Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Allen

Publications and source records attributed to J Allen.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Adolescent and adult lymphoblastic leukaemia: prognostic factors and response to treatment.

Thirty consecutive patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who received treatment at Christchurch Hospital between 1972 and 1982 were reviewed. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 80 per cent with a median survival of 65 weeks. Eleven of 30 patients had one or more of the following features--B cell ALL, a mediastinal mass, the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) and age 60 years or older at diagnosis. Although CR was obtained in 8 of these patients none survived three years. The remaining 19 patients were regarded as 'good risk' and treated by moderate intensity chemotherapy schedules. CR was obtained in 16 of these patients (84 per cent) and the estimated 5 year survival was 62 per cent with 6 patients remaining in remission from 5 to 9 years from diagnosis. These results demonstrate the value of objective and reproducible clinical and laboratory findings in defining a subset of ALL patients which may not require high intensity chemotherapy schedules.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A preliminary metabolic study of alpidem in rat and man.

The metabolism of alpidem, a new anxiolytic agent in the chemical series of imidazopyridines, was investigated in rat and man. In both species the compound is extensively metabolised by three main routes of biotransformation: aromatic oxidation of the imidazopyridine ring; n-dealkylation; and/or aliphatic oxidation of the substituted amide side chains.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Steroid hormone receptors and sex chromatin frequency in breast cancer.

Cytosol and nuclear estrogen receptors and cytosol progesterone receptors were measured in 17 primary breast tumors and compared with sex chromatin frequencies. In cases with sex chromatin frequencies of greater than 20% there were 7/7 tumors with cytosol estrogen and progesterone receptors, 6/7 with cytosol and nuclear estrogen receptors, and 6/7 with all 3 receptors. This high proportion of receptor positive cases was not observed at lower sex chromatin frequencies. Sex chromatin frequencies in all the cytosol estrogen and progesterone receptor positive tumors were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than in the other groups. Our results suggest a possible association between the presence of steroid hormone receptors and sex chromatin frequencies of greater than 20%.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relaxant effects of hexosamines on isolated small human placental arteries.

Wharton's jelly contains large amounts of hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine is an important constituent of this macromolecule. In order to evaluate the placental vascular effects of this aminosugar, small chorionic and stem villous arteries were dissected from placental specimens obtained at normal term vaginal deliveries (n = 15). Ring preparations were mounted in organ baths, and isometric wall tensions were measured. Glucosamine and its epimer galactosamine (5 X 10(-4) to 10(-2) M) produced marked relaxation of contractions induced by PGF2 alpha (10(-5) M) in both chorionic and stem villous arteries. The effect was unchanged after pretreatment with atropin, propranolol and indomethacin. The relaxant effect of the neutral sugar mannose was less pronounced compared with that of the hexosamines. Total tissue concentrations of placental hexosamines have been reported within the range needed to produce placental vascular relaxation in the present study. However, the major part of these compounds is integrated in macromolecules, and the tissue level of free hexosamine is probably far below the total concentrations. Accordingly, the effects of hexosamines demonstrated in the present study might not be of physiological importance in the regulation of fetal placental medial smooth muscle tension.

Arteries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and substance P on human intramyometrial arteries and stem villous arteries in term pregnancy.

The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and substance P on isolated human intramyometrial arteries and fetal stem villous arteries obtained from term pregnant women were compared. Ring preparations of small intramyometrial arteries and fetal stem villous arteries obtained at caesarean section were mounted in organ baths, and isometric tension was recorded. None of the peptides affected resting tension. In intramyometrial arteries precontracted by vasopressin (2.8 x 10(-9) M) both substance P (10(-12) to 10(-8) M) and VIP (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) caused relaxation. In fetal stem villous arteries precontracted by prostaglandin F2 alpha (10(-5) M) cumulative addition of substance P (10(-11) to 10(-6) M) did not produce significant changes in tension as compared with controls, while addition of single doses produced moderate relaxation. VIP (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) induced relaxation with similar effects for the addition of cumulative and single doses. The responses to VIP and substance P remained unaffected after pretreatment by atropine (10(-6) M), propranolol (10(-6) M), and indomethacin (10(-6) M). The results support a role for VIP and substance P in the regulation of uteroplacental blood flow in term pregnancy.

Arteries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mindfulness of movement as a coping strategy in multiple sclerosis. A pilot study.

This study investigated the effectiveness of a short course of mindfulness of movement to help with symptom management in eight people with multiple sclerosis. Progress was compared to a control group who were asked to continue with their current care. Each participant received six individual one-to-one sessions of instruction. They were also provided with audio and videotape aides. Each participant was assessed on a test of balance, pre- and post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. All participants completed a rating of change of 22 symptoms relevant to multiple sclerosis. A close relative or friend was also asked to assess independently the degree of change. The mindfulness group reported improvement over a broad range of symptoms. This was verified by the relatives' independent rating and maintained at 3 month follow-up. The control group showed no improvement but instead tended towards a deterioration on many of the items. The physical assessment of balance also showed a significant improvement for the mindfulness group. This improvement was maintained at 3 month follow-up. In conclusion, training in mindfulness of movement appeared to result in improved symptom management for this group of people with multiple sclerosis. This was a pilot study, using small numbers, so the results need to be treated with caution. Several improvements to the experimental design are suggested. The role of individual therapeutic ingredients is discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radioactive mercury distribution in biological fluids and excretion in human subjects after inhalation of mercury vapor.

The distribution of mercury in red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma, and its excretion in urine and feces are described in five human subjects during the first 7 days following inhalation of radioactive mercury vapor. A major portion (98%) of radioactive mercury in whole blood is initially accumulated in the RBCs and is transferred partly to the plasma compartment until the ratio of mercury in RBCs to plasma is about 2 within 20 hr. The cumulative urinary and fecal excretion of mercury for 7 days is about 11.6% of the retained dose, and is closely related to the percent decline in body burden of mercury. There is little correlation between either the urinary excretion and plasma radioactivity of mercury, or the specific activities of urine and plasma mercury, suggesting a mechanism other than a direct glomercular filtration involved in the urinary excretion of recently exposed mercury. These studies suggest that blood mercury levels can be used as an index of recent exposure, while urinary levels may be an index of renal concentration of mercury. Howver, there is no reliable index for mercury concentration in the brain.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reliability of photographic analysis in determining change in scar appearance.

Photographs frequently are used to document change in the management of hypertrophic scars. The purpose of this study was to design a scale for the analysis of photographs of hypertrophic scars and to test its reliability. The subjects were four occupational and physical therapists, (two novices and two experts), in scar management. Existing scales were modified to produce a new scale. The subjects twice rated four slides from each of ten patients' scars, in random order. They used a Latin Square design. Interrater and test-retest reliabilities were calculated using a weighted kappa statistic. The newly developed scale demonstrated interrater reliability, which ranged between 0.66 and 0.90 for all items. The test-retest reliability ranged between 0.73 and 0.89 for all items. The new scale had substantial reliability (using a single rater) and was at least as reliable when used by novice therapists. This indicated that training had no effect.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social support and health behavior in hostile black and white men and women in CARDIA. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE: These cross-sectional analyses of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) data were stimulated by previous CARDIA analyses that showed an adverse association between hostility and several health behaviors: physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and caloric intake, in both black and white men and women, such that the higher the hostility, the worse the health behavior profile. The current study investigated whether high social support was associated with better health behavior than low social support in individuals with high hostility scores. METHODS: The subjects were 5115 healthy black and white men and women ranging in age from 18 to 30 years. The hypothesis was that the association between hostility and certain adverse health behaviors would be diminished in the presence of high social support. Race-gender specific median cutpoints of the Cook-Medley Hostility scale and an index of social support defined levels of high and low hostility and social support. RESULTS: After controlling for age and body mass index (BMI), support was positively associated with more exercise in all groups except black women, but when coupled with high hostility, this positive association between support and exercise remained only in men. White women with high support were less often smokers but this association did not hold when examined only in the high-hostile group. Black men and white women with high support in the presence of high hostility consumed more alcohol, but the amount was moderate. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that social support in the presence of high hostility only sometimes reduces the association of hostility to adverse health behaviors and that these effects are complex. Additional research investigating types of social support on health behavior in different race-gender groups is advocated.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Consultation patterns and provision of contraception in general practice before teenage pregnancy: case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine patterns of consultation in general practice and provision of contraception before teenage pregnancy. DESIGN: Case-control study, with retrospective analysis of case notes. SETTING: 14 general practices in Trent region. SUBJECTS: 240 registered patients (cases) with a recorded conception before the age of 20. Three controls per case were matched by age and practice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Consultations in general practice and provision of contraception in the 12 months before conception and recorded provision of contraception at any time before conception. RESULTS: Overall, 223 cases (93%) had consulted a health professional at least once in the year before conception, 171 (71%) had discussed contraception in this time, and 121 (50%) had been prescribed oral contraception. Cases were more likely to have consulted in the year before conception than controls (odds ratio 2. 70, 95% confidence interval 1.56 to 4.66). Most of the difference was owing to consultation for contraception. Overall, 53 cases (22%) resulted in a termination of pregnancy. Cases whose pregnancy ended in a termination were more likely to have received emergency contraception than either their controls (3.21, 1.32 to 7.79) or cases resulting in other outcomes (3.01, 1.06 to 8.51). CONCLUSIONS: Most teenagers who became pregnant attended general practice in the year before pregnancy, and many had sought contraceptive advice. The reluctance of teenagers to attend general practice for contraception may be less than previously supposed. The association between provision of emergency contraception and pregnancy ending in termination emphasises the need for continuing follow up of teenagers consulting for this form of contraception.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator--part of the solution.

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator, which is based on the work of Jung, is used in an infinite variety of settings to enhance learning, personal development and team building. This article describes its particular relevance to the nursing profession.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of three arterial pulse waveform classification techniques.

Peripheral pulse waveforms can become stretched and damped with increasing severity of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and hence could provide valuable diagnostic information. This study compares the diagnostic performance of 3 established classification techniques (a linear discriminant classifier, a k-nearest neighbour classifier, and an artificial neural network) for the detection of lower limb arterial disease from pulse waveforms obtained using photoelectric plethysmography (PPG). Pulse waveforms and pre- and post-exercise Doppler ultrasound ankle to brachial pressure indices (ABPI) were obtained from patients attending a vascular measurement laboratory. A single PPG pulse from each big toe was recorded direct to computer, pre-processed, and then used as classifier input data. The correct classifier outputs were the corresponding ABPI diagnostic classification. Pulse and ABPI measurements from 100 legs were used as training data for each classifier, and the computed classifications for pulses from a further 266 legs were then compared with their ABPI diagnoses. The diagnostic accuracy of the artificial neural network (80%; was higher than for the optimized k-nearest neighbour classifier (k = 27, accuracy 76% and the linear discriminant classifier (71%). The Kappa measure of agreement which excludes chance was highest for the artificial neural network (57%) and significantly higher than that of the linear discriminant classifier (Kappa 40%, p < 0.05). The value of Kappa for the optimized k-nearest neighbour classifier (k = 27) was intermediate at 47%. This study has shown that classifiers can be taught to discriminate between small, and perhaps subtle, differences in features. We have demonstrated that artificial neural networks can be used to classify arterial pulse waveforms, and can perform better overall than k-nearest neighbour or linear discriminant classifiers for this application.

Ankle↗