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Biomedical subjects

A C McCartney

Publications and source records attributed to A C McCartney.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Impression cytology of conjunctival melanosis and melanoma.

Impression cytology using cellulose acetate paper has been used in various ocular surface disorders as a simple non-invasive diagnostic test. To assess its value in differentiating melanocytic tumours, 24 patients with a range of pigmented lesions of the conjunctiva were examined using this technique. Cytological and histological diagnoses were compared in 23 cases. In 73% of cases impression cytology predicted the histological diagnosis by detection of superficial atypical melanocytes and their proportion relative to benign epithelial cells. This pilot study shows impression cytology to be a useful diagnostic aid in the differentiation of pigmented tumours of the bulbar conjunctiva.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Nasal and orbital recurrence of conjunctival melanoma 21 years after exenteration.

In our experience 5% of invasive malignant melanomas of the conjunctiva arising from areas of primary acquired melanosis with atypia spread to the ipsilateral nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Twenty one years after orbital exenteration for multicentric conjunctival melanoma an 82-year-old man was seen with an orbital recurrence, which had extended to the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses through the nasolacrimal duct without invading the mucosa. This previously undescribed way of spread after the longest symptom-free interval following exenteration ever reported is illustrated.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for screening urinary tract infection in elderly people.

AIMS: To evaluate the Uristat test, an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the qualitative detection of antibodies in urine, as a screening, and in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection in the elderly. METHODS: Semiquantitative culture was compared with conventional microscopy, dipstick analysis and the ELISA. In the ELISA, 371 urine samples were examined for antibodies to an antigen mixture of six common urinary pathogens. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 91% and the specificity 25% for the ELISA. The negative predictive value was 81% and the positive predictive value was 43%. CONCLUSIONS: In its present form the Uristat test has no clear advantages over conventional bacteriological techniques for screening urine samples for infection in an elderly population.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Streptococcus milleri and complex groin abscesses in intravenous drug abusers.

Intravenous drug abuse is an increasing problem. Septic complications occur frequently at the injection site, especially in the groin where large abscesses around the femoral vessels can threaten life or limb. We report four patients with extensive or complex groin abscesses following attempted self-injection into the femoral vein. Streptococcus milleri was cultured from all of these abscesses and prompted a review of the isolation of this organism in this hospital.

Abscess↗
PubMed1992

CD4+ lymphocyte involvement in ocular Behçet's disease.

Despite extensive study, the pathogenic mechanisms of Behçet's disease remain uncertain. The ocular inflammation caused by this disease is severe, often causing significant visual loss and, although the nature of the cellular infiltrate has been examined in many of the involved organs, the infiltrating cells in inflamed eyes have not. To investigate the mechanisms involved in perpetuating the ocular inflammation, five enucleated eyes from patients with Behçet's disease were examined by immunohistochemical staining using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Control eyes from patients with chronic intraocular inflammation from other causes were also examined. Cellular infiltrates were a consistent finding in choroid and periretinal scar tissue, formed almost entirely by mononuclear cells. T lymphocytes were found to predominate (largely the CD4+ subset). B lymphocytes and NK cells were infrequent findings but macrophages were present in significant numbers. No complement or immunoglobulin deposits were found. Infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages were HLA DR positive. Retinal vascular and retinal pigment epithelium were only occasionally positive. Our findings suggest that cell mediated immunity, rather than immune complex deposition is responsible for the perpetuation of the ocular inflammation in Behçet's disease and that CD4+ T lymphocytes play a central role in this.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Oestrogen receptors in conjunctival malignant melanoma: immunocytochemical study using formalin fixed paraffin wax sections.

In a group of 15 women with conjunctival malignant melanoma six cases (40%) were shown to have oestrogen receptor positivity using a monoclonal antibody to oestrogen receptor related antigen (ER-D5, Amersham RPN.710) on formalin fixed, paraffin wax sections. Receptors were also present in the epithelium of these six cases but not in controls and cases without ER-D5 positivity in their tumours. A subset of these aggressive, intractable unilateral tumours may therefore be amenable to hormone treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Gonococcal infection within Scotland: antigenic heterogeneity and antibiotic susceptibility of infecting strains.

Two panels of monoclonal antibody reagents were used to serotype all strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from four separate geographical areas serving two million of the five million Scottish population. Serotype 1B isolates accounted for 60% of the 869 strains examined and were more prevalent than 1A isolates in each geographical area. A total of 11 1A serovars and 47 1B serovars were recognised. Only two of the 11 1A serovars (Aedgkih/Arost and Aedih/Arst) were found in every centre but these accounted for over 90% of the 1A isolates. Although there was a total of 47 different 1B serovars over 80% of the isolates were accounted for by the ten most commonly encountered serovars. There were, however, marked geographical differences within both major and minor serovars. There was a highly significant difference (P less than 0.001) between protein 1A and 1B serovars with respect to their susceptibility to penicillin. Within each protein 1 type there were also differences in antibiotic susceptibility. Penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) were found in all centres and accounted for 24 (2.8%) of the 869 isolates. The majority of the PPNG (71%) were serotype 1A and with one exception were serovar Aedih/Arst. PPNG strains accounted for 37% (16) of the 43 Aedih/Arst isolates. Epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic implications arising from the distinct geographical differences in the pool of circulating gonococci are discussed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Microvascular study of the retrolaminar optic nerve in man: the possible significance in anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.

The morphology of the circle of Haller and Zinn and its variations were examined using methyl-methacrylate microvascular corrosion casting of human orbits obtained at post-mortem. It was found to be an elliptical microvascular anastomosis formed by branches of the medial and lateral para-optic short posterior ciliary arteries. The ellipse was divided into superior and inferior parts by the entry points of these branches into the eye, providing an altitudinal blood supply to the retrolaminar optic nerve. Morphological variations in terms of form, position and branches existed between subjects and between eyes from the same subject. The clinical implications of an elliptical 'circle' of Haller and Zinn providing an altitudinal blood supply to the retrolaminar optic nerve are relevant to the pathogenesis of altitudinal visual field defects in anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Recurrent macular corneal dystrophy following penetrating keratoplasty.

The recurrence of macular corneal dystrophy within a corneal graft has been described in a number of case reports. In this study, we reviewed 41 transplants in 31 eyes of 16 patients undergoing keratoplasty for macular corneal dystrophy confirmed by histopathological examination. The follow-up time ranged between 25 and 408 months from initial diagnosis. Six eyes of four patients had repeat keratoplasty because of clinical recurrence and visual impairment. Pathological confirmation was available in five of the six eyes. Peripheral clinical recurrence was observed in two more eyes. The size of the graft used was inversely related to the recurrence.

Adult↗