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Biomedical subjects

G Curry

Publications and source records attributed to G Curry.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

The role of iron and haemochromatosis gene mutations in the progression of liver disease in chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with elevated markers of iron stores. Recessively inherited mutations in the HFE gene are responsible for iron accumulation in most cases of hereditary haemochromatosis and may have a role in HCV infection. They may also be associated with progressive liver fibrosis although this remains controversial. AIMS: To assess the prevalence of HFE mutations in Scottish HCV infected patients and to explore the effect of the carrier state on serum and liver iron stores, and the severity of liver disease. PATIENTS: A total of 164 patients with antibodies to HCV who underwent liver biopsy were assessed prospectively. METHODS: Each patient was screened for HFE mutations (Cys282Tyr and His63Asp). Iron markers were assessed in serum (ferritin, transferrin saturation) and on liver biopsy (stainable iron, liver iron concentration (LIC) and hepatic iron index). RESULTS: There were 67 (41%, 26 Cys282Tyr, 33 His63Asp, eight compound) heterozygotes. Forty four (28%) patients had elevated serum iron markers, 24 (15%) had stainable liver iron, and five (3%) had elevated LICs. Carriage of HFE mutations was not associated with any clinical, biochemical, virological, or pathological features, including accumulation of liver iron. Elevated serum iron markers were associated with male sex, increased alcohol consumption, and increased liver inflammation and fibrosis. Patients with elevated LICs were older, acquired HCV infection earlier, and had more liver inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic HCV infection frequently have elevated serum iron markers although elevated LICs are uncommon. Elevated serum iron studies and LICs occur in patients with more severe liver disease. Carriage of HFE mutations, although frequently observed in these HCV infected patients, does not have a role in the accumulation of iron or the progression of liver disease in HCV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence and treatment of pressure ulcers in northern New South Wales.

This paper reports on a small, cross-sectional study of 18 hospitals in northern New South Wales. The objectives of this study were to collect baseline data on: (i) the prevalence and type of pressure ulcers in a variety of rural hospitals; and (ii) the range of nursing and medical interventions that are used to prevent/treat pressure ulcers. Using a cross-sectional design, the study found that pressure ulcer prevalence, which was 6%, was within the range found by previous reports (4-15%). Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment practices were varied, ranging from turning of the patient and occlusive dressings, to such creative methods as exposure to sunshine and airing the wound. This study demonstrates that despite years of attention to pressure sore prevention and treatment, the prevalence of ulcers is still a significant problem in northern New South, Wales hospitals.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Ethnic affinities of the ancient human Jety-Asar population by mitochondrial DNA analysis.

An anthropological study of the remains has indicated uniformity of the ancient human Jety-Asar population (Central Asia) and suggests a mixed Euro-Mongoloid genesis. DNA was extracted from teeth from three Caucasoid skulls recovered from a burial site dated at approximately 2000 years ago. Ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for the A, B, C and D haplogroups and the sequencing of hypervariable region I of the mtDNA control region. The full set of mtDNA control region variants determined for Jety-Asar specimens was only found among a modern Mongolian population (Mongoloid people), indicating some discordance of molecular and morphological data.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗
PubMed1998

Migration and circulation as a way of life for the Wosera Abelam of Papua New Guinea.

"Migration and circulation are now an integral part of the socio-economy of the Wosera Abelam of Papua New Guinea. Since the 1950s large numbers of Wosera Abelam have settled in West New Britain (WNB) towns and government sponsored resettlement schemes.... This paper explores the linkages between temporary and long-term migrants in WNB, and between migrants and their relatives remaining in the village. We argue that migration is now a ¿way of life' for the Wosera Abelam, and is, to a large extent, underpinned by indigenous (precapitalist) social and economic relations."

Demography↗
PubMed1998

Advances in cubicle design using computational fluid dynamics as a design tool.

As part of a recent animal facility refurbishment, a cubicle containment system was designed to increase the amount of experimental space and also provide containment facilities to support the holding and use of specialized animal models. In order to achieve this, a series of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) studies was undertaken to evaluate the effects of different airflows and in order to optimize ventilation, a variety of exhaust/supply arrangements and animal loads was employed. These studies showed that air delivered via two, opposed, low level ducts, at a rate of 20 air changes per hour and exhausted high in the cubicle above the rack, was the optimal configuration resulting in minimal turbulence, stagnation and entrainment.

Air Movements↗
PubMed1995

Use of a stable copper isotope (65Cu) in the differential diagnosis of Wilson's disease.

1. 65Cu/63Cu stable-isotope ratios have been measured in blood serum after oral administration of the stable isotope 65Cu. The incorporation of the isotope into the plasma protein pool was followed at various times for up to 3 days. The resulting patterns of enrichment in healthy control subjects, in Wilson's disease patients and in heterozygotes for the Wilson's disease gene, were similar in appearance to those found by others using copper radioactive isotopes. After an initially high enrichment at 2 h after dosage, the Wilson's disease cases, in contrast to the control subjects, did not show a secondary rise in isotope enrichment of the plasma pool after 72 h, demonstrating a failure to incorporate copper into caeruloplasmin. The Wilson's disease heterozygotes had variable degrees of impairment of isotope incorporation, not always distinguished from those of control subjects. 2. The stability of the isotope also permits the copper tracer to be followed for a longer period. Ten healthy subjects were studied for over 40 days, allowing the biological half-time of an oral dose of copper to be determined (median 18.5 days, 95% confidence interval 14-26 days). Known heterozygotes for the Wilson's disease gene were found to have a significantly increased biological half-time for removal of copper from the plasma pool (median 43 days, 95% confidence interval 32-77 days). 3. The incorporation of 65 Cu in patients with diseases of the liver (other than Wilson's disease) was found to be similar to that in control subjects, aiding differential diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

An intracrystalline chromoprotein from red brachiopod shells: implications for the process of biomineralization.

1. The red colour of some terebratulid brachiopod shells is caused by a small chromoprotein that occurs within the calcium carbonate matrix of the shell. 2. This carotenoid-protein complex was isolated from within the calcite shell of three different brachiopod genera and may therefore be involved in the process of biomineralization. 3. The apparent molecular weight of this protein, as judged by SDS-PAGE, is 6.5 kDa. 4. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein is virtually identical in three different brachiopod genera, indicating homology. 5. Two carotenoids are present in Terebratella sanguinea: canthaxanthin and the tentatively identified monoacetylinic analogue of astaxanthin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

A new model for the assessment of regional ventricular wall motion.

A new model is proposed for the quantitative analysis of segmental left ventricular wall motion from contrast left ventriculograms and scintigraphic cardiac-gated blood-pool images. This model was tested in dogs using implanted lead beads in the myocardium and contrast left ventriculography. Measured values of bead position and displacement were in good agreement with the estimated values determined by the model. Segmental left ventricular wall motion was also measured in 21 patients in whom both cardiac-gated blood-pool scintigrams and contrast left ventriculograms were obtained within minutes of one another. Wall motion values obtained using the end diastolic and end systolic frames of the gated blood-pool studies and the contrast left ventriculograms correlated favorably in the 60 degrees left anterior oblique view.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The decline of myths and myopia? The use and abuse of nursing history.

Since 1980 a 'new' history of nursing has been emerging, one that attempts to address serious problems within nursing historiography such as the subordination of nursing history to medical history. There is a need for nurses to reject the narrow celebratory narratives produced by typical amateur medical historians. While problems of 'outsiders' writing the history of professions have been highlighted, problems inherent in the production of their own history by 'insiders' have been overlooked. A critical approach to the history of nursing will display different qualities and emphases to most previous writing in this field.

Historiography↗