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Biomedical subjects

Sarah Adams

Publications and source records attributed to Sarah Adams.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Working together to rebuild health care in post-conflict Somaliland.

In 1991, the Somali National Movement fighters recaptured the Somaliland capital city of Hargeisa after a 3-year civil war. The government troops of the dictator General Mohamed Siad Barre fled south, plunging most of Somalia into a state of anarchy that persists to this day. In the north of the region, the redeclaration of independence of Somaliland took place on May 18, 1991. Despite some sporadic civil unrest between 1994 and 1996, and a few tragic killings of members of the international community, the country has enjoyed peace and stability and has an impressive development record. However, Somaliland continues to await international recognition. The civil war resulted in the destruction of most of Somaliland's health-care facilities, compounded by mass migration or death of trained health personnel. Access to good, affordable health care for the average Somali remains greatly compromised. A former medical director of the general hospital of Hargeisa, Abdirahman Ahmed Mohamed, suggested the idea of a link between King's College Hospital in London, UK, and Somaliland. With support from two British colleagues, a fact-finding trip sponsored by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) took place in July, 2000, followed by a needs assessment by a THET programme coordinator. Here, we describe the challenges of health-care reconstruction in Somaliland and the evolving role of the partnership between King's College Hospital, THET, and Somaliland within the context of the growing movement to link UK NHS trusts and teaching institutions with counterparts in developing countries.

Child Mortality↗
PubMed2006

Swelling and mechanical properties of biopolymer hydrogels containing chitosan and bovine serum albumin.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the swelling and mechanical properties of hydrogels formed from chitosan, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and chitosan/BSA mixtures cross-linked with genipin were performed. The properties of cross-linked chitosan hydrogels were explained in terms of its polyelectrolyte behavior, which led to a gradual increase in swelling ratio below the pK value, but whereby its swelling ability was eliminated by the presence of salt that screened the charges. Comparison of theoretical and experimental calculations of the swelling ratio, however, indicated that complications arising from wastage of cross-links, and formation of polymerized genipin cross-links must be considered before quantitative prediction can be achieved. Cross-linked BSA hydrogels swelled even in the presence of salt, and a marked increase in swelling was observed below pH = 3 that was explained as the result of an acid induced denaturation of the protein that led to unfolding of the molecule. Swollen BSA hydrogels were mechanically weak, however. Composite gels made from a cross-linked mixture of chitosan and BSA exhibited the swelling behavior of BSA combined with the mechanical properties of chitosan and were therefore considered most suitable for use in a gastric environment.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mutations in the gene encoding capillary morphogenesis protein 2 cause juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) and infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH) are autosomal recessive conditions characterized by multiple subcutaneous skin nodules, gingival hypertrophy, joint contractures, and hyaline deposition. We previously mapped the gene for JHF to chromosome 4q21. We now report the identification of 15 different mutations in the gene encoding capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) in 17 families with JHF or ISH. CMG2 is a transmembrane protein that is induced during capillary morphogenesis and that binds laminin and collagen IV via a von Willebrand factor type A (vWA) domain. Of interest, CMG2 also functions as a cellular receptor for anthrax toxin. Preliminary genotype-phenotype analyses suggest that abrogation of binding by the vWA domain results in severe disease typical of ISH, whereas in-frame mutations affecting a novel, highly conserved cytoplasmic domain result in a milder phenotype. These data (1) demonstrate that JHF and ISH are allelic conditions and (2) implicate perturbation of basement-membrane matrix assembly as the cause of the characteristic perivascular hyaline deposition seen in these conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) acts as a metastasis suppressor gene in human ovarian carcinoma.

Despite improvements in chemotherapy and the recognition that aggressive surgical cytoreduction is beneficial, the majority of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die as a result of metastatic disease. The molecular changes associated with acquisition of metastatic ability in ovarian cancer are poorly understood. We hypothesize that metastasis suppressor gene inactivation or down-regulation plays a role in ovarian cancer progression. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4), a member of the stress-activated protein kinase signaling cascade, has been identified recently as a metastasis-suppressor gene. An immunohistochemical approach was taken to test the possibility that MKK4 dysregulation occurs during the development of clinical ovarian cancer metastases. MKK4 expression was evaluated in normal and metastatic ovarian tissues. Normal ovarian epithelial cells showed high intensity staining for MKK4, whereas metastatic tissues showed a statistically significant decrease in expression. These results support a role for MKK4 dysregulation in the development of clinical disease. A functional approach was taken to test the ability of MKK4 to suppress metastatic colonization, the process whereby disseminated cancer cells lodge and grow at a secondary site in vivo. The SKOV3ip.1 human ovarian cancer cell line was chosen for these studies because it lacks endogenous MKK4 expression but retains both upstream and downstream components of the signaling cascade of MKK4. Ectopic expression of MKK4 in these cells, when injected into female SCID mice, suppressed the number of overt metastatic implants by nearly 90%. Furthermore, MKK4 expression increased the life span of the animals by 70%. Taken together, these data support a role for MKK4 in the suppression of metastatic colonization in ovarian cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Hormone replacement therapy: all a woman could desire?

A nurse practitioner discusses the benefits and possible disadvantages of hormone replacement therapy both for menopausal symptoms and for longer-term health. The author recommends health professionals to be aware of alternatives to hormone replacement therapy and to adopt a holistic approach to the menopausal woman.

Climacteric↗