Cards recording attendances at a large Accident and Emergency Department for 1 year were reviewed by means of a 1 in 76 random sample, which provided 1027 cards for scrutiny. Injuries were found in 79.9 per cent of attenders; 35.7 per cent underwent X-ray examination and 13.0 per cent were found to have a fracture. Males and those under 45 years had higher attendance rates than females and older people (46 years and over). Those in social classes IV and V had higher attendance rates than those in social classes I, II and III. Living near the hospital did not seem to be associated with a high attendance rate.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Ethanol feeding and thyroid hormone monodeiodination.

Adult male rats were placed on a 3 week regimen of ethanol (as 20% of total calories) in a nutritionally adequate diet, and controls were matched equicalorically without ethanol. Serum measurements of T4, T3, FT4, rT3, and TSH were performed in both the fed and the fasted state (18 hours). In the fed state, serum hormone measurements did not differ between control and ethanol-treated rats. Overnight fasting had a significant effect in decreasing serum T3 level in both experimental and control rats and in decreasing serum T4 level in ethanol-treated animals; FT4 and rT3 levels were not affected. Fasting also decreased in vitro hepatic T4 to T3 production to an equivalent degree in control and ethanol-treated rats, but did not alter hepatic T4 to rT3 production rates in control animals. In the fed state, hepatic rT3 neogenesis in animals given ethanol declined relative to the levels observed in control fed rats; fasting restored the depressed rT3 neogenesis to the levels noted in the fed state. Because decreased rT3 production in ethanol-treated rats in the fed state could not be explained on the basis of a change in 5'-deiodinase activity, it is suggested that ethanol administered with a nutritionally adequate diet may inhibit hepatic rT3 generation by inhibiting T4(5)-deiodinase.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1984

Ethanol inhibition of pituitary-thyroid axis: an effect secondary to nutritional deficiency.

Ethanol as either 20% or 36% of total calories in a Lieber diet was administered to male rats. At these concentrations, ethanol consumption relative to body weight did not differ. Pair-fed controls were restricted to the amount of calories consumed by rats given ethanol. Under these conditions, a direct effect of ethanol on the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-thyroid axis could not be demonstrated. There were no differences between pair-fed control and ethanol treated rats in serum or pituitary TSH, TSH response to TRH, or T4 and T3 levels. On the other hand, in rats given ethanol as 36% of total calories ("36%" ethanol-treated), and in their pair-fed controls, a marked decrease in serum T4 levels occurred (25% and 30%), relative to the corresponding "20%" groups. The decreased T4 in the "36%" groups was associated with a pronounced fall in caloric intake, decreased serum TSH, and declines in adenohypophyseal and body weights -- all of which were of similar magnitude in experimental and control rats. Thus, inanition was probably the primary cause of reduced thyroid function in the "36%" groups. An interesting aspect of this change was the finding of no difference in serum T3 levels between pair-fed control and ethanol treated rats in the 36% and 20% groups despite the reduced T4 and caloric intake in 36% animals; the lack of decrease in T3 concentration in 36% animals may reflect augmented peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 or reduced T3 clearance.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Presentation of statistical information on in-patient and out-patient activities to members of health authorities, consultants and general practitioners.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed1984

Application of BMS technology of South West Thames RHA.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Computers↗

PubMed1983

Differential scanning calorimetry of alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-macroglobulin-proteinase complexes.

Differential scanning calorimetry is shown to detect substantial structural alterations occurring on the association of proteinases with the serum glycoprotein alpha 2-macroglobulin. At pH 7.5, the thermally induced unfolding of the macroglobulin occurs at approx. 60 degrees C with a transition enthalpy of 17 J/g. Association of active thermolysin, trypsin and papain shifts the transition temperature to 77 degrees C (transition enthalpy 5 J/g), indicating that a substantial conformational change accompanies the binding event. The stoicheiometry of the thermolysin--alpha 2-macroglobulin association producing this change appears to be unity, implying the presence of co-operative subunit interactions in the mechanism of association. The calorimetric method provides a novel approach for the evaluation of conformational variants induced on protein-protein association or pre-existing in the purified macroglobulin.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

PubMed1983

A comparison of self-devaluation and somatic suggestion content in depressive mood manipulation.

The Velten Mood Induction Procedure (VMIP), often used to manipulate depressive mood, has its effectiveness attributed to the self-devaluative content of its statements; this finding supports cognitive theories of depression. Recent research has suggested that somatic content is more important than self-devaluation content in producing depressive mood variations. To study this using the VMIP, a neutral condition and two modified depression conditions were used: Somatic and self-devaluation (N = 302). The results indicate that self-devaluative statements resulted in significantly more depressed affect than neutral Ss, but no more than somatic statements; this latter group, however, did not differ from neutral Ss. The results of the previous research indicating the importance of the somatic suggestion manipulations as having more influence than negative self-evaluative statements is questioned.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Effect of incubation and activation conditions on the hepatocyte-mediated plate incorporation and preincubation Salmonella typhimurium mutagenesis assays.

Primary cell-mediated microbial mutagenesis assays have been shown to be useful in detecting specific target organ genotoxic activity. The lack of a standard protocol for these assays, however, makes interlaboratory comparisons difficult. In order to standardize the hepatocyte-mediated Salmonella typhimurium mutagenesis assay, incubation and activation conditions for the plate incorporation and preincubation assays were examined using two aromatic amines, 2-aminofluorene (AF) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF). Direct comparison of two preincubation protocols demonstrated the necessity for the hepatocytes to be present during the two- to three-day plate incubation period. An examination of various preincubation times showed relatively minor differences between 15 and 90 minutes. The preincubation and plate incorporation protocols were directly compared using both hamster and rat hepatocytes. For both preincubation and plate incorporation, the optimum concentration of hepatocytes was shown to be 1 X 10(6)/plate. Direct evaluation of various hepatocyte-mediated bacterial protocols should facilitate future interlaboratory comparisons using a more standardized procedure.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

PubMed1983

Peritoneal exudate in larval Rana pipiens contains cells that are embryologically derived from dorsal lateral plate mesoderm.

The embryonic origin of cells functioning in a peritoneal exudate response of larval Rana pipiens was investigated. Normal larva received injections of sodium caseinate on day 0 and cells in the peritoneal cavity were assayed on days 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 16. Experimental animals that received cytogenetically labeled transplants of dorsal mesoderm at 67-72 hours of development were injected with sodium caseinate on day 0 and assayed on days 5, 7 and 9. Feulgen-DNA microdensitometric analysis showed that the peritoneal exudate from days 5, 7, 9 contained hemopoietic cells that were derived from the embryonic transplant. Therefore, dorsal mesoderm gave rise to cells capable of functioning in a peritoneal exudate response to injections of sodium caseinate.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Effects of phenytoin, phenobarbital, and ascorbic acid on misonidazole elimination.

The kinetics of an oral dose (1.0 gm/m2) of the 2-nitroimidazole radiosensitizer misonidazole were studied in three groups of six healthy subjects before and after a 1-wk course of phenytoin, phenobarbital, or ascorbic acid. Phenytoin and phenobarbital decreased mean misonidazole half-life by 27% and 23% and the decrease was associated with the respective increases in mean clearance of 42% and 31%. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve for the metabolite O-desmethylmisonidazole increased correspondingly. Volume of distribution of misonidazole was unchanged. After treatment with ascorbic acid there was a very small increase in the mean clearance of misonidazole, but there was no significant change in other kinetic parameters. Induction by phenytoin and phenobarbital of the oxidative metabolism of misonidazole is the most likely mechanism responsible. Deliberate induction of a patient's metabolism may help to reduce the neurotoxicity associated with the use of the drug. The efficacy of the radiosensitizing action of the drug is unlikely to be compromised under these conditions since peak plasma concentrations of misonidazole were not affected by treatment with either phenytoin or phenobarbital. The potentiation of the cytotoxic effects of misonidazole by ascorbic acid is unlikely to be related to a direct effect on the oxidative metabolism of misonidazole.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Molecular cloning of the cDNA coding for rat ornithine transcarbamoylase.

Ornithine transcarbamoylase is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme composed of three identical subunits encoded on the X chromosome. The subunit is synthesized on cytoplasmic polysomes as a precursor that is cleaved during transport into mitochondria. We report here the isolation and characterization of cDNA clones containing sequences corresponding to the mRNA encoding the ornithine transcarbamoylase subunit. cDNA was synthesized using rat liver mRNA enriched by polysome immunoadsorption for the low-abundance messenger species encoding the enzyme subunit. After insertion of cDNA into plasmid pBR322 and cloning in Escherichia coli, identification of the desired plasmids was accomplished by (i) differential colony hybridization using cDNA probes synthesized from mRNA of various tissues; (ii) differential blot hybridization using cDNA probes synthesized from mRNA enriched for or depleted of the ornithine transcarbamoylase message; (iii) hybrid-selected translation assays; and (iv) most definitively, structural analysis, which matched 25 consecutive amino acid residues determined by sequential Edman analysis of the carboxyl-terminal portion of the purified enzyme subunit with coding sequence present in the insert of one of the plasmids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1983

Aspergillus colonization associated with bilateral silicone mammary implants.

A case of Aspergillus niger fungal colonization associated with bilateral inflatable silicone mammary implants is reported. Painful fibrous capsular contractures without clinical evidence of infection or inflammation characterized the presenting symptoms. Operative findings included a cheesy-white exudate that surrounded the implants and turbid fluid within the implants. All specimens yielded a heavy growth of Aspergillus niger. Special stains of the fibrous capsules were negative for fungal invasion. The etiology and pathogenesis of Aspergillus colonization in this patient are postulated.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Platelet associated IgG and immune thrombocytopenia in lymphoproliferative and autoimmune disorders.

Thrombocytopenia is frequently encountered in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) and systemic erythromatosus (SLE) and to a lesser extent in association with other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pernicious anaemia (PA) and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). This report attempts to document the incidence of thrombocytopenia in these disorders, other than that overtly due to malignant infiltration or marrow suppression by drugs and to demonstrate, that in a significant proportion antibody mediated immune destruction of platelets can be confirmed by positive platelet antibody tests. Platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) was measured in all patients by a quantitative enzyme linked assay. Platelet antibodies were found in 11 of 24 (46%) thrombocytopenic patients with LPD, 10 of 16 (62%) patients with SLE and thrombocytopenia, and in all patients with RA and PA who had low platelet counts at the time of study. In addition, elevated PAIgG levels were found in the following non-thrombocytopenic patients: 9 of 43 (21%) patients with LPD, 2 of 12 (17%) with SLE, 2 of 12 (17%) with AIHA, 2 of 39 (5%) with PA and 5 of 61 (8%) patients with RA. The nature and the role of raised PAIgG levels in diseases other than autoimmune thrombocytopenia is controversial. Our reasons for interpreting these as true platelet autoantibodies in this selected group of disorders and the clinical implications of our results are discussed.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

PubMed1983

Use of small group with chronically ill children.

Using small groups with elementary school children is a valuable tool for dealing with the physical, social and emotional aspects of chronic disease. The self-esteem of the participants was improved and a means of providing peer support developed. Also, this particular format helped the children talk about their diseases, their feelings and encouraged them to talk with their parents. We would encourage others to try this approach. The model needs to be replicated many times before it could be fully validated because this was undertaken with a small sample of students. One recommended addition is to include at least one session with both parents and their children. This would provide a structured setting for parents and children to better understand each other. It also would be beneficial to have more group sessions with the parents to further explore some of the many issues that were raised.

Child↗