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Biomedical subjects

T Bradshaw

Publications and source records attributed to T Bradshaw.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Is befriending by trained volunteers of value to people suffering from long-term mental illness?

People who suffer from long term mental illness may be vulnerable to loneliness and isolation when living in community settings. Befriending by volunteers may be an effective way of combating such problems and helping clients to develop social networks. The findings of a small scale project to evaluate the views of people suffering from long term mental illness of an organized befriending scheme are reported. Nine subjects who suffer from severe mental illness were interviewed, all subjects felt befriending was helpful to them, and 67% of subjects thought it had improved their confidence when in social situations. Subjects who lived alone indicated a preference to see volunteers at home, whilst those who lived with carers preferred support in going out socially. The value of befriending schemes as part of community care services for this needy client group are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

The role of protein kinase C and the phosphatidylinositol cycle in multidrug resistance in human ovarian cancer cells.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC), the phosphatidylinositol pathway (PI) and cytosolic calcium in multidrug resistance (MDR) in human ovarian carcinoma cells. Binding of the phorbol ester 13,14-dibutyrate (PDBu) was 3-fold higher in resistant A2780AD versus sensitive A2780 cells indicating increased PKC activity. However, when inositol phosphate production (IP) was measured in quiescent cells similar total IP release was seen in both lines suggesting no difference in the basal turnover of PI. Non-specific stimulation of the PI pathway was achieved with the calcium ionophore A23187 which increased IP production in a time- and dose-dependent fashion in both cell lines but was significantly less effective in A2780AD. The PI pathway was investigated further using the agonists aluminium fluoride, serum and bombesin but these agents failed to elicit a response. The effect of a wide range of Adriamycin concentrations on the PI cycle and cell growth was also studied. Intracellular calcium was measured with the fluorescent dye fura-2-pentaacetoxymethylester (Fura-2). A23187 produced a rise in cytosolic calcium in A2780 and A2780AD but from a level 3-fold lower in the unstimulated resistant cell line. The dose responsiveness of this effect was greater but irreversible in A2780AD cells. Collectively these results imply that alterations in PI turnover appear not to be responsible for the differences in PDBu binding and calcium handling observed between A2780 and A2780AD and suggests only a minor role for the PI cycle in the maintenance of MDR in human ovarian cancer cell lines.

Calcimycin↗
PubMed1989

Differential induction of peroxisomal and microsomal fatty-acid-oxidising enzymes by peroxisome proliferators in rat liver and kidney. Characterisation of a renal cytochrome P-450 and implications for peroxisome proliferation.

The induction of renal fatty-acid-oxidising enzymes has been investigated following short-term exposure to a group of structurally diverse peroxisome proliferators and compared to the more extensively documented hepatic responses in the rat. There was a marked compound dependence on induction of both cytochrome P-450-IVA1-dependent omega-hydroxylation of lauric acid and enzymes of the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway (measured as cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and enoyl-CoA hydratase). Cytochrome P-450 IVA1 (or a very closely related isoenzyme in the same gene family) was a major constitutive haemoprotein in rat kidney microsomes and actively supported the omega-hydroxylation of lauric acid. This activity was induced 2-3-fold by peroxisome proliferators such as clofibrate, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, bezafibrate and nafenopin. By using a cDNA probe to the cytochrome P-450 IVA1 gene in Northern blot analysis, we have shown that increased renal and hepatic omega-hydroxylation of lauric acid, after treatment with peroxisome proliferators is a consequences of a substantial increase in the mRNA coding for this haemoprotein. In addition, programming of an in vitro rabbit reticulocyte translation system with both renal and hepatic RNA resulted in the synthesis of similar (if not identical) cytochrome-P-450-IVA1-related polypeptides. Furthermore, we have provided Western blot evidence that both rat liver and kidney microsomes contain two closely related cytochrome P-450 IVA1 polypeptides, the major one characterised by a monomeric molecular mass of 51.5 kDa (identical to authentic, purified hepatic cytochrome P-450 IVA1) and a minor one of 52 kDa. The kidney-supported fatty acid omega-hydroxylase activity was refractory to inhibition by a polyclonal antibody to liver cytochrome P-450 IVA1, which may be related to the existence of two closely related (but immunochemically distinct) fatty acid hydroxylases in this tissue. Our studies have also demonstrated that certain of the compounds tested (including clofibrate, bezafibrate and nafenopin) induced renal fatty acid beta-oxidation, mirroring the increased omega-hydroxylase activity in the endoplasmic reticulum. Our studies have also indicated that the kidney was more refractory to induction of the endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomal fatty-acid-oxidising enzymes than the liver. Taken collectively, our data is strongly suggestive of a possible linkage of the renal fatty acid oxidative enzymes in these two organelles, a situation that also occurs in the liver. In addition, our studies have provided a possible conceptual framework that may rationalise the decreased susceptibility of the k

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Providing support for families.

Schizophrenia is a major mental illness and the impact of family relationships on the condition has been widely debated. Using a care study, this paper shows how mental health nurses are beginning to forge improved relationships with people with schizophrenia and their families by offering information on schizophrenia and concentrating on the clients' and families' strengths.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stress and clinical supervision in mental health care.

Clients with severe mental health problems are a challenge to mental health services. Working with such clients can be stressful and may ultimately lead to emotional exhaustion. This paper looks at the introduction of clinical supervision in a continuing care team, aiming to provide support and advice to community nursing staff.

Burnout, Professional↗