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Biomedical subjects

D Reid

Publications and source records attributed to D Reid.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Immunisation and health advice for travellers: the role of the general practitioner.

More and more travellers go to ever more widespread destinations. Diverse sources of advice exist on the protection of travellers against medical hazards encountered abroad. This study attempts to show that the General Practitioner (GP) is the best person to give pre-travel health advice on immunisation and malaria prophylaxis. A postal questionnaire was sent to all 681 GPs in the Greater Glasgow area, to assess their views on the provision of health advice for travellers; in addition we asked whether they knew about the free access to a computerised database on travel health advice (Travax) provided by the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit, and what their view was of the usefulness of this service. The overwhelming majority (87%) of responding GPs felt that pre-travel health advice was best provided in the primary care setting. This group of GPs appear enthusiastic about providing health advice for travellers, in accord with the apparent preference of travellers themselves, and 85% indicated that they would find the travel health advice service a useful aid.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1992

A system for surveillance of voluntary HIV testing: results of the first 2 years, 1989-1990.

OBJECTIVE: In 1988, in order to improve the already established surveillance of AIDS and HIV-infected cases in Scotland, UK, the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit [CD(S)U], in collaboration with microbiologists responsible for HIV testing, instituted a routine system for the epidemiological surveillance of all voluntary HIV tests. METHODS: To facilitate information capture, a standardized HIV request form was introduced for use throughout the country by clinicians requesting an HIV test. In addition, a network of laboratory computers, operated by clerical personnel, was established for the collection and collation of data. RESULTS: In 1989, of 9483 individuals tested for HIV, 129 (1.4%) were HIV-antibody-positive compared with 130 (1.2%) of 11,111 tested in 1990. A comparison of 1989 with 1990 rates of HIV among specific population groups, including injecting drug users (4.1%, 1989; 2.7%, 1990), homosexual men (5.2%, 1989; 4.5%, 1990), heterosexual men and women with high-risk partners (1.6%, 1989; 1.8%, 1990) and heterosexual men and women with lesser risk (0.3%, 1989; 0.5%, 1990), revealed no statistically significance differences at a 95% level of confidence. CONCLUSION: We believe that this surveillance system is the first of its kind to be implemented on a nationwide basis. The first 2 years' findings suggest a degree of stability in new transmissions of HIV occurring in Scotland. However, the increasing numbers of those known to be HIV-infected continue to cause considerable concern: 1943 individuals were reported to CD(S)U as HIV-antibody-positive by December 1991.

Female↗
PubMed1991

Smoking.

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Advertising↗
PubMed1991

Photoreceptor peripherin is the normal product of the gene responsible for retinal degeneration in the rds mouse.

Retinal degeneration slow (rds) is a retinal disorder of an inbred strain of mice in which the outer segment of the photoreceptor cell fails to develop. A candidate gene has recently been described for the rds defect [Travis, G. H., Brennan, M. B., Danielson, P. E., Kozak, C. & Sutcliffe, J. G. (1989) Nature (London) 338, 70-73]. Neither the identity of the normal gene product nor its intracellular localization had been determined. We report here that the amino acid sequence of the bovine photoreceptor-cell protein peripherin, which was previously localized to the rim region of the photoreceptor disk membrane, is 92.5% identical to the sequence of the mouse protein encoded by the normal rds gene. The differences between the two sequences can be attributed to species variation. Monoclonal antibodies were used with Western blot analysis to localize the wild-type mouse peripherin/rds protein to isolated mouse rod outer segments and to show that it, like bovine peripherin, exists as two subunits linked by one or more disulfide bonds. The relative amounts of peripherin/rds protein and rhodopsin in retinal extracts of normal and rds mutant mice were also compared. Identification of peripherin as the protein encoded by the normal rds gene and its localization to membranes of rod outer segments will serve as a basis for studies directed toward defining the role of this protein in the morphogenesis and maintenance of the outer segment and toward understanding the mechanism by which the rds mutation causes retinal degeneration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Acute epiglottitis in the adult: is intubation mandatory?

Acute epiglottitis (AE) in the adult results in inflammation of the supraglottic structures and carries the potential for complete airway obstruction. There is disagreement in the medical literature as to the appropriate management of the airway in the adult with AE. Some authors advocate intubation in all patients while others propose more selective intervention, intubating the trachea only in those patients presenting with airway compromise. We reviewed our institutional experience with 21 patients over the last seven years admitted with a proven diagnosis of AE. Six patients presented with respiratory distress, three in severe distress with symptoms and signs of upper airway obstruction. The three patients in severe distress were taken to the operating room, in two the tracheas were intubated and one underwent tracheostomy after failed intubation. All other patients were monitored but their tracheas were not intubated. The majority of the patients were monitored for 24 hr in the ICU before transfer to wards. No patient initially monitored required tracheal intubation for progression of disease. There were no deaths. Recommendations for the care of the airway in the adult with AE based on our experience and a review of approximately 1000 cases reported in the last ten years are presented. It is our opinion that adults presenting without respiratory symptoms may be safely monitored in an intensive care setting given that provision is made for tracheal intubation or tracheostomy should respiratory distress become evident.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Adult children as caregivers: egocentric biases in judgments of sibling contributions.

This study examined filial caregivers' views of their own and their siblings' costs and contributions to the care of their parents. The respondents viewed their siblings' responses to the parents' needs as remarkably similar to their own, in spite of there being no actual similarity. Despite these perceived similarities, however, respondents perceived their siblings as contributing less than themselves, gaining less satisfaction, feeling freer to alter their caregiving, and being resistant to increasing their relative contributions. In order of importance, the extent of contact between the siblings, their feelings of closeness, the extent of parents' needs, their gender, the extent of resources spent, and personal regard for their siblings were significant predictors of these egocentrically biased perceptions. As expected, these egocentrically biased perceptions were important predictors of personal regard for their siblings.

Bias↗
PubMed1991

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma in an area of low incidence: evidence for a viral aetiology from routinely collected data.

In recent years a strong case has been made in support of a viral aetiology for at least some primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in areas of low incidence. By pooling routinely collected cancer registration and infection data, study of the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the incidence of PHC in Scotland over the period 1972-1985 has confirmed this view. Over this period the incidence of PHC in men increased, there was a relationship between the incidence of notification of HBV infection and that of hepatocellular carcinoma in different parts of the country, and an increased risk attached to those chronically infected with the virus. Given the recent introduction of lower cost yeast derived vaccines, there may now be more scope for prevention both of primary liver cancer and of other liver disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Endogenous transmembrane electrical gradients associated with human placental microvillous membrane vesicles.

Experiments were designed to test for the presence of an endogenous (i.e. Donnan) electrical potential in human placental microvillous membrane vesicles. Vesicles were capable of passively accumulating K+ (86Rb+) above unity in a manner which was influenced by both pH and ionic strength of the medium. It appears that the transmembrane electrical potential is generated by the presence of fixed negative charges associated with the vesicle interior.

Biological Transport, Active↗
PubMed1991

What do Scots die of when abroad?

Information was obtained on 952 persons who travelled from Scotland between 1973 and 1988 and who died while abroad. In the older age group cardio-vascular disease was the major cause of death whereas in the younger group traumatic deaths were commonest. Most died in the holiday resorts bordering the Mediterranean and the question is posed on the need for specific advice to those who are most vulnerable before embarking on overseas travel.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A cumulative review of studies on travellers, their experience of illness and the implications of these findings.

A cumulative review of illness experienced by 13,816 travellers returning to Scotland since 1977, shows an overall attack rate of 36%. Alimentary complaints predominated; 18% of travellers had these alone and a further 10% had other symptoms as well as their gastro-intestinal disorder. Higher attack rates were noted in those taking package holidays. Inexperience of travel, smoking, more southerly travel and younger age (particularly those between 20- and 29-years-old) were other contributing factors. A similar pattern emerged from a I year study of hospital in-patients with travel related admissions. Serological studies of 470 travellers showed that 20% had incomplete immunity to poliomyelitis; 25% of those tested (312 travellers) had serological evidence of typhoid immunisation, I.9% (of 760 travellers) had antibodies to Legionella pneumophila, 64% (5II travellers tested) had antibodies to hepatitis A, 87% (288 tested) had adequate levels of tetanus antitoxin but only 40% of the 225 travellers tested had adequate levels of diphtheria antitoxin. Amongst a subgroup of 645 travellers the travel agent was the most frequently consulted source of pre-travel health advice. This carries particular significance for the dissemination of relevant advice in view of the inadequacies found from study of the health information in travel brochures. These findings, viewed against the perspective of the continuing growth in international travel, means that travellers, the medical profession, the travel trade, health educators, global health agencies and health authorities in those countries accepting and encouraging tourists, will be required to recognise the health implications of further tourism development if this problem of illness associated with travel is to be brought under control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Long-term survival in patients undergoing resection of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The long-term survival of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery is presented. Three-hundred and thirty-eight patients who presented with elective, urgent, or emergency abdominal aortic aneurysms, have been followed retrospectively for five years. We found no statistical difference in the long-term survival in these three groups of patients. As expected patients who had successful operation survived better than patients who were not offered surgery because of their poor medical condition. Interestingly, advancing years, history of myocardial infarction or hypertension did not significantly influence long-term survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The specific psychosocial effects of orthognathic surgery.

This study was to test the validity of patients' opinions and provide a more accurate method than previously reported of assessing the specific psycho-social effects of orthognathic surgery. Questionnaires were used preoperatively and postoperatively providing a longitudinal sample, while those patients who only completed questionnaires either before or after surgery provided cross-sectional samples. Different questionnaires were used to provide data on a 'Body Satisfaction Scale', 'Fear of Negative Evaluation', 'Social Avoidance and Distress', and a 'General Health Questionnaire'. The results indicate that surgery produced an improvement in body image, particularly in the evaluation of facial attractiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Salmonella outbreak in a nursing home.

We performed a retrospective review of an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis that occurred in a community nursing home in 1987. Forty-four of 199 residents had a diarrheal illness; Salmonella heidelberg was isolated from the stool in 19 cases. Although the distribution of cases suggested a common source for the outbreak, no common source of infection could be demonstrated, despite extensive investigation. The clinical presentation of symptomatic individuals ranged from mild diarrhea to a severe gastrointestinal illness, and 26% of symptomatic, culture-positive patients required hospitalization. The median duration of pathogen excretion during convalescence in untreated residents was six weeks, but six patients who were treated with antibiotics shed S. heidelberg for a median duration of 14.5 weeks. We conclude that (1) the clinical spectrum of Salmonella gastroenteritis in nursing-home patients is variable, ranging from mild to severe illness; and (2) nursing-home Salmonella outbreaks impose a high economic burden because of expense of epidemiologic investigation, prolonged isolation measures, hospitalization for severely ill residents, and potential institutional closure.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Screening impotence by home nocturnal tumescence self-monitoring.

Twenty subjects complaining of impotence were assessed using nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), neurological, vascular and hormonal analysis. Subjects undertook NPT in both home and hospital environments: 10 hospital first and 10 home first. There were high levels of agreement between diagnosis using NPT in the two conditions and diagnosis from the physiological tests. There was a high correlation of frequency of erections between the home and hospital conditions, together with a high consecutive night reliability when using the monitor in the home condition (r = .94, p = .001).

Diagnosis, Differential↗