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Biomedical subjects

M Tyrrell

Publications and source records attributed to M Tyrrell.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Protein-binding partners of the tobacco syntaxin NtSyr1.

Syntaxins and other SNARE (soluble NSF-attachment protein receptor) complex proteins play a key role in the cellular processes of vesicle trafficking, vesicle fusion and secretion. Intriguingly, the SNARE NtSyr1 (=NtSyp121) from Nicotiana tabacum also appears to have a role in signalling evoked by the plant stress hormone abscisic acid. However, partner proteins contributing to its function(s) remain unknown. We used an affinity chromatography approach to identify proteins from tobacco leaf microsomes that directly interact with the hydrophilic (cytosolic) domains of NtSyr1 and report several interacting proteins with sensitivities to the endopeptidase activity of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins, including one protein that was recognised by alphaAtSNAP33 antiserum, raised against the Arabidopsis SNAP25 homologue. Treatment of microsomal membrane fractions indicated a protein near 55 kDa was sensitive to proteolysis by BotN/A and BotN/E, yielding degradation products of approximately 34 and 23 kDa. Expressed and purified AtSNAP33 also bound directly to the cytosolic domain of NtSyr1 and was sensitive to proteolysis by these toxins, suggesting that NtSyr1, a tobacco homologue of AtSNAP33, and coordinate SNAREs are likely to associate as partners for function in vivo.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗

Increasing breast and cervical cancer screening in low-income women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if women would have higher breast and cervical cancer screening rates if lay health advisers recommended screening and offered a convenient screening opportunity. DESIGN: Controlled trial. SETTING: Urban county teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Women aged 40 years and over attending appointments in several non-primary-care outpatient clinics. INTERVENTIONS: Lay health advisers assessed the participants' breast and cervical cancer screening status and offered women in the intervention group who were due for screening an appointment with a female nurse practitioner. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Screening rates at baseline and at follow-up 1 year after the intervention were determined. At follow-up, the mammography rate was 69% in the intervention group versus 63% in the usual care group (p = .009), and the Pap smear rate was 70% in the intervention group versus 63% in the usual care group (p = .02). In women who were due for screening at baseline, the mammography rate was 60% in the intervention group versus 50% in the usual care group (p = .006), and the Pap smear rate was 63% in the intervention group versus 50% in the usual care group (p = .002). The intervention was effective across age and insurance payer strata, and was particularly effective in Native American women. CONCLUSIONS: Breast and cervical cancer screening rates were improved in women attending non-primary-care outpatient clinics by using lay health advisers and a nurse practitioner to perform screening. The effect was strongest in women in greatest need of screening.

Adult↗

Saccular aortic aneurysm in an asymptomatic child.

An asymptomatic boy was found to have coarctation of the thoracic aorta. Despite no history of endocarditis or trauma, a large saccular aneurysm involving the coarctation site was identified angiographically, confirmed, resected surgically, and examined histologically.

Aortic Aneurysm↗

Surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in a neonatal intensive care setting is safe and cost effective.

The physiological and biochemical status of two groups of neonates with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) requiring surgical ligation were compared. One group (n = 14) had ductus ligation in the operating room (OR) and the other group (n = 14) had the same operation in an isolation room in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The groups were closely matched in terms of gestational age and weight. Nursing time and disposable equipment savings were significantly different. We have confirmed that PDA ligation can be done safely in the NICU and is more cost efficient than ligation in the OR.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗