Agonist- and nerve-induced phasic activity in the isolated whole bladder of the guinea pig: evidence for two types of bladder activity.

Spontaneous localised propagating waves of contraction and localised stretches have been reported to occur in the isolated whole bladder of the guinea pig. The physiological role and the cellular processes underlying these events are unknown. In order to gain insight into the mechanisms generating this complex activity, experiments were performed to examine and compare the responses of the whole bladder preparation to (i) the muscarinic agonists carbachol and arecaidine, (ii) the nicotinic ligand lobeline and (iii) nerve stimulation.

Attitudes and behaviour of general practitioners and their prescribing costs: a national cross sectional survey.

Background: General practitioner (GP) prescribing accounts for about 10% of NHS expenditure. GPs at the top of the range have annual prescribing costs that are almost twice as much as those at the bottom of the range. This variation cannot be accounted for purely in terms of differences in underlying need for health care.

Can radiographers read screening mammograms?

Aim: To evaluate the ability of radiographers to read screening mammograms in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP).

Materials And Methods: Two radiographers read a test set of 1000 screening mammograms previously reported by a consultant radiologist. Three radiographers then acted as a second reader for 54,000 screening mammograms, their recall results are presented.

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in Barrett's oesophageal carcinogenesis: an immunohistochemical study.

Background: The incidence of Barrett's oesophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing more rapidly than any other malignancy in industrialized countries. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 appears to play an important role in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Previous studies on cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in Barrett's oesophageal carcinogenesis have utilized tissue samples obtained from different patients.

Application of stopped flow techniques and energy dispersive EXAFS for investigation of the reactions of transition metal complexes in solution: activation of nickel beta-diketonates to form homogeneous catalysts, electron transfer reactions involving iron(III) and oxidative addition to iridium(I).

Stopped-flow techniques of rapid mixing have been combined with energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy to monitor the reaction of Ni(dpm)2 [dpm = Bu1C(O)CHC(O)Bu1] by aluminium alkyls (AlEt2X, X = OEt and Et) to form the active species for the catalytic di- and tri-merisation of hex-1-ene. Acquisition times down to ca. 30 ms were achieved on Station 9.

Influence of specialization on the management and outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Background: Cancer care is increasingly specialized. Relationships between pancreatic cancer care, mortality and patterns of clinical practice among the full spectrum of patients, including those with irresectable tumours, are not well understood.

Methods: A cohort of 782 patients diagnosed prospectively with pancreatic cancer in 29 acute hospitals in England and Wales over 1 year were followed for 2-3 years.

Autonomous activity in the isolated guinea pig bladder.

Phasic changes in pressure have been reported to occur in the bladder which are not associated with micturition. Spontaneous intravesical pressure changes can be recorded from bladders in vitro or bladders in vivo isolated from the central nervous system suggesting that the bladder itself is capable of autonomous activity. Experiments using isolated cells and muscle strips indicate that the smooth muscle can generate spontaneous activity.

Epidemiology of perforated colonic diverticular disease.

Perforated colonic diverticular disease results in considerable mortality and morbidity. This review appraises existing evidence on the epidemiology and mechanisms of perforation, highlights areas of further study, and suggests an epidemiological approach towards preventing the condition. Computerised searches were used to identify published articles relating to the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical features of perforated colonic diverticular disease.

An upstream open reading frame impedes translation of the huntingtin gene.

Expansion of a CAG tract within the huntingtin gene, leading to the production of a protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract, is responsible for Huntington's disease. We show here that the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the huntingtin gene plays an important role in controlling the synthesis of huntingtin. In particular, the 5' UTR contains an upstream open reading frame (uORF) encoding a 21 amino acid peptide.

Is skin ageing in the elderly caused by sun exposure or smoking?

Background: There is little clear evidence of a strong association between cumulative sun exposure and skin wrinkling. Contradictory findings also exist on the association between facial wrinkling and smoking status.

Objectives: To identify the significant determinants of skin wrinkling in a cohort of older subjects and to assess whether skin wrinkling can be used as an objective measure of cumulative sun exposure.

Falls and the use of health services in community-living elderly people.

Falls are common and often preventable in older people. This short report describes substantial unmet need in relation to falls. Although falling, nearly falling, fear of falling, and activity restriction are common, many people do not seek assistance from healthcare professionals.

Inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and active Helicobacter pylori infection: the Bristol Helicobacter project.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether smoking or consumption of alcohol or coffee is associated with active Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional population study conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial of H.

Inhibition of protein synthesis by aminoglycoside-arginine conjugates.

Inhibition of translation by small molecule ligands has proven to be a useful tool for understanding this complex cellular mechanism, as well as providing drugs of significant medical importance. Many small molecule ligands inhibit translation by binding to RNA or RNA/protein components of the ribosomal subunits and usurping their function. A class of peptidomimetics [aminoglycoside-arginine conjugates (AAC)] has recently been designed to inhibit HIV TAR/tat interaction and in experiments aimed at assessing the inhibitory effects of AACs on TAR-containing transcripts, we found that AACs are general inhibitors of translation.

What determines the use of home care services by elderly people?

The objective of the present study was to investigate the determinants of use of statutory and private home care services by older people living in the community. A questionnaire was distributed to a stratified random sample of 2,000 elderly people living in the community registered with 11 general practices in a British city (equal numbers of men and women, aged 65-74 years, and 75 years or over). The outcome measures were the use of statutory or private home care services in the previous 3 months.

Synergistic anion and metal binding to the ferric ion-binding protein from Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The 34-kDa periplasmic iron-transport protein (FBP) from Neisseria gonorrhoeae (nFBP) contains Fe(III) and (hydrogen)phosphate (synergistic anion). It has a characteristic ligand-to-metal charge-transfer absorption band at 481 nm. Phosphate can be displaced by (bi)carbonate to give Fe.

Pulmonary rehabilitation compared with brief advice given for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a short-term pulmonary rehabilitation program with brief advice given to patients with severe ventilatory impairment due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: One hundred three patients with severe COPD, defined as having forced expiratory volume in 1 second < 40% predicted, were randomly assigned to rehabilitation or to brief advice. Fifty-four patients attended a rehabilitation program twice a week for 6 weeks.

The benefits of providing GPs with the results of a Confidential Enquiry into asthma deaths.

Aims: Printed materials are used to change behaviour yet evidence suggests they generally have little effect. This survey investigated the impact on GPs of reports from a Confidential Enquiry into Asthma Deaths.

Methods: A random sample of 1 in 4 general practitioners from East Anglia were sent a questionnaire, total = 306.

Local treatments for cutaneous warts: systematic review.

Objective: To assess the evidence for the efficacy of local treatments for cutaneous warts.

Methods: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Main Outcomes Measures: Total clearance of warts and adverse effects such as irritation, pain, and blistering.

Relationship between the birth cohort pattern of Helicobacter pylori infection and the epidemiology of duodenal ulcer.

Background: Helicobacter-pylori-related duodenal ulcer (DU) is an important cause of dyspepsia.

Aim: To determine the relationship between the pattern of H. pylori infection and the epidemiology of duodenal ulcer in a single population.

Health and social factors for health visitor caseload weighting: reliability, accuracy and current and potential use.

The reliability and validity of data collection and recording for a health visitor caseload weighting system operating in a large combined acute and community trust in Bristol was examined. Client families were recruited from all participating (service) health visitors and were interviewed by a research health visitor attached to the project. The presence or absence of 28 health needs factors, selected for their known impact on health in the longer term, was subsequently compared with the service health visitor's own caseload records and with the computer record derived from them.