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Biomedical subjects

R Whitaker

Publications and source records attributed to R Whitaker.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Acculturation and marijuana and cocaine use: findings from HHANES 1982-84.

We examined the relation between acculturation and illicit drug use among Hispanics in the United States employing data from the 1982-84 Hispanic Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (HHANES). Across all Hispanic groups, acculturation into US society, as reflected in English language use, was associated with higher rates of illicit drug use even after sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, income, and education were considered. Significant interactions between language and education indicated that the predominant use of English was more strongly associated with marijuana and cocaine use among Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans of lower educational attainment than among those of higher educational attainment. Significant interactions between language use and other factors such as sex, marital status, and place of birth were also associated with marijuana and cocaine use. These results suggest that the experience of acculturation, especially as it relates to drug use, is closely tied to the social and economic context in which an individual lives.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1986

Infection and colonisation of neonates by Hansenula anomala.

Over a 13-month period 52 neonates (10% of those admitted to the Mersey Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) were found to be colonised with the ascosporagenous yeast Hansenula anomala. 8 babies became infected, all but 1 of whom were heavily colonised before infection. 7 of the 8 infected babies were of very low birth-weight (less than 1500 g). All 8 had multiple problems associated with low birth-weight and prematurity and were kept in the intensive care unit. 5 babies had fungaemia, 2 had fungaemia and ventriculitis, and 1 had ventriculitis only. In each case H anomala was the sole pathogen isolated. Anti-Hansenula antibodies developed in 5 babies within 3 months of infection. Infected babies were successfully treated with a combination of 5-flucytosine and amphotericin B. Despite extensive searches the babies appeared to be the only reservoir of the yeast.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1978

Intermittent catheterisation in the management of children with neuropathic bladder.

Twenty-three children with neuropathic bladder have been treated by intermittent catheterisation during the past 3 years. Twelve are now practically dry, nine are drier than before, and two have remained wet. Urinary infections have not been a major problem, but it is too soon to assess the long-term effects on the upper renal tract. Intermittent catheterisation lightens the burden for the mothers. Four children catheterise themselves and two of them are now independent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Lumbar radiculopathy contralateral to upper lumbar disc herniation: report of 3 cases.

Three cases of lumbar radiculopathy contralateral to an upper lumbar disc herniation are reported. This clinical syndrome is explained on the basis of prominent spondylotic changes and stenosis contralateral to the side of disc herniation associated with anatomical anomalies of lumbar nerve roots. The disc herniation causes displacement and impaction of the dural sac with the emerging nerve roots in a narrowed lateral recess.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Primary excision of brain abscess.

Sixteen consecutive patients with brain abscess, including two with multilocular and two with infratentorial abscesses, were treated by primary total excision of the abscess. The patients were followed for six months to three years. Only one patient died and there were no recurrences. Immediate primary excision is therefore the treatment of choice in brain abscess.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Unilateral proptosis due to midbrain tumour. A case report.

A case of unilateral proptosis attributed to midbrain tumour is reported. The proptosis disappeared after release of intracranial hypertension. The postulated mechanism of the unilateral proptosis on the left side is a relative increase in orbital venous stasis on that side, consequent upon intracranial hypertension.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Glaucoma: what the ophthalmic nurse should know.

Glaucoma is both an international and a national public health issue. Worldwide, glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. More than 2 million persons in the United States have glaucoma, yet only half of them are aware that they have the disease. The diagnosis of glaucoma requires an extensive ocular examination. Glaucoma consists of a group of ocular diseases that result in optic disk cupping and visual field loss. Although glaucoma is a blinding disease, in most cases, blindness may be prevented through early detection and treatment. Glaucoma management is determined by the type of glaucoma a person has.

Glaucoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between expression of coactivators and corepressors of hormone receptors and resistance of ovarian cancers to growth regulation by steroid hormones.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether aberrant expression of hormone receptor corepressors or coactivators or defects in estrogen receptor-mediated transcription might underlie resistance of ovarian cancers to hormonal therapy. METHODS: Northern analysis, Western analysis, and polymerase chain reaction were used to examine expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), the nuclear receptor corepressors N-CoR and SMRT, and the steroid receptor coactivator BRG-1 in ovarian cancer cell lines and primary cancers. The effect of BRG-1 transfection on ER-mediated transcription was examined. We also determined the effect of estrogen and the pure estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780 on cell cycle profile and expression of ER. Finally, we examined the ability of estrogen to upregulate expression of known estrogen-responsive genes. RESULTS: Among primary ovarian cancers, 18 of 52 (35%) expressed N-CoR, and 37 of 52 (71%) expressed SMRT, but there was no correlation between expression of corepressors and hormone receptor status. All of the primary ovarian cancers and cell lines expressed BRG-1. Estrogen stimulation of two cell lines expressing ER (SKOV3, OVCA 432) elicited low levels of ER-mediated transcription that was not enhanced by BRG-1 transfection. ICI 182,780 did not induce cell cycle arrest in these cell lines, but there was evidence of downregulation of ER, indicating a ligand-receptor interaction. However, estrogen did not elicit increased transcription of estrogen-responsive genes (PR, myc, fos, pS2). CONCLUSION: Inappropriate expression of the nuclear corepressors N-CoR and SMRT or the coactivator BRG-1 does not underlie the resistance of ovarian cancers to hormonal therapy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inability of ovarian cancers to undergo ER-mediated transcription if we hope to understand their resistance to hormonal therapy.

Blotting, Northern↗