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Biomedical subjects

J Farmer

Publications and source records attributed to J Farmer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Biotherapeutic effects of probiotic bacteria on candidiasis in immunodeficient mice.

Four species of probiotic bacteria were assessed for their capacities to protect athymic bg/bg-nu/nu and euthymic bg/bg-nu/+ mice from mucosal and systemic candidiasis. Each bacterial species and Candida albicans colonized the gastrointestinal tracts of both strains of mice. The presence of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei GG, or Bifidobacterium animalis) in the gastrointestinal tracts prolonged the survival of adult and neonatal bg/bg-nu/nu mice compared to that of isogenic mice colonized with C. albicans alone. The incidence of systemic candidiasis in bg/bg-nu/nu mice was significantly reduced by each of the four probiotic bacterial species. The numbers of C. albicans present in the alimentary tracts of euthymic bg/bg-nu/+ mice were significantly reduced by L. casei GG and B. animalis. None of the probiotic bacteria species completely prevented mucosal candidiasis, but B. animalis reduced its incidence and severity. Probiotic bacteria also modulated antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses to C. albicans. The prolonged survival of mice, decreased severity of mucosal and systemic candidiasis, modulation of immune responses, decreased number of C. albicans in the alimentary tract, and reduced numbers of orogastric infections demonstrated not only that probiotic bacteria have biotherapeutic potential for prophylaxis against and therapy of this fungal disease but also that probiotic bacteria protect mice from candidiasis by a variety of immunologic (thymic and extrathymic) and nonimmunologic mechanisms in this model.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Colonization of congenitally immunodeficient mice with probiotic bacteria.

We assessed the capacity of four probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei GG, and Bifidobacterium animalis) to colonize, infect, stimulate immune responses in, and affect the growth and survival of congenitally immunodeficient gnotobiotic beige-athymic (bg/bg-nu/nu) and beige-euthymic (bg/bg-nu/+) mice. The bacteria colonized and persisted, in pure culture, in the alimentary tracts of both mouse strains for the entire study period (12 weeks). Although all adult and neonatal beige-euthymic mice survived probiotic colonization, some infant mortality occurred in beige-athymic pups born to mothers colonized with pure cultures of L. reuteri or L. casei GG. The probiotic bacteria manifested different capacities to adhere to epithelial surfaces, disseminate to internal organs, affect the body weight of adult mice and the growth of neonatal mice, and stimulate immune responses. Although the probiotic species were innocuous for adults, these results suggest that caution and further studies to assess the safety of probiotic bacteria for immunodeficient hosts, especially neonates, are required.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Lung immunopathology in cases of sudden asthma death.

The histopathology of airway inflammation in rare cases of sudden asphyxic asthma death (SAAD) is unclear. This study examines, for the first time, the relative disposition of lymphocyte and macrophage subsets and eosinophils in proximal and distal tissues of such cases. Multiple resection specimens from five cases of SAAD were studied. Tissue blocks were obtained at necroscopy and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen within 18 hours of death (death occurring within 1 h of the onset of an unprovoked asphyxic asthma attack). After immunohistological staining, frozen sections underwent semi-quantitative analysis (cell counts per unit area) for T-cells, macrophages and eosinophils using computerized imaging systems. Subsets of T-cells and macrophages were estimated using double immunofluorescence techniques. Variability within samples, between samples and between cases was compared. These cases of fatal asthma showed infiltrates of T-cells, macrophages and eosinophils within peribronchial tissues. Distinct from stable asthma, a CD8+ T-cell dominance was found. A high proportion of eosinophils were activated (EG2+), whereas the relative proportion of antigen-presenting cells (RFD1+) did not seem to be abnormal, although numbers of these cells were high. These features were seen both in proximal and distal tissues. The variability of these parameters within an individual was 9.4-15.2%, however, the variability between individual cases was greater. Sudden asphyxic asthma is associated with inflammatory infiltrates both of proximal and distal lung tissues. In contrast to stable asthma, this infiltrate contains large numbers of CD8+ T-cells, suggesting distinct qualitative as well as quantitative characteristics in the immunopathology of sudden asthma death.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Health check-ups in general practice: a patient perspective.

One of the strategies identified by the NHS to achieve improvements in the health status of the Scottish population is to implement health promotion programmes through the general medical practitioner service. Grampian Local Health Council undertook a survey of Grampian residents to identify factors which might encourage greater public participation in such programmes. The results which are analysed and discussed in this paper show that factors identified by the public include: a preference for doctors to carry out health checks; the need for public education on the roles of different health professionals; the need for information on health checks and their benefits to be supplied in advance; a choice of appointment times and the offer of a follow-up appointment to discuss test results. These results are of interest to health professionals as they are likely to contribute to higher levels of patient involvement in health promotion programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Baseline characteristics of subjects in the Lipoprotein and Coronary Atherosclerosis Study (LCAS) with fluvastatin.

A total of 429 subjects (79 women and 350 men), aged 35-75 years, have been enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of fluvastatin therapy for hypercholesterolemia. The progression and regression of atherosclerotic lesions will be assessed by quantitative angiography and positron emission tomography (PET) after 2.5 years of treatment. Patients were included in the trial if they had angiographically documented lesions that occluded 30-75% of the diameter of a major coronary vessel. Of the 429 subjects, 99 were also studied by PET at rest and during static exercise of sustained handgrip combined with administration of dipyridamole. All subjects were instructed in an American Heart Association/National Cholesterol Education Program (AHA/NCEP) Step I or Step II diet. Of the total, 107 subjects (25%) had low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) > or = 160 mg/dL and were given cholestyramine, 8 g/day. All subjects were randomized to placebo or fluvastatin, the newest 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor to be introduced into the U.S. market. Fluvastatin is entirely synthetic and is similar in efficacy to the other available HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Its pharmaceutical profile (i.e., low systemic exposure) makes fluvastatin a good candidate for use in combination lipid-lowering therapy. The majority of subjects were recruited through a community campaign and the remainder through cardiac catheterization laboratories and the medical records of hospitals in the Texas Medical Center. Approximately 8,500 prospects from the community campaign were screened and 272 were randomized, a conversion rate of approximately 3%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Unusual immunostaining pattern of chromogranin in normal urothelium and in transitional cell neoplasms.

We report an unusual pattern of immunostaining for chromogranin A in 24 transitional cell carcinomas (TCC). Positive immunostaining was seen with chromogranin A antisera in 10 of 16 urinary bladder TCC, neither of 2 prostatic TCC, 3 of 3 ureteral TCC and 2 of 3 metastatic TCC. This staining was demonstrated within the cytoplasm of transitional cells at all levels of the neoplastic epithelium, including cells near the basement membrane and at the free surface (umbrella cells). In 5 of 7 cases there was also immunoreactivity of the non-neoplastic urothelium. Immunostaining with neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin was negative in all of these cases and no neuro-secretory granules were identified in 7 cases examined by electron microscopy. This pattern of immunostaining is probably due to reactivity with chromogranins or certain chromogranin-like proteins in the transitional cells, particularly in the umbrella cells.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗
PubMed1994

Family functioning, social support and depression after traumatic brain injury.

Functional outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is thought to be dependent upon effective social support and avoidance of depressive episodes. Research indicates that post-injury changes often occur in the family's functioning, hence impacting the family's ability to provide the needed social support. Social support, in turn, has been hypothesized to work as a buffer between significant life event and levels of depressive symptoms. Thus poor social support after a TBI, due to changes in family functioning, could result in depressive episodes for the person with a TBI. This paper empirically examines this question by investigating whether social support is predictive of depression in persons who have sustained a TBI. Thirty-nine persons who had sustained TBI were interviewed to assess their family functioning, perceived social support, and current depressive symptomatology. The results showed that the effective use of problem-solving and behavioural coping strategies by the family in response to TBI was significantly related to lower levels of depression in the person who sustained the TBI. However, perceived social support was not predictive of depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

Development and evaluation of drop-in centers operated by mental health consumers.

As part of a statewide initiative begun in 1989 to promote consumer involvement, the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health initially funded the development of nine consumer-operated drop-in centers. This paper describes some of the programs and services developed by the centers and presents results of a survey of consumers' use of and satisfaction with services. During the six-month survey period, a total of 478 consumers used services; average daily attendance at each center was 28. Most centers had one paid position supplemented by heavy use of volunteers. Most projects had collaborative relationships with a few providers who maintained a low profile in daily operations. Although consumers were highly satisfied with the drop-in centers, they desired improvements in the number of paid staff, hours of operation, management, and transportation.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1992

Psammomatoid ossifying fibroma of the orbit.

Psammomatoid ossifying fibroma of the orbit is a distinctive solitary fibro-osseous lesion of the orbital bones that histologically has characteristic small, round structures resembling psammoma bodies within a benign spindle cell stroma. We describe a 19-year-old woman with this uncommon orbital tumour.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Parental injury prevention endeavors: a function of health beliefs?

Investigating parents' beliefs about injury prevention may yield important information for planning preventive interventions. A comprehensive description of parents' beliefs about injury prevention is presented in this study, and effects of child age and sex are described. In addition, a health belief model was successfully used to predict parent-reported teaching of safety skills and preventive environmental interventions. The model successfully cross-validated the prediction in two independent samples. Parents reported low feelings of susceptibility or worry about injury. The variables most associated with parental preventive endeavors were the belief that intervention can avoid injury, a realistically high appraisal of the amount of time involved, and feelings of high knowledge and competence to teach safety skills. Implications of these data for designing more effective behavioral interventions are described.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1989

A study of Salmonella typhi isolated in Suez Canal area. Biotyping, phage typing and colicinogenic property.

In this work a total of 82 strains of Salmonella typhi were isolated from Egyptian patients diagnosed as quiry enteric fever. These cases were from Ismalia, Suez and port Said Areas. The strains fell in 16 phage types. Phage types N, 40, E1, and degraded Vi were the commonest phage type in Ismailia, while phage types degraded Vi and C1 were the commonest in Port Said. Phage types Di-N, degraded Vi, A and C1 were the commonest in Suez. Chemotyping of Salmonella typhi showed that the majority of the strains belonged to chemotype I (82%), and the rest belonged to chemotype II (18%). Colicin production was negative and all the strains were susceptible to the currently used antibiotics.

Bacteriophage Typing↗
PubMed1987

Standardized physician preparation of death certificates.

One method for determining cause of death in a clinical trial is to use standard nosological coding of death certificates. In order to look at an alternative approach, the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program (HDFP) assessed underlying causes of death through the use of three physicians. These physicians were trained and standardized in the proper recording of cause of death on death certificates. Each physician completed a death certificate for each of the 768 deaths in the HDFP, utilizing all available information, including HDFP records, plus any additional hospital and autopsy records. The new standardized death certificates were then transmitted to a panel of three nosologists who coded the cause of death. The physician preparation procedure was compared with a procedure wherein a panel of three nosologists coded the original death certificate for the underlying cause of death. The procedures agreed on the three-digit International Classification of Disease, Adapted code in 60.1% of the cases. The agreement rate improved to 72.5% when disease codes were collapsed into broad disease categories utilized in the HDFP.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of purified (AIN-76A) and natural-ingredient (NIH-07) diets on responses of BALB/c and B6C3F1 female mice to estradiol.

Female BALB/c and B6C3F1 mice were examined after a 3-wk exposure to dietary estradiol (0, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 ppb) in a purified (AIN-76A) or a natural-ingredient (NIH-07) diet. The use of AIN-76A was associated with a 9-13% greater (p less than 0.001) body weight and a 36-43% higher (p less than 0.001) serum cholesterol in both mouse genotypes when compared to mice fed NIH-07. Conversely, when fed NIH-07, both mouse genotypes had a 20-22% higher (p less than 0.003) serum urea nitogren and 2-3.5% higher erythrocyte count (p less than 0.001) and hemoglobin concentration (p less than 0.04) than when fed AIN-76A. Reduced erythrocyte parameters suggest that chronic feeding of the purified diet might result in anemia. No significant compound or diet-related differences were noted for serum creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyl transferase. Although there was no diet effect on absolute or differential white blood cell count, estradiol caused a decrease in the total white blood cell count (p less than 0.014) and an increase in the percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (p less than 0.014) in BALB/c and decreased the percentage of lymphocytes (p less than 0.005) in B6C3F1 females. In addition, estradiol increased uterine weight and inhibited thymic and splenic weights in one or both genotypes. Spleen and thymus weight responses to estradiol were not significantly influenced by diet. However, the uterine weight responses to estradiol were apparently influenced by diet in both genotypes. In B6C3F1 mice, the uterus weighed more at each level of estradiol when mice were fed AIN-76A compared to NIH-07 diet. In BALB/c mice, this was true only at the two lower dietary concentrations of estradiol. In conclusion, mice fed the purified diet, AIN-76A, differed from those fed the cereal-based diet, NIH-07, in hematology, clinical chemistry, and uterine weight response to estradiol.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1986

Spontaneous CSF otorrhea from tegmen and posterior fossa defects.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal otorrhea (SCSFO) from tegmen or posterior fossa defects is uncommon. Twenty-nine cases have been detailed in the literature to date. We report an additional four cases from three patients. This group of 33 cases of SCSFO from tegmen or posterior fossa defects is characterized by certain clinical features. These patients are usually older adults (mean age 48 years, range 8 months to 80 years). Aural fullness with a serous appearing middle ear effusion, or clear otorrhea, often subsequent to tube myringotomy, are the usual initial symptoms. Meningitis was the initial manifestation in eight patients (24%), and ultimately occurred in an additional four patients (12%). The pathophysiologic basis for SCSFO from tegmen defects is discussed. Methods for diagnosing and treating CSF otorrhea from tegmen defects are reviewed.

Adolescent↗