Biomedical subjects

E P Larkin

Publications and source records attributed to E P Larkin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Male Afro-Caribbean patients admitted to Rampton Hospital between 1977 and 1986--a control study.

All Afro-Caribbean patients admitted to the Mental Illness Division of Rampton Hospital (a Special Hospital) between 1977 and 1986 and a randomly selected control cohort of Non Afro-Caribbean patients admitted in the same period, were compared on a variety of sociodemographic, psychiatric, criminological, treatment and outcome variables. Significantly, fewer of the Afro-Caribbean patients attracted the legal classification of Psychopathic Disorder. Detailed analysis was thus restricted to mentally ill patients in the two ethnic groupings. Similarities outweighed differences. There was no difference between the groups in terms of index offence, previous custodial sentence, in-patient psychiatric admission (including previous Special Hospital admission), admission source, Mental Health Act section, length of admission (including readmission) to Special Hospitals, likelihood of discharge or place to which discharged. Medication history in Special Hospitals was similar at one year and three years after admission. Afro-Caribbean patients had a lower incidence of childhood institutional care, a decreased likelihood of a previous supervision order, an increased likelihood of a previous Court appearance and received higher doses of antipsychotic medication four weeks after admission to Special Hospital.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1993

Mentally abnormal homicide--a review of a special hospital male population.

The clinical, criminological and demographic characteristics of a Special Hospital population of male patients convicted of homicide are described. The results confirm much previous work on mentally abnormal homicide. Typically the patients come from a disadvantaged social background with poor employment records, a prior history of aggressive behaviour and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Victims were usually known to the patient and often came from within his circle of family and friends. Only 25% of the patients were receiving treatment at the time of the offence. These findings are discussed in the light of the current literature.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Milieu and mutilation--a case for 'special' treatment?

Special hospitals are principally concerned with the treatment of patients of dangerous, violent or criminal propensities referred from the courts and prisons. However, patients can be transferred from local NHS hospitals. The case of one such patient illustrates the potential benefits of such a transfer, even for patients who are not of immediate danger to others.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Lithium carbonate in chronic schizophrenia--a brief trial of lithium carbonate added to neuroleptics for treatment of resistant schizophrenic patients.

The value of lithium carbonate as an adjunctive treatment of resistant schizophrenia was tested in a 4-week clinical trial using a single-blind, randomized, consent design. Treatment and control groups were drawn from a population of detained patients in an English special (maximum security) hospital. The 2 groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, severity of symptoms, length of hospitalization and concurrent neuroleptic dosage. The addition of lithium carbonate to the treatment regimen did not result in symptomatic improvement in patients completing the treatment protocol. The ethical and practical difficulties raised by the trial are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Multilaboratory evaluation of methods for detecting enteric viruses in soils.

Two candidate methods for the recovery and detection of viruses in soil were subjected to round robin comparative testing by members of the American Society for Testing and Materials D19:24:04:04 Subcommittee Task Group. Selection of the methods, designated "Berg" and "Goyal," was based on results of an initial screening which indicated that both met basic criteria considered essential by the task group. Both methods utilized beef extract solutions to achieve desorption and recovery of viruses from representative soils: a fine sand soil, an organic muck soil, a sandy loam soil, and a clay loam soil. One of the two methods, Goyal, also used a secondary concentration of resulting soil eluants via low-pH organic flocculation to achieve a smaller final assay volume. Evaluation of the two methods was simultaneously performed in replicate by nine different laboratories. Each of the produced samples was divided into portions, and these were respectively subjected to quantitative viral plaque assay by both the individual, termed independent, laboratory which had done the soil processing and a single common reference laboratory, using a single cell line and passage level. The Berg method seemed to produce slightly higher virus recovery values; however, the differences in virus assay titers for samples produced by the two methods were not statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) for any one of the four soils. Despite this lack of a method effect, there was a statistically significant laboratory effect exhibited by assay titers from the independent versus reference laboratories for two of the soils, sandy loam and clay loam.

Enterovirus↗

PubMed1991

Food refusal in prison.

The prevalence of mental disorder amongst prisoners refusing food was studied by examining the prison records of a remand prison and a dispersal prison. Food refusal occurred predominantly in the remand prison. Less than one per cent of the annual remand population engaged in this behaviour. The results indicate that prisoners refusing food do so as a form of protest and that the prevalence of mental disorder among such prisoners is high. The majority respond to observation and counselling. Important indicators of psychosis are: (i) the inability of the prisoner to divulge reasons for his behaviour; and (ii) the refusal by the prisoner of both food and fluids. In such cases transfer to hospital for treatment may be urgently required.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Fitness to plead and psychiatric reports.

The role of the psychiatrist in the determination of fitness to plead is reviewed by reference to 77 pre-trial psychiatric reports prepared on 31 Special Hospital patients detained under the provision of Section 5(1)(c) (Unfit to Plead) of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964. Each psychiatric report was analysed using a standardized checklist which addressed the legal criteria used to determine fitness to plead, the nature of the alleged offence and the clinical diagnosis. The results showed that almost 40% of the reports made no mention of fitness to plead at all and that only one-third of the reports made a statement about fitness to plead which was supported by reference to standard legal criteria. The results of this study support earlier work which has suggested that psychiatrists have a poor understanding of the issues surrounding fitness to plead and criminal responsibility. These findings are discussed in relation to recommendations made by the Report of the Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders, 1975 (Butler Report) and legislative changes introduced by the Mental Health Act 1983.

Forensic Psychiatry↗

PubMed1985

The X-ray department and psychiatry.

All X-rays requested by psychiatrists in-training during 1982 and performed by the Department of Radiology of a large mental hospital were analysed. Forty-five per cent of all requests were marked routine, and the majority of these were for chest X-rays; only 4% of these revealed significant abnormality and no patient under the age of 55 had a significant abnormality on routine chest X-ray. All routine skull X-rays were normal. One-third of the long-stay hospital population accounted for one-quarter of the overall workload of the department. It is recommended that: requests for routine skull X-rays be abandoned, and that routine chest X-rays for patients below the age of 55 be restricted to high-risk groups such as immigrants, those on steroids, etc. The financial implications of such a policy are discussed.

England↗

PubMed1981

Serum substitute in epithelial cell culture media: nonfat dry milk filtrate.

A number of milk types and milk fractions were investigated as possible substitutes for serum in cell culture media. A filtrate of reconstituted nonfat dry milk showed promise. Culture fluids containing 5% of the nonfat dry milk filtrate were used to propagate primary and continuous cell cultures, and the cell growth from these cultures was compared with that of cells grown in a serum-containing medium. The nonfat dry milk filtrate-supplemented medium supported the growth of all epithelial cells tested, but two fibroblast-type cultures failed to replicate. Cells grown in the medium containing the milk filtrate grew slowly for 2 to 3 days and then propagated to confluency in 6 to 8 days. Viable cell counts of 9 days were comparable to those of serum-grown cells that had been propagated for 7 days. Cells grown in the milk filtrate could be split 1 to 4 when subcultures were prepared. Cell growth could be stimulated by refeeding on days 2 to 3 or by the addition of 30 microM 2-mercaptoethanol to the growth medium. Virus susceptibility and titer comparisons with poliovirus 1, coxsackievirus B2, echovirus 7, and herpes simplex virus indicated that approximately the same data were obtained when either the nonfat dry milk filtrate-treated or the serum-treated cells were studied. The nonfat dry milk filtrate is inexpensive, is easily prepared, and is a substitute for serum in epithelial cell culture media.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Bioaccumulation and depuration of enteroviruses by the soft-shelled clam, Mya arenaria.

Low levels of feces-associated natural virus, simulating virus numbers estimated to exist in moderately polluted shellfish-growing waters, were used to evaluate the effectiveness of depuration as a virus depletion procedure in soft-shell clams. Depuration effectiveness depended upon the numbers of virus bioaccumulated and whether virus was solids associated. Virus uptake was greatest when viruses were solids associated and pollution levels were equivalent or greater than those likely to be found in grossly polluted growing waters. Virtually all bioaccumulated feces-associated natural virus was deposited within either the hepatopancreas or siphon tissues. Viruses usually were eliminated within a 24- to 48-h depuration period. Dependence upon depuration of clams to elimate health hazards of virus etiology involved a risk factor not measureable in the study. The greatest reduction of health risks would come from the routine depuration of clams harvested from growing waters of good sanitary quality.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Viral heat resistance and infectious ribonucleic acid.

High-titer suspensions of poliovirus 1 and coxsackievirus B-2 were shown to contain a heat-resistant fraction when heated for 65 min at temperature ranging from 56 to 70 degrees C. The addition of ribonuclease to the heated suspensions eliminated plaque production in the cell cultures, indicating that the resistant fraction was infectious ribonucleic acid that had been liberated from ruptured viruses during the heating process.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Thermal treatment and infectivity of hepatitis A virus in human feces.

The susceptibility of white-lipped marmoset monkeys (Saguinus sp) to human hepatitis A virus (HAV) provides a system for evaluation of thermal inactivation of HAV in feces and contaminated shellfish. Intramuscular or oral administration of HAV derived from feces of four patients with acute hepatitis A induced hepatitis in 28--100% of the inoculated marmosets. A 10% (w/v) fecal pool (GBG-BM) prepared from two patients (GBG and GBM) induced hepatitis in marmosets (2/4 with 1 ml; 2/2 with 3 ml) when given orally as a 1 : 3 dilution. A HAV-baby food raw oyster mixture fed to fasted marmosets induced hepatitis in 1/4 and seroconversion in 2/4 animals. Two groups of oysters were injected with HAV (concentrated 3 : 1 by centrifugation of the GBG-BM pool); one group was treated at 140 degrees F for 19 minutes and the other served as an untreated control. In animals fed the untreated inoculum, 4/6 developed hepatitis and 6/6 seroconverted, whereas of those fed the heat-treated inoculum 1/7 developed hepatitis and 2/7 seroconverted. These data suggest that pasteurization methods could be developed that would eliminate shellfish-associated hepatitis A and retain the palatability of the shellfish.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Potential sources of error during virus thermal inactivation.

A review of virus thermal inactivation data published in the literature demonstrated variations in reported virus resistance. Examination of the methods used indicated that numerous studies were made by heat processing virus suspensions in test tubes. Duplication of some of the methods using milk suspensions of poliovirus 1 showed virus persistence after heating as a result of uneven temperature distribution inside the test tubes. Unless the containers (preferably sealed ampoules or capillary tubes) are completely submerged in the water bath and agitated vigorously, apparent virus persistence may be encountered.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Persistence of poliovirus 1 in soil and on vegetables grown in soil previously flooded with inoculated sewage sludge or effluent.

Land disposal of sewage sludge and effluent is becoming a common practice in the United States. The fertilizer content and humus value of such wastes are useful for agricultural purposes, and the recycling of sewage onto the land eliminates many of our stream pollution problems. The potential exists for crops grown in such irrigated soil to be contaminated by viruses that may be present in the sewage. Studies were initiated to determine viral persistence in soil and on crops grown under natural conditions in field plots that had been flooded to a depth of 1 inch (2.54 cm) with poliovirus 1-inoculated sewage wastes. Lettuce and radishes were planted in sludge- or effluent-flooded soil. In one study, the vegetables were planted 1 day before flooding, and in another they were planted 3 days after the plots were flooded. Survival of poliovirus 1 in soil irrigated with inoculated sewage sludge and effluent was determined during two summer growing seasons and one winter period. The longest period of survival was during the winter, when virus was detected after 96 days. During the summer, the longest survival period was 11 days. Poliovirus 1 was recovered from the mature vegetables 23 days after flooding of the plots had ceased. Lettuce and radishes are usually harvested 3 to 4 weeks after planting.

Poliovirus↗

PubMed1975

Collaborative study of the glass wool filtration method for the recovery of virus inoculated into ground beef.

A method for estimating viral population levels in ground beef was studied collaboratively in 7 laboratories. The collaborators recovered virus from 6 inoculated samples. Three samples were replicates of the high virus concentration 050 plaque-forming units (pfu)/g) and 3 replicates represented the low concentration (10 pfu/g). Six of the 7 collaborators recovered acceptable levels of virus from the samples. The per cent of variation was 30.6 for the high concentration and 18.5 for the low concentration. Collaborators did not differ from one another significantly in the results obtained for the 10 pfu/g samples, but results from one collaborator were significantly low for the recovery of virus from the 50 pfu/g samples. The results indicate that the glass wool filtration method is adequate for the detection of a number of viruses that may be found in foods. The method has been adopted as official first action.

Animals↗

PubMed1973

Gamma radiation inactivation of coxsackievirus B-2.

The radioresistance of coxsackievirus B-2 was studied when the virus was suspended in Eagle minimal essential medium, distilled water, cooked ground beef, and raw ground beef and irradiated at various temperatures in a cobalt-60 gamma radiation source. The number of surviving viruses at given doses of radiation was determined by a plaque assay system. All destruction curves indicated a first-order reaction. When the virus was irradiated in minimal essential medium at temperatures of -30, -60, and -90 C, D values (in Mrad) were 0.69, 0.59, and 0.64, respectively. When the virus was suspended in water and irradiated at -90 C, the D value was 0.53. Cooked ground beef containing the virus was irradiated at temperatures ranging from 16 to -90 C. The D values were 0.70 (16 C), 0.76 (0.5 C), 0.68 (-30 C), 0.78 (-60 C), and 0.81 (-90 C). Raw ground beef containing the virus was irradiated at -30, -60, and -90 C, and the D values were respectively 0.75, 0.71, and 0.68. The D values indicate that the rate of viral inactivation was dependent on the suspending menstrum.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1973

Comparison of methods for the recovery of virus inoculated into ground beef.

Various methods for the recovery of virus inoculated into ground beef were investigated in an attempt to develop a sensitive system that could be used to detect viral contaminants in market foods. A 100-g sample, inoculated with poliovirus 1, was suspended in 150 to 900 ml of Eagle minimum essential medium, pH 8.5, and mixed in either plastic bags or plastic cups on a mechanical shaker. The particulate materials were removed by means of cheese cloth, glass wool, woven fiber glass, or low-speed centrifugation. Large volumes of fluid were concentrated by ultrafiltration. Microbiological contamination was controlled by high antibiotic concentrations or by filtration. Quantitative plaque-forming-unit recovery of the virus was determined by utilizing an agar overlay technique on Vero cell cultures. The data indicated that from 20 to 50% of the seeded virus could be recovered from a 100-g sample of ground beef. The glass wool and woven fiber glass methods were the most effective, with recovery of approximately 50% of the inoculated virus.

Acetates↗

PubMed1971

Inactivation of thirty viruses by gamma radiation.

Decimal reduction values (D value) for 30 viruses were determined. The weighted D values of the viruses suspended in Eagle's minimum essential medium ranged from 0.39 to 0.53 Mrads. It was necessary to increase the radiation dose by a factor of >3 to inactivate virus suspended in Eagle's minimum essential medium as compared to the same virus suspended in distilled water. The destruction rate curves were of a first-order reaction.

Amino Acids↗