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Biomedical subjects

T Barry

Publications and source records attributed to T Barry.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Patients' acceptance of psychological and pharmacological therapies for insomnia.

This study evaluated the acceptance of psychological and pharmacological therapies among chronic insomniacs and noncomplaining good sleepers. After reading a brief written description of two treatment methods commonly used for persistent insomnia (i.e. cognitive-behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy), the subjects rated in a counter-balanced order several dimensions of these two treatment modalities. The results showed that the psychological intervention was rated as more acceptable and more suitable than the pharmacological one among both insomniacs and their noncomplaining significant others. Behavior therapy was also expected to be more effective on a long-term basis and to produce fewer side effects as well as more benefits on daytime functioning. The clinical implications and relevance of treatment acceptance in the management of insomnia are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Use of polymerase chain reaction for early identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in positive cultures.

AIMS: To develop a readily applicable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based technique which would permit the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from Bactec phials at an earlier stage than currently available methods. METHODS: Mycobacterial cells cultured in Bactec 12B medium were harvested by centrifugation. The cells were lysed by heating in distilled water. Oligonucleotide primers based on the sequence of the gene coding for the immunogenic protein MPB64 were then used to amplify a 240 base pair fragment of DNA directly from the crude cell lysate. The PCR product was visualised under ultraviolet light following electrophoresis of an aliquot in an agarose gel containing ethidium bromide. The sensitivity of the PCR was adjusted so that about 600 cfu of M tuberculosis gave a positive result. The lowest growth index at which this method of identification might be applied to Bactec phials was determined and a number of routine cultures giving a positive growth index examined. RESULTS: M tuberculosis was positively identified at the lowest growth index, as determined by the Bactec system. Of 45 routine cultures examined, with growth indexes ranging from 6 to 999, the 15 confirmed by conventional means to contain M tuberculosis were correctly identified from 1 ml of culture medium. CONCLUSIONS: The method described can be used to identify M tuberculosis isolates cultured in the Bactec system at the earliest detectable rise in growth index. It may therefore allow cultured mycobacteria to be identified at an earlier stage than conventional methods or the commercially available DNA probes adapted for use with the Bactec system.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The 16s/23s ribosomal spacer region as a target for DNA probes to identify eubacteria.

Variable regions of the 16s ribosomal RNA have been frequently used as the target for DNA probes to identify microorganisms. In some situations, however, there is very little sequence variation observed between the 16s rRNA genes of closely related microorganisms. This study presents a general method to obtain species-specific probes using the spacer (intergenic) region between the 16s and 23s rRNA genes. The overall strategy is analogous to that which has previously been developed for the variable regions of the 16s rRNA genes. Sequence analysis of the 16s rRNA and 23s rRNA coding sequences flanking the spacer regions resulted in the design of PCR primers that can be used to amplify the spacer regions of a wide range of eubacteria. Sequencing the amplified spacer region then gives rise to the information that can be used to select specific DNA sequences for use as a DNA probe or for the generation of specific PCR primers to a microorganism of interest. In this study the approach to develop specific DNA markers for members of the genus Clostridium is described in detail. A specific DNA oligonucleotide probe and PCR primers have been designed for Clostridium perfringens that distinguish it from other organisms in the genus.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1990

A general method to generate DNA probes for microorganisms.

We present a method that permits the rapid generation of DNA probes for eubacteria. In the procedure the variable regions for the 16s rRNA genes are amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and primers based on the conserved regions of these genes. Following sequencing of the variable regions, a choice is possible for a probe specific for that organism. No knowledge of the molecular biology of the microorganism is required prior to the application of this approach. The generality of the method is shown using Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Aeromonas salmonicida and Mycobacterium bovis. A. salmonicida was examined in detail and a DNA probe was prepared that distinguishes it from other Aeromonas species.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1983

Application of mass spectrometry in the regulatory analysis of pesticides and industrial chemicals in food and feed commodities.

During regulatory analysis of pesticides and industrial chemicals, compounds are frequently encountered which cannot be readily identified by gas chromatography alone on two or more stationary phases. Such incurred unknown analytical responses are examined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, particularly if they have been shown to contain P, S, N or halogen via specific gas chromatography detectors. Seven case histories are presented to illustrate the analytical approach adopted to structurally elucidate such compounds at the ppm level. These examples demonstrate the potential complementary combination provided by low resolution electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry in structural determinations.

Animal Feed↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The identification of cDNA clones that include the 3' end of mRNA.

A method is presented that facilitates the identification of cDNA clones corresponding to the polyadenylated 3' end of mRNA. It is based on the use of a poly dT probe that is synthesized by homopolymer extension of commercially available oligo dT. The method is shown to work in Southern blot analysis of plasmid preparations and in situ with colonies.

Blotting, Southern↗