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Biomedical subjects

S R Hernandez

Publications and source records attributed to S R Hernandez.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Cloning and molecular characterization of plasmid-encoded antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi.

Thirteen independent clones that encode Borrelia burgdorferi antigens utilizing antiserum from infection-immune rabbits were identified. The serum was adsorbed against noninfectious B. burgdorferi B31 to enrich for antibodies directed against either infection-associated antigens of B. burgdorferi B31 or proteins preferentially expressed during mammalian infection. The adsorption efficiency of the immune rabbit serum (IRS) was assessed by Western immunoblot analysis with protein lysates derived from infectious and noninfectious B. burgdorferi B31. The adsorbed IRS was used to screen a B. burgdorferi expression library to identify immunoreactive phage clones. Clones were then expressed in Escherichia coli and subsequently analyzed by Western blotting to determine the molecular mass of the recombinant B. burgdorferi antigens. Southern blot analysis of the 13 clones indicated that 10 contained sequences unique to infectious B. burgdorferi. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the 13 clones were composed of 9 distinct genetic loci and that all of the genes identified were plasmid encoded. Five of the clones carried B. burgdorferi genes previously identified, including those encoding decorin binding proteins A and B (dbpAB), a rev homologue present on the 9-kb circular plasmid (cp9), a rev homologue from the 32-kb circular plasmid (cp32-6), erpM, and erpX. Additionally, four previously uncharacterized loci with no known homologues were identified. One of these unique clones encoded a 451-amino-acid lipoprotein with 21 consecutive, invariant 9-amino-acid repeats near the amino terminus that we have designated VraA (for "virulent strain-associated repetitive antigen A"). Since all the antigens identified are recognized by serum from infection immune rabbits, these antigens represent potential vaccine candidates and, based on the identification of dbpAB in this screen, may also be involved in pathogenic processes operative in Lyme borreliosis.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1996

Hematomas within the iliopsoas muscles in hemophilic patients: the Latin American experience.

The majority of bleeding episodes in patients who have hemophilia occur within the musculoskeletal system, primarily in the joints, but approximately 30% occur within the muscles. Iliopsoas muscle bleeding episodes are often large in volume, causing muscular function inhibition, angular deformities, and nerve involvement. Recurrent hemorrhages are common (14.2%) and neural involvement is as high as 37%. Three hundred patients are being observed in the authors' hemophilia center, 63 of whom have suffered 127 hemorrhages. Absolute bed rest and long term factor replacement are the mainstay of therapy. The experiences of physicians in other countries are appendixed to this article.

Hematoma↗
PubMed1992

Survival for women and men with AIDS.

To compare trends in the length of survival for women and men after diagnosis of AIDS, data were analyzed for 139 women and 7045 men who were reported with AIDS in San Francisco between July 1981 and 31 December 1990. Patients were followed prospectively through 15 May 1991. The median survival for women (11.1 months) was significantly shorter than that for men (14.6 months). When data were stratified by year of diagnosis, significantly improved survival was observed in recent years for both women and men, although survival for women remained significantly shorter than that for men. Among those who received either zidovudine or 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, survival did not differ by gender. However, among those not receiving therapy, survival was significantly shorter for women. These results suggest that the shorter survival of women may be a result of factors other than gender, possibly including less use of antiretroviral therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

The relationship between technology and task design in hospital nursing units.

An empirical assessment of the use of the Hackman, Oldham, Janson, and Purdy (1975) implementing principles as a theoretical link between hospital nursing unit technology and job design is presented in this paper. While support for the implementing principles as an integrating mechanism was found to be weak, some insights into organization theory are noted and suggestions for future research resulting from this study are outlined.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1983

Primary care and local health departments: the initiation of a state-sponsored grant program.

This study examines factors that differentiate health service organizations that were successful applicants for a grant program to initiate primary-care services from a matched sample of organizations that did not apply for the program. Factors that were different between the two sets of organizations include the attitudes and behaviors of physicians in the local community, previous success of the organization in obtaining grant support, and employee perceptions of selected organizational and grant program characteristics. These findings suggest that factors both internal and external to the organization are influential in decisions to initiate activities sponsored through grant programs. Implications of these findings for the design of state block grant programs are discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1983

Hospital closure: a review of current and proposed research.

This paper reviews available data describing issues and research findings with implications for hospital closings. Factors contributing to fiscal problems of hospitals (e.g., inadequate reimbursement, inflation, management problems, organizational structure, societal factors) are discussed. Selected studies offering examples of hospital and community characteristics associated with closure are presented. This review suggests that future directions for research should focus not only on hospital cost control but also on insuring equity in the distribution of hospital services. Specifically, research is needed that further describes the hospital closure phenomenon, the effects of closure, and the policy choices that might be pursued to insure equity in the continuation of hospital services to disadvantaged populations.

Economics, Hospital↗