Showing papers by "University of Auckland published in 1988"
TL;DR: The results confirm the reasonably optimistic outcome for survivors of stroke and suggest that recovery of motor function is confined to patients whose motor deficit at onset is either mild or moderate.
Abstract: The natural history of recovery of motor function after stroke is described using data from a 1-year community-based study in Auckland, New Zealand. Of 680 patients, 88% presented with a hemiparesis; the proportion of survivors with a persisting deficit declined to 71% at 1 month and 62% at 6 months after the onset of the stroke. At onset, there were equal proportions of people with mild, moderate, and severe motor deficits, but the majority (76%) of those who survived 6 months had either no or only a mild deficit. Recovery of motor function was associated with the stroke severity but not with age or sex; patients with a mild motor deficit at onset were 10 times more likely to recover their motor function than those with a severe stroke. Our results confirm the reasonably optimistic outcome for survivors of stroke and further suggest that recovery of motor function is confined to patients whose motor deficit at onset is either mild or moderate.
1,284 citations
697 citations
TL;DR: In a randomised, double-blind trial 60 patients with left ventricular dysfunction but without clinical evidence of heart failure 1 week after Q wave myocardial infarction were given captopril 25 mg thrice a day, frusemide 40 mg daily, or placebo.
469 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a nonclassical correlation in phase and intensity occurs which is an example of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, even in fields of large photon number.
Abstract: The squeezing spectrum for nondegenerate parametric oscillation above threshold is calculated, including phase diffusion. A nonclassical correlation in phase and intensity occurs which is an example of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, even in fields of large photon number.
367 citations
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that weight loss is a basic indicator of surgical risk in modern practice providing it is associated with clinically obvious impairment of organ function and suggest that adequate body protein stores are necessary for normal body function and for minimizing the risks of surgery.
Abstract: It is a long held belief that weight loss is a basic indicator of surgical risk. Many experienced surgeons, however, think otherwise. We have investigated the proposition that weight loss is a risk factor for postoperative complications but only when associated with clinically obvious physiologic impairment. Before major surgery, 102 patients had a careful history taken to ascertain if there had been recent weight loss and a reduction in the capacity for activity. Physical examination included assessment of mood, skeletal muscle function, respiratory muscle function, and wound healing. Plasma albumin was also measured. Using this information the patients were placed into one of three groups. Group I (N = 43) were normal, group II (N = 17) had weight loss greater than 10% but no clinical evidence of physiologic impairment, and group III (N = 42) had weight loss greater than 10% with clear evidence of dysfunction of two or more organ systems. The patients in group III had significantly more postoperative complications (p less than 0.05). They also had more septic complications (p less than 0.02) including a higher incidence of pneumonia (p less than 0.05) and a longer hospital stay (p less than 0.05) than patients in each of the other two groups. Objective measurements of body stores of protein and liver, and psychologic, respiratory, and skeletal muscle function, confirmed the validity of the clinical classification into the risk groups. The results demonstrate that weight loss is a basic indicator of surgical risk in modern practice providing it is associated with clinically obvious impairment of organ function. They suggest that adequate body protein stores are necessary for normal body function and for minimizing the risks of surgery.
346 citations
319 citations
TL;DR: Biochemical indices and bone histomorphometry indicated a reduction in bone resorption and bone formation but there was no evidence of osteomalacia, suggesting APD may prevent bone loss in glucocorticoid-treated patients over a year.
300 citations
TL;DR: Preliminary data support a strong causal relation between cigarette smoking and stroke among young and middle-aged women and the number of cigarettes smoked per day was associated positively with the risk of stroke.
Abstract: It is known that cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic stroke among men. To test for such an association among women, we examined the incidence of stroke in relation to cigarette smoking in a prospective cohort study of 118,539 women 30 to 55 years of age and free from coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer in 1976. During eight years of follow-up (908,447 person-years), we identified 274 strokes, comprising 71 subarachnoid hemorrhages, 26 intracerebral hemorrhages, 122 thromboembolic strokes, and 55 strokes about which information was insufficient to permit classification. The number of cigarettes smoked per day was associated positively with the risk of stroke. Compared with the women who had never smoked, those who smoked 1 to 14 cigarettes per day had an age-adjusted relative risk of 2.2 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.5 to 3.3), whereas those who smoked 25 or more cigarettes per day had a relative risk of 3.7 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.7 to 5.1). For women in this latter group, the relative risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage was 9.8 (95 percent confidence interval, 5.3 to 17.9), as compared with those who had never smoked. Adjustment for the effects of relative weight, hypertension, diabetes, history of high cholesterol, previous use of oral contraceptives, postmenopausal estrogen therapy, and alcohol intake did not appreciably alter the association between cigarette use and incidence of stroke. These prospective data support a strong causal relation between cigarette smoking and stroke among young and middle-aged women.
287 citations
TL;DR: Pulmonary complications remain the most important cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality, and data show that protein depletion is associated with an impairment of respiratory function, and is in itself a significant risk factor in the development ofPostoperative pneumonia.
Abstract: Pulmonary complications remain the most important cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality The many advances of modern surgical care over the last 30 years have not appreciably altered the incidence of these complications Many risk factors have been shown to contribute to this problem, but no studies have examined the impact of preoperative protein depletion on respiratory function and related this to the development of postoperative pulmonary complications 80 patients (42 men, 38 women, median age of 64 years, with a range of 15-91 years) awaiting major elective gastrointestinal (GI) surgery were divided into two categories on the basis of a direct measurement of protein depletion: nonprotein-depleted patients (n = 41, mean protein loss, 2% +/- 17 SEM) and protein-depleted patients (n = 39, mean protein loss, 36% +/- 35 SEM) There was no significant difference between these two categories in regard to age, height, sex, surgical diagnosis, the presence of chronic lung disease, smoking, proportion of upper abdominal incisions, degree of obesity, the duration of anesthesia, and the use of prophylactic antibiotics and physiotherapy There was a significant difference between these two categories of patients in regard to respiratory muscle strength (p less than 025), vital capacity (p less than 05), and peak expiratory flow rate (p less than 005) Pneumonia developed in a significantly higher proportion of protein-depleted patients with atelectasis (p less than 05), and their stay in the hospital after surgery was longer (p less than 05) These data show that protein depletion is associated with an impairment of respiratory function, and is in itself a significant risk factor in the development of postoperative pneumonia
264 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a simplified method is given for the numerical solution of the problem of steadily progressing waves, so that overall parameters and local fluid velocities and pressures may be obtained accurately for geophysical calculations and for engineering design.
262 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present physical considerations and laboratory experiments which show that the phenomenon of particle settling in these conditions can be accounted for by a simple theory, and they suggest that crystal settling may be an efficient differentiation mechanism, at least in basaltic magma chambers, despite large convective velocities.
Abstract: There has been much debate concerning the mechanism of fractional crystallization in magma chambers. The traditional hypothesis of crystal settling has been widely replaced by the concept of in situ crystallization coupled with compositional convection. Observations from layered intrusions, however, are equivocal1–4. Doubts have been raised about crystal settling on theoretical grounds because convective velocities in magma chambers are often much greater than the crystal settling velocities predicted by Stokes' law5, but there has been no experimental study of crystal settling in such vigorous convection. Here we present physical considerations and laboratory experiments which show that the phenomenon of particle settling in these conditions can be accounted for by a simple theory. Application of this theory to crystal settling in magma chambers suggests that crystal settling may be an efficient differentiation mechanism, at least in basaltic magma chambers, despite large convective velocities.
TL;DR: Recent international trends in asthma mortality among people aged five to 34 years were examined as a follow-up to an epidemic of asthma deaths in the late 1970s which appeared to be confined to New Zealand.
TL;DR: Results show that c-fos protein is induced in glial and nerve cells after injury, and shows that the increase in c- fos preceded glial cell division following injury.
TL;DR: The origin of biliary sludge ultrasonic echoes was studied, using an ex vivo liver-gallbladder preparation, and the outcome of a group of patients identified to have gallbladder sludge by ultrasonography was determined.
TL;DR: The differential localization of type VI collagen in the pericellular capsule is discussed in relation to the maintenance of the chondron's integrity and to the protection of theChondrocyte during dynamic compressive loading.
Abstract: A heterogenous population of intact chondrons extracted from low-speed homogenates of canine tibial cartilage were stained by indirect immunofluorescence methods with a polyclonal antibody to type VI collagen. In each of the four chondron groups examined, anti-(type VI collagen) anti-serum was concentrated in the capsule immediately adjacent to the chondrocyte complex. A constant but weaker fluorescent reaction persists in 'tail-like' extensions common to single and double chondrons and in the medial connections between adjacent chondrons in linear columns and aggregated clusters. Frayed collagen bundles typical of chondron preparations did not react with the antibody. Similarly, chondrons reacted with normal rabbit serum, or treated by type VI collagen extraction procedures, showed no staining reaction. The differential localization of type VI collagen in the pericellular capsule is discussed in relation to the maintenance of the chondron's integrity and to the protection of the chondrocyte during dynamic compressive loading.
TL;DR: GH pulse frequency was not changed by either nutritional plane or oestradiol treatment, and the response of plasma IGF-I and -II to a bolus injection of bovine GH (bGH) was also investigated.
Abstract: Plasma GH profiles and circulating concentrations of plasma insulin-like growth factors-I and -II (IGF-I and -II) were examined in 20 steers on either high (3% dry matter of body weight per day) or low (1% dry matter of body weight per day) planes of nutrition with or without an implant of oestradiol-17 beta. The response of plasma IGF-I and -II to a bolus injection of bovine GH (bGH) was also investigated. Reduced feeding significantly (P less than 0.01) increased the mean concentration, peak height and integrated area of plasma GH. Treatment of steers with oestradiol at low nutrition significantly increased baseline GH concentrations. Treatment of steers with oestradiol at high nutrition significantly (P less than 0.05) increased mean, baseline, peak height, and integrated area of plasma GH. GH pulse frequency was not changed by either nutritional plane or oestradiol treatment. Basal concentrations of plasma IGF-I were significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased by reduced feeding in both the oestradiol-treated and the control group. Treatment with oestradiol increased (P less than 0.01) basal plasma concentrations of IGF-I at both high and low levels of nutrition. After i.v. injection of bGH (0.1 mg/kg body weight), an increase in plasma IGF-I was observed only in steers at high nutrition. Basal concentrations of plasma IGF-II were not altered by nutritional manipulations but were significantly (P less than 0.001) increased by oestradiol treatment. After bGH infusion only steers at high nutrition showed an increase in plasma IGF-II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe experiments in science and science teaching in the context of educational philosophy and theory, and present a survey of the results of these experiments, focusing on the following:
Abstract: (1988). Experiments in science and science teaching. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 53-66.
TL;DR: The binding of bovine GH to hepatic membranes obtained from steers on either high or low planes of nutrition with or without an oestradiol-17 beta implant was studied, suggesting the presence of a high- and low-affinity binding site, the high-Affinity site being fully occupied in the absence of MgCl2 pretreatment.
Abstract: The binding of bovine GH (bGH) to hepatic membranes obtained from steers on either high (3% dry matter of body weight per day) or low (1% dry matter of body weight per day) planes of nutrition with or without an oestradiol-17 beta implant was studied (n = 5 per group). Binding studies were performed on both crude membrane homogenates and on 100,000 g microsomal membrane fractions; identical results were obtained using both preparations. In all four groups of animals, linear Scatchard plots were obtained, but following pretreatment of the membranes with MgCl2 to remove endogenously bound hormone, curvilinear plots were obtained in the groups on the high plane of nutrition. Analysis of these curves suggested the presence of a high- and low-affinity binding site, the high-affinity site being fully occupied in the absence of MgCl2 pretreatment. The specific binding of bGH in MgCl2-pretreated crude membranes was greater (P less than 0.01) in well-fed steers (14.8 +/- 1.6%) than in poorly fed steers (9.8 +/- 0.9%). Scatchard analysis showed this to be due to the presence of a high-affinity site (dissociation constant (Kd) = 11.6 +/- 3.3 pmol/l) in the well-fed animals only. In addition, there was an increase (P less than 0.01) in the affinity, but not in the capacity, of the low-affinity site (Kd = 106.4 +/- 22.8 pmol/l in well-fed steers and 197.0 +/- 23.8 pmol/l in poorly fed steers).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TL;DR: It is demonstrated by a mi no-terminal sequence analysis that MP70 and its in vivo-processed form, MP38, belong to a wider family of gap junction proteins, which now extend to organs derived from all three embryonal layers, endoderm (liver), mesmoderm (heart) and ectoderm(lens).
Abstract: The cells in the mammalian lens are electrically1 and metabolically2 coupled with each other by a network of gap junctions. These are clusters of transmembrane channels by which the fibre cells situated deeper in the lens communicate through the epithelium with the aqueous humour, the source of nutrients for the lens. Hence gap junctions are important for lens transparency. The gap junction proteins in the mammalian lens have not yet been identified with certainty. A putative fibre gap junction protein of relative molecular mass 26,000 (26K)3 is not related to those from other tissues, such as the liver 28K junction component4,5. Another lens membrane protein with Mr 70K (MP70) has also been localized in the lens fibre gap junctions6,7. Here we demonstrate by a mi no-terminal sequence analysis that MP70 and its in vivo-processed form, MP38 (ref. 8), belong to a wider family of gap junction proteins9. With this new data on the lens, homologies between gap junction proteins now extend to organs derived from all three embryonal layers, endoderm (liver), mesoderm (heart) and ectoderm (lens).
TL;DR: Only mice receiving meat meal or casein as the protein source developed diabetes at the rate expected from this colony, and casein hydrolysate in lieu of protein protects against overt diabetes, but only if introduced early.
Abstract: Diabetes prone NOD female mice were fed diets containing different proteins from just before weaning. Only mice receiving meat meal or casein as the protein source developed diabetes at the rate expected from this colony. Lactalbumin and gluten did not precipitate diabetes except in a small number. Casein hydrolysate in lieu of protein protects against overt diabetes, but only if introduced early. The animals which did not show overt diabetes nevertheless had intermittent trace glycosuria and the majority showed mild degrees of peninsular lymphocytic infiltration.
TL;DR: This note shows how the maximum entropy trip matrix estimation procedure incorporated in ME2 as proposed by Willumsen can be combined with a user optimal assignment model such as SATURN into a single mathematical problem.
Abstract: This note shows how the maximum entropy trip matrix estimation procedure incorporated in ME2 as proposed by Willumsen (Van Zuylen and Willumsen, 1980) can be combined with a user optimal assignment model such as SATURN (Van Vliet, 1982) into a single mathematical problem. The resulting problem has the form of a bilevel programming problem similar to matrix estimation methods proposed by Nguyen (1981). The mathematical framework for the user optimal assignment problem is summarized, followed by a description of the maximum entropy trip matrix estimation procedure proposed by Willumsen. The two models are then combined into a single problem and a discussion follows on solution procedures.
TL;DR: A serial record showing improvement in walking speed proved useful in predicting eventual independent mobility of poorly mobile subjects and is an objective yet inexpensive method of monitoring gait rehabilitation.
Abstract: Walking speed was measured on admission and then weekly during treatment of 125 subjects admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation ward. Walking speed was strongly related to the ability to stand up from a chair without help. Placement decisions at discharge were made without knowledge of gait speed data so that they could be used as a standard against which to compare walking speed as a valid and practical measure of mobility. It was found that a discharge walking speed of 0.15 m/s best separated immobile subjects who required long-term hospital care from those sufficiently mobile to be discharged home alone or to a rest home (54% versus 0% below cut-off, respectively). Relative walking speed (speed/height) was no better at predicting placement or mortality than walking speed. Uncorrected walking speed therefore remains the preferred clinical measure of velocity. A serial record showing improvement in walking speed proved useful in predicting eventual independent mobility of poorly mobile subjects. Thus walking speed is an objective yet inexpensive method of monitoring gait rehabilitation.
TL;DR: The results suggest that the perceived intensity of cutaneous stimuli to the index finger over a range of intensities can be reduced by afferent activity from the hand.
Abstract: The effect of movement of the index finger on the perceived intensity of trains of electrical stimuli to the digital nerves of the same finger was studied quantitatively using a novel intramodality stimulus-matching task Subjects consistently were able to match reliably the perceived intensity of stimuli delivered on the 'reference' side with that of stimuli delivered simultaneously to the digital nerves of the index finger on the other ('matching') side Both active and passive movement of the index finger (on the reference side) in the palmar plane reduced the matched stimulus voltage by about 10% of its control value for stimuli at twice the sensory threshold This reduction in perceived intensity did not persist beyond the period of stimulation An isometric contraction of first dorsal interosseous muscle produced a smaller, but statistically significant, reduction in perceived intensity Non-noxious electrical stimulation of the digital nerves of the ipsilateral thumb or little finger also reduced the perceived intensity of stimuli to the index finger Perceived intensity of stimuli during movement was also reduced, but to a lesser extent, when the index finger was stimulated at painful levels Psychophysical studies using open magnitude scaling indicated that the relationship between stimulus intensity and perceived magnitude of electrical stimuli could be described by a power law with an exponent close to 10 Therefore, the percentage reduction in matching voltage accurately represents the percentage decline in perceived intensity These results suggest that the perceived intensity of cutaneous stimuli to the index finger over a range of intensities can be reduced by afferent activity from the hand The motor command appears to play a relatively minor role in modulating the perceived intensity
TL;DR: A review of the literature subsequent to Nisbett and Wilson's proposal can be found in this paper, where the usefulness of verbal reports in research, the place of cultural beliefs in theoretical statements, and the social and practical context of verbal report measures.
Abstract: Nisbett & Wilson (1977a) proposed that people lack ‘introspective access' to their mental processes, and that retrospective causal reports about those processes are in general inaccurate. This paper reviews the literature subsequent to that proposal. This literature has established that: (i) the term ‘process' lacks clear, adequate and valid definition; (ii) the proposal depends upon an untested assumption that verbal reports are valid indicators of ‘introspective access’; (iii) knowledge of the process is not sufficient for an accurate report about causal relations between stimuli and responses. Hypotheses about causal report accuracy can be tested, but there are severe methodological difficulties associated with measures of actual effects, the conditions under which retrospective causal reports are given and the use of ‘observer’ groups to rule out specific sources of information. Of the recent studies, none has achieved unambiguous support for, or falsification of, even a weak form of the proposal. There is no justification at present for using the proposal to interpret null results on verbal report measures. Some issues of broader significance are discussed, including the usefulness of verbal reports in research, the place of cultural beliefs in theoretical statements, and the social and practical context of verbal reports.
TL;DR: This chapter summarizes the progress in Antarctic fish physiology made over the past quarter century to indicate the exciting potential for further work, and to act as an introduction to new workers in the field.
Abstract: Publisher Summary From the standpoint of a comparative physiologist, Antarctica is a superb natural laboratory providing excellent research opportunities. The unique fish fauna of an entire continent has resulted from the successful colonization of Antarctic waters, and subsequent diversification, by a single major group. The results of these studies on the comparative physiology of Antarctic fishes have implications for a wide range of biological disciplines. The complex of physiological adaptations of notothenioid fishes gives some insight into the reasons for their success as the major group of Antarctic teleosts, and the general failure of other fishes to penetrate south of the Antarctic Convergence. The attempts to understand the effects of temperature on biological processes, and its consequences for the animals themselves, will always be highlighted by the study of extreme environments. This chapter summarizes the progress in Antarctic fish physiology made over the past quarter century, to indicate the exciting potential for further work, and to act as an introduction to new workers in the field.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used fluorescent dye co-injected with kainic acid to test the hypothesis that in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) in the rat, the most caudal region of synaptic terminals of the carotid sinus nerve, just caudally to the obex, represents mainly the site of synapse of chemoreceptor fibres from the Carotid body.
Abstract: 1. An attempt has been made to test the hypothesis that in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) in the rat, the most caudal region of synaptic terminals of the carotid sinus nerve, just caudal to the obex, represents mainly the site of synapse of chemoreceptor fibres from the carotid body. 2. Under halothane anaesthesia, the neurotoxin kainic acid was used to lesion this region and a second region, immediately rostral to obex, where terminals are thought to arise mainly from baroreceptor fibres of the carotid sinus nerve. 3. Measurements based on the distribution of fluorescent dye co-injected with the kainic acid showed that the two groups of 100 nl microinjections were centered 0.82 mm apart and that the injectate spread through mean distances of 0.57 mm (caudal microinjections) and 0.52 mm (rostral microinjections). Nissl staining was used to determine cellular degeneration. The caudal lesions mostly involved ventrolateral and commissural subnuclei of NTS and the rostral lesions involved lateral and dorsolateral subnuclei. 4. Ventilatory sensitivity to hypoxia was tested under light halothane anaesthesia, 1 day after lesioning. To enhance the responses, the contralateral carotid sinus nerve was sectioned prior to experiments. Caudal lesions reduced the ventilatory response to inspired oxygen (20.9-9.6% O2) by a mean of 67% and rostral lesions by 18% of the effect produced by carotid sinus nerve section on that side. Subsequent section of the carotid sinus nerve on the side of the NTS lesion confirmed that caudal lesions produced effects comparable to those of carotid body denervation; rostral lesions did not. 5. These results strongly support the hypothesis that chemoreceptor and baroreceptor afferent fibres in the carotid sinus nerve synapse at substantially separable sites in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius. The identification of the site in NTS caudal to the obex as the principal site of carotid chemoreceptor synapses places them close to but not upon respiratory premotor neurones of the same nucleus.
TL;DR: The complete nucleotide sequence (5845 nucleotides) of the genomic RNA of the potexvirus white clover mosaic virus (WC1MV) has been determined from a set of overlapping cDNA clones.
Abstract: The complete nucleotide sequence (5845 nucleotides) of the genomic RNA of the potexvirus white clover mosaic virus (WC1MV) has been determined from a set of overlapping cDNA clones. Forty of the most 5'-terminal nucleotides of WC1MV showed homology to the 5' sequences of other potexviruses. The genome contained five open reading frames which coded for proteins of Mr 147, 417, Mr 26,356, Mr 12,989, Mr 7,219 and Mr 20,684 (the coat protein). The Mr 147,417 protein had domains of amino acid sequence homology with putative polymerases of other RNA viruses. The Mr 26,356 and Mr 12,989 proteins had homology with proteins of the hordeivirus barley stripe mosaic virus RNA beta and the furovirus beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) RNA-2. A portion of the Mr 26,356 protein was also conserved in the cylindrical inclusion proteins of two potyviruses. The Mr 7,219 protein had homology with the 25K putative fungal transmission factor of BNYVV RNA-3.
TL;DR: Southern hybridisation was performed on transgenic petunias that had been selected for resistance to kanamycin and there was no correlation between intactness of the T-DNA and Mendelian inheritance of the Kanamycin-resistance phenotype, however, a disproportionate number of plants showing non-Mendelian Inheritance had a high copy number of their T- DNA.
Abstract: Southern hybridisation was performed on ninety-six transgenic petunias that had been selected for resistance to kanamycin. Just over half of the plants contained intact copies of the T-DNA. The most common rearrangements (at least 24 plants out of 96) were simple deleted derivatives that had lost one or both ends of the T-DNA. T-DNAs lacking the left border occurred at a frequency of 20%, and estimates of the frequency of T-DNAs lacking the right border were at least this high. Three plants contained grossly rearranged T-DNAs, of which all expressed the kanamycin resistance gene but only one transmitted the gene to progeny. Two plants lacked T-DNA homology altogether and did not express kanamycin resistance in their leaves or their progeny. Circumstantial evidence suggests that plants containing a chimaeric kanamycin resistance gene driven by the ocs promoter do not root efficiently in the presence of kanamycin. There was no correlation between intactness of the T-DNA and Mendelian inheritance of the kanamycin-resistance phenotype. However, a disproportionate number of plants showing non-Mendelian inheritance had a high copy number of their T-DNA.