Biomedical subjects

Jennifer M Bennett

Publications and source records attributed to Jennifer M Bennett.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Geographically separate outbreaks of shigellosis in Auckland, New Zealand, linked by molecular subtyping to cases returning from Samoa.

AIM: To investigate simultaneous outbreaks of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis occurring in February 2001 at a health camp for socially deprived children and an elderly care facility. METHODS: Those with symptoms were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire. Cases were defined as having at least three loose stools over a 24 hour period and stool samples requested. A case-control study investigating routes of transmission was performed at the health camp. Environmental investigations of food safety and hygiene were conducted at each facility. RESULTS: At the camp, 15 (37%) students and 15 (28%) staff met case criteria. Contact with human faeces (OR 4.0; 95% confidence interval 1.0-16.3; p = 0.05) and, for staff, eating camp food (OR 6.9; 1.0-5.0; p = 0.06) were shown to be independent risk factors for illness. At the elderly care facility, four (19%) residents and four (25%) staff met case criteria. Molecular subtyping confirmed that the outbreaks were related to each other and to other cases in travellers returning from Samoa to Auckland and other New Zealand cities over a four month period. CONCLUSION: Molecular subtyping is of considerable use in communicable disease investigation, providing strong evidence for links between outbreaks. With expanded technological capability, New Zealand could perform routine molecular subtyping of selected organisms to improve the detection and the investigation of regional and inter-regional outbreaks of infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Scientific basis for the use of hypotonic solutions with ultrasonic liposuction.

BACKGROUND: A number of plastic surgeons have advocated using hypotonic solution in ultrasound lipoplasty, theorizing that induced adipocyte swelling increases membrane susceptibility to ultrasonic disruption. Additionally, it has been theorized that potassium increases membrane permeability. This study aimed to determine the effect of solution osmolality on adipocyte diameter, the time course of hypotonic solution action, and the effect of potassium addition on adipocyte diameter. METHODS: Base solutions with three different osmolalities were prepared: normal saline (NS) (154 mOsm/l), 1/2NS (77 mOsm/l), and 1/4NS (38.5 mOsm/l). Each solution was modified to contain 0, 5, and 10 mEq/l of potassium and adjusted to starting osmolality. Adipocytes of six patients were suspended in the nine solutions, and diameters were determined at 0, 15, 30, and 45 min. Diameters were measured using imaging software (Kodak ID 3.6). RESULTS: At time 0, the average adipocyte diameter was 79 +/- 8 microm, and no difference was seen in any of the solutions. Cells in the NS group showed no significant increase in diameter over 45 min. The 1/2NS group achieved an 8% +/- 1.9% increase in diameter at 45 min (p < 0.05). The 1/4NS group showed an increase by 14% +/- 2.4% (p < 0.01) at 15 min, and 15% +/- 2.3% (p < 0.01) at 45 min. Potassium had no independent effect on cell diameter. CONCLUSIONS: Hypotonic solution can significantly increase human adipocyte diameter. The findings showed that 1/2NS had a significant effect within 15 min. Tumescent solutions with an osmolality of 1/4NS may be useful in facilitating ultrasonic lipoplasty.

Adipocytes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multi-channeled biodegradable polymer/CultiSpher composite nerve guides.

Innovative methods to fabricate porous, biodegradable conduits were developed to produce nerve guides with multiple longitudinally aligned channels. The geometry of the nerve guide's channels was designed to be appropriate for harboring neurite extension. Both the coated mandrel and mandrel adhesion techniques permit flexibility in the number of channels, channel organization, and channel diameters. In this study, the composite nerve guides were comprised of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and porous collagen-based beads (CultiSphers). The incorporation of the collagenous beads results in enhanced cortical neuron adhesion, viability, and neurite extension as compared to PCL alone. Additionally, Schwann cell studies indicated that the PCL/CultiSpher composite is a suitable substrate for cell adhesion. Mechanical properties of the PCL/CultiSpher material and in vitro degradation rates indicate the potential usefulness of this novel composite for use in the fabrication of nerve guides.

Absorbable Implants↗