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Biomedical subjects

I G Barrison

Publications and source records attributed to I G Barrison.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Heterotopic gastric tissue in the duodenum: a report of eight cases.

Eight patients with intraduodenal gastric heterotopic are described. Seven were under investigation for x-ray-negative dyspepsia, and one presented with repeated attacks of hematemesis. As all of these cases were diagnosed by the use of upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy under direct vision, it is likely that more widespread use of these techniques will lead to an increase in the reported incidence of a condition previously thought to be rare.

Aged↗

Cell-mediated immunity in HBeAg-positive homosexuals with chronic liver disease.

Chronic liver disease developing after infection with the hepatitis B virus may be due to impairment of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). In a study of CMI by the lymphocyte transformation test to two mitogens and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) the response to the mitogens, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and purified protein derivative (PPD), was normal in all of 15 male homosexuals with HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease, indicating a normal non-specific cellular immune response. By contrast, only one of the 15 patients showed a response to HBsAg, which may explain the high prevalence of chronic HBsAg carriage in these patients.

Adult↗

Detecting excessive drinking among admissions to a general hospital.

A questionnaire combining items on alcohol consumption with the four CAGE questions was used by 27 housemen to detect abnormal drinking among 520 patients of all specialties admitted to a general hospital. 15.6--23.2% of patients were classified as abnormal drinkers with the largest proportions occurring among the emergency surgical, orthopaedic, psychiatric and medical patients. 95% of the abnormal drinkers were detected by the questions on consumption alone, while 22 of the 28 patients who were identified by both the consumption and CAGE questions had been admitted as a direct result of alcohol abuse. With the aid of simple questionnaire and some encouragement, junior medical staff can become quite adept at detecting abnormal drinkers in the course of their routine practice.

Alcoholism↗

Natural history of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. Survey of 100 patients from Great Britain.

100 consecutive British chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen seen in a London teaching hospital are described. 77 were male homosexuals and only 19 had either symptoms or signs of chronic liver disease. 27 had normal liver function tests and 69 of the remaining patients had minimal changes, chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed on liver biopsy. The 4 remaining patients did not have a biopsy but did have abnormal liver function tests. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection was an important cause of these conditions. Most patients showed no clinical, biochemical, or histological change during a mean follow-up period of 44 months, and only 9.7% spontaneously seroconverted from hepatitis B antigen positivity to become anti-hepatitis B e antibody carriers. Although the prognosis is good in the medium term, 7 patients died from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adolescent↗

The HBe antigen-antibody system and its relationship to clinical and laboratory findings in 100 chronic HBsAg carriers in Great Britain.

HBeAg or anti HBe were detected using radioimmunoassay in 93 out of 100 British patients who were chronic HBsAg carriers. HBeAg was found more commonly than anti HBe in younger patients and those with higher titres of HbsAg and abnormal liver function tests. HBeAg was present particularly in patients with chronic active hepatitis (26 out of 29) and chronic persistent hepatitis (16 out of 21). Anti HBe was found particularly in healthy carriers (19 out of 27), and patients with cirrhosis (4 out of 8) and hepatocellular carcinoma (7 out of 8). However, the system was of little help in predicting the liver biopsy appearances in the individual patient. During a mean follow-up period of 44 months, 6 of the 62 (9.7%) HBeAg positive carriers converted to anti HBe, a spontaneous seroconversion rate of 2.68% per year.

Adolescent↗

Screening for occult gastrointestinal bleeding in hospital patients.

Stools have been tested for occult gastrointestinal bleeding in 278 outpatients and 170 hospital inpatients using the Haemoccult and Haemastix methods. Seventeen outpatients (6.1%) and 42 inpatients (24%) were positive with the Haemoccult technique. Thirty-three outpatients (11.9%) and 93 inpatients (54.7%) were positive with the Haemastix test. Following investigation of the Haemoccult-positive patients, only 2 cases (3.4%) were considered false positive. However, the false positive rate with Haemastix was 22.9% which is unacceptable in a screening test. Haemoccult may be useful as a screening test for asymptomatic general practice patients, but a test of greater sensitivity is needed for hospital patients.

Adolescent↗

Oesophageal ulceration due to emepronium bromide.

Four cases of oesophageal damage associated with ingestion of the urinary anti-spasmodic agent emepronium bromide are described. All the patients presented with severe retrosternal pain worsened by swallowing food and drink, and in every case fibre-optic endoscopy revealed ulceration of the midoesophagus. Symptoms disappeared rapidly following cessation of emepromium bromide therapy. The means whereby this agent might injure oseophageal mucosa are discussed.

Adult↗