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Biomedical subjects

S Millward

Publications and source records attributed to S Millward.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Percutaneous removal of pulmonary artery emboli with Hydrolyser catheter in pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Hydrolyser catheter for percutaneous treatment of massive pulmonary embolism in pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve pigs, each weighing between 55 kg and 89 kg, were used. Radioopaque 9 cm x 0.8 cm and 4.5 cm x 0.8 cm clots, produced by mixing pig blood with iodinated contrast agent in vacutainers, were injected via the jugular vein until central pulmonary embolism (main and proximal lobar arteries) was obtained with significant systemic and pulmonary hemodynamic modifications. From a femoral approach, the 7-French Hydrolyser thrombectomy catheter was run over a 0.025-inch (0.64-mm) guide wire to remove the pulmonary emboli. Hemodynamic, gasometric and angiographic monitoring was performed before and after treatment. The procedure's safety and completeness of emboli removal was assessed by cardiopulmonary autopsy. RESULTS: Three of the 12 pigs died during embolization. Thrombectomy was therefore performed in 9, and central emboli could be obtained in 7 of the 9. The Hydrolyser could be manipulated only in central pulmonary arteries and could aspirate only central emboli in 5 of the 7 pigs that had them. Despite minimal angiographic improvement seen in these 5, there was no significant hemodynamic and gasometric improvement after treatment. The procedure induced an increase in free hemoglobin blood levels. Autopsies revealed an average of 2 endothelial injuries per pig (mainly adherent endocardial thrombi) in both nontreated (n = 3) and Hydrolyser-treated (n = 9) groups. CONCLUSION: The Hydrolyser thrombectomy catheter can be promptly positioned and easily steered in central pulmonary arteries. It can be used to partially remove central emboli, but not peripheral pulmonary emboli. Most of the injuries observed may not have been strictly related to Hydrolyser use. The pig might not be a suitable animal model for treatment of massive pulmonary embolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of the objectivity of an infection control audit tool.

A national study involving 22 districts was carried out during 1993 to evaluate an infection control audit tool. The tool was found to be objective and can be used by infection control teams to monitor practices and assess the impact of training programmes. It can also be used to provide purchasers with a measurable standard in relation to infection control quality issues. In total, 440 wards were audited. A few districts had problems in meeting some of the standards, particularly on sharps and waste. A subgroup of the West Midlands Infection Control Nurses Association was able to adapt the audit tool for specialized areas including general practice, nursing homes and dentistry.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1993

A clinical infection control audit programme: evaluation of an audit tool used by infection control nurses to monitor standards and assess effective staff training.

In today's competitive market infection control teams are under increasing pressure from purchasing authorities to provide hard data on quality issues. The initial aim of this study was to determine whether a modified form of the audit system used to monitor infection control standards in Derbyshire could be used effectively across three district health authorities. Infection control nurses in each of the study districts have different approaches to training with only Stafford using a link nurse system. Our additional aim therefore was to examine the relationship between the knowledge base of nursing staff and their ward audit score, and to determine whether wards with link nurses achieved significantly higher scores. To establish this a questionnaire was devised and completed by three different grades of staff on each ward at the time of the audit. These results were fed back to the wards and to managers by the infection control nurse, and an action plan given with a review date where applicable. Results of the study indicated that the audit tool could be used effectively in any district but would need modifying for psychiatric departments. The value of education in improving standards of infection control was clearly demonstrated. An important finding in Stafford was that wards with link nurses obtained significantly higher scores. The value of using such a clinically based audit will be discussed.

England↗
PubMed1989

Colonic aphthous ulcers in pseudomembranous colitis.

Colonic aphthous ulceration is usually due to Crohn's disease. It has been described in other colitides but has not been reported in pseudomembranous colitis. We report a patient with pseudomembranous colitis with aphthous ulceration demonstrated by barium examination.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed1988

The diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy by computed tomography.

We describe 2 patients with biopsy-proven acute fatty liver of pregnancy in whom the diagnosis was suggested by the finding of uniform reduced attenuation values on computed tomography (CT) of the liver. The attenuation values returned to normal with resolution of signs and symptoms following delivery. CT of the liver provides a useful method for the diagnosis of acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Multiple forms of the sigma 3 protein of reovirus: occurrence and binding properties.

The sigma 3 protein of reovirus serotype 3 is present in different forms differing in isoelectric point, as already described by other authors. Proteolytic digestion of each of these forms generates similar peptides. The different forms are present in the mature virus and have affinity for double-stranded RNA and for ribosomes. The observations that the different forms have the same functional properties and are absent in reovirus serotype 1 suggest that the presence of multiple forms is dispensable. The different forms can be synthesized by in vitro translation of mRNA extracted from infected cells. However, only one form is clearly made when mRNA synthesized in vitro, using the cloned S4 gene encoding sigma 3 as a template, is translated in vitro. Similarly the cloned S4 gene expressed in vivo produces only one form of the protein. These results indicate that the other forms are not derived by post-translational modification. The different forms are possibly due to the presence of mutant viruses.

Genes, Viral↗
PubMed1987

The viral protein sigma 3 participates in translation of late viral mRNA in reovirus-infected L cells.

Reovirus late (uncapped) mRNA was previously shown to be efficiently translated in vitro extracts prepared from infected cells but not from uninfected cells. We demonstrated that different fractions from infected cells can stimulate translation of late viral mRNA when added to uninfected extracts. The activity of the different fractions correlated with their relative content of the sigma 3 capsid protein; the fraction prepared by high-salt wash of the ribosomes had the highest specific activity. The activity present in this fraction was abolished by preincubation with an anti-sigma 3 serum. Purified sigma 3 protein also stimulated the translation of late viral mRNA, confirming that it was the factor involved. Altogether, these results suggest that this protein plays the role of a late-viral-mRNA-specific initiation factor. The absence of an inhibitory effect of sigma 3 on the translation of other mRNAs indicates that this protein is not directly involved in the inhibition of host and early viral mRNA translation that occurs in infected cells but that a second mechanism is probably operative.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of cloned measles virus mRNAs by in vitro transcription, translation, and immunoprecipitation.

A cDNA library was constructed from poly(A)+ RNA prepared from VERO cells infected with the Edmonston strain of measles virus. Clones corresponding to five major viral-specific transcripts were identified by northern blot hybridization analysis. Probes prepared from these five clones detected an additional five minor viral RNA transcripts. The sizes and hydridization patterns of these minor RNA species are consistent with their being bicistronic transcripts arising from a viral genomic template with the gene order 3'..NP-9/C-M-F-HA-(L)..5'. To assess the coding capacity of these cDNA clones they were inserted into pSP64, transcribed in vitro, the RNA was translated in reticulocyte lysates, and the protein was immunoprecipitated with specific antisera. From this analysis the genes for NP, P/C, M, F, and HA were identified. In vitro translation of natural mRNAs and SP6 transcripts of cDNAs consistently produced smaller polypeptides that appear to be initiated at internal AUGs. The relative abundance of these various cell-free translation products reflects the probability of translational initiation at the various in-frame AUGs. The patterns observed suggest that other factors besides sequences immediately flanking the AUGs have a significant effect on the selection of translational initiation sites. An increase in translational efficiency of the F transcript was achieved by removing 450 bases of the G-C-rich 5' noncoding region.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition of translation in L-cell lysates by free polyadenylic acid: differences in sensitivity among different mRNAs and possible involvement of an initiation factor.

Free polyadenylic acid specifically inhibits in vitro translation of naturally polyadenylated mRNAs in L-cell lysates. The polynucleotide affects the initiation of protein synthesis but has no apparent effect on elongation of polypeptide chains. Reovirus mRNA, naturally devoid of a poly(A) tail, is much less sensitive to this inhibition than are naturally polyadenylated mRNAs. Reovirus mRNA that was polyadenylated in vitro is not more sensitive than normal reovirus mRNA. The degree of inhibition of translation varies for the different reovirus mRNA species. The addition of proteins contained in a high salt wash of ribosomes can mitigate the inhibition of translation of naturally polyadenylated mRNAs by free polyadenylic acid. Altogether these results suggest that the inhibition by polyadenylic acid may be mediated by its interaction with a cellular (initiation) factor. The various sensitivities exhibited by different mRNAs may indicate differences in requirement for this factor.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Expression of the cloned S4 gene of reovirus serotype 3 in transformed eucaryotic cells: enrichment of the viral protein in the crude initiation factor fraction.

The sigma 3 protein of reovirus is believed to play a role in the control of protein synthesis in reovirus-infected cells. In this paper we describe the establishment of a line of L-cells expressing the sigma 3 protein from the cloned S4 gene of reovirus serotype 3, under the control of the SV40 early promoter. The protein was enriched in the crude initiation factor fraction prepared by a high-salt wash of ribosomes. There was no apparent detrimental effect on the cell line.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Reovirus guanylyltransferase is L2 gene product lambda 2.

Reovirus guanylyltransferase, studied as a covalent enzyme-GMP intermediate, was used to guanylate appropriate acceptor molecules in vitro to produce authentic cap structures. Guanylyltransferase activity was associated with lambda 2, the 140-kilodalton product of the L2 gene segment of reovirus serotypes 1 and 3.

Genes↗
PubMed1986

Cloning and in vitro expression of the measles virus matrix gene.

A cDNA library was prepared from Vero cells infected with the Edmonston strain of measles virus. A number of viral specific cDNA clones were isolated and characterized by Northern blot hybridization analysis. A cDNA clone containing a 1500 base pair insert which hybridizes to a viral specific transcript of approximately 1500 nucleotides was subcloned into pSP64 and used as an in vitro transcription template. The resulting RNA transcript was translated in a cell-free system, giving rise to a polypeptide which comigrates on polyacrylamide gels with the authentic measles virus matrix protein and is immunoprecipitated with antisera specific for the matrix protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Prenatal and immediate postnatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of ureterocele.

We report three patients in whom hydronephrosis was diagnosed by ultrasonography in utero. In two fetuses, ureteroceles were detected prenatally and these proved to be the cause of obstruction. In the third, bilateral simple ureteroceles were discovered immediately after birth. In the last patient, failure to see ureteroceles in utero may have been related to the phenomenon of ureterocele eversion and prolapse into the ureter. Ultrasonographers should be aware of this prolapse phenomenon as a potential pitfall for both the in utero and postpartum diagnosis of ureterocele.

Adult↗