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Biomedical subjects

J Booth

Publications and source records attributed to J Booth.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Pathophysiology and treatment of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a variable disease course and response to therapy. Some infected patients may develop little or no disease for 30 to 40 years, whereas others will develop cirrhosis within 5 to 10 years. Both host and viral factors influence the rate of disease progression. The management of patients is determined by the severity of their disease assessed by liver biopsy. Those with mild hepatitis without fibrosis do not require treatment but should undergo liver biopsy every 3 years. Patients with mild hepatitis with fibrosis, or with moderate or severe hepatitis with or without fibrosis, should be offered treatment. Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) is currently the only licensed treatment for HCV infection. Although initial response rates to IFN alpha are high, over half the patients relapse and a sustained response is achieved in only 10 to 35% of patients. Higher doses of IFN alpha and a longer treatment duration are associated with better response rates. Treatment options for those who fail to respond to IFN alpha include a second course of IFN alpha at a higher dose or IFN alpha in combination with ribavirin, phlebotomy or ursodeoxycholic acid. At present, however, there are insufficient data to routinely recommend any of these options.

Hepatitis C↗
PubMed1995

Measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum function in mammalian skeletal muscle: technical aspects.

Two recently developed methods for measuring the maximal rate of Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ ATPase activity (EC 3.1.6.38) in vitro use muscle homogenate rather than isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In this study we investigated technical aspects of these assays, including specificity and variability of the assays, the effect of different freezing treatments on maximal Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ ATPase activity of human and rat muscle homogenate, stability of the homogenate, and the modification of the Ca2+ uptake assay to measure Ag(+)-induced Ca2+ release. Addition of cyclopiazonic acid (20 microM) blocked Ca2+ uptake, demonstrating specificity of the assay. Using frozen muscle homogenate, the inter- and intraassay variation for both assays was less than 9%. Whereas homogenates were stable to freezing for both Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ ATPase activity, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in activity when muscle was freeze-dried or quickly frozen in small pieces. After 1 h on ice, rat muscle homogenate Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ ATPase activity had decreased by 6.0% (ns) and 3.6% (P < 0.05), respectively; after 3 h, activity had decreased by 15.3 and 14.7%, respectively (P < 0.01). The Ca2+ uptake assay was modified to allow measurement of Ag(+)-induced Ca2+ release. Following homogenate addition, after the SR vesicles were loaded with Ca2+ and [Ca2+] had declined to a plateau, AgNO3 (141 microM) was added, initiating release of Ca2+ into the assay solution. Addition of dithiothreitol (4 mM) blocked the Ag(+)-induced Ca2+ release, demonstrating specificity of the assay.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The multifaceted role of the nurse in the day hospital.

This paper presents the initial findings from an action research study designed to explore and improve rehabilitation practice in a geriatric day hospital, The role of nurses in day hospitals and their contribution to rehabilitation form the focus of the discussion, which emanates from the analysis of semi-structured interviews with 13 members of the multi-disciplinary team, and observation of team meetings and patient reviews. Factors which influence the therapeutic activity of nurses are identified and tentative interpretations offered. The findings indicate that the nurse's role in day hospitals is multifaceted and varied and the conclusion is drawn that, far from being marginalized in rehabilitative and therapeutic terms, the nurse's central coordinating role should be recognized as the lynchpin of day hospital activity.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1995

Recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage due to endometriosis.

A woman with a long history of menstruation-related headaches, at times associated with papilledema and brief episodes of unresponsiveness, was experiencing recurrent cryptogenic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although the source of hemorrhage was never identified with certainty, strong circumstantial evidence suggested the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue in the spinal canal. Suppression of estrogen levels has prevented further episodes of hemorrhage.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Preliminary predictions of athletic performance among collegiate baseball players with a biopsychosocial model.

This study investigated the association of nine biopsychosocial variables and athletic performance among 40 elite collegiate baseball players. High scores on confidence and perceived fitness and low scores on repressive denial, strength of religious faith, and sensitivity to glare were reliably associated with ratings of superior athletic performance by four coaches. Preliminary results suggest that the biopsychosocial model may prove useful in predicting athletic performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Association of cytomegalovirus infection with post-transplantation cardiac rejection as studied using the polymerase chain reaction.

The relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and cardiac allograft rejection is controversial, some authors reporting a significant association, others not, on the basis of the results of conventional virological diagnosis by culture or serology. This problem was reinvestigated in 88 patients using a semi-quantitative nest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure for detecting CMV DNA in endomyocardial biopsy specimens. Significantly more positive biopsies were obtained from patients with moderate (grade 2; P = 0.02) or severe (grade 3a-4; P = 0.03) rejection than with no or mild (grade 0-1b) rejection, whereas there was no significant association between rejection and CMV as diagnosed by virus isolation from urine, throat or blood, or by the detection of CMV-IgM. PCR-positive biopsies originated most frequently from CMV-antibody positive recipients (R+) of hearts from seropositive donors (D+), in association with moderate or severe rejection rather than with mild or no rejection The detection of CMV in the heart thus seemed to be related more to R+D+ serological status than to severity of rejection, that is, to circumstances that favoured co-infection with strains of CMV from both donor and recipient. Studies on sequential biopsy specimens from selected patients also provided evidence that CMV infection and rejection were not always related events. The PCR was able to differentiate latent from active CMV infection; moreover, some seronegative individuals gave repeatedly positive biopsies, thereby supporting the work of others that some patients undergo CMV infection without mounting a detectable antibody response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Fasciclin I and II have distinct roles in the development of grasshopper pioneer neurons.

We have used a new technique, micro-CALI (chromophore-assisted laser inactivation), to investigate the function of the neural cell adhesion molecules fasciclin I and II in the development of the grasshopper Ti1 neurons. Micro-CALI of fasciclin I results in defasciculation of the Ti1 axons similar to that achieved using large scale CALI (Jay and Keshishian, 1990). The initial point of axon separation corresponds to the site of laser irradiation, and defasciculation always continues distal to this point. Micro-CALI of fasciclin II prevents the initiation of Ti1 axon outgrowth but has no effect on fasciculation. This effect is restricted to a 3 hr interval between cytokinesis and growth cone emergence.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Characterisation of a series of human immunodeficiency virus isolates derived sequentially from a single patient.

Five HIV-1 isolates were obtained sequentially from a single seropositive individual during the later stages of AIDS. Four of these isolates were adapted to grow in a continuous human T-lymphocytic cell line. Comparative biological and biochemical studies of the virus isolates were made using persistently infected cultures or virus derived from these systems respectively. The data obtained clearly shows that viruses with different biological properties can be isolated from the same individual at different times during the course of clinical AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Happy to be home? A discharge planning package for elderly people.

Research shows elderly people do not receive the support they need following hospital discharge. If they are to be enabled to return home successfully, patients need careful assessment of their needs well in advance, so that arrangements for adequate aftercare support can be made.

Aftercare↗
PubMed1991

The management of change on a nursing development unit.

This article presents a descriptive account of the management of the change process and the nature of nursing developments which have been implemented on a Nursing Development Unit in Manchester Royal Infirmary. The fundamental aim underlying all innovations is to improve the quality of care delivered to patients. Consequently, the evaluation of the change process and whether it has actually served to improve standards is an issue of concern within this article. It is acknowledged that this case study cannot be upheld as an ideal model for innovation in nursing practice. It may however, serve as an example of how idealistic principles might be combined with realism derived directly from clinical practice, and may thus serve to inspire others along similar paths.

Hospital Units↗
PubMed1989

Virus infection induces redistribution and membrane localization of the nuclear antigen La (SS-B): a possible mechanism for autoimmunity.

To investigate the possibility that anti-La (SS-B) antibodies in Sjögren's syndrome were induced by virus infection we studied the distribution of La in virus-infected human cell lines. Three monoclonal antibodies to La were used with monoclonal anti-Sm (derived from MRL/lpr lupus mice) and anti-rat immunoglobulin antibodies as controls. In uninfected cells La was predominantly in the nucleus. Twenty-four hours after infection of HEp-2 cells with adenovirus 2, the La and Sm antigens appeared to aggregate and accumulate in the periphery of the nucleus and, after 48 h, La was seen in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. No cytoplasmic or membrane expression of Sm was seen. Infection with adenovirus or cytomegalovirus caused a 2-13-fold increase in the concentration of La in three cell lines. Treatment of HE--2 cells with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and infection with Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus caused cytoplasmic, but no definite membrane expression of La. The appearance of La on the surface of virally infected epithelial cells together with IFN-gamma induced class II expression could form the basis of a T cell dependent mechanism for anti-La autoantibody induction.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1988

Methotrexate kinetics in rheumatoid arthritis: is there an interaction with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs?

Pharmacokinetic drug interaction between methotrexate (MTX) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) has been implicated in several case reports of MTX related toxicity. We therefore studied the kinetics of low dose (15 mg) oral MTX with and without concomitant NSAID therapy after preliminary determination of the systemic bioavailability of commercial tablets. Fourteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis, age range 44-77 years, participated in paired kinetic studies performed 1-4 weeks apart. The Abbott TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay was used to measure serum levels and urinary excretion of MTX over 72 h after a single dose. The mean systemic bioavailability was 73% for the 15 mg oral dose. Area under the serum concentration versus time curve for a 50 mg oral dose was 1.1-2.7 times that of the 15 mg oral dose indicating dose dependent absorption. Mean kinetic variables after oral MTX did not differ significantly with and without NSAID therapy despite apparent interactions in individual patients. Renal clearance of MTX correlated with creatinine clearance (r = 0.8, p less than 0.01).

Adult↗