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Biomedical subjects

J A Miles

Publications and source records attributed to J A Miles.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Ergonomic evaluation of winegrape trellis systems pruning operation.

The winegrape industry suffers from high incidence rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Pruning of dormant vines is a significant task, requiring long periods of highly repetitive and physically demanding work. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively evaluate five commonly used winegrape trellis systems with regard to the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries to the wrist and lower back while pruning. Eleven subjects participated in this study. Subjects performed a simulated pruning task as wrist and trunk postures were gathered using electrogoniometers. The results showed significant postural differences among the trellis systems. Compared to the other systems, the VSP was determined to be the optimal system in terms of decreasing relative MSD risk. These results will assist vineyards in the selection process of suitable trellis systems that will include the worker health aspect in conjunction with other trellis-related parameters such as grape quality and productivity.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Managing waiting patients' perceptions: the role of process control.

In a study of 195 patients visiting the urgent care department of a hospital in the UK, we examined the effects of three elements of process control on patients' fairness and satisfaction perceptions. Patients who believed they had a voice in the triage process had higher fairness perceptions and waited a shorter period of time than those who believed they did not have a voice in the triage process. In addition, patients who were told the expected waiting time and were kept busy while waiting had higher satisfaction perceptions. We identify implications for hospital employees in managing the patient waiting process.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Peer versus authority as decision maker: are the demographics of the perceiver related to judgements of fairness?

In a role-playing study, 264 university students evaluated the fairness of procedures and outcomes used to punish a student for plagiarizing from a web site. Individuals reading the scenario gave the highest ratings of justice when the decision maker was a group of nonpeers (faculty), compared to when the decision maker was an individual or peer (student). Sex and self reported guilt of individuals reading the scenario also influenced their ratings of justice.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Relationships of collective orientation and cohesion to team outcomes.

The relationships of collective orientation and cohesion to team outcomes were compared for 373 high school students on 12 different types of two-person teams performing simple problems in mathematics. Scores on collective orientation and cohesion were highly correlated with each other and with team outcomes but not statistically distinct from each other.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Effects of road transport on indices of stress in horses.

Stress associated with road transport is believed to be a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of post transport respiratory disease in horses. To determine the effects of road transport on pulmonary function, pulmonary aerosol clearance rates were measured in 4 horses 24 h before, and immediately after, 24 h of road transport by delivering aerosolised 99mtechnetium-labelled diethylenetriaminepentacetate (99mTc-DTPA) to the lungs and monitoring its washout. Each horse was transported twice, once while the trailer was equipped with a leaf-spring suspension and bias-ply tyres (trailer's original equipment, smooth ride) and once while the trailer was equipped with a torsion-bar suspension and normal pressure radial tyres (rough ride) in order to generate different ride characteristics. Before transport, blood was drawn from each horse for haematology and measurement of serum cortisol concentration; 24 h rates of hay and water intake and faecal output were recorded for each horse. Horses were then transported, 2 at a time, over a 128 km circular route of predominantly rural freeways at a constant speed of 72 km/h for 24 h. Horses were rested by stopping the trailer every 3.75 h for 0.25 h. During transport, heart rates (continuous 1 min averages), rates of hay and water intake and rates of faecal output were measured. Ammonia (NH3) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were measured within the trailer and temperatures (wet bulb [WB], dry bulb [DB] and black globe [BG]) within the trailer were recorded each minute. Immediately after each experiment blood was drawn for haematology and measurement of pulmonary aerosol clearance rates were measured. For control studies, horses were housed in their stalls while heart rates were measured for 24 h. Slopes calculated from the 99mTc-DTPA clearance curves for pretransport horses were not significantly different from post transport clearance slopes. Pretransport mean 99mTc-DTPA clearance half-lives (T50, left lung mean +/- s.d. 41.7 +/- 15.8 min, right lung 44.6 +/- 19.1 min) were not significantly different from post transport T50 (left lung 53.5 +/- 14.0 min, right lung 52.0 +/- 11.6 min). Heart rates during transport were not affected by suspension type or trip order (the horse's first or second transport experiment) and were not significantly different from stall controls after the first 120 min of the experiment. Horses had increased red blood cell count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, plasma protein and cortisol concentrations, and decreased body weights immediately post transport, indicating slight dehydration. Water and hay intake rates were significantly lower during transport than pretransport. Temperatures within the trailer were highest in the midafternoon and lowest in the early morning hours, but all temperatures measured in the trailer were within the comfort zone for large homeotherms. Ammonia and CO concentrations in the trailer during the transport period were within acceptable limits for human exposure. However, respirable articulates in the atmosphere were elevated above safe concentrations for human exposure.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1987

Presence of HTLV-III antibodies in immune serum globulin preparations.

The authors tested 15 immune serum globulin pharmaceutical preparations for antibody reactivity to human T cell lymphotrophic virus type III (HTLV-III) by the Abbott immunoenzymometric assay (IEMA). Although no evidence of HTLV-III infectivity has appeared after injection of similar preparations into humans, the authors found all samples IEMA reactive. Upon dilution, the authors demonstrated parallel decreases of antibody reactivity among two samples of gamma globulin, the Abbott-positive control, and a markedly reactive patient specimen. Gamma globulin isolated from sera of six animal species was nonreactive in the Abbott assay. All samples were nonreactive with the H-9 cell line antigen. Antibody reactivity to HTLV-III was confirmed in 13 of 15 gamma globulin samples when tested by the Electro-Nucleonics IEMA, and 14 samples contained at least the p24 band on Western blot analysis. Although false positivity occurs in IEMA assays possibly because of elevated protein concentrations and nonspecific binding, the authors, results show that in most circumstances immune serum globulin preparations tested do contain true reactivity to HTLV-III.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1981

Persistent parainfluenza virus shedding during isolation at the South Pole.

Persistent parainfluenza virus shedding in healthy young adults occurred throughout the 8 1/2-month winter isolation period at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station during 1978. Two episodes of respiratory illness were observed after 10 and 29 weeks of complete social isolation. Throat swabs collected both routinely, and during each outbreak of respiratory illness, were directly inoculated into cell cultures. Parainfluenza virus types 1 and 3 were recovered from both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects throughout the winter. No other viruses were obtained by these efforts. The presence of parainfluenza virus in these subjects long after the accepted incubation period for viral upper respiratory illness, and when the introduction of new virus to this community was impossible, suggests its persistence in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

An epidemic of Ross River virus infection in Fiji, 1979.

An explosive epidemic of polyarthritis caused by Ross River virus occurred in the Fijian islands from April to June 1979. Serological results suggest there was a low level of Alphavirus activity throughout Fiji before April 1979, but that following the epidemic up to 90% of the residents of some communities had antibody to Ross River virus. The clinical and laboratory findings in patients from the Fijian outbreak were similar to those seen in Australian cases.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Scrub typhus in the Eastern Solomon Islands and Northern Vanuatu (New Hebrides).

Rickettsia tsutsugmushi has been isolated from Rattus rattus from Vanua Lava island in Northern Vanuatu (New Hebrides) and from R. exulans and Leptotrombidium akamushi on Ndende island in the Eastern Solomon Islands. The well-known vector mite L. deliense was found on Mota Lava and Vanua Lava in Vanuatu, but no isolation was made from pools of this mite. Serology confirms that R. tsutsugamushi infects humans in the Banks group of islands in Northern Vanuatu and that infection is much more widespread in the Solomon Islands than the limited isolations indicate.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

A study of acute respiratory disease in the community of Port Chalmers. III. Efficacy of influenza virus subunit vaccines in 1973, 1974 and 1975.

An evaluation of the efficacy of influenza virus subunit vaccine was undertaken during a study of acute respiratory disease in the semi-isolated community of Port Chalmers, New Zealand. In 1973, the administration of a vaccine containing A/England/42/72(H3N2) and B/Roma/1/67 stains was found to produce HI antibody titres greater than or equal to 1:40 to the A and B components in 50 percent of 32 subjects. There was no significant NI antibody response to the A component. During an epidemic of A/Port Chalmers/I/73(H3N2) occurring three to four months after vaccination, vaccinees were not protected from clinical infection. Sixty and ninety-nine subjects received vaccine containing A/Port Chalmers/1/73 and B/Hong Kong/8/73 in 1974 and 1975 respectively. In 1974 all 60 subjects received a second dose of vaccine which was shown to have little effect on the distribution of HI antibody titres. The benefits of annual vaccination in this general practice are unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Serologic evidence for parainfluenzavirus infection during isolation at South Pole Station, Antarctica.

Two distinct mid-winter outbreaks of respiratory tract illness (RTI) occurred among South Pole Station personnel during the winterover period of 1976. One outbreak began early in May eight weeks after total isolation began, the second occurred in August and September after 20 weeks of complete social isolation. Sequential sera collected from 16 of the 18 subjects wintering at South Pole during 1976 were tested by hemagglutination inhibition for antibody against parainfluenzavirus types 1 and 3. Serologic responses were detected against parainfluenzavirus 1 and 3 antigens during the outbreak that occurred in May, and one subject showed a response to parainfluenzavirus 1 in September. Serologic responses occurred in both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects and were chronologically compatible with the observed illnesses. Throat swabs collected both routinely during the winter and during each outbreak of illness and maintained at -70 C failed to reveal the causative agent when inoculated into cell culture at the home laboratory the following year. Outbreaks of mid-winter RTI and serologic responses in adult subjects isolated at South Pole Station suggest persistence of parainfluenzavirus in the human adult. Confirmation of this observation will require recovery of the virus during outbreaks of RTI within this isolated community.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Parainfluenzavirus upper respiratory tract illnesses in partially immune adult human subjects: a study at an Antarctic station.

Outbreaks of respiratory tract illnesses (RTI) in adult humans during October and November 1975 at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, were investigated by viral isolation and serologic procedures. The recovery of viral agents was enhanced by use of cell cultures in the field. Recoveries of parainfluenzaviruses types 1 and 3 and rhinoviruses were made from 10 of 39 nasal washings. Parainfluenzaviruses types 1 and 3 accounted for 50 and 30 per cent, respectively, of the total viruses recovered during October and November 1975. Acute and convalescent sera collected from 32 adult humans were examined for antiviral antibody by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques. Serologic responses (HI and RIA) confirmed that parainfluenzaviruses were the predominent cause of RTI at McMurdo Station during that time. The temporal relationship between parainfluenzaviral diseases occurring in US communities and at McMurdo suggests that these viruses are transported to the Antarctic by personnel originating within the US. Standardization of the RIA allowed sequential assay of large numbers of sera using multiple preparations of radiolabeled indicator antibody, while ensuring the reproducibility of antiviral antibody titers to within one twofold dilution between subsequent labeled antibody preparations. The RIA detected both lower levels of virus specific antibody and more serologic responses than could be detected by HI.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

A study of acute respiratory disease in the community of Port Chalmers. I. Illnesses within a group of selected families and the relative incidence of respiratory pathogens in the whole community.

A study of respiratory diseases in the semi-isolated community of Port Chamlers, New Zealand, began in April 1973. The intensive surveillance of a selected group fo 26 families involved the weekly reporting of illness, the collection of specimens for virus, Group A streptococci and Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolation and the collection of sera at 6-month intervals. A total of 956 illnesses were reported during 32 months. The median number of illnesses per year were: infants 4.4, children 2.5, female adults 2.4 and male adults 2.0. Of all these illnesses, 57% were upper respiratory, 31% were lower respiratory and 9% were enteric. The severity of these illnesses was not greater than would be expected in open communities. Surveillance by pathogen isolation only of the whole community through the patients in the general practice was carried out concurrently. A total of 640 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from which 161 viruses, 47 Group A streptococci and 2 M. pneumoniae were isolated. The overall isolation rate was 33%. The similarities between the epidemiological patterns of respiratory disease in the open community and the isolated community are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

A study of acute respiratory disease in the community of Port Chalmers. II. Influenza A/Port Chalmers/1/73: intrafamilial spread and the effect of antibodies to the surface antigens.

During the first year of a study of respiratory disease in the semi-isolated community of Port Chalmers, New Zealand, an epidemic of clinical influenza occurred from which the variant influenza A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) was isolated. Within a selected group of 26 families, 59 (46%) members had clinical or laboratory evidence of infection. During intrafamilial spread the infection frequency was highest for school-aged children (77%), followed by female adults (67%), infants (64%) and male adults (41%). The index infection in each family was a school-age child on 10 occasions, suggesting the role of this age group in the transmission of influenza A in this community. The secondary attack rate (SAR) of 58.3% was higher than expected. In sera taken before the 1973 epidemic, 59% of family members had detectable HI antibody and 25% NI antibody to A/England/42/72 while 38% had detectable HI antibody and 8% NI antibody to A/Port Chalmers/1/73. The relation between pre-existing antibody and infection frequency is discussed.

Adolescent↗