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R Fox

Publications and source records attributed to R Fox.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Information Technology for postgraduate education: survey of facilities and skills in the South West Deanery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure available to, and IT skills of, obstetric specialist registrars across the South West Deanery. DESIGN: Open prospective study. SETTING: NHS Hospitals in the South West Deanery. METHODS: Two separate surveys. Firstly, the computer equipment available to trainees was determined at each hospital in the deanery on site using a software programme. Secondly, IT skills of a sample of 22 specialist registrars were assessed using a checklist at a series of four workshops. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Computers with sufficient specification to use CD-ROMs, to access the Internet, and to support data-, audio- and video-conferencing. The number of trainees with IT skills to use a computer-aided learning package and the Internet. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of trainees have access to a computer with a CD-ROM drive. Sixty-six percent also have access to the Internet at their place of work. Thirteen percent have access to data-conferencing but there were no computers in the Deanery able to support audio- or video-conferencing. Twenty-five percent of trainees have no IT skills and require basic training in the use of computers. Thirty-six percent of our sample would require training to be able to use computer-based tutorials programs. Seventy-seven percent of trainees require training to be able to use the Internet without assistance. CONCLUSION: A significant minority of trainees do not have access to computers with sufficient specification to run basic tutorial programmes or access the Internet. Similarly, a large minority of trainees do not even have a basic knowledge of computer technology and IT training is required for the majority of trainees for them to reap the potential benefits which computer-based tutorials systems and the Internet can give.

Computers↗
PubMed1999

Transvaginal ultrasound appearances of the ovary in normal women and hirsute women with oligomenorrhoea.

The transvaginal ultrasound appearances of the ovary were determined in women with clinical and endocrine features of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and apparently normal women. At scan the number of small follicles were counted and ovarian volume was calculated. The maximum width of the ovarian cortex was also measured. Blood was sent for measurement of LH, FSH and testosterone. The women with oligomenorrhoea were scanned at random and the normal women were seen within the first 5 days of the start of menstruation. There were significant differences between median values for the 2 groups in terms of number of small follicles, ovarian volume and stromal width; the ovaries of the hirsute women had more follicles, were of larger volume, and had greater stromal width. The 2 ranges for number of follicles did overlap, however. Four hirsute oligomenorrhoeic women had a normal number of follicles; all 4 had the several clinical and endocrine features indicative of PCOD. These data suggest that the classical ultrasound features of PCOD are not consistently present and that the absence of increased follicularity at scan should not necessarily deter clinicians from making the functional diagnosis of PCOD.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Herpes simplex virus inhibits apoptosis through the action of two genes, Us5 and Us3.

Apoptosis of virus-infected cells occurs either as a direct response to viral infection or upon recognition of infection by the host immune response. Apoptosis reduces production of new virus from these cells, and therefore viruses have evolved inhibitory mechanisms. We previously showed that laboratory strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) protect infected cells from apoptosis induced by cytotoxic T lymphocytes or ethanol. We have now evaluated the ability of HSV-1 and HSV-2 laboratory and clinical isolates to inhibit apoptosis induced by anti-Fas antibody or UV irradiation and explored the genetic basis for this inhibition. HSV-1 isolates inhibited apoptosis induced by UV or anti-Fas antibody. In contrast, HSV-2 clinical isolates failed to inhibit apoptosis induced by either stimulus, although the HSV-2 laboratory strain 333 had a partial inhibitory effect on UV-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of apoptosis by HSV was accompanied by marked reduction of caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity. Deletion of the HSV-1 Us3 gene markedly reduced inhibition of UV-induced apoptosis and partially abrogated inhibition of Fas-mediated apoptosis. Conversely, deletion of the HSV-1 Us5 gene markedly reduced protection from Fas-mediated apoptosis and partially abrogated protection from UV. The Us11 and Us12 genes were not necessary for protection from apoptosis induced by either stimulus. The differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2 in the ability to inhibit apoptosis may be factors in the immunobiology of HSV infections.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

E-biomed.

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Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of substance misuse in first-episode psychosis.

BACKGROUND: Reports suggest a high prevalence of substance misuse in psychotic disorders but few studies examine comorbidity at onset of psychosis. AIMS: To identify the prevalence and pattern of substance use and misuse in first-episode psychosis, and relationships with diagnosis, mode of presentation and demographic variables. METHOD: Consensus diagnoses for 168 subjects presenting with first-episode psychosis were made using ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Information on substance use and misuse was obtained from multiple sources. We examined associations between substance misuse, diagnosis and demographic factors. RESULTS: Criteria for drug use, drug misuse or alcohol misuse were met by 37% of the sample. One-year prevalence rates were 19.5% (drug misuse) and 11.7% (alcohol misuse). Thirteen subjects (8.4%) received a primary diagnosis of substance-related psychotic disorder; a significant increase compared with an earlier cohort from the same catchment area. Drug misuse was associated with younger age of onset of psychosis, male gender and non-African-Caribbean ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms high rates of substance misuse at onset of psychosis. There is evidence for an increase in diagnosis of substance-related psychotic disorders over time. Those most at risk of substance misuse are young males.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of a positive family history of type 2 diabetes in women with polycystic ovarian disease.

The known association between insulin resistance and polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) has been studied by determination of the prevalence of a positive family history of diabetes in a consecutive series of oligomenorrheic women with polycystic ovaries and eumenorrheic women with normal ovaries who served as controls. A significantly greater proportion of the families of the patients with PCOD had at least one member affected by type 2 diabetes (39.1% of the PCOD group and 7.6% of the controls; p < 0.001). Both obese (54.8%) and non-obese women (24.2%) with PCOD had an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes within their families. Paternal and maternal family members affected were in similar proportions, there being no evidence of preferential transmission through the female line in this study. The increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the families of women with polycystic ovaries is further evidence for the association between PCOD and insulin resistance, and provides a possible explanation for the familial nature of the ovarian disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Caco-2 cell permeability of a new (hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine oral iron chelator: correlation with physicochemical properties and oral activity.

This study describes the transport of CGP 75254A, a novel oral iron chelator, across Caco-2 cells in an attempt to model intestinal epithelial cell permeability in man. CGP 75254A was dosed to the apical side of Caco-2 cell monolayers, together with [14C]mannitol as an internal permeability standard. The apparent permeability (Papp) was calculated from the cumulative appearance of drug in the basolateral fluid with time. The [14C]mannitol Papp indicated that the Caco-2 monolayers remained intact and that the iron chelator was not toxic to the cells. Permeabilities of CGP 75254A were compared with the Caco-2 permeabilities of compounds of known absorption in man. The results predict that absorption of CGP 75254A is likely to be virtually complete at pH values between 5.5 and 7.0. However, at pH 8.0 permeability is predicted as negligible. Cell permeability data are in full accordance with key physicochemical properties of CGP 75254A and suggest that the drug is passively absorbed. The results, which suggest likely quantitative absorption in vivo, are supported by preliminary pharmacological experiments in marmosets.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Quantification of blood volume by electrical impedance tomography using a tissue-equivalent phantom.

An in vivo electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system was designed to accurately estimate quantities of intra-peritoneal blood in the abdominal cavity. For this it is essential that the response is relatively independent of the position of the high conductivity anomaly (blood) in the body. The sensitivity of the system to the introduction of blood-equivalent resistivity anomalies was assessed by using a cylindrical tissue-equivalent phantom. It was found that a satisfactorily uniform response of the system in both radial (transverse) and axial (longitudinal) directions in the phantom could be achieved by filtering resistivity profile images obtained by EIT measurement, and by using extended electrodes to collect data. Post-processing of single impedance images gave rise to a quantity denoted the resistivity index. A filter was then used to remove the remaining radial variation of the resistivity index. It was calculated by evaluating the resistivity index of a number of theoretically calculated images, and constructing a correction filter similar to those used to remove lens imperfections, such as coma, in optical components. The 30% increase in the resistivity index observed when an anomaly was moved to the maximum extent allowed by the filter calculation (0.75 of the phantom radius) was reduced by the filter to 6%. A study of the axial dependence observed in the resistivity index using electrodes extended in the axial direction by +/-5 cm found that the variation in resistivity index with axial position was about half of that observed using small circular electrodes similar to those used in the Sheffield mark I system.

Blood Volume↗
PubMed1998

Serial transvaginal ultrasonography following McDonald cerclage and repeat suture insertion.

The aim of this study was to explore the hypothesis that serial transvaginal ultrasonography identifies early evidence of suture failure and that repeat cerclage delays delivery. We undertook a review of our policy of transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical surveillance after McDonald cerclage and of repeat suture insertion if persistent cervical effacement developed. Data from 26 pregnancies in 26 women are analyzed. The women had had a total of 57 mid-trimester miscarriages with a median of 2 (1-6) mid-trimester losses per woman. Twelve (46%) of the 26 women developed cervical changes at scan and underwent repeat cerclage. All 14 women who had a single suture inserted progressed to live births but 1 of the 13 women who had repeat cerclage had a mid-trimester miscarriage (p>0.05). The median gestation at delivery for the women who had repeat cerclage was 35 (22-39) weeks compared with 38 (36-40) weeks for those who had a single suture (p>0.05). The median interval from the detection of cervical changes at scan to delivery was 13 (4-19) weeks. Serial transvaginal ultrasonography after cervical cerclage identifies a group of women who are more likely to deliver preterm, and provides an opportunity for intervention (repeat cerclage) which appears to delay delivery by an average of 7 weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Healing powers.

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Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1998

Helping staff cope with change.

Resistance to change is as inevitable as change itself. But successful leaders can help their staff come to terms with a new culture by understanding the process of grief that accompanies change and by taking time to see that employees' concerns are addressed.

Guidelines as Topic↗