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Biomedical subjects

D Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to D Robinson.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

A benign deficiency of typeB beta-galactosidase in human liver.

The type A or 'acid' and type B or 'neutral' beta-galactosidase activities have been measured in post-mortem liver samples from individuals dying of non-genetic diseases and patients dying of ganglioside storage disease other than GM1 gangliosidosis. The type A activities fell within the established normal range in all samples. The type B activities showed a biomodal distribution suggesting the occurrence of two distinct populations of human individuals. The greater proportion had activities within the range 11.67 pkat/mg of protein (+/- 3.33, S.D.), while others had lower activities in the range 0.48 pkat/mg of protein (+/- 0.38, S.D.). No clinical symptoms were associated with the much lower type B beta-galactosidase activities and it appears that this beta-galactosidase deficiency could be found in the original tissues. Methods of screening for type B beta-galactosidase deficiency are described and the significance of this enzyme deficiency is discussed.

Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose↗
PubMed1978

Anderson-Fabry disease: rapid detection of carriers by hair bulb analysis.

A rapid and simple method is described for the identification of the carrier state in angiokeratoma corporis diffusum. The alpha-galactosidase (alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase, E.C.3.2.1.22) activities in individual hair roots are measured and compared with those of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase (E.C.3.2.1.30), another lysosomal enzyme that is not affected. The cellular mosaicism typical of females heterozygous for X-linked disorders is revealed by the presence of normal, affected and partially affected hair roots. Normal individuals show no affected roots, while males hemizygous for the trait have no hair roots with enzyme activities in the normal range.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1978

Urologic manifestations of Wegener granulomatosis.

Wegener granulomatosis is a disease characterized by necrotizing granulomatous angiitis involving the upper and lower respiratory tracts and the kidneys. The introduction of cyclophosphamide in the treatment of Wegener granulomatosis has dramatically altered the rapidly fatal course of the disease and has altered our thinking regarding its management. Recently we have cared for 3 patients who demonstrated a dramatic spectrum of urinary tract pathology related to Wegener granulomatosis. The cases presented offer three points for consideration by the urologist: (1) the manifestations of the disease in the genitourinary tract can be varied and can present in a dramatic fashion; (2) the rapid progression of renal failure and the nearly uniform mortality associated with the disease have changed largely because of the use of cyclophosphamide; and (3) our approach toward patients with renal failure on the basis of Wegener granulomatosis can be altered, and renal transplantation is certainly feasible with the increased longevity afforded these patients by cyclophosphamide.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Lithium-6 stable isotope determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy and its application to pharmacokinetic studies in man.

No useful radioisotope of lithium exists to assist in the study of its biochemical pharmacology. A simple method has been developed for the determination of the stable isotope 6Li by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The technique is applicable in any laboratory equipped with simple AAS apparatus. Analysis of total lithium content (E) by flame emission spectroscopy is followed by separate determination (A6 and A7) of atomic absorption by the sample of the light emitted by separate hollow cathode lamps manufactured from the isotopes 6Li and 7Li. The standard curve of absorption ratio (A6/A7) against isotopic ratio (6Li/7Li) at any concentration (E) is an exponential which may be solved using a simple programmable calculator. Application of this method to the study of the pharmacokinetics of 6Li administered to 4 normal volunteers previously loaded with 7Li suggests that the rate of appearance of lithium in blood is unaffected by the previous state of lithium loading.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Talking out of alcoholism: results from a survey of Alcoholics Anonymous in England and Wales.

A national survey of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) produced data on the way AA members talk about their experiences and the role this plays in achieving and maintaining sobriety. The survey was based on self-completion questionnaires given to one in four members attending meetings of a one in ten random sample of AA groups operating in England and Wales. Only 1.8 per cent of current members had never spoken at a meeting, while 62.5 per cent spoke regularly. Hearing other people's personal stories was felt by members to be the most useful part of AA meetings. At some time 81.9 per cent of members had told their own story and there was some relationship between dropping out and not telling personal stories. The great majority of those who had told stories reported changes in their content over time; 58.0 per cent of these changes involved a shift of emphasis from drinking to recovery. The results suggest that AA enables people to change the way they perceive and evaluate themselves. It enables them to talk themselves out of alcoholism.

Alcoholics Anonymous↗
PubMed1978

Self-help groups.

The 1970's have been described as the self-help decade. This paper has shown how the groups explicitly focus on certain specific but simple technical problems while implicity addressing a whole range of everyday problems of living. Self-help groups attempt to solve these technical and social problems by a process based on shared experience in a context of mutual understanding. An essential ingredient of the self-help solution is to do things together, while social activities with members outside the group meetings sustain the self-help method and give new meaning to a member's life and to his conception of his place in the world.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1977

Primary medical practice in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Comparisons between the United Kingdom and the United States reveal definite differences in the style and content of primary medical practice. In the United States emphasis is on diagnosis. In the United Kingdom emphasis is on continuity and homebased care supported by a nationwide network of paramedical and social services. In both countries more is known about what discontents physicians than what satisfies patients. Medical practice and physician-patient relations are profoundly affected by external factors, including social attitudes, privileges, tradition, personal expectations and, above all, econimics. The American medical profession is the more exposed to external criticism, and future conflict and preoccupation with survival is largely an American phenomenon. Little is known in either cooutry about the long-term outcome of different forms of medical care. In Britain patients appear to value kindness above applied medical technology.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1977

Does Gilbert's disease exist?

18 454 men and 5471 women attending a screening centre had serum-bilirubin concentrations measured. 2.0% of men and 0.6% of women had concentrations of 25 micronmol/1 (1-5 MG/DL) or above. Both sexes showed skewed distributions for bilirubin concentration, but analysis of the data showed no evidence of bimodality for either sex. This suggests that people who are now diagnosed as having Gilbert's disease may constitute upper end of the normal range rather than a disease state. The term "constitutional hyperbilirubinaemia" is preferable, and its use can be coupled with reassurance to the patient that the condition causes no symptoms.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed1977

A rational approach to the surgical management of melanoma.

Our experience with 294 regional lymph node dissections in 250 patients are reviewed. The relationship between the Clark's level of invasion and the thickness of the primary is related to regional lymph node metastases. Patients with Clark's Level III melanoma had a 29% incidence of regional lymph node metastases, Clark's Level IV had a 42% incidence of regional lymph node metastases and Clark's Level V a 58% incidence of regional lymph node metastases. Primary melanomas greater than 1.5 mm in thickness had a 38% incidence of positive regional lymph nodes. We therefore recommend a regional lymphadenectomy in patients with Clark's Levels III, IV and V and all melanomas that are greater than 1.5 mm in thickness. A new technique is described which is helpful in localizing the direction of ambiguous lymphatic drainage in patients with truncal melanoma. The use of radioactive colloidal gold scanning has been useful in predicting lymphatic shed in these ambiguous truncal melanomas. Certain technical aspects of inguinal lymph node dissection are emphasized in an attempt to reduce the morbidity of these dissections. It is emphasized that iliac-obturator lymph node dissections are not performed unless the inguinal lymph nodes are found to be involved by frozen section examination at the time of surgery.

Female↗