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Biomedical subjects

A J Cunningham

Publications and source records attributed to A J Cunningham.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1966

Antibody formation by single cells from lymph nodes and efferent lymph of sheep.

The antibody-forming cells which appear in the popliteal lymph node and efferent lymph of the sheep following immunization with boiled Salmonella have been studied by light and electron microscopy. Cells were incubated in monolayers with target erythrocytes sensitized with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Three types of interaction between a proportion of the lymph cells and the erythrocytes surrounding them have been shown to indicate antibody formation: plaque-formation, immuno-cyto-adherence, and localized agglutination. At the peak of the response, 4 days after antigenic stimulation approximately 1 cell in every 200 from lymph node suspensions produces detectable specific antibody, while up to 1 cell in 20 in the lymph is active. For light microscope examination, individual antibody-forming cells were smeared in serum and stained with Leishman's stain. For electron microscopy, a number of active cells were clumped with antiserum to form a specimen of convenient size, then sectioned. Most of the active cells from efferent lymph are large and basophilic, while a small proportion are blastlike. These cells contain abundant free ribosomes and very little endoplasmic reticulum. In the node only, an additional class of antibody-forming plasma cells is found which have considerable amounts of endoplasmic reticulum in their cytoplasm.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of group psychological therapy on survival in women with metastatic breast cancer.

In order to test the effect of a psychological intervention on survival from cancer, 66 women with metastatic breast cancer, all receiving standard medical care, were randomly assigned into two groups; one group (n = 30) attended the psychological intervention, consisting of 35 weekly, 2 h sessions of supportive plus cognitive behavioral therapy; the control group (n = 36) received only a home study cognitive behavioral package. No significant difference was found in survival post-randomization between the groups as assessed by a log rank test 5 years after the commencement of the study. As expected, several prognostic factors were significant predictors of survival: metastatic site, hormonal receptor status, and chemotherapy prior to randomization. While many personal and demographic variables did not influence survival, there was a significant effect of self-reported exercise (possibly due to better health). A small subgroup of intervention subjects who attended outside support groups also survived significantly longer than those who did not. The strengths and limitations of the present study are discussed, and the results contrasted with those of a well known study by Spiegel et al. (Spiegel, D., Bloom, J.R., Kraemer, H.C. and Gottheil, E. (1989) Lancet ii, 888-891). We propose that a different experimental design (correlative) may be needed to show any effect of self-help behaviors and psychological attributes in a small minority of patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological response to long-term group therapy: a randomized trial with metastatic breast cancer patients.

Research has demonstrated that short-term psychological interventions improve the quality of life of cancer patients. However, there is much less evidence for the efficacy of long-term interventions. We report the psychometric results from a randomized clinical trial (n = 66) assessing the effects of an 8 month, weekly psychological intervention on 30 metastatic breast cancer patients. Subjects were assessed at baseline, 4, 8 and 14 months for mood, quality of life and adjustment to cancer. Results demonstrated little psychometric difference between the control (n = 36) and intervention groups over this length of time, in spite of the fact that when the intervention subjects attended a weekend of support and training in coping skills, the usual significant, short-term changes were observed. In the long-term intervention, subjects did experience more anxious preoccupation and less helplessness than the controls but no recorded improvements in mood or quality of life. However, profound clinical changes were observed by the therapists, similar to those noted by Spiegel et al. (1981). We conclude that many of the psychological changes made by subjects in long-term interventions may elude conventional psychometric assessment. Further research, of a rigorous qualitative nature, is required to develop a clearer understanding of the experience of living and eventually dying of cancer within the context of a long-term intervention.

Adaptation, Psychological↗