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Biomedical subjects

A M Ward

Publications and source records attributed to A M Ward.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Behavioral responsiveness in preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Preterm infants with varying degrees of intraventricular hemorrhage (none, n = 21; grade I to II, n = 22; grade II to IV, n = 24) and a group of full-term infants (n = 21) were compared with regard to behavioral responsiveness and parental reports of the infant's temperament. Behavioral responsiveness was assessed during the presentation of 15 visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli at 3 months of age (corrected age for preterm infants). Summary scores for positive and negative responsiveness, as well as sociability, soothability, and overall activity levels, were derived from behavioral observations by coders who were unaware of the infant's characteristics. The Bates Infant Characteristic Questionnaire was completed by the main care giver and scored on four summary variables: fussy-difficult, unadaptable, dull, and unpredictable. Preterm infants, regardless of the presence or severity of intraventricular hemorrhage, showed less positive responses and less overall activity in response to stimulation. Infants with grade I to II intraventricular hemorrhage were less sociable and more difficult to soothe than full-term control infants. Individual differences in positive, negative, sociability, and soothability were related to the questionnaire scores of fussy-difficult and unadaptability. Both prematurity and degree of intraventricular hemorrhage affect behavioral responsiveness and these individual differences are related to parental reports of the infant's temperament.

Affect↗
PubMed1987

The fragile X syndrome in a large family. III. Investigations on linkage of flanking DNA markers with the fragile site Xq27.

In a large family with the fragile X syndrome, we performed linkage investigations with six probes, detecting RFLPs at both sides of the fragile site Xq27. The nearest flanking markers were cX55.7 (DXS105) on the centromeric side (theta = 0.04, lod 5.0) and St14 (DXS52) on the telomeric side (theta = 0.08, lod 4.0). Non-penetrance could be shown by the presence of the grandpaternal X chromosome in three mentally retarded fra(X) positive males. A second non-penetrant male in this family had inherited an abnormal grandmaternal X chromosome. His carrier mother had two retarded fra(X) positive brothers. Intermediate between the non-penetrant and fully penetrant males was a non-retarded male, who expressed the fragile site in 6% of his cells. His X chromosome showed the same polymorphisms as were found in his seven severely retarded brothers. In five fra(X) negative females the presence of an abnormal X chromosome could be demonstrated. Despite the existence of non-penetrance in this pedigree, there was no close linkage between a factor IX polymorphism and the fragile site (theta = 0.16, lod 1.9). However, in six descendants of a non-penetrant male, the change to penetrance appeared to be accompanied by a low recombination frequency for flanking markers.

Factor IX↗
PubMed1987

Total IgE and allergen-specific IgE assays: guidelines for the provision of a laboratory service.

The Analytical Methods Working Party of the Association of Clinical Biochemists (ACB) established this Task Force to consider the measurement of total serum IgE and specific IgE. The aims were to give general guidance on available methods of assay; to survey commercial kits and 'in-house' methods; to investigate performance based on external Quality Assessment and independent evaluation, and to advise on criteria laboratories should consider before setting up IgE and specific IgE assays.

Allergens↗
PubMed1986

Serum alpha fetoprotein kinetics in hepatocellular carcinoma. A case for cessation of therapy.

As chemotherapy with adriamycin is accompanied by toxic side effects, early recognition of ineffective treatment is important. Marker kinetics, apparent half-life (AFL) and doubling time (DT), showed that in five patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, adriamycin was ineffective. Failure of the chemotherapeutic regimen was apparent by the third course of treatment.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1986

Total and allergen-specific IgE in relation to allergic response pattern following bone marrow transplantation.

Total and allergen-specific serum IgE were measured in relation to allergic response pattern before and after bone marrow transplant (BMT) in seven sibling donor/recipient pairs. Two non-atopic recipients developed persistently raised total serum IgE levels but no apparent allergic response after BMT from non-atopic donors; three non-atopic recipients showed raised total serum IgE after BMT, with allergen-specific IgE to the same allergens as their respective atopic donors. A penicillin-tolerant recipient showed clinical sensitivity and specific IgE to penicillin after BMT from a penicillin-sensitive donor, but with this case both donor and recipient showed raised serum IgE levels. One atopic recipient showed decreased total IgE after BMT from a mildly atopic donor. These allergic response patterns could occur as a result of repopulation in the recipient with IgE-specific T lymphocytes having similar regulatory influences as in the donor. The pattern of acquired responses would also be consistent with reconstitution by primed B lymphocytes of donor origin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Evaluation of an amplified enzyme-linked immunoassay of placental alkaline phosphatase in testicular cancer.

The levels of serum placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) have been examined in 81 male controls, 51 untreated testicular tumours (41 seminomas and ten non-seminomatous testicular tumours) and 34 patients in complete remission (11 seminoma and 23 non-seminoma). Smoking induced a significant rise of serum PLAP in the controls, with a median level of 0.055 U/1 in non-smokers compared to 0.25 U/l in smokers. The levels found in pre-treatment seminoma (median 1.7 U/1) were significantly higher than in untreated teratoma (median 0.7 U/1). Treatment produced a significant fall in seminomas in remission (median 0.07 U/1). The role of PLAP in routine monitoring of seminomas was evaluated in 17 patients studied for 1-4 yr. PLAP shows similar trends to beta HCG but is an independent variable. The main role of PLAP is to help determine that the response to treatment has been satisfactory and that there are no unexpected foci of tumour.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Spina bifida--a vanishing nightmare?

Detailed analysis is presented on the dramatic decline in spina bifida births and other congenital central nervous system defects in the past 12 years, in both Sheffield and the rest of Great Britain. In Sheffield, there was an average of 20 spina bifida births per year up to 1972, but since then there has been a progressive fall to only one in 1984. This decrease may be partly attributable to antenatal diagnosis and terminations of affected pregnancies, but there is no known explanation for the rest of the fall, which has also been experienced throughout Great Britain. The virtual elimination of spina bifida is now possible, as long as the existing methods of prevention and antenatal diagnostic facilities are used even more fully. Relaxation of our effort and a reverse in the 'natural' trend could bring the incidence of spina bifida back to where it was 15 years ago.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗
PubMed1985

Reference ranges for serum alpha 1 antitrypsin.

References ranges for serum alpha 1 antitrypsin at various ages have been constructed using specific protein calibration material (SPS-01). Median values and 5th-95th centile ranges for alpha 1 antitrypsin in cord blood are equivalent to those of the adult. The median concentration falls during the first 6 months of age to rise again to adult values by 12 months. Concentrations in early school age are higher than in normal adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Serum alpha fetoprotein heterogeneity as a means of differentiating between primary hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic secondaries.

The concanavalin A binding characteristics of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were investigated in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic secondaries using affinity column chromatography and radioimmunoassay. The primary hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 21) was associated with a median concanavalin A non-reactive AFP fraction of 7.4% (range 1.6 - 18.8) while the hepatic secondaries (n = 8) had a median concanavalin A non-reactive AFP fraction of 50.7% (range 26.6 - 91.7). A simple diagnostic test for differentiating between the two groups of patients is proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The effects of radiotherapy on immunity in patients with cured localized carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

The effects of radiotherapy on immune status in patients with localized carcinoma of the cervix have been assessed serially up to 5 years remission by a wide range of methods. Neutrophil function and serum immunoglobulins were essentially normal throughout. Peripheral blood neutrophil and lymphocyte counts and the proportions of T and B-cells fell with treatment but were all normal at 5 years, with the exception of B-cell proportions which remained significantly low. Marked deterioration was seen in in vivo cellular immune responses and this persisted even at 5 years remission. Reduced in vitro immunoreactivity is not therefore a reliable marker of disease recurrence and persisting defects in cellular immunity after radiotherapy do not seem to adversely affect the host tumor response. However, in three of the six patients who subsequently relapsed after therapy, subnormal PHA lymphocyte transformation responses were observed at presentation; all patients achieving sustained remission had normal pretreatment responses.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Maternal zinc status: a determination of central nervous system malformation.

Maternal serum zinc concentrations were estimated during 244 normal pregnancies and 15 abnormal pregnancies. The serum zinc concentrations were lower in the anencephalic pregnancies than in the normal control subjects. The serum zinc levels in women whose pregnancies terminated in a spontaneous abortion were normal. There was no variation of serum zinc level with gestational age between 15 to 18 weeks in normal pregnancies.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1984

Acute renal failure in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia: precipitation and reversal by plasma exchange.

A patient with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia was treated for deteriorating renal function with plasma exchange alone. This therapy was immediately followed by acute oliguric renal failure due to precipitation of the cryoglobulin within glomerular capillary loops, probably as a result of infusion of cold plasma. The composition of the intracapillary deposits reflected not only the variety of cryoglobulin but the rapidity of deposition. Renal function returned when plasma exchange was re-introduced, this time coupled with immunosuppressive chemotherapy. After resolution of the intraluminal caogula a membranoproliferative picture remained. Replacement fluids for plasma exchange in cryoglobulinemia should be warmed before infusion.

Acute Kidney Injury↗