Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 193
Filter
Add more filters

Publication year range
1.
Persoonia ; 45: 251-409, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34456379

ABSTRACT

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Austroboletus asper on soil, Cylindromonium alloxyli on leaves of Alloxylon pinnatum, Davidhawksworthia quintiniae on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Exophiala prostantherae on leaves of Prostanthera sp., Lactifluus lactiglaucus on soil, Linteromyces quintiniae (incl. Linteromyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Lophotrichus medusoides from stem tissue of Citrus garrawayi, Mycena pulchra on soil, Neocalonectria tristaniopsidis (incl. Neocalonectria gen. nov.) and Xyladictyochaeta tristaniopsidis on leaves of Tristaniopsis collina, Parasarocladium tasmanniae on leaves of Tasmannia insipida, Phytophthora aquae-cooljarloo from pond water, Serendipita whamiae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus cucullatus, Veloboletus limbatus (incl. Veloboletus gen. nov.) on soil. Austria, Cortinarius glaucoelotus on soil. Bulgaria, Suhomyces rilaensis from the gut of Bolitophagus interruptus found on a Polyporus sp. Canada, Cantharellus betularum among leaf litter of Betula, Penicillium saanichii from house dust. Chile, Circinella lampensis on soil, Exophiala embothrii from rhizosphere of Embothrium coccineum. China, Colletotrichum cycadis on leaves of Cycas revoluta. Croatia, Phialocephala melitaea on fallen branch of Pinus halepensis. Czech Republic, Geoglossum jirinae on soil, Pyrenochaetopsis rajhradensis from dead wood of Buxus sempervirens. Dominican Republic, Amanita domingensis on litter of deciduous wood, Melanoleuca dominicana on forest litter. France, Crinipellis nigrolamellata (Martinique) on leaves of Pisonia fragrans, Talaromyces pulveris from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum infesting floorboards. French Guiana, Hypoxylon hepaticolor on dead corticated branch. Great Britain, Inocybe ionolepis on soil. India, Cortinarius indopurpurascens among leaf litter of Quercus leucotrichophora. Iran, Pseudopyricularia javanii on infected leaves of Cyperus sp., Xenomonodictys iranica (incl. Xenomonodictys gen. nov.) on wood of Fagus orientalis. Italy, Penicillium vallebormidaense from compost. Namibia, Alternaria mirabibensis on plant litter, Curvularia moringae and Moringomyces phantasmae (incl. Moringomyces gen. nov.) on leaves and flowers of Moringa ovalifolia, Gobabebomyces vachelliae (incl. Gobabebomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Vachellia erioloba, Preussia procaviae on dung of Procavia capensis. Pakistan, Russula shawarensis from soil on forest floor. Russia, Cyberlindnera dauci from Daucus carota. South Africa, Acremonium behniae on leaves of Behnia reticulata, Dothiora aloidendri and Hantamomyces aloidendri (incl. Hantamomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Aloidendron dichotomum, Endoconidioma euphorbiae on leaves of Euphorbia mauritanica, Eucasphaeria proteae on leaves of Protea neriifolia, Exophiala mali from inner fruit tissue of Malus sp., Graminopassalora geissorhizae on leaves of Geissorhiza splendidissima, Neocamarosporium leipoldtiae on leaves of Leipoldtia schultzii, Neocladosporium osteospermi on leaf spots of Osteospermum moniliferum, Neometulocladosporiella seifertii on leaves of Combretum caffrum, Paramyrothecium pituitipietianum on stems of Grielum humifusum, Phytopythium paucipapillatum from roots of Vitis sp., Stemphylium carpobroti and Verrucocladosporium carpobroti on leaves of Carpobrotus quadrifolius, Suttonomyces cephalophylli on leaves of Cephalophyllum pilansii. Sweden, Coprinopsis rubra on cow dung, Elaphomyces nemoreus from deciduous woodlands. Spain, Polyscytalum pini-canariensis on needles of Pinus canariensis, Pseudosubramaniomyces septatus from stream sediment, Tuber lusitanicum on soil under Quercus suber. Thailand, Tolypocladium flavonigrum on Elaphomyces sp. USA, Chaetothyrina spondiadis on fruits of Spondias mombin, Gymnascella minnisii from bat guano, Juncomyces patwiniorum on culms of Juncus effusus, Moelleriella puertoricoensis on scale insect, Neodothiora populina (incl. Neodothiora gen. nov.) on stem cankers of Populus tremuloides, Pseudogymnoascus palmeri from cave sediment. Vietnam, Cyphellophora vietnamensis on leaf litter, Tylopilus subotsuensis on soil in montane evergreen broadleaf forest. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

2.
Ann Oncol ; 30(12): 1992-2003, 2019 12 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31560068

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: STAMPEDE has previously reported that the use of upfront docetaxel improved overall survival (OS) for metastatic hormone naïve prostate cancer patients starting long-term androgen deprivation therapy. We report on long-term outcomes stratified by metastatic burden for M1 patients. METHODS: We randomly allocated patients in 2 : 1 ratio to standard-of-care (SOC; control group) or SOC + docetaxel. Metastatic disease burden was categorised using retrospectively-collected baseline staging scans where available. Analysis used Cox regression models, adjusted for stratification factors, with emphasis on restricted mean survival time where hazards were non-proportional. RESULTS: Between 05 October 2005 and 31 March 2013, 1086 M1 patients were randomised to receive SOC (n = 724) or SOC + docetaxel (n = 362). Metastatic burden was assessable for 830/1086 (76%) patients; 362 (44%) had low and 468 (56%) high metastatic burden. Median follow-up was 78.2 months. There were 494 deaths on SOC (41% more than the previous report). There was good evidence of benefit of docetaxel over SOC on OS (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.95, P = 0.009) with no evidence of heterogeneity of docetaxel effect between metastatic burden sub-groups (interaction P = 0.827). Analysis of other outcomes found evidence of benefit for docetaxel over SOC in failure-free survival (HR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.57-0.76, P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.59-0.81, P < 0.001) with no evidence of heterogeneity of docetaxel effect between metastatic burden sub-groups (interaction P > 0.5 in each case). There was no evidence that docetaxel resulted in late toxicity compared with SOC: after 1 year, G3-5 toxicity was reported for 28% SOC and 27% docetaxel (in patients still on follow-up at 1 year without prior progression). CONCLUSIONS: The clinically significant benefit in survival for upfront docetaxel persists at longer follow-up, with no evidence that benefit differed by metastatic burden. We advocate that upfront docetaxel is considered for metastatic hormone naïve prostate cancer patients regardless of metastatic burden.


Subject(s)
Androgen Antagonists/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage , Docetaxel/administration & dosage , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Aged , Androgen Antagonists/adverse effects , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Disease Progression , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Metastasis , Progression-Free Survival , Proportional Hazards Models , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Retrospective Studies
3.
Phys Rev Lett ; 117(5): 053001, 2016 Jul 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27517769

ABSTRACT

Ionization of atoms and molecules in strong laser fields is a fundamental process in many fields of research, especially in the emerging field of attosecond science. So far, demonstrably accurate data have only been acquired for atomic hydrogen (H), a species that is accessible to few investigators. Here, we present measurements of the ionization yield for argon, krypton, and xenon with percent-level accuracy, calibrated using H, in a laser regime widely used in attosecond science. We derive a transferable calibration standard for laser peak intensity, accurate to 1.3%, that is based on a simple reference curve. In addition, our measurements provide a much needed benchmark for testing models of ionization in noble-gas atoms, such as the widely employed single-active electron approximation.

4.
BMC Pulm Med ; 16: 35, 2016 Feb 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26916196

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the commonest respiratory diseases in the United Kingdom, accounting for 10% of unplanned hospital admissions each year. Nearly a third of these admitted patients are re-admitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge. Whilst there is a move within the NHS to ensure that people with long-term conditions receive more co-ordinated care, there is little research evidence to support an optimum approach to this in COPD. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of introducing standardised packages of care i.e. care bundles, for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD as a means of improving hospital care and reducing re-admissions. METHODS / DESIGN: This mixed-methods evaluation will use a controlled before-and-after design to examine the effect of, and costs associated with, implementing care bundles for patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of COPD, compared with usual care. It will quantitatively measure a range of patient and organisational outcomes for two groups of hospitals - those who deliver care using COPD care bundles, and those who deliver care without the use of COPD care bundles. These care bundles may be provided for patients with COPD following admission, prior to discharge or at both points in the care pathway. The primary outcome will be re-admission to hospital within 28 days of discharge, although the study will additionally investigate a number of secondary outcomes including length of stay, total bed days, in-hospital mortality, costs of care and patient / carer experience. A series of nested qualitative case studies will explore in detail the context and process of care as well as the impact of COPD bundles on staff, patients and carers. DISCUSSION: The results of the study will provide information about the effectiveness of care bundles as a way of managing in-hospital care for patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD. Given the number of unplanned hospital admissions for this patient group and their rate of subsequent re-admission, it is hoped that this evaluation will make a timely contribution to the evidence on care provision, to the benefit of patients, clinicians, managers and policy-makers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials - ISRCTN13022442 - 11 February 2015.


Subject(s)
Hospitalization , Patient Care Bundles/methods , Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy , Quality Improvement , Case-Control Studies , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Disease Management , England , Hospital Mortality , Humans , Length of Stay , Patient Care Bundles/economics , Prospective Studies , Qualitative Research , State Medicine , Treatment Outcome , Wales
5.
Chron Respir Dis ; 13(4): 337-343, 2016 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27072019

ABSTRACT

Despite increased interest and awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), nearly half of the people with COPD remain undiagnosed. Inviting people at risk for screening is unlikely to be effective as many will not attend. Co-morbidities are common in people with COPD but COPD is also a comorbidity of other long-term conditions and people with these conditions are under regular review in primary care clinics. This study aimed to develop a pilot programme to case find people with COPD among patients attending other long-term clinics in primary care. Twenty-three general practices were recruited to participate in South West England. All current or ex-smokers aged ≥35 attending a long-term condition clinic who were not known to have COPD were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to help identify people with COPD and to perform microspirometry. Practices were asked to collect data on up to 100 patients. One thousand three hundred and thirty-three patients were assessed. Four hundred and ten people (31%) were current smokers. Six hundred and thirteen (46%) had high questionnaire scores and 287 (22%) of these also had a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) below the lower limit of normal (LLN). The mean FEV1 in these patients was 59.0% of predicted (range 22-79.0%). Two hundred and twenty-four had an FEV1 between 50% and 80% of predicted, 50 had an FEV1 between 30% and 50% of predicted. One hundred and sixteen (40%) of the people with an FEV1 below the LLN were still smoking and 55 accepted referral to cessation services. A total of 56% of the other smokers assessed but not thought to have COPD also accepted referral. Assessing symptoms and performing microspirometry in people attending long-term condition clinics in primary care is feasible and has a high yield of identifying people likely to have previously undiagnosed COPD.

6.
Thorax ; 70(10): 992-4, 2015 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26197814

ABSTRACT

This report describes a care bundles implementation project for COPD undertaken during 2013 in England and Wales. High-level data were collected on outcomes of care for 11 748 patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Patient-level data on processes and outcomes of care were collected on 3272 COPD admissions, among which 1174 bundles were delivered. Analysis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in mortality and length of hospital stay from some bundle elements. Outcomes, including bundle completion rates, were better when specialist respiratory review occurred. The results support wider use of care bundles for AECOPD.


Subject(s)
Hospitalization , Patient Care Bundles , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy , Standard of Care , Acute Disease , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , England , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pilot Projects , Wales
8.
Euro Surveill ; 19(15)2014 Apr 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24762664

ABSTRACT

Human enteroviruses (EV) and parechoviruses (HPeV) within the family Picornaviridae are the most common causes of viral central nervous system (CNS)-associated infections including meningitis and neonatal sepsis-like disease. The frequencies of EV and HPeV types identified in clinical specimens collected in Scotland over an eight-year period were compared to those identified in sewage surveillance established in Edinburgh. Of the 35 different EV types belonging to four EV species (A to D) and the four HPeV types detected in this study, HPeV3 was identified as the most prevalent picornavirus in cerebrospinal fluid samples, followed by species B EV. Interestingly, over half of EV and all HPeV CNS-associated infections were observed in young infants (younger than three months). Detection of species A EV including coxsackievirus A6 and EV71 in clinical samples and sewage indicates that these viruses are already widely circulating in Scotland. Furthermore, species C EV were frequently identified EV in sewage screening but they were not present in any of 606 EV-positive clinical samples studied, indicating their likely lower pathogenicity. Picornavirus surveillance is important not only for monitoring the changing epidemiology of these infections but also for the rapid identification of spread of emerging EV and/or HPeV types.


Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Infections/epidemiology , Cerebrospinal Fluid/virology , Enterovirus/isolation & purification , Parechovirus/isolation & purification , Picornaviridae Infections/epidemiology , Sepsis/virology , Central Nervous System Infections/cerebrospinal fluid , Central Nervous System Infections/virology , Enterovirus/genetics , Feces/virology , Humans , Parechovirus/genetics , Phylogeny , Picornaviridae Infections/cerebrospinal fluid , Picornaviridae Infections/virology , Prevalence , RNA, Viral/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Scotland , Sentinel Surveillance , Sepsis/cerebrospinal fluid , Sepsis/epidemiology , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Serotyping , Sewage , Specimen Handling , United Kingdom/epidemiology
9.
J Gen Virol ; 94(Pt 11): 2437-2448, 2013 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23939980

ABSTRACT

Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) is a lipid kinase with important roles including regulation of cell survival. We have previously shown reduced SphK1 activity in cells with an established dengue virus type-2 (DENV-2) infection. In this study, we examined the effect of alterations in SphK1 activity on DENV-2 replication and cell death and determined the mechanisms of the reduction in SphK1 activity. Chemical inhibition or overexpression of SphK1 after established DENV-2 infection had no effect on infectious DENV-2 production, although inhibition of SphK1 resulted in enhanced DENV-2-induced cell death. Reduced SphK1 activity was observed in multiple cell types, regardless of the ability of DENV-2 infection to be cytopathic, and was mediated by a post-translational mechanism. Unlike bovine viral diarrhea virus, where SphK1 activity is decreased by the NS3 protein, SphK1 activity was not affected by DENV-2 NS3 but, instead, was reduced by expression of the terminal 396 bases of the 3' UTR of DENV-2 RNA. We have previously shown that eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) is a direct activator of SphK1 and here DENV-2 RNA co-localized and co-precipitated with eEF1A from infected cells. We propose that the reduction in SphK1 activity late in DENV-2-infected cells is a consequence of DENV-2 out-competing SphK1 for eEF1A binding and hijacking cellular eEF1A for its own replication strategy, rather than a specific host or virus-induced change in SphK1 to modulate viral replication. Nonetheless, reduced SphK1 activity may have important consequences for survival or death of the infected cell.


Subject(s)
3' Untranslated Regions/genetics , Dengue Virus/physiology , Down-Regulation , Peptide Elongation Factor 1/metabolism , Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/metabolism , RNA, Viral/genetics , Virus Replication , 3' Untranslated Regions/physiology , Animals , Apoptosis , Cell Line , Cells, Cultured , Cricetinae , Dengue/virology , Dengue Virus/genetics , Dengue Virus/pathogenicity , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Kidney/cytology , Kidney/virology , Monocytes/virology , Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics , Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/genetics , RNA, Viral/metabolism , Vero Cells
10.
Plant Biol (Stuttg) ; 25(6): 860-870, 2023 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37647418

ABSTRACT

The Australian Monsoon Tropics (AMT) contain some of the most biodiverse forests on the continent. Little is known about the dynamics of rainforest plant microbiomes in general, and there have been no community-level studies on Australian rainforest endophytes, their seasonality, tissue and host specificity. We tested whether community composition of tropical tree endophytes (fungi and bacteria) differs: (i) at different points during a monsoon cycle, (ii) between leaf and stem tissues, (iii) between forest microclimates (gully/ridge), and between (iv) host plant species, and (v) host plant clade, using amplicon sequencing of the bacterial 16S and fungal ITS2 gene regions. Results indicated that the composition of rainforest plant microbiomes differs between wet and dry seasons, which may be explained by physiological shifts in host plants due to annual climate fluctuations from mesic to xeric. Endophyte microbiomes differed between leaves and stems. Distinct fungal communities were associated with host species and clades, with some trees enriched in a number of fungal taxa compared to host plants in other clades. Diversity of bacterial endophytes in plant stems increased in the dry season. We conclude that the microbiomes of tropical plants are responsive to monsoonal climate variation, are highly compartmentalised between plant tissues, and may be partly shaped by the relatedness of their host plants.


Subject(s)
Microbiota , Trees , Rainforest , Australia , Forests , Endophytes
11.
J Gen Virol ; 91(Pt 5): 1229-38, 2010 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20089803

ABSTRACT

Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are highly prevalent RNA viruses classified in the family Picornaviridae. Several antigenically distinct types circulate in human populations worldwide, whilst recombination additionally contributes to the genetic heterogeneity of the virus. To investigate factors influencing the likelihood of recombination and to compare its dynamics among types, 154 variants collected from four widely geographically separated referral centres (UK, The Netherlands, Thailand and Brazil) were typed by VP3/VP1 amplification/sequencing with recombination groups assigned by analysis of 3Dpol sequences. HPeV1B and HPeV3 were the most frequently detected types in each referral region, but with marked geographical differences in the frequencies of different recombinant forms (RFs) of types 1B, 5 and 6. HPeV1B showed more frequent recombination than HPeV3, in terms both of evolutionary divergence and of temporal/geographical indicators of population separation. HPeV1 variants showing between 10 and 20% divergence in VP3/VP1 almost invariably fell into different recombination groups, compared with only one-third of similarly divergent HPeV3 variants. Substitution rates calculated by beast in the VP3/VP1 region of HPeV1 and HPeV3 allowed half-lives of the RFs of 4 and 20 years, respectively, to be calculated, estimates fitting closely with their observed lifespans based on population sampling. The variability in recombination dynamics between HPeV1B and HPeV3 offers an intriguing link with their markedly different seasonal patterns of transmission, age distributions of infection and clinical outcomes. Future investigation of the epidemiological and biological opportunities and constraints on intertypic recombination will provide more information about its influence on the longer term evolution and pathogenicity of parechoviruses.


Subject(s)
Parechovirus/genetics , Picornaviridae Infections/virology , RNA, Viral/genetics , Recombination, Genetic , Brazil , Cluster Analysis , Evolution, Molecular , Genotype , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , Netherlands , Phylogeny , Polymorphism, Genetic , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequence Homology , Thailand , United Kingdom
12.
Science ; 261(5117): 37-45, 1993 Jul 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17750544

ABSTRACT

Motor vehicle emissions have been and are being controlled in an effort to abate urban air pollution. This article addresses the question: Will the vehicle exhaust emission control and fuel requirements in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and the California Air Resources Board regulations on vehicles and fuels have a significant impact? The effective control of in-use vehicle emissions is the key to a solution to the motor vehicle part of the urban air pollution problem for the next decade or so. It is not necessary, except perhaps in Southern California, to implement extremely low new car emission standards before the end of the 20th century. Some of the proposed gasoline volatility and composition changes in reformulated gasoline will produce significant reductions in vehicle emissions (for example, reduced vapor pressure, sulfur, and light olefin and improved high end volatility), whereas others (such as substantial oxygenate addition and aromatics reduction) will not.

13.
Science ; 262(5140): 1711-2, 1993 Dec 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17781789

ABSTRACT

A process for producing patterned metal deposits on fluoropolymeric substrates is described. A metal ion-chelating organosilane is chemisorbed by self-assembly onto a fluoropolymer surface after radio-frequency glow discharge plasma surface hydroxylation. Positional modulation of the surface hydrophobicity is illustrated by wetting. The silane covalently binds an aqueous palladium catalyst and subsequent electroless deposition yields homogeneous or patterned metal deposits that exhibit excellent adhesion to the fluoropolymer.

14.
Science ; 175(4023): 751-2, 1972 Feb 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17836132

ABSTRACT

The rates of formaldehyde photodecomposition into hydrogen and formyl radicals and hydrogen and carbon monoxide molecules in sunlightirradiated atmospheres have been estimated from extinction data and photochemical results. These data should prove useful in the development of models for the chemical changes that take place in the polluted atmosphere.

15.
Science ; 252(5005): 551-4, 1991 Apr 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-2020853

ABSTRACT

Deep ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is shown to modify organosilane self-assembled monolayer (SAM) films by a photocleavage mechanism, which renders the surface amenable to further SAM modification. Patterned UV exposure creates alternating regions of intact SAM film and hydrophilic, reactive sites. The exposed regions can undergo a second chemisorption reaction to produce an assembly of SAMs in the same molecular plane with similar substrate attachment chemistry. The UV-patterned films are used as a template for selective buildup of fluorophores, metals, and biological cells.


Subject(s)
Axons/radiation effects , Ultraviolet Rays , Axons/physiology , Cell Adhesion/radiation effects , Cell Line , Cell Survival/radiation effects , Humans , Neuroblastoma , Photochemistry
16.
Allergy ; 63(4): 425-31, 2008 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18315730

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are large differences in the prevalence of atopic disease between urban and rural areas of developing countries, without good explanation. Diet has been associated with atopic disease, but studies of specific nutrients are contradictory, cross-sectional studies often being unsupported by trials. We investigated diet as an explanation for the difference in the prevalence of atopy between urban and rural areas in South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of food frequency questionnaires and allergen skin tests from 698 children aged 8-13 years, recruited from 24 schools in Cape Province, South Africa, who were taking part in a case-control study of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Food frequency data were analysed with a principal components analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The first two principal components of diet explained 25% of the variance, and discriminated almost perfectly between urban and rural subjects. The 'urban' component of diet was strongly associated with positive skin tests even after adjusting for urban residence. There were no significant associations between individual foods or nutrients and positive skin tests, allowing for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS: Diet explains part of the difference in prevalence between urban and rural areas. The ability to demonstrate this using PCA, but not by exhaustive analysis of all foods, reflects the value of reducing the number of dietary dimensions. The number of foods and nutrients which can be assessed, and the possibility of confounding and effect modification, make it difficult to identify the features of diet most directly implicated in disease. This may explain inconsistencies in dietary studies.


Subject(s)
Diet , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/epidemiology , Rural Health , Urban Health , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/etiology , Male , Prevalence , Principal Component Analysis , Skin Tests , South Africa/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires
17.
Acta Neurochir Suppl ; 104: 27-31, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18456994

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that apoptosis in cerebral arteries could play an essential role in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and that SP600125, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) could suppress apoptosis. The present study examined whether SP600125 could reduce cerebral vasospasm through the suppression of apoptosis. METHOD: Fifteen dogs were assigned to 3 groups: control, SAH, and SAH + SP600125 (30 micromol/l). SAH was induced by the injection of autologous blood into the cisterna magna on day 0 and day 2. Angiograms were evaluated on day 0 and day 7. The activation of the JNK pathway and caspase-3 were also evaluated using Western blot. To determine the distribution, TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated c-jun and cleaved caspase-3 were performed. FINDINGS: Severe vasospasm was observed in the basilar artery of the SAH dogs. SP600125 reduced angiographic and morphological vasospasm and reduced the expression of cleaved caspase-3, thereby suppressing apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that SP600125 attenuates cerebral vasospasm through the suppression of apoptosis, which may provide a novel therapeutic target for cerebral vasospasm.


Subject(s)
Anthracenes/therapeutic use , Apoptosis/drug effects , JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/pathology , Vasospasm, Intracranial/physiopathology , Animals , Basilar Artery/drug effects , Basilar Artery/pathology , Basilar Artery/physiopathology , Disease Models, Animal , Dogs , Vasospasm, Intracranial/pathology
18.
J R Coll Physicians Edinb ; 48(2): 130-133, 2018 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29992203

ABSTRACT

IgG4-related disease is an immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory disease, characterised by distinct pathological features. An increasing number of clinical phenotypes are described, from single-organ disease to a multisystem disorder, which can present to a variety of different specialities. Recognition is key; its protean manifestations can mimic other inflammatory diseases, infection and malignancy. Here, we present three cases to highlight the importance of being familiar with this condition in its various forms.


Subject(s)
Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease/complications , Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease/diagnosis , Lung Diseases/complications , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cough/immunology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/immunology , Weight Loss/immunology
19.
Br J Pharmacol ; 149(3): 229-31, 2006 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16921390

ABSTRACT

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have now become one of the most powerful pharmacological strategies in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Originally, the cardioprotective effects of statins were thought to be mediated through lipid lowering actions. However, it has now become increasingly clear that the beneficial effects of statins are not related to the lipid lowering effects, but rather to a number of pleiotropic actions. Of particular interest, statins have been shown to increase bioavailability of nitric oxide and protect against vascular inflammation and cardiac cell death in a number of cardiovascular disease states. In this present issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, Zhao and colleagues provide a novel mechanism of action for statins with the observation that simvastatin reduces myocardial 'no-reflow' after ischemia and reperfusion by activating the mitochondrial K(ATP) channel. The findings of the present study have very profound implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. This commentary discusses the implications of these findings and how they relate to the established cardioprotective actions of statins.


Subject(s)
Coronary Circulation/drug effects , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Animals , Humans , Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial , Nitric Oxide/physiology , Potassium Channels/drug effects , Simvastatin/pharmacology
20.
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed ; 91(1): F26-8, 2006 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16131533

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of antenatally suspected congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) over a 10 year period. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all babies diagnosed antenatally in the Prenatal Diagnosis Unit and delivered in Oxford between 1991 and 2001. Data were obtained from the Oxford Congenital Anomaly Register, theatre records, and histopathology reports. RESULTS: Twenty eight cases of CCAM were diagnosed antenatally. Five pregnancies were terminated. Data are available on all 23 of the pregnancies that continued and resulted in two neonatal deaths and 21 surviving babies. Eleven of the 23 cases (48%) showed some regression of the lesion antenatally, and four of these cases appeared to resolve completely on prenatal ultrasound. Three of the 23 babies (13%) were symptomatic in the early neonatal period, and three developed symptoms shortly afterwards. Seventeen of the 23 babies (74%) were asymptomatic, of whom 12 had abnormalities on chest radiograph or computed tomography scan and had elective surgery. Two babies (8%) had completely normal postnatal imaging, and three had abnormalities which resolved in the first year of life. Seventeen of the 23 babies (74%) had surgery. Histology at surgery was heterogeneous. Of the 23 live births, all 21 survivors (91%) are well at follow up or have been discharged. CONCLUSIONS: All babies diagnosed antenatally with CCAM require postnatal imaging with computed tomography irrespective of signs of antenatal resolution. In asymptomatic infants, the recommendations are close follow up and elective surgery for persistent lesions within the first year of life. Histology at surgery was heterogeneous, and this should be considered when counselling parents.


Subject(s)
Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital/diagnosis , Fetal Diseases/diagnosis , Prenatal Diagnosis , Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital/diagnostic imaging , Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital/surgery , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Long-Term Care/methods , Male , Pregnancy , Prognosis , Radiography , Retrospective Studies
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL