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Biomedical subjects

Jeanne Wallace

Publications and source records attributed to Jeanne Wallace.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a publicly funded healthcare system.

BACKGROUND: Despite its current recognition as a major health concern, little has been published about obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) as a health problem in public healthcare systems where limited resources, language and cultural differences may present barriers to detection and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To describe patients referred for suspected OSAS in a large county-funded healthcare system. METHOD: A retrospective, descriptive observational study that included all patients referred for an OSAS evaluation between September 2000 and September 2002. RESULTS: Only 123 patients were referred and 115 completed an evaluation during the two-year period: 99% met OSAS diagnostic criteria, which was severe in 79% and frequently complicated by related comorbid conditions. CPAP acceptance was lower than in the previous series, especially among Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that referral for OSAS evaluation was limited to those most severely affected and raise the possibility of underdetection and undertreatment in the ublic sector.

California↗
PubMed2004

Cecal volvulus in two African green monkeys (Cercopithecus athiops sabeus).

Following short-term signs of weakness, depression, and/or anorexia of less than 24 h, two adult male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus) of St. Kitts origin died from complications of cecal volvulus. Gaseous distention was radiologically apparent in one animal. Necropsy of both monkeys revealed cecal volvulus, one at the ileocecal junction and one involving a segment of the distal portion of the ileum and cecum. Congestion and hemorrhage were evident microscopically in the lamina propria of the affected intestine, with variable necrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Occupational issues in episodic care populations.

BACKGROUND: Much care for non-emergency problems is provided at "episodic care" settings (e.g., urgent care and emergency room). METHODS: Ninety-four subjects, without known occupational disease, who were seeking care for a chronic or sub-acute problem in an episodic care location, were interviewed to assess the frequency and types of occupational health concerns. They were asked whether work probably "caused" or "made worse" their illness and whether their illness "made work difficult." RESULTS: Categorized hierarchically, 20% reported causation, 15% worsening, and 15% interference of illness with work. (Each was categorized in one category only). Only 50% reported absence of a workplace-health interaction. One-third reported that workplace changes could improve their functional status. Nevertheless, workplace factors were discussed only 21% of the time in physician-patient encounters. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that occupational health issues are frequent in episodic care settings and that the definition of occupational health issues should be broadened to include "made worse" and "illness makes work difficult" as well as the traditional workplace causation definition. Further, episodic care settings present unique opportunities for prevention.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2002

Primates highly responsive to dietary cholesterol up-regulate hepatic ACAT2, and less responsive primates do not.

The role of liver acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT2), earlier shown to be the principal ACAT enzyme within primate hepatocytes, as a regulator of the hypercholesterolemia induced by dietary cholesterol was studied. At the end of low and high cholesterol diet periods, liver biopsies were taken from cynomolgus monkeys, a species highly responsive to dietary cholesterol, and less responsive African green monkeys. Liver cholesterol and cholesteryl ester concentrations were highest in cynomolgus monkeys fed cholesterol, despite the fact that in order to induce equivalent hypercholesterolemia, dietary cholesterol levels were 50% lower than was fed to green monkeys. Hepatic cholesteryl oleate secretion rate, measured during liver perfusion as an indicator of ACAT activity, was significantly higher in cynomolgus monkeys. Liver microsomal ACAT activity was 2-3-fold higher in cynomolgus monkeys than in green monkeys. The responses of ACAT2 were compared with those of ACAT1 that is found primarily in Kupffer cells. ACAT2 protein mass was significantly correlated to microsomal total ACAT activity in both species; ACAT1 mass was less well correlated. Dietary cholesterol induced a significant 3-fold increase of ACAT2 protein mass in cynomolgus monkeys, a much greater increase than was found for mRNA abundance; neither ACAT2 mRNA nor protein was diet-responsive in green monkeys. In cynomolgus monkeys but not in green monkeys, liver free cholesterol concentrations were elevated when cholesterol was fed and were correlated with ACAT2 protein levels. The data suggest a mechanism whereby the elevation of hepatic free cholesterol concentrations by dietary cholesterol, seen only in cynomolgus monkeys, resulted in higher ACAT2 protein levels in hepatocytes, either through increased production or stabilization of the protein. Regulation of ACAT2 gene transcription was not a factor.

Animals↗