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Biomedical subjects

G Craig

Publications and source records attributed to G Craig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Investigating the relationship between FMR1 allele length and cognitive ability in children: a subtle effect of the normal allele range on the normal ability range?

The FMR1 gene contains a trinucleotide repeat tract which can expand from a normal size of around 30 repeats to over 200 repeats, causing mental retardation (Fragile X Syndrome). Evidence suggests that premutation males (55-200 repeats) are susceptible to a late-onset tremor/ataxia syndrome and females to premature ovarian failure, and that intermediate alleles ( approximately 41-55 repeats) and premutations may be in excess in samples with special educational needs. We explored the relationship between FMR1 allele length and cognitive ability in 621 low ability and control children assessed at 4 and 7 years, as well as 122 students with high IQ. The low and high ability and control samples showed no between-group differences in incidence of longer alleles. In males there was a significant negative correlation between allele length and non-verbal ability at 4 years (p = 0.048), academic achievement in maths (p = 0.003) and English (p = 0.011) at 7 years, and IQ in the high ability group (p = 0.018). There was a significant negative correlation between allele length and a standardised score for IQ and general cognitive ability at age 7 in the entire male sample (p = 0.002). This suggests that, within the normal spectrum of allele length, increased repeat numbers may have a limiting influence on cognitive performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy and toxicity of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with colon carcinoma: a 10-year experience of the Geisinger Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: Although the benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy has been established clearly in patients with Stage III colon carcinoma, the degree to which elderly patients with colon carcinoma can tolerate such therapy generally has remained unknown. METHODS: The authors reviewed all patients in their Tumor Registry with Stage II and Stage III adenocarcinoma of the colon who underwent potentially curative resection for their disease at the Geisinger Medical Center between January 1990 and September 2000. One hundred twenty patients underwent complete resection of their colon carcinoma and received 5-fluorouracil-based (5-FU) adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The 5-year disease free survival rate for patients age > or =65 years (Group A) was 70% compared with 56% for patients age < 65 years (Group B) (P = 0.085). The 5-year overall survival rate for patients in Group B was 77% compared with 62% for the patients in Group A (P = 0.143). In a Cox regression model, age was not a predictor of disease free survival (P = 0.633) or overall survival (P = 0.900) when it was analyzed as a continuous variable. Only 19 patients were age > 75 years, and the disease free and overall survival rates for this group were similar but were underpowered compared with the rates for the patients ages between 65-75 years. When gender and disease stage were included in the model, age remained a nonsignificant variable (P = 0.400 for disease free survival; P = 0.615 for overall survival). Nine of 56 patients in Group A (16%) experienced Grade 3-4 toxicity compared with 14 of 64 patients in Group B (22%) (P = 0.420). The lack of a correlation between toxicity and age was maintained after controlling for disease stage and patient gender (P = 0.343). There were no correlations between preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level, tumor grade, or lymph node involvement and patient age (P = 0.258, P = 0.256, and P = 0.519, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with Stage II and Stage III colon carcinoma benefit from 5-FU-based adjuvant therapy without a significant increase in toxicity compared with their younger counterparts. Adjuvant chemotherapy should be presented to elderly patients with high-risk, resected colon carcinoma. The data regarding age cannot be generalized to patients age > 75 years.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

The oral health consequences of chewing areca nut.

Deleterious effects of areca nut on oral soft tissues are published extensively in the dental literature. Its effects on dental caries and periodontal tissues, two major oral diseases, are less well researched. Areca-induced lichenoid lesions mainly on buccal mucosa or tongue are reported at quid retained sites. In chronic chewers a condition known as betel chewer's mucosa, a discoloured areca nut-encrusted change, is often found where the quid particles are retained. Areca nut chewing is implicated in oral leukoplakia and submucous fibrosis, both of which are potentially malignant in the oral cavity. Oral cancer often arises from such precancerous changes in Asian populations. In 1985 the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that there is limited evidence to conclude that areca chewing may directly lead to oral cancer. There is, however, new information linking oral cancer to pan chewing without tobacco, suggesting a strong cancer risk associated with this habit. Public health measures to quit areca use are recommended to control disabling conditions such as submucous fibrosis and oral cancer among Asian populations.

Areca↗
PubMed2002

A prospective study of injuries to elite Australian rugby union players.

OBJECTIVES: To assess injury patterns and incidence in the Australian Wallabies rugby union players from 1994 to 2000. To compare these patterns and rates with those seen at other levels of play, and to see how they have changed since the beginning of the professional era. METHODS: Prospective data were recorded from 1994 to 2000. All injuries to Australian Wallabies rugby union players were recorded by the team doctor. An injury was defined as one that forced a player to either leave the field or miss a subsequent game. RESULTS: A total of 143 injuries were recorded from 91 matches. The overall injury rate was 69/1000 player hours of game play. The injury rates in the periods before (1994-1995) and after (1996-2000) the start of the professional era were 47/1000 player hours and 74/1000 player hours respectively. The lock was the most injured forward, and the number 10 the most injured back. Most injuries were soft tissue, closed injuries (55%), with the head being the most commonly injured region (25.1%). The phase of play responsible for most injuries was the tackle (58.7%). Injuries were more likely to occur in the second half of the game, specifically the third quarter (40%). The vast majority of injuries were acute (90%), with the remainder being either chronic or recurrent. CONCLUSIONS: Injury rate increases at higher levels of play in rugby union. Injury rates have increased in the professional era. Most injuries are now seen in the third quarter of the game, a finding that may reflect new substitution laws. There is a need for standardised collection of injury data in rugby union.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMed2001

Incipient erosion of biostabilized sediments examined using particle-field optical holography.

Laser holography allows images of three-dimensional space at ultra-high resolution to be recorded onto photographic plates. Recorded scenes can be "replayed" with a second laser beam into free space and optically "interrogated" using either a microscope or a camera by sequentially focusing on increasing distances from the hologram in the field of view (optical sectioning). From these sections, information on the relative locations and orientation in space of suspended particles as well as the morphology of particles can be obtained. This paper examines the utility of "in-line" laser holography to discriminate the size and the morphology of sand particles eroded under turbulent shear flow during benthic sediment transport. The influence of a commercially available adhesive polymer (xanthan gum, derived from the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris) on sediment stability and resuspended particle morphology is described. The major implications for carbon and sediment cycling within estuaries are highlighted.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1999

Primary care units in A&E departments in North Thames in the 1990s: initial experience and future implications.

BACKGROUND: In 1992, the Tomlinson Report recommended a shift from secondary to primary care, including specific primary care provision in accident and emergency (A&E) departments. Availability of short-term so-called Tomlinson moneys allowed a number of experimental services. A study of the experience of A&E-based staff is reported to assist general practitioners (GPs) and purchasers and identify areas for further research. AIMS: To find the number and scope of primary care facilities in A&E services in North Thames; to find factors encouraging or inhibiting the setting-up of a successful service; to examine the views of a range of A&E staff including GPs, consultants, and nurses; and to suggest directions for more specific research. METHOD: A postal questionnaire was sent to all North Thames A&E departments, and an interview study of staff in one unit was arranged, leading to a questionnaire study of all GPs employed in North Thames primary care services in A&E. This was followed by interviews of staff members in five contrasting primary care units in A&E. RESULTS: By mid-1995, at least 16 of the 33 North Thames A&E departments ran a primary care service. Seven mainly employed GPs, the others employed nurse practitioners (NPs). Problems for GPs included unclear role definition and their non-availability at times of highest patient demand. GPs' reasons for working in A&E sometimes differed from the aims of primary care in an A&E service. Staff interviews revealed differing views about their role and about use of triage protocols. Ethnicity data were being collected, but not yet being used, to improve service to patients. CONCLUSIONS: A number of benefits follow the introduction of primary care practitioners into A&E. Different models have evolved, with a variety of GP and NP staffing arrangements according to local ideas and priorities. There is some confusion over whether these services aim to improve A&E-based care or to divert it to general practice. Cost information is inadequate so far, though the use of GPs has shown the possibility of economy. Appropriate location of services requires clearer identification of costs. This may be possible for the proposed primary care groups.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1995

Problems in the delivery of medical care to the frail elderly in the community.

Describes how closure of hospital long-stay wards for the frail elderly and their replacement by care in the community has led to a mismatch of skills and patients. Restrictive practices within the medical profession, and rigid adherence to the existing referral system from general practitioner to hospital consultant can operate against the interests of patients in the community. Some means must be found to bring skilled medical care to patients in residential and nursing homes. If this cannot be achieved within existing NHS structures, local authorities and the private sector should consider appointing their own consultants to liaise with NHS personnel as necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Vitamin supplementation and nutritional status in homeless men.

Homeless men and women are both physically and socially disadvantaged. Their nutritional status is also often compromised. In this sample of 107 homeless men in Sydney, about half reported taking vitamin supplements (with varying duration and regularity), usually a regimen consisting of thiamin, vitamin C, folic acid and a multivitamin-B-complex capsule. In this cross-sectional study, little effect could be seen on clinical health between those reporting taking vitamin supplementation and those not doing so. However, biochemical measurements showed significant differences. The numbers of men classified as deficient were higher by about 20 per cent for those reporting not taking vitamins. The mean biochemical levels were significantly better for the supplemented group for thiamin, as assessed by TPP per cent effect (P = 0.04), vitamin B6, as assessed by P5'P per cent effect (P = 0.002), vitamin C (P < 0.001) and blood folate (P < 0.02). Consequently, on the basis of mean biochemical levels of vitamin status, the supplemented group were better off and it is reasonable to presume that in the long term this would be reflected in improved clinical status.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Total intravenous anaesthesia for laparoscopy.

Two techniques of total intravenous anaesthesia for laparoscopy were compared in 80 patients. Group 1 received alfentanil, propofol and vecuronium, and Group 2 alfentanil, midazolam, ketamine and vecuronium. Haemodynamic stability after induction and the pressor response to tracheal intubation were significantly different. There was no significant difference in recovery times between the two groups and little difference in other postoperative sequelae.

Adolescent↗