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Biomedical subjects

K R Beckmann

Publications and source records attributed to K R Beckmann.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of fake tanning lotions in the South Australian population.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the use of fake tanning lotions and repeated sunburn among South Australian adults, with a view to informing the Anti-Cancer Foundation of South Australia's (ACFSA) policy on fake tanning products. STUDY DESIGN: Population survey. PARTICIPANTS: 2005 South Australians aged 18 years or older, selected randomly from the electronic White Pages. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported use of fake tanning lotions in the past 12 months; frequency of sunburn over summer; and various sun-protective behaviours. RESULTS: 2,005 of the 2,536 eligible participants (79%) were surveyed by telephone. Fake tan use was most prevalent among women (15.9%), people aged 18-24 years (15.4%), and people with household incomes above $40 000 per year (11.9%). Fake tan users were more likely than non-users to use sunscreens (81.3% v 56.5%; P < 0.001), but less likely to take other precautions such as wearing hats (40.9% v 51.0%; P = 0.04) and protective clothing (22.3% v 34.1%; P = 0.005). They were also more likely to report having been burnt more than once over summer (26.2% v 16.5%; P = 0.025). Multivariate analysis indicates a statistically significant association between fake tan use and repeated sunburn (odds ratio, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-3.69), which was independent of age, sex, skin type and sun-protection practices. CONCLUSION: Users of fake tanning products may be at greater risk of repeated sunburn. The ACFSA sees no justification at this stage for altering its present policy position of not actively promoting the use of fake tanning lotions as a means of reducing sunburn.

Adolescent↗

Accuracy of clinical variables in the identification of radiographically proven constipation in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether clinical variables accurately identify children with radiographically proven constipation. METHODS: Prospective, cross sectional case series of children 2-12 years of age with abdominal pain (AP) requiring radiographic evaluation. Constipation was defined radiographically as the presence of fecal material throughout the colon. The presence of other pathology was noted. The pediatric emergency department (ED) physicians recorded a comprehensive history and physical examination and a provisional diagnosis was made. Radiographs were initially interpreted by the pediatric ED attending physicians; the official interpretation was later provided by a single board certified pediatric radiologist who was blinded to the ED interpretation. A discriminant analysis was performed to identify variables that could best discriminate between patients with, and without, radiographically proven constipation. RESULTS: In total 251 patients were enrolled over a 12 month period. Four variables were noted to be more common in constipated patients: a history of normal or hard stools, absence of rebound tenderness, presence of tenderness in the left lower quadrant and stool in the rectal vault on exam. Stool present on rectal exam was the best discriminator between patients with and without constipation. The discriminant analysis model had a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 35% and a negative predictive value of 55%. CONCLUSION: No clinical variable, either as a single variable or in a model, accurately identified patients with abdominal pain and radiographically proven constipation.

Child↗

Small bowel perforation: an unusual presentation for child abuse.

Hollow viscus perforation due to inflicted blunt abdominal injury is uncommon. Diagnosis is frequently delayed because of inaccurate or absent history, nonspecific or delayed physical findings or both, and laboratory tests with low sensitivity. Computed tomographic scanning of the abdomen is the best diagnostic test available. A high index of suspicion is essential to diagnose visceral perforation early, as significant morbidity and mortality results from diagnostic delay.

Child Abuse↗

Human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase: protein maturation and isolation of genomic clones.

N-Acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase (EC 3.1.6.1, G4S) is composed of a 57 kDa species in human liver that dissociates into 43 kDa and 8 kDa subunits under reducing conditions and, when deficient, causes the lysosomal storage disorder, mucopolysaccharidosis type VI. We isolated genomic clones containing the G4S first exon, including the leader peptide and the amino terminus of the 43 kDa polypeptide. Amino-terminal amino acid sequences of the 43 kDa and 8 kDa subunits indicated that the 8 kDa component is linked to the 43 kDa polypeptide by a single disulphide bond, does not contain the mannose-6-phosphate lysosomal targeting signal and is at the carboxyl terminus of G4S.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human alpha-L-fucosidase: complete coding sequence from cDNA clones.

The human lysosomal storage disorder fucosidosis results from the deficiency of alpha-L-fucosidase, a lysosomal enzyme essential for the catabolism of oligosaccharides containing alpha-L-fucosides. cDNA clones coding for human alpha-L-fucosidase have been isolated from lambda gt10 and lambda gt11 cDNA libraries derived from human liver, placenta and colon. Compilation of cDNA sequences results in a nucleotide sequence of 2053 base pairs encoding alpha-L-fucosidase. The sequence contains an open reading frame of 461 amino acids beginning with the first in-frame methionine and includes 439 amino acids which comprise the mature protein in addition to a hydrophobic signal peptide sequence of 22 amino acids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chromosomal localization of ARSB, the gene for human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase.

A deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase (G4S, gene symbol ARSB), results in the accumulation of undegraded substrate and the lysosomal storage disorder, Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type VI). In situ hybridization using an 3H-labelled human G4S genomic DNA fragment to human metaphase chromosomes localized ARSB to chromosome 5q13-5q14. This location is consistent with, an refines, previous chromosomal assignments based on the expression of human G4S in somatic cell hybrids.

Chondro-4-Sulfatase↗