Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J E Fincham

Publications and source records attributed to J E Fincham.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Mseleni joint disease. Part II. Low serum calcium and magnesium levels in women.

Low calcium and magnesium levels were found in serum from women domiciled in an area where an osteo-arthrosis with a female preponderance is endemic. Despite decreased serum calcium, the methodology used indicated low circulating parathyroid hormone, while values for phosphorus, total alkaline phosphatase and the serum proteins were not remarkable. Alcoholism was excluded as a factor influencing the measured variables. The results reported, together with previous findings, justify intensified investigation into the link between diet-induced mineral deficiencies and endemic osteo-arthrosis at Mseleni.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

How pharmacists are rated as a source of drug information by physician assistants.

A study to examine physician assistants' (PAs) views of drug information sources was undertaken in a sample of practicing PAs in Georgia. Analysis of Kendall's coefficient of concordance statistic indicated Pharm.D.s were ranked highest as being good sources of drug information of the six categories listed. Next in descending order of classification as good sources of drug information were the categories of journal articles, physicians, non-Pharm.D. pharmacists, detail persons, and physician assistants. A significant correlation was found between PA contact with pharmacists and the classification of pharmacists as good sources of drug information. The difference in rating between Pharm.D.s and journal articles and physicians was not significantly different, but the rating differences between these categories and each of the other sources were statistically significant. Pharm.D. pharmacists were rated higher as a source of drug information than were non-Pharm.D. pharmacists. Results indicate pharmacists are viewed positively as sources of drug information for PAs, and that view increases with contact with pharmacists.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Predictors of patient satisfaction in a health maintenance organization.

Maintenance of patient satisfaction is essential to the success of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In the authors' study, patient satisfaction in an HMO was predicted significantly by four variables: level of patient-physician continuity, self-assessed health, patient view of preventive health practices, and view of provider communicative appropriateness.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

The influence of diet and dimethylhydrazine on the small and large intestine of vervet monkeys.

The morphological features of the intestine in monkeys on various diets with and without carcinogen were studied. Seventy adult female vervet monkeys were divided into seven treatment groups. Four groups received a Western high-fat low fibre diet (WD); two a Prudent low-fat higher fibre diet (PD) and one a control low-fat high fibre diet (CD). Three groups (2 WD, I PD) received dimethylhydrazine 10 mg/kg intramuscularly at 14 days intervals. After 18 months, monkeys of two groups on the WD were transferred to the PD and 30 months later all were terminated. Small and large intestine were examined macroscopically, histologically with morphometry, histochemically for acid and neutral, sialo- and sulphomucins and enzyme-histochemically for mucosal gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity. Large intestines in all other than CD, particularly in WD-treated animals were dilated, thin walled, less corrugated and contained more residual contents. Diverticulosis was found to be mostly associated with WD. Apparently histologically normal colonic mucosa showed changed mucin secretion, predominantly in WD groups, and also GGT activity in all but CD groups. Changes which could be associated with pre-malignancy occurred predominantly but not exclusively in carcinogen treated animals. Within 4 years of feeding to monkeys, diets used by affluent western man caused distinct changes suggestive of the development of intestinal diseases such as megacolon, diverticulosis and cancer. Feeding a prudent diet resulted in only a mild reduction of these signs, whereas they were absent in a usual monkey diet that was much lower in animal products and refined carbohydrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Ethanol drinking by vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus pygerethrus): individual responses of juvenile and adult males.

Unrestricted access of vervet monkeys to a palatable solution of ethanol resulted in chronic intake or abstinence. Self-selected dose averaged 4.42 g/kg body mass/day. Growth of juveniles was not grossly affected. In plasma, chronic ethanol intake was associated with lower average K and Cl values, increased gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in some adults, and higher average total cholesterol. Neither hepatic histology nor haematology were affected by chronic ethanol intake.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Mseleni joint disease. Part I. An animal model?

Rats fed maize-based diets approximating to that eaten by blacks at risk of Mseleni joint disease developed fibrous osteodystrophy and nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, thought to be due to dietary calcium deficiency. This suggests that a dietary cause for this disease needs to be investigated further.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Using the health belief model to predict initial drug therapy defaulting.

In a study of HMO patients, a Health Belief Model (HBM) questionnaire was tested to determine whether initially drug defaulting patients could be differentiated from initially compliant patients. The results of discriminant analysis indicated that individuals in the two groups could be correctly classified at a level of 68.7%. The variables on which the initially defaulting sample collectively scored less on, and which produced the most discrimination between the two groups, were: feedback from physicians on how to take a newly prescribed drug: belief in benefits of medical care for symptoms or illnesses; convenience factors including travel, need for day care and time off from work without pay needed for medical services; length of HMO membership; and education. A total of 20% of the variance in the derived discriminant function could be accounted for by the two groups. The results indicate the utility of the HBM as a tool of prediction for this form of noncompliance, and suggest possible other patient behaviors that may be able to be predicted by the model. The results further suggest the need for increased communication between providers and patients in the health care setting.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The use of specialized patient medication information sheets with end stage renal disease patients: a pilot study.

Patient medication information sheets specifically tailored to dialysis patient drug therapies were formulated for use in an artificial kidney center. Assessment of the drug-therapy knowledge of a patient sample pointed out the need for such a specific educational intervention. Results indicated that 90% of the patient sample reacted favorably to a self-administered assessment of the utility of the sheets. The study results point out that these specifically tailored information sheets are appropriate for use, and are well received by dialysis patients

Drug Information Services↗
PubMed1985

Pathologic features of the femoral head in Mseleni disease.

Severe but atypical osteoarthritic deformities were found in each of 12 femoral heads removed during total hip arthroplasty for Mseleni disease. Although degenerative and regenerative changes were present throughout the cartilage, there was a paucity of eburnation. Histomorphometric analysis of bone at the line of excision indicated that mild osteomalacia was present in four of the 12 specimens. The percentage of the endosteum occupied by osteoid was 9.7 +/- 7.96 (SD) in the patients with Mseleni disease, compared with 5.6 +/- 4.33 in seven African black and 4.1 +/- 2.13 in 13 American white control subjects. The mean thickness of the osteoid seams was not increased. The findings suggest that osteomalacia is not a major pathogenetic factor in Mseleni disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Primary liver cancer and oesophageal basal cell hyperplasia in rats caused by Fusarium moniliforme.

Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon is one of the most prevalent fungi associated with maize throughout the world. A correlation has been found between the incidence of F. moniliforme in home-grown maize and the human oesophageal cancer rate in Transkei, southern Africa. Culture material on maize of F. moniliforme strain MRC 826, isolated from maize in a high-risk area for oesophageal cancer in Transkei, was either freeze-dried or oven-dried and fed to groups of 20 inbred male BD IX rats on a life-long basis. At a dietary level of 8%, both types of culture material were hepatotoxic and caused 100% mortality. Hepatic lesions in rats that died were characterized by cirrhosis, nodular hyperplasia and bile-duct proliferation. At a dietary level of 4% for 286 days followed by 2% for the remainder of the experiment, both types of culture material were hepatocarcinogenic and caused hepatocellular carcinoma in 80% and ductular carcinoma of the liver in 63% of the rats surviving more than 450 days. Only one of 30 such rats did not have a primary hepatic carcinoma. No hepatocellular or ductular carcinomas occurred in the controls. Hepatocellular carcinomas in the experimental rats invariably developed in severely cirrhotic livers showing nodular hyperplasia. Adenofibrosis also developed concurrently with hepatocellular carcinoma. A higher incidence of basal cell hyperplasia occurred in the oesophageal epithelia of rats fed freeze-dried than in those fed oven-dried material. The chemical nature of the hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin(s) produced by F. moniliforme is unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Toxicity of rhizonin A, isolated from Rhizopus microsporus, in laboratory animals.

Maize culture material of 25 isolates of the genera Rhizopus and Mucor caused deaths in day-old unsexed Pekin ducklings when fed as a 50% (w/w) mixture with duckling feed. Nine of these isolates were tested for toxicity in young inbred male BD IX rats, which were fed a mixture of 50% (w/w) culture material and rat feed. Only one isolate of Rhizopus microsporus was clearly toxic, causing 100% mortality in rats within 10 days. Growth in rats was reduced by adding culture material of this isolate to the feed in concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10 or 20% (w/w). The same isolate of R. microsporus was used to produce the mycotoxin rhizonin A. Pure rhizonin A was dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide and given to young male partially inbred albino rats by gavage in single doses of 70, 96, 131 or 180 mg/kg. The lowest dose exceeded the LD100. Evaluated by light microscopy, lesions in livers and kidneys were similar in rats fed culture material and in those intubated with rhizonin A. Hepatocytes showed changes ranging from degeneration to necrosis, the liver-tissue architecture was changed by disassociation of liver cell cords and there was periportal bile-duct proliferation. Renal tubular epithelium showed changes ranging from degeneration to necrosis.

Animals↗