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Biomedical subjects

S A Rowland

Publications and source records attributed to S A Rowland.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Oral fecal parasites and personal hygiene of food handlers in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of infective eggs and cysts of faecal orally transmissible parasites has been linked with the level of environmental and personal hygiene. The possibility of contamination of food with eggs and cysts by infected food vendors has also been recorded. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of parasites with direct transmission and the level of hygiene among food vendors. Stools of randomly selected food vendors selling in schools and streets in Abeokuta were examined for ova and cysts of parasites using formo-ether concentration method. Questionnaires, interviews, and field observation were also used to assess the activities of food vendors. RESULTS: Ninety-seven (97%) percent of the food vendors were infected with one or more faecal-orally transmissible parasites while 3% were free from such parasites; Parasites observed were Entamoeba histolytica with a prevalence of 72% Ascaris lumbricoides (54%), Enterobius vermicularis (27%), Trichuris trichiura (24%) and Giardia duodenalis (13%). School food vendors recorded lower prevalence of infection (92%) than the street food vendors (98.7%) (P>0.05) Fifty-two percent (52%) of the food vendors have dewormed in the last four years; Eighty percent (80%) of this were school food vendors. Infections with helminthes were recorded in 63.5% of the dewormed food vendors. Food vendors involved in child care activities were found to be more infected than those not involved in such activities. Toilet facilities available to the vendors were mainly pit latrine and other related structure (75%) while 25% had access to water system closets. During hawking, dung hills were majorly used for defaecation. Hand washing after defaecation did not include the use of soap in the few vendors that were involved in hand washing. CONCLUSION: There is need to enact food handling policies and implementation of such policies ensured in order to reduce transmission of oral faecal parasites.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Mutations in the adrenoleukodystrophy gene.

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a peroxisomal disorder that commonly manifests as demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). The isolation of the ALD gene by positional cloning has led to the identification of a variety of mutations in the ALD gene. One hundred and ten mutations have been identified to date, of which approximately 50% are missense mutations. While rapid DNA-based diagnoses of ALD is now possible, there appears to be no simple correlation between genotype and phenotype.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Mem↗
PubMed1996

DNA-based diagnostics for adrenoleukodystrophy in a large New Zealand family.

AIM: To develop a DNA-based diagnostic test for adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) in a large New Zealand family. METHODS: Mutation screening of the X chromosome-linked ALD gene was undertaken by direct sequencing of PCR amplified products encompassing defined exons of the ALD gene. The identification of a mutation led to the development of a simple restriction enzyme digestion protocol of a PCR amplified product to identify those individuals with the mutation. RESULTS: A nonsense mutation, resulting in deduced premature termination of translation of the ALD gene product, was detected in exon 4 of the ALD gene in an affected male. This mutation was found in three obligate gene carriers in the same ALD family. A DNA-based test was established to identify this mutation by Bgl II digestion of a PCR amplified product encompassing exons 3 and 4 of the ALD gene. The DNA-based test was applied to a chorionic villus sampling for prenatal diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: A simple DNA-based test has been developed for ALD in a large New Zealand family. This test provides a rapid means of determining carrier status and for undertaking prenatal diagnosis for ALD in this family.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Structure and location of the murine adrenoleukodystrophy gene.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a degenerative neurological disease characterized by the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids in various tissues and demyelination of the central nervous system. The human gene responsible for the disease encodes a membrane-bound ATP-binding transporter protein that is located in peroxisomes. We isolated the mouse adrenoleukodystrophy gene, determined its structure, and mapped it both cytogenetically and genetically. The mouse gene is very similar in structure to the human gene, consisting of 10 exons arranged over a 22-kb genomic region. We localized it in band B of the mouse X chromosome by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and, using a new microsatellite repeat polymorphism, determined the map location as 47 cM from the X centromere. We found evidence for other sequences in the mouse genome related to the 3' end of Aldgh. This study paves the way for the construction of gene-targeting plasmids that may be used to develop an animal model of ALD.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Mem↗
PubMed1995

Effectiveness of cleaning surgical implants: quantitative analysis of contaminant removal.

Surgical implants need to be free from contaminants before implantation. The effectiveness of a presently used Clemson bioengineering cleaning (CBC) protocol was evaluated for cleaning three different biomaterials (titanium, aluminum oxide, and polyethylene terephthalate, PET) contaminated with three different contaminants (calcium chloride, zinc chloride, and hexadecane). Radiolabeled tracer analysis (RTA), with the use of liquid scintillation, was used as the surface analytical technique to quantitatively determine the percent contaminant removed from the biomaterial surface. On average, the ultrasonic cleaning step removed 99.96% of all three contaminants from both titanium and aluminum oxide. The CBC protocol did not sufficiently clean PET fabric contaminated with hexadecane leaving 11.76% of the contaminant after the ultrasonic step. With the use of isopropyl alcohol in series with 1% Liquinox, the ultrasonic step cleaned the fabric soiled with hexadecane within 30 min, removing 99.85% of the hexadecane initially on the surface. RTA proved to be an excellent method of quantifying surface contamination on implant materials, and for assessing the effectiveness of cleaning protocols in question.

Alkanes↗
PubMed1992

Tension band wiring of olecranon fractures. A modification of the AO technique.

One of the weaknesses of the tension band wiring technique for the treatment of olecranon fractures is that it may open up the fracture at the articular surface of the ulna. A simple modification of the technique eliminates this problem by converting the distracting forces at the articular surface of the joint to compressive forces.

Bone Wires↗
PubMed1986

Acute traumatic subluxation of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon at the wrist.

A case of acute traumatic subluxation of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon as it passes through the sixth compartment of the wrist is described. The literature suggests that acute injuries can be treated for 6 weeks in a long arm cast, with the forearm in pronation and slight radial deviation and dorsiflexion, but there are no case reports described. The findings in this case suggest that for optimal results, surgical repair of the retaining fibro-osseous sheath of the extensor carpi ulnaris is preferable over the nonoperative cast technique.

Acute Disease↗