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Biomedical subjects

H Carter

Publications and source records attributed to H Carter.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Measles, mumps, and rubella: the need for a change in immunisation policy.

There is growing evidence that the present policy of childhood immunisation in the United Kingdom is inadequate. It is unlikely ever to achieve complete eradication of the congenital rubella syndrome and measles, and the problem of mumps has not even begun to be addressed. After a coordinated campaign to increase uptake of immunisation in Fife the uptake of rubella immunisation in teenage girls increased from 75% in 1981 to 94% in 1985 and the uptake of measles vaccination in preschool children from 55% in 1981 to 81% in 1985. There are a few girls each year who do not accept rubella immunisation, whose immune state is unknown, and who are consequently at risk of rubella during future pregnancies. Despite the increased uptake of measles vaccine over the past four years there is currently an epidemic of measles in Fife, with 544 notified cases in the first quarter of 1986. In 1984, 19 Fife residents were admitted to hospital because of complications of mumps. The time is ripe for a complete reassessment of the national immunisation policy.

Adolescent↗

Gastric antisecretory and antiulcer properties of enprostil, (+/-)-11 alpha, 15 alpha-dihydroxy-16-phenoxy-17,18,19,20-tetranor-9-oxoprosta- 4,5,13(t)-trienoic acid methyl ester.

Prostaglandins of the E series have been shown, both in animals and humans to produce gastrointestinal antisecretory and antiulcer effects. Enprostil, a modified allenic prostaglandin E was found to be a highly potent inhibitor of gastric HCl secretion in a variety of species. In rats, in which both the pylorus and esophagus were ligated, p.o. ED50 values and 95% CL for inhibiting acid secretion evoked by histamine, pentagastrin and carbachol were 9.9 (6.7-15), 40 (11-145) and 0.83 (0.78-0.89) micrograms/kg, respectively. In inhibiting histamine-evoked acid secretion, enprostil was more potent when administered p.o. than when injected into the duodenum or s.c. When enprostil was injected directly into the pouch of Heidenhein dogs, intense antisecretory activity occurred, ED50 = 0.9 (0.7-1.1) micrograms/kg, whereas, when given p.o. to the main stomach the ED50 was 6.6 (3.2-13.6) micrograms/kg. Administration of cimetidine either p.o. or to the pouch resulted in virtually identical ED50 values, viz., 2.9 and 3.1 mg/kg. Enprostil also inhibited dimaprit- and pentagastrin-induced acid secretion in cats with permanent gastric fistulae. The oral ED50 values for inhibiting acid secretion evoked by these two secretagogues were 2.5 (1.4-4.3) and 0.8 (0.5-1.5) micrograms/kg, respectively. Enprostil was extremely potent in preventing indomethacin plus "cold stress" ulcers in rats. When given orally the ED50 was 0.61 (0.31-1.22) and s.c. it was 22 (9.0-52) micrograms/kg. It was also highly potent in preventing cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers when given p.o., ED50 = 20 (17-23) micrograms/kg. Thus, enprostil is a highly potent antisecretory and antiulcer agent. It appears to act topically; directly at gastric mucosal sites.

Animals↗

[A project for developing rheumatologic epidemiology in France. The setting up of a network].

The epidemiological approach is indispensable in rheumatology. It involves the collection of quantitative data on the extent and geographical distribution of different rheumatismal pathologies, their socioeconomic consequences, the handicap they produce, the evaluation of a system of care and the risk factors involved. The epidemiological group of the French Rheumatology Society has recorded the data currently available in France and the studies performed in France and abroad. It recommends the setting up of an epidemiological monitoring network on a national scale consisting of rheumatologists and general practitioners.

Epidemiologic Methods↗

[Rheumatic morbidity seen in their consultation work by rheumatologists of the epidemiology team of the French Rheumatology Society].

The authors present the Epidemiology Team of the French Rheumatology Society. This Society was founded in order to involve practitioners in epidemiologic research in rheumatology and to provide them with practical information likely to be of value to them. The team currently includes 251 rheumatologists and 125 general practitioners. A survey of members was carried out concerning their patients. The data collected concerned a total of 5,581 patients seen by the rheumatologists. The national significance of the findings is discussed.

Female↗

[Surveys of the epidemiological team of the French Rheumatology Society (RESFR) on the prescription of D-penicillamine in the treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis].

Two surveys carried out by the Epidemiology Team of the French Rheumatology Society (RESFR) were used to assess the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by means of D-penicillamine (DP). In the initial survey, which is described in this article, 119 rheumatologists throughout France were asked to give their opinion as to the place of DP: they use this drug in cases of severe RA, usually after gold salts and synthetic antimalarials have proved ineffective. The dosage is generally 600 mg per day, with a maximum dosage of 900 mg per day. The rheumatologists consider DP an effective treatment with good or fair clinical safety. The most frequent adverse reactions are proteinuria and skin eruptions.

Adult↗

[Myasthenia induced by D-penicillamine during the treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis].

Seven cases of myasthenia induced by D-penicillamine treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are presented. The 86 cases published so far are reviewed. The clinical symptoms do not differ from those of the idiopathic form. Progress is rapid and, generally, good. The duration and dosage of the treatment are not involved. The presence of acetylcholine-antireceptor antibodies confirms the autoimmune origin of the condition. Possible mechanisms by which this disorder could be induced are discussed. Investigation of HLA phenotypes suggests that the genetic basis of induced myasthenia differs from that of the idiopathic form (increased prevalence of DR1).

Adult↗

Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in New Zealand, 1974-78: ethnic, sex and geographical differences.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in New Zealand is examined for the period 1974-78. There was a significant north-south gradient for both Maori and non-Maori incidence rates, with the rates in the northern half of the North Island being approximately double those in the South Island. Within each region, Maori rates were approximately three times those of non-Maoris and incidence rates of males were approximately three times those of females. Incidence was particularly high in the Bay of Plenty, Waiapu and Otago hospital board districts. These patterns are generally consistent with available information concerning the distribution of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage in New Zealand and suggest that HBsAg carriage is likely to be a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in New Zealand, as it is in other countries.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Effect of applying the Honan intraocular pressure reducer before cataract surgery.

We studied 48 patients undergoing cataract extraction with local anesthesia. In 41 patients, after administering the retrobulbar injection, we applied the Honan intraocular pressure reducer for seven to ten minutes at a pressure setting of 30 mm Hg. Of these 41 patients, 13 received 3-ml injections, 14 received 4-ml injections, and 14 received 5-ml injections. No differences in intraocular pressure related to the quantity of retrobulbar injection were noted. After retrobulbar injection, the mean intraocular pressure for the study population as a whole increased 4.4 mm Hg; after application of the Honan device, it decreased 6.2 mm Hg. In a control group of seven patients, who received 4-ml retrobulbar injections but no applications of the Honan device, mean intraocular pressure increased 6.1 mm Hg immediately after retrobulbar injection and decreased only 0.7 mm Hg after seven to ten minutes.

Bupivacaine↗

Measles immunisation: results of a local programme to increase vaccine uptake.

Investigations showed that the measles immunisation programme in our health board was a failure. Surveys of health care staff and parents to determine the cause of the problem identified several aspects of concern: the immunisation of children was often left to parental initiative, with only 29% of general practitioners playing an active part in recalling children by the 15th month of age; general practitioners, clinical medical officers, paediatricians, and health visitors all required education on several aspects of measles immunisation; parents also required more information about the importance of preventing this disease. A coordinated effort to remedy these problems was introduced which achieved an increase of 13% in vaccine uptake during 1984. These findings may have implications beyond our own area.

Attitude to Health↗

Isolation of hamster intestinal epithelial cells using hypoosmotic media and PVP.

Vibration of hamster small intestinal segments in hypotonic media containing PVP is a rapid method for obtaining quantitative yields of viable intestinal epithelial cells. This preparation of epithelial cells offers a unique system for the study of epithelial cell function in vitro. The method for cell separation combines hypoosmotic swelling of cells, which separates them at the desmosomes, with mechanical agitation which releases the cells from the lamina propria. No chemical agents known to affect cell proteins and cell surfaces are employed in this procedure. Only a short time is elapsed between in vivo and in vitro conditions, i.e., a preparation time of approximately 75 minutes. Although the technique yields a pure population of epithelial cells, the cells are of different morphologies, are removed from different areas of the crypts and villi, and therefore presumably have different functions. Examination of the intestinal tissue remaining after several vibration intervals by light and scanning electron microscopy indicates that the sequence of release of cells is removal of: (1) cells from the villus bases, (2) cells from the lower one-half to two-thirds of the villi, (3) cells from the villus tips (and some crypts), and (4) cells from the crypts. When pools of a+b cells are compared to pools of c+d cells, it is found that villus cells can be characterized by: (1) processes, such as monosaccharide absorption, associated with the brush border, and (2) synthesis of components (e.g., glycoproteins) of the brush border. Surprisingly, disaccharide hydrolytic activity is found in cells which transport monosaccharides poorly. The subpopulations of cells synthesize proteins equally.

Animals↗