Biomedical subjects

M Rose

Publications and source records attributed to M Rose.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Social support during pregnancy: effects on maternal depressive symptoms, smoking and pregnancy outcome.

BACKGROUND: The goal was to study the effects of social support during pregnancy on maternal depressive symptoms, quality of life and pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Eight hundred ninety-six women were prospectively studied in the first trimester of pregnancy and following completion of the pregnancy. The sample was divided into quartiles yielding groups of low, medium and high social support based on perceived social support. RESULTS: Pregnant women with low support reported increased depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life. The effects of social support on pregnancy outcomes were particularly pronounced in women who had smoked during pregnancy, with significant main effects of social support in a two-way analysis of variance (smoking status and social support) for child body length (F = 4.26, P = 0.04; 50.43 +/- 2.81 cm with low support versus 51.76 +/- 2.31 cm with high support) and birthweight (F = 11.35, P = 0.001; 3175 +/- 453 g with low support versus 3571 +/- 409 g with high support). In smokers, pregnancy complications occurred more frequently when given low support {34 versus 10.3% with high support, chi(2) = 5.49, P = 0.019; relative risk (RR) = 3.3 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.1-10.2]}, and the proportion of preterm deliveries was greater given low support (10.0 versus 0% with high support, chi(2) = 3.84, P = 0.05, odds ratio = 8.1). CONCLUSIONS: Lack of social support constitutes an important risk factor for maternal well-being during pregnancy and has adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Replacement of intravenous administration of anti-D by subcutaneous administration in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenia.

Intravenous (IV) administration of anti-D in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP) may result in severe hemolysis and even death. Over a 3-year period, we gave anti-D only subcutaneously (SC), and none of our patients have developed any acute adverse reaction. Most importantly, SC delivery of anti-D produces largely the same beneficial effect as obtained by IV anti-D. We recommend replacement of IV administration of anti-D by SC administration in AITP.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish oil dietary supplements: occurrence and human exposure in the UK.

Commercially available fish oil supplements sourced from retail outlets in the UK, as well as by mail order, were surveyed in 2000-02 for dioxin (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) content. Sampled products were representative of market share. The WHO-TEQ values for these products ranged from 0.18 to 8.4 ng kg-1 for SigmaPCDD/F and from 1.1 to 41 ng kg-1 for Sigma dioxin-like PCBs. The results suggest a downward trend in the levels of dioxins in fish oil supplements over the last decade, since levels for similar products ranged from 0.3 to 10 ng kg-1 for SigmaPCDD/F WHO-TEQ in 1996. Levels of ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) 7 PCBs in the current study ranged from 8.3 to 267 microg kg-1. Subsequent to this survey, European Union legislation has been introduced that includes a maximum limit of 2 ng kg-1 WHO-TEQ for dioxins in fish oil products for human consumption. Twelve of the 33 products reported here would have exceeded this limit. Negotiations are in progress to incorporate dioxin-like PCBs into the European Union regulations. When manufacturer-recommended doses were applied to the observed levels, the estimated upper bound human exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs from dietary intake of these products ranged from 0.02 to 7.1 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight day-1 for adults and from 0.02 to 10 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight day-1 for schoolchildren. This level rises to 1.8-8.9 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight day-1 for adults and 1.4-14 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight day-1 for schoolchildren when combined with the average exposure from the whole diet in 1997. Again, subsequent to this survey, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) revised the UK tolerable daily intake (TDI) for mixtures of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs from 10 to 2 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight day-1. This is in line with the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 14 pg WHO-TEQ kg-1 body weight set by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF).

Dietary Supplements↗

PubMed2006

IFN gamma and CXCR-1 gene polymorphisms in idiopathic bronchiectasis.

Idiopathic bronchiectasis is a disease of chronic, bacterial lung infection, unresolving inflammation and progressive lung damage. Bronchiectasis can be associated with autoimmune diseases including ulcerative colitis. Defects of both innate and adaptive immunity have been proposed. The airway inflammation is characterized by interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression and infiltration by neutrophils and T cells. Here we investigated two candidate gene polymorphisms that may contribute to disease susceptibility: a CXCR-1 (+2607 G/C) gene polymorphism that is implicated in IL-8 binding and neutrophil trafficking as well as the interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) (+874 T/A) polymorphism which is linked to levels of IFNgamma production. These polymorphisms were distributed similarly in the idiopathic bronchiectasis group and controls, suggesting that these two candidate gene polymorphisms are not associated with disease susceptibility.

Alleles↗

PubMed2006

More relevant, precise, and efficient items for assessment of physical function and disability: moving beyond the classic instruments.

OBJECTIVES: Patient reported outcomes (PROs) have become standard study endpoints. However, little attention has been given to using item improvement to advance PRO performance which could improve precision, clarity, patient relevance, and information content of "physical function/disability" items and thus the performance of resulting instruments. METHODS: The present study included 1860 physical function/disability items from 165 instruments. Item formulations were assessed by frequency of use, modified Delphi consensus, respondent judgement of clarity and importance, and item response theory (IRT). Data from 1100 rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and normal ageing subjects, using qualitative item review, focus groups, cognitive interviews, and patient survey were used to achieve a unique item pool that was clear, reliable, sensitive to change, readily translatable, devoid of floor and ceiling limitations, contained unidimensional subdomains, and had maximal information content. RESULTS: A "present tense" time frame was used most frequently, better understood, more readily translated, and more directly estimated the latent trait of disability. Items in the "past tense" had 80-90% false negatives (p<0.001). The best items were brief, clear, and contained a single construct. Responses with four to five options were preferred by both experts and respondents. The term physical function may be preferable to the term disability because of fewer floor effects. IRT analyses of "disability" suggest four independent subdomains (mobility, dexterity, axial, and compound) with factor loadings of 0.81-0.99. CONCLUSIONS: Major improvement in performance of items and instruments is possible, and may have the effect of substantially reducing sample size requirements for clinical trials.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Andersen-Tawil syndrome: new potassium channel mutations and possible phenotypic variation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical, genetic, and electrophysiologic features of patients with Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Clinical and neurophysiologic evaluation was conducted of 11 families suspected to have ATS. Molecular genetic analysis of each proband was performed by direct DNA sequencing of the entire coding region of KCNJ2. Control samples were screened by direct DNA sequencing. The electrophysiologic consequences of several new mutations were studied in an oocyte expression system. RESULTS: All 11 ATS families harbored pathogenic mutations in KCNJ2 with six mutations not previously reported. Some unusual clinical features including renal tubular defect, CNS involvement, and dental and phonation abnormalities were observed. Five mutations (T75M, D78G, R82Q, L217P, and G300D) were expressed, all of which resulted in nonfunctional channels when expressed alone, and co-expression with wild-type (WT) KCNJ2 demonstrated a dominant negative effect. CONCLUSION: Six new disease-causing mutations in KCNJ2 were identified, one of which was in a PIP2 binding site. Molecular expression studies indicated that five of the mutations exerted a dominant negative effect on the wild-type allele. KCNJ2 mutations are an important cause of ATS in the UK.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[Pneumococcal vaccination in obstructive lung diseases -- what can we expect?].

Many countries' guidelines recommend pneumococcal vaccination for patients suffering from obstructive airway disease. This paper reviews the literature as to immunogenicity and safety of this immunization. There is no evidence for a negative effect of pneumococcal vaccination on these patients. Only a few data exist on the preventive impact of pneumococcal vaccination as to exacerbations of obstructive airway diseases. Existing studies mostly took up this question as a side aspect. The effect in children and adults appears limited. On the other hand, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine prevents life-threatening invasive infections in children younger than 5 years, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine protects healthy adults against bacteriaemic pneumonia. Thus, pneumococcal vaccination of patients suffering from obstructive airway disease is recommendable.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[Analysis of quality of life in patients with a facial prosthesis].

OBJECTIVE: This clinical study examined the quality of life of face-disabled patients who had received a facial prosthesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The examination of the 58 patients was performed using different questionnaires. For the evaluation of the subjective health-related quality of life an instrument constructed by the WHO was used (WHOQOQL-Bref). The Frankfurter Scales of Body Concepts (FKKS) was chosen to measure the self-assessment of the patient's own body perception. For the assessment of the present general quality of life a visual analogue scale was used (Anamnestic Comparative Self-Assessment, ACSA). Additionally an ad hoc questionnaire was used, which registers the post-therapeutic epithetic rehabilitation. The health-related quality of life of this sample was compared to a healthy one of the normal population. RESULTS: The examinations showed that the quality of life of the patients is reduced in contrast to the healthy group when the acquired defects were located in the region of the eye and the nose. The evaluation of the scales of body concepts showed that the patient's own body image was significantly altered. Body contact with other persons and their own sexual attraction was perceived as remarkably diminished. The patients believed that they spread an unpleasant odor. It is surprising that the wearers of a facial prosthesis indicated that they did not notice a restriction in the acceptance of their body by others. The influence of the application of camouflage did not have an impact on the quality of life. CONCLUSION: To improve the restricted quality of life, to the raise the reduced well-being and to strengthen the altered body experience, psychological care should be provided besides further optimization of the surgical-epithetic therapy and the camouflage technique.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Mental health symptoms in partial epilepsy.

We evaluated the potential clinical value of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) as a multidimensional self-report measure to identify the expected higher rates of clinically significant mental health symptoms in adults with partial/complex partial epilepsy (PE), as compared to a representative sample of adult non-patients. As expected, adults with PE had significantly higher rates of elevated SCL-90-R scale scores than did adult non-patients. The SCL-90-R may serve as both a screening measure to identify patients who could benefit from further mental health services as well as a measure of clinical response to epilepsy- and mental health-related interventions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

New phenotypic diversity associated with the mitochondrial tRNA(SerUCN) gene mutation.

We performed detailed clinical, histopathological, biochemical, in vitro translation and molecular genetic analysis in patients from two unrelated families harbouring the tRNA(SerUCN) 7472C-insertion mutation. Proband 1 developed a progressive neurodegenerative phenotype characterised by myoclonus, epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia and progressive hearing loss. Proband 2 had a comparatively benign phenotype characterised by isolated myopathy with exercise intolerance. Both patients had the 7472C-insertion mutation in identical proportions and they exhibited a similar muscle biochemical and histopathological phenotype. However, proband 2 also had a previously unreported homoplasmic A to C transition at nucleotide position 7472 in the tRNA(SerUCN) gene. This change lengthens further the homopolymeric C run already expanded by the 7472C-insertion. These data extend the phenotypic range associated with the 7472C-insertion to include isolated skeletal myopathy, as well as a MERRF-like phenotype.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Role of transrectal ultrasound guided salvage cryosurgery for recurrent prostate carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Despite improvements in treatment of localized prostate cancer, local recurrence remains a significant problem. A total of 46 patients with proven local cancer recurrence following external beam radiotherapy entered a prospective clinical trial using ultrasound-guided cryosurgery to ablate the residual prostate gland. Persistent complications included one urethra-rectal fistula, incontinence (2), retention (3), and treatment induced erectile dysfunction (7). Using the PSA definitions for biochemical failure as PSA>or=0.3 ng/ml, the Kaplan-Meier plots showed the incidence of patients to be free of biochemical recurrence at 51 and 44% at 1 and 2 y, respectively. For a PSA>or=1.0, the values at 1 and 2 y were 72 and 58%.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Determination of dioxins (PCDDs/PCDFs) and PCBs in food and feed using the DR CALUX bioassay: results of an international validation study.

Maximum levels for dioxins in food and feedstuffs have been recently established by the European Commission through two regulations. Dioxin-monitoring programmes of food and feedstuffs will therefore be undertaken by the European Member States to implement these regulations, which would be facilitated by fast and low-cost screening methods. Commission Directives 2002/70/EC and 2002/69/EC describe specific characteristics for such screening methods. In the present study, the performance characteristics of the DR CALUX method from BioDetection Systems were established in a validation study with 14 participants. The study was based on two materials (fish oil and feed), each containing four different levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs around the current limits. The results demonstrate that the test is very promising but that in particular the clean-up procedure was a source of variation and requires further optimization and standardization. In addition the quantification is improved by the use of control samples to correct for background contamination, recovery and differences between the TEF values and REP (relative potency) factors in the test.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2005

The effect of cooking on veterinary drug residues in food: nicarbazin (dinitrocarbanilide component).

The change of concentration of residues of the marker compound for the anti-coccidial drug nicarbazin, N,N'-bis(4-nitrophenyl)urea (dinitrocarbanilide, DNC), was investigated in model oil and aqueous solutions and in chicken muscle and egg. In model aqueous solutions, DNC decreased rapidly in concentration upon heating followed by a much more gradual decomposition. The curves produced when this information was plotted were not typical of exponential decay. In model cooking oil solutions, DNC generally showed a slower decrease in concentration over time when compared with aqueous solutions. DNC residues in egg were stable to microwave cooking and residues in chicken muscle were stable to stewing and microwaving. Other cooking procedures led to a decrease in amount of DNC by 22% to 48% of the total amount of analyte present. Only a small amount (<2%) of residue leached with juices which exuded as the food was cooked.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Patients with haematological malignancies show a restricted body image focusing on function and emotion.

The diagnosis of cancer threatens the psychological and bodily integrity. Based on this assumption, we aimed to explore how newly diagnosed patients cope with special regard to the body image (BI). In total, 40 patients (32 haematological malignancies) were assessed by questionnaires on mood, complaints, self-regulation and quality of life (QOL). The BI was assessed by the 'Body Grid' which reveals the constructs patients choose to characterize the body. The constructs were categorized using a model of six predefined categories comprising: emotion, control, activity, strength, function and appearance. Tinnitus sufferers and medical students served as comparison groups. Cancer patients showed significantly more anxious depression and a significantly lower QOL than controls. Their BI was restricted, focusing the functional status of body organs (e.g. opposing healthy vs. ill organs) as well as emotional aspects (e.g. trust vs. fear). The data convey fundamental psychological distress in newly diagnosed cancer patients. Restriction of BI and use of functional constructs may help to buffer the threat to body integrity. The emotional constructs reflect the existential impact. The data give a clear indication for the need for early psychosocial support which should aim at stabilizing the psychological and bodily integrity of the patient.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Novel water overlayer growth on Pd(111) characterized with scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of water submonolayers on Pd(111) reveal quasiperiodic and isolated adclusters with internal structure that would ordinarily be ascribed to icelike puckered hexagonal units. However, density functional theory and STM simulations contradict this conventional picture, showing instead that the water adlayers are composed mainly of flat-lying molecules arranged in planar water hexagons. A new rule for two dimensional (2D) water growth is offered that generates the structures observed experimentally from planar hexamer units.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Glycosaminoglycan C3 protects against AF64A-induced cholinotoxicity in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.

Several studies revealed that proteoglycans (PGs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). PGs have affinity to amyloid beta (Abeta) and protect it against proteolysis, and the consequent aggregation is the cause of neurotoxicity. This effect is believed to be attenuated by GAGs. Moreover, a low-molecular-weight GAG C3 derived from unfractionated heparin has been reported to protect against Abeta-induced tau-2 immunoreactivity and cholinergic damage induced by a cholinotoxin, AF64A, in rat. However, the optimal dose and the timeframe of administration of C3 are still unknown. In our studies, we revealed the concentration-dependent and time-dependent effects of C3 on AF64A-induced cholinergic lesion in rat. C3 was administered orally in 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg/day concentration, 7 days before and/or 7 days after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) AF64A administration. Our results have shown that 25 mg/kg/day C3 effectively protects against AF64A-generated cholinotoxicity if administered both 7 days before and 7 days after the AF64A injection. In contrast to these findings, administration of 5 or 10 mg/kg/day C3 or 25 mg/kg/day C3, given 7 days before or 7 days after stereotaxic AF64A injection, did not show cholinoprotective effects. In conclusion, the time-dependent effects of C3 on AF64A-induced cholinergic lesion suggest that C3 may act via the processes of both neuroprotection and neurorepair. Moreover, the effects of C3 depend largely on the administered dose of this low-molecular-weight GAG. The present findings also indicate that C3, administered in the effective concentration and timeframe, may play a pivotal role in the treatment of AD.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

PubMed2004

Protection against inflammatory neurodegeneration and glial cell death by 7beta-hydroxy epiandrosterone, a novel neurosteroid.

It has been demonstrated that neuroprotective effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may be mediated by its 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy derivatives. Epiandrosterone is also converted to 7beta-hydroxy epiandrosterone (7beta-OH EPIA) in numerous tissues. The aim of the present study was to establish whether treatment with 7beta-hydroxy epiandrosterone has a neuroprotective effect in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) lesions. Intra-amygdaloid administration of amyloid beta [Abeta(25-35)] increased the number of tau-positive cells in the ipsilateral hippocampus. Intracerebroventricular administration of ethylcholine aziridinium (AF64A) caused cholinergic damage in the septum, and glial lesions in the lateral septal nucleus and in the lateral zones of the hippocampus. These effects were almost completely prevented when animals were treated subcutaneously (b.i.d.) for 10 days with 0.1 mg/kg 7beta-hydroxy epiandrosterone. These findings indicate that 7beta-hydroxy epiandrosterone has powerful cytoprotective effects suggesting that (a) this neurosteroid may have therapeutic potential in various neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, and (b) 7beta-hydroxy steroids may constitute a novel class of endogenous neuroprotective agents.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2004

Immunogenity of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in COPD patients. The effect of systemic steroids.

RATIONALE: To investigate if systemic steroids influence the antibody response to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccaride vaccine (23-PPV) in COPD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: COPD patients on: (a) > or =10mg of prednisolone/day (SS, n = 30); (b) inhalative steroids (IS, n= 30); (c) controls without COPD (CG, n= 29) were vaccinated with 23-PPV. The concentration (microg/ml) of capsular specific anti-pneumococcal IgG antibodies (AB) for the serotypes (PNC) 4,6B,9V,14,18C,19F,23F were measured by Elisa technique before, 3 and 12 months (m) after vaccination. Non-responders were defined when AB-concentrations did neither doubled nor reach > or = 1 microg/ml. RESULTS: N=24 (CG), n=29 (IS), n= 18 (SS) patients completed the study (mean age 64yrs.). Serious adverse events were not observed. Geometric mean (GM) AB-concentration of all serotypes increased significantly (CG, IS, SS) 3 and 12m after vaccination (P<0.05). The percentage of non-responders ranged between 16% (PNC 19F, IS) and 65% (PNC 4, SS) after 3 m and 21% (PNC 19F, IS) and 82% (PNC 4, CG) after 12m. Neither post-vaccine AB-concentrations (3 and 12m) nor the rate of non-responders differed significantly between patients on systemic steroids and the other groups (IS, CG). CONCLUSIONS: Systemic steroids did not influence the AB-response. In all groups mean AB-concentration increased significantly after vaccination but an important percentage of subjects of all three groups were non-responders.

Aged↗