University of Aberdeen

About: University of Aberdeen is a education organization based out in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 21174 authors who have published 49962 publications receiving 2105479 citations. The organization is also known as: Aberdeen University.

Mutations in the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor ( CSF1R ) gene cause hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids

Abstract: Hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids (HDLS) is an autosomal-dominant central nervous system white-matter disease with variable clinical presentations, including personality and behavioral changes, dementia, depression, parkinsonism, seizures and other phenotypes We combined genome-wide linkage analysis with exome sequencing and identified 14 different mutations affecting the tyrosine kinase domain of the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (encoded by CSF1R) in 14 families with HDLS In one kindred, we confirmed the de novo occurrence of the mutation Follow-up sequencing identified an additional CSF1R mutation in an individual diagnosed with corticobasal syndrome In vitro, CSF-1 stimulation resulted in rapid autophosphorylation of selected tyrosine residues in the kinase domain of wild-type but not mutant CSF1R, suggesting that HDLS may result from partial loss of CSF1R function As CSF1R is a crucial mediator of microglial proliferation and differentiation in the brain, our findings suggest an important role for microglial dysfunction in HDLS pathogenesis

Patient compliance in hypertension: role of illness perceptions and treatment beliefs.

Abstract: Despite many years of study, questions remain about why patients do or do not take medicines and what can be done to change their behaviour. Hypertension is poorly controlled in the UK and poor compliance is one possible reason for this. Recent questionnaires based on the self-regulatory model have been successfully used to assess illness perceptions and beliefs about medicines. This study was designed to describe hypertensive patients' beliefs about their illness and medication using the self-regulatory model and investigate whether these beliefs influence compliance with antihypertensive medication. We recruited 514 patients from our secondary care population. These patients were asked to complete a questionnaire that included the Beliefs about Medicines and Illness Perception Questionnaires. A case note review was also undertaken. Analysis shows that patients who believe in the necessity of medication are more likely to be compliant (odds ratio (OR)) 3.06 (95% CI 1.74-5.38), P<0.001). Other important predictive factors in this population are age (OR 4.82 (2.85-8.15), P<0.001), emotional response to illness (OR 0.65 (0.47-0.90), P=0.01) and belief in personal ability to control illness (OR 0.59 (0.40-0.89), P=0.01). Beliefs about illness and about medicines are interconnected; aspects that are not directly related to compliance influence it indirectly. The self-regulatory model is useful in assessing patients health beliefs. Beliefs about specific medications and about hypertension are predictive of compliance. Information about health beliefs is important in achieving concordance and may be a target for intervention to improve compliance.

Estimating size and assessing trends in a coastal bottlenose dolphin population

Abstract: We used a case study of a coastal bottlenose dolphin population to present a framework for determining the number of individuals present and assessing the likely time scale over which trends in abundance may be determined. Such a framework is appropriate for animal species that possess natural markings sufficient for individual recognition, and may be valuable in the development and implementation of management and monitoring programs for vulnerable populations. Population abundance was estimated using mark–recapture methods applied to photoidentification data. This experiment was designed to minimize violation of method assumptions so as to allow use of the most parsimonious model for analysis. The data were examined critically to investigate mark–recapture assumptions, while analytical methods and data were selected to minimize and, where necessary, account for violations. The estimated number of animals with long-lasting marks from left and right side estimates were 73 ± 12 and 80 ± 11 individuals, res...

Interactions of fungal pathogens with phagocytes

Abstract: The surveillance and elimination of fungal pathogens rely heavily on the sentinel behaviour of phagocytic cells of the innate immune system, especially macrophages and neutrophils. The efficiency by which these cells recognize, uptake and kill fungal pathogens depends on the size, shape and composition of the fungal cells and the success or failure of various fungal mechanisms of immune evasion. In this Review, we describe how fungi, particularly Candida albicans, interact with phagocytic cells and discuss the many factors that contribute to fungal immune evasion and prevent host elimination of these pathogenic microorganisms.