PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Boyle

Publications and source records attributed to G Boyle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Development and application of a quality control procedure for short-wave diathermy units.

Short-wave diathermy (SWD) is a form of radiofrequency (RF) radiation, operating at 27.12 MHz, that is used therapeutically by physiotherapists. Although this form of therapy is widely available, the management of the equipment is not often addressed by either physiotherapists or by medical physics/clinical engineering. A quality control protocol for SWD units, examining power output and electrical and mechanical condition, was developed and applied to 20 units used in clinical practice. In addition, an environmental assessment of where the units were used was also included. Results showed that the power output was generally stable (coefficient of variation range 0-8.8%) and reproducible (coefficient of variation range 0-6.8%). When the outputs from 12 similar units were compared, it was found that the relationship between the units' intensity settings and power output measurements was non-linear. Two units with mechanical timers were found to have inaccuracies that could contribute, under a 'worst-case' scenario, to a dosage error of up to 45%. Environmental analysis found that all treatment plinths in use contained metal parts, which could constitute a fire hazard, and no department examined was equipped with an RF screened room, a facility that would ensure that other persons in the vicinity were not exposed to excessive stray radiation.

Equipment Safety↗
PubMed2001

The effect of cytokine gene polymorphisms on pediatric heart allograft outcome.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines play a major role in the inflammatory and immune responses that mediate allograft outcome. Several studies have shown that the production of cytokines varies among individuals and these variations are determined by genetic polymorphisms, most commonly within the regulatory region of the cytokine gene. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of these allelic variations on acute rejection after pediatric heart transplantation. METHODS: We performed cytokine genotyping using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers in 93 pediatric heart transplant recipients and 29 heart donors for the following functional polymorphisms: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (-308), interleukin (IL)-10 (-1082, -819, and -592), TGF-beta1 (codon 10 and 25), IL-6 (-174), and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) (+874). The distribution of polymorphisms in this population did not differ from published controls. The patients were classified as either non-rejecters (0 or 1 episode) or rejecters (> 1 episode) based on the number of biopsy proven rejection episodes in the first year after transplantation. RESULTS: Forty-two of the 69 TNF-alpha patients (61%) in the low producer group were non-rejecters, while 9 of the 24 (37.5%) with high TNF-alpha were non-rejecters (p = 0.047). In contrast, IL-10 genotype showed the opposite finding. Forty-two of the 66 patients (64%) in the high and intermediate IL-10 group were non-rejecters, while 9 of the 26 (35%) in the low IL-10 group were non-rejecters (p = 0.011). The combination of low TNF-alpha with a high or intermediate IL-10 genotype was associated with the lowest risk of rejection (34/49 or 69% non-rejecters). Neither the distribution of the IL-6, INF-gamma, and TGF-beta1 genotype in recipients nor the donor genotype showed any association with acute rejection. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms that have been associated with low TNF-alpha and high IL-10 production are associated with a lower number of acute rejection episodes after pediatric heart transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Mergers. Question of attitude.

Research with staff in two organisations involved in a merger revealed some convergence of cultures one year after the merger. But staff from the smaller organisation perceived some losses. Staff from both organisations felt poorly rewarded for their work. Staff from the smaller organisation perceived relationships in the organisation more positively than those in the larger one, before and after the merger. Staff saw their employers as very concerned with safety before and after the merger.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

A novel fluorescent marker for assembled mitochondria ATP synthase of yeast. OSCP subunit fused to green fluorescent protein is assembled into the complex in vivo.

We have shown that OSCP, a subunit of yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase, can be incorporated into the intact enzyme as a fusion protein representing OSCP fused at its C-terminus to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) of Aequorea victoria. The relevant fusion OSCP-GFP-h6 additionally contains a hexahistidine tag at the C-terminus. Expression of OSCP-GFP-h6 in yeast cells lacking endogenous OSCP led to the efficient restoration of growth of cells on the non-fermentable substrate, ethanol. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed fluorescence due to GFP in mitochondria of cells expressing OSCP-GFP-h6. Use of immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography enabled the recovery of assembled ATP synthase complexes which contained OSCP-GFP-h6 identified by its mobility on SDS-PAGE and immunoreactivity to anti-OSCP and anti-GFP antibodies. The successful isolation of the assembled multisubunit ATP synthase containing GFP fused to one of the essential subunits of the complex widely expands the potential applications of GFP. In principle, these include the spatial and temporal monitoring of ATP synthase complexes in vivo, and the exploration of interactions involving ATP synthase subunits by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1996

Outcome of cardiac transplantation in children. Survival in a contemporary multi-institutional experience. Pediatric Heart Transplant Study.

BACKGROUND: Meaningful analysis of survival and risk factors for death in children who undergo heart transplantation is problematic because of the small number of heart transplantations performed at individual institutions. METHODS AND RESULTS: To more accurately examine survival and risk factors for death in children undergoing heart transplantation, we analyzed 191 patients between 1 and 18 years old who received transplants at 22 centers in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1994. Cardiac diagnosis was congenital heart disease in 74 patients (39%), dilated cardiomyopathy in 73 (38%), and other in 44 (23%). Actuarial survival was 93% at 1 month, 82% at 1 year, and 81% at 2 years after transplantation. The major causes of death (n = 31) were rejection (29% of deaths), early graft failure (19%), infection (16%), sudden death (13%), and other causes (23%). By multivariate analysis, risk factors for death were assist devices (P = .02), nonidentical ABO blood types (P = .05), and younger age (P = .10). CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary survival for pediatric heart transplant recipients > or = 1 year old is comparable to survival after adult heart transplantation. Risk factors for death are the need for assist devices, nonidentical ABO blood types, and younger age. Rejection is the most common cause of death after pediatric heart transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination and uptake predictors in Northern Ireland.

In order to study selected factors affecting the uptake of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine a case control study was undertaken in residents of the Southern Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland. Standard data from the child health computer system were used. Residents in the catchment area of the health board born between 1 January and 30 June 1993 were defined as cases (unvaccinated) and controls (vaccinated). The uptake of Hib vaccination and odds ratios for factors associated with non-completion of vaccination were calculated. Overall uptake of Hib vaccination exceeded 97%. Children of mothers who smoked or children who had two or more younger siblings were less likely to have been vaccinated.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

The factor structure of "schizotypal' traits: a large replication study.

The heterogeneity of schizotypal traits, suggested in previous research, was further investigated in a sample of subjects (N = 1095) administered a composite questionnaire consisting of a large number of published scales the majority of which were designed to measure psychotic characteristics. Factor analysis confirmed the four components previously indicated in our work with the same instrument; namely, "aberrant perceptions and beliefs', "cognitive disorganization', "introvertive anhedonia' and "asocial behaviour'. This structure was maintained regardless of whether or not the analysis included scales from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, which might otherwise have been held to explain the variance. "Aberrant perceptions and beliefs'-reminiscent of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia-was the strongest component; but, given the multidimensional nature of the data, together with the pattern of factor loadings and intercorrelations for the scales involved, it was concluded that the broader term "psychosis-proneness' or "psychoticism' (in a non-Eysenckian sense) might be a better descriptor of the clinical and personality domain sampled.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

What makes general practitioners do child health surveillance?

The contribution of different general practitioner characteristics, views, and experiences to the likelihood of their providing child health surveillance (CHS) was determined and their perceived training needs discovered. Family health service authority administrative data on the study population was combined with a postal questionnaire survey. Subjects were all general practitioners in three district health authorities in the North West Thames region. There were striking differences between districts in the proportion of practitioners undertaking CHS. General practitioners with paediatric training were three times more likely to do CHS. Women doctors were twice as likely to do CHS as men. The personal views of general practitioners were significantly associated with whether or not they undertook CHS. The CHS fee did not appear to be the major motivating factor. There was considerable demand for further training. The proportion of general practitioners undertaking CHS is likely to increase with the proportion of women and vocationally trained doctors. More local training is wanted, both by general practitioners already doing CHS and by those who would like to do it. Health authorities need to ensure that such training is convenient and continuing.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cooperation or conflict over child health surveillance? Views of key actors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the views of general practitioners, health visitors, and clinical medical officers on child health surveillance, recent changes, perceptions of each other's roles, and attitudes to audit. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire survey. SETTING: Three health districts in North West Thames health region. SUBJECTS: All 602 general practitioners, 272 health visitors, and 42 clinical medical officers in these districts. MAIN MEASURES: Attitudes to and perceptions of child health surveillance and audit. Questionnaires were completed by 440 general practitioners (response rate 73%), 164 health visitors (60%), and 39 clinical medical officers (93%). RESULTS: Attitudes to child health surveillance were less positive among general practitioners than health visitors or clinical medical officers. Few respondents agreed that child health surveillance was a cost effective use of general practitioners' time (general practitioners 28%, 113/407; health visitors 28%, 40/145; clinical medical officers 39%, 15/39) and most thought that health visitors should carry out more of the doctors' examinations (68%, 262/387; 65%, 89/136; 66%, 25/38). General practitioners thought that clinical medical officers were less supportive than other relevant groups of their doing more child health surveillance. Most (72%, 105/146) health visitors thought that the 1990 contract had reduced parental choice of where to attend for child health surveillance. General practitioners were less enthusiastic than health visitors about most forms of clinical audit. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reservations about the impact of recent changes all groups were willing to explore innovative ways of delivering child health surveillance. IMPLICATIONS: There is scope for health visitors to increase their responsibilities and for more varied relationships between general practitioners and community child health doctors.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

Hemodynamic response to treadmill exercise in normal volunteers: an assessment by Doppler ultrasonic measurement of ascending aortic blood velocity and acceleration.

Accurate assessment of ascending aortic blood velocity indices and reproducibility of a Doppler ultrasonic system during exercise were determined; the Doppler technique was then used to assess the effects of age, sex, and beta blockade on exercise hemodynamics. Doppler-determined velocity correlated well with an invasive electromagnetic system. Reproducibility of Doppler variables during three exercise tests was high (coefficient of variation less than 10%) and did not deteriorate appreciably with exercise. Peak velocity (PV) and maximum acceleration (MA) were inversely related to age, the relationship being more significant during exercise, whereas the systolic velocity integral showed no such relationship either at rest or during exercise. Doppler variables showed no difference between sexes, except at high levels of exercise. Beta blockade markedly attenuated the exercise response as shown by significant decreases in both MA and PV during exercise. The Doppler velocity data presented in this study provide a reference against which previously documented changes in exercising ischemic patients can be better related.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

An unusual presentation of an infected urachal cyst. Review of urachal anomalies.

An infected urachal cyst classically presents with a tender lower midline abdominal mass and systemic signs of infection, including fever, malaise, and leukocytosis. At times, the findings may be clinically confused with those of acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulitis, or peritonitis. Sonography aids in differentiating these entities by identifying the localized cystic mass containing debris, located anteriorly in the low mid-abdomen, extending from the region of the bladder to the umbilicus. We present an unusual case of an infected urachal cyst in a 6-year-old boy who presented with lower abdominal pain, fever, intermittent diarrhea, polyuria and dysuria, a firm, fixed left lower quadrant tender mass, and an elevated white blood cell count.

Abscess↗
PubMed1984

Characteristics of a specific radioimmunoassay for measurement of ferritin on the surface of peripheral mononuclear white blood cells in cancer patients.

Using 125I-labeled rabbit anti-Hodgkin's spleen ferritin antibody (RHF), a simple radioimmunoassay has been developed for quantitation of ferritin on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear white blood cells (PBM). This method makes use of a % specific binding determination (%SP) by measuring the amount of 125I-labeled RHF bound to 1 X 10(6) PBM in the presence and absence of soluble ferritin. To standardize this procedure, artificial ferritin positive control cells were prepared by covalently coupling ferritin to cultured acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. These cells were tested on a daily basis in parallel with patient PBM's to ensure inter and intra-assay precision and remained stable for over two years. Characteristics of 125I-labeled RHF binding to control and patient PBM's were evaluated to determine the specificity of interaction and optimum binding parameters. %SP was linear in the range of 1 X 10(5) - 1 X 10(6) PBM's and was progressively inhibited by graded concentrations of soluble ferritin. F(ab')2 preparations of RHF were equally as effective as intact RHF in blocking 125I-labeled RHF binding confirming that 125I-labeled RHF was not binding non-specifically to PBM Fc receptors. Additional experiments describing kinetics and methods of standardization of new lots of 125I-labeled RHF are also described.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1984

Measurement of ferritin-bearing peripheral mononuclear blood cells in cancer patients by radioimmunoassay.

A radioimmunoassay has been developed to measure ferritin bound to the surface of isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear white blood cells (PBMs) in order to investigate the possible relationship of this phenomenon to breast and other forms of cancer. The assay measures the specific binding (%SP) of affinity-purified 125I-labeled rabbit anti-Hodgkin's spleen ferritin antibody to isolated patient PBMs. A preliminary prospective, preclinical trial on 300 patients was run which included: (a) normals, benign breast disease, and medical/surgical patients as non-cancer controls; (b) postoperative primary cancer and advanced cancer in clinical remission as post cancer controls; and (c) both early preoperative breast cancer patients and cancer patients with localized recurrences or active disseminated disease as test groups. The mean %SP for the non-cancer control groups was in the range of 4.3 to 5.1 (n = 187), which was identical to that for inactive cancer or postoperative cancer, which was no evidence of recurrence. Using a %SP normal cutoff level of 6.5, which resulted in a false-positive rate of approximately 10% for both non-cancer and post-cancer control groups, only 27% of early preoperative cancers (n = 22) gave elevated %SP values. These results suggest that measurement of ferritin-PBM is inappropriate for early disease diagnosis. In contrast, 91% of patients with advanced active breast cancer and 73% of those patients with other types of advanced cancers, including tumors of ovarian, lung, colon or esophageal origin, showed elevated %SP values more than double those of post-cancer controls. The mean %SP value in active advanced cancer was 10.8 for breast (n = 12) and 10.6 for all other solid tumors investigated (n = 34). Paired patient comparisons of ferritin-PBM and plasma carcinoembryonic antigen in breast cancer showed elevations in 91% of the patients for ferritin-PBM and 67% for carcinoembryonic antigen. Overall, these results suggest that patients with advanced cancer display elevated levels of ferritin on the surface of their PBMs and that this measurement may be a useful adjunct in monitoring and evaluating the clinical status of cancer patients.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1980

A rapid fluorometric method for determining bilirubin levels and binding in the blood of neonates: comparisons with a diazo method and with 2-(4'-hydroxybenzene)azobenzoic acid dye binding.

A simple, rapid fluorometric method for determining the albumin-bound bilirubin concentration, total blood bilirubin concentration, and the bilirubin reserve-binding capacity of albumin was clinically evaluated using blood specimens from 79 neonates. This study showed that these bilirubin determinations, made by means of the Bell Laboratories hematofluorometer, correlated well with plasma bilirubin levels obtained by a diazotization (Jendrassik-Grof) method. Hematofluorometer reserve-binding capacities correlated very well with 2-(4'-hydroxybenzene)azobenzoic acid (HABA) dye reserve-binding capacities for specimens of artificially jaundiced adult blood. For specimens of neonatal blood the HABA dye reserve capacity was, on the average, higher than the hematofluorometer reserve-binding capacity, particularly for specimens from low-birth-weight babies (less than 2,000 gm). Comparison of HABA reserve capacity and hematofluorometer reserve capacity for high-birth-weight babies (greater than 2,000 gm) gave data very similar to those for adult blood specimens. The specific bilirubin-binding capacity of albumin was found to be greater for infants whose birth weight exceeded 2,000 gm than for the lower birth weight group. The total blood bilirubin concentration obtained by the hematofluorometer is shown to be significantly higher than the concentration of bilirubin bound to albumin, an indication of other important compartments of bilirubin in blood.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

The lipids of human sciatic nerve by age group.

Lipid analysis of normal human peripheral (sciatic) nerve in 18 cases revealed suggestive evidence of quantitative changes in phospholipids and glycolipids at the extremes of life. Total phospholipids were highest in the newborn and lowest over 65 years of age, while glycolipids were lowest in the neonatal period. Cholesterol did not vary with age. Analysis of the major phospholipid components showed their percentage distribution to be age stable, and phosphatidyl serine to be enriched at all ages. The biochemical findings indicate loss of axonal-myelin constituents after 65 years of age. They correlate with histological and physiological studies on peripheral nerve and with the role of the acidic phospholipids as membrane cation-transporters.

Adolescent↗