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Biomedical subjects

S Lindow

Publications and source records attributed to S Lindow.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Normal female anal sphincter: difficulties in interpretation explained.

PURPOSE: Our aims were to quantify the nature, characteristics, and frequency of variations in female anal sphincter anatomy. METHODS: Nulliparous patients from the antenatal clinic and healthy volunteers of both genders were studied. Sphincter length was determined by the position of the puborectalis sling. Defects in the external anal sphincter were defined at each level and recorded in degrees. Cylindric longitudinal images of the endoanal scans were created by a three-dimensional-representation software package. Manometry was performed by a pull-through technique. RESULTS: Fifty-seven nulliparous patients and 18 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The mean age was 39 years for males and 28.35 years for females. There was no significant difference in overall sphincter length or in the internal anal sphincter length as a percentage of overall sphincter length between genders. All nine males had a complete ring of external anal sphincter along the full sphincter length. In the external anal sphincter below the level of the puborectalis sling, a natural gap occurred in 43 nulliparous (75 percent) and all 9 female volunteers. The greater the size of the defect, the greater its extent (mean 1.33 cm for >90 degrees and 1.16 cm for <90 degrees; chi-squared P = 0.008, eight degrees of freedom). Manometry provided confirmatory evidence of the gaps seen. Anal manometry was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test for continuous nonparametric data and t-test for comparison between genders. CONCLUSION: The female sphincter has a variable natural defect occurring along its anterior length. This makes interpretation of the isolated endoanal ultrasound difficult and explains previous overreporting of obstetric sphincter defects.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The newborn infant is protected by an innate antimicrobial barrier: peptide antibiotics are present in the skin and vernix caseosa.

BACKGROUND: Peptide antibiotics are part of the surface defences against microbial intruders. However, the presence and significance of these innate immune effectors in the skin barrier of the newborn infant have not yet been appreciated. Erythema toxicum neonatorum is an inflammatory skin reaction of unknown aetiology and significance, commonly present in the healthy newborn infant. OBJECTIVES: As peptide antibiotics are upregulated in inflammatory skin disorders, we hypothesized that this also could be the case in erythema toxicum. We also investigated if the vernix caseosa, a cream-like white substance present on the skin of the infant at birth, might contribute to host defences. METHODS: The presence of the human antibacterial peptide LL-37 was investigated by immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging of skin biopsies from four 1-day-old infants with an erythema toxicum rash and four matched newborns without the rash. In addition, we analysed the expression of LL-37 and human beta defensin-1, an antibacterial peptide of epithelial origin, by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Finally, we screened for antibacterial components in vernix material obtained from six healthy newborns by inhibition zone assays. RESULTS: All biopsies from the lesions of erythema toxicum showed a dense, nodular infiltrate with numerous LL-37-expressing cells located in the dermal layer and a clear localization of the peptide within CD15-expressing neutrophils, EG2-expressing eosinophils and CD1a-expressing dendritic cells. LL-37 was also found to be located in CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells and a positive staining for the peptide was seen throughout the whole epidermal layer, both in infants with and without the rash. Skin samples from infants with the rash of erythema toxicum showed a constitutive expression of human beta defensin-1, while the expression of LL-37 seemed to be induced. Furthermore, LL-37 and lysozyme were detected in the protein fractions derived from the vernix caseosa, and these fractions exhibited a clear antibacterial activity. CONCLUSIONS: Peptide antibiotics are present in the vernix caseosa and in the skin of the healthy newborn infant, indicating effective innate immune protection already during fetal and neonatal life.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

Perinatal water intoxication due to excessive oral intake during labour.

UNLABELLED: The increased body water in pregnant women and the birth-related activation of water-sparing systems contribute to a high risk of perinatal water intoxication if the mother drinks too much water during labour. This study reports on four newborn term infants and one mother presenting with life-threatening symptoms due to hyponatraemia from excessive oral intake during labour. Awareness of this diagnosis in the delivery unit is very important, because the clinical picture may mimic that of pre-eclampsia or dehydration. CONCLUSION: Guidelines are proposed to prevent and treat perinatal water intoxication due to excessive oral intake during labour.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The Hantaan virus glycoprotein precursor is cleaved at the conserved pentapeptide WAASA.

The medium segment of the tripartite negative-stranded RNA genome of hantaviruses encodes for the predicted glycoprotein precursor GPC. We have demonstrated here the expression of the glycoprotein precursor of Hantaan virus following transfection of mammalian cells. The cleavage of the precursor into the glycoproteins G1 and G2 followed the rules for signal peptides and seemed to occur directly at the pentapeptide motif "WAASA." Our data indicate that the signal peptidase complex is responsible for the proteolytic processing of the precursor GPC of Hantaan virus. The comparison of this region of the glycoprotein precursor, including the absolutely conserved WAASA motif, suggests a similar cleavage event for all hantavirus glycoproteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Use of videotapes for viewing at home to inform choice in Down syndrome screening: a randomised controlled trial.

A randomised trial was carried out to assess the effect of a Down syndrome screening video on test uptake, knowledge and psychological stress. A total of 2000 women referred for antenatal care were allocated to two equal groups: one to be sent a video to their home, before their hospital booking visit, and a control group. All women also received screening information in the form of a leaflet before booking and from a midwife at booking. The video had no effect on the screening uptake rate: 638/993 (64.2%) and 652/1007 (64.7%) in the video and control groups, respectively. Women were requested to return the video for reuse in other pregnancies and 612 (62%) did so. A subset of 1200 women were selected to be posted at 17-19 weeks' gestation a self-completed questionnaire to assess the psychological endpoints. Knowledge of screening was increased in the video group with a mean score of 7.3 compared with 6.7 in the controls, a statistically significant difference (t=3.24, p=0.0005). There were no significant differences between the groups in specific worries about abnormalities in the baby, and general anxiety. We conclude that a video can increase knowledge without affecting the uptake of the test, or psychological stress.

Anxiety↗
PubMed2001

Long-term sexual co-habitation offers no protection from hypertensive disease of pregnancy.

Long-term sexual co-habitation and previous pregnancies are thought to protect against the development of hypertensive disease of pregnancy. In order to test the hypothesis that pregnancies conceived after prolonged exposure to the partner's spermatozoa have reduced rates of hypertensive disease this study examined the outcomes of pregnancies of women who conceived by donor insemination as compared with women who conceived after IVF with partner's spermatozoa. This was a retrospective cohort study of 218 women attending an IVF clinic, 45 of whom conceived by donor insemination and 173 of whom conceived by partner's spermatozoa. Cases were identified from the IVF unit and data were extracted from patients' notes by blinded observers. Results showed no difference between the groups, with 22% of women who conceived with donor spermatozoa and 24% who conceived with partner spermatozoa developing some form of hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Insemination by partner's spermatozoa was not associated with a reduction of hypertensive disease and neither was donor spermatozoa associated with an increased incidence.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cloning of the putative tumour suppressor gene for hereditary multiple exostoses (EXT1).

Hereditary multiple exostoses is an autosomal dominant disorder that is characterized by short stature and multiple, benign bone tumours. In a majority of families, the genetic defect (EXT1) is linked to the Langer-Giedion syndrome chromosomal region in 8q24.1. From this region we have cloned and characterized a cDNA which spans chromosomal breakpoints previously identified in two multiple exostoses patients. Furthermore, the gene harbours frameshift mutations in affected members of two EXT1 families. The cDNA has a coding region of 2,238 bp with no apparent homology to other known gene sequences and thus its function remains elusive. However, recent studies in sporadic and exostosis-derived chondrosarcomas suggest that the 8q24.1-encoded EXT1 gene may have tumour suppressor function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗