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Biomedical subjects

K Thomson

Publications and source records attributed to K Thomson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Angiographic transcatheter embolization in gynaecological practice.

Intractable uterine haemorrhage, unresponsive to medical therapy or curettage, has been traditionally treated by hysterectomy and/or internal iliac artery ligation. Percutaneous angiographic localization of the bleeding vessel with subsequent embolization, may be a genuine alternative approach that enables preservation of reproductive potential with minimal morbidity. We present 3 such cases here, all subsequent to curettage in the first trimester of pregnancy, 2 after a therapeutic termination of pregnancy and the other after an incomplete abortion.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Information, support, and communication needs of women with a family history of breast cancer.

In this article, the role of information, support, and communication in promoting adaptation to the risk of breast cancer is reported. These variables emerged from an in-depth study of women at risk for breast cancer because of breast cancer in one or more of their primary (first degree) relatives. Fifty-five women with mothers, sisters, mother and sister, or mother and another primary relative were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews. After transcription, data were analyzed using qualitative analysis procedures. A three-phase process of adaptation to the risk of breast cancer was uncovered, which was subsequently validated with two study participants. Information, support, and communication emerged as important factors in facilitating the adjustment of women throughout the three phases of the process: as women "lived" the breast cancer experience of their relative; as they developed a perception of their personal risk for breast cancer; and finally as they put the risk of breast cancer "in its place." Despite the importance of information and support, most women had difficulty meeting these needs. Also, communication patterns both within the family and with health professionals were generally not helpful for these women. Issues related to the ill relative as "manager" of cancer-related information, the "ownership style" of the woman at risk, and the accessibility and availability of resources influenced women's adaptation to feelings of risk. Women's needs for information, support, and communication and facilitating factors are described in detail, and recommendations for clinical practice and research offered.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Kinetics of the local and systemic antibody response to primary and secondary infection with S48 Toxoplasma gondii in sheep.

Vaccination of sheep with live tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii, strain S48, affords protection against subsequent challenge with the parasite, but the mechanisms of immunity have not been fully determined. To understand better the nature of the antibody response the kinetics of both local and systemic antibody production were monitored in vaccinated sheep by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Local specific IgG production was analysed in efferent lymph obtained from the cannulated pre-femoral lymph node draining the site of infection. Antibody in efferent lymph plasma and peripheral blood serum from animals vaccinated with S48 tachyzoites was monitored and compared with IgG production in vaccinated sheep given a secondary tachyzoite challenge. Secondary challenge resulted in a clear immunological memory response, antibody being detected in the lymph 3 to 4 days after infection as compared with 7 to 8 days after a primary infection. IgG production was dominated by antibody recognizing a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 30 kDa, but other antigens (32, 24 and 11 kDa) were also readily detected.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of a novel gene, ETX1 from Xp21.1, a candidate gene for X-linked retintis pigmentosa (RP3).

A novel gene encoding a 2.2 kilobase transcript has been isolated from the Xp21.1 region of the human X chromosome by exon amplification. The gene, called EXT1, spans 80 kilobases and contains 12 exons, at least two of which are alternatively spliced and have predicted products of 464 and 471 amino acids respectively. Conceptual translation of the open reading frames shows one product with a 30 amino acid signal peptide, which is absent from the alternative transcript, followed by three complement control protein domains, a hydrophobic region with a possible role in membrane anchorage and short 17 amino acid putative cytoplasmic carboxyl terminus. An alternative first exon contains a 39 amino acid open reading frame which is rich in serine and threonine residues and contains a potential chondroitin/dermatan sulphate attachment site. Northern analysis showed ETX1 expression within the retina and heart with lower levels in several other tissues. Since ETX1 lies within the region thought to contain the x-linked retinitis pigmentosa (xIRP) gene, RP3, it was screened for mutation within a set of 45 xIRP patients using single strand conformation analysis and/or chemical cleavage of mismatch using reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification of polyA+RNA from blood cells. Three low frequently variants (17-23Ldel, P225S, S413F) were found in both patients and controls; one of which (P225S) was found in four of 45 unrelated patient chromosomes and one of 178 control chromosomes (p <0.001). The allelic association between P225S and xIRP alleles suggests a common ancestral chromosome bearing the P225S variant and an RP3 mutation at a neighbouring locus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Use of ketamine in prolonged entrapment.

This paper discusses the advantages of ketamine analgesia in the management of trapped patients after serious incidents. Four case histories and a review of the literature lead us to the conclusion that ketamine is the drug of choice in these situations.

Accidents↗
PubMed1992

Inferior vena cava "birds nest" filters--2 year follow-up.

This study examines long term efficacy and saftey of "birds nest" filters (Cook), and the use of doppler ultrasound to assess patency. Of the seventeen "birds nest" filters inserted twelve were available for study. All patients were reviewed for evidence of recurrent pulmonary emboli or filter complication. Mean length of follow up was 10 months, (7 had follow up of > 12 months). Three have had further episodes of deep venous thrombosis, with probable recurrent pulmonary embolism in one. No patient had evidence of thrombosis of the inferior vena cava. No fracture or migration of the "birds nest" filters was found. Ten of the twelve filters studied with ultrasound could be visualized within the cava. In all, turbulent flow was detected with colour and duplex doppler study. We conclude that insertion and use of the "birds nest" filters is safe, with a high long term patency rate and few initial or long term complications. Doppler ultrasound is a simple and rapid method of assessing venous patency.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1991

Vaccination of sheep with a live incomplete strain (S48) of Toxoplasma gondii and their immunity to challenge when pregnant.

Sixty-four ewes were vaccinated with tachyzoites of an incomplete strain (S48) of Toxoplasma gondii grown either in the peritoneal cavity of mice (group 1) or vero cell culture (group 2) and 30 ewes (group 3) were not vaccinated. All the ewes were mated 77 days later and challenged orally with 2000 sporulated oocysts at 89 to 90 days of gestation. Ten additional unvaccinated (group 4) and 10 vaccinated (group 5) control ewes were not challenged. The unvaccinated ewes developed a characteristic febrile response to challenge while in the vaccinated ewes the fever commenced earlier but was less severe and of shorter duration. After challenge, the antibody titres against T gondii rose rapidly to high values in the vaccinated ewes while the ewes in group 3 responded more slowly. Only eight of the 45 fetuses/lambs (17.8 per cent) from group 3 were viable compared with 72.3 per cent of those in group 1 and 80.8 per cent of those in group 2. Gestation in the unvaccinated challenged ewes was shortened and the mean birthweight of their single, viable offspring was significantly lower than the weight of single lambs from the vaccinated (groups 1 and 2) and control ewes (groups 4 and 5). Examination of precolostral sera showed that almost two-thirds of the lambs from the vaccinated ewes were infected in utero. The 20 control ewes appeared clinically normal at all times and lambed normally. The two vaccine preparations were equally effective.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1991

Duplex ultrasound assessment of extra cranial carotid artery disease: its introduction into a radiology department.

Duplex Doppler ultrasound (DDU) is a non-invasive and potentially accurate modality for assessing carotid bifurcation disease. It is however technically difficult and an appreciable learning curve has been identified. To assess the accuracy of DDU upon introduction into a radiology department with experienced sonographers and radiologists we reviewed the first twenty-five (25) cases in patients, having both DDU and carotid angiography. Sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 81% were obtained for differentiating greater or less than 50% internal carotid artery diameter stenosis, and in detection of 80% or greater stenosis sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 100% respectively. We conclude that DDU is accurate when introduced into a department already competent in ultrasonography, with results being achieved similar to those reported from more experienced centres. Our results also support the appropriateness of the applied criteria for grading of carotid stenosis.

Carotid Artery Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Outpatient transurethral balloon urethroplasty.

Transurethral balloon dilatation was performed on 6 patients, who were assessed pre- and post-procedure on symptomatic and urodynamic criteria. Follow-up was on average 11.7 months. Only 1 patient had a successful result, despite early initial improvement in five. In view of our results and reports from other centres we cannot recommend transurethral balloon dilatation of the prostate as treatment in patients with bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hypertrophy, except in exceptional circumstances.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Outcome in patients hospitalised for psoriatic arthritis.

Forty patients hospitalised for treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were followed for a mean of 8.0 years. At the end of this time none had died and only 8% were in functional class IV. 90% received second-line therapy. There was a high incidence of skin rashes on gold but hydroxychloroquine was well tolerated. Patients with psoriatic arthritis had a better outcome than patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with the same regime.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Bronchial gland duct ectasia in fatal bronchial asthma: association with interstitial emphysema.

To determine the incidence of bronchial gland duct ectasia in fatal asthma and its association with interstitial emphysema, the histological features of 72 patients in whom death was considered to be due to asthma, and 72 matched control subjects in whom sudden death was not attributed to asthma, were reviewed. In all cases and controls, sections of two or more blocks of lung tissue stained with haematoxylin and eosin were obtained at necropsy. Bronchial gland duct ectasia was diagnosed if there was more than one abnormally dilated epithelial lined protrusion from a bronchus, extending through the smooth muscle layer. A histological diagnosis of asthma was made if four of the five following criteria were present: mucus plugging, basement membrane thickening, epithelial shedding, submucosal eosinophil leucocyte infiltration and smooth muscle hypertrophy. A histological diagnosis of asthma was made in 53 of 72 clinical cases of fatal asthma and in five of 72 control subjects. Interstitial emphysema was present in 10 clinical cases of fatal asthma, all of whom had bronchial gland duct ectasia and a histological diagnosis of asthma. Interstitial emphysema was not observed in control subjects. It is concluded that bronchial gland duct ectasia is a common histological feature of severe asthma, and that interstitial emphysema may be consequent on rupture of these dilated gland ducts.

Asthma↗
PubMed1989

The effect of temperature on the renaturation of alpha-crystallin.

The effects of variations in temperature and protein concentration on the renaturation of bovine alpha-crystallin have been examined using gel permeation chromatography, sedimentation analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and electron microscopy. High protein concentration (3-53 mg/ml) were found to generate heterogenous populations of aggregates. It was concluded that concentrations above 3 mg/ml were inappropriate for renaturation of alpha-crystallin. Aggregates with molecular masses gradually increasing from 461,000 to 695,000 Da were produced with increasing temperature over the range 6-39 degrees C. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the reaggregates were composed predominantly of particles with circular cross-sections and mean diameters of 13-14 nm. As the renaturation temperature increased, increasing amounts of sheet-like structures were observed. Tryptophan accessibility to acrylamide quenching decreased in these aggregates as the size increased. These observations are consistent with the concept that there is no unique quaternary structure, or set of structures, for alpha-crystallin but that the protein can exist in a variety of forms containing different numbers of subunits.

Animals↗