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Biomedical subjects

J Liston

Publications and source records attributed to J Liston.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Routine breast screening for women aged 65-69: results from evaluation of the demonstration sites.

Routine programme data and specially designed surveys from 3 demonstration sites were analysed to determine the implications of extending the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP), to include routine invitations for women up to 69 years. All women aged 65-69 and registered with GPs in these areas received routine invitations for breast screening along with those aged 50-64. Overall uptake was 71% in women aged 65-69 compared with 78% in younger women, but was > or = 90% in both groups who had previously attended within 5 years. Recall rates were lower for older women, but with a higher positive predictive value for cancer. The percentages of invasive cancer in different prognostic categories were similar in the 2 age groups. Older women took no longer to screen than younger women. The costs per woman invited or per woman screened were also similar to those for women aged 50-64, whilst the cost per cancer detected was some 34% lower in older women. Breast screening is as cost effective for women aged 65-69 as for those aged 50-64, with a higher cancer detection rate balancing shorter life expectancy. The proposed extension to the national programme will have considerable workforce implications for the NHSBSP and require additional resources.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Are too many breast cancers missed at assessment?

Interval breast cancers presenting between screening episodes are an inevitable occurrence but their number should to be kept to a minimum. The objectives of this study were to ascertain the proportion of interval cancers developing in women who had been recalled for assessment after their initial screen and to review the assessment process. Interval cancers presenting after false negative assessment accounted for a small proportion (6%) but some cancers may have been diagnosed earlier if image guided FNAC or core biopsy had been included in the assessment process.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Breastfeeding and the use of recreational drugs--alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana.

This paper both reviews the current literature and explores anecdotal information as reported by Nursing Mothers' Breastfeeding Counsellors relating to breastfeeding and the use of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana. All of these drugs do enter breastmilk to some extent and can have a detrimental effect on the production, volume, composition and ejection of breastmilk, as well as a direct adverse effect on the infant. Breastfeeding mothers should be encouraged to restrict their intake of these so-called recreational drugs. It is acknowledged that this is a particularly stressful period in a mother's life and that she may need additional support and practical suggestions to limit the exposure of these drugs to the infant.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1993

Screening for breast cancer detects tumours at an earlier biological stage.

Between August 1988 and July 1990, 17,678 women in the Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Durham districts attended the national breast screening programme. A total of 131 cancers were detected. The morphology of cancers detected by screening was compared with that of tumours in 71 patients presenting clinically in the same period. Screen-detected cancers included a higher proportion of tumours of more favourable histological grade and type, were smaller in size and had less axillary lymph node involvement than those detected clinically. Survival was predicted from the Nottingham Prognostic Index. Patients with screen-detected cancer had an expected survival advantage (95 per cent confidence interval) of 26.5 (12.3-40.6) per cent at 5 years, 26.5 (11.8-41.2) per cent at 10 years and 29.1 (14.5-43.7) per cent at 15 years. This survival advantage in screened patients expected at 5, 10 and 15 years is consistent with the 30 per cent reduction in mortality rate demonstrated in the Health Insurance Plan study and the Swedish two counties trial.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and soluble proteins in toxic butter clams (Saxidomus giganteus).

Butter clams obtained from a variety of locations along the northern British Columbia coast were assayed for the presence of individual paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPT) by HPLC and total PSPT toxicity using the mouse bioassay. Specific organs, namely the siphon, adductor muscle, foot and mantle were examined for soluble antigens that crossreacted with crab Saxitoxin-Induced Protein (SIP) using immunochemical (Western blotting) techniques. Butter clams containing high concentrations of PSPT also had several proteins that crossreacted with crab anti-SIP serum. In particular, soluble proteins with distinctly different molecular weights were found in the siphon and foot, respectively, in toxic shellfish. These proteins were absent in nontoxic butter clams. The concept of using PSPT-induced proteins in the butter clam as a screen for identifying toxic shellfish is introduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of Satellite DNA from Three Marine Dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae): Glenodinium sp. and Two Members of the Toxic Genus, Protogonyaulax.

Using CsCl-Hoechst dye or CsCl-ethidium bromide gradients, satellite and nuclear DNAs were separated and characterized in three marine dinoflagellates: Glenodinium sp., and two toxic dinoflagellates, Protogonyaulax tamarensis and Protogonyaulax catenella. In all three dinoflagellates, the lowest density fraction, satellite DNA(1), hybridized to chloroplast genes derived from terrestrial plants and/or other algae. Dinoflagellate chloroplast DNAs exhibited molecular sizes of 114 to 125 kilobase pairs, which is consistent with plastid sizes determined for other chromophytic algae (120-150 kilobase pairs). Mitochondrial DNA was not resolved from nuclear DNA in this system. Two additional satellite DNAs, satellite DNA(2) and satellite DNA(3), recovered from P. tamarensis and P. catenella were similar to one another, both within and between species, when characterized by restriction enzyme analysis. These satellites were 85 to 95 kilobase pairs in size, and exhibited restriction fragments that hybridized to yeast nuclear ribosomal RNA genes. Restriction enzyme analyses and DNA hybridization studies of cpDNA document that the two Protogonyaulax isolates are not evolutionarily identical.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of DNA probes for detection of Shiga-like-toxin-producing Escherichia coli in food and calf fecal samples.

The use of DNA probes for Shiga-like toxin I (SLT-I) and SLT-II for detection of SLT-producing Escherichia coli (SLTEC) in foods and calf fecal samples was evaluated. Enrichment cultures were prepared from food or fecal samples. Colonies formed by plating of enrichment cultures were probed for SLTEC by colony hybridization. Alternatively, enrichment cultures were analyzed for SLTEC presence by dot blot. The lowest detected concentration of SLTEC in sample homogenates inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 corresponded to 1.3 CFU/g of sample. Of the 44 food samples and 28 fecal samples from dairy calves tested by the colony hybridization method, 4 food samples, including ground beef, raw goat milk, blueberries, and surimi-based delicatessen salad, and 9 calf fecal samples were positive with the SLT probes. The dot blot technique yielded results within 48 h and can be used as a fast and sensitive method of detection for SLTEC in foods and calf fecal samples. The colony hybridization technique took 3 to 4 days but permits recovery of the positive colonies when desired.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Lipid peroxidation enzyme system in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) skeletal muscle microsomes.

1. A microsomal lipid peroxidation enzyme system in rainbow trout white skeletal muscle was identified and characterized. 2. This enzyme system is very similar to that found in other fish such as red hake, winter flounder and herring. 3. NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase is suggested to be the enzyme involved, because of the specific requirement for NADH as the electron donor, the inhibition of enzyme activity by p-hydroxy-mercuribenzoate and the involvement of chelated non-heme iron. 4. The activating and inhibitory effects of EDTA and KCN on lipid peroxidation enzyme system activity at different concentrations are discussed extensively in terms of the possible initiation reaction mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Protogonyaulax tamarensis and Protogonyaulax catenella in Axenic Culture.

Paralytic shellfish toxin concentrations were measured and individual toxin profiles were monitored in axenic batch cultures of Protogonyaulax tamarensis and Protogonyaulax catenella. High pressure liquid chromatographic methods were used that allowed the separation of all 12 known paralytic shellfish poisons, including toxins C1, C2, and C3, from a single sample. In isolates of both Protogonyaulax species, total toxin levels were relatively low after inoculation, increased rapidly in early to mid-exponential growth to a value 100 to 300% of that at the initial time point, then decreased by 86 to 95% as the culture aged. Although the concentrations of individual toxins per cell followed the same general pattern as that seen for total moles of toxin per cell, variability in toxin profile with culture age was observed. In P. tamarensis, the mole percent of neosaxitoxin increased substantially from 8 to 44% as total toxin levels per cell decreased. A concomitant decrease in the mole percent of saxitoxin with culture age was noted. Although not as precipitous, changes in the mole percent of specific toxins from P. catenella were also observed. The mole percent of gonyautoxins I and IV increased, while that of gonyautoxins II and III decreased. These data suggest that the toxin profile in isolates of Protogonyaulax can change, sometimes significantly, with changing environmental variables.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Halo-body device.

A halo-body system is described which has been developed at Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital in Edinburgh. The system is easy to apply and consists of a standard halo, linked to malleable plates by two hollow vertical rods. These rods are connected to the ring by swivel joints which allow for the movements of flexion and extension. The malleable plates are incorporated into the plaster jacket which rests upon the iliac crests. The results of 13 patients who have had this system applied are discussed and include patients who have sustained fractures of the cervical spine or who have had bone destruction from metastatic disease or from infection. Using this type of system there have been few complications and the patients have benefitted from easy mobilisation.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1983

Enzymatic transformation of PSP toxins in the littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea).

Stemming from investigations into the relationship between toxins produced by Gonyaulax sp. and accumulated in shellfish, we wish to report enzymatic transformations of the PSP toxins to decarbamoyl derivatives in the littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea). No toxin transformations were observed in either mussels (Mytilus edulis) or in butter clams (Saxidomus giganteus). In addition, littleneck clam samples from the natural environment contained predominantly the decarbamoyl derivatives, while other shellfish species collected from the same vicinity contained the previously reported PSP toxins.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Incidence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteriophages and other Vibrio bacteriophages in marine samples.

Vibrio bacteriophages were isolated by enrichment from 177 of 643 samples of marine molluscan shellfish, crustaceans, seawater, and sediments. The predominant bacteriophage types isolated were specific for some strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A high frequency of phage isolations was also observed with strains of agar-digesting vibrios (21 of 56) and psychrophilic vibrios (14 of 72) that were originally isolated from non-shellfish growing areas. No bacteriophages were isolated against V. alginolyticus and only rarely for V. anguillarum even though these were the two most abundant species found in near-shore environments. No V. cholerae phages were isolated. It was also determined from quantitative studies on the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) obtained from two environments in Washington and Oregon that the titers of V. parahaemolyticus bacteriophages increased with increasing seasonal water temperatures and that this was proportional to the increase in numbers of mesophilic vibrios and not with the incidence of V. parahaemolyticus. Titers of V. parahaemolyticus bacteriophages occasionally exceeded 10(6) per g of oyster during the summer months. Specific V. parahaemolyticus bacteriophages were also isolated from market seafoods and other marine samples that originated in cold environments where no mesophilic vibrios are expected to be found. The possibility that V. parahaemolyticus bacteriophages originate from Vibrio spp. other than V. parahaemolyticus and the role of these bacteriophages in the ecology of marine vibrios are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Ecological relationship between Vibrio parahaemolyticus and agar-digesting vibrios as evidenced by bacteriophage susceptibility patterns.

Twenty bacteriophages active against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and agar-digesting vibrios, isolated from oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) and by induction of a lysogenic agar digester, were tested as to their host range. These phages were specific for V. parahaemolyticus and various agar-digesting vibrios, and interspecies lysis occurred only between these two groups. V. alginolyticus, V. anguillarum and related species, V. cholerae, and a group of marine psychrophilic and psychrotrophic vibrios were not affected. No correlation was observed between the O and K serotypes of V. parahaemolyticus strains and bacteriophage susceptibility patterns, and 7 of 28 strains of V. parahaemolyticus were not lysed by any of the phages. Only two of the phage isolates were capable of lysing all susceptible V. parahaemolyticus strains. No correlation was observed between the inter-and intraspecies genetic relatedness (DNA homologies) of V. parahaemolyticus and agar-digesting vibrios and susceptibility patterns to different bacteriophages. Some of the phages were capable of plaque formation on V. parahaemolyticus as well as on some strains of agar-digesting vibrios that were separated by 70 to 80% differences in their DNA homologies. The possible ecological significance of these vibrio bacteriophages, particularly those having a wide host range, is discussed.

Agar↗