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Biomedical subjects

J Rhodes

Publications and source records attributed to J Rhodes.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Precision of anthropometric measurements: the value of mid-arm circumference.

A study was carried out to examine how reproducible anthropometric measurements were within and between two observers on a group of 24 normal subjects and 20 obese individuals. A further study was performed on 28 malnourished patients with Crohn's disease undergoing a controlled trial of nutritional therapy to assess how weight change correlated with other anthropometric parameters. The measurement that was most reproducible and correlated most with weight change was mid-arm circumference. As it is the simplest measurement to perform, we recommend that it is used more often in nutritional studies.

Journal Article↗

Agglutinins to anaerobic bacteria in Crohn's disease and in Indian patients with diarrhoea.

Agglutinins to certain species of Eubacterium and Peptostreptococcus have been reported in sera from a high proportion of patients with Crohn's disease. Because this might be a non-specific finding common to patients with diarrhoea associated with damaged intestinal mucosa, we have compared the incidence of such agglutinins in patients with Crohn's disease with that seen in patients in North-East India with acute or chronic diarrhoea. The incidence of agglutinins in Crohn's disease was 44%, compared with 11% in acute and 17% in chronic diarrhoea. These figures suggest that mucosal damage alone does not explain the high incidence of agglutinins in Crohn's disease.

Adult↗

Comparison of the absorption and metabolism of sulphasalazine and acrylic-coated 5-amino salicylic acid in normal subjects and patients with colitis.

Serum levels of 5-amino salicylic acid ( 5ASA ) and acetyl 5ASA have been measured in volunteers after ingestion of sulphasalazine (6 g) and compared with levels after an equivalent dose of acrylic coated 5ASA (2.4 g). The serum levels of both 5ASA and acetyl 5ASA were similar after each preparation apart from an early peak of 5ASA following acrylic coated 5ASA . Serum and urinary levels for 5ASA and acetyl 5ASA have been measured in colitic patients following equivalent doses of sulphasalazine and acrylic coated 5ASA . Serum levels were similar; 25% of the calculated ingested 5ASA was excreted in the urine after sulphasalazine compared with 20% following acrylic coated 5ASA .

Adult↗

Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer--a trial comparing cimetidine with a prostaglandin synthetase promoter.

The effect of treatment on maintenance of remission was examined in 90 patients with healed duodenal ulcer shown by endoscopy. They were randomized to take treatment for 6 months with a prostaglandin synthetase promoter (263E) 500 mg three times daily or cimetidine 400 mg at night or an identical placebo. Sixty-five patients completed the trial or had a relapse of symptoms. The percentage of patients who had recurrent ulcers or duodenitis alone on endoscopy was 29% on 263E, 36% with cimetidine, and 50% on placebo. These figures did not differ significantly. Trials of this design are now difficult to conduct because patients take and H2 receptor antagonist soon after recurrence of symptoms, before their next clinic appointment.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Activation of choline acetyltransferase by vasoactive intestinal peptide.

Addition of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to brain homogenates increased the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) but not that of acetylcholinesterase or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Activity of ChAT was increased in the anterior hypothalamus and in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, but not in the parietal cortex or posterior hypothalamus. Increased activity occurred rapidly after VIP addition to homogenates and was maximal at 10(-7)M concentration. Kinetic analysis indicates that the Vmax of the enzyme is increased and the Km for choline, but not acetyl-coenzyme A, is decreased in the presence of VIP. Results support a possible VIP-cholinergic interaction in the CNS.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Altered expression of human monocyte Fc receptors in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

The state of activation of human peripheral blood monocytes was examined by using a rosette assay that detects changes in Fc receptor expression. Monocytes from patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria showed a significant increase in the number of rosettes relative to healthy controls. In addition, the monocytes from these patients were tested for their ability to phagocytose Candida albicans, but this ability did not differ from that of normal individuals. Finally, the monocytes from patients with cerebral malaria were also tested for Fc receptor expression. In contrast to the results from uncomplicated cases, the activity of the monocytes from these patients was no different from that of controls. We concluded that uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria caused an increase in monocyte Fc receptor expression which did not occur in cerebral malaria and that this difference in activation may be important in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.

Adolescent↗

Incidence of ulcerative colitis in the Cardiff region 1968-1977.

The incidence of ulcerative colitis in South Glamorgan during the decade 1968-77 remained steady with a mean of 7.2/10(5)/year. The disease was slightly more common in women, male:female ratio 1:1.2. Ulcerative colitis was rare in childhood but showed two peaks of incidence in adults, in the third and fourth decades and in the eighth decade.

Adolescent↗

Gastric emptying after surgery for the dumping syndrome.

The dumping syndrome following gastric surgery for peptic ulcer disease can cause severe morbidity. In this study the benefit of interposition of an antiperistaltic jejunal loop to reverse peristalsis and delay gastric emptying was assessed in four patients with severe symptoms by performing gastric emptying studies pre-operatively, and at 6 months and 24 months following surgery. Gastric emptying was delayed at 6 months but by 2 years had returned to pre-operative values. Patients' symptoms were improved at 6 months and remained so despite the deterioration in gastric emptying. This surgical procedure is of some value to patients with severe symptoms due to the dumping syndrome.

Dumping Syndrome↗

International comparison of mortality from inflammatory bowel disease in the Latin-speaking countries Venezuela, Italy, and France.

Mortality data for ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and unspecified inflammatory bowel disease were examined for the countries Venezuela, Italy, and France during the decade 1969-1978. These figures were compared with similar data from England and Wales obtained from 1965 to 1975. In Italy and France deaths from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were low and showed little change during the period of observation. Figures for inflammatory bowel disease from Venezuela were high and appeared to show a marked fall which may simply reflect a change in diagnostic criteria.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

Inhibition of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and natural cytotoxicity by retinoic acid.

The present study has shown that in vitro antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and natural cytotoxicity of human blood lymphocytes are inhibited by retinoic acid (5 X 10(-4)M). The inhibition of cytotoxicity is due to a specific effect on the effector lymphocytes and not to an effect on the target cells. The reduction of killing is most pronounced with prolonged incubation (20 h) of the killer cells with retinoic acid, recovery of killer and natural killer cell activity occurring with post-treatment incubation (greater than 24 h, 37 degrees C) in medium. Retinoic acid was found to have an antagonistic effect to interferon in modulating in vitro natural killer cell activity. The mechanism of inhibition by retinoic acid was uncertain but modulation of cell membrane receptors appeared to be a likely possibility.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

Bile diversion from the duodenum: its effect on gastric and pancreatic function.

The effect of diverting bile from the duodenum in four dogs by cholecysto-jejunostomy was studied using a double-marker perfusion technique. During digestion of a liquid meal, acid secretion increased from 0.8 mmol H+/min to 1.48 mmol H+/min (p less than 0.05, paired t test); there was an associated rise in serum levels of gastrin 120 minutes after feeding (p less than 0.001, paired t test). Pancreatic secretion of trypsin decreased from 3.91 IU/min to 2.66 IU/min after bile diversion (p less than 0.01, paired t test) and the level of CCK was significantly lower 60 mins after feeding (p less than 0.05, paired t test). There was no significant change in the rate at which the liquid meal emptied from the stomach after bile diversion but the pH of duodenal contents was lower during the later stages of digestion. These changes may explain the reported increase of peptic ulcer after diverting bile from the duodenum and the procedure should not be considered unless the consequences of acid hypersecretion and pancreatic inhibition have been anticipated.

Animals↗

Association between iron deficiency anaemia and mid-arm circumference in Crohn's disease.

The relation between nutritional anthropometry and haematological disturbance was studied in 55 outpatients with Crohn's disease and 30 healthy subjects. Patients with Crohn's disease were divided into undernourished (25) and well-nourished (30) groups, depending on whether their mid-arm circumference was below or above 90 per cent ideal standard. Undernourished patients with Crohn's disease had significantly reduced haemoglobin and red cell indices compared with well-nourished patients who were similar to the control group. In malnourished patients serum ferritin levels were usually below 50 micrograms/l and this level, rather than 15 micrograms/l indicates possible iron deficiency in patients with active inflammation. Results suggest that undernourished patients with Crohn's disease whose mid-arm circumference is less than 90 per cent ideal standard should be screened regularly for iron deficiency and anaemia.

Adult↗

Controlled trial of supplemented oral nutrition in Crohn's disease.

28 malnourished patients with Crohn's disease completed a controlled cross-over study to examine the effect of a low-residue liquid supplement on nutrition and disease activity. Patients spent two months on an ordinary diet (control period) and for two months took the nutritional supplement in addition (treatment period): the order of treatment and control periods was randomised. All anthropometric measurements, serum proteins, creatinine height index, and circulating T lymphocyte numbers increased significantly in the treatment period, while serum orosomucoid levels dropped significantly, suggesting that disease activity was reduced. The benefits were apparently due to the higher calorie intake with the enteral supplement. The results show that enteral supplementation can be managed successfully at home and may produce improvements in nutrition and disease activity.

Blood Proteins↗