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Biomedical subjects

P Beesley

Publications and source records attributed to P Beesley.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Anbmp2/4 is a new member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily isolated from a crinoid and involved in regeneration.

Invertebrates have frequently been used to help understand the complexities of regulatory gene function and evolution. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a highly conserved group of secreted regulatory factors that play an important part in early embryonic patterning. In the present study we have used the remarkable regenerative potential of crinoid echinoderms to explore the BMPs' site of expression in an adult developmental programme. Our results suggest that a crinoid BMP2/4 homologue is actively involved during the early stages of blastemal regeneration at a time when fundamental patterns are being established. This supports the idea of an evolutionary developmental programme where essential gene families are conserved throughout phylogeny in terms of both expression and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Changes in ubiquitin conjugates and Hsp72 levels during arm regeneration in echinoderms.

All organisms show a common defensive mechanism that results in the expression of conserved heat shock proteins (Hsps). These proteins function in a wide range of stressful conditions. We have monitored their levels in species of regenerating echinoderms with different mechanisms of regeneration and from different geographical locations. The effect of an artificial higher temperature on expression of Hsps was also studied. Two stress proteins (Hsp72 and ubiquitin) that are important in processes such as development and protein degradation were investigated. Using Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry, we found significant changes in the level (Hsp72) and pattern of conjugation (ubiquitin) that corresponded with the repair phase (early regenerative stages) and with the later growth and regeneration of new tissues. Animals from the intertidal environment showed a distinctly sustained expression pattern of Hsp72 compared with benthic animals which suggests a functionally adaptative and dynamic stress response program.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Relationship of cranial ultrasonography, visual and auditory evoked responses with neurodevelopmental outcome.

Sixty-two preterm infants were followed up with flash visual evoked responses (VERs), brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) and neurodevelopmental assessments for 18 months after term. Cranial ultrasonography showed that 18 infants developed intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) during the newborn period and four of six infants with grade III or IV haemorrhage had absent VERs at term. The mean latency of the VER in the infants with IVH was significantly shorter than that of infants without IVH. There was no correlation between the degree of ventricular dilatation at term and the latency of the VER. Six months after term the four infants with previously absent VERs had normal responses, though there was still a significant difference between the latencies of infants with and without IVH. At 12 and 18 months of age these differences had disappeared. BAERs were not significantly different in the infants with and without IVH, and there was no difference in the VERs or BAERs of infants with neurodevelopmental delay and those developing normally. Neither flash VERs nor BAERs provide a good prognostic indicator of future neurodevelopmental disability or outcome.

Brain↗
PubMed1989

Hearing-aids: can they be safely prescribed without medical supervision? An analysis of patients referred for hearing-aids.

A prospective study of 169 patients with hearing loss as their main symptom, referred to the ENT Clinic by General Practitioners, is reported. The study aimed to assess the safety of prescribing hearing aids by Physiological Measurement Technicians from the Audiology Department without medical supervision. The General Practitioners' referral letter and patients' histories were analysed to see if all cases of middle ear disease would be picked up from this information alone. In this study, 31 patients had otoscopic evidence of chronic otitis media, active or inactive, only 14 (45.2%) of whom were identifiable from the referral letters. Of the 8 cases of active inflammatory ear disease, 3 were not mentioned in the referral letter. No asymptomatic cholesteatoma was found in the study population. At present all patients are reviewed by ENT medical staff prior to prescription of a hearing-aid; we feel this should continue.

Adult↗