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1.
Hist Psychiatry ; : 957154X231211727, 2023 Dec 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38053372

RESUMO

Following the collapse of the Delahoyde and Lucett joint enterprise, James Lucett resumed practice on his own account. He continued to implement his 'process', promoting it as a unique cure for intractable cases of insanity. For two decades he pursued his activities, with varying success, at different locations in the London area. He maintained his public profile by extensive advertising, letters to newspapers and published pamphlets, extolling his unique 'discovery' and recounting claims of successful cures achieved. Accusations of quackery persisted along with other hostile criticism, particularly from medical men, which Lucett strongly challenged. Periodically he faced more serious difficulties due to legal infractions or financial hardships, but somehow Lucett survived most of these and persevered with his endeavours.

2.
Hist Psychiatry ; : 957154X231199352, 2023 Nov 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37941346

RESUMO

James Lucett, a London clerk, claimed possession of a secret remedy for curing chronic insanity. In 1813, he and the Irish surgeon Charles Delahoyde secured royal and aristocratic patronage to implement their 'process' and opened a private asylum. They aroused great public interest after apparently remarkable results with hitherto intractable patients from Bethlem and Hoxton. Delahoyde and Lucett attained brief celebrity, but within a year it was evident that the dramatic recoveries were only temporary. Their venture collapsed in disarray and bankruptcy, and the episode was soon largely forgotten. Delahoyde fled to Ireland, but Lucett managed to re-establish himself in practice. This article narrates the origins, operation and failure of the enterprise. A second article will consider Lucett's subsequent career.

3.
Toxins (Basel) ; 13(9)2021 09 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34564645

RESUMO

Human botulism can be caused by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A to G. Here, we present an antibody-based antitoxin composed of four human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against BoNT/C, BoNT/D, and their mosaic toxins. This work built on our success in generating protective mAbs to BoNT /A, B and E serotypes. We generated mAbs from human immune single-chain Fv (scFv) yeast-display libraries and isolated scFvs with high affinity for BoNT/C, BoNT/CD, BoNT/DC and BoNT/D serotypes. We identified four mAbs that bound non-overlapping epitopes on multiple serotypes and mosaic BoNTs. Three of the mAbs underwent molecular evolution to increase affinity. A four-mAb combination provided high-affinity binding and BoNT neutralization of both serotypes and their mosaic toxins. The mAbs have potential utility as therapeutics and as diagnostics capable of recognizing and neutralizing BoNT/C and BoNT/D serotypes and their mosaic toxins. A derivative of the four-antibody combination (NTM-1634) completed a Phase 1 clinical trial (Snow et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2019) with no drug-related serious adverse events.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Toxinas Botulínicas/imunologia , Animais , Botulismo/imunologia , Feminino , Humanos , Camundongos , Sorogrupo
4.
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina ; 52(2): 102-106, 2021 02 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33626171

RESUMO

The authors describe the case of a 25-year-old male who presented with a cilioretinal artery occlusion secondary to posterior scleritis. The patient had a history of juvenile spondyloarthritis that evolved into ankylosing spondylitis. Cilioretinal artery occlusion is a rare complication of posterior scleritis, having only been described once previously in the literature. This is the first reported case of a cilioretinal artery occlusion in posterior scleritis that was associated with an underlying systemic disease. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:102-106.].


Assuntos
Oclusão da Artéria Retiniana , Esclerite , Espondilite Anquilosante , Adulto , Artérias , Humanos , Masculino , Oclusão da Artéria Retiniana/diagnóstico , Oclusão da Artéria Retiniana/etiologia , Esclerite/diagnóstico , Esclerite/etiologia , Espondilite Anquilosante/complicações , Espondilite Anquilosante/diagnóstico
5.
Vaccine ; 39(3): 564-570, 2021 01 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33339670

RESUMO

A recombinant ricin vaccine from E. coli (RVEc™), was developed at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and assessed in an FDA sponsored Phase 1a clinical trial. At the maximum dosage, two of the study participants developed physiological responses that were elevated to the level of severe adverse reactions. To stay within safe dosing guidelines, the FDA recommended that an assay be developed to accurately quantify the recombinant protein content in the vaccine. The RVEc™ vaccine Final Drug Product (FDP) contains the adjuvant Alhydrogel®, which by its colloidal nature interferes with most conventional protein assay methods. We decided to develop an assay measuring RVEc™ FDP using o-pthalaldehyde (OPA) reagent. The OPA reagent reacts to the primary amines and lysine side chains of proteins in the presence of a thiol under alkaline conditions with a quantifiable fluorescent signature, but does not react with Alhydrogel®. Protein content in the RVEc™ FDP can be determined by comparing the fluorescence of the test sample to the fluorescence of a standard curve of defined concentration. Each phase of the assay was tested to optimize and simplify the assay procedure. The accuracy, specificity, reproducibility, and stability of the assay were evaluated. Results indicated that the optimized and modified OPA assay was simple and able to quantify antigen concentration from a standard curve in the 25 µg/mL-600 µg/mL range. The assay accuracy and coefficient of variation (CV) was 95% and less than 8%, respectively, when determining the ricin protein content in the 200 µg/mL vialed RVEc™ FDP. The assay was simple to perform and used conventional laboratory equipment. This assay could be adapted to measure the protein content in the FDP of other vaccines, but with the proviso that each step of the assay would need to be optimized for each antigen.


Assuntos
Ricina , Hidróxido de Alumínio , Escherichia coli/genética , Humanos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Vacinas Sintéticas
6.
Toxicon ; 176: 67-76, 2020 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32032587

RESUMO

Botulism is an acute neuroparalytic affliction of the motor and autonomic neurons caused by the toxins produced from Clostridium botulinum and related bacterial strains. The botulinum neurotoxins, or BoNTs, consist of a phylogenetically diverse group of highly potent protein toxins. Current medical interventions for confirmed cases of botulism are limited to immediate administration of antitoxins and respiratory support. There is currently no licensed vaccine against botulism in the United States. The most widely distributed botulism vaccine was a pentavalent BoNT toxoid (PBT) against serotypes A-E administered until 2011 under an investigational new drug license. A binary vaccine composed of the recombinant, non-toxic, receptor binding domains (RBD) of serotypes/A1 and/B1 has completed a phase II clinical trial, but has yet to attain full licensure. We have previously published data demonstrating catalytically inactive, full length botulinum neurotoxin holoproteins (ciBoNT HPs) against serotypes/A1,/B1,/C1,/E1 and/F1 provide equivalent or superior potency against parental and dissimilar subtype toxins as compared the RBD vaccines. Here we describe the consistent potencies of the three independent lots each of ciBoNT/C1,/E1, and/F1 HPs against substantial monovalent challenges of the parental toxins. We also present data that a trivalent formulation of ciBoNT/C1,/E1 and/F1 (triCEF) maintains potency against both monovalent and polyvalent toxin challenges when stored as an adjuvanted vaccine at 4-8 °C for up to 2 years.


Assuntos
Antitoxinas/química , Toxinas Botulínicas/toxicidade , Animais , Antitoxinas/farmacologia , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Vacinas Sintéticas/imunologia
7.
J Can Dent Assoc ; 84: j5, 2019 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31199729

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Early childhood dental decay or caries (ECC) is common, often painful and costly to the health care system, yet it is largely preventable. A public health approach is needed, especially as socially vulnerable children most at risk for ECC are less likely to access conventional treatment. Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in the family represents an important social vulnerability for children, yet little is known about ECC in this context. We explored the relation between ECC and exposure to IPV as well as opportunities for community-based early interventions to prevent ECC. METHODS: We searched 5 electronic databases. All primary research and reviews that focused on childhood decay and exposure to IPV or that referred to community settings (specifically women's shelters) for oral health service delivery were included. RESULTS: Of 198 unique documents identified, 12 were included in the analysis. Although limited, our findings suggest a positive relation between exposure to IPV and ECC, the mechanisms of which are not well studied. Women's-shelter-based prevention programs may hold promise in terms of detecting and addressing ECC. Over the time frame of the literature reviewed, we observed a subtle shift in emphasis away from individual behaviours and biological models toward upstream societal structures. CONCLUSIONS: The available literature suggests that the issue of ECC and IPV may be poised to embrace a public health approach to early intervention, characterized by community collaboration, interprofessional cooperation between dentistry and social work and an equitable approach to ECC in a socially vulnerable group.


Assuntos
Cárie Dentária , Violência por Parceiro Íntimo , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Saúde Pública
8.
Toxins (Basel) ; 10(3)2018 03 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29494481

RESUMO

Human botulism is most commonly caused by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A, B, and E. For this work, we sought to develop a human monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based antitoxin capable of binding and neutralizing multiple subtypes of BoNT/E. Libraries of yeast-displayed single chain Fv (scFv) antibodies were created from the heavy and light chain variable region genes of humans immunized with pentavalent-toxoid- and BoNT/E-binding scFv isolated by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). A total of 10 scFv were isolated that bound one or more BoNT/E subtypes with nanomolar-level equilibrium dissociation constants (KD). By diversifying the V-regions of the lead mAbs and selecting for cross-reactivity, we generated three scFv that bound all four BoNT/E subtypes tested at three non-overlapping epitopes. The scFvs were converted to IgG that had KD values for the different BoNT/E subtypes ranging from 9.7 nM to 2.28 pM. An equimolar combination of the three mAbs was able to potently neutralize BoNT/E1, BoNT/E3, and BoNT/E4 in a mouse neutralization assay. The mAbs have potential utility as therapeutics and as diagnostics capable of recognizing multiple BoNT/E subtypes. A derivative of the three-antibody combination (NTM-1633) is in pre-clinical development with an investigational new drug (IND) application filing expected in 2018.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Toxinas Botulínicas/imunologia , Combinação de Medicamentos , Epitopos , Humanos
9.
Toxins (Basel) ; 10(2)2018 02 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29462889

RESUMO

The standard of treatment for botulism, equine antitoxin, is a foreign protein with associated safety issues and a short serum half-life which excludes its use as a prophylactic antitoxin and makes it a less-than-optimal therapeutic. Due to these limitations, a recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) product is preferable. It has been shown that combining three mAbs that bind non-overlapping epitopes leads to highly potent botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) neutralization. Recently, a triple human antibody combination for BoNT/A has demonstrated potent toxin neutralization in mouse models with no serious adverse events when tested in a Phase I clinical trial. However, a triple antibody therapeutic poses unique development and manufacturing challenges. Thus, potentially to streamline development of BoNT antitoxins, we sought to achieve the potency of multiple mAb combinations in a single IgG-based molecule that has a long serum half-life. The design, production, and testing of a single tri-epitopic IgG1-based mAb (TeAb) containing the binding sites of each of the three parental BoNT/A mAbs yielded an antibody of nearly equal potency to the combination. The approach taken here could be applied to the design and creation of other multivalent antibodies that could be used for a variety of applications, including toxin elimination.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/imunologia , Epitopos/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/genética , Anticorpos Monoclonais/farmacologia , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/genética , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/farmacologia , Células CHO , Cricetulus , Feminino , Camundongos , Neurônios/metabolismo , Testes de Neutralização , Ratos
10.
Toxins (Basel) ; 9(9)2017 09 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28869522

RESUMO

There are few available medical countermeasures against botulism and the discontinuation of the pentavalent botulinum toxoid vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2011 has resulted in the need for a safe and effective prophylactic alternative. Advances in genetic engineering have resulted in subsequent vaccine efforts being primarily focused on the production of highly purified recombinant protein antigens representing one or more domains of the botulinum neurotoxin. Recombinant subunit vaccines based on the carboxy one-third of the toxin (Hc) developed in our lab against serotypes A-F have been shown to be safe and effective. However, in response to the identification of an ever increasing number of BoNT subtypes with significant amino acid heterogeneity, we have developed catalytically inactive BoNT holoproteins (ciBoNT HPs) in an attempt to elicit greater protective immunity to address these toxin variants. Here we report the production of ciBoNT/B1 HP, ciBoNT/C1 HP, ciBoNT/E1 HP and ciBoNT/F1 HP and compare the immunological and protective abilities of ciBoNT HPs and BoNT/A Hc, BoNT/B Hc, BoNT/C Hc, BoNT/E Hc and BoNT/F Hc vaccines when challenged with homologous and heterologous toxins. Our results suggest the ciBoNT HP vaccines exhibit superior potency after single vaccinations but multiple vaccinations with BoNT/Hc antigens resulted in increased survival rates at the toxin challenge levels used.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/imunologia , Vacinas Bacterianas/farmacologia , Toxinas Botulínicas/imunologia , Botulismo/prevenção & controle , Vacinas de Subunidades Antigênicas/farmacologia , Vacinas Sintéticas/farmacologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Vacinas Bacterianas/química , Clostridium botulinum , Camundongos , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Vacinas de Subunidades Antigênicas/química , Vacinas Sintéticas/química
11.
Hist Psychiatry ; 28(3): 365-377, 2017 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28776398

RESUMO

The 'mad-doctor' Dr Francis Willis achieved national and international celebrity following his successful treatment of King George III's first major episode of insanity in 1788-9. At the time of his summons to attend the King, Willis was a well-established provincial practitioner and madhouse proprietor. An anonymous French visitor published a description of Willis's Lincolnshire madhouse and his therapeutic practices in 1796. The translated text of the full article provides a unique insight into the work of a key figure in the historical development of psychological medicine. The accompanying Introduction summarizes Francis Willis's career as a mad-doctor and uses salient information from the original text to place him and his madhouse practice within a contemporary context.


Assuntos
Transtorno Bipolar/história , Transtorno Bipolar/reabilitação , Pessoas Famosas , Psiquiatria/história , França , História do Século XVIII , Humanos
12.
Toxins (Basel) ; 9(6)2017 06 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28617306

RESUMO

Botulism is a disease involving intoxication with botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), toxic proteins produced by Clostridium botulinum and other clostridia. The 150 kDa neurotoxin is produced in conjunction with other proteins to form the botulinum progenitor toxin complex (PTC), alternating in size from 300 kDa to 500 kDa. These progenitor complexes can be classified into hemagglutinin positive or hemagglutinin negative, depending on the ability of some of the neurotoxin-associated proteins (NAPs) to cause hemagglutination. The hemagglutinin positive progenitor toxin complex consists of BoNT, nontoxic non-hemagglutinin (NTNH), and three hemagglutinin proteins; HA-70, HA-33, and HA-17. Hemagglutinin negative progenitor toxin complexes contain BoNT and NTNH as the minimally functional PTC (M-PTC), but not the three hemagglutinin proteins. Interestingly, the genome of hemagglutinin negative progenitor toxin complexes comprises open reading frames (orfs) which encode for three proteins, but the existence of these proteins has not yet been extensively demonstrated. In this work, we demonstrate that these three proteins exist and form part of the PTC for hemagglutinin negative complexes. Several hemagglutinin negative strains producing BoNT/A, /E, and /F were found to contain the three open reading frame proteins. Additionally, several BoNT/A-containing bivalent strains were examined, and NAPs from both genes, including the open reading frame proteins, were associated with BoNT/A. The open reading frame encoded proteins are more easily removed from the botulinum complex than the hemagglutinin proteins, but are present in several BoNT/A and /F toxin preparations. These are not easily removed from the BoNT/E complex, however, and are present even in commercially-available purified BoNT/E complex.


Assuntos
Toxinas Botulínicas/genética , Hemaglutininas/genética , Clostridium botulinum/genética , Família Multigênica , Fases de Leitura Aberta
13.
Med Humanit ; 43(2): 73-80, 2017 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28559363

RESUMO

Contemporary discussions around language, stigma and care in mental health, the messages these elements transmit, and the means through which they have been conveyed, have a long and deep lineage. Recognition and exploration of this lineage can inform how we communicate about mental health going forward, as reflected by the 9 papers which make up this special issue. Our introduction provides some framework for the history of communicating mental health over the past 300 years. We will show that there have been diverse ways and means of describing, disseminating and discussing mental health, in relation both to therapeutic practices and between practitioners, patients and the public. Communicating about mental health, we argue, has been informed by the desire for positive change, as much as by developments in reporting, legislation and technology. However, while the modes of communication have developed, the issues involved remain essentially the same. Most practitioners have sought to understand and to innovate, though not always with positive results. Some lost sight of patients as people; patients have felt and have been ignored or silenced by doctors and carers. Money has always talked, for without adequate investment services and care have suffered, contributing to the stigma surrounding mental illness. While it is certainly 'time to talk' to improve experiences, it is also time to change the language that underpins cultural attitudes towards mental illness, time to listen to people with mental health issues and, crucially, time to hear.


Assuntos
Transtornos Mentais , Saúde Mental/história , Estigma Social , História do Século XVIII , História do Século XIX , História do Século XX , História do Século XXI , Humanos , Serviços de Saúde Mental/história
14.
Med Hist ; 61(2): 225-245, 2017 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28260565

RESUMO

In recent years there has been growing acknowledgement of the place of workhouses within the range of institutional provision for mentally disordered people in nineteenth-century England. This article explores the situation in Bristol, where an entrenched workhouse-based model was retained for an extended period in the face of mounting external ideological and political pressures to provide a proper lunatic asylum. It signified a contest between the modernising, reformist inclinations of central state agencies and local bodies seeking to retain their freedom of action. The conflict exposed contrasting conceptions regarding the nature of services to which the insane poor were entitled. Bristol pioneered establishment of a central workhouse under the old Poor Law; 'St Peter's Hospital' was opened in 1698. As a multi-purpose welfare institution its clientele included 'lunatics' and 'idiots', for whom there was specific accommodation from before the 1760s. Despite an unhealthy city centre location and crowded, dilapidated buildings, the enterprising Bristol authorities secured St Peter's Hospital's designation as a county lunatic asylum in 1823. Its many deficiencies brought condemnation in the national survey of provision for the insane in 1844. In the period following the key lunacy legislation of 1845, the Home Office and Commissioners in Lunacy demanded the replacement of the putative lunatic asylum within Bristol's workhouse by a new borough asylum outside the city. The Bristol authorities resisted stoutly for several years, but were eventually forced to succumb and adopt the prescribed model of institutional care for the pauper insane.


Assuntos
Hospitais Psiquiátricos/história , Transtornos Mentais/história , Transtornos Mentais/terapia , Inglaterra , História do Século XVII , História do Século XVIII , História do Século XIX , Humanos , Pobreza/história , Pobreza/legislação & jurisprudência , Seguridade Social/história , Seguridade Social/legislação & jurisprudência
15.
PLoS One ; 12(3): e0174187, 2017.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28323873

RESUMO

Human botulism is primarily caused by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotypes A, B and E, with around 1% caused by serotype F (BoNT/F). BoNT/F comprises at least seven different subtypes with the amino acid sequence difference between subtypes as high as 36%. The sequence differences present a significant challenge for generating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can bind, detect and neutralize all BoNT/F subtypes. We used repertoire cloning of immune mouse antibody variable (V) regions and yeast display to generate a panel of 33 lead single chain Fv (scFv) mAbs that bound one or more BoNT/F subtypes with a median equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 4.06 × 10-9 M. By diversifying the V-regions of the lead mAbs and selecting for cross reactivity we generated five mAbs that bound each of the seven subtypes. Three scFv binding non-overlapping epitopes were converted to IgG that had KD for the different BoNT/F subtypes ranging from 2.2×10-8 M to 1.47×10-12 pM. An equimolar combination of the mAbs was able to potently neutralize BoNT/F1, F2, F4 and F7 in the mouse neutralization assay. The mAbs have potential utility as diagnostics capable of recognizing the known BoNT/F subtypes and could be developed as antitoxins to prevent and treat type F botulism.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Antitoxinas/imunologia , Toxinas Botulínicas/imunologia , Anticorpos de Cadeia Única/imunologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Antitoxinas/genética , Botulismo/diagnóstico , Botulismo/terapia , Domínio Catalítico/imunologia , Clostridium botulinum/metabolismo , Reações Cruzadas/imunologia , Mapeamento de Epitopos , Epitopos/imunologia , Escherichia coli/genética , Imunização , Camundongos , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Anticorpos de Cadeia Única/genética
16.
Bioorg Med Chem Lett ; 27(3): 675-678, 2017 02 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28043798

RESUMO

Our initial discovery of 8-hydroxyquinoline inhibitors of BoNT/A and separation/testing of enantiomers of one of the more active leads indicated considerable flexibility in the binding site. We designed a limited study to investigate this flexibility and probe structure-activity relationships; utilizing the Betti reaction, a 36 compound matrix of quinolinol BoNT/A LC inhibitors was developed using three 8-hydroxyquinolines, three heteroaromatic amines, and four substituted benzaldehydes. This study has revealed some of the most effective quinolinol-based BoNT/A inhibitors to date, with 7 compounds displaying IC50 values ⩽1µM and 11 effective at ⩽2µM in an ex vivo assay.


Assuntos
Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/antagonistas & inibidores , Hidroxiquinolinas/química , Animais , Sítios de Ligação , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/metabolismo , Hidroxiquinolinas/metabolismo , Hidroxiquinolinas/toxicidade , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Camundongos , Nervo Frênico/efeitos dos fármacos , Nervo Frênico/metabolismo , Ligação Proteica , Sorogrupo , Relação Estrutura-Atividade
17.
J Health Pollut ; 7(16): 31-37, 2017 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30524838

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Radon is a known carcinogen and contaminant in drinking water wells, but is not monitored in drinking water quality programs in Jamaica. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to obtain radon data in local drinking water and evaluate potential health risks. The data will contribute to determining the level of compliance to public health criteria for radon and to develop a monitoring program based on the identified risks. METHODS: This study assesses the concentration of radon in 22 drinking water wells in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica. Samples were collected for radon, with 12 other measurements gathered including pH, conductivity, TDS, alkalinity, hardness, phosphates, nitrates, chloride, sulfates, turbidity, well depth and geological features. The data were analyzed for compliance to international limits and association with geological and other parameters. RESULTS: The average radon level was 18 Bq/L ± 2 Bq/L and varied from a low of 11 Bq/L ± 1 Bq/L to a high of 41 Bq/L ± 1 Bq/L. There was a positive correlation between radon levels and both alkalinity and turbidity. No relationship of any significance, however, was identified with the other physicochemical parameters. All the study results fell within the European Union (EU) limit of 100 Bq/L, and well within the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) limit of 147 Bq/L. Most of the wells in this parish have radon levels exceeding the proposed USEPA limit of 11 Bq/L. The proposed limits are intended to support radon mitigation programs to manage radon in air. No limits are provided in the newest edition of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines for Safe Drinking Water Quality. CONCLUSIONS: Most wells in the study area met existing international limits. Almost all, however, did not meet the proposed USEPA limit for locations without radon mitigation programs. This indicates the need to establish national screening levels for radon, consistent with WHO and USEPA recommendations.

18.
J Ethnopharmacol ; 197: 211-217, 2017 Feb 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27469199

RESUMO

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ayurveda, an ancient holistic system of health care practiced on the Indian subcontinent, utilizes a number of multi-plant formulations and is considered by many as a potential source for novel treatments, as well as the identification of new drugs. Our aim is to identify novel phytochemicals for the inhibition of bacterial exotoxin, botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) based on Ayurvedic literature. BoNT/A is released by Clostridium species, which when ingested, inhibits the release of acetylcholine by concentrating at the neuromuscular junction and causes flaccid paralysis, resulting in a condition termed as botulism, and may also lead to death due to respiratory arrest. METHODS: Fifteen plants were selected from the book 'Diagnosis and treatment of diseases in Ayurveda' by Vaidya Bhagwan Dash and Lalitesh Kashyap, based on their frequency of use in the formulations used for the treatment of six diseases with neuromuscular symptoms similar to botulism. Phytochemicals from these plants were screened using in silico, and in vitro methods. Structures of 570 reported phytochemicals from 14 plants were docked inside six reported BoNT/A light chain crystal structures using ensemble docking module in Maestro (Schrödinger, LLE). RESULTS: From the docking scores and structural diversity, nine compounds including acoric acid 1, three flavonoids, three coumarins derivatives, one kava lactone were selected and screened using an in vitro HPLC-based protease assay. The bioassay results showed that several compounds possess BoNT/A LC inhibition of 50-60% when compared to positive controls NSC 84094 and CB7967495 (80-95%). CONCLUSION: Further testing of the active compounds identified from Ayurvedic literature and structure-activity studies of acoric acid 1 using more sensitive bioassays is under way. The identification of acoric acid 1, a novel scaffold against BoNT/A, exemplifies the utility of Ayurvedic literature for the discovery of novel drug leads.


Assuntos
Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/antagonistas & inibidores , Compostos Fitoquímicos/química , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Cumarínicos/química , Cumarínicos/farmacologia , Cicloexanonas/química , Cicloexanonas/farmacologia , Etnofarmacologia/métodos , Flavonoides/química , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Kava/química , Lactonas/química , Lactonas/farmacologia , Ayurveda
19.
BMC Genomics ; 17: 180, 2016 Mar 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26939550

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Clostridium botulinum is a diverse group of bacteria characterized by the production of botulinum neurotoxin. Botulinum neurotoxins are classified into serotypes (BoNT/A-G), which are produced by six species/Groups of Clostridia, but the genetic background of the bacteria remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to use comparative genomics to provide insights into the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of bacteria that produce the potent botulinum neurotoxin. RESULTS: Comparative genomic analyses of over 170 Clostridia genomes, including our draft genome assemblies for 59 newly sequenced Clostridia strains from six continents and publicly available genomic data, provided in-depth insights into the diversity and distribution of BoNT-producing bacteria. These newly sequenced strains included Group I and II strains that express BoNT/A,/B,/E, or/F as well as bivalent strains. BoNT-producing Clostridia and closely related Clostridia species were delineated with a variety of methods including 16S rRNA gene, concatenated marker genes, core genome and concatenated multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) gene phylogenies that related whole genome sequenced strains to publicly available strains and sequence types. These analyses illustrated the phylogenetic diversity in each Group and the diversity of genomic backgrounds that express the same toxin type or subtype. Comparisons of the botulinum neurotoxin genes did not identify novel toxin types or variants. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents one of the most comprehensive analyses of whole genome sequence data for Group I and II BoNT-producing strains. Read data and draft genome assemblies generated for 59 isolates will be a resource to the research community. Core genome phylogenies proved to be a powerful tool for differentiating BoNT-producing strains and can provide a framework for the study of these bacteria. Comparative genomic analyses of Clostridia species illustrate the diversity of botulinum-neurotoxin-producing strains and the plasticity of the genomic backgrounds in which bont genes are found.


Assuntos
Toxinas Botulínicas/genética , Clostridium/genética , Hibridização Genômica Comparativa , Genoma Bacteriano , Filogenia , Técnicas de Tipagem Bacteriana , Clostridium/classificação , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Família Multigênica , Tipagem de Sequências Multilocus , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA
20.
Hist Psychiatry ; 27(2): 208-19, 2016 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26837815

RESUMO

Private madhouses made a significant contribution to the development of psychiatric practices in eighteenth-century England. Joseph Mason of Bristol, proprietor of a madhouse at Stapleton and then at nearby Fishponds, was part of a dynasty of successful and respected mad-doctors. A deeply religious man, his Christian ethics constituted the guiding force in his work with patients and interactions with their relatives. He was also an astute man of business, who recognized that comfortable domestic surroundings and the achievement of recoveries would enhance his reputation and attract lucrative middle-class custom. His treatment approaches, illustrated in a 1763 diary, were eclectic and pragmatic, comprising various medicines, dietary regulation, graded social interactions, and the cultivation of individualized therapeutic relationships with his patients.


Assuntos
Hospitais Psiquiátricos/história , Transtornos Mentais/história , Cristianismo/história , Inglaterra , História do Século XVIII , Humanos , Transtornos Mentais/terapia
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