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Biomedical subjects

K Godfrey

Publications and source records attributed to K Godfrey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Maternal and neonatal essential fatty acid status in phospholipids: an international comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the steady decline in the maternal essential fatty acids (EFA) status during pregnancy observed in Dutch pregnant women is a local or general phenomenon. DESIGN: The EFA status was measured during uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy of healthy women from the Netherlands, Hungary, Finland, England and Ecuador. In addition, the EFA status of their neonates were measured at birth. Fatty acid profiles were analyzed in phospholipids isolated from maternal plasma and from umbilical plasma and cord vessel walls. RESULTS: Considerable differences between these centers were observed in the maternal EFA levels and EFA status indexes. However, the change in the absolute as well as relative amounts of the EFAs followed a similar course in the five populations during pregnancy. The neonatal EFA profiles reflected the differences found in maternal plasma during pregnancy and shortly after delivery. Comparable correlations were found, particularly, between the neonatal and the maternal n-3 fatty acids in the participating groups. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the reduction in maternal EFA status during pregnancy is a general phenomenon, and is largely independent of differences in dietary habits and ethnic origin. Since the lowest values for certain maternal EFAs in a given country were significantly higher than the highest value of these EFAs throughout pregnancy in other countries, the functional implications of the pregnancy-associated reduction in the maternal EFA status for the fetal and neonatal development is not obvious and needs to be further elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Trends in postgraduate education in general dentistry.

The explosion of knowledge coupled with a more diversified society have led to a new set of demands on dentists. For more than 20 years, dental educators and the profession have been concerned about the pressure on the university to ensure that every new graduate is fully competent to enter a dental practice independently and successfully. This paper reviews some of the innovations which are being employed to attempt to deal with these concerns. There is no one formula that can answer these concerns. Postgraduate training in general dentistry is becoming more widespread and may need further investigation. The main focus of this paper is on trends in formal advanced postgraduate training in general dentistry.

Asia↗
PubMed1996

Maternal nutrition in early and late pregnancy in relation to placental and fetal growth.

OBJECTIVE: To assess how nutrient intakes of mothers in early and late pregnancy influence placental and fetal growth. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton. SUBJECTS: 538 mothers who delivered at term. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Placental and birth weights adjusted for the infant's sex and duration of gestation. RESULTS: Mothers who had high carbohydrate intakes in early pregnancy had babies with lower placental and birth weights. Low maternal intakes of dairy and meat protein in late pregnancy were also associated with lower placental and birth weights. Placental weight fell by 49 g(95% confidence interval 16 g to 81 g; P=0.002) for each log g increase in intake of carbohydrate in early pregnancy and by 1.4 g (0.4 g to 2.4 g; P=0.005) for each g decrease in intake of dairy protein in late pregnancy. Birth weight fell by 165 g (49 g to 282 g; P=0.005) for each log g increase in carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy and by 3.1 g (0.3 g to 6.0 g; P=0.03) for each g decrease in meat protein intake in late pregnancy. These associations were independent of the mother's height and body mass index and of strong relations between the mother's birth weight and the placental and birth weights of her offspring. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a high carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy suppresses placental growth, especially if combined with a low dairy protein intake in late pregnancy. Such an effect could have long term consequences for the offspring's risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A survey of the prevalence of biting by the Blandford fly during 1993.

To assess the frequency of bites by the Blandford fly, a postal survey was carried out at the end of the 1993 biting season. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 1,500 people, selected from the lists of the two general practices in Blandford Forum, and satisfactory replies were obtained from 1203 (80%). Altogether, 194 (16%) of subjects reported one or more insect bites, during the 2-month season, that had led to skin swelling more than 2.5 cm across. Of these, more than a quarter had suffered associated systemic symptoms, in the form of fever or joint pain. One hundred and forty-nine had used medications for bites, 20 had consulted a doctor, and seven had taken time off work or school. Bites were more common in females (22%) than males (9%). This difference was due largely to a higher frequency of bites on the legs. Risk might be reduced substantially in women by wearing trousers, especially in those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of a food frequency questionnaire used to assess nutrient intakes in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nutrient intakes assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with those determined from food diaries. DESIGN: A 100-item FFQ was administered to women at 15 weeks of pregnancy. Food diaries were kept for a 4-day period at 16 weeks of pregnancy. SETTING: Community-based study of a general population sample of pregnant women booked for delivery at the Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton, UK. SUBJECTS: 603 women were recruited. Complete dietary data were provided by 569 women. RESULTS: Nutrient intakes determined by FFQ were greater than those from food diaries. Spearman rank correlation coefficients for macronutrients ranged from 0.27 (protein and starch) to 0.37 (fat). Stronger correlations for energy, fat and carbohydrate were seen in women who did not experience nausea, suggesting that the level of agreement observed between the FFQ and food diary in the whole group may be an underestimate of the true agreement. The percentage of individuals classified to the same quarter of the distribution of nutrient intake by the FFQ and diaries ranged from 30% (starch) to 41% (calcium), with between 4% (riboflavin) and 8% (energy, protein and vitamin E) classified to the opposite quarters. Using serum vitamin C as an independent biomarker of intake, the percentage of individuals classified to the correct quarter of intake was similar for the FFQ and diary (34% and 37%), with 8% (FFQ) and 6% (diary) misclassified to the opposite quarter. CONCLUSION: The FFQ appears to give meaningful estimates of nutrient intake in early pregnancy which can be used to rank individuals within the distribution.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

In vitro shearing force testing of the Australian zirconia-based ceramic Begg bracket.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the condition of bond failure of the Australian zirconia-based ceramic Begg bracket (Elipse bracket) in comparison with that of a small-base metal Begg bracket (Solitaire bracket) under various environmental conditions. Shear tests were performed and sites of bond failure were also recorded. The results showed that (1) mean shear force of the bonded Elipse ceramic bracket is significantly higher than the metal one (2) shearing force at failure in both ceramic and metal groups, is considered clinically acceptable, (3) thermocycling (1000 cycles) had no significant additional effect on shearing force with both groups, (4) failure sites of the bonding were more likely to be at enamel/resin interfaces, and (5) there was no instance of fracture of the ceramic bracket and the enamel. A particular distinction is noted concerning the test results that measured shearing force rather than shear strength. It is questioned whether some published reports referring to "shear strength" have adequately accounted for bond surface area estimation necessary for proper calculation of strength values.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1990

Linear IgA disease of adults: association with lymphoproliferative malignancy and possible role of other triggering factors.

Seventy patients with linear IgA disease of adults were followed up for a mean of 8.5 years and all malignant diseases in this group were ascertained. There were three cases of lymphoproliferative malignancy, which constituted a significant excess over the 0.2 cases that would be expected by comparison with an age- and sex-matched population using National Cancer Registry statistics. In contrast, the non-lymphoid malignancy rate of 13% is almost identical to the expected 14%. A subgroup of 35 of the adult linear IgA disease patients were assessed with respect to the possible precipitating illnesses or drugs, as well as co-existing medical conditions. Almost one-third of patients described an event that was felt could possibly have triggered the linear IgA disease, the most frequent being non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drug therapy, trauma/burns and upper respiratory tract infections. However, it is difficult to determine how often the preceding event is coincidental, and how often, if at all, it is causal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Assessment and predictability of ANB angle.

This cephalometric study consisting of thirty three orthodontic patients in the age group of 13 to 15 years was carried out to: 1. Evaluate the relationship between angle ANB and horizontal distance between jaws at the level of point A (r = 0.99); 2. Evaluate the relationship between angle ANB and Wits appraisal (r = 0.95 when mandibular plane angle is within normal limits of 32 +/- 5); 3. Predict angle ANB from Wits appraisal and vice versa (which was 90 percent correct in mesofacial type and obtained by the regression equation: angle ANB = 2.31 + 1.00 x Wits value; and 4. Evaluate the validity of angle ANB compared to other methods (angle ANB 78.5 percent in agreement with the standard followed by Wits 64.28 percent).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The reproducibility of Johnston's cephalometric superimposition method.

A method of cephalometric superimposition, described by Johnston (1986), was evaluated to determine its reliability. Fifteen pairs of before- and after-treatment cephalograms, were measured five times, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out on the measurements to check for any significant differences between the repeated measures. The results of the analysis found Johnston's method of cephalometric superimposition to be reliable and consistent, with lower standard deviations in the measurements found, compared to other commonly used methods.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1985

Simple linear regression in medical research.

This article discusses the method of fitting a straight line to data by linear regression and focuses on examples from 36 Original Articles published in the Journal in 1978 and 1979. Medical authors generally use linear regression to summarize the data (as in 12 of 36 articles in my survey) or to calculate the correlation between two variables (21 of 36 articles). Investigators need to become better acquainted with residual plots, which give insight into how well the fitted line models the data, and with confidence bounds for regression lines. Statistical computing packages enable investigators to use these techniques easily.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

Statistics in practice. Comparing the means of several groups.

This article discusses statistical methods for comparing the means of several groups and focuses on examples from 50 Original Articles published in the Journal in 1978 and 1979. Although medical authors often present comparisons of the means of several groups, the most common method of analysis, multiple t-tests, is usually a poor choice. Which method of analysis is appropriate depends on what questions the investigators wish to ask. If the investigators want to identify which of the groups under study are different from the rest, they will need a different method from the one required if they wish simply to decide whether or not the groups share a common mean. More complicated questions about the group means call for more sophisticated techniques. Of the 50 Journal articles examined, 27 (54 per cent) used inappropriate statistical methods to analyze the differences between group means. Investigators need to become better acquainted with statistical techniques for making multiple comparisons between group means.

Analysis of Variance↗