Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Croft

Publications and source records attributed to P Croft.

96 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Risk factors for acute myocardial infarction in women: evidence from the Royal College of General Practitioners' oral contraception study.

To determine the pattern of risk factors for acute myocardial infarction associated solely with women a nested case-control study was carried out on cohort data collected during the Royal College of General Practitioners' oral contraception study. Smoking (adjusted relative risk 1.7 for light smokers and 4.3 for heavy smokers), hypertension (2.4), toxaemia of pregnancy (2.8), and diabetes mellitus (6.9) were associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction. There was no significant trend of risk with social class. Current use of the pill increased the risk only among women who also smoked (relative risk 20.8 for heavy smokers). Previous use of the pill did not influence the risk of myocardial infarction. If heavy smokers also had a history of toxaemia of pregnancy their risk of myocardial infarction was further increased (relative risk 41.0). Other variables associated solely with women, such as parity, hysterectomy, and hormone replacement therapy, had little effect on the risk of having a myocardial infarction. Overall, smoking was the most important independent risk factor and had a strong influence on risks associated with other factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Neuromuscular syndromes associated with malignant disease.

Malignant disorders may produce neuromuscular syndromes in a variety of ways, for some of which it is still difficult to determine the exact pathophysiology. In the myopathic and neuropathic disorders, one possible explanation is that they are due to a virus such as is found in the rare "progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy". This is seen in association with the malignant lymphomas and with other conditions such as sarcoidosis where immune responses may be altered by either the disease or the treatment. No viral material has been found in the nonmetastatic neurological disorders apart from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. An alternative theory is that there may be an autoimmune process, the nervous system sharing some antigenic determinant with the neoplasm (Urich, 1967). The prognosis in the paraneoplastic neurological disorders is usually poor. As well as the direct threat to life posed by the malignant disease, when the neurological disorder is due to destruction of neurones (for instance cerebellar degeneration or sensory neuronopathy) recovery of function is impossible. Spontaneous remissions have been recorded in cases of proximal muscle weakness and sensorimotor neuropathy, but it is difficult to know whether the remissions have been truly spontaneous or related to treatment (excision of the neoplasm or administration of steroids). Further immunological and virological studies will probably reveal the answers to some of the outstanding problems. In the meantime the clinician must continue to investigate patients with muscular weakness for evidence of an occult neoplasm, and to repeat investigations if no other cause for the neurological disorder is found. Also, in patients with known malignant disease, apart from trying to differentiate forms of neuromyopathy from the effects of metastases the various metabolic disorders must be considered because the therapeutic possibilities are a little more promising in the paraneoplastic endocrine disorders. Ross (1975) wisely said that "cancer has replaced syphilis as the great imitator".

Cachexia↗
PubMed1971

Fits in the dog.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A review of recent dietary intervention trials in the United Kingdom to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

A review of 14 UK studies conducted between 1980 and January 1997 showed that blood cholesterol levels can be reduced through screening followed by dietary and behavioural intervention in both general population and high risk individuals (hyperlipidaemic and angina patients). In most studies cholesterol levels were lowered moderately while changes in other risk factors were also in a positive direction. However, it is unclear whether the cholesterol reductions are sufficiently large to have a significant impact in lowering the risk of heart disease in the whole population.

Adult↗