Biomedical subjects
M G Burnett
Publications and source records attributed to M G Burnett.
Identification of the mouse calcium-binding proteins, MRP 8 and MRP 14, in Schistosoma mansoni-induced granulomas: biochemical and functional characterization.
Granuloma initiation factor (GIF), which elicits a granulomatous reaction in naive murine skin, contains low-molecular-weight proteins partially purified from organized granulomas developed in livers of mice with schistosomiasis. In this study, we found that 10- and 14-kDa proteins in the GIF are highly homologous to mouse migration inhibitory factor-related protein (MRP) 8 and MRP 14. Compared with the N-terminal amino acid sequence deduced from each corresponding cDNA, the 10-kDa protein from the granuloma lacks the first methionine, whereas the 14 kDa misses methionine, alanine, and asparagine. Immunohistochemically, cells expressing MRP 8 and MRP 14 considerably increased in different murine tissues after Schistosoma mansoni infection and concentrated in liver around the dilated blood vessels and at the edge of granulomas. The staining of differentiated macrophages and epithelioid cells located in the center of the granulomas was negative. Immunoreactivity of peritoneal exudate cells also was found to gradually disappear with time in cell culture. Furthermore, in vivo effects of the recombinant proteins in murine skin were described histologically. Both MRPs caused severe infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes during 7-14 days. The reaction resulting from individual MRP implantation became minimal after 50 days but inoculation of the Ca2+-dependent heterodimers showed an extensive eosinophil accumulation.
Use of the emergency department for nonurgent care during regular business hours.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize the patient population seeking care for nonurgent medical problems at an emergency department during regular business hours and to determine why these patients chose the emergency department over alternative care sites. DESIGN: Patient survey (self-administered questionnaire). SETTING: Emergency department at a tertiary care hospital in Montreal. PATIENTS: All ambulatory patients presenting on weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8, 1993, whose condition was determined to be nonurgent. Eligible patients had to be residents of Montreal, who did not have a pre-arranged consultation at the emergency department. Of 202 consecutive eligible patients, 200 agreed to participate. OUTCOME MEASURES: Description of events leading to the visit, including possible attempts by patients to contact their regular physician; patients' knowledge of alternative care options such as provincial CLSGs (centres locaux des services communautaires) and private walk-in clinics. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients 152 (76%) stated that they had not visited an emergency department within the previous month, and only 10 (5%) stated that they were in extreme pain. At least 70% were aware of alternative care options, however, 120 (60%) felt that the emergency department was the best place for them to receive care for their medical problem. In all, 81 patients (40%) were referred to the emergency department; 62 (77%) were referred by a health care professional, 46 (57%) by a physician. CONCLUSION: Most patients are aware of alternatives to the emergency department for care of nonurgent medical problems. Nevertheless, a large number are being referred to the emergency department during regular business hours by health care professionals. This inefficient use of expensive hospital resources requires further investigation.