Biomedical subjects

K McPhee

Publications and source records attributed to K McPhee.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Microsatellite marker polymorphism and mapping in pea (Pisum sativum L.).

This paper aims at providing reliable and cost effective genotyping conditions, level of polymorphism in a range of genotypes and map position of newly developed microsatellite markers in order to promote broad application of these markers as a common set for genetic studies in pea. Optimal PCR conditions were determined for 340 microsatellite markers based on amplification in eight genotypes. Levels of polymorphism were determined for 309 of these markers. Compared to data obtained for other species, levels of polymorphism detected in a panel of eight genotypes were high with a mean number of 3.8 alleles per polymorphic locus and an average PIC value of 0.62, indicating that pea represents a rather polymorphic autogamous species. One of our main objectives was to locate a maximum number of microsatellite markers on the pea genetic map. Data obtained from three different crosses were used to build a composite genetic map of 1,430 cM (Haldane) comprising 239 microsatellite markers. These include 216 anonymous SSRs developed from enriched genomic libraries and 13 SSRs located in genes. The markers are quite evenly distributed throughout the seven linkage groups of the map, with 85% of intervals between the adjacent SSR markers being smaller than 10 cM. There was a good conservation of marker order and linkage group assignment across the three populations. In conclusion, we hope this report will promote wide application of these markers and will allow information obtained by different laboratories worldwide in diverse fields of pea genetics, such as QTL mapping studies and genetic resource surveys, to be easily aligned.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1990

Discordance of physiological and biochemical response to smoking and to psychological stress.

Both smoking and psychological stress produce marked effects upon cardiovascular function, and several studies have demonstrated that in combination they produce additive or potentiating effects. More recently, it has been reported that individuals strongly reactive to psychological stress are also strongly reactive to nicotine. In an attempt to replicate and extend those findings, we examined reactivity to smoking and competitive mental arithmetic across several physiological and biochemical variables. Despite stable responding across mental arithmetic trials, we were unable to demonstrate significant correlations between reactivity to smoking and to a psychological stressor. We further observed that anxiety level, when low, was a poor predictor of desire to smoke and of withdrawal, whereas higher anxiety levels were more tightly linked to these measures. These findings have implications for the identification of individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease as well as for the design of smoking treatment and relapse prevention programs.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Simple phobia: evidence for heterogeneity.

Although simple phobia is a residual category in DSM-III, clinical experience suggests at least four subtypes of this group. To test the validity of the subtypes, the authors compared patients with one of four simple phobias subtypes (n: animal-insect = 25, blood-injury = 9, situational = 46, choking-vomit = 8). Significant sex differences were observed; all animal and insect phobics and seven of eight choking-vomit phobics were female, while the other two groups showed approximately equal numbers of males and females. Mean age of onset was significantly older for situational phobics than animal-insect or blood-injury phobics; choking-vomit probands were intermediate. Frequency of situational phobias differed significantly among relatives of the four proband groups, with highest frequency being found among situational probands. Thus, these clinical and epidemiological variables support the separation of simple phobia into at least these four diagnostic groups.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Menstrual fluctuation in the symptoms of panic anxiety.

Ten women with DSM-III-defined panic attacks (five with and five without agoraphobia) had symptom severity rated daily, weekly, and retrospectively through one full menstrual cycle. Substantial fluctuations in retrospective ratings of severity were observed, with the premenstrual week being rated as most severe. Daily and weekly ratings showed much smaller fluctuations in the predicted direction. Possible reasons for this outcome are considered.

Adult↗