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Biomedical subjects

H R Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to H R Anderson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Fasciola hepatica: tegumental changes induced in vitro by the deacetylated (amine) metabolite of diamphenethide.

The effect of the deacetylated (amine) metabolite of diamphenethide (10 mugm/ml) on the tegument of Fasciola hepatica over a 24 hr period in vitro has been determined by means of transmission electron microscopy. In the tegumental syncytium, there is an initial accumulation of T2 secretory bodies at the apical surface (after 6 hr), together with increased exocytosis of secretory bodies and blebbing of the surface membrane. After 9 hr, the two surfaces of the fluke show different tegumental responses to drug treatment with a marked swelling of the basal infolds in the dorsal tegument, while the ventral tegument remains normal. By 18 hr, the swelling in the dorsal tegument is very severe, the entire basal region becoming edematous. In some areas, the tegument becomes detached to expose the basal lamina. The ventral tegument retains a fairly normal morphology, although there is a slight swelling of the basal infolds. The edema spreads internally to the cell bodies, beginning after 9 hr on the dorsal side of the fluke and 18 hr on the ventral side. By 18 hr, the flooding on the dorsal side is very severe and the cells attenuated, retaining few contacts with the surrounding parenchyma. From 9 hr onwards, there are progressive changes in cell structure, including a decrease in amount of granular endoplasmic reticulum and extent of its ribosomal covering, a decrease in numbers of secretory bodies, a swelling of the trans-most Golgi cisternae and disruption of the release of secretory bodies, and a swelling and disorganization of the mitochondria. The results are discussed in relation to the postulated activity of the deacetylated (amine) metabolite of diamphenethide as a Na+ ionophore.

Acetanilides↗
PubMed1986

The natural history of asthma in childhood.

The incidence and prognosis of childhood asthma and wheezing illness (AW) was studied using data obtained at ages 7, 11, and 16 from a national cohort of 8806 children born in 1958. By the age of 16, 24.7% were reported to have experienced at least one episode of AW. In 18.3% AW had started before the age of 8, but only 4.2% continued to have symptoms in later childhood. A further 3.6% began to have AW between the ages of 8 and 11, and 2.8% began between the ages of 12 and 16. Of those with AW at age 7, 28.3% had symptoms at 11 and 16.5% at 16; these proportions were about doubled if AW at 7 had been severe. The associations between natural history and a large number of perinatal, social, environmental, and medical factors were examined. Those which predicted the onset of AW after the age of 7 were: male sex of child; mother aged 15-19 at child's birth; history of pneumonia, whooping cough, throat or ear infections or tonsillectomy; eczema, allergic rhinitis; and periodic vomiting or abdominal pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Effect of whooping cough in infancy on subsequent lung function and bronchial reactivity.

Thirty-six children younger than 1 yr of age hospitalized for whooping cough approximately 9 yr previously (cases) were compared with 36 control children of the same age and sex. Subjects were sampled from participants in an earlier large field study of the long-term sequelae of whooping cough. Respiratory symptoms were more common in cases, although the differences were not statistically significant. Cases were significantly more likely either to be atopic or to have a family history of wheezing illness. There were no significant differences between cases and control subjects in lung function indices derived from maximal expiratory flow volume loops or from single-breath nitrogen washout tests or in bronchial reactivity as judged by the histamine challenge PC20. The evidence from both the present and the earlier study indicates that whooping cough is unlikely to be a causal factor in later respiratory illnesses and symptoms and that no deficit in lung function can be detected in later childhood. The disease may, however, occur more frequently or be more easily recognized in children with environmental or constitutional factors that predispose to respiratory morbidity.

Asthma↗
PubMed1985

Impact of whooping cough on patients and their families.

The effects of whooping cough were studied in 21 children admitted to hospital with the disease and in their families. The illness caused considerable distress to both child and family. Parents suffered especially from fears for the life and health of their child and from serious loss of sleep. Two months after admission the child's behaviour was still disturbed, but in most cases the rest of the family had returned to normal. There was much misunderstanding and misinformation about whooping cough among both parents and doctors.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Deaths from abuse of volatile substances: a national epidemiological study.

A survey of the United Kingdom detected 282 deaths from abuse of volatile substances during 1971-83. Deaths appeared to have increased in the most recent years, reaching 80 in 1983. Age at death ranged from 11 to 76 years but most deaths (72%) occurred under 20 years. Ninety five per cent of the subjects were male, and in 1983 deaths from volatile substance abuse accounted for 2% of all deaths in males aged 10-19. All areas of the United Kingdom were affected, the rates being highest in Scotland and urban areas. All social classes were affected, though rates were highest in social class V and the armed forces. The volatile substances abused were gas fuels (24%), mainly butane; aerosol sprays (17%); solvents in glues (27%); and other volatile substances, such as cleaning agents (31%). In 51% of cases death was attributed to the direct toxic effects of the substance abused, in 21% to plastic bag asphyxia, in 18% to inhalation of stomach contents, and in 11% to trauma. Deaths associated with the abuse of glues were more likely to be traumatic, but all substances appeared capable of killing directly by their toxic effects, probably by a cardiac mechanism. Only a small proportion of deaths (6%) were due to the abuse of glues among children under 16; hence current attempts to limit access of children to glues will probably have little impact on overall mortality.

Adhesives↗
PubMed1985

The severity of whooping cough in hospitalised children--is it declining?

Four hundred and sixty admissions for whooping cough to three hospitals between 1974-9 were reviewed. Many children had a long illness. More than half of them had severe or moderately severe coughing spasms and a quarter had pronounced feeding difficulties. The incidence of clinical pneumonia and convulsions was low and there were no deaths. The disease continues to be much more severe in infancy. There was some evidence that the disease declined in severity over the period studied. A number of factors including increased use of erythromycin may have contributed to this change.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Reading attainment and physical development after whooping cough.

Anthropometric measurements were made on 360 primary school children with a history of whooping cough and on 711 controls. Altogether 245 (68%) cases and 469 (66%) controls had taken tests of reading attainment and a smaller number had taken tests of intelligence. No significant differences were found between cases and controls in any of the anthropometric measurements nor in reading age or intelligence quotient after controlling for social class and parental smoking. Whooping cough is, in general, unlikely to cause subsequent deficiency in physical or mental development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The health of rectal cancer patients in the community.

Surviving rectal cancer patients living in five health districts were identified through cancer registrations. Four hundred and twenty (91%) were interviewed at home by health visitors to assess their physical, social and psychological health. In most respects, the health of rectal cancer patients overall was similar to that of the general population of the same age, sex and social circumstances. However, those with a colostomy (63%) were more likely to be severely depressed, socially isolated and stigmatized. They also suffered more from physical problems, particularly urinary symptoms, flatus and offensive bowel motions. The pressure of a colostomy was associated with reduced sexual capacity, though not with lack of sexual interest. The results confirm the high psychological and social costs of a permanent colostomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Stigma in patients with rectal cancer: a community study.

A self-rating measure of stigma and several supplementary questions were devised in order to assess perceived stigma in a community survey of the quality of life in 420 rectal cancer patients, of whom 265 had a permanent colostomy. Half the patients felt stigmatised, higher proportions being observed among younger patients and among those with a colostomy. Feelings of stigma were associated with poor health, particularly emotional disorders, with the presence of other medical problems, and with disablement. Patients who perceived stigma made more use of medical services but were less satisfied with them, particularly with regard to communication with health professionals. Socio-economic factors, such as employment status, higher income, and higher social and housing class, did not protect patients against feeling stigmatised by cancer or by colostomy. Most patients, with or without stigma, enjoyed close relationships with intimates, but the stigmatised were more likely to have withdrawn from participation in social activities. Assessing stigma by self-rating gives information which adds to that obtained by the usual methods of assessing quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Variability of peak flow in wheezy children.

A study of peak flow variability was carried out among a population sample of 63 wheezy children aged 9-11 years. Recordings were made over 12 days at three times during the day--first thing in the morning, on returning home from school and at bedtime. Eighty nine per cent of the children had symptoms during the diary period. The mean amplitude (difference between the highest and lowest daily peak flow values) was 17% of the mean daily value (range 4-48%). By cosinor analysis the amplitude was 12% of the mean value (range 1-53%). In 65% of the children the lowest point of the daily rhythm as determined by cosinor analysis lay between midnight and 8am; the rhythm was, however, statistically significant in only fourteen individuals (22%). These levels of variability are considerably lower than those previously reported in hospital based studies of adult asthmatics. As a method of demonstrating variable airflow obstruction, which is the defining physiological characteristic of asthma, the use of a peak flow diary alone appears to be of limited value in children.

Asthma↗
PubMed1984

Current tuberculosis screening practices.

Health department officials in all 50 states and 14 major cities responded to a survey questionnaire designed to obtain information about current tuberculosis screening practices. Persons being screened fell into the groups designated as high risk by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The methods used for screening were generally those advocated by ATS, CDC, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although chest radiographs continue to be overused. Screening in about one-half of the groups is mandated by law or regulation. There appears to be some confusion about the circumstances in which "two-step" tuberculin testing should be used. Data on the productivity and costs of screening activities were very limited. We encourage those responsible for tuberculosis screening programs to evaluate them, discontinue those which are unproductive, and intensify those which are productive.

Female↗
PubMed1983

Respiratory morbidity and lung function after whooping-cough.

360 primary-school children with a history of whooping-cough were shown to have experienced an excess of other chest illnesses compared with 711 controls. This susceptibility may, however, have antedated the whooping-cough. Current respiratory symptoms were also more common in children who had had whooping-cough, though no differences were found on physical examination. No differences were found in lung function between cases and controls. Whooping-cough, as experienced by British children in recent years, is unlikely to cause subsequent respiratory morbidity and does not result in impaired lung function in later childhood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Morbidity and school absence caused by asthma and wheezing illness.

A survey in the London Borough of Croydon was conducted among an entire school cohort, aged about 9 years, to describe the current morbidity from wheezing illness, its relation to social and family factors, and its effects on social and educational development. A postal screening questionnaire was sent to 5100 parents, and 11.1% of the children were reported to have had wheezing illness over the previous 12 months. A sample of 284 parents were subsequently interviewed at home about their child's illness. School absence over the past year caused by wheezing illness was reported by 58%; and in 12% of children this amounted to more than 30 school days. School absence was strongly associated with all other indicators of morbidity-- short and long term. The proportion described as having "asthma' rose from 22% in those with no absence, to 50% in those with more than 30 days absence. Compared with 92 randomly selected controls with no history of wheezing, wheezy children had more atopic conditions, recurrent headaches, and abdominal pains. School absence was associated with parental separation, non-manual occupation of the mother, more than three children in the household, poor maternal mental health, lack of access to a car, and renting of accommodation. The child's illness had substantial effects on the activities of the mother and the rest of the family, but not on the child's social and recreational activities. Children with over 6 weeks' school absence scored appreciably worse on a teacher's assessment of their social, psychological, and educational adjustment.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1983

Medical care of asthma and wheezing illness in children: a community survey.

A survey was carried out to investigate the medical care of asthma and wheezing illness in a school population. Children with current wheezing illness were identified by a screening questionnaire to the parents of 5100 children in one school cohort from all schools in an outer London borough. Of the 89% who responded, 11.1% reported wheezing within the past 12 months. Parents of a sample of 284 wheezy children aged about 9 were interviewed at home about their child's illness and the related use of drugs and services. There was evidence of substantial underuse of services and this was not associated with social, family, or general practice factors. Considerable proportions of children were not having drug treatment, were receiving only non-antiasthmatic drugs, or were using antiasthmatic drugs incorrectly. The most important social and family factor associated with undertreatment was poor maternal mental health, and this factor appeared to explain the observed association of manual social class with undertreatment. Only about half of the most severe group were labelled as having "asthma," and those with this label were more likely to be receiving treatment and using outpatient services. The results show that the potential of modern treatment to prevent disability due to wheezing illness is not being realised despite the existence of a free and accessible health service.

Absenteeism↗