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Biomedical subjects

J Weston

Publications and source records attributed to J Weston.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Foraging and denning patterns of brushtail possums, and their possible relationship to contact with cattle and the transmission of bovine tuberculosis.

Radio-tracking and direct observation were used over 18 months in 1990-92 to investigate both the use of sleeping dens and foraging activity by possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) on a 21 ha site in the Wairarapa used for a longitudinal study of bovine tuberculosis. Males had larger home ranges than females, and both sexes had larger activity areas during the autumn mating season than at other times of the year. Possums typically foraged in only a small area of their home ranges (termed an activity area) on any one night, and the areas used by individuals were commonly very similar over a series of nights. Activity areas overlapped extensively among possums. Possums used a limited number of dens, commonly in a small and in most cases a circumscribed part of their home range. No simultaneous den-sharing was found, with the exception of mother-joey pairs. The mortality of juveniles after independence was 36%. Only two of 25 juveniles under surveillance to detect dispersal dispersed more than 500 m off the study site, and both subsequently died. Grazing patterns of cattle meant that almost all accessible areas of the paddock were covered by at least some grazing cattle, and so all activity areas of possums within the paddock were covered by areas where cattle foraged. However, possums avoided contact with cattle, and when some cattle were excluded from access to the part of the paddock principally used by both tuberculous and healthy possums for denning, transmission of Mycobacterium bovis from possums to these cattle ceased, although there was subsequent transmission to deer. Cattle which grazed the area used principally for possum denning continued to become infected, and these denning areas appeared to be of importance in the transmission of tuberculosis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Type 1 cryoglobulinaemia associated with a thymic tumour: successful treatment with plasma exchange.

Thymic tumours are associated with a wide range of autoimmune and haematological disorders, notably myasthenia gravis, red cell aplasia, and systemic lupus erythematosus. An association with cryoglobulinaemia has only once been reported previously. In this report we describe a 60-yr-old male patient with a spindle cell thymoma, treated surgically, who also had type 1 cryoglobulinaemia, with severe peripheral circulatory impairment with digital ulceration and a mononeutitis multiplex. The patient has been successfully treated with prednisolone, immunosuppression and plasma exchange.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1995

Sepsis and tumor emboli mimic vasculitis.

An unequivocal diagnosis of vasculitis typical of polyarteritis was made in a sixty one year old male. At post mortem no vasculitis was found, but there were widespread microabscesses and tumour emboli from an occult adenocarcinoma of the caecum. The importance of considering other pathologies which may mimic vasculitis is emphasised.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

The pregnant plastic surgical resident: results of a survey of women plastic surgeons and plastic surgery residency directors.

Pregnancy during plastic surgery residency poses unique challenges to the resident herself, to her resident colleagues, and to her residency director. Studies of the effects of pregnancy have been conducted that have combined all medical specialties or have included all surgeons as a statistically uniform group. The Women Plastic Surgeons' Caucus Committee of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons has conducted a survey in order to obtain objective data on maternal fetal complications, time off work, maternal leave policies, call coverage, and other important issues. Response rates were 40 percent for the women residents and 45 percent for the program directors surveyed. The results show a 57 percent overall complication rate (excluding miscarriages), a 26 percent elective abortion rate, and a 33 percent infertility rate in women plastic surgeons, numbers that are higher than those currently in the literature. Data obtained regarding issues such as time off work, planning of pregnancy, call coverage, productivity and income, perceived peer support, program directors' opinions and policies, and possible solutions that might provide a mutually rewarding outcome are presented for discussion.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1995

The effect of diet on lipid, apoprotein and lipoparticle variation in the ECTIM study in Belfast.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the contribution of dietary factors to variation of plasma levels of lipids, apoproteins and lipoparticles in the Northern Ireland population. This study was part of a larger case-control study of the genetic and environmental determinants of myocardial infarction in France and Northern Ireland. A random sample of 175 middle aged men was drawn from the population covered by the Belfast MONICA project register. Habitual diet was assessed by a questionnaire. A blood sample was obtained after an over-night fast for determination of plasma levels of lipids, apoproteins and lipoparticles. All participants had a medical examination and completed a lifestyle questionnaire. In a stepwise regression, after adjusting for co-factors (i) vitamin C and (ii) alcohol consumption were the only nutrients which contributed significantly to the variation in, respectively, (i) Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B (inverse correlation) and (ii) HDL Cholesterol and LpAI (positive correlation). The amount of variation explained by the final models was modest, ranging from 4% to 15%. In conclusion, in this Northern Ireland population, habitual diet contributes to little of the variation in plasma levels of lipids, apoproteins and lipoparticles.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Studies on the enteropathy associated with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia.

Twelve patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia with diarrhoea not associated with known microbial pathogens were investigated. Histological evidence of inflammation was common in the stomach and jejunum. Moreover, eight of 10 patients undergoing colonoscopy had low grade 'microscopic colitis' with raised intraepithelial lymphocytes and an intact crypt architecture. Five of 12 patients had small intestinal inflammation on 111indium leucocyte scintigrams and all had increased faecal excretion (normal < 1%) of 111indium (over four days), which varied in intensity from mild (faecal excretion of 111indium = 1-3%) to that comparable with moderately active (7-14.5%) Crohn's disease. Three patients had small intestinal strictures superficially resembling Crohn's disease. Histologically, however, these lacked characteristic diagnostic features of Crohn's disease in two and the third patient had non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced diaphragm like strictures. Six of seven who were most severely symptomatic were successfully treated with an elemental diet with rapid improvement of symptoms. The faecal excretion of 111indium was repeated in five and all improved but histologically the colitis remained unchanged. These studies show that some patients with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia have intestinal inflammation unlike that found in classic inflammatory bowel disease. Elemental diet is a useful temporary measure in the treatment of these patients.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1992

Frequency of glove puncture in the post mortem room.

The post mortem room is a potential source of danger from contamination caused by glove punctures. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of hand injury and hand contamination during post mortem examinations. A prospective study of injury and glove puncture rate was conducted during post mortem examinations performed in 1990 on adults in Northwick Park Hospital mortuary. Four pathologists and two assistants performed a total of 44 post mortem examinations on adults. All participants completed a questionnaire after each examination, recording the total number of gloves used and the number of hand injuries and glove perforations sustained. Just over 8.3% of gloves were punctured; 31.8% of these punctures went unnoticed. Evisceration was the procedure most likely to result in hand contamination. The study highlights a significant risk which could be reduced by more care, frequent glove changes, and hand washing during post mortem examinations. In particular, gloves should be changed and hand washed when evisceration has been completed.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1992

After a child's death: factors related to parental bereavement.

Bereavement responses were assessed in 45 parents whose children died 6 months to 4 years earlier. Correlational analyses were used to determine which demographic and experiential variables were related to parental responses on 10 scales of the Grief Experiences Inventory (GEI). Parents of boys or children who died suddenly experienced more despair, anger, guilt, and depersonalization. Social support and stress since the child's death and fate-blame versus self-blame were also related to parental responses on specific GEI scales. Clinical implications for work with bereaved parents are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Release of acetylcholinesterase in the rat nigrostriatal pathway: relation to receptor activation and firing rate.

Acetylcholinesterase is released from both axon terminals and dendrites of nigrostriatal neurons. The relationship of this phenomenon to: (1) activation of receptors, and (2) firing rate, has been examined. In the first series of experiments, apomorphine or acetylcholine were infused into substantiae nigrae of urethane anaesthetized rats, via push-pull cannulae. In the ipsilateral striatum, the release of acetylcholinesterase was modified in a fashion reminiscent of the changes in firing rate induced by these drugs in nigrostriatal cells. Thus, application of acetylcholine into the substantia nigra induced an increase, while apomorphine induced a decrease in the release of acetylcholinesterase from the striatum. However, in the substantia nigra, the release of acetylcholinesterase did not follow this pattern: acetylcholine reduced local release, while apomorphine caused no change. In the second part of this study we studied the relationship between firing rate of nigrostriatal cells and the release of acetylcholinesterase. Two compounds known to block neuronal impulse flow were infused into the substantia nigra. These drugs were tetrodotoxin (a Na+ channel blocker), or gamma-hydroxybutyrate (a drug which blocks impulse flow specifically in dopaminergic cells). Both compounds reduced the release of acetylcholinesterase in the ipsilateral striatum. However, locally in the substantia nigra there was no decrease in release of the enzyme. In fact, following administration of gamma-hydroxybutyrate, there was a large Ca2+ dependent increase in release of acetylcholinesterase in the substantia nigra. These results suggest that release of acetylcholinesterase in the striatum may be linked to the discharge frequency of nigrostriatal neurons. On the other hand, release of acetylcholinesterase from the substantia nigra, which probably occurs from dendrites, is independent of Na+ mediated action potentials. This release may instead be associated with specific dendritic Ca2+ conductances.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

Bottle feeding.

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Animals↗
PubMed1985

Carbon dioxide laserbrasion for treatment of adenoma sebaceum in tuberous sclerosis.

Adenoma sebaceum is a disfiguring facial deformity that constitutes part of the multiple system involvement in tuberous sclerosis. Three affected patients have been treated with carbon dioxide "laserbrasion," which has resulted in a long-lasting improvement without scarring or recurrence. Tuberous sclerosis is described, and the CO2 technique is discussed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1985

Abdominoplasty in infants for removal of giant congenital nevi: a report of three cases.

The abdominal wall of the infant presents a significant skin excess. Applying techniques of aesthetic abdominoplasty, it is possible to excise extensive abdominal wall lesions, as often seen in children with congenital hairy nevi. Three cases of congenital nevi were handled in this manner and are presented. One case involved the upper abdomen, while the other two involved the lower abdomen.

Abdominal Muscles↗