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Biomedical subjects

L Lane

Publications and source records attributed to L Lane.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Immunogenicity and safety of a low-dose diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis combination vaccine with either inactivated or oral polio vaccine as a pre-school booster in UK children.

This open, randomised controlled trial studied the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of two combined low-dose diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccines (Td5aP-IPV, REPEVAX, Aventis Pasteur MSD; and Td5aP, COVAXIS, Aventis Pasteur MSD + OPV, GlaxoSmithKline) in comparison with a standard dose diphtheria pre-school booster vaccine (DT2aP-IPV, TETRAVAC, Aventis Pasteur MSD) in a population of 3.5-5-year-old children administered concomitantly with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (M-M-R II, Aventis Pasteur MSD). A linked sub-study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of Td5aP-IPV in a population of younger children, aged 3-3.5 years. This study demonstrated non-inferiority of seroprotection rates for diphtheria and tetanus for the study vaccines and comparable immunogenicity for pertussis and polio components of the vaccines. Reactogenicity was similar for all three vaccines. The study vaccines containing low-dose diphtheria antigen (Td5aP-IPV and Td5aP + OPV) are immunogenic and have acceptable reactogenicity for use as a pre-school booster vaccine administered concomitantly with MMR.

Antitoxins↗
PubMed2004

Survey of local immunisation training in England--the case for setting national standards.

In June 2003 a questionnaire on immunisation training was sent to the 302 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England to ascertain the frequency and content of immunisation training being offered to healthcare professionals. Fifty-four per cent of the 227 trusts (75%) who replied were concerned about their ability to deliver an immunisation programme. Contributing factors included the lack of a designated training lead, shortage of specialist input, available time, and funding. Of PCTs, 33/219 (15%) were not providing immunisation training sessions for practice nurses, 28/219 (13%) for health visitors, and 30/219 (14%) for school nurses; 67/219 (31%) had no sessions organised for general practitioners. Most 138/175 (79%) PCTs would welcome the introduction of some national minimum standards for immunisation training to assist them in setting up and maintaining a programme, and allocating sufficient resources to it.

England↗
PubMed2003

Bladder spasm in children after surgery for ureteric reimplantation.

The primary aim of this study was to prospectively investigate whether there was an association between the duration of post-operative catheterisation and the incidence of bladder spasm in children following ureteric reimplantation surgery. A secondary aim was to investigate whether other surgical and post-operative factors had an effect on the incidence of bladder spasm.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Distance learning: getting closer all the time.

In recent years, distance learning has become an increasingly viable option, and HIM students have benefitted. How does this new way of learning work, and is it working for students? Some instructors and students tell their success stories.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Clonal expansion is a characteristic feature of the B-cell repetoire of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The present study was designed to analyze the level of B-cell clonal diversity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by using HCDR3 (third complementarity determining region of the rearranged heavy chain variable region gene) length as a marker. A modified immunoglobulin VH gene fingerprinting method using either genomic DNA or complementary (c)DNA derived from B cells of the peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and tissues of several rheumatoid arthritis patients was employed. These assays permitted the detection and distinction of numerically expanded B-cell clones from activated but not numerically expanded B-cell clones. The present data suggest that B-cell clonal expansion is a common and characteristic feature of rheumatoid arthritis and that it occurs with increasing frequency from the blood to the synovial compartments, resulting in a narrowing of the clonal repertoire at the synovial level. These clonal expansions can involve resting, apparently memory B cells, as well as activated B cells. Furthermore, some of these individual expansions can persist over extended periods of time. These findings support the hypothesis that a chronic ongoing (auto)immune reaction is operative in rheumatoid arthritis and that this reaction, at least at the B-cell level, may be unique to each individual joint. A determination of the targets of these autoimmune reactions may provide valuable clues to help understand the immunopathogenesis of this disease

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1999

Modification of physical movement in old C57BL/6 mice by DHEA and melatonin supplementation.

As old age results in reduced physical activity as well as less dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and melatonin (MLT) production, low hormone levels may be a component of inactivity. Therefore, we studied the effects of DHEA and/or MLT supplementation on movement and resting in young and old female C57 black mice. Our results showed for the first time that old female C56BL/6 mice have significantly decreased physical activity. Their average speed and resting time were significantly higher than in young mice, whereas ambulatory time, distance traveled, and body movements when stationary (stereo time) were lower. DHEA supplementation significantly increased stereo time in old mice, while decreasing ambulatory time and distance traveled. MLT supplementation of old mice decreased average speed, resting time, and stereo time compared to untreated, old mice. Supplementation with MLT or DHEA, whose production is reduced in aging, restored physical activity levels in old mice. MLT also increased ambulatory time and distance traveled while reducing body movements of young mice.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Cost effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Rotavirus gastroenteritis causes substantial morbidity, including hospital admission, in young children. In the context of recent vaccine developments, this study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a rotavirus vaccination program in Australia. METHOD: Standard methods of health economic evaluation were used to assess the total cost of rotavirus immunisation (as the difference between estimated vaccination program costs and the cost of disease that would be avoided by immunisation) and relate this to the number of cases of disease that would be prevented. Estimates were made from both societal and health care systems perspectives. RESULTS: Based on Australian data on disease incidence and cost of hospitalisation, the current annual cost of rotavirus disease is about $26.0 million. Using conservative vaccine efficacy estimates, current immunization uptake rates and a cost of $30 per dose of vaccine, rotavirus immunisation would incur a net societal cost of $2.9 million ($11 per child), at a gross program cost of $21.6 million. These estimates are sensitive to two sources of uncertainty in the estimation of program delivery costs: vaccine price and whether separate immunization visits would be required. CONCLUSION: A rotavirus immunisation program would be cost-neutral to Australian society at a vaccine price of $26 per dose (or $19 when health care system costs only are considered). IMPLICATIONS: Rotavirus immunization may be cost-effective in Australia, but considerable uncertainty remains. Policy decisions will depend heavily on pricing of the vaccine and may also need to consider intangible costs not accounted for in this analysis.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1998

Physical inactivity of murine retrovirus infected C57BL/6 mice is prevented by melatonin and dehydroepiandrosterone.

LP-BM5 retrovirus infection and hormone synthesis modulate many physiological systems that could affect physical activity. Infection induced oxidative damage and immunodeficiency of female mice which hormone supplement prevented. Therefore, the effects of retrovirus infection and hormone supplementation were assessed on physical activity using a computerized video system. Retroviral infection increased activity when stationary while lowering average speed and resting time. Hormone supplementation partially modified changes due to murine AIDS. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or melatonin (MLT) supplementation restored the average speed; ambulatory time and distance traveled of retrovirus infected mice. MLT as well as the combination of DHEA + MLT increased body movement, but decreased average speed and distance traveled. Thus, retrovirus infection had significant effects on physical activity. Further studies into the relationship between the DHEA and/or MLT and physical activity will assert the contribution of these hormones to the treatment of murine AIDS.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Chlorella virus PBCV-1 encodes a homolog of the bacteriophage T4 UV damage repair gene denV.

The bacteriophage T4 denV gene encodes a well-characterized DNA repair enzyme involved in pyrimidine photodimer excision. We have discovered the first homologs of the denV gene in chlorella viruses, which are common in fresh water. This gene functions in vivo and also when cloned in Escherichia coli. Photodamaged virus DNA can also be photoreactivated by the host chlorella. Since the chlorella viruses are continually exposed to solar radiation in their native environments, two separate DNA repair systems, one that functions in the dark and one that functions in the light, significantly enhance their survival.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Proliferation of mutators in A cell population.

A Lac- strain of Escherichia coli that reverts by the addition of a G to a G-G-G-G-G-G sequence was used to study the proliferation of mutators in a bacterial culture. Selection for the Lac+ phenotype, which is greatly stimulated in mismatch repair-deficient strains, results in an increase in the percentage of mutators in the selected population from less than 1 per 100,000 cells to 1 per 200 cells. All the mutators detected were deficient in the mismatch repair system. Mutagenesis results in a similar increase in the percentage of mutators. Mutagenesis combined with a single selection can result in a population of more than 50% mutators when a sample of several thousand cells is grown out and selected. Mutagenesis combined with two or more successive selections can generate a population that is 100% mutator. These experiments are discussed in relation to ideas that an early step in carcinogenesis is the creation of a mutator phenotype.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1996

Immunomodulation by pycnogenol in retrovirus-infected or ethanol-fed mice.

Pycnogenol is a commercial mixture of bioflavonoids that exhibits antioxidative activity. The effects of dietary pycnogenol on immune dysfunction in normal mice as well as those fed ethanol or infected with the LP-BM5 murine retrovirus were determined. The ethanol consumption and retrovirus infection caused abnormalities in the function and/or structure of a broad array of cells involved in humoral and cellular immunity. Pycnogenol enhanced in vitro IL-2 production by mitogen-stimulated splenocytes if its production was suppressed in ethanol-fed or retrovirus-infected mice. Mitogenesis of splenocytes did not show a significant change in mice treated with pycnogenol. It reduced the elevated levels of interleukin-6 produced in vitro by cells from retrovirus infected mice and IL-10 secreted by spleen cells from mice consuming ethanol. Natural killer cell cytotoxicity was increased with pycnogenol treatment.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Herpes zoster peripheral ulcerative keratitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and course of peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) secondary to herpes varicella-zoster virus in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Three AIDS patients with ocular herpes zoster infection (mean age at onset, 33.0 years; range, 30-42) developed PUK. The three patients had skin involvement, and two of them had bilateral keratouveitis. All were treated with high-dose oral acyclovir (4 g/day) with or without topical antiviral therapy. Two of the patients responded well to oral acyclovir, but one of them stopped the treatment, and bilateral progressive outer retinal necrosis and lethal encephalitis developed. The third patient had a recurrent episode of inflammation with PUK, extensive stromal scarring, and deep neovascularization. AIDS patients with herpes varicella-zoster virus infection may have severe and protracted corneal manifestations, including PUK. The correct diagnosis and aggressive early long-term systemic antiviral treatment must be instituted to control inflammation, ulcer progression, and complications.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Testicular cancer in fire fighters: a cluster investigation.

AIM: To investigate an apparent cluster of four testicular cancer cases in Wellington fire fighters with a view to determining whether there was a common causal factor, and whether the cluster was indicative of an occupational risk for fire fighters generally. METHOD: Subjects were interviewed about possible risk factors and occupational histories using a structured questionnaire; medical records were reviewed, and diagnoses were verified from the original histological slides. Data on testicular cancer in fire fighters were obtained from the New Zealand cancer registry. Standardised incidence ratios were calculated to assess the likelihood that the cluster had arisen by chance. RESULTS: All four cancers were verified as germ cell testicular cancers. No common risk factors were apparent from the review of the medical records or from the questionnaire interviews. The only testicular cancers known to have occurred in Wellington fire fighters in the 1980s were the four investigated in this study. Only two of the four cases investigated were registered with the New Zealand cancer registry. The relative risk estimate for Wellington fire fighters for the period 1980-91 was 8.2, with an approximate 95% confidence interval of 2.2-21 (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: There was an unusually high risk of testicular cancer in Wellington fire fighters in the 1980s, with no obvious explanations, although chance could not be excluded. Whether this high risk continues in the 1990s would require a separate investigation. At present the weight of evidence does not indicate that fire fighters in other areas of New Zealand also experienced an elevated testicular cancer incidence rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Systemic immunosuppressive therapy and the occurrence of malignancy in patients with ocular inflammatory disease.

PURPOSE: To compare the occurrence of malignancy in patients with severe ocular inflammatory disease treated with systemic corticosteroids alone or with systemic immunosuppressive drugs with or without systemic corticosteroids. METHODS: The clinical records of 543 patients with ocular inflammatory disease treated with systemic corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive chemotherapy were reviewed in a retrospective cohort study. Characteristics of patients treated with corticosteroids alone were compared with characteristics of patients treated with immunosuppressive agents with or without preceding corticosteroid treatment. The rates of malignancy after initiation of drug therapy were compared using an exact test for incidence rate data. RESULTS: Compared with patients treated with corticosteroids alone, patients treated with immunosuppressants with or without corticosteroid treatment were older and had more severe systemic disease. During a total of 1261 person-years of follow-up, a malignancy developed in five patients. The rate of malignancy in the immunosuppressant group (4 malignancies during 968 person-years of follow-up) was not significantly different from the rate in the corticosteroids alone group (1 malignancy during 293 person-years of follow-up) (P > 0.90, exact test for incidence rate data). CONCLUSION: These findings do not support the hypothesis of an increased risk of malignancy in patients with severe ocular inflammatory disease who are treated with systemic immunosuppressive agents compared with patients treated with systemic corticosteroids.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Disease relapse in patients with ocular manifestations of Wegener granulomatosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate possible factors associated with disease relapse in patients with ocular manifestations of Wegener granulomatosis. METHODS: Eight patients with ocular manifestations of Wegener granulomatosis were longitudinally followed for a mean period of 34 months. Serial antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) levels were determined on all patients. RESULTS: All eight patients had either scleritis alone or scleritis combined with peripheral ulcerative keratitis. Clinical disease remission was achieved in all patients using immunosuppressive chemotherapy. Five patients had subsequent relapse after treatment withdrawal. The serum ANCA level had failed to revert to normal during remission in four of the five patients who had had relapses. The ANCA levels for all three patients who remained in remission without therapy converted to normal. There was no significant difference in the initial serum ANCA level (P = 0.35) or the mean cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (P = 0.13) between those who had a relapse and those who did not. CONCLUSION: Failure of ANCA titers to revert to normal levels may be associated with the potential for relapse in patients with ocular manifestations of Wegener granulomatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Iridoschisis and keratoconus.

We report herein a patient with iridoschisis and keratoconus. Since the posterior layers of the cornea and the iris stroma have a common embryological deviation, the combination of these two conditions suggests an inter-related pathogenesis. This case is similar to those of patients with progressive essential iris atrophy and keratoconus described by Cavanagh.

Adult↗