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Biomedical subjects

K S Martin

Publications and source records attributed to K S Martin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Whole recombinant yeast vaccine activates dendritic cells and elicits protective cell-mediated immunity.

There is currently a need for vaccines that stimulate cell-mediated immunity-particularly that mediated by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs)-against viral and tumor antigens. The optimal induction of cell-mediated immunity requires the presentation of antigens by specialized cells of the immune system called dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are unique in their ability to process exogenous antigens via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I pathway as well as in their ability to activate naive, antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Vaccine strategies that target or activate DCs in order to elicit potent CTL-mediated immunity are the subject of intense research. We report here that whole recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast expressing tumor or HIV-1 antigens potently induced antigen-specific, CTL responses, including those mediating tumor protection, in vaccinated animals. Interactions between yeast and DCs led to DC maturation, IL-12 production and the efficient priming of MHC class I- and class II-restricted, antigen-specific T-cell responses. Yeast exerted a strong adjuvant effect, augmenting DC presentation of exogenous whole-protein antigen to MHC class I- and class II-restricted T cells. Recombinant yeast represent a novel vaccine strategy for the induction of broad-based cellular immune responses.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1997

The Nightingale Tracker: information technology for community nursing education.

The international health care delivery system is evolving to include an increased emphasis on community care and automated clinical information and communication systems. These trends are dramatically affecting nursing education in the U.S. as faculty consider the strategies needed to communicate with their students at multiple clinical sites, and to educate students to fulfill their changing practice roles. In response to these changes, FITNE, Inc. is using triangulated research methods to develop an information technology system for use in community nursing education. Named the Nightingale Tracker, this system will: (1) facilitate real time voice and data distance communication between students at the point of care and their instructors, and (2) electronically process clinical data related to community nursing education visits. The Nightingale Tracker was pilot tested in 1996; findings will be used to plan a national beta test. Project completion is scheduled for late 1997.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of charge change super-repressor mutants of trp repressor: effects on oligomerization conformation, ligation and stability.

We have carried out a physical characterization of mutant repressor proteins of the trp repressor system of Escherichia coli by circular dichroism, chemical denaturation, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate binding. We have also probed the protein-protein interactions via fluorescence anisotropy and lifetime measurements and measured the thermodynamics of ligand (L-tryptophan) binding by isothermal titration calorimetry. Here, we present investigations of four charge change super-repressor mutants: EK13, EK18, DN46 and EK49, and compare these results with those previously obtained for wild-type trp repressor and the AV77 super-repressor mutant. These studies demonstrate that super-repressor phenotypes may result from changes in operator affinity (DN46, EK49), protein-protein interactions (EK18), as well as the coupling of folding to ligand binding (AV77, EK13, EK18). Correlations between the oligomerization behavior and cooperativity of DNA binding for some of these mutants indicate that coupling of oligomerization to DNA binding modulates operator site occupation giving rise to the super-repressor phenotype. The present results underscore the complex interplay between the multiple equilibria in this system. Moreover, they provide insights into the structural basis for the mutational perturbation of the energetics of this classical allosterically controlled transcriptional regulator.

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗
PubMed1996

The Omaha System: a model for describing practice.

Diverse data and information are becoming increasingly important to clinicians, administrators, and educators as they work in rapidly changing settings. A number of classification systems or vocabularies have been developed that offer structure for client records and clinical information systems. Such structure is needed to generate reliable, valid, and useful data. The research-based Omaha System is one such classification system. It consists of nursing diagnoses/client problems, interventions, and client outcomes. The Omaha System is being used in many settings, including home care, nursing centers, colleges of nursing, and school health programs.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Symposium on nursing centers: past, present and future.

A call for articles related to nursing centers was generated (Tanner, 1994), based on the fact that many existing nursing centers operate out of schools of nursing. Proceedings of a symposium on nursing centers presented at the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) meeting in April 1994 are shared as a way of advancing the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing centers. The four contributions represent a review of the historical, empirical, and anecdotal literature, key elements in creating and maintaining a research laboratory, data sets useful for practice and research, and policy issues germane to nursing centers, which are a cornerstone of health care reform.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed1994

Electrostatic forces contribute to interactions between trp repressor dimers.

The trp repressor of Escherichia coli (TR), although generally considered to be dimeric, has been shown by fluorescence anisotropy of extrinsically labeled protein to undergo oligomerization in solution at protein concentrations in the micromolar range (Fernando, T., and C. A. Royer 1992. Biochemistry. 31:3429-3441). Providing evidence that oligomerization is an intrinsic property of TR, the present studies using chemical cross-linking, analytical ultracentrifugation, and molecular sieve chromatography demonstrate that unmodified TR dimers form higher order aggregates. Tetramers and higher order species were observed in chemical cross-linking experiments at concentrations between 1 and 40 microM. Results from analytical ultracentrifugation and gel filtration chromatography were consistent with average molecular weight values between tetramer and dimer, although no plateaus in the association were evident over the concentration ranges studied, indicating that higher order species are populated. Analytical ultracentrifugation data in presence of corepressor imply that corepressor binding destabilizes the higher order aggregates, an observation that is consistent with the earlier fluorescence work. Through the investigation of the salt and pH dependence of oligomerization, the present studies have revealed an electrostatic component to the interactions between TR dimers.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Informatics issues for nursing's future.

Automated clinical databases are crucial to the future of nursing but presently are not meeting the needs of clinicians, administrators, educators, or researchers. This article examines theoretical, empirical, and practical issues relating to the development of automated nursing clinical databases that will foster safe, effective practice and further nursing's knowledgebase. A series of key questions are identified relevant to each issue. These issues must be resolved if nurses are to take full advantage of the possibilities inherent in the evolving information technology.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1993

Home health clients: characteristics, outcomes of care, and nursing interventions.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to provide descriptive data about the characteristics of home health clients, the services that nurses provide, and the outcomes of those services. Such data have been sparse. METHODS: This study examined 2403 home health clients served by four agencies in Nebraska, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. Demographic, health history, and clinical data were analyzed. The Omaha System was used as the model for describing and measuring data specific to clients' health-related problems, nursing interventions, and outcomes of care. RESULTS: The median age of home health clients was 68.6 years. Nurses conducted 70% of all home visits, identified 9107 client problems, and provided over 96,000 interventions. Between admission and dismissal, clients improved by at least 0.52 point on three 5-point problem-specific outcome subscales (Knowledge, Behavior, and Status). CONCLUSIONS: These data show important characteristics of home health clients in a large national sample. They also support the usefulness of the Omaha System in describing and quantifying nursing practice in the community health setting. The magnitude of positive client change between admission and dismissal suggests that community health services do make a difference.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Indoor woodsmoke pollution causing lower respiratory disease in children.

Suggested aetiological factors were evaluated in 244 consecutive children presenting with lower respiratory disease at Marondera Hospital, Zimbabwe. Data obtained from these children were compared with information obtained from 500 children seen at the local well baby clinic. There were no differences in the prevalence of malnutrition, breast feeding, overcrowding, poor housing conditions and poverty in these two groups of children. A significant association was identified between lower respiratory disease and exposure to atmospheric woodsmoke pollution in young children. Air sampling within the kitchens of 40 children revealed levels of atmospheric pollution far in excess of the WHO recommended exposure limit. Elevated carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations confirmed childhood smoke inhalation. We suggest that in many Third World communities a chemical pneumonitis resulting from the inhalation of noxious constituents of woodsmoke predisposes to lower respiratory disease in children.

Air Pollutants↗