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Biomedical subjects

A Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to A Ferguson.

356 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
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Oral tolerance--induction and modulation.

When the first encounter with an antigen is by the oral route several different immune responses can occur. The spectrum of effects on systemic immunity ranges from immunological hyporesponsiveness (oral tolerance) to active sensitisation (priming). In this paper, the immunological principles underlying these effects are discussed and circumstances which influence them are demonstrated, particular emphasis being placed on experimental work in adult and neonatal mice.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
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Induction of oral tolerance, in mice, to gum arabic.

As part of a programme of research on the immunological properties of the exudate gums, the capacity of gum arabic to induce immunologic hyporesponsiveness when fed (oral tolerance) has been examined. Inbred mice were fed saline or gum arabic; 1 week later all were systemically immunized with the antigen emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Mice which had been fed the antigen had significant suppression of the humoral (P less than 0.01) and cell mediated (P less than 0.01) immune responses to the antigen. These results demonstrate that although gum arabic is a complex, proteinaceous polysaccharide antigen, it is tolerogenic when an animal encounters it by the natural route, via the gut.

Animals↗
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Immunogenicity, immunological cross reactivity and non-specific irritant properties of the exudate gums, arabic, karaya and tragacanth.

An animal model has been used to investigate the immunogenicity and non-specific irritant properties of exudate gums. The materials studied were four preparations of gum arabic (Acacia spp.), two of gum karaya (Sterculia spp.), two of gum tragacanth (Astralagus spp.) and a residue obtained after ethanol extraction of gum arabic. Groups of animals were intradermally immunized with the gum in complete Freund's adjuvant. Serum antibody levels were measured by an ELISA technique and delayed hypersensitivity responses by a footpad swelling test. Antigenic cross-reactivity within each gum species was tested in a crossover fashion. All gum preparations elicited systemic immune responses after immunization. Further processing reduced immunogenicity, although there was no evidence that systemic immunity to these complex polysaccharide antigens responses could be completely abolished by processing or purification. The ethanolic extract, and some of the gum preparations, particularly tragacanth and karaya, caused considerable footpad swelling when injected intradermally. It is concluded that processing and awareness of subspecies differences can reduce the inherent immunogenicity and potential irritant effects of exudate gums.

Animals↗
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Adolescent smoking.

Most smokers start experimenting with cigarettes in early adolescence. This paper describes the factors which influence the development of the smoking habit. Methods of intervention, both in and out of the classroom, are discussed. Recommendations for further legislation and increased taxation on tobacco are supported.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case-control study of the role of cold symptoms and other historical triggering factors in asthma exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations can be provoked by many triggers such as allergens, respiratory irritants and viral infections. The relative importance of these has not been prospectively documented in a case-control study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative importance of colds and other nonclimatic historical triggers of asthma exacerbations. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen adults and children with asthma in two Canadian cities participated in a one-year study of the role of exacerbating factors in asthma. Among these, 36 pairs (21 adult, 15 children) completed the case-control study. Patients were considered cases if they developed an acute asthma exacerbation and notified the centre within 24 h to allow the completion of a questionnaire and viral studies (cultures of nasopharyngeal swabs and serology). Control people with asthma were matched for sex, age and area of residence, had no exacerbation during the preceding four weeks and participated within 48 h of the case patients. RESULTS: Case patients versus control patients had a mean age of 22 years versus 20 years, 50% versus 55% were male, and 92% versus 86% had at least one positive aeroallergen skin test. Cases were more likely to have taken regular inhaled steroids (63% versus 33%, P<0.002). Cases were more likely to report the following within the previous week: fever (P<0.001), sore throat (P<0.001), increase in nasal symptoms (P<0.01), increased dust exposure (P<0. 05), exposure to others with a cold (P<0.001) and, over the previous year, increased passive smoke exposure (P<0.05). Viral cultures and paired serology were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic colds were the most common trigger of asthma exacerbations in the winter and spring, while a transient increase in dust exposure was also identified as a significant trigger. The association with chronic, passive smoke exposure and the use of inhaled costicosteroid medications likely reflected less stable pre-study asthma in those with exacerbations.

Adult↗
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Nursing development units: factors influencing their progress.

Nursing development units (NDUs) have long been advocated as 'test-beds' for pioneering leading-edge practice development. This article reports on the findings of a study examining factors influencing the development of NDUs, and, more recently, established multidisciplinary practice development units (PDUs). Individual and focus group interviews were undertaken with key stakeholders involved in six NDUs/PDUs accredited by the University of Leeds. The findings from the study highlight a number of internal and external factors that have impacted upon the progress made by these units. Importantly, the role of the clinical leader, the staffing establishment, organizational infrastructures to facilitate dissemination and the nature of the support from managers and medical staff have all influenced the success of the NDUs/PDUs. In order to ensure the long-term viability of an NDU/PDU it is essential that practice development is planned and managed in a systematic and coordinated way with a full appraisal undertaken of the human, physical and financial resources necessary to implement and disseminate change and that the work of the NDU/PDU is incorporated in the trust's strategic plans in order to ensure organizational support.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
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Best performer.

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Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
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Life preservers.

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Humans↗
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Uses and limitations of the Crohn's disease activity index.

The Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) proposed by a US Working Party was used in 39 Crohn's patients attending a combined medical and surgical gastrointestinal unit as out and inpatients. It proved easy to use and a range of values from 0 to 294 was obtained. Analysis of the contribution of its 8 components suggested a very considerable emphasis on well-being and haematocrit. No correlation with location of disease was found but there was a correlation with hospital admission and subjective assessment. Low values were found in several patients who, although known to have extensive disease were well on medical therapy. Therefore the Index measured the activity not the extent or presence of Crohn's disease. It is a very useful measure for clinical trials but in no way could replace full clinical assessment.

Crohn Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunogenicity of cows' milk in man. (Influence of age and of disease on serum antibodies to five cows' milk proteins).

Passive haemagglutination has been used to measure serum antibodies to the five proteins of cows' milk--bovine serum albumin, bovine gamma-globulin, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin and casein. Titres of antibodies to these proteins, and a composite cows' milk antibody (CMA) score, have been measured in 1,087 sera from children and adults. Antibodies to all five proteins were detected in many specimens. Age and disease influenced not only the absolute titres of antibody, but also the relative distribution of antibodies to the five antigens. In infants aged 2 months the typical pattern was of antibodies only to casein but in the sera of older children and adults antibodies to casein and to BSA were found in low titres and less frequently than antibodies to the other proteins. Children with coeliac disease had higher titres of antibody to bovine gamma-globulin than to other antigens. Serial studies in a patient with cows' milk intolerance illustrate how the pattern of antibodies varies with age, diet and disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Juvenile-onset inflammatory bowel disease: predictors of morbidity and health status in early adult life.

We interviewed and examined 70 young adults (50 Crohn's disease, 20 ulcerative colitis) from a geographically derived cohort of patients with juvenile-onset (< or = 16 years) inflammatory bowel disease at a mean of 14 years (range 5.2-29.5) after diagnosis. Patients with initially ileo-colonic Crohn's disease spent significantly longer in hospital than other groups. Thirty-nine Crohn's disease and 10 ulcerative colitis patients have had major surgery, with permanent stomas in 15 cases of Crohn's disease and seven of ulcerative colitis. In Crohn's disease the disease was still active at the time of review in 16 of 50 patients (10 of 20 women), whereas only two of the 20 patients with ulcerative colitis had active disease. The data show that the high early morbidity of juvenile-onset inflammatory bowel disease continues into adult life, with particularly severe and disabling manifestations in women with Crohn's disease.

Adolescent↗