University of Salford

About: University of Salford is a education organization based out in Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Thin film. The organization has 13049 authors who have published 22957 publications receiving 537330 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Salford Manchester & The University of Salford Manchester.

Is globotriaosylceramide a useful biomarker in Fabry disease

Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether globotriaosylceramide (Gb 3 ) is a useful biomarker in Fabry disease. Methods: The levels of Gb 3 were measured in plasma and urine by tandem mass spectrometry in untreated hemizygotes and heterozygotes with Fabry disease and in healthy controls, and the levels were monitored in patients on treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Results: Hemizygotes with classic Fabry disease showed elevated levels of Gb 3 in both plasma and urine and could readily be distinguished from normal controls. Male patients with the N215S mutation had normal levels in their plasma but 50% had marginally elevated levels in their urine. Thirty-three percent of proven heterozygotes had elevated Gb 3 concentrations in plasma but 97% of those without the N215S mutation (36/37) had an elevated level in urine. The four heterozygotes with the N215S mutation had normal Gb 3 levels in urine. The level of Gb 3 in plasma initially fell following the start of ERT in all patients who had an elevated level before treatment. However, in a few patients the level subsequently rose. Similar results were found for the levels of Gb 3 in urine. Conclusion: Gb 3 is not an ideal marker of Fabry disease or the response to treatment in all patients. Plasma and urine levels of Gb 3 cannot be used as a marker of Fabry disease in patients with the N215S mutation and many heterozygotes do not have elevated Gb 3 levels in plasma. The urine concentration is more informative in heterozygotes and can be used as a measure of the response to therapy. The fall in Gb 3 levels in patients receiving ERT was not sustained in some patients, despite a clinical improvement. Additionally, Gb 3 cannot be used to monitor the response to treatment in patients who initially have normal plasma and urine concentrations of this glycolipid.

Small island states and territories: sustainable development issues and strategies - challenges for changing islands in a changing world.

Abstract: Global shifts and the international contexts of change occur at a range of intensities across local, regional and global spatial scales and levels of impacts. They affect small islands physically, environmentally, economically and socio-culturally, and in their internal and external roles and responsibilities. This special issue explores the sustainable development issues and concerns that small islands face in a changing world, and the nature of their strategy responses. The coverage for the issue includes papers drawn from sustainability discourses related to practices, problems and solutions in areas of island living and operations. This includes indicators, social development, tourism, fisheries, energy and waste management, each of which links to sustainable development conceptualizations and environmental performance in resource usage and management in small islands. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Calls, colours, shape, and genes: a multi-trait approach to the study of geographic variation in the Amazonian frog Allobates femoralis

Abstract: Evolutionary divergence in behavioural traits related to mating may represent the initial stage of speciation. Direct selective forces are usually invoked to explain divergence in mate-recognition traits, often neglecting a role for neutral processes or concomitant differentiation in ecological traits. We adopted a multi-trait approach to obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind allopatric divergence in the Amazonian frog, Allobates femoralis. We tested the null hypothesis that geographic distance between populations correlates with genetic and phenotypic divergence, and compared divergence between mate-recognition (acoustic) and ecological (coloration, body-shape) traits. We quantified geographic variation in 39 phenotypic traits and a mitochondrial DNA marker among 125 individuals representing eight populations. Geographic variation in acoustic traits was pronounced and tracked the spatial genetic variation, which appeared to be neutral. Thus, the evolution of acoustic traits tracked the shared history of the populations, which is unexpected for pan-Amazonian taxa or for mate-recognition traits. Divergence in coloration appeared uncorrelated with genetic distance, and might be partly attributed to local selective pressures, and perhaps to Batesian mimicry. Divergence in body-shape traits was low. The results obtained depict a complex evolutionary scenario and emphasize the importance of considering multiple traits when disentangling the forces behind allopatric divergence. ©2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 826-838.

Fifteen-year trends in occupational asthma: data from the Shield surveillance scheme

Abstract: BACKGROUND Trends of occupational asthma (OA) differ between regions depending on local industries, provisions for health and safety at the workplace and the availability of a reporting scheme to help in data collection and interpretation. AIM To assess trends in OA in an industrialized part of the UK over a 15-year period. METHODS Occupational and chest physicians in the West Midlands were invited to submit details of newly diagnosed cases with OA. Data were then transferred to the regional centre for occupational lung diseases for analysis. RESULTS A total of 1461 cases were reported to the scheme. Sixty-eight per cent were males with mean (standard deviation) age of 44 (12) years. The annual incidence of OA was 42 per million of working population (95% CI = 37-45). OA was most frequently reported in welders (9%) and health care-related professions (9%) while < 1% of cases were reported in farmers. Isocyanates were the commonest offending agents responsible for 21% of reports followed by metal working fluids (MWFs) (11%), adhesives (7%), chrome (7%), latex (6%) and glutaraldehyde (6%). Flour was suspected in 5% of cases while laboratory animals only in 1%. CONCLUSIONS Our data confirm a high annual incidence of OA in this part of the UK. MWFs are an emerging problem, while isocyanates remain the commonest cause. Incidence remained at a fairly stable background level with many small and a few large epidemics superimposed. Schemes like Midland Thoracic Society's Rare Respiratory Disease Registry Surveillance Scheme of Occupational Asthma could help in identifying outbreaks by linking cases at the workplace.