Evaluation of a patient information booklet.

Preoperative teaching is an integral component of the care surgical patients receive. The need for consistent preoperative information has resulted in growing use of printed health information. There are many printed materials for nurses to choose from; however, these materials serve no useful teaching purpose if patients are unable to understand them.

Production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 by human T cells recognizing Leishmania lipophosphoglycan-associated protein.

The Leishmania protein LPGAP which is co-isolated with lipophosphoglycan is a specific activator of T cells from individuals who have recovered from American leishmaniasis. We have tested the effect of LPGAP on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Kenyan donors cured from L. donovani infections.

The role of support surfaces and patient attributes in preventing pressure ulcers in elderly patients.

Nurses caring for elderly patients often need to select support surfaces that reduce the likelihood of pressure ulcers, but there is little information about the effectiveness of different support surfaces. This randomized trial compared two support surfaces and investigated patient attributes related to the risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Eighty-four elderly patients were nursed on a convoluted or solid foam overlay and assessed three times a week for pressure ulcers.

Identification of proteins encoded by avian reoviruses and evidence for post-translational modification.

Twelve avian reovirus strain 176 proteins, 10 structural (lambda 1, lambda 2, lambda 3, mu 1, mu 2/mu 2C, sigma 1, sigma 2, sigma 3, and sigma 4), and 2 nonstructural (mu NS and sigma NS) were identified and characterized by electrophoretic analysis of purified virions and infected cell lysates. Three of the identified proteins (mu 1, mu NS, and sigma 4) have not been previously described. In pulse-chase experiments, 10 of the proteins (lambda 1, lambda 2, lambda 3, mu 1, mu 2, mu NS, sigma 1, sigma 2, sigma NS, sigma 3) were shown to be primary translation products, whereas mu 2C was shown to be a post-translational cleavage product of mu 2.

Leishmania donovani-reactive Th1- and Th2-like T-cell clones from individuals who have recovered from visceral leishmaniasis.

Infections in humans by Leishmania donovani parasites can result in a fatal disease, visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or in a self-limiting asymptomatic infection. In murine models of the infection employing Leishmania major, the course of the disease can be directed into a VL-like syndrome by interleukin-4 (IL-4)-producing Th2 cells, or cure may result by Th1 cells secreting gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). The present study examined the potential of human T cells to generate Th1 or Th2 responses to L.

Prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis along the Nile River north of Khartoum (Sudan) in the aftermath of an epidemic in 1985.

Based on a pilot clinical study of the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) among school children in villages on both banks of the Nile River north of Khartoum, Sudan in the aftermath of a 1985 epidemic, we studied a random sample (303 individuals) from one of these villages to determine the prevalence of infection and exposure to CL. Four percent of the population had active CL lesions, 47% had healed lesions, and another 43% reacted positively to sensitization with leishmanin in the absence of past or active CL lesions. Ninety-one percent of the total population reacted positively to leishmanin.

Strain-specific selection of genome segments in avian reovirus coinfections.

To determine whether selection of genome segments in coinfections is strain-specific, chicken embryo fibroblasts were coinfected with avian reovirus strain 883 and one of three other avian reovirus strains (176, S1133 and 81-5). Viral progeny from each coinfection (883 x 176, 883 x S1133 or 883 x 81-5) was serially passaged at a low m.o.

A research-based risk assessment tool as the cornerstone of a pressure ulcer prevention program.

By highlighting theories of knowledge utilization, we consider some of the factors and issues in planning research utilization projects. By our use of a research utilization model in developing a research-based pressure ulcer prevention program, we help to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Recognition of Leishmania antigens by T lymphocytes from nonexposed individuals.

Crude antigen preparations of Leishmania promastigote sonicates were found to induce in vitro proliferation and gamma interferon production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals without known exposure to the parasite. The proliferating cells were mainly CD2-positive T cells. The proliferative response was maximal after more than 6 days of incubation with the antigens in contrast to the proliferation induced by the mitogenic lectin phytohemagglutinin (PHA), which peaked after 3 to 5 days.

Antagonist capacity of felodipine on cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity in the rat.

Functional and morphological cyclosporin A (CsA) nephropathy has been attributed to a CsA-induced constriction of the afferent glomerular arteriole. Calcium-channel blockade with nifedipine prevented the development of short-term functional nephrotoxicity in CsA-treated rats. This study investigated whether the calcium antagonist felodopine, a structural analogue of nifedipine, which reduces renal tubular fractional sodium reabsorption, could prevent both short- and long-term functional and long-term morphological CsA nephropathy.

Antigen dependent adjuvant activity of a polydispersed beta-(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan (acemannan).

The adjuvant properties of a polydispersed beta-(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan, acemannan (ACE-M), were evaluated. Day-old broiler chicks were randomly selected and allocated to four flocks (Vac 1-4). The Vac 1 flock was sham vaccinated with saline.

In vitro evaluation of the synergistic antiviral effects of acemannan in combination with azidothymidine and acyclovir.

The antiviral effects of selected combinations between acemannan (ACE-M), a long-chained, polydispersed, beta-(1,4)-acetylated mannan, were tested in combination with azidothymidine (AZT) and acyclovir (ACY) in vitro. The rationale for such combinations was based on the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties exhibited by ACE-M. In addition, the observed antiviral effects of ACE-M against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and other enveloped viruses appear to be related to modification of the glycosylation of viral glycoproteins.

Anticoagulant properties of semisynthetic polysaccharide sulfates.

Several naturally occurring polysaccharides were purified and subsequently sulfated by chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine complex. These were isolated as the sodium salt and further purified by ECTEOLA cellulose chromatography. Anticoagulant properties of the sulfated polysaccharides were compared with commercial heparin by measuring their in vitro effects on activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT) using pooled normal human plasma.

Inhibition of AIDS virus replication by acemannan in vitro.

Acemannan (ACE-M), a beta-(1,4)-linked acetylated mannan, was evaluated for in vitro activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Castanospermine (CAS), deoxymannojirimycin (DMN), swainsonine (SWS), azidothymidine (AZT), and dideoxythymidine (DDC) were tested in parallel as control compounds. In vitro antiviral efficacy of ACE-M was evaluated in a variety of cell lines including human peripheral mononuclear, CEM-SS1 and MT-2(2) cells.

Activation of human T lymphocytes by Leishmania lipophosphoglycan.

This study describes Leishmania antigen-induced activation of lymphocytes isolated from Kenyan donors, previously treated for visceral leishmaniasis, and from Danish and Kenyan controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cured Kala-Azar patients proliferated and produced Interferon-gamma in vitro in response to lipophosphoglycan (LPG) isolated from Leishmania major. The proliferative response was mainly due to activation of CD2-positive T cells.

Coordinating clinical research. A collaborative approach for perioperative nurses.

Overall, the study progressed smoothly during the six months it took to collect data on 125 patients. A number of factors contributed to the success of the study. By using a collaborative approach, we assembled a team with expertise in the content area, the clinical setting, and research design and methodology.

Factors that contribute to pressure sores in surgical patients.

In this prospective study examination was made of whether (a) time on the operating table, (b) proportion of intraoperative diastolic hypotensive episodes, (c) age, (d) preoperative serum albumin, (e) preoperative total protein levels, and (f) preoperative Braden scores could identify those patients who do and do not develop pressure sores during elective surgery. The stratified sample consisted of 125 adult patients. Fifteen patients (12%) developed a total of 23 pressure sores.

Selection of genome segments following coinfection of chicken fibroblasts with avian reoviruses.

Two avian reoviruses (883 and 176) shown to have distinct growth kinetics were used to coinfect chicken embryonic fibroblasts asynchronously to generate reassortants. More than 300 plaque-derived clones were obtained from passage 3 of two separate coinfections made at different m.o.

Characterization of avian reovirus strain-specific polymorphisms.

Avian reoviruses have been associated with several pathologic conditions, but correlative relationships between genotypes and specific diseases have not been demonstrated. Six avian reoviruses (883, 176, 81-5, S1133, FC, and TX) were selected for this study, and a comparative study of the pathogenic properties of the viruses in chickens, following peroral and footpad inoculation, was carried out, along with a comparison of the electrophoretic mobility of viral genomic segments and viral proteins encoded by the gene segments. The pathogenic properties of the viruses were shown to be diverse, with three distinct pathotypes being defined: Pathotype I (883) caused only a syndrome that we have termed "transient digestive system disorder" (TDSD); Pathotype II (FC, TX, and S1133) caused only "viral arthritis syndrome" (VAS), whereas Pathotype III (176 and 81-5) caused both TDSD and VAS.

Genotypic transitions among bluetongue viral isolates from domestic ruminants in Colorado during 1981-1984.

Two predominant electropherotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 11 isolates from cattle during a 1981-1984 field study in eastern Colorado were characterized. The genomes of strains isolated from the first 2 years of the study had 1 predominant electropherotype (CO81), with the exception of 1 isolate that differed only in the migration of segment 3. A second electropherotype (CO83), with differences in the migration of 4 segments, coexisted in the same region during 1983 and 1984 with strains having the CO81 RNA profile.

Relationship between radiological classification and the serological and haematological features of untreated pulmonary tuberculosis in Indonesia.

Immunological and metabolic responses were studied in 110 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and 32 healthy controls from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. The severity of lung involvement was assessed radiologically, but this was not related to the current features of cell mediated immunity or to those of many aspects of the serological response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the patients with more extensive pulmonary tuberculosis showed higher titres of IgG2 antibody to whole killed M.