PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Craig

Publications and source records attributed to J Craig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infection in preschool children.

OBJECTIVE: Children with urinary tract infections (UTI) are at risk of renal scarring which may lead to impaired renal function and hypertension. This study examines the risk factors that predispose to recurrent UTI in children and the role of recurrent UTI in renal scarring. METHODOLOGY: A group of 290 children under 5 years of age with a first symptomatic UTI were studied. Micturating cystourethrogram and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy were performed at entry, and DMSA was repeated 1 year later. Two hundred and sixty-one children (90%) were followed up at 1 year. RESULTS: There were 46 confirmed recurrent infections in 34 children, a recurrence rate of 12%. Multiple recurrence occurred in 14/34 (34%) children. Age of less than 6 months on entry independently predicted for recurrent UTI (odds ratio (OR): 2.9)). Compliance with prophylactic antibiotics fell throughout the year of follow up. Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) was present in 14/34 (34%) of the group with recurrent UTI, 69/256 (27%) without recurrence. Urinary tract infection was significantly associated with bilateral and intrarenal reflux; grade 3-5 reflux independently predicted for recurrent UTI (OR: 3.5). Recurrent UTI was significantly associated with high grade DMSA defects on entry, renal parenchymal defects at 1 year follow up, and new defects at 1 year. CONCLUSION: The independent risk factors for recurrent UTI identified by this study were an age of less than 6 months at the index UTI and grade 3-5 VUR. These findings suggest more selective targeting may minimize problems associated with prophylaxis and improve outcomes for children with urine infection.

Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary↗
PubMed1999

User satisfaction with realtime teleneurology.

User satisfaction (i.e. that of patients, medical staff at a remote hospital and medical staff at a neurological centre) with realtime teleneurology consultations was studied prospectively. Twenty-five patients with neurological problems admitted to a hospital without permanent neurological cover were assessed from a neurological centre by specialist neurologists using realtime video-links transmitting at 384 kbit/s. All users reported high levels of satisfaction with the technical aspects of the consultations. Patients, almost universally, reported confidence in teleneurology as a means of dealing with their presenting complaints. Similarly, medical staff at either site felt confident in managing patients using teleneurology and almost always felt that a telephone consultation would not have achieved as good an outcome. No major organizational problems were identified. These findings suggest overall user satisfaction with realtime teleneurology for managing patients with neurological problems admitted to hospitals that do not have resident neurologists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Corticosteroid regulation of ion channel conductances and mRNA levels in individual hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Overexposure to corticosteroid hormones is harmful to hippocampal neuronal integrity, likely by perturbation of calcium homeostasis. To identify molecular mechanisms at the single-cell level, we characterized mRNA expression corresponding to voltage- and ligand-gated Ca channels in individual dissociated CA1 neurons in response to long-term corticosterone (CORT) exposure. Predominant mineralocorticoid receptor occupation (ADC-LO group) resulted in low levels of P/Q- and L-type Ca channel mRNAs, high levels of GluR-2 versus GluR-1, and a high ratio of NMDAR-2A to NMDAR-2B mRNA. Corresponding alterations in protein expression were consistent with the restriction of Ca influx. In contrast, additional glucocorticoid receptor occupation (ADC-HI group) altered the expression of these mRNAs in a manner consistent with enhanced Ca influx; interestingly, qualitatively similar alterations were seen in control ADX neurons. Electrophysiological data from the same neurons indicate that Ca current amplitudes also are modulated by CORT, although on a shorter time scale. Finally, principal components analysis (PCA) suggests that neuronal AMPA and NMDA receptor composition may be regulated by MR and GR activation in a complex manner. Therefore, our data implicate molecular events by which CORT may regulate Ca influx into CA1 hippocampal neurons.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1998

Mutations in the gene encoding starch synthase II profoundly alter amylopectin structure in pea embryos.

Mutations at the rug5 (rugosus5) locus have been used to elucidate the role of the major soluble isoform of starch synthase II (SSII) in amylopectin synthesis in the developing pea embryo. The SSII gene maps to the rug5 locus, and the gene in one of three rug5 mutant lines has been shown to carry a base pair substitution that introduces a stop codon into the open reading frame. All three mutant alleles cause a dramatic reduction or loss of the SSII protein. The mutations have pleiotropic effects on the activities of other isoforms of starch synthase but apparently not on those of other enzymes of starch synthesis. These mutations result in abnormal starch granule morphology and amylopectin structure. Amylopectin contains fewer chains of intermediate length (B2 and B3 chains) and more very short and very long chains than does amylopectin from wild-type embryos. The results suggest that SSII may play a specific role in the synthesis of B2 and B3 chains of amylopectin. The extent to which these findings can be extrapolated to other species is discussed.

Amylopectin↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of a poison prevention lesson for kindergarten and third grade students.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MORE HEALTH poison prevention lesson that is given to kindergarten and third grade students in Hillsborough County, Florida. The lesson reaches approximately 6000 students per year. METHODS: The evaluation was based on a post-test only control group design. Three schools were chosen as evaluation sites and three served as control settings. Students were administered a previously tested, age appropriate questionnaire that addressed the goals of the poison lessons. In addition, a survey was developed for intervention school parents to determine their poison prevention practices. RESULTS: One hundred ninety four intervention schoolchildren and 184 control schoolchildren completed the study. Children in the intervention schools consistently answered more questions correctly than those in the control schools. The parent survey showed that the majority have homes that are safe from poisons, although fewer than 50% said they had syrup of ipecac in their homes. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that key concepts related to poison prevention can be communicated effectively to primary school students and parents report having homes safe from many poisons.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1998

Fast-painting of human metaphase spreads using a chromosome-specific, repeat-depleted DNA library probe.

For chromosome painting, in situ suppression of repetitive DNA sequences has been well established. Such standard protocols usually require large amounts of Cot-I DNA. Recently, it has become possible to deplete repetitive DNA sequences from library probes by magnetic purification and PCR-assisted affinity chromatography. These "repeat-depleted library probes" appear to be extremely useful for Fast-FISH, a technique that omits denaturing chemical agents such as formamide in the hybridization buffer, resulting in a substantial acceleration and simplification of the complete protocol. Shown here is the application of Fast-FISH to a repeat-depleted, directly fluorochrome-labeled library probe of the q-arm of chromosome 15 (Fast-Painting) for human lymphocyte metaphase spreads. Following painting without Cot-I DNA and without formamide, visual inspection revealed sufficient chromosome painting after a few hours of hybridization. The fluorescence signals of the labeling sites were analyzed after hybridization times of 1 and 2 h (in one case, 4 h) using digital fluorescence microscopy. The painting efficiency expressed in values of relative fluorescence signal ratios was quantitatively evaluated by image analysis using line-scan procedures and area-morphometry of mean luminance. Two preparation protocols (ethanol dehydration without and with RNase A treatment followed by pepsin digestion for four different exposure times) were compared. These results indicated that RNase A treatment and pepsin digestion are steps that can be omitted.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The association between irregular greater tuberosities and rotator cuff tears: a sonographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Although an association between irregular greater tuberosities and rotator cuff tears has been suggested, no formal studies have been done. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between greater tuberosity irregularities, rotator cuff tears, and age. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sonographic examinations of both shoulders of 77 asymptomatic individuals (154 shoulders) between 30 and 80 years old were performed. The rotator cuffs and greater tuberosities were evaluated. Full- and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears were given equal significance. A two-tailed Fisher's exact test, a Student's t test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Sonography showed the greater tuberosity to be irregular in 36 (90%) of 40 shoulders with a rotator cuff tear. The greater tuberosity was irregular in only 12 (11%) of 114 shoulders without a rotator cuff tear. When the greater tuberosity was irregular, sonography showed 36 (75%) of 48 shoulders to have rotator cuff tears. When the greater tuberosity was normal, 102 (96%) of 106 of the rotator cuffs were normal on sonography. Statistical significance was detected (p < .001) for the association of greater tuberosity irregularity and rotator cuff tear. After accounting for age, a statistically significant association was found (p < .001) between rotator cuff status and greater tuberosity status. CONCLUSION: On sonography, greater tuberosity irregularities are reliable indicators in the assessment of shoulders for rotator cuff tears. In addition, we have shown that greater tuberosity irregularities are not simply related to aging.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

To be or not to be--what are the odds?

Life expectancies are averages. Among the group of people to which the average refers there will be wide variations in the length of their lives. This article quantifies these variations by looking at the chances of an early death and the chances of an exceptionally long life. Persons aged 40, for example, have an estimated average future length of life of 35 years for men and 40 years for women according to the most recent decennial English Life Tables. But some would die much sooner-1 percent within 5 or 7 years (respectively) and 10 percent within 20 or 24 years; while at the other extreme some would live much longer-10 percent for 49 or 53 years and 1 percent for 57 or 61 years. The article goes on to explain how these differences are related to the underlying patterns of mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The development of regional nuclear medicine audit in south Thames.

A programme of audit, including clinical audit, organizational audit and patient/clinician satisfaction surveys, has been implemented in nuclear medicine departments throughout the South Thames Regional Health Authority (RHA). The clinical topics which have been audited include. ventilation-perfusion lung imaging, bone imaging, liver imaging, thyroid imaging and renal static DMSA imaging. Guidelines have been set for nuclear medicine practice in each of these areas against which further audit can be performed. Organizational audits have been performed in 10 nuclear medicine departments in the South Thames RHA and a confidential report supplied to the head of each department, consisting of findings and recommendations. A programme of re-audit has also commenced. The main findings have been a lack of facilities and space. Patient satisfaction surveys have been implemented in nine departments and a high level of patient satisfaction has been demonstrated. A clinical satisfaction survey has been implemented in 13 departments. It is hoped to continue this successful programme of audit to improve nuclear medicine practice by closing audit loops.

England↗
PubMed1997

Population review: (9). Summary of issues.

Previous population reviews--published as the 1977 and 1984 Demographic Reviews--were published as free-standing reports. This Review has appeared, initially, as a series of eight articles in this journal. The aim (to quote from the introduction in Population Trends 81) has been to: 'describe the changing make-up of the population of the United Kingdom in a form that will be useful to both general readers and to demography specialists'. The articles have shown that since the 1984 review was issued the demographic picture has become clearer-and now looks a little different. This concluding article brings together the key changes since the last Review and summarises the current situation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Retinoic acid treated P19 embryonal carcinoma cells differentiate into oligodendrocytes capable of myelination.

Retinoic acid treatment of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells induces their differentiation into cultures containing neurons and astrocytes. We present two lines of experimentation indicating that oligodendrocytes also develop from retinoic acid-treated P19 cells. We isolated an immortal cell line from retinoic acid-treated P19 cell cultures whose proliferation is dependent upon epidermal growth factor. Upon removal of the growth factor these cells differentiate into both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes as determined by immunostaining with antibodies to the astrocyte marker glial fibrillar acidic protein and the oligodendrocyte markers, myelin associated glycoprotein and 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase. This cell line appears to be a bi-potential glial precursor. We also found that oligodendrocytes developed directly from P19 cells when retinoic acid-treated cells were transplanted into the brains of neonatal rat pups. Cells that developed into oligodendrocytes migrated into fiber bundles up to several millimeters from the site of the graft. These P19-derived oligodendrocytes appeared to myelinate axons from host neurons. Thus, retinoic acid-treated P19 cells differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, the three cell types that normally develop from embryonic neuroectoderm, indicating that these cell cultures differentiate in a fashion closely resembling that of embryonic neuroectoderm.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

High-dose chemotherapy supported by peripheral blood progenitor cells in poor prognosis metastatic breast cancer--phase I/II study. Edinburgh Breast Group.

Current treatments for metastatic breast cancer are not associated with significant survival benefits despite response rates of over 50%. High-dose therapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) has been investigated, particularly in North America, and prolonged survival in up to 25% of women has been reported, but with a significant treatment-related mortality. However, in patients with haematological malignancies undergoing autologous transplantation, haematopoietic reconstruction is significantly quicker and mortality lower than with ABMT, when peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) are used. In 32 women with metastatic breast cancer, we investigated the feasibility of PBPC mobilisation with high-dose cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) after 12 weeks' infusional induction chemotherapy and the subsequent efficacy of the haematopoietic reconstitution after conditioning with melphalan and either etoposide or thiotepa. PBPC mobilisation was successful in 28/32 (88%) patients, and there was a rapid post-transplantation haematopoietic recovery: median time to neutrophils > 0.5 x 10(9) l-1 was 14 days and to platelets > 20 x 10(9) l-1 was 10 days. There was no procedure-related mortality, and the major morbidity was mucositis (WHO grade 3-4) in 18/32 patients (56%). In a patient group of which the majority had very poor prognostic features, the median survival from start of induction chemotherapy was 15 months. Thus, PBPC mobilisation and support of high-dose chemotherapy is feasible after infusional induction chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer, although the optimum drug combination has not yet been determined.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Advances in conventional and innovative therapies for respiratory distress syndrome in children.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome is a phenomenon encountered by many pediatric critical care nurses. Care of these complex patients is multifaceted and requires an in-depth understanding of pathophysiology and therapeutic intervention. Several innovative treatments are now available as biomedical and technical advances have evolved. Outcomes will improve as clinicians improve patient selection, identify therapeutic endpoints, and risk/benefits. This article addresses the current understanding of pathophysiology, innovative treatments, and nursing care issues.

Age Factors↗