gene expression patterns to define stages of post-harvest senescence in Alstroemeria petals.

Petal senescence in many species is regulated by ethylene but some flowers, such as those on the monocotyledonous plant Alstroemeria, var. Rebecca are ethylene insensitive. Changes in gene expression during the post-harvest senescence of Alstroemeria flowers were investigated using several different techniques. Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to obtain cDNA libraries enriched for genes expressed at selected stages of petal senescence. Sequencing of the EST clones obtained resulted in over 1000 sequences that represent approximately 500 different genes. Analysis of the potential functions of these genes provides a snapshot of the processes that are taking place during petal development. Both cell wall related genes and genes involved in metabolism were present at a higher proportion in the earlier stages. Genes encoding metal binding proteins (mostly metallothionein-like) were the major component of senescence enhanced libraries. This limited the diversity of genes identified showing differential expression at the later stages. Changes in the expression of all genes were analysed using microarray hybridization, and genes showing either up or down-regulation were identified. The expression pattern of a selection of genes was confirmed using Northern hybridization. Northern hybridization confirmed the up-regulation of metallothioneins after floral opening, however, this was not detected by the microarray analysis, indicating the importance of using a combination of methods to investigate gene expression patterns. Considerably more genes were up-regulated than down-regulated. This may reflect the need during Alstroemeria petal senescence for the expression of a whole new set of genes involved with degradation and mobilization. The potential uses of expression profiling to improve floral quality in breeding programmes or as a diagnostic tool are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Expression of senescence-enhanced genes in response to oxidative stress.

Expression of the LSC54 gene, encoding a metallothionein protein, has been shown previously to increase during leaf senescence and cell death. Evidence is presented in this paper to indicate that the extent of LSC54 expression is related to levels of oxidative stress in the tissues. Treatment of Arabidopsis cotyledon and leaf tissues with the catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, or with silver nitrate result in the enhanced expression of LSC54. Combined treatments with quenchers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as ascorbate, tiron and benzoic acid indicated that this induced expression was due to increased levels of ROS. The expression of many other senescence-enhanced genes was also found to be inducible by the increase in ROS. Treatment of plant tissue with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, followed by silver nitrate, resulted in protection from the severe damage caused by the silver nitrate treatment and reduced expression of many of the genes examined. However, one gene, encoding a lipid hydroperoxide-dependent glutathione peroxidase, showed increased expression in the protected tissue, which may indicate a role for this enzyme in the protection of plant tissue from oxidative stress. ROS-enhanced expression of at least one of the genes investigated required the presence of the salicylic acid signalling pathway, which was not required for the expression of LSC54.

1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium ↗

PubMed2003

The molecular analysis of leaf senescence--a genomics approach.

Senescence in green plants is a complex and highly regulated process that occurs as part of plant development or can be prematurely induced by stress. In the last decade, the main focus of research has been on the identification of senescence mutants, as well as on genes that show enhanced expression during senescence. Analysis of these is beginning to expand our understanding of the processes by which senescence functions. Recent rapid advances in genomics resources, especially for the model plant species Arabidopsis, are providing scientists with a dazzling array of tools for the identification and functional analysis of the genes and pathways involved in senescence. In this review, we present the current understanding of the mechanisms by which plants control senescence and the processes that are involved.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Teaching compassion: multiple sclerosis and the poetry of Molly Holden.

Teaching students about the experiences of those suffering from chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis is important to the development of compassion. Because information on the psychosocial impact of chronic illness is scarce; however, new learning sources must be investigated. The author explores the use of poetry as a valuable supplement to conventional learning sources and teaching tools. Suggestions for integrating poetry into the nursing curriculum and evaluating its effectiveness are included.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health disparity and the nurse advocate: reaching out to alleviate suffering.

This article reviews current research in health disparity in the delivery of care to African Americans. These studies provide powerful evidence that, even when controlling for differences related to access, insurance, and socioeconomic status, our healthcare system is deeply racist. While it is difficult to estimate the cost of racial bias in healthcare delivery, this article advances the notion that human suffering is the most significant consequence of racial disparity. Solutions include a renewed commitment to increasing cultural knowledge, a concerted effort to recognizing and studying racism, and creating a role for the community nurse advocate in correcting disparity.

Black or African American↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disclosing the details of child sexual abuse: can imaginative literature help ease the suffering?

PROBLEM: Research indicates that full disclosure of the events surrounding child sexual abuse, while therapeutic, is often difficult to achieve. METHODS: A nonconventional research approach was employed in order to examine more closely the lived experience of these children. Two novels were analyzed using close reading. FINDINGS: Details of the events and resultant dehumanization of the children were uncovered, as well as the rescuing role of the ancestor. Writing emerged also as a therapeutic tool that facilitated disclosure and helped to promote healing. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of imaginative literature enables the reader to examine sensitive topics like sexual abuse and contributes to its treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗