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Biomedical subjects

L Batten

Publications and source records attributed to L Batten.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Uterine expression of alternatively spliced mRNAs of mouse splicing factor SC35 during early pregnancy.

RNA differential display was applied to identify genes critical for the establishment of pregnancy in the mouse. One of the gene fragments identified was homologous to human SC35 splicing factor; the mouse counterpart had not then been cloned. To obtain the full cDNA sequence of the mouse gene, a cDNA library was screened and four positive clones were fully analysed. Sequencing analysis indicated that we had cloned alternatively spliced mRNA species of mouse SC35 splicing factor. A map of splicing structure for this gene's pre-mRNA was then proposed and region-specific mRNA species were tested on Northern blots. This analysis indicated that the overall expression level of SC35 mRNA was much higher in implantation sites than in inter-implantation sites in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy. The expression of alternatively spliced mRNAs for SC35 was differently regulated both during early pregnancy and by steroid hormones. Embryo-derived factors were also implicated in the up-regulation of SC35 mRNA at implantation sites. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that an essential splicing factor is regulated in a complex manner during implantation in the mouse uterus. Hence, its correct regulation could be important for the success of pregnancy.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1998

CFTR deltaF508 carrier status, risk of breast cancer before the age of 40 and histological grading in a population-based case-control study.

There has been recent interest in the risk of various cancers in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and carriers of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations. It has been proposed that a CFTR mutation may protect against breast cancer, based on evidence that elevated extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is known to inhibit breast cancer cell line growth and that CFTR pumps ATP out of epithelial cells. A CFTR mutation would therefore result in higher concentrations of serum ATP. A CFTR knockout mouse model had high serum concentrations of ATP and showed reduced breast tumour implantibility and decreased breast cancer growth rates. We have evaluated the relationship between the deltaF508 CFTR mutation and the risk of breast cancer before the age of 40. The deltaF508 CFTR mutation carrier rate in 272 cases (2.2%) was no different from the carrier rate observed in 171 controls (1.8%). If there was a protective effect resulting from the postulated elevation in serum ATP levels, tumours arising in deltaF508 CFTR carriers would have been expected to be generally less aggressive. When the histological features of the breast cancers with a deltaF508 CFTR mutation were reviewed and graded using a combined architectural and cytological grading system, all were found to be grade III, poorly differentiated tumours, contrary to the predictions. A combination of our data with other large population-based samples of cases and controls is required to resolve this issue.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1998

Co-authorship--a means to an end.

Nursing Praxis in New Zealand (Praxis) seeks to foster publication as a medium for the development of nursing research and scholarship within the New Zealand nursing community. To achieve that vision, this journal has a strong commitment to supporting nurses to write and prepare manuscripts for publication. This article is a continuation of the Praxis Writing for Publication series and it seeks to explore the way in which co-authorship can be an effective tool for assisting authors to publish. As there is so much clinical innovation and critique happening in New Zealand at present, along with the completion of a considerable amount of nursing research, we are surprised that Praxis is not being overwhelmed with manuscripts. Reflecting on our own experiences of completing research, and then having to find the extra energy from somewhere to disseminate the research findings, we appreciate just how daunting the process of writing an article can be. However, writing does not have to be overwhelmingly difficult, or a solitary activity. We believe that co-authorship is one means of overcoming perceived barriers to submitting manuscripts for publication.

Authorship↗
PubMed1992

Air freshener.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Hospital Shops↗
PubMed1991

Tobacco prevention in hospitals. The British experience.

There are three themes in this paper of interest to a UK audience. The first draws attention to the importance of congruity between the hospital environment and education about the harmfulness of smoking. A smoking policy is an integral part of the education process. Secondly, there are clear benefits to accrue from combining several educational elements in one smoking control programme, which has a synergistic effect. Thirdly, hospital staff are health promoters, too, and their training should reflect the importance of their public health role.

Health Education↗
PubMed1988

The NHS as an agent of change: creating a smoke-free environment in hospital.

In 1985 a Health Circular (HC(85)22)1 asked all District Health Authorities (DHAs) to draw up written policies which would establish non-smoking as normal practice on health service premises and for health service staff. Two years later, a survey of all 191 English Health Authorities assessed progress. Results of the survey indicate a high degree of compliance with the primary goal of each DHA. However, few DHAs gave a policy which contained explicit guidelines on implementation and monitoring procedures. This might have had considerable impact on commitment to smoke-free provision in hospitals.

England↗