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Biomedical subjects

H James

Publications and source records attributed to H James.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Good bite mark evidence: a case report.

Bite mark analysis is unquestionably the most difficult, and contentious, work undertaken by forensic odontologists. Each injury must be assessed to determine if it was made by human or animal teeth, if the quality of the evidence allows presentation to a Court of Law, and if the pattern can be reasonably compared to a suspect dentition. Many injuries examined by forensic odontologists do not meet these criteria. A case is presented in which a Victim Statement could be corroborated, with evidence of good probative value.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Classifications used by Australian forensic odontologists in identification reports.

Forensic odontologists are repeatedly called upon to assist in the identification of deceased persons. A great deal of information is available in the literature as to how and why comparative dental investigation of identification is performed but there is little information on the descriptive terms used in reporting these identifications. A forensic odontology report sets out the findings of a comparison between antemortem and postmortem evidence and indicates the odontologist's opinion on the identification. This opinion needs to be defendable in a court of law. This paper investigates the classifications utilised in the six states and two territories of Australia and reflects on the differences. Three states of Australia use American Board of Forensic Odontology classifications, whilst the remaining regions use a modified format. Since there are no significant legal, cultural or religious differences, and similar practitioners and clients, variation between regions within Australia would seem hard to justify. National standard terminology should be encouraged.

Australia↗
PubMed2005

Assessing prescription writing skills of pre-clerkship medical students in a problem-based learning curriculum.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the acquisition of prescribing skills of pre-clerkship medical students in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum that incorporates a prescribing program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Student performance in pharmacotherapy stations included in six out of eight end-of-unit-objective structured practical examinations (OSPE) was evaluated using a rating checklist. RESULTS: Prescription writing skills of 539 students (66.2% female and 33.8% male) were appraised. With the exception of refill element, the other physician-related components including prescriber's identity, date of prescription order, patient's identity, the symbol Rx "Take Thou", and prescriber's signature were written by 96.1% of the students (95% confidence interval (CI) 94.1 - 97.5). However, the drug-related components such as the appropriateness of drug(s) selected, strength, dosage form, quantity to be dispensed and directions for use were written satisfactorily by 50.2% of the students (95% CI 46.0 - 54.4). With respect to prescribing skills, the mean total score of Year 4 students did not significantly differ from that of Year 2 (69.4 (CI 65.7 - 73.1) vs. 66.3 (CI 62.7 to 69.9); p = 0.237). However, the mean scores of individual drug-related components such as appropriateness of drug(s) selected, dosage form, and direction for use were significantly higher in Year 4 than that of Year 2 students (p < 0.05). Of 381 rationally prescribed drugs, 81.1% were written with generic names. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the students acquire prescribing skills to a limited extent during the pre-clerkship phase in a PBL program. Prescribing errors and deficits were found to be mainly associated with drug-related components. Further training and assessment of prescribing skills during the clerkship and internship period are needed to achieve mastery of this skill as a terminal competency of graduating physicians.

Bahrain↗
PubMed2005

Thai tsunami victim identification overview to date.

The boxing day tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused devastation and loss of life around the Indian ocean. International disaster victim identification efforts were centred in Thailand, with many odontologists from over 20 countries contributing to the examination of deceased, collection of antemortem information, comparison and reconciliation of data. The contribution of forensic odontology to the identification process conducted in Thailand in response to the tsunami devastation is presented in a composite of short reports focused on the five phases associated with disaster victim identification. To date 1,474 deceased have been identified. Dental comparison has been the primary identifier in 79% of cases and a contributor in another 8%, a total of 87%.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed2004

Pattern association--a key to recognition of shark attacks.

Investigation of a number of shark attacks in South Australian waters has lead to recognition of pattern similarities on equipment recovered from the scene of such attacks. Six cases are presented in which a common pattern of striations has been noted.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Tooth development standards for South Australia.

BACKGROUND: Chronological age, as recorded by registration of birth date, is referred to throughout an individual's life. This information is relevant in medical and dental practice for evaluating developmental progress, for educational purposes, and in legal matters, particularly in the application of criminal law. The absence of birth date information raises particular concerns, and estimates of chronological age are often required. Standards of dental maturation may be used to estimate age, but they have been shown to be gender and population sensitive. METHODS: The revised Demirjian' system of dental age estimation was applied to a sample of 615 South Australian children in order to assess its accuracy. RESULTS: The results of our study have shown that the Demirjian system is of limited accuracy when used to estimate the age of South Australian children. CONCLUSIONS: Generation of new standard curves, specific to the Australian population, is indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

A case of bitten Bettongs.

Australia has a unique collection of native fauna, which is often threatened by physical harm or the destruction of its habitat and conservation of endangered species is a primary concern. Investigation of the recent deaths of Bettongs in Lincoln National Park, South Australia was undertaken by the Forensic Odontology Unit, Adelaide University to determine the likely perpetrator. Feral domestic cats were deemed to be responsible, as indicated by bitemarks on the radiotransmitter collars.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

By-products formation during degradation of isoproturon in aqueous solution. I: Ozonation.

The degradation of the herbicide isoproturon during its ozonation in aqueous solution has been investigated with the aim of identifying intermediate as well as final by-products formed. At ambient temperature, phosphate-buffered (pH = 7) isoproturon aqueous solutions (10, 10(-1) and 10(-3) mg/l) were ozonated in a semi-batch reactor, under a continuous flow of ozonated air whose ozone concentration was 9 and 0.9 mg O3/lair for the highest and the two lower herbicide concentrations respectively. Measured steady-state ozone concentrations during the two sets of experiments (i.e. the highest and the lower isoproturon concentration) were 1.9 and 0.7 mg O3/l. Under all of the above conditions, isoproturon was always completely removed in a period ranging between 5 and 15 min, essentially by reacting with molecular ozone. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analyses indicate that primary degradation by-products are formed either by introducing OH groups in the aromatic ring and/or in the side-chain substituents, or by breaking down the isopropyl alkyl chain. The results also show that these primary intermediates are successively degraded yielding low molecular weight compounds such as aldehydes, simple organic acids and alpha-oxo-acids, which have been identified by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD), ion chromatography (IC) and GC-MS, respectively. On the basis of the analytical results, a pathway for the degradation of isoproturon by ozone has been proposed.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2001

By-products formation during degradation of isoproturon in aqueous solution. II: Chlorination.

After a previous study in which the considered oxidant was ozone (Part I), a laboratory investigation has been carried out to study the degradation of the herbicide isoproturon during its reaction with another oxidant, i.e. chlorine, in aqueous solution (Part II; this paper). The specific aim was to identify the by-products formed. The effects of pH and the presence of bromide ions were studied. Reactions have been carried out at room temperature, in phosphate buffered aqueous solutions, at four pHs (6, 7, 8 and 9). By-products identification was first performed using relatively high initial reagent concentrations which were analytically convenient ([isoproturon] = 40 mg/l, [HClO + ClO-] = 160 mg Cl/l, [Br-] = 80 mg/l). In follow-up studies, the by-products identified during this preliminary step were searched for when using concentration values closer to those actually encountered at real water treatment plants ([isoproturon] = 0.4 and 0.004 mg/l, [HClO + ClO-] = 1.6 mg Cl/l, [Br-] = 0.8 and 0.008 mg/l). Under all of the studied conditions, the results showed that isoproturon is completely degraded and that it decays much faster in the presence of bromide. The pH has a negligible influence when bromide ions are absent. On the contrary, if bromide ions are present, the isoproturon decay is slower at higher pH values. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analyses have led to the identification of several by-products as a result of simultaneous oxidation and substitution reactions, both occurring on the aromatic ring of the herbicide. However, the more abundant by-products are those resulting from the oxidation of the isoproturon aromatic ring. As far as halogenated by-products are concerned, the higher the bromide ion concentration the higher the ratio of brominated to chlorinated by-products. On the basis of the analytical results, a pathway for isoproturon degradation under the studied conditions is proposed.

Chlorine Compounds↗
PubMed1999

Analgesic responses to intrathecal morphine in relation to CSF concentrations of morphine-3,beta-glucuronide and morphine-6,beta-glucuronide.

This study was performed to determine whether variations in analgesic responses to intrathecal morphine could be explained by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of morphine metabolites. Twenty-four CSF samples were collected at the beginning, middle and end of treatment periods in seven cancer patients with pain of malignant origin. CSF concentrations of morphine-3,beta-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6,beta-glucuronide (M6G) metabolites were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Analgesic responses to morphine were estimated concurrent with CSF collection using a visual analog scale representing percentages of pain relief. Effective analgesia was defined as > or = 75% pain relief. CSF concentration of M3G and M6G in the 24 samples were 722 +/- 116 ng/ml and 699 +/- 158 ng/ml, respectively. CSF samples were categorized into two groups: (1) those collected during effective analgesia (N=14), and (2) those collected during ineffective analgesia (N=10). M6G levels detected in group 1 samples (effective analgesia) were significantly greater than those found in group 2 samples (ineffective analgesia) (978 +/- 243 ng/ml vs 309 +/- 68 ng/ml, P<0.05). Intergroup differences in CSF M3G concentrations and M3G/M6G ratios were not significant. It is concluded that CSF M6G may be indicative of effectiveness of analgesia in cancer patients subjected to intrathecal morphine.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Luciferase: a sensitive and quantitative probe for blood-brain barrier disruption.

A novel method for quantitative analysis of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is described, using luciferase as a probe in a murine model system. Purified luciferase was delivered to mouse brain by osmotic BBB disruption with hypertonic mannitol; control animals received an intracarotid inoculation of saline prior to infusion of luciferase. Delivery of luciferase to brain tissue was then assessed by enzyme assay of tissue extracts, and by immunohistochemical staining. Luciferase activity in the brain of mannitol-treated animals was found to be significantly elevated (approx. sevenfold), when compared to activity in control (saline-treated) mice. This finding was confirmed by quantitative immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections, using a luciferase-specific antibody. These studies showed that there was an eight-fold elevation in the level of extravascular luciferase particles within the brain of mannitol-treated animals, as compared to controls. Taken together these data show that purified recombinant luciferase can be used as a sensitive probe, with which to study the integrity of the BBB.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Rapid method for the simultaneous measurement of nicotine and cotinine in urine and serum by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A simple, sensitive, and rapid gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method is described for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of nicotine and its metabolite, cotinine, in urine and serum. The analytes and their respective deuterated internal standards were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction coupled to centrifugation and evaporation. The detection limit of the assay was 0.16 ng/ml for both nicotine and cotinine. The limit of quantitation for each analyte was 1.25 ng/ml.

Cotinine↗
PubMed1998

The generation of superoxide anions in glycation reactions with sugars, osones, and 3-deoxyosones.

Glycoxidation is a process whereby glycated proteins chemically generate oxygen free radicals. Superoxide anion formation was measured by the superoxide dismutase-dependent reduction of ferricytochrome C in glycation reactions at pH 7.0 in the absence of transition metal ions. Assays were linear over 1 h, and most activity was seen after a 2 d incubation of 5 mM L-threose and 10 mM alpha-N-acetyl-lysine (N-Ac-Lys) or 10 mg/mL RNase A. Trioses, tetroses and their corresponding osones and 3-deoxyosones had the highest activity (12-16 nmoles O.-2/hr/ml) with N-Ac-Lys. Osones and 3-deoxyosones alone generated considerable O.-2, whereas aldose sugars largely did not. Xylosone and 3-deoxyxylosone produced 6 and 10 nmoles O.-2/hr/ml respectively with N-Ac-Lys, however, xylose was inactive, as were glucose and fructose. Glycation assays with 3-deoxyglucosone and glyoxal showed no activity, however, methyl glyoxal generated 1.7 and 2.0 nmoles O.-2/hr/ml with N-Ac-Lys and N-Ac-Arg, respectively. Therefore, Amadori compounds composed of lysine and short chain sugars can rapidly generate superoxide anion in the absence of metal ions.

Arginine↗
PubMed1998

Dose-dependent enhancing and inhibitory effects of A77 1726 (leflunomide) on cytotoxic T lymphocyte induction.

Leflunomide is an immunosuppressive prodrug which prevents allograft rejection in several animal model systems and may, therefore, have clinical application in organ transplant recipients. Although cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are an important component of the allograft rejection response, the effect of leflunomide on CTL development has not been thoroughly explored. In this study we have determined the effect of A77 1726, the active metabolite of leflunomide, on CTL induction in C57BL/6 mouse T cell cultures stimulated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. Conjugate formation with P815 target cells, granzyme B enzymatic activity in CTL lysates, and P815 cytolysis in a 51Cr-release assay were used as determinants of in vitro CTL function. At high concentrations (10-20 microM), A77 1726 strongly inhibited CTL generation. In contrast, a low concentration (0.5 microM) of A77 1726 promoted CTL development. These dose-dependent opposing effects of A77 1726 on CTL induction could not be attributed to alterations in CD8+ lymphocyte percentages, interleukin-2 or CD25 expression, or the ability to conjugate with P815 target cells. However, both interferon-gamma and granzyme B expression were significantly decreased when CTL were induced in the presence of 10-20 microM A77 1726, and were slightly, but not always significantly, elevated in the presence of 0.5 microM A77 1726. We conclude that at high concentrations A77 1726 is a potent inhibitor of CTL induction, but a low concentration of A77 1726 enhances CTL development.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Pediatric seat belt injuries.

Two cases are reported that reiterate the significance of pediatric seat belt usage. Detection of associated injuries is difficult and often delayed. The presence of intra-abdominal free fluid on CT without solid organ injury should indicate the need for surgical intervention. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage usage in pediatric seat belt trauma may need to be re-evaluated. These cases emphasize the above as well as important postinjury clinical changes necessary for earlier diagnosis. A newly designed youth seat belt is presented to help prevent these injuries.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Pressure sore prevention in acutely ill patients.

A wide range of factors affect the skin's ability to withstand pressure, friction and shear. Clinically validated pressure-relieving equipment is essential to prevent pressure sores in acutely ill patients. A successful pressure sore prevention strategy depends on sufficient resource allocation, appropriate levels and types of preventive equipment and evaluation.

Acute Disease↗