Stab wound to the neck--a rare presentation.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Nayeem.
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OBJECTIVES: To compare cardiac troponin T, myoglobin, CK, CKMB activity, CKMB mass and the initial electrocardiogram in the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction in the emergency department. Methods-Biochemical markers were measured at presentation in patients with a possible diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Based on the clinical notes, patients were grouped as "definite myocardial infarction" (n = 50), "definite no myocardial infarction" (n = 81) and "uncertain" (n = 96). Sensitivity and specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using the 131 patients with definitely present or absent myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The initial electrocardiogram was more sensitive than any of the markers in the first six hours from symptom onset-sensitivity 74% (95%CI 61% to 88%). The positive predictive value of the initial electrocardiogram was 97% in the first six hours; the markers ranged from 47% to 67%. The negative predictive value of the initial electrocardiogram was 85% in the first six hours; the markers ranged from 61% to 70%. Four patients with non-diagnostic electrocardiograms presenting beyond six hours after pain onset had a myocardial infarct detected by at least three of the biochemical markers in each case. CONCLUSIONS: The electrocardiogram is of more diagnostic use than biochemical markers in the first six hours after the onset of pain, but biochemical markers give additional positive diagnostic information in patients presenting later than this. The negative predictive accuracy of biochemical markers is too low for a single sample to be useful for excluding myocardial infarction in the first six hours after onset of symptoms.
L1 is a neural recognition molecule that promotes neural developmental and regenerative processes. Posttranslational cleavage of L1 is believed to be important for regulating its function in vivo, but little is known of the proteolytic systems responsible. In this study we present evidence that plasmin can regulate both L1 expression and function. The addition of plasmin to cell lines results in a dose-dependent loss of surface L1 expression, with the simultaneous appearance of soluble L1 species. The addition of plasminogen to primary neurons and melanoma cells also resulted in the generation of plasmin and the concomitant release of L1. One product of plasmin-mediated cleavage is an amino-terminal fragment of approximately 140 kDa that has been previously described as a natural posttranslational cleavage product in vivo. This fragment was confirmed to result from cleavage at two sites in the middle of the third fibronectin-like domain of L1. Cleavage at a further site, proximal to the transmembrane domain of L1, was also observed at higher plasmin concentrations. Plasmin was further confirmed to abrogate homophilic L1 interactions required for cellular aggregation. Based on these findings we propose that plasmin is likely to be an important regulator of L1-mediated processes including those documented in the nervous system.
The report of the Working Group on Bereavement Care in A&E departments recommended both the provision of follow-up for relatives and the audit of bereavement care as examples of good practice. In our adult A&E department follow-up contact is made by support workers, who have often been involved with the family at the time of death, making telephone contact four to five days later. This paper describes the role of the support workers and the results of a questionnaire sent to relatives to seek their views on this telephone follow up. In a six-month period 98 families had relatives who died in A&E; 38 (39%) of them returned completed questionnaires. The telephone call was thought to be helpful by 37 (97%) of the respondents. The commonest reasons given were: 'It showed you cared' (95%) and 'It enabled me to ask questions' (46%). We have found that the experience and, more importantly, availability of the support workers allows a level of consistency and continuity in follow-up care which can otherwise be difficult to achieve.
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This study reports a molecular analysis of pig WC1, a new member of the scavenger-receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) superfamily. The pig WC1 contains up to six extra-cellular SRCR domains, highly homologous to other members of the family. However, the striking feature of the WC1 gene, as for its cattle and sheep homologues, is that it is present as a multigene family showing extensive sequence diversity, for both DNA and predicted protein sequence. The basis of this diversity was examined and was shown to be attributable to several different causes. These included single base-pair changes within SRCR domains, the optional usage of whole domains or exons, including a SRCR domain and the proximal "hinge" region, and alternative isoforms of the putative cytoplasmic tail. These results suggest that WC1 may code for a new, though more primitive type of antigen recognition structure specific for gamma/delta T cells.
To determine the existence and composition of Trauma Teams in UK hospitals postal and telephone enquiries were made to 185 Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments comprising all those in the UK with an annual attendance of over 30,000 patients per year. The existence of Trauma Teams was not influenced by the number of A&E attendances or the medical staffing composition in the A&E department. Of the hospitals surveyed, 113 (61 per cent) had either a Trauma Team or an adequate system for getting A&E staff or other specialists rapidly to injured patients. The most common reason (58/69) for not having Trauma Teams was an inability to get doctors to attend to an injured patient promptly. In 58 out of the 69 hospitals the difficulties in getting the appropriate doctors to respond quickly to multiply injured patients was the main reason for not making any arrangements for rapid multidisciplinary evaluation of them. Changing the medical profession's attitude to injury management is a hurdle that will need to be overcome.
An antigen complex unique for porcine gamma/delta T cells has previously been identified using the monoclonal antibodies MAC319 and MAC320. Here we use digestion with the proteolytic enzyme bromelain to selectively release the MAC319 antigen as a soluble fragment, for further characterisation. A cytofluorometric inhibition assay was developed to follow the purification of this fragment, as the conformation sensitivity of the MAC319 epitope prevented the use of immunoblotting techniques. The antigen has been purified using a combination of anion-exchange and hydrophobic-interaction columns, followed by separation on a size-exclusion column. Fractions from the size-exclusion column containing the antigen consisted of one major band at Mr 95,000. This species was shown to be specifically absorbed onto MAC319-coupled Sepharose, thereby identifying the MAC319 antigen. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of this band has revealed a previously unidentified sequence. This fragment was also shown to be glycosylated, most likely with a single sugar moiety. Enzymatic removal of the sugars showed that they did not appear to be necessary for binding of the polypeptide to the MAC319 antibody.
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In the transmitter-gated ion channel class of receptors, the members of which are all believed to be heterooligomers, the number and arrangement of the subunits are only known with any certainty for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo electric fish. That receptor has been shown to possess a pentameric rosette structure, with five homologous subunits (alpha 2, beta gamma delta) arranged to enclose the central ion channel. The data were obtained by electron image analysis of two-dimensional receptor arrays, which form as a consequence of that receptor's exceptionally high abundance in the Torpedo membranes and are therefore not attainable for other receptors. We have applied another direct approach to determine the quaternary structure of native ionotropic GABA receptors. We have purified those receptors from porcine brain cortex and analysed the rotational symmetry of isolated receptors visualized by electron microscopy. The results show the receptor to have a pentameric structure with a central water-filled pore, which can now be said to be characteristic of the entire superfamily.
Poor initial assessment contributes to morbidity and mortality in acute severe asthma. We have audited this aspect of management in an A & E department over a single 6-month senior house officer employment cycle. The use of a cheap and simple stamp highlighting important clinical features of asthma was associated with a significant improvement in early assessment.
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It has been suggested that 20-33% of trauma related deaths are preventable. The Accident and Emergency Department of Luton and Dunstable Hospital, therefore, set out to examine its own performance and to attempt to highlight areas of possible improvement. The department sees 65,851 new patients per annum, 3936 of these were victims of road traffic accidents (RTA). There were 184 patients admitted and six died. One death was considered preventable; shortcomings were noted with delay in availability of services. It is recommended that early assessment by experienced clinicians and easy access to theatre facilities and diagnostic imaging be available in district general hospitals to improve the quality of care for trauma victims.
The cloned cDNAs encoding the alpha 1 and beta 1 subunits of the bovine brain GABA(A) receptor have been co-transfected, using a dexamethasone-inducible promoter, into cultured hamster ovary cells, with selection to form a stable cell line. The use, alternatively, of a much stronger constitutive promoter led to cell death consequent upon high receptor density. After induction, the cells contained the alpha 1 and beta 1 mRNAs. The expressed receptors showed the high-affinity binding of [3H]muscimol and of the GABA(A) receptor channel blocker, t-butylphosphorothionate (TBPS), and the characteristic enhancement of the former by a pregnanolone. Their GABA-activated current was potentiated by the barbiturate, pentobarbitone, was reversibly blocked by bicuculline and picrotoxin, but was not enhanced by benzodiazepines. In mouse spinal cord neurons GABA activates channel openings to at least four conductance states (45, 30, 19 and 12 pS) with the 30 pS state being the most frequently observed (main) state. However, the main state of the alpha 1/beta 1 GABA(A) receptor was the 19 pS state. The enhancement of GABA(A) receptor current by barbiturates wa due to prolongation of mean channel lifetime, whereas the reduction of GABA(A) receptor current by picrotoxin was due to reduction of channel opening frequency and mean channel lifetime. Stable cell lines containing subunit combinations of this receptor should provide a powerful tool for the elucidation of its channel features and control mechanisms.
A 14 month retrospective study was undertaken to determine the cost implications of the opening of a roller skating rink to the local hospital accident and emergency department (A and E). A total of 398 patients attended following injury at the roller skating rink, of whom 384 were included in the study. The estimated cost of their injuries was determined by the hospital accounts department. The average cost per patient attending the A and E department following roller skating injury was about 100 pounds. The total cost to the A and E department of all injuries sustained at the rink over this period was 38,412 pounds. The cost implications of opening a roller skating rink for the A and E department are considerable. If proposals for self-budgeting are applied, A and E departments will have to seek additional funding if such leisure facilities are opened in their vicinity.