PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Hurley

Publications and source records attributed to P Hurley.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Risk behavior and correlates of risk for HIV infection in the Dallas County Household HIV survey.

OBJECTIVES: The Dallas County study of a proposed national household seroprevalence survey was designed to assess the feasibility of conducting a national survey and to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus infection for Dallas County. Risk behavior data were collected and correlated with HIV infection. METHODS: Participants in this survey represented a probability sample of the county. A self-administered questionnaire on demographic characteristics and HIV risk behavior was completed and a blood sample was obtained. RESULTS: Of the 1724 adults eligible for the survey, 1446 completed the questionnaire and 1374 provided a blood sample. The prevalence estimates were 0.4% for HIV and 7.3% for hepatitis B virus. A strong relationship was observed between HIV and hepatitis B status and risk behavior. CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, receptive anal intercourse and increasing numbers of male partners had the strongest correlation with the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus infection in men. The high level of risk reporting for individuals positive for HIV or hepatitis B suggests that survey participants who engage in risk behaviors were willing to report those behaviors.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A microtitre plate method for measuring biopterin with cryopreserved Crithidia fasciculata.

The assay of biopterin derivatives in dried blood spots is used by us in initial screening for inherited defects in tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis. The previously described method (1) required aseptic technique and microbiological facilities. The modification detailed here has the advantages of antibiotic cover, which overcomes these needs and microtitre plate technology allowing the incubation time to be halved with precision and accuracy retained. Data reduction facilities may be applied.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis in the UK: the importance of screening pregnant women of Chinese, other South East Asian and Mediterranean extraction for alpha thalassaemia trait.

OBJECTIVE: Alpha zero (alpha 0 or alpha-1) thalassaemia is an important genetic risk for women originating from Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines or South China. Cypriots are also at risk. Carriers of alpha zero thalassaemia trait can be detected by routine haemoglobinopathy screening. When a couple are both carriers, in each pregnancy there is a 25% risk that the fetus will have alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis; this is fatal for the fetus and carries serious obstetric and psychological risks for the mother. Most informed couples at risk request prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion. This study investigates the effectiveness of screening, counselling and prenatal diagnosis for alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis in the UK. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the notes. SUBJECTS: 18 couples attending University College Hospital London for prenatal diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis since 1982. RESULTS: The study shows underdiagnosis of both alpha zero thalassaemia trait and alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis leading to avoidable stillbirths and complications in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: We recommend early screening for alpha zero thalassaemia trait for all women of Southeast Asian or eastern Mediterranean origin and the offer of prenatal diagnosis when indicated. The diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia hydrops fetalis should be considered in women of the relevant ethnic origin who have a stillbirth, neonatal death, abnormal ultrasound findings at fetal anomaly scanning (especially a large placenta), or who develop pre-eclampsia.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1992

Ethics, social forces, and politics in AIDS-related research: experience in planning and implementing a household HIV seroprevalence survey.

A controversial proposal for a survey of HIV infection in a probability sample of U.S. household residents as part of the government's surveillance of the AIDS epidemic provided a number of challenges to survey science. These were compounded by ethical concerns and social sensitivities surrounding the topic. Questions about the ability of a voluntary survey to produce an accurate national estimate of infection demanded rigorous study. In 1987, the Centers for Disease Control began planning field tests of a survey to obtain blood samples and information about respondents' sexual behavior and drug use. The authors were part of the team deployed by the National Center for Health Statistics that, with the contractor staff from Research Triangle Institute, conducted studies in Pittsburgh and Dallas, but only after much was learned about developing processes and procedures for dealing both with broad community concerns and with the interests of those gravely touched by the epidemic.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMed1991

Fetal blood sampling and pregnancy loss in relation to indication.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation between the indication for fetal blood sampling and pregnancy loss following the procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: The tertiary referral Fetal Medicine Units at Guy's and University College Hospitals, London. SUBJECTS: Women undergoing diagnostic fetal blood sampling in four groups: (1) 94 having prenatal diagnosis with normal ultrasound findings; (2) 94 with a structural fetal abnormality; (3) 30 having fetal assessment and (4) 35 with non-immune hydrops. INTERVENTIONS: Freehand ultrasound guided fetal blood sampling from umbilical cord, intrahepatic vein or fetal heart. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy losses were divided into those within 2 weeks and those 2 weeks after the procedure, obstetric accidents and neonatal deaths. RESULTS: The 253 patients had fetal blood sampled on 268 occasions. Fifty-one pregnancies were terminated. Overall, 51 of the remaining 202 desired continuing pregnancies were lost, of which 19 (9%) were lost within 2 weeks of the procedure. After exclusion of the pregnancies that were terminated, the procedure-related losses within 2 weeks of sampling were 1 in 76 (1%), 5 in 76 (7%), 4 in 29 (14%) and 9 in 36 (25%) in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of fetal blood sampling is increased in abnormal pregnancies, reflecting the underlying pathology and this must be taken into account when counselling patients before the procedure.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1991

Detection of human pancreatic pro-phospholipase A2 activation using an immunoassay for the free activation peptide DSGISPR.

There are several forms of the enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in human tissues. In the pancreas the enzyme is produced as a zymogen, pro-phospholipase A2 (pro-PLA2). The active form is generated upon proteolytic cleavage of the N-terminal prophospholipase A2 activation peptide (PLAP), with the sequence Asp-Ser-Gly-Ile-Ser-Pro-Arg (DSGISPR). Antisera specific for free PLAP were produced by immunization with the synthetic peptide, N-terminally conjugated to bovine thyroglobin. Affinity purified antibodies were used to develop a radioimmunoassay with a detection limit of 5 nmol/L. Competitive inhibition studies with amino-terminally truncated sequences showed that, at least, the C-terminal pentapeptide (GISPR) was required for significant inhibition. Anti-PLAP antibodies did not react with native human pancreatic homogenate (a source of pro-PLA2). A large immunoreactive signal was generated upon trypsinization, which coeluted with synthetic PLAP when chromatographed on Sephadex-G25. Likewise, Sephadex-G50 chromatograph fractions of the untrypsinized homogenate reacted with the antibodies only after trypsinization. The immunoreactive signal appeared at a molecular weight of 14,500 which corresponds to the reported molecular weight of pancreatic pro-PLA2. This demonstrates that the assay is specific for the free peptide and reports pro-PLA2 activation. PLAP assay may therefore contribute to the study of the role of the PLA2 activation event in disease states such as pancreatitis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Trypsinogen activation peptides assay in the early prediction of severity of acute pancreatitis.

Trypsinogen activation can be quantified by measurement of released activation peptides (TAP assay). TAP assay in urine was performed on admission for 55 patients with acute pancreatitis. TAP concentration correlated with subsequent disease severity in 87%, whereas C-reactive protein concentration, and multifactorial scoring at 48 h, were correct in 55% and 84%. Sensitivity and specificity for TAP assay were 80% and 90%, for C-reactive protein 53% and 55%, and for multifactorial scoring at 48 h, 60% and 93%. Urine TAP assay distinguishes acute pancreatitis without trypsinogen activation from acute pancreatitis with trypsinogen activation, and helps to identify patients who will progress to the severe acute disease. Use of the assay should allow early intensive treatment of those who need it.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Unusual remission of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a patient with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Pneumocystis carinii is a well-recognized cause of pneumonia in patients with immune deficiency, and when untreated, mortality approaches 100 percent. Although rare cases suggesting spontaneous recovery (usually accompanied by resolving immune deficiency) have been reported, spontaneous resolution of P. carinii pneumonia in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has not been described. A patient with AIDS in whom Pneumocystis pneumonia developed and remitted without appropriate therapy is described. This case suggests that the immunologic defects of AIDS are not fixed and that fluctuations in the degree of immunocompetence may allow for clinical recovery from opportunistic infections associated with AIDS even without appropriate therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1982

Antibody response to varicella-zoster virus after natural or vaccine-induced infection.

The development of serum and nasopharyngeal antibody responses to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was studied in groups of children after naturally acquired varicella or after immunization with the Oka strain of live attenuated VZV vaccine administered in varying doses via respiratory inhalation or subcutaneous injection. Natural infection, subcutaneous immunization, and respiratory inhalation of large doses of VZV vaccine consistently resulted in the development of VZV-specific IgG antibody responses in serum. Although the serum IgG antibody responses persisted for at least eight to 12 months (to date) after either form of infection, the antibody activity appeared to be four- to eight-fold higher after natural infection than after immunization. Transient IgG antibody responses were observed in serum after respiratory inhalation of smaller doses of VZV vaccine. Natural infection, but not VZV vaccine, was associated with the development of serum and nasopharyngeal IgA responses to VZV in most subjects.

Adolescent↗