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Biomedical subjects

A J Franks

Publications and source records attributed to A J Franks.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

S-100 protein in Schwann cells of the developing human peripheral nerve. An immunohistochemical study.

From approximately 7 weeks gestational age in developing human peripheral nerve, as in adult nerve, S-100 protein was found to be expressed solely and uniformly by Schwann cells associated with axons. In embryos younger than 7 weeks S-100 was much less constant and many cells did not show clear staining. The trigger for the initial appearance of the protein at around this age remains unclear although a relationship of S-100 expression in Schwann cells to close axonal contact is suggested. The value of S-100 protein in distinguishing Schwann cells from perineurial cells in normal nerves and nerve sheath tumours remains unclear.

Embryo, Mammalian↗
PubMed1987

Paraplegia due to massive asbestos-related pleural and mediastinal fibrosis.

A case of massive pleural and mediastinal fibrosis related to occupational exposure to asbestos is presented. The terminal illness was marked by the acute onset of paraplegia. Autopsy revealed occlusive lesions of upper intercostal arteries within sheets of dense fibrous tissue and an ischaemic myelopathy. The presence of vascular lesions suggests a relationship with idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1985

Nutrition and health in the first year of life on a Pacific atoll. Observations on Abemama Atoll, Central Pacific.

The growth of 50 children on a coral atoll has been studied during their first year of life. Initially the population median weight rose above the international norm, but later declined, resulting in a median weight at 12 months below this norm. Data on age of introduction of foods, diarrhoeal illness and general morbidity indicated an association between growth faltering and episodes of fever between four and 12 months but no association with diarrhoea. No statistically significant relationships were found between the age of introducing solid food and the age of first diarrhoea, or between the ages of introduction of protein or energy foods and growth faltering. The effects of fever on growth are probably mediated by temporary appetite suppression in the context of marginal nutrition accentuated by the difficulties of weaning. Records of village or home treated illnesses highlight the discrepancies between village and health service based records.

Body Height↗
PubMed1985

Epithelioid neurilemmoma of the trigeminal nerve: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

A 50-year-old male presented with facial pain due to an extrinsic intracranial tumour involving pontine nerve roots. Biopsy and subsequent partial surgical excision indicated origin from the trigeminal nerve. Histologically the tumour had features of a neurilemmoma but in addition contained a population of epithelioid cells. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated S100 protein in the non-epithelioid component but no reaction in the epithelioid cells, whilst vimentin was present in both cell types. Ultrastructurally the epithelioid cells showed features consistent with a Schwann cell nature and may represent a less well differentiated cell population derived from a Schwann cell precursor. The significance of these findings in relation to the cell of origin of neurilemmomas is discussed.

Cranial Nerve Neoplasms↗
PubMed1983

Patterns of illness and the use of health services on a coral atoll--observations in Kiribati (Central Pacific).

Attendances over a one-year period at the sole dispensary on a coral atoll (population 2411) have been studied. The patterns of presenting illnesses for those under five years old and those over five years old were studied, and analyses made of usage of the dispensary in relation to distance. Under-5s have disease incidences some four and a half to five and a half times those of over fives, but the apparent detrimental effect of distance is less in the under-fives. The skills required in the management of presenting illnesses are analysed in relation to those available--village health worker, trained nurse, doctor--and most were considered manageable by a nurse or village health worker. The latter appeared to be under-utilized and possible reasons for this are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Cardiac pathology in chronic myopathy, with particular reference to dystrophia myotonica.

Histological changes in the hearts of two patients with dystrophia myotonica and one patient with a familial scapulo-peroneal myopathy are described. The myocardium showed fibre hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, vacuolar degeneration of myocardial cells and focal groups of aberrantly orientated myofibres. The AV node in the case of scapulo-peroneal myopathy showed vacuolar fibre degeneration and fatty infiltration. The aberrantly orientated myofibres have not previously been described in this context, and their relationship to similar aberrant fibres in hypertrophic obstructive cardio-myopathy and the electrophysiological and clinical manifestations of cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy are discussed.

Atrioventricular Node↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic factors in ruptured aneurysms of the circle of Willis: the significance of systemic hypertension.

The incidence of essential hypertension has been retrospectively studied in a group of sixty-four fatal cases of ruptured berry aneurysm, and compared with a non-fatal group. Hypertension is more frequent in the fatal group, and is associated with a higher incidence of multiple aneurysms, a smaller size of aneurysm at rupture and a poorer survival after two haemorrhages when comparison is made with normotensive patients. The possible role of hypertension in the development and rupture of aneurysms is discussed, and it is concluded that it may contribute to both. Following rupture it carries a poor prognosis with a resulting over emphasis of its significance in autopsy series. Possible mechanisms for this effect include diffuse vascular disease, and an increased liability to oedema or spasm following rupture of an aneurysm.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The evolution of an oligodendroglioma into a primitive neuroectodermal tumour.

Oligodendrogliomas may comprise a biologically heterogenous group of tumours. There is disagreement about the relationship between their histological features and subsequent behaviour, and evolution of histologically typical oligodendrogliomas into more malignant neoplasms has been described. We describe a supratentorial oligodendroglioma in a 4-year-old boy which recurred 9 months after initial resection when it showed foci of histologically primitive cells, not present in the initial specimen. It recurred again at the same site 20 months later following a course of radiotherapy, but showed on this occasion the appearances of a primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) with astrocytic and ependymal, but not oligodendroglial, differentiation. The evidence suggests evolution of an oligodendroglioma into a PNET, and raises the possibility that some oligodendrogliomas may arise by differentiation from a pool of proliferating primitive cells which may occasionally become the dominant population.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The potential requirement for HIV counselling and voluntary testing in women of childbearing age.

This paper compares estimates of the potential HIV counselling and testing requirements in a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, where a formal HIV counselling service is provided, and in an antenatal clinic (ANC), where there is no formal HIV counselling service. Data were collected by means of questionnaires completed by women attending both clinics. Only 31% and 16% of counselling needs were being met at the GUM clinic and antenatal clinic respectively. At the GUM clinic 11% of respondents had had an HIV antibody test, and at the antenatal clinic 1% had been tested. In contrast 68% and 58% of respondents at the GUM and antenatal clinics respectively would accept the offer of an HIV antibody test. In low prevalence areas the universal offer of testing would greatly increase specialist counselling requirements, but alternative models of provision and selective testing may lead to a more efficient use of resources.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro heterogeneity in human gliomas. Are all transformed cells of glial origin?

Primary cultures from 30 human gliomas (26 high grade, 3 low grade, and one oligoastrocytoma) were studied to examine the mixture of cells that make up the outgrowth, and their interactions. GFAP + ve Fibronectin - ve cells had a predominantly process forming (PF) morphology and formed complex networks around explants. Fibronectin + ve GFAP-ve cells had a flattened adherent (FA) morphology, tended to increase in time in culture, in 11 tumours showed a transformed pattern of growth, and may derive from perivascular mesenchyme. Neoplastic glial cells in vivo, or in vitro, may influence the behaviour and nature of other cells in tumour tissue which may be of significance in tumour behaviour and progression.

Astrocytoma↗