PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J A Matthews

Publications and source records attributed to J A Matthews.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Memories of childhood abuse: dissociation, amnesia, and corroboration.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between self-reported childhood abuse and dissociative symptoms and amnesia. The presence or absence of corroboration of recovered memories of childhood abuse was also studied. METHOD: Participants were 90 female patients admitted to a unit specializing in the treatment of trauma-related disorders. Participants completed instruments that measured dissociative symptoms and elicited details concerning childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing abuse. Participants also underwent a structured interview that asked about amnesia for traumatic experiences, the circumstances of recovered memory, the role of suggestion in recovered memories, and independent corroboration of the memories. RESULTS: Participants reporting any type of childhood abuse demonstrated elevated levels of dissociative symptoms that were significantly higher than those in subjects not reporting abuse. Higher dissociative symptoms were correlated with early age at onset of physical and sexual abuse and more frequent sexual abuse. A substantial proportion of participants with all types of abuse reported partial or complete amnesia for abuse memories. For physical and sexual abuse, early age at onset was correlated with greater levels of amnesia. Participants who reported recovering memories of abuse generally recalled these experiences while at home, alone, or with family or friends. Although some participants were in treatment at the time, very few were in therapy sessions during their first memory recovery. Suggestion was generally denied as a factor in memory recovery. A majority of participants were able to find strong corroboration of their recovered memories. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood abuse, particularly chronic abuse beginning at early ages, is related to the development of high levels of dissociative symptoms including amnesia for abuse memories. This study strongly suggests that psychotherapy usually is not associated with memory recovery and that independent corroboration of recovered memories of abuse is often present.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Monoclonal antibodies to proteins from cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) pollen: isolation and N-terminal sequence of a major allergen.

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) raised to an aqueous extract of cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) pollen have been characterised. Mab 1B9 was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting to recognise a major allergen of an approximate molecular weight of 28 kD in this extract, termed DG3, and a component with a molecular weight of between 35 and 40 kD in an extract of Secale cereale (cultivated rye) pollen. The 28 kD component of cocksfoot grass pollen isolated by affinity chromatography using Mab 1B9 was recognised by IgE antibodies in 80% (8 of 10) atopic sera, but only weakly by 25% (1 of 4) non-atopic sera tested. N-terminal sequencing of DG3 purified by affinity chromatography, 2 D electrophoresis and electroblotting to polyvinylidenedifluoride revealed significant homology with a group-V allergen (Phl p V) from timothy grass (Phleum pratense).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Single-dose enoxacin compared with 3-day treatment for urinary tract infection.

Oral treatment of simple urinary tract infections generally involves 5 to 7 days of antibiotic therapy. This study with enoxacin, a new antibacterial agent of the quinolone-azaquinolone class, investigated the efficacy of a single dose compared with 3 days of treatment. A total of 154 outpatients with symptoms of simple cystitis were treated in an open randomized study with enoxacin, either one 600-mg dose or 200 mg twice a day for 3 days. A urine sample was collected for culture before treatment, 7 to 10 days after treatment, and 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. Seventy-three patients had positive bacterial cultures from the pretreatment urine sample; the predominant pathogen was Escherichia coli, along with a number of other gram-negative organisms and Staphylococcus spp. Of these patients, 33 received a single dose of enoxacin and 40 were treated for 3 days. Follow-up examination at 7 to 10 days showed negative urine cultures in 76% of patients from the single-dose group and 89% from the multiple-dose group, a difference that was not statistically significant (P = 0.665, Fisher's exact test). A number of patients were lost to follow-up at 4 to 6 weeks. However, of those who did attend, only three patients were shown to have relapsed or become reinfected (two in the multiple-dose group and one in the single-dose group). Enoxacin was well tolerated in both groups of patients; the few adverse events were mostly mild.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Cloning of cDNA coding for an allergen of Cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) pollen.

Messenger RNA isolated from Cocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata) anthers has been used to generate a cDNA library in lambda t11. Three cDNA clones (7.8, 8.1, and 8.3) were demonstrated to be recognized by human IgE antibodies in atopic serum and by rabbit polyclonal antiserum raised to a crude aqueous extract of Cocksfoot pollen. The size of the cDNA inserts was determined as approximately 700 bp, and restriction mapping demonstrated them to be identical sequences. Lysogens obtained in Escherichia coli Y1089 allowed expression of a 140 kD beta-galactosidase fusion protein containing 24 kD of cloned allergen protein. Fusion proteins were recognized by IgE antibodies in 75% (6/8) of atopic sera tested, but were not detected by nonatopic sera. On the basis of size and frequency of recognition in the atopic population, the cloned protein may present a major allergen. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the major allergen of Cocksfoot pollen were not reactive with the fusion proteins. Reactivity of human IgE antibodies with the fusion protein could be blocked by crude Cocksfoot pollen extract, but not by the major allergen DG3 purified from the extract by affinity chromatography. Human and rabbit antibodies affinity purified against fusion protein 7.8 did not allow identification of the native protein component in crude extract encoded for by the cDNA clones.

Allergens↗
PubMed1987

Iatrogenic superior vena cava syndrome treated with streptokinase.

The development of an iatrogenic superior vena cava syndrome secondary to a thrombosis from an indwelling Hickman catheter in a patient with ovarian carcinoma is presented. The patient was treated with a combination of streptokinase and heparin with successful and dramatic results. Streptokinase appears to be highly effective in the treatment of iatrogenic superior vena cava syndrome from Hickman catheters. It appears that the Hickman catheter may be safely left in situ post-treatment.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1987

Hot air electric hand driers compared with paper towels for potential spread of airborne bacteria.

Hot air hand driers are increasingly used in both public areas and hospitals, but there is little literature on their bacteriology. Four units were examined by comparing the bacterial aerosols released from hands during use by sets of twelve subjects with those released by paper towels. Tests on two units also included hand imprints on agar plates for detection of residual bacteria. No significant difference between aerosols liberated by towels and driers were observed for two units, while the other two generated significantly fewer aerosols than towels. Impression plates revealed similar numbers of bacteria on the hands after drying by either method. Hot air hand driers appear safe from a bacteriological viewpoint.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1986

Molecular cloning of two cysteine proteinases from paw-paw (Carica papaya).

Two cDNA clones for plant cysteine proteinases have been isolated from a Carica papaya (paw-paw, papaya) leaf tissue cDNA library by using a mixture of 16 synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides as a hybridization probe. The inserted regions are 311 and 440 base-pairs in length and have the potential to encode a region corresponding to the C-terminal region of two proteins which are homologous with the known plant cysteine proteinases and the mammalian thiol cathepsins. One of the sequences shows a high (greater than 77%) homology with the plant cysteine proteinase papain, the other is closely related to papaya chymopapain. One sequence contains all, and the other most, of the 3' untranslated region of the mRNA. The inserts were used as specific probes in Northern Blot analyses giving an estimated size for the two mRNA species of 1.45 kilobases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Australia. The establishment of a register of diabetic children aged 0 to 19 years in the Illawarra area.

A survey to establish a register of diabetic children aged 0 to 19 years has been carried out in the Illawarra area of New South Wales. Four independent methods of case ascertainment were used. Fifty-three patients with diabetes mellitus were identified, with a prevalence of the disease of 69/100 000. Ten patients with diabetes were diagnosed in 1984, giving an annual incidence of 13/100 000. No significant seasonality in onset of diabetes was demonstrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A rapid enhanced chemiluminescent immunoassay for allergen-specific IgE antibodies.

An enhanced chemiluminescent immunoassay is described for the measurement of allergen-specific IgE antibodies. The assay is demonstrated for pollen from four grass species. A comparison was made between results obtained by this method and those obtained by the radioallergosorbent (RAST) procedure; a high degree of correlation (r = 0.95) was found for D. glomerata specific IgE. The assay is rapid and can be carried out in under 1 hour. The advantages of the luminescent assay as compared with the RAST procedure are discussed.

Allergens↗
PubMed1986

Effects on rat skin of exposure to saline and aqueous solutions of antibiotics and chlorhexidine.

Plastic chambers were glued to the dorsal skin of rats and were sealed after being filled with either distilled water, saline, an aqueous antibiotic mixture or aqueous chlorhexidine. The chambers were inspected at 24 h intervals and replenished. Groups of rats were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h; the chamber removed and the underlying skin excised and examined by light microscopy. The degree of dermatitis was assessed by means of an index of inflammation derived by scoring epidermal and dermal markers of inflammation. The results indicate that the antibiotic solution produced significantly less dermatitis compared with other treatments at each time interval studied. In general, epidermal ballooning and vesiculation occurred initially in the basal and prickle cells, but by 72 h the damaged cells were often replaced by intact keratinocytes, even though the skin was still immersed. Epidermal hyperplasia, as manifested by acanthosis and hyperkeratosis, was frequently present at 72 h.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Enhanced chemiluminescent method for the detection of DNA dot-hybridization assays.

A simple enhanced chemiluminescent procedure for the quantitation of DNA hybridization to dot blots is described. The method utilizes DNA probes labeled with biotin, which are detected using a biotinylated streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase complex. The peroxidase enzyme then takes part in an enhanced chemiluminescent reaction with luminol, peroxide, and an enhancer. The method can be used to give quantitative results using a photomultiplier tube or qualitative results by recording the light emission on instant photographic film.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1985

Neutrophilic leukocytosis associated with metastatic fibrosarcoma in a dog.

A 3 1/2-year-old dog with extensive tumor metastases to the lungs was found to have neutrophilic leukocytosis termed a leukemoid reaction. The term leukemoid reaction describes an absolute increase in the blood leukocyte concentration without regard to a predominant cell type or to the degree of cell immaturity. These types of reactions are extremely difficult to differentiate from leukemia. Leukemoid reactions can be acute or chronic and they may have an infectious, inflammatory, toxic, or neoplastic origin. Those reactions attributable to neoplasia have been documented in medical literature, but the mechanism causing the granulocytosis has not always been clearly understood. A granulopoietin capable of stimulating a leukemoid reaction may be elaborated by certain types of tumors, tumors with extensive metastasis, or tumors involving the lungs, liver, or stomach.

Animals↗