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Biomedical subjects

J A Griffiths

Publications and source records attributed to J A Griffiths.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A national survey of intensive care follow-up clinics.

Intensive care follow-up clinics allow extended review of survivors of critical illness. However, the current provision of intensive care follow-up clinics in the UK is unknown. We performed a survey of intensive care follow-up clinic practice in the UK. A questionnaire was sent to 298 intensive care units in the UK to determine the number of follow-up clinics and details of current follow-up practice. Responses were received from 266 intensive care units, an 89% response rate. Eighty units (30%) ran a follow-up clinic. Only 47 (59%) of these clinics were funded. Of those intensive care units without a follow-up clinic, 158 (88%) cited 'financial constraints' as the reason. Over half of the follow-up clinics (44 clinics, 55%) were nurse-led, and the majority (56 clinics, 77%) only routinely review patients treated on the intensive care unit for 3 or 4 days or longer. Nearly half of the follow-up clinics (39 clinics, 49%) have pre-negotiated access to at least one other out-patient service.

Critical Care↗
PubMed2005

Clinal variation and laboratory adaptation in the rainforest species Drosophila birchii for stress resistance, wing size, wing shape and development time.

Clinal variation has been described in many invertebrates including drosophilids but usually over broad geographical gradients. Here we describe clinal variation in the rainforest species Drosophila birchii from Queensland, Australia, and potential confounding effects of laboratory adaptation. Clinal variation was detected for starvation and development time, but not for size or resistance to temperature extremes. Starvation resistance was higher at southern locations. Wing shape components were not associated with latitude although they did differ among populations. Time in laboratory culture did not influence wing size or heat knockdown resistance, but increased starvation resistance and decreased recovery time following a cold shock. Laboratory culture also increased development time and altered wing shape. The results indicate that clinal patterns can be detected in Drosophila over a relatively narrow geographical area. Laboratory adaptation is unlikely to have confounded the detection of geographical patterns.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1999

Angiopoietins 3 and 4: diverging gene counterparts in mice and humans.

The angiopoietins have recently joined the members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family as the only known growth factors largely specific for vascular endothelium. The angiopoietins include a naturally occurring agonist, angiopoietin-1, as well as a naturally occurring antagonist, angiopoietin-2, both of which act by means of the Tie2 receptor. We now report our attempts to use homology-based cloning approaches to identify new members of the angiopoietin family. These efforts have led to the identification of two new angiopoietins, angiopoietin-3 in mouse and angiopoietin-4 in human; we have also identified several more distantly related sequences that do not seem to be true angiopoietins, in that they do not bind to the Tie receptors. Although angiopoietin-3 and angiopoietin-4 are strikingly more structurally diverged from each other than are the mouse and human versions of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2, they appear to represent the mouse and human counterparts of the same gene locus, as revealed in our chromosomal localization studies of all of the angiopoietins in mouse and human. The structural divergence of angiopoietin-3 and angiopoietin-4 appears to underlie diverging functions of these counterparts. Angiopoietin-3 and angiopoietin-4 have very different distributions in their respective species, and angiopoietin-3 appears to act as an antagonist, whereas angiopoietin-4 appears to function as an agonist.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Detection of a Yb3+ binding site in regenerated bacteriorhodopsin that is coordinated with the protein and phospholipid head groups.

Near infrared Yb3+ vibronic sideband spectroscopy was used to characterize specific lanthanide binding sites in bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and retinal free bacteriorhodopsin (bO). The VSB spectra for deionized bO regenerated with a ratio of 1:1 and 2:1 ion to bO are identical. Application of a two-dimensional anti-correlation technique suggests that only a single Yb3+ site is observed. The Yb3+ binding site in bO is observed to consist of PO2- groups and carboxylic acid groups, both of which are bound in a bidentate manner. An additional contribution most likely arising from a phenolic group is also observed. This implies that the ligands for the observed single binding site are the lipid head groups and amino acid residues. The vibronic sidebands of Yb3+ in deionized bR regenerated at a ratio of 2:1 ion to bR are essentially identical to those in bO. The other high-affinity binding site is thus either not evident or its fluorescence is quenched. A discussion is given on the difference in binding of Ca2+ (or Mg2+) and lanthanides in phospholipid membrane proteins.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗
PubMed1995

Identification of full-length and truncated forms of Ehk-3, a novel member of the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family.

Factors that bind and activate receptor tyrosine kinases are known to play key roles during development and in the adult. The Eph-related receptors constitute the largest known family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Members of the Eph family exhibit intriguing patterns of expression in the embryo, implicating them in a variety of developmental processes, and their expression is often restricted to particular subpopulations of postmitotic neurons in the adult. We describe the identification and characterization of a novel member of the Eph receptor family, which we have termed Ehk-3 for Eph Homologous Kinase 3. Ehk-3 displays all the major structural features shared by other members of the Eph family, including a cysteine-rich region and tandem fibronectin type-III domains in its extracellular portion. Ehk-3 is expressed in two forms in a developmentally-regulated fashion: a conventional full-length version containing the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain, as well as a truncated form that lacks this domain. Both forms of Ehk-3 are quite restricted to the nervous system in the adult, but Ehk-3 is more widely expressed in the embryo, suggesting that Ehk-3 mediates different functions during development and in the adult.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

The organ distribution of F protein in the mouse.

F protein is of unknown function and found principally in the liver, with smaller amounts detectable by gel diffusion and immunostaining in kidney and brain. By taking advantage of a newly developed radioimmunoassay, capable of detecting down to 1 ng ml-1 of F protein, the organ distribution of this molecule in the mouse was re-examined. F protein was not confined to the previously known tissues and indeed was detected at different levels in every organ studied. The highest concentration (6-10 mg g-1 wet tissue) was found in the liver, but significant amounts (2-25 micrograms g-1) were also found in kidney, heart, and brain. Lower quantities were detectable in all other tissues studied. The presence of F protein in the thymus, and the lack of tolerance to this in bone marrow chimaeras between mice of different F protein types, places certain constraints on the amount and/or location of a protein required for tolerization.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Deculturation as a precipitant of parasuicide in an Asian group.

The Durban Indian community has been described as an acculturating or a deculturating community. The processes of acculturation and deculturation are seen to lead to a transitional state of values and norms which causes psychological stresses within the community. Deviation from accepted cultural norms and concomitant interpersonal disputes were major precipitating factors in parasuicidal acts in 54 of a sample of 100 patients, reflecting the stresses of the transitional state of the community. Culturally deviant precipitating factors in the parasuicidal act were more common in females, in the younger age group, in patients of the Christian religion, and in upper- and middle-class patients.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1982

The traditional healer/diviner as psychotherapist.

Appreciation of the apparent efficacy of the traditional healer/diviner in the alleviation of psychological disturbances led to an examination of his/her methods and training in comparison to those of the Western psychotherapist. Models of the themes, components and effects of psychotherapy can be seen to be applicable in both instances, although the functions and roles of healers and psychotherapists in their respective societies may differ. The implications of these analyses as regards the enhancement of the effects of therapeutic intervention are examined.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1982

Sickness and medicine--an African paradigm.

The concepts of sickness employed in the practice of Western medicine and those held by the Nguni peoples in Africa are shown to be disparate. The approach of the so-called 'traditional healer' incorporates the world-view of the culture within which she works, and her ministrations are consonant with the prevailing beliefs of the community. It is therefore postulated that within this context the application of conventional Western therapeutic techniques can be inappropriate and consequently ineffective.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1982

Priests before healers--an appraisal of the iSangoma or iSanusi in Nguni society.

The total role of the iSangoma or iSanusi within the Nguni culture in Africa is discussed. The importance of the religious and social functions and divinatory powers are emphasized in an endeavour to determined the bases for the therapeutic capacities associated with the so-called 'traditional healer'.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1982

The genetic relationship between the human foetal acetylesterase ESA7 and the adult acetylesterase ESA5.

(1) There are very few clear examples among human enzymes of foetal isozymes which are the products of foetal specific gene loci. Earlier studies had pointed to the foetal brain esterase ESA7 as a probable example. (2) Detailed biochemical investigation of partially purified human adult brain ESA5 and the foetal esterase ESA7 has revealed a close resemblance in the biochemical properties of these two isozymes. In addition to similarities in substrate specificity and inhibition sensitivity the two esterases have the same molecular size (c. 57,000), are both relatively unstable at 37 degrees C and show decreased anodal electrophoretic mobility after storage at 20 degrees C. Furthermore there was suggestive evidence that ESA7 and ESA5 may be interconvertible. (3) A variant esterase isozyme pattern, which shows unusual features of both ESA7 and ESA5, was found in a survey of 120 foetal brains. This variant pattern is consistent with a monomeric structure for both esterases and points strongly to a common genetic determination.

Acetylesterase↗
PubMed1981

Parasuicide in the Durban Indian community.

Biographical and psychiatric factors in 100 patients referred to a department of psychiatry after a suicide attempt were surveyed. One of the major precipitants of parasuicide in the present study, and found in all cases, was an interpersonal dispute; this involved extended family in 63 cases and marital or romantic relationships in 81.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Female bladder problems - a case for psychotherapy? A case report.

The case of a 31-year-old woman suffering from repeated episodes of urinary retention is presented. Several surgical procedures had given her only temporary relief. When the patient presented with overt depression and anxiety she was assessed psychiatrically, and it was noted that the urinary retention coincided with episodes of domestic emotional distress. A behavioural treatment programme was initiated and a remission of the urological symptoms rapidly achieved. The importance of psychotherapeutic intervention in such cases is emphasized.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Errors in the diagnosis of schizophrenia in black and Indian patients.

The referral and/or final diagnoses of schizophrenia in 100 patients were examined. Discrepancies between these diagnoses were frequent and little evidence of a standardized approach to this diagnosis was revealed. Misinterpretation of cultural phenomena emerged as a further source of error. The critical nature of the interview and assessment situation, together with the need for standardized criteria and comprehensive understanding of cultural factors, is emphasized.

Black or African American↗