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Biomedical subjects

Patrick Quinn

Publications and source records attributed to Patrick Quinn.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Suspected vasculitis in an adolescent female with cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, and heart failure requiring heart transplantation.

A 15-year-old girl presented with dilated cardiomyopathy, positive cardiac markers, and electrocardiogram changes suggestive of acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography showed giant dilated coronary arteries. Pathological evidence for cardiomyopathy with acute myocardial infarction was present in the explanted heart. Further investigation suggested evidence for a systemic vasculitis: polyangiitis overlap syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

cDNA microarrays as a tool for identification of biomineralization proteins in the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyta).

Marine unicellular coccolithophore algae produce species-specific calcite scales otherwise known as coccoliths. While the coccoliths and their elaborate architecture have attracted the attention of investigators from various scientific disciplines, our knowledge of the underpinnings of the process of biomineralization in this alga is still in its infancy. The processes of calcification and coccolithogenesis are highly regulated and likely to be complex, requiring coordinated expression of many genes and pathways. In this study, we have employed cDNA microarrays to investigate changes in gene expression associated with biomineralization in the most abundant coccolithophorid, Emiliania huxleyi. Expression profiling of cultures grown under calcifying and noncalcifying conditions has been carried out using cDNA microarrays corresponding to approximately 2,300 expressed sequence tags. A total of 127 significantly up- or down-regulated transcripts were identified using a P value of 0.01 and a change of >2.0-fold. Real-time reverse transcriptase PCR was used to test the overall validity of the microarray data, as well as the relevance of many of the proteins predicted to be associated with biomineralization, including a novel gamma-class carbonic anhydrase (A. R. Soto, H. Zheng, D. Shoemaker, J. Rodriguez, B. A. Read, and T. M. Wahlund, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72:5500-5511, 2006). Differentially regulated genes include those related to cellular metabolism, ion channels, transport proteins, vesicular trafficking, and cell signaling. The putative function of the vast majority of candidate transcripts could not be defined. Nonetheless, the data described herein represent profiles of the transcription changes associated with biomineralization-related pathways in E. huxleyi and have identified novel and potentially useful targets for more detailed analysis.

Calcification, Physiologic↗
PubMed2005

Acute coronary syndrome and preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial ischemia and infarction are rare during pregnancy. Approximately 150 cases of myocardial infarction during pregnancy have been documented in the literature worldwide (predominantly anterior wall). However, elevated troponin levels have been reported in patients with preeclampsia. CASES: We describe 2 patients with preeclampsia who presented with acute myocardial ischemia; 1 with ST segment elevation and one non-ST segment elevation at EKG. Our patients clearly had acute coronary syndromes with troponin levels much higher than would be accounted for by preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: From the existing body of literature regarding this patient population, it is unclear why there is a higher incidence of adverse myocardial events. It may be that coronary ischemia has been missed in patients with preeclampsia. Troponin I is now readily available for detection of myocardial damage and should be used in this patient population only when clinically indicated, such as when chest discomfort or new electrocardiogram changes are observed. Patients with preeclampsia may be at higher risk for coronary events, and troponin I levels could be a valuable tool with which to monitor women who develop related symptoms.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Needs assessment in forensic learning disability.

This paper gives the results of a needs assessment of a group of learning-disabled forensic patients from two Strategic Health Authority areas in the north of England. The patients were found to be a heterogeneous group with wide-ranging psychiatric needs. The majority were cared for outside their geographical area of origin, either in specialist NHS facilities or the independent sector. Those with an additional diagnosis of mental illness were most likely to be detained in NHS facilities within the region: a diagnosis of personality disorder was associated with placement in either a high secure setting or the independent sector. Individuals with a clinical diagnosis of mental retardation were most likely to be detained in services provided by specialist learning disability/mental health trusts out of area. There was a small group of females who were all placed outside the region. Offending behaviour was most likely to consist of violence against the person, sexual offences and arson. The majority assessed were felt to have long term needs. The study raised important implications for future provision of forensic services in the area, particularly the need to offer services with treatment programmes tailored to the needs of the population under review.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The development and impact of culture media for assisted reproductive technologies.

Changes in the composition of media used for human in vitro fertilization and embryo culture are reviewed, and their impact on improved pregnancy rates is discussed. It is concluded that changes to the formulation of culture media for assisted reproductive technologies over the past decade have played a significant role in improving outcomes from assisted reproductive technologies procedures involving the culture of embryos.

Blastocyst↗
PubMed2004

Equivalency of culture media for human in vitro fertilization formulated to have the same pH under an atmosphere containing 5% or 6% carbon dioxide.

Culture media for human in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development were modified to maintain similar pH values under an atmosphere containing 5% or 6% carbon dioxide by adjusting the concentration of sodium bicarbonate. Similar results were obtained with both media groups in a mouse embryo assay and in human in vitro parameters of fertilization and early development and clinical outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Pseudo-cryptic speciation in coccolithophores.

Coccolithophores are a group of calcifying unicellular algae that constitute a major fraction of oceanic primary productivity, play an important role in the global carbon cycle, and are key biostratigraphic marker fossils. Their taxonomy is primarily based on the morphology of the minute calcite plates, or coccoliths, covering the cell. These are diverse and include widespread fine scale variation, of which the biological/taxonomic significance is unknown. Do they represent phenotypic plasticity, genetic polymorphisms, or species-specific characters? Our research on five commonly occurring coccolithophores supports the hypothesis that such variation represents pseudocryptic speciation events, occurring between 0.3 and 12.9 million years ago from a molecular clock estimation. This finding suggests strong stabilizing selection acting on coccolithophorid phenotypes. Our results also provide strong support for the use of fine scale morphological characters of coccoliths in the fossil record to improve biostratigraphic resolution and paleoceanographic data retrieval.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Improvement in early human embryo development using new formulation sequential stage-specific culture media.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether altering selected components of sequential culture media can improve early development variables of human embryos. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, sibling oocyte split trial. SETTING: Private ART center. PATIENT(S): Two hundred eight undergoing treatment with in vitro fertilization or microinjection. INTERVENTION(S): Oocytes from each patient were randomly allocated to fertilization and cleavage media of a control and a trial culture medium formulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Rates of fertilization, cleavage, and uncontrolled division; average embryo morphology score; blastomeres per embryo; embryo score parameter (number of blastomeres x embryo morphology grade); and embryo utilization. The trial media resulted in a higher fertilization rate, higher cleavage rate, lower rate of uncontrolled division, higher number of blastomeres per embryo, higher average embryo morphology score, a higher embryo score parameter, and higher embryo utilization rate compared to the control media. All differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION(S): Improved sequential stage-specific culture media can reduce the occurrence of severe human embryo fragmentation and improve developmental variables in early IVF- and ICSI-generated embryos.

Adult↗