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Biomedical subjects

M Potts

Publications and source records attributed to M Potts.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cyanobacterial RNA polymerase genes rpoC1 and rpoC2 correspond to rpoC of Escherichia coli.

The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (ribonucleoside triphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) of cyanobacteria contains a unique core component, gamma, which is absent from the RNA polymerases of other eubacteria (G. J. Schneider, N. E. Tumer, C. Richaud, G. Borbely, and R. Haselkorn, J. Biol. Chem. 262:14633-14639, 1987). We present the complete nucleotide sequence of rpoC1, the gene encoding the gamma subunit, from the heterocystous cyanobacterium Nostoc commune UTEX 584. The derived amino acid sequence of gamma (621 residues) corresponds with the amino-terminal portion of the beta' polypeptide of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. A second gene in N. commune UTEX 584, rpoC2, encodes a protein which shows correspondence with the carboxy-terminal portion of the E. coli beta' subunit. The rpoBC1C2 genes of N. commune UTEX 584 are present in single copies and are arranged in the order rpoBC1C2, and the coding regions are separated by short AT-rich spacer regions which have the potential to form very stable secondary structures. Our data indicate the occurrence of divergent evolution of structure in the eubacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Base Sequence

Maternal mortality in Indonesia and Egypt.

Twenty-three percent of deaths to women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Bali, Indonesia and Menoufia, Egypt were due to maternal causes. Among the younger women, the percentage was even higher. In both areas complications of pregnancy and childbirth were a leading cause of death (the first cause in Bali, the second in Menoufia). In both sites, postpartum hemorrhage was the most common cause of maternal death. Relative to the United States, the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births was 20 times higher in Menoufia and 78 times higher in Bali. Families of women of reproductive age who died were interviewed about the conditions leading to death and other characteristics of the deceased. Completed histories were reviewed by a Medical Panel who were able to assign a cause of death in more than 90% of cases. Two-thirds of the maternal deaths occurred to women who were over 30 and/or who had 3 children--the usual targets of family planning programs. Other possible intervention strategies include antenatal outreach programs, training of traditional birth attendants, and better hospital management of obstetric emergencies.

Adolescent

Rare events occurring at insertion of an intrauterine device--a review of an international experience.

Events occurring at the time of insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) are rarely studied, especially for parous women for whom, in theory, IUD contraception is most suitable. These events, although rare, cause personal distress, embarrassment and inconvenience and can have a negative impact on IUD acceptance. Sixty million women worldwide are using IUDs. Thus, even a rare event may have important public health implications. To avoid such occurrences, the risk factors of these rare events need to be delineated. The large international IUD data set compiled by Family Health International (FHI) since 1972 provides a unique opportunity to achieve this purpose. Four IUD insertion-related rare events have been studied, namely: insertion failure, uterine perforation, syncope and other vasovagal reactions, and severe insertional pain. This review paper summarizes the important findings from these as well as other relevant studies. This broad experience should form the basis by which health personnel inserting IUDs can improve the quality of care for women requesting a device for contraception.

Adult

In-hospital maternal mortality risk by cesarean and vaginal deliveries in two less developed countries--a descriptive study.

Cesarean deliveries are increasing in both developed countries and less developed countries (LDCs). Recent studies in the U.S. have revealed a significantly higher mortality risk for women who delivered abdominally than for those who delivered vaginally, even when the effect of the conditions which necessitated cesarean delivery was taken into account. We chose for study from an international maternity monitoring network, five centers from two LDCs that reported an in-hospital maternal mortality rate (MMR) of around 10 per 1000 parturient women. The pooled data revealed an MMR of 5.1 per 1000 women with vaginal deliveries. For women with cesarean delivery, the total MMR was 36.2 and the MMR attributable to cesarean section was estimated to be 12.8; both rates were per 1000 procedures. The leading cause of death was eclampsia for the vaginal deliveries and sepsis for the cesarean deliveries. The risk of maternal mortality inherent with the cesarean section procedure per se (not counting the risk associated with the labor and delivery complications that necessitated cesarean section) as well as the practical avoidability of maternal deaths for either mode of delivery in these LDC hospitals are discussed.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical

Rare events associated with tubal sterilizations: an international experience.

The results from previous analyses of an international data set collected by Family Health International are reviewed in relation to the incidence, severity, risk factors, and outcomes of rare events associated with tubal sterilization. The rare events included for review, by sequence of their relationship to the tubal sterilization procedure are: luteal phase pregnancy, intraoperative complications (uterine perforation, unintended laparotomy required for completion of the laparoscopic procedure, and technical failure in tubal ring sterilization), deaths, early readmission following laparoscopic sterilization, hysterectomy after laparoscopic sterilization, and pregnancy (intrauterine and ectopic) conceived after tubal sterilization. The widespread use of this method of contraception has important public health implications, and awareness of these events will help clinicians minimize such incidences and better deal with them when they arise.

Female

Reproductive mortality in two developing countries.

Reproductive mortality includes mortality attributable to pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth and its sequelae, and contraception. Reproductive mortality has been estimated for the United Kingdom, the United States, and for states of the US. However, it has not previously been measured for developing countries, where maternal mortality often remains distressingly high. This paper reports on data from one governorate of Egypt, where reproductive mortality was 46 per 100,000 married women ages 15-49 (2.2 per cent of this was attributable to contraception), and one province of Indonesia, where reproductive mortality was 70 per 100,000 (of which 1.4 per cent was due to contraception). In both locations, complications of pregnancy and childbirth were a leading cause of death in the age group studied (the first cause in Indonesia, second in Egypt). Contraceptive prevalence was 24 per cent of married women ages 15-49 in Egypt and 48 per cent of this age group in Indonesia.

Adolescent