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Biomedical subjects

K Bellamy

Publications and source records attributed to K Bellamy.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Research for medical illustrators. Part 2: Trial design, protocols, results and reporting.

Medical illustrators have long been involved in the research projects of other workers, by providing photographic and other visual records. These illustrations may be used for measurement purposes, in which case it is important that medical illustrators understand the requirements for using tested protocols, which ensure that all variables of the recording medium are controlled. Now that there are degree courses in medical illustration an increasing number of medical illustrators in the UK are instigating their own research projects, making it all the more important that they understand the research process. In this second of a two-part article, consideration is given to: the design of experiments and research trials; the production of research protocols; data analysis and interpretation; the writing of the research report or dissertation; and the role of the supervisor or mentor.

Clinical Protocols

Research for medical illustrators. Part 1: The research process and planning research.

Medical illustrators have long been involved in the research projects of other workers, by providing photographic and other visual records. These illustrations may be used for measurement purposes, in which case it's important that medical illustrators understand the requirements for using tested protocols which ensure that all variables of the recording medium are controlled. Now that there are degree courses in Medical illustration an increasing number of medical illustrators in the UK are instigating their own research projects, making it all the more important that they understand the research process. This two-part article looks at some of the relevant issues for medical illustrators who are embarking on a research project. Part 1 covers the research method, the selection and planning of projects, ethical, economic and practical considerations, and writing a research proposal. In Part 2, research protocols, trial design, data analysis, writing the report and the role of the supervisor or mentor, will be considered.

Humans

A review of the test methods used to establish virucidal activity.

Testing the efficacy of disinfectants has been the domain of bacteriologists for many years. Recently interest has grown in the virucidal effects of disinfectants, due to increased awareness of viral infections and concern for possible cross-infection. Findings have demonstrated significant differences in the susceptibility of certain viruses, particularly non-enveloped viruses, e.g. enteroviruses, to disinfectants compared to some bacteria. For example Escherichia coli and herpes simplex virus are inactivated by 20% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) whereas Staphylococcus aureus requires > or = 50% and poliovirus is not inactivated by IPA. Currently there is little or no standardization in the methods used for the determination of virucidal activity in suspension, or on hands and surfaces. Methods in use in Europe and the USA will be reviewed and their relevance to the clinical situation discussed.

Antiviral Agents

Design standards for computer-generated teaching slides.

This article looks at the increasing use of the computer-generated teaching slide in a large teaching hospital, where the medical illustration department provides a bureau service for output. Lack of understanding by clients of basic design principles can present a number of problems. A study was undertaken on the slide making habits of professional healthcare educators and, from the information gathered, common problems were identified and a multifaceted approach to improving the design capability of clients was adopted.

Audiovisual Aids

Assessment of chemical disinfectants against human immunodeficiency virus: overcoming the problem of cytotoxicity and the evaluation of selected actives.

The aim of this study was to develop a standardised technique for assessing the virucidal activity of commercial disinfectants against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the absence of any model procedure for HIV a protocol based on German DVV guidelines was developed. A major difficulty associated with such studies is the cytotoxic effect of the biocide on the target cells used in infectivity assays. This problem is most commonly overcome by dilution of the virus-disinfectant mixture, however, this requires high titre (> or = 10(7) TCID50) virus which is difficult to achieve with HIV. We employed a simple washing technique which effectively removed cytotoxicity while retaining infectivity. Incorporated into a standard suspension test, this method supported by virus isolation procedures was sensitive and reproducible. The reliability of the procedure was confirmed by evaluating the efficacy of some commercially available cidals which were known to be cytotoxic; namely two instrument disinfectants, Sactimed-I-Steril, an aldehyde based product, Sactimed-I-Sinald a guanide/quaternary-ammonium combination, and Levermed, an alcohol based hand disinfectant.

Cell Line

A test for the assessment of 'hygienic' hand disinfection using rotavirus.

A standardized test procedure is described in which finger tips are inoculated with bovine rotavirus. The level of virus recovered after disinfection of artificially contaminated hands with various disinfectant detergents, alcoholic solutions and alcoholic formulations was determined. The method was found to be easy to perform and reproducible. The most efficient method for removal of virus from fingertips was found to be treatment with alcoholic solutions or products. Soap and water and disinfectant detergents were found to be a much less effective method of removing virus from contaminated hands.

Alcohols

The use of bacteriophage MS2 as a model system to evaluate virucidal hand disinfectants.

A model system which would closely reflect the resistance of poliovirus but could be easily performed in any microbiology laboratory would offer considerable advantages for rapidly screening hand decontamination products. The use of the bacteriophage MS2 as a simple model for virucidal testing has been evaluated. In suspension tests the sensitivity of MS2 to alcohols, organic acids and alkalis generally reflected that observed in studies using poliovirus. MS2 could be applied and recovered from the hands of volunteers with high efficiency. Furthermore MS2 proved to be a suitable replacement for Escherichia coli in a standard hand-decontamination test.

Acids

Neutron fibre diffraction study of DNA hydration.

Interactions with water are crucial to the conformation assumed by the DNA double helix. The location of water around the D conformation has been investigated in a neutron fibre diffraction study which shows that water is ordered in the minor groove of the DNA. The D conformation is important since its occurrence is limited to specific DNA base pair sequences which have been identified as functionally significant. This study is of particular interest because the D conformation has not been reported in single crystal studies of oligonucleotides.

DNA

The development of an M antibody capture ELISA for rubella IgM.

An M antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rubella IgM was developed. The enzyme label was prepared from a monoclonal antibody raised against rubella haemagglutinin (Tedder et al., 1982). Paired sera from acute rubella infections and vaccines as well as sera from blood donors, antenatal patients and patients whose sera contained rheumatoid factor and patients with acute non-rubella infections were tested by this method.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Public Health Laboratory Service IgM antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for detecting rubella specific IgM.

A total of 468 sera were selected for the evaluation of the Public Health Laboratory Service's IgM antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit (MACELISA) for detecting rubella specific IgM. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by IgM antibody capture radioimmunoassay (MACRIA). Sera from patients with primary postnatal rubella, congenital rubella, remote rubella, infectious mononucleosis, and recent infection with other agents were included, in addition to sera taken after rubella immunisation and sera containing rheumatoid factor and rubella specific IgG antibody. The assay exhibited a similar ability and comparable specificity to MACRIA for detecting rubella specific IgM antibody. The Public Health Laboratory Service MACELISA can be recommended if, as for all assays that detect rubella specific IgM, all the available clinical and serological data are taken into account when the results are interpreted.

Antibody Specificity

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of human rotavirus in stools.

A simple method for the detection of human rotavirus in stools is described, using a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polysterene microtitre plates were used as solid phase. Four capture antibodies were tried, bovine, egg-derived, guinea pig and monoclonal antibody to rotavirus. Both bovine and egg-derived antirotavirus labelled with horseradish peroxidase were used as the detecting antibodies. The results obtained were compared with a commercially available ELISA, Rotazyme (Abbott Laboratories), and also with the direct detection of rotavirus by electron microscopy. Bovine antibody was found to be an unsuitable capture antibody due to non-specific false positive reactions.

Animals