MLL rearrangements emerge during spontaneous apoptosis of clinical blood samples.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Acute Disease↗
Biomedical subjects
K Karim
Publications and source records attributed to K Karim.
Displacement imprinted polymer receptor analysis (DIPRA) for chlorophenolic contaminants in drinking water and packaging materials.
The preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for pentachlorophenol is described together with two alternative reporter derivatives for use in a displacement imprinted polymer receptor analysis (DIPRA) format procedure. In this procedure, alternative reporter molecules were rebound to the synthetic receptor sites and their displacement by the target analyte was employed as the basis of a simple procedure for the measurement of chlorophenols in water and packaging material samples. Water samples were extracted using the standard procedure (EPA 528) and a detection limit of 0.5 microg l(-1) was achieved using the DIPRA detection method, with good agreement between the displacement technique and GC-ECD analysis. A variety of packaging materials, extracted using a buffered detergent solution were also analysed using the DIPRA procedure and showed good agreement with GC results. In addition, investigation of the cross-reactivity of a range of pesticides and materials commonly encountered in environmental analysis indicated the procedure gave good discrimination between pesticides bearing a chlorophenolic moiety and other materials. The procedure is considered highly suitable for use as a rapid field-test method or for incorporation into a test kit device.
Food Analysis↗
Flow pattern visualization in a mimic anaerobic digester: experimental and computational studies.
Advanced non-invasive experiments like computer automated radioactive particle tracking and computed tomography along with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed in mimic anaerobic digesters to visualize their flow pattern and obtain hydrodynamic parameters. The mixing in the digester was provided by sparging gas at three different flow rates. The simulation results in terms of overall flow pattern, location of circulation cells and stagnant regions, trends of liquid velocity profiles, and volume of dead zones agree reasonably well with the experimental data. CFD simulations were also performed on different digester configurations. The effects of changing draft tube size, clearance, and shape of the tank bottoms were calculated to evaluate the effect of digester design on its flow pattern. Changing the draft tube clearance and height had no influence on the flow pattern or dead regions volume. However increasing the draft tube diameter or incorporating a conical bottom design helped in reducing the volume of the dead zones as compared to a flat bottom digester. The simulations showed that the gas flow rate sparged by a single point (0.5 cm diameter) sparger does not have appreciable effect on the flow pattern of the digesters.
Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
Biosorption of nitrophenols on anaerobic granular sludge.
The sorption and desorption of 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) on live anaerobic granular sludge was studied at five different sorbate (nitrophenols) concentrations between 10 x 10(3) - 90 x 10(3) microg l(-1). Experiments were conducted at room temperature (29 +/- 2 degrees C) and at an initial pH of 7.5. The maximum uptake capacity of live anaerobic granular sludge was found to b e 1,427, 1,511 and 1,865 microg g(-1) VSS for 2-NP, 4-NP and 2,4-DNP, respectively. The equilibrium data of three nitrophenols obeyed both Freundlich and linear isotherm models. Sorption was observed to be partially reversible. About 20-89%, 36-90% and 29-80% desorption was observed for 10 x 10(3) - 90 x 10(3) microg l(-1) sorbate concentrations of 2-NP, 4-NP and 2,4-DNP, respectively.
2,4-Dinitrophenol↗
"Bite-and-Switch" approach using computationally designed molecularly imprinted polymers for sensing of creatinine.
A method for the selective detection of creatinine is reported, which is based on the reaction between polymerised hemithioacetal, formed by allyl mercaptan, o-phthalic aldehyde, and primary amine leading to the formation of fluorescent isoindole complex. This method has been demonstrated previously for the detection of creatine using creatine-imprinted molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) Since MIPs created using traditional methods were unable to differentiate between creatine and creatinine, a new approach to the rational design of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) selective for creatinine was developed using computer simulation. A virtual library of functional monomers was assigned and screened against the target molecule, creatinine, using molecular modelling software. The monomers giving the highest binding score were further tested using simulated annealing in order to mimic the complexation of the functional monomers with template in the monomer mixture. The result of this simulation gave an optimised MIP composition. The computationally designed polymer demonstrated superior selectivity in comparison to the polymer prepared using traditional approach, a detection limit of 25 microM and good stability. The "Bite-and-Switch" approach combined with molecular imprinting can be used for the design of assays and sensors, selective for amino containing substances.
Biosensing Techniques↗
Substitution of antibodies and receptors with molecularly imprinted polymers in enzyme-linked and fluorescent assays.
A new technique for coating microtitre plates with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), specific for low-molecular weight analytes (epinephrine, atrazine) and proteins is presented. Oxidative polymerization was performed in the presence of template; monomers: 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA), 3-thiopheneboronic acid (TBA) and aniline were polymerized in water and the polymers were grafted onto the polystyrene surface of the microplates. It was found that this process results in the creation of synthetic materials with antibody-like binding properties. It was shown that the MIP-coated microplates are particularly useful for assay development. The high stability of the polymers and good reproducibility of the measurements make MIP coating an attractive alternative to conventional antibodies or receptors used in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Antibodies↗
Biotransformation of nitrophenols in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors.
Four identical bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, R1, R2, R3 and R4, were used to assess nitrophenols degradation at four different hydraulic retention times (HRT). Reactor R1 was used as control, whereas R2, R3, and R4 were fed with 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), respectively. The concentration of each nitrophenol was gradually varied from 2 to 30 mg/l during acclimation. After acclimation reactors were operated under steady-state conditions at four different HRTs--30, 24, 18, and 12 h, to study its effect on the removal of nitrophenols. Overall removal of 2-NP and 4-NP was always more than 99% but 2,4-DNP removal decreased from 96% to 89.7% as HRT was lowered from 30 to 12 h. 2-Aminophenol (2-AP), 4-aminophenol (4-AP) and 2-amino,4-nitrophenol (2-A,4-NP) were found to be the major intermediates during the degradation of 2-NP, 4-NP and 2,4-DNP, respectively. Out of the total input of nitrophenolic concentration (30 mg/l), on molar basis, about 41.248.4% of 2-NP, 59.4-68% of 4-NP, 30-26.6% of 2,4-DNP was recovered in the form of their respective amino derivatives at 30-12 h HRT. COD removal was 98-89%, 97-56%, 97-52%, and 94-46% at 30-12 h HRT for R1, R2, R3 and R4, respectively. Average cell growth was observed to be 0.15 g volatile suspended solid (VSS) per g COD consumed. Methanogenic inhibition was observed at lower HRTs (18 and 12 h), however denitrification was always more than 99% with non-detectable level of nitrite. The granules developed inside the reactors were black in color and their average size varied between 1.9 and 2.1 mm.
Biomass↗
Chemical grafting of molecularly imprinted homopolymers to the surface of microplates. Application of artificial adrenergic receptor in enzyme-linked assay for beta-agonists determination.
A technique for coating of microplate wells with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), specific for epinephrine, is presented. 3-Aminophenylboronic acid was polymerized in the presence of epinephrine using oxidation of the monomer by ammonium persulfate. This process resulted in the grafting of a thin polymer layer onto the polystyrene surface of the microplates. The polymer affinity was determined by an enzyme-linked assay using a conjugate of horseradish peroxidase and norepinephrine (HRP-N). It was found that imprinting resulted in increased affinity of the polymer toward HRP-N and epinephrine. Influence of the buffer pH and concentration on the polymer affinity was analyzed. It was shown that the MIP-coated microplates could be used for assay development and drug screening. The high stability of the polymers and good reproducibility of the measurements make MIP coating an attractive alternative to traditional antibodies or receptors, used in ELISA.
Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
Nonwhite ethnicity and the provision of specialist palliative care services: factors affecting doctors' referral patterns.
The aim of this paper was to examine the use of palliative care services by members of black/minority ethnic communities. Referral patterns of hospital consultants and general practitioners (GPs) to Birmingham St Mary's Hospice were examined. Semistructured interviews were carried out to explore doctors' perceptions of the benefits and limitations of hospice services for their black/minority ethnic patients and to identify potential barriers to referral. In total, 27 doctors were interviewed: 15 hospital consultants and 12 GP. The GPs were selected according to size of practice within areas of Birmingham with significant black/minority ethnic populations. Referrals received by the hospice for the period April 1996 to November 1997 were collected from the Hospice's computerized database. Results show that, compared to white Europeans, there was an underutilization of day care and inpatient hospice services by members of black/minority ethnic communities. Doctors did, however, refer their black/minority ethnic patients for hospice home-care services: 8.5% of referrals received by the hospice were for nonwhite patients. This referral rate increased to 19.3% in specific postcode areas known to have significant black/minority ethnic communities. Further research is needed to establish levels of awareness, explore attitudes towards palliative care services and assess the demand for specific services within various black/minority ethnic communities.
Asia, Southeastern↗
[Risk factors for surgical wound infection in digestive surgery. Retrospective study of 3,000 surgical wounds].
A retrospective consecutive study was made of 3000 surgical wounds. All wounds were examined for ten days after operation. The overall infection rate of surgical wound infection (SWI) was 3.53%. SWI lengthened significantly duration of hospital stay (12 days vs 4 days, p < 10-6). Monovariate analysis had shown as significantly risk factors: diabetes (12.26% vs 5.49%, p < 10-6), emergency operation (5.64% vs 2.43%, p < 10-3), acute appendicitis (24.53% vs 13.06%, p < 10-3), biliary emergencies (10.37% vs 4.73%, p < 10-3), operations achieved by young surgeons (5.55% vs 2.83%, p < 10-3), choledochotomy (10.38% vs 5.46%, p < 0.05), colorectal resection (8.50% vs 4.14%, p < 0.05), open laparotomy versus laparoscopy (19.81% vs 1.89%, p < 0.05) and operating time (148 mn vs 104 mn, p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that diabetes (p = 0.00488), biliary emergencies (p = 0.0016), seniority of surgeon (p = 0.0023), type of skin incision (p = 0.0196) and operating time (p = 0.0005) were the independent risk factors for surgical wound infection.
Adult↗
Vasoseal hemostasis following coronary interventions with abciximab.
Femoral arteriotomy management using a collagen vascular hemostasis device (VasoSeal, Datascope Corporation, Montvale, New Jersey) was studied in 50 consecutive patients following interventional coronary procedures performed with abciximab (ReoPro, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana). Low-dose weight-adjusted or no heparin was employed. The first 25 patients were permitted to sit up after 6 hours with ambulation the following day. The second 25 patients were allowed to sit up after 1 hour and ambulate after 6 hours. Despite early activity and ambulation, there were no hemorrhagic complications including hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, blood transfusion, or surgical repair. Hemoglobin and platelet counts remained stable overnight prior to discharge. This pilot study demonstrates the potential efficacy of VasoSeal in achieving early sheath removal and ambulation in patients undergoing interventional procedures using ReoPro.
Abciximab↗
Vasoseal hemostasis following coronary interventions with Abciximab.
Femoral arteriotomy management using a collagen vascular hemostasis device (VasoSeal) was studied in 50 consecutive patients following interventional coronary procedures performed with Abciximab (ReoPro). Low dose weight adjusted or no heparin was employed. The first 25 patients were permitted to sit up after 6 hours with ambulation the following day. The second 25 patients were allowed to sit up after 1 hour and ambulate after 6 hours. Despite early activity and ambulation, there were no hemorrhagic complications including hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, blood transfusion, or surgical repair. Hemoglobin and platelet counts remained stable overnight prior to discharge. This pilot study demonstrates the potential efficacy of VasoSeal in achieving early sheath removal and ambulation in patients undergoing interventional procedures using ReoPro.
Abciximab↗
Drugs acting at central benzodiazepine receptors attenuate ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats.
The characteristics of the receptors involved in the protective action of benzodiazepines against ethanol-induced gastric lesions were investigated by studying the effect of benzodiazepine ligands on such lesions in both intact and unilaterally vagotomized rats. Clonazepam [5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-7-nitro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2-one] a specific central-type receptor agonist (0.625-2.5 mg/kg p.o. or i.p.) and CGS 9896 [2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,5-dihydropyrazolo(4,3-c)quinoline-3(3H)-one] a non-sedative partial agonist with anxiolytic properties (2.5-10 mg/kg p.o.) significantly reduced the gastric damage induced by ethanol (10 ml/kg of a 50% solution v/v p.o.) in non-vagotomized rats but Ro 5-4864 [7-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine- 2 -one] a pure peripheral-type receptor agonist (5-20 mg/kg p.o.) failed to affect this damage. The protective action of clonazepam and CGS 9896 against ethanol-induced gastric lesions was blocked, dose dependently, by the central-type receptor antagonist, flumazenil [ethyl 8-fluoro-5,6-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo(1,4)f1p4odiazepine-3-carbox ylate] (1.25-20 mg/kg i.p.). In the unilaterally vagotomized rat, ethanol produced lesions in the right (vagotomized) and the left (non-vagotomized) halves of the gastric mucosa to nearly the same extent, while clonazepam and CGS 9896 uniformly decreased the lesions in both halves. It is concluded that central-type benzodiazepine receptors located in the stomach, specifically those mediating the anxiolytic effect of benzodiazepines, are involved in the protective action of benzodiazepines against ethanol-induced gastric lesions.
Animals↗
The effect of halothane on neonatal ciliary beat frequency.
The effect of a commonly used anaesthetic agent, halothane, on neonatal cilial function was determined. A nasal cilial sample was taken from 13 healthy, term, newborn infants. For 1 h, half of each sample was exposed to halothane and half to air. Cilial function was assessed by measuring beat frequency with a modified light transmission method. Cilial beat frequency was significantly slower in the cilia exposed to halothane, 9(s.d. 2.5)Hz, than to air, 12.9(s.d. 1.5)Hz. Decreased mucociliary clearance following halothane anaesthesia is due, at least in part, to a directly depressant effect of halothane on ciliated cells.
Air↗
Taking the stress out of the benefit system. Benefits for elderly and disabled people.
Claiming benefit can be a frustrating and stressful procedure, and many people will turn to nurses for advice. It is therefore important to keep fully informed and up-to-date on benefits, and know where to refer people for extra help.
Aged↗
Challenging beliefs about tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is still prevalent in the UK, and current prevention strategies are largely reactive. This article describes a study of TB patterns in the Dudley area, the preliminary findings of which suggest that some commonly-held stereotypes about TB should be challenged. The author believes that if TB is to be eliminated from the UK, prevention strategies need to be proactive and based on locally determined needs. The clinical nurse specialist (TB) is ideally placed to lead this work.
Adolescent↗
Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of action research.
BACKGROUND: Proponents of action research claim that it is not just for researchers, but helps to empower research participants to make changes in practice. This literature review examines some of the evidence for and against a research methodology that might still be unfamiliar to many nurses. CONCLUSION: Action research often lends itself to small-scale studies and is time-consuming. The value of such a methodology is that it provides a powerful means of improving and enhancing practice.
Attitude of Health Personnel↗
Conducting research involving palliative patients.
AIM: The objective of this study was to outline some of the reasons why palliative care patients are seen to be vulnerable as research participants. METHOD: The author conducted a literature review to ascertain whether or not palliative care patients should be involved in research. RESULTS: The author found that the case for involving patients who are receiving palliative care in research is overwhelming, but that the protection of these patients must be an integral part of the research. CONCLUSION: The research design should essentially incorporate the same aims as the palliative care philosophy: patient autonomy, open awareness, holism, respect and collaboration.
Cooperative Behavior↗