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Biomedical subjects

M J Ford

Publications and source records attributed to M J Ford.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Hyperventilation, central autonomic control, and colonic tone in humans.

Symptoms attributable to hyperventilation are common among patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); indeed, some have suggested that hyperventilation may exacerbate the alimentary symptoms of IBS. Hyperventilation changes haemodynamic function through central and peripheral mechanisms; its effects on colonic motor function, however, are unknown. The aim of this study, therefore, was to assess the effects of hyperventilation on colonic tone and motility and on cardiovascular autonomic activity, and to discover if hypocapnia was critical to elicit the response. Phasic and tonic motility of the transverse and sigmoid colon, end tidal PCO2, pulse rate, and beat to beat pulse variability were assessed before, during, and after a five minute period of hypocapnic hyperventilation in 15 healthy volunteers; in seven other subjects, effects of both eucapnic and hypocapnic hyperventilation were evaluated. Hypocapnic but not eucapnic hyperventilation produced an increase in colonic tone and phasic contractility in the transverse and sigmoid regions and an increase in pulse rate and pulse interval variability. The findings are consistent with inhibition of sympathetic innervation to the colon or direct effects of hypocapnia on colonic smooth muscle, or both. These physiological gut responses suggest that some of the changes in colonic function are caused by altered brain or autonomic control mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Growth and subsequent feedlot performance of estradiol-implanted vs nonimplanted steers grazing fall-accumulated endophyte-infested or low-endophyte tall fescue.

A growing-finishing study using Angus steer calves was conducted in three phases: 1) grazing stockpiled 'Kentucky-31' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) with high (65%; HE KY-31) and low (0%; LE KY-31) infestation rates of Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Gams and 'Kenhy' and 'Johnstone' tall fescue with low (< 1%) infestation rate of Acremonium coenophialum from October 24 to December 19; 2) drylot feeding of Johnstone and HE KY-31 haylage (December 19 to April 10); and 3) feedlot finishing on a common high-concentrate diet (April 11 to August 1). In Phase 1, ADG was greatest (P < .05) for Kenhy, intermediate for Johnstone and LE KY-31, and lowest (P < .05) for HE KY-31. Implantation with estradiol 17-beta increased ADG (P < .01) by 23, 27, 7, and 2% for steers grazing Johnstone, HE KY-31, LE KY-31, and Kenhy, respectively. Dry matter digestibility and DMI of stockpiled Johnstone and HE KY-31 were not different (P > .10). During Phase 2, steers consuming Johnstone haylage had greater (P < .01) DMI, ADG, and gain:feed ratio (G:F) than steers consuming HE KY-31 haylage. During Phase 3, steers previously consuming Johnstone had greater DMI (P < .10); however, steers previously fed HE KY-31 had greater ADG (P < .05) and G:F (P < .01). By the end of the study, steer body weights were not different (P > .10) between treatments. These data indicate that growth-decreasing effects of endophyte-infested fescue were evident at hypothermal-ambient temperatures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acremonium↗
PubMed1995

Stroke-induced purpura in lesions of colloid milium.

We describe three patients with colloid milium whose lesions showed purpura upon stroking. Two of these patients had juvenile colloid milium and the third had adult colloid milium. Ultramicroscopic examination of purpuric colloid papules showed that the dermal blood vessel walls were infiltrated by colloid material. Traumatic purpura occurring in colloid milium may be analogous to that occurring in systemic amyloidosis. We suggest that the infiltrating colloid material decreases the elasticity of dermal blood vessel walls, accounting for the purpura following minor trauma.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Extramammary Paget's disease associated with prostate adenocarcinoma.

A case of scrotal and penile extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) and concurrent prostate adenocarcinoma in a 59-year-old patient is presented. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells of both the EMPD and prostate stained positively for prostate-specific antigen. Six previously reported cases of EMPD associated with prostate adenocarcinoma are reviewed, along with a discussion of current theories of the pathogenesis of EMPD.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Molecular evolution of the period gene in Drosophila athabasca.

We measured nucleotide variability within and between the three semispecies of the Drosophila athabasca complex, at the period (per) gene by using a polymerase chain reaction-based four-cutter restriction-enzyme analysis. The levels of polymorphism varied considerably between the three semispecies. Our results for per, combined with previous data for X-linked allozymes, suggest that the X chromosome in the western-northern semispecies is less variable than expected under an equilibrium-neutral model. Both the pattern of divergence between the semispecies and a cladistic clustering of per haplotypes support the previously hypothesized grouping of eastern A and eastern B as the two most recently diverged semispecies. A 21-bp in-frame segment in the region of per which shares sequence similarity with the neuronal development gene single minded is deleted in all eastern A and eastern B flies examined but is present in all of the western-northern flies and all other published per sequences. Despite these hints that there may be significant differences at the per gene between the semispecies, especially the western-northern group versus the two eastern groups, there is no compelling evidence that per is involved in the mating song differences between the semispecies.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The early hospital readmission of elderly people.

Two hundred and twenty six consecutive patients aged over 75 years discharged following an acute medical admission to a district general hospital were followed up six months later. 46 (20.3%) required emergency admission within three months of discharge. 19 had a diagnosis related to their original admission, and 27 an unrelated diagnosis. The mean time to readmission was 34 days, but this was significantly shorter (21 days) in those with a related diagnosis. Those readmitted had more often required admission in the year prior to their index admission, had more comorbidities, higher use of social services, and no carer. There were no significant differences in age, gender, mental test score, length of stay, home circumstances or diagnosis. The results suggest that most readmissions are due to medical rather than social problems, and that most are unavoidable. Efforts to reduce readmissions should be directed at preventing early medical relapse in at risk patients.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1994

Accell particle-mediated DNA immunization elicits humoral, cytotoxic, and protective immune responses.

Accell particle-mediated gene delivery technology was employed for the intracellular delivery of antigen-encoding expression vectors in epidermal tissues in laboratory animals. Delivery of plasmid DNA-coated gold microparticles using the Accell gene delivery system resulted in de novo antigen expression in epidermal cells that stimulated the induction of antigen-specific humoral and cytotoxic cellular immune responses. Optimal DNA delivery conditions favoring maximal humoral responses required the delivery of 5 x 10(7) micron-sized gold particles containing 300 plasmid copies per particle (80 ng of vector total) into a 4-cm2 area of abdominal skin. Comparison of immune responses between animals that received intramuscular injections of relatively large quantities of vector DNA (100 micrograms) and those that received intracellular deliveries of submicrogram quantities of the same DNA to the epidermis demonstrated that the latter approach was considerably more effective at eliciting strong humoral responses. In addition, cytotoxic cellular immune responses were elicited to HIV-1 gp120 following epidermal delivery of HIV-1 gp160 or gp120 expression constructs. A qualitative shift from predominantly cytotoxic cellular to predominantly humoral immune responses with continued immunization indicated the potential for optimizing delivery conditions to favor specifically one type of response over the other.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1993

Non-alimentary aspects of the irritable bowel syndrome.

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by alimentary and non-alimentary symptoms; the aim of this study was to assess the clinical value and discriminant function of non-alimentary symptoms in the irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary and non-alimentary symptoms, estimated daily dietary fibre intakes, ability to express personal feelings, anxiety and depression ratings, and life events and difficulties inventories were compared in 128 hospital out-patients with IBS and 113 age and sex matched control subjects not seeking health care, randomly recruited from the community. Alimentary symptoms correlated closely with those non-alimentary symptoms often associated with the hyperventilation syndromes, difficulties in expressing personal feelings and anxiety, and depression ratings. Life events and difficulties, and estimated daily dietary fibre intakes did not differ significantly between patients and controls. With the exception of abdominal bloating, no significant gender differences were observed in IBS symptoms in either the IBS or control groups. The irritable bowel syndrome is one facet of a more general condition of illness behaviour which includes the hyperventilation syndrome and an inassertiveness in expressing personal feelings. Though non-alimentary symptoms did not improve diagnostic accuracy beyond that achieved by a combination of alimentary symptoms, their recognition provides alternative approaches to the management of refractory IBS.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Penile purpura as a manifestation of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus.

Heightened public and professional awareness of the sexual abuse of children demands that physicians be able to distinguish lesions associated with sexual abuse from those caused by primary skin disorders. Purpura is an occasional manifestation of pediatric lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA), especially when the vulva is affected. We report a 12-year-old boy with penile purpura that occasioned a consideration of sexual abuse but proved to be due to LSA.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Irritable bowel syndrome: the influence of psychological factors on the symptom complex.

A 5 yr follow up of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is described. With the notable exception of abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms changed little over this period, and were unrelated to the overall improvement in wellbeing reported by 65% of patients. The anxiety ratings of the improved and unimproved groups at initial assessment and 5 yr later are considered. There was a persisting trend towards higher ratings in those who did not improve, and an exaggeration of this trend after 5 yr, which owed more to a reduction in anxiety in those who improved than to an increase in the anxiety ratings of those who did not. There was no evidence that depression ratings behaved similarly. We suggest that anxiety may be more important in the maintenance of the IBS symptom complex, and depression more important in determining intercurrent fluctuations in perceived distress and illness behaviour in response to adverse life events.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Medical clinic referral letters. Do they say what they mean? Do they mean what they say?

Consecutive general practitioner referrals to three general medical clinics were examined prospectively to assess whether the reason for referral was being correctly interpreted by consultants. The resultant data revealed that although this was not always the case, such misunderstandings did not appear to affect subsequent management. Explicit reasons for referral in the referral letter however could improve both the quality and value of out-patient consultations.

Communication↗
PubMed1992

Pustular eruption of the striae in a primigravida.

We report on a patient with a pustular eruption of the striae in an otherwise normal first pregnancy. The clinical, histologic, and immunologic findings are reviewed and found to be inconsistent with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy and with the three previously described pustular eruptions of pregnancy (impetigo herpetiformis, pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy, and autoimmune progesterone dermatitis of pregnancy). Therefore, we regard this case as unique.

Abdomen↗