St Thomas' Hospital

About: St Thomas' Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Pregnancy. The organization has 12105 authors who have published 15596 publications receiving 624309 citations. The organization is also known as: St Thomas's Hospital & St. Thomas's.

Stercoral perforation of the colon.

Abstract: Stercoral perforation of the colon is rare. The 64 reported cases are reviewed to define the syndrome of stercoral perforation, and to facilitate accurate diagnosis and treatment. Features of localized or generalized peritonitis were universal; however, only 11 per cent were correctly diagnosed before operation. Recognition that the disease involves a segment of colon rather than only the focal point of perforation is essential to adequate surgical treatment. It is postulated that this is the reason for the higher postoperative mortality following closure of the perforation and proximal colostomy (57 per cent) or exteriorization alone (43 per cent), compared with resection of the diseased segment and exteriorization (32 per cent). Resection and exteriorization is therefore the treatment of choice is most situations.

Rescue of photoreceptor function by AAV-mediated gene transfer in a mouse model of inherited retinal degeneration

Abstract: Knowledge of the mutations leading to inherited retinal degenerations provides a foundation for the development of somatic gene therapy in which potentially corrective genes are transferred to the target photoreceptor cells. Towards this end, we have evaluated the efficacy of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to deliver and express the correct form of the cGMP phosphodiesterase-beta (PDE-beta) gene in the retinas of rd mice, which suffer rapid retinal degeneration due to recessive mutation in the endogenous gene. A truncated murine opsin promoter was used to drive expression of the PDE-beta cDNA. Following intraocular injection of AAV. PDE-beta, increased retinal expression of immunoreactive PDE protein was observed, including within photoreceptor cell bodies. Compared with age-matched controls, treated eyes showed increased numbers of photoreceptors and a two-fold increase in sensitivity to light as measured by in vitro electroretinography. These findings provide evidence that rescue of functional photoreceptor neurons can be achieved by somatic gene therapy.

The genetic epidemiology of joint hypermobility: a population study of female twins.

Abstract: Objective To estimate the genetic influence on joint hypermobility in an unselected population using a classic twin study design. Methods A self-report questionnaire on joint hypermobility as well as data on age, height, weight, estrogen replacement therapy, and menopause status were obtained from 483 monozygotic (MZ) and 472 dizygotic (DZ) unselected female twin pairs ages 21–81 years who were registered with the St Thomas' Adult Twin Registry in the UK. Results The overall prevalence of hypermobility was 19.5% in MZ twins and 22.1% in DZ twins. The prevalence of hypermobile joints declined with age, falling from 34% in subjects ages 20–30 years to 18.4% in those ages 60 years or older. Significantly greater concordance for joint hypermobility was observed in the MZ twins when compared with the DZ twins (60% versus 36%), consistent with a genetic influence. In variance components analysis, the age- and body mass index–adjusted heritability of joint hypermobility was estimated to be 70% (95% confidence interval 57–89%). Conclusion Genetic factors have a substantial contribution to joint hypermobility in the adult female population.

Haemangiopericytomas: the prognostic value of immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

Abstract: Forty-two cases of haemangiopericytoma were studied retrospectively using immunohistochemical staining with PC10, a monoclonal antibody to PCNA The percentage of tumour cells with positive staining for PCNA was found to correlate well with histological grading Clinical follow-up data were available in 25 adults and showed no known deaths in 11 cases with a low proportion (< 14%) of positive cells Out of 14 cases with a high number (greater-than-or-equal-to 14%) of positive cells, seven patients are known to have died, two had metastases, and in a further two there have been multiple recurrences of tumour DNA flow cytometry was performed on 26 cases but this showed no correlation with PC10 staining or clinical outcome Staining with PC10 may be of particular value in the identification of patients at greatest risk of rapid tumour metastasis and early death

Impact of HIV-1 viral subtype on disease progression and response to antiretroviral therapy

Abstract: Background Our intention was to compare the rate of immunological progression prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the virological response to ART in patients infected with subtype B and four non-B HIV-1 subtypes (A, C, D and the circulating recombinant form, CRF02-AG) in an ethnically diverse population of HIV-1-infected patients in south London.