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Biomedical subjects

K Commerford

Publications and source records attributed to K Commerford.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Aberrant cellular localization of rubella viral genome in patients with adult Still's disease--a pilot study.

The rubella virus (RV) genome was detected using polymerase chain amplification techniques in several peripheral blood cell populations in patients with adult Still's disease (ASD) and normal controls (NC), including mononuclear cells (PBMC), B-cells, T-cells, monocyte/macrophages, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Five of 6 ASD patients and 3 of 6 NC subjects had detectable RV genome. Viral genomic load was significantly higher in ASD than in NC subjects (4.4 fold higher, p = 0.03). Interestingly, a differential cellular distribution of viral genome was observed between ASD and NC individuals. RV genome was detected more frequently in the PBMCs of ASD (5 of 6) patients compared to 2 of 6 NC. The viral genome was more localized to the PMN compartment equally in ASD and in NC subjects. On further cellular analysis, RV genome was detected in B-cells and macrophages but not T-cells in one patient. Existence of a differential viral genomic reservoir between ASD and NC suggests that this may play a role in the pathogenesis of disease manifestations and may reflect the inability to clear latent virus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Binding characteristics of human hybridoma IgG and IgM rheumatoid factors: influence of IgG isotype and carbohydrate content.

The interaction of human monoclonal rheumatoid factors (RF) with the Fc portion of IgG is complex. We have investigated the influence of the nature of the antigen (Fc) on the binding of hybridoma-generated RF derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. For IgM RF, the interaction is strongly influenced by the primary structure of the Fc with little or no effect of the carbohydrate, which is positioned at amino acid 297 in the gamma-2 domain. In contrast, our preliminary data suggest that IgG RF binding is affected both by the primary structure and the nature of the carbohydrate of the Fc. These results suggest that the antigen selection events which lead to the induction and production of IgG RF are likely to be different from those that induce IgM RF production.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
PubMed1990

Using a sociomatrix to evaluate the effectiveness of small-group teaching to residents.

This article describes a 1988 pilot study in a family medicine residency program of the use of a sociomatrix to assess small-group teaching. A multidisciplinary team developed a sociomatrix coding sheet, which was used by a family physician-psychiatrist to classify behaviors seen on videotaped small-group teaching sessions, which were held at the conclusion of patient care activities. Although the sociomatrix appears to have the potential to relate specific leader behaviors to residents' feedback regarding subjective learning outcomes, the number of observations was too small to permit clear conclusions regarding optimal teaching behaviors and styles.

Family Practice↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of psychosocial distress: a comparison of internal medicine and family medicine residents.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracies of internal medicine and family medicine residents in identifying psychosocial distress in ambulatory patients. DESIGN: 410 consecutive patients in two hospital-based residency clinics were enrolled. Psychosocial distress was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Residents, blinded to the goals of the study and the results of the GHQ, documented clinically identified psychosocial distress. MAIN RESULTS: Overall concordance between the residents and the GHQ in identifying the presence or absence of psychosocial distress was 60%. There was no difference in the diagnostic performances of the two resident groups. Sensitivity for the identification of psychosocial distress when the resident groups were combined was 32.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The concordance between a commonly used, well-validated screening test for psychosocial distress and resident diagnosis was 60%. This may reflect the need for more effective training of residents in this area of diagnosis or the need for better screening methods.

Adult↗