PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Shaw

Publications and source records attributed to M Shaw.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Sexual behaviour and risk in Vietnamese men living in metropolitan Sydney.

OBJECTIVE: To describe sexual risk in Vietnamese men who have sex with female sex workers by describing the prevalence of sexual risk behaviours among Vietnamese men living in inner Sydney and comparing this prevalence with national data. METHOD: Telephone interviews were completed with a random sample of 499 Vietnamese men, selected from the electronic telephone book using a list of common Vietnamese surnames. RESULTS: Of the 761 eligible men contacted, data were obtained from 499 men, giving a response rate of 66%. 20% reported having had sex with a sex worker, including 12% of Vietnamese men who had had sex with a sex worker outside Australia, predominantly in Vietnam. Of the men who had had sex with a sex worker in the past year, 28% had unprotected vaginal or anal sex at their most recent commercial sexual encounter. Ever having paid for sex was significantly associated with a higher lifetime number of sexual partners (p<0.001), history of a sexually transmitted infection (p<0.001) and ever having an HIV test. 1% of respondents reported injecting non-prescription drugs. Less than 1% said they had had sex with another man. CONCLUSION: Vietnamese men living in Sydney generally show lower levels of sexual and related risk behaviours than other Australian men. However, sex with a sex worker is common among Vietnamese men in Sydney and also when they travel outside Australia. Unprotected vaginal sex with sex workers is surprisingly common. Programmes are needed to deal with vulnerabilities in these areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The Bristol Hip View: a new hypothetical radiographic projection for femoral neck fractures.

This experimental study is to evaluate a modified radiographic view of the femoral neck in the assessment of femoral fractures. A dry femur and pelvis was set up in a rig to simulate the positioning of a routine anteroposterior (AP) pelvis X-ray view. Films were exposed to create a routine AP pelvis, AP hip and two views with external tube angulation of 15 degrees and 30 degrees. Observers were asked to evaluate the films using a visual analogue score on two separate occasions. The same films were performed on a further fractured femoral neck to assess the fracture clarity. There was good intraobserver and interobserver correlation. Observers ranked the 15 degrees and 30 degrees angled films as showing the femoral neck most clearly, over and above the traditional views (p<0.001). The fracture was best demonstrated on the 30 degrees angled film (p<0.001). The 30 degrees angled view appears to demonstrate the femoral neck anatomy more clearly than the traditional views but also showed increased fracture sharpness. The authors are proceeding to a clinical trial to assess this in trauma practice.

Femoral Neck Fractures↗
PubMed2005

Enhanced angiogenesis characteristic of SPARC-null mice disappears with age.

The impairment of angiogenesis in aging has been attributed, in part, to alterations in proteins associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM). SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine/osteonectin/BM-40) is a matricellular protein that regulates endothelial cell function as well as cell-ECM interactions. We have previously shown that angiogenesis, as reflected by fibrovascular invasion into subcutaneously implanted polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponges, is increased in SPARC-null mice (6-9 months of age) relative to their wild-type (WT) counterparts. In this study, we define the influence of aging on (a) the expression of SPARC and (b) fibrovascular invasion into sponge implants in SPARC-null and WT mice. The expression of SPARC in fibroblasts and endothelial cells derived from young donors (humans mean age less than 30 years and mice 4-6 months of age) and old donors (humans mean age over 65 years and mice 22-27 months of age) decreased 1.6 to 2.3-fold with age. Analysis of fibrovascular invasion into sponges implanted into old (22-27 months) SPARC-null and WT mice showed no differences in percent area of invasion or collagenous ECM. Moreover, sponges from old SPARC-null and WT mice contained similar levels of VEGF that were significantly lower than those from young (4-6 months) mice. In contrast to fibroblasts from young SPARC-null mice, dermal fibroblasts from old SPARC-null mice did not migrate farther, proliferate faster, or produce greater amounts of VEGF relative to their old WT counterparts. However, when stimulated with TGF-beta1, primary cells isolated from the sponge implants, and dermal fibroblasts from both old SPARC-null and WT mice, showed marked increases in VEGF secretion. These data indicate that aging results in a loss of enhanced angiogenesis in SPARC-null mice, as a result of the detrimental impact of age on cellular functions, collagen deposition, and VEGF synthesis. However, the influence of aging on these processes may be reversed, in part, by growth factor stimulation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

A technique for real-time digital measurements in laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The current techniques for the measurement of intracorporeal targets in laparoscopic surgery are relatively cumbersome and imprecise. METHODS: A structured light technique was used to obtain the length and width of two defects and an object in a laparoscopic training box. These measurements were compared against two current and standard laparoscopic techniques of intracorporeal measurement: the introduction of a plastic ruler and the use of an opened end of a laparoscopic instrument to approximate 2 cm. The time needed to measure the defects and object was recorded. RESULTS: Structured light-derived measurements were closest to the criterion standard, followed by plastic ruler measurements, then by instrument-end measurements. Digital measurements were quickest, followed by the instrument-end method, then by the plastic ruler. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes a novel structured light technique for laparoscopic measurement of intracorporeal targets capable of producing results superior to those of current techniques.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

A comparison of competing methods for the detection of surgical-site infections in patients undergoing total arthroplasty of the knee, partial and total arthroplasty of hip and femoral or similar vascular bypass.

Recent research suggests that the retrospective review of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9-CM) codes assigned to a patient episode will identify a similar number of healthcare-acquired surgical-site infections as compared with prospective surveillance by infection control practitioners (ICP). We tested this finding by replicating the methods for 380 surgical procedures. The sensitivity and specificity of the ICP undertaking prospective surveillance was 80% and 100%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the review of ICD-10-AM codes was 60% and 98.9%. Based on these results we do not support retrospective review of ICD-10-AM codes in preference prospective surveillance for SSI.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗
PubMed2004

Trends in hip and knee joint replacement: socioeconomic inequalities and projections of need.

OBJECTIVES: To examine trends in primary and revision joint (hip and knee) replacement in England between 1991 and 2000. METHODS: Analysis of hospital episodes statistics between 1 April 1991 and 30 March 2001 for total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR). Descriptive statistics and regression modelling were used to summarise patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and to explore variations in joint surgery rates by age, sex, and deprivation. RESULTS: Between 1991 and 2000, the incidence of primary THR increased by 18%, while the incidence of revision THR more than doubled. The incidence of primary TKR doubled, with revision TKR increasing by 300%. Over the 10 year period, the proportion of THR episodes that involved revision operations rose from 8% to 20%. Substantial variations in operation rates by socioeconomic status were seen, with the most deprived fifth of the population experiencing significantly lower rates. Projections estimate that primary THR numbers could rise by up to 22% by the year 2010, with primary TKR numbers rising by up to 63%. CONCLUSIONS: Provision of joint replacement surgery in English NHS hospitals has increased substantially over the past decade. Revision operations in particular have increased markedly. The growth in primary operations has mostly occurred among those aged 60 years and over; rates among young people have changed very little. There is a significant deprivation based gradient in rates. If current trends continue there would be almost 47 000 primary hip and 54 000 primary knee operations annually by 2010.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Diagnostic utility of reflux disease symptoms.

Symptom assessment, by structured interview or questionnaire, is central to the diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). However, empiric support for the diagnostic utility of reflux symptom measures is lacking. Reliable reflux symptom questionnaires have been developed with content validity. These questionnaires need to be evaluated in terms of diagnostic accuracy, support for application of specific treatment, and improved outcomes resulting from their use. The impact on clinical outcomes of GORD diagnosis by valid questionnaires or structured interview has not been studied.

Gastroesophageal Reflux↗
PubMed2004

Places and health.

This glossary aims to provide readers with some key conceptual tools with which to address the issue of place and health; it is hoped that it will provoke thought and debate on the range of ways that places are connected to health.

Emigration and Immigration↗
PubMed2003

National guidance on gynaecological cancer management: an audit of gynaecological cancer services and management in the South East of England.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the appropriateness of the structure and the process of care for gynaecological cancer against national guidelines. SETTING & SAMPLE: Incident cases of ovarian and cervical cancer managed between 1 January, 1999 and 31 December, 2000 in the South East of England. METHODS: Completion of an audit form, by a researcher, using the clinical record. Qualitative interviews with gynaecologists at each hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Whether hospitals meet the requirements for being a 'centre' or a 'unit' for gynaecological cancer and whether gynaecologists manage ovarian or cervical cancer according to the guidelines. RESULTS: Stage was recorded in the notes of 53% (262/492) of women with ovarian cancer but information to assist in determining stage was recorded in 86%. Of women who had a stage recorded by the consultant, who should have had a laparotomy and be referred for chemotherapy, 81% (169/209) were managed according to the guidelines, ignoring whether there was removal of disease to nodules of less than 1 cm. Stage was recorded in the notes of 60% (188/315) of women with cervical cancer, although information relevant to staging the patient was recorded in 66%. Overall 76% (142/188) of women with stage recorded in the notes were managed according to the guidelines but 40% (127/315) of women audited were not assessable. Only one site met the criteria for being a cancer centre. Of the remaining sites, most striking was the inability to assemble a team of professionals, including a radiologist, a pathologist and an oncology nurse to discuss individual patient care. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospective note audits will be hampered by missing data in the clinical record until systems are developed to improve the quality of notes. This research suggests that guidelines based on FIGO staging for the management of ovarian and cervical cancer are not followed and that this may be associated with incomplete cancer management teams.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Molecular changes associated with the transmission of avian influenza a H5N1 and H9N2 viruses to humans.

In order to identify molecular changes associated with the transmission of avian influenza A H5N1 and H9N2 viruses to humans, the internal genes from these viruses were compared to sequences from other avian and human influenza A isolates. Phylogenetically, each of the internal genes of all sixteen of the human H5N1 and both of the H9N2 isolates were closely related to one another and fell into a distinct clade separate from clades formed by the same genes of other avian and human viruses. All six internal genes were most closely related to those of avian isolates circulating in Asia, indicating that reassortment with human strains had not occurred for any of these 18 isolates. Amino acids previously identified as host-specific residues were predominantly avian in the human isolates although most of the proteins also contained residues observed previously only in sequences of human influenza viruses. For the majority of the nonglycoprotein genes, three distinct subgroups could be distinguished on bootstrap analyses of the nucleotide sequences, suggesting multiple introductions of avian virus strains capable of infecting humans. The shared nonglycoprotein gene constellations of the human H5N1 and H9N2 isolates and their detection in avian isolates only since 1997 when the first human infections were detected suggest that this particular gene combination may confer the ability to infect humans and cause disease. J. Med. Virol. 66:107-114, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Low intraspecific variation in the rRNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus.

Ixodes holocyclus has a narrow, discontinuous distribution along the east coast of Australia. We studied ticks from 17 localities throughout the geographic range of this tick. The ITS2 of I. holocyclus is 793 bp long. We found nucleotide variation at eight of the 588 nucleotide positions (1.4%) that were compared for all ticks. There were eight different nucleotide sequences. Most sequences were not restricted to a particular geographic region. However, sequences F, G and H, which had an adenine at position 197, were found only in the far north of Queensland--all other ticks had a guanine at this position. The low level of intraspecific variation in this tick (0.7%) contrasts with the sequence divergence between I. holocyclus and its close relative, I. cornuatus (13.1%). These data indicate that I. holocyclus does not contain cryptic species despite possible geographic isolation of some populations. We conclude that variation in the ITS2 is likely to be informative about the phylogeny of the group.

Animals↗