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Biomedical subjects

T Harding

Publications and source records attributed to T Harding.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Human rights aspects of transsexualism.

The problem of changing the civil status of transsexuals has been tackled in different ways in various European countries. Six applications made by transsexuals have led to judgments by the European Court of Human Rights. These cases illuminate some specific aspects of the relationships between health, law, and human rights, including criteria used to determine gender and the impact of authorities' refusal to modify civil status, which may be seen as violating the right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment; respect for the private and family life of transsexuals; and the right to marry. Only one Court decision found a State party (France) to be in violation of the ECHR for refusing a transsexual the right to change civil status. This judgment, however, has left open a number of outstanding issues.

Europe↗
PubMed1998

Regulation of a calcium-dependent tyrosine kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells by angiotensin II and platelet-derived growth factor. Dependence on calcium and the actin cytoskeleton.

A novel, p125FAK homologue, CADTK, has been detected in neural, epithelial, or hematopoietic cells but not in fibroblasts. We now demonstrate CADTK expression in a mesenchymal cell, rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RSMC). Angiotensin II (Ang II) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA) markedly stimulated CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation in RSMC but did not affect p125FAK phosphorylation. The PDGF-depedent CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation was slower and more prolonged than that of Ang II, correlating well with the differential effects of these agonists on cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) signaling. An intracellular calcium chelator inhibited both the rapid and sustained activation of CADTK by Ang II and PDGF. Extracellular calcium chelation inhibited the PDGF-stimulated increase in CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation as well as the sustained (but not the early) activation by Ang II. In contrast, p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation was maximal in quiescent, adherent RSMC and was not affected by incubation with EGTA. Depletion of protein kinase C activity partially inhibited both the Ang II- and PDGF-induced CADTK tyrosine phosphorylation. Additional results confirm a relation between CADTK and the cytoskeleton. First, the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxilin correlated with activation of CADTK; this increase was inhibited by EGTA. Second, cytochalasin D blocked the PDGF- or Ang II-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of CADTK, suggesting a role for the cytoskeleton in agonist-dependent CADTK activation. Third, immunofluorescence analysis of CADTK localization demonstrated actin-like cytoskeleton staining extending into focal contacts. These results suggest that in mesenchymal cells, CADTK is localized to and activated by an actin cytoskeleton-dependent mechanism; a mechanism that is regulated in a calcium and protein kinase C-dependent manner independently of p125FAK.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1997

Applications in in ovo technology.

By mid-August 1995, 55% of broiler embryos in North America were vaccinated for Marek's disease using the INOVOJECT system, with 201 INOVOJECT machines placed with 16 of the top 25 poultry producers, providing the industry with the capacity to inject in excess of 400 million eggs per month or about 5 billion eggs per annum. In ovo administration of a bursal disease antibody-infectious bursal disease virus (BDA-IBDV) complexed vaccine to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) embryos was safer and more potent than conventional IBDV vaccine alone because it delayed the appearance of bursal lesions, produced no early mortality, produced higher geometric mean antibody titers against IBDV, and generated protective immunity against challenge. In ovo administration of a BDA-IBDV complexed vaccine to broiler embryos generated antibody titers against IBDV sooner than conventional virus vaccinates, and generated protective immunity against challenge Direct DNA injection of plasmid DNA encoding beta-galactosidase into breast muscle in ovo and posthatch was an effective means to achieve both gene transfer and expression, with potential for the development of gene vaccines using plasmids encoding protective antigens from poultry pathogens. In ovo administration of 800 U chicken myelomonocytic growth factor (cMGF), a chicken hematopoietic cytokine for cells of the monocytic-granulocytic lineages, significantly reduced mortality associated with Escherichia coli exposure within the hatcher when compared to PBS controls (6.1 vs 12.4, P < or = 0.05), but not when compared to a yeast expression control. A procedure was developed enabling injection prior to the onset of incubation without compromising embryo viability. This in ovo injection process has opened up the window of embryo development during incubation for intervention, as illustrated by the 100% male phenotype produced in chicks hatching from eggs injected with aromatase inhibitor prior to incubation. These data illustrate some of the in ovo applications presently in use by the poultry industry, and under development or in research at EMBREX.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Information on health risks in prisons: evaluation of a leaflet].

An illustrated full colour brochure has been elaborated for Swiss prisoners. This brochure, named "Hygiene and Health in detention", concerns transmissible diseases in general and AIDS in particular. It is meant to replace typed A4 sheets which were not generally read. The evaluation of the brochure took place in a Swiss prison on the basis of 22 questions put to inmates during interviews. Answers of inmates having received the old sheet were compared with answers of inmates who received the new brochure. The evaluation concerning the informations' presentation is positive. The brochure is more attractive than the A4 sheet thanks to its illustrated and coloured presentation (chi-square = 6.52, p = 0.01). Prisoners remember having received the brochure more than the old sheet (chi-square = 10.02, p = 0.001). More prisoners have read the folder than the A4 sheet (chi-square = 4.22, p = 0.04). The evaluation concerning the principal preventive messages is only partially positive. Inmates do not appear to have assimilated the medical information any better than from the old A4 sheet.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Disruption of the yeast ATH1 gene confers better survival after dehydration, freezing, and ethanol shock: potential commercial applications.

The accumulation of trehalose is a critical determinant of stress resistance in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have constructed a yeast strain in which the activity of the trehalose-hydrolyzing enzyme, acid trehalase (ATH), has been abolished. Loss of ATH activity was accomplished by disrupting the ATH1 gene, which is essential for ATH activity. The delta ath1 strain accumulated greater levels of cellular trehalose and grew to a higher cell density than the isogenic wild-type strain. In addition, the elevated levels of trehalose in the delta ath1 strain correlated with increased tolerance to dehydration, freezing, and toxic levels of ethanol. The improved resistance to stress conditions exhibited by the delta ath1 strain may make this strain useful in commercial applications, including baking and brewing.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗
PubMed1994

J-P Allain.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1991

Treatment of opiate withdrawal on entry to prison.

Forty-nine opiate-dependent persons entering remand prison were treated with methadone over 5-10 days in decreasing doses according to standard practice of the prison medical service. The prisoners were mainly young, unmarried men with an average of 5 years regular opiate use and an average of four previous imprisonments; 45% were known to be HIV infected, although routine testing was not carried out. Ten were on methadone maintenance prior to imprisonment. Urine analysis on entry detected an average of three psychoactive substances, principally opiates, benzodiazepines and cannabis. Prescribed starting doses of methadone were not correlated to independently assessed withdrawal severity. Starting doses were related to prisoners' requests and to their age. Withdrawal severity decreased after 4 days treatment but symptom relief was incomplete. Treating withdrawal symptoms on entry to prison poses unsolved ethical and practical problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Evaluating the work of ethical review committees: an observation and a suggestion.

Eight research protocols which had previously been approved by Ethical Research Committees (ERCs) were reviewed in simulated review committees set up during a symposium on medical ethics. Only three protocols were considered to provide fully adequate information to allow ethical review and only one protocol was thought to provide sufficient guarantees on the ethical issues raised by the proposed research. For five other protocols additional safeguards were considered necessary, in particular covering the problem of informed consent. Two protocols were considered to raise unresolvable ethical issues. This artificial exercise does not establish that review by ERCs is ineffective. It does highlight the lack of objective criteria in ethical review. Peer review by exchange of protocols between ERCs could assist in increasing the consistency in the application of ethical standards.

Ethical Review↗
PubMed1989

Psychiatric symptoms, cognitive stress and vulnerability factors. A study in a remand prison.

In a consecutive sample of 208 male prisoners interviewed on the tenth day (T1) after entry, high levels of psychiatric symptoms as measured by the GHQ were recorded. These GHQ scores were strongly correlated with perceived worries and concerns of the prisoners ('cognitive stress'). After 60 days of detention (T2), a significant fall in GHQ scores was observed, and they were still correlated with cognitive stress. A significant negative correlation between cognitive stress at T1 and GHQ scores at T2 was observed. The relationship between potential vulnerability factors (life experiences, social network, personality factors) and GHQ scores was not strong at either T1 or T2. Psychiatric symptoms are common during the early phase of imprisonment but are not durable.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1988

[The drug addict in prison: Medical response and its limitations].

Over the past twenty years, the proportion of drug dependent inmates has risen dramatically in the prisons of Western Europe. In the Geneva romand prison, where about 30% of entries present problems of opiate abuse and dependence, treatment of withdrawal symptoms with decreasing doses of methadone over a period of 5-10 days has been available since 1974. The rational of this treatment policy is to limit immediately disabling symptoms during the stressful period following imprisonment, when the prisoner has to make important decisions concerning the criminal proceedings in which he is involved. On the other hand, methadone maintenance treatment is not provided within the prison, even for patients on methadone maintenance programs prior to imprisonment. This paper traces the evolution of withdrawal treatments with methadone over the period 1974-1987 in relation to the total number of entries, the age and sex distribution. During the three year period 1985-1987, we found that 6% of prisoners had received at least one course of withdrawal treatment. Many drug dependent individuals have repeated arrests: we found that 27% of those receiving withdrawal treatment in a three year period had more than one treatment. The frequency of suicidal gestures (including wrist slashing) and suicide was not greater during the withdrawal phase than at other times. A number of therapeutic approaches to opiate withdrawal now exist. No method seems clearly to be the treatment of choice within the prison environment. Arrest and imprisonment imply enforced withdrawal in a context of conflict and stress without the possibility of close medical supervision or psychological support.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗