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Biomedical subjects

J M Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to J M Edwards.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Are many women immunized against rubella unnecessarily?

Radial haemolysis (RH) was used to test sera for immunity to rubella from 1317 patients attending a general practice. One hundred and forty-one (10.7%) were treated as susceptible and offered an attenuated virus vaccine (RA 27/3). Pre-immunization sera from 43% of these patients were reactive at low levels in RH (less than 15 international units rubella antibody per ml). Pre- (S1) and post- (S2) immunization sera from 66 vaccinees were studied in detail. Antibody was detected by RH, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the specific IgM response was measured by a solid-phase M-antibody capture radioimmunoassay (MACRIA). The vaccine-induced IgM response was only detected if the S1 serum was non-reactive by all tests for rubella antibody. It was weaker than that seen following wild virus infection. It could be detected reliably for six weeks, and in most cases for nine weeks, after immunization. In contrast, patients with S1 specimens reactive by RH, HI or ELISA never showed an IgM response in the S2 specimen despite "significant' antibody rises often being present. It was considered that an IgM response to RA 27/3 was the best indicator of pre-immunization susceptibility to rubella. The failure of many vaccinees to make an IgM response implied that a significant proportion were already immune. It is suggested that the threshold for a report of immunity to rubella could be lowered from 15 i.u. antibody per ml and so fewer women immunized without vaccine being withheld from those who need it.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Chylous ascites and obstructive lymphoedema of the small bowel following abdominal radiotherapy.

The case history of a patient who developed chylous ascites following abdominal irradiation for recurrent carcinoma of the colon is presented. Laparotomy revealed generalized radiation damage of the small bowel with a particularly severely affected segment of jejunum, from the serosal surface of which chyle was seen to be leaking. Mesenteric lymphangiography revealed an obstruction to lymphatic drainage in the mesentery. Resection of the worst affected segment of bowel prevented further development of chylous ascites.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

EB virus-specific IgA in serum of patients with infectious mononucleosis and of healthy people of different ages.

The following sera were tested for EB virus-specific IgA: serial sera from 61 cases of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and from 195 EBV IgG positive healthy students; single sera from each of 1469 persons of different ages, 63 cases of untreated Hodgkin's disease, and 22 neonates. EBV specific IgA was found in the sera from 88% of cases of IM, from 18.5% of EBV IgG positive healthy students, and in 13.5% of repeat samples from the same students three years later. The incidence of EBV IgA varied from 5 to 30% at different ages in single sera from EBV IgG positive persons aged 2 to 70 years. The higher percentages occurred in the age groups where recent sero-conversion rates were high. Fifteen percent of sera from cases of Hodgkin's disease were positive for EBV IgA, an incidence similar to that for healthy adults in the age group 25-45 years. None of the EBV IgG positive sera from neonates gave a positive reaction for EBV IGA.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Relief of lymph obstruction by use of a bridge of mesentery and ileum.

The background to the use of a bridge of ileum with its associated mesentery in the relief of lymphatic obstruction is described. A case report of the successful use of this method in a 22-year-old patient with lymphoedema praecox is presented. Following experience with further cases, it is suggested that, provided changes in the lymph channels and in the tissues of the affected limb are not irreversibly damaged, effective drainage through small gut lymphatics may be achieved.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Endolymphatic isotope and BCG in the management of malignant melanoma.

Endolymphatic isotope therapy had such promising early clinical results that the M.R.C. (Medical Research Council) U.K. set up a clinical trial in 1966. This was to compare the effect of endolymphatic isotope therapy with the results of standard methods in the treatment of lower limb malignant melanoma. The interim report had three groups for analysis: Standard Methods (S); Endolymphatic Satisfactory (ES); and Endolymphatic Unsatisfactory (EU). This third group was a subdivision, as a significant number of patients did not have the correct endolymphatic treatment. The five-year survival figures expressed as actuarial percentages were ES=78.8%; S=82.3%; and EU=57.3%. Lymph node recurrence showed a significant difference: ES=2.3%; EU=12%; and S=19%. The conclusions were that endolymphatic isotope therapy was justified in specialized centres where good results could be obtained. Further animal experiments using the VX2 tumour in rabbits indicated that BCG given intracutaneously or intravenously had no therapeutic effect, whereas when applied by intralymphatic injection BCG was successful in treating lymph node metastases. Nineteen patients with poor-prognosis malignant melanoma have received endolymphatic BCG. The clinical results are recorded in this paper and are sufficiently encouraging to warrant its continued use.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Laboratory diagnosis of EB virus infection in some cases presenting as hepatitis.

In 1975 and 1976, 7580 serum specimens were tested for HBsAg by the passive haemagglutination test, Hepanosticon. Serum from 38 people gave a positive result after absorption with the absorbent provided, but the presence of HBsAg could not be confirmed by other tests. Tests for current infection with EB virus, namely, the presence of heterophil antibody and EB virus specific IgM, were performed and were positive in 11 of the 38. In six of these the clinical picture was of hepatitis rather than infectious mononucleosis.

Antibodies, Heterophile↗
PubMed1978

Variation in airways resistance when defined over different ranges of airflows.

In eight normal subjects airways resistance (Raw) was assessed over six ranges of airflow (about zero flow at both minimum and maximum lung volumes) using an automated whole body plethysmograph. The intervals of flow used were 21s-1 and 11s-1 spanning zero flow, and 11s-1 and 0.51s-1 measured up to and from zero flow. The wider intervals gave less variable results, the coefficients of variation being of the order 11%, 15%, and 22% for the 2, 1, and 0.51s-1 intervals respectively. In all subjects, at minimum volume Raw was some 1.5 times greater when measured over the ranges at end-expiration than at start-expiration; at maximum volume Raw was some 1.3 times greater when measured over the ranges at end-inspiration than at start-expiration. A slight increase in the slopes of the oscilloscope traces used to determine Raw was observed at minimum volume compared with those at maximum volume. In view of the substantial differences reported it is essential that the exact range of flow, and the respiratory phase used, is described when reporting measurements of Raw. Least variability is obtained by estimating slopes over a wide interval of flow, such as 1 or 21s-1.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Variation between observers in the estimation of airway resistance and thoracic gas volume.

Variations in the estimation of airway resistance (Raw) and thoracic gas volume (Vtg) made by different observers using body plethysmography have been investigated. Five observers determined Raw and Vtg in normal subjects using prerecorded signals so that intrasubject variations were eliminated. The slopes of the oscillography tracings required to make the determinations were assessed using a cursor and a scale fitted to the oscilloscope. Significant and consistent differences in Raw determined by different observers were found,with a mean range of 37%. Great care should therefore be taken when comparing results obtained by different observers. The variation between observers measuring Vtg was significant and consistent but of much smaller magnitude than was the case for Raw, having a mean range of 12%.

Airway Resistance↗