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P Jones

Publications and source records attributed to P Jones.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Childbirth: life event or start of a long-term difficulty? Further data from the Stoke-on-Trent controlled study of postnatal depression.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports further data from the Stoke study of postnatal depression and examines whether psychosocial characteristics and symptom profiles differ between postnatal and control depression. METHOD: Two hundred and thirty-two postnatal and non-postnatal control women were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; all high scorers and a sample of low scores were interviewed with the Standardised Psychiatric Interview and modified Social Maladjustment Schedule. Depression was diagnosed using the Research Diagnostic Criteria. RESULTS: Postnatal but not control depression was associated with a poor relationship with the woman's own mother and greater occupational instability. Depression in control women was associated with low income, having three or more children, performing manual work and occupational dissatisfaction, but postnatal depression was not. There were no differences in the symptom profiles of the postnatal and control women nor between early and late onset postnatal depression. CONCLUSION: Depression is a common and socially disabling disorder affecting mothers of young children. Postnatal depression is more contingent on acute biopsychosocial stresses caused by the arrival of a new family member. Depression in women with older children is more closely related to longer term social adversity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Increased intracerebral cerebrospinal fluid spaces predict unemployment and negative symptoms in psychotic illness. A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the dimensions of cerebral ventricles are a risk factor for poor outcome in psychotic illness. METHOD: A cohort of 140 patients with functional psychoses of recent onset who had undergone CT scanning, were followed up for an average of 46 months and assessed on six dimensions of course and outcome of illness. RESULTS: Left and right sylvian fissure volumes and, to a lesser extent, third ventricular volume predicted negative symptoms and unemployment over the course of follow-up, the latter association being mediated by poor cognitive functioning. There was significant linear trend in risk over the distribution of sylvian fissure volumes in the cohort, and associations were especially evident in schizophrenic patients. No associations were found with global severity of illness, duration of hospital stay, homelessness, or affective symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the notion that dimensions of the cerebral ventricles are a continuous risk factor for some measures of outcome in the functional psychoses.

Arousal↗
PubMed1995

Insight and psychotic illness. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.

BACKGROUND: Insight has recently re-emerged as an important aspect of psychopathology amenable to empirical study. We sought to examine the relationship between various aspects of insight into illness and clinical, sociodemographic and neuropsychological variables. METHOD: From an inner-London catchment area population, 150 in-patients with recent onset of psychosis were assessed on a variety of measures, including the Present State Examination (PSE). Subjects were followed up for a mean of four years and reassessed. RESULTS: High IQ was associated with better insight as rated on the PSE, while gender, ethnicity and a diagnosis of schizophrenia appeared to be unrelated. At follow-up, similar associations were found, as well as correlations with attitudes to treatment and a more elaborate measure of insight. Cerebral ventricular enlargement and tests of frontal lobe function did not correlate with insight, but there was a curious, strong association with left-handedness at both assessment points. Initial insight correlated significantly but weakly with insight at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of insight in psychosis has concurrent validity and is a distinct aspect of psychotic phenomenology. It may, in part, have a neuropsychological basis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Case report: coincident granular cell tumour of the breast with invasive ductal carcinoma.

Granular cell tumours of the breast are rare lesions which are almost always benign. They are of interest because their clinical, radiological and pathological appearances often closely resemble those of malignancy. A case is described in which screening mammography in an asymptomatic woman led to the diagnosis of simultaneous invasive intraductal carcinoma in one breast and benign granular cell tumour in the other. Granular cell tumour of the breast coincident with other breast tumours is very rarely described and an association with breast carcinoma is unknown.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Identification of mammalian noggin and its expression in the adult nervous system.

The multiple roles of noggin during dorsal fate specification in Xenopus embryos, together with noggin's ability to directly induce neural tissue, inspired an effort to determine whether a similar molecule exists in mammals. Here we describe the identification of human and rat noggin and explore their expression patterns; we also localize the human NOGGIN gene to chromosome 17q22, and the mouse gene to a syntenic region of chromosome 11. Mammalian noggin is remarkably similar in its sequence to Xenopus noggin, and is similarly active in induction assays performed on Xenopus embryo tissues. In the adult mammal, noggin is most notably expressed in particular regions of the nervous system, such as the tufted cells of the olfactory bulb, the piriform cortex of the brain, and the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, suggesting that one of the earliest acting neural inducers also has important roles in the adult nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Modern treatment of haemophilia.

Many rapid advances have been made in the diagnosis and therapy of haemophilia. Nevertheless, the condition still poses problems and challenges (e.g., joint disease, transfusion-transmitted diseases, inhibitors, provision of care in developing countries, and education and cost issues). WHO and the World Federation of Hemophilia held a joint meeting in Geneva, on 21-23 March 1994, to discuss and review current and future approaches to the management of haemophilia and its complications, including prospects for genetic technology and gene therapy in developed and developing countries. The present review article summarizes the discussions and recommendations made by the participants.

Consumer Product Safety↗
PubMed1994

Indications for low-density lipoprotein apheresis.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis offers an additional approach to lipid lowering in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia who fail to respond adequately to diet and drug therapy. Well-defined criteria for patient selection have yet to be established for LDL apheresis. This study proposes guidelines based on whether coronary artery disease (CAD) is present and on the degree of LDL cholesterol elevation after treatment with diet and maximal drug therapy. It is reasonable to consider LDL apheresis therapy for: (1) patients with CAD and LDL cholesterol levels > 190 mg/dl; (2) patients without CAD, but at high risk for disease due to an LDL cholesterol level > 250 mg/dl, a first-degree relative with premature CAD, and the presence of > or = 1 additional risk factor. In addition, LDL apheresis is recommended for the management of all patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia due to the very high risk of CAD and the poor response to usual lipid-lowering treatments.

Blood Component Removal↗
PubMed1994

Child development risk factors for adult schizophrenia in the British 1946 birth cohort.

Schizophrenia has been linked with childhood psychological abnormalities since it was first described, but studies of associations have not used population samples and so may be subject to bias. We have studied associations between adult-onset schizophrenia and childhood sociodemographic, neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioural factors within a cohort of 5362 people born in the week March 3-9, 1946. Childhood data were gathered prospectively and case ascertainment was independent of routine follow-up of this cohort. 30 cases of schizophrenia arose between ages 16 and 43 years (cumulative risk 0.63% [95% CI 0.41-0.86%]). Milestones of motor development were reached later in cases than in controls, particularly walking (difference in means 1.2 months [0.1-2.3], p = 0.005), and up to age 15, cases had more speech problems than had controls (odds ratio 2.8 [0.9-7.8], p = 0.04). Low educational test scores at ages 8, 11, and 15 years were a risk factor, with significant linear trends across population distributions; risk was not confined to very low scores. Solitary play preference at ages 4 and 6 years predicted schizophrenia (odds ratios 2.1, 2.5, p = 0.05). At 13 years cases rated themselves as less socially confident (p for trend, 0.04). At 15 years, teachers rated cases as being more anxious in social situations (p for trend 0.003), independent of intelligence quotient. A health visitor's rating of the mother as having below average mothering skills and understanding of her child at age 4 years was a predictor of schizophrenia in that child (odds ratio 5.8 [0.8-31.8], p = 0.02). Differences between children destined to develop schizophrenia as adults and the general population were found across a range of developmental domains. As with some other adult illnesses, the origins of schizophrenia may be found in early life.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1994

Glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 phenotypes and protection against cutaneous tumours.

Multiple allelism at loci encoding detoxicating enzymes is associated with cancer risk. We have studied genetic variation at the glutathione S-transferase GSTM1 locus to see whether phenotypes confer altered susceptibility to basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), malignant melanoma (MM), or multiple skin tumours of different histological types. The frequency of GSTM1 null in cases and controls (52%) was similar, except for patients with two or more tumours of different types (71%, p = 0.033). GSTM1 A/B was reduced in frequency (p < 0.05) in patients with single or multiple BCC. Thus GSTM1 A/B may be protective, and effectiveness of detoxication may be a factor determining susceptibility to skin cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Hyperuricemia and urate nephropathy in urate oxidase-deficient mice.

Urate oxidase, or uricase (EC 1.7.3.3), is a purine metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of uric acid to allantoin in most mammals except humans and certain other primates. The loss of urate oxidase in the human during primate evolution predisposes man to hyperuricemia, a metabolic disturbance that can lead to gouty arthritis and renal stones. To create a mouse model for hyperuricemia and gout, and to address the question of whether urate oxidase is essential in lower mammalian species, we have disrupted the urate oxidase gene in the mouse by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Unlike the human situation, urate oxidase deficiency in mice causes pronounced hyperuricemia and urate nephropathy. More than half of the mutant mice died before 4 weeks of age, indicating that urate oxidase is essential in mice. These mutant mice may also serve as animal models for hyperuricemia and its related nephropathy in humans.

Allopurinol↗
PubMed1994

Antagonism of presynaptically mediated depressant responses and cyclic AMP-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptors.

The depression of monosynaptic excitation of neonatal rat motoneurones by (1S,3S)- and (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD) and by L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-AP4), which is probably presynaptically mediated, is antagonized by (+/-)- and (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG). The same phenylglycine derivatives also antagonize the depression of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis effected by the two ACPD stereoisomers and by L-AP4. These results support previous suggestions that presynaptic depression is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase activity. MCPG is the first antagonist to be reported for these receptors.

Aminobutyrates↗
PubMed1994

Hyperlithemia correction and persistent delirium.

Experience with three patients whose courses are described suggested that delirium and persistent neurologic dysfunction follow rapid correction of hyperlithemia, which develops after regular lithium doses. From all retrievable published reports of adult hospitalization for hyperlithemia, all cases that described cognitive dysfunction after lithium administration for at least 10 days with insubstantial neuroleptic exposure were selected. Lithium was universally discontinued before or on admission. Of the 65 such cases, 50 were at least somewhat responsive on admission; of these, substantial deterioration during hospitalization occurred in 56%. Dialysis was associated with greater incidence of persistent neurologic sequelae (62% vs. 22%, P = .012) and deterioration during hospitalization (85% vs. 46%, P = .016), although cognitive dysfunction on hospital admission was less (P < .001) for patients who were then dialyzed. The greater neurotoxicity after dialysis suggests that while hyperlithemia can be toxic, its rapid correction can be more toxic. Parallels with hyponatremia, including a potential mechanism, suggest that gradual rather than abrupt correction of hyperlithemia might decrease the risk of neurotoxicity.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Synthesis of cyclic penta- and hexapeptides: a general synthetic strategy on DAS resin.

The active part or receptor-binding sequence of peptide hormones can usually be defined by a span of 4-8 amino acids. Cyclic penta- and hexapeptides are excellent model systems for performing conformational and structure-function studies on this class of bioactive molecules. A synthetic scheme has been devised comprising solid-phase Fmoc chemistry followed by resin cleavage, cyclization in solution, and, finally, side-chain deprotection. A new resin, DAS, cleaved under weak acid conditions, is an excellent solid-phase synthesis support, and HBTU or PyBOP are the activation reagents of choice, not only during synthesis, but also for the cyclization reaction. Three cyclic peptides were synthesized using this method, one requiring extensive side-chain protection, and this method has general applicability for any cyclic pentapeptide or hexapeptide, giving good yields and high purity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Cannabis and acute psychosis.

The Present State Examination was used to assess the psychopathology of 23 psychotic patients who were cannabis positive on urinary screening, and 46 matched drug-free controls. Cases and controls were indistinguishable in terms of psychopathology, DSMIII diagnoses, onset of recent illness, the proportion of first admissions, ethnicity, and socio-economic class, differing only in their histories of substance use. These data suggest that psychosis which develops or recurs in the context of cannabis use does not have a characteristic psychopathology or mode of onset, and is not restricted to a particular ethnic or socio-demographic group. There is thus little evidence to support the validity of 'cannabis psychosis' as a diagnostic entity.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

The influence of life events on the subsequent course of psychotic illness. A prospective follow-up of the Camberwell Collaborative Psychosis Study.

Fifty-nine psychotic patients with acute onset of illness, who had been interviewed about their experience of stressful life events before the episode, were followed up for an average of 42 months. Thirty patients (51%) had experienced a stressful life event in the 3 months immediately before onset (EV+), 29 had not (EV-). In patients with an RDC diagnosis of affective disorder or unspecified functional psychosis, the presence of stressful life events was associated subsequently with milder symptom severity, less time spent in hospital, more treatment for depressive symptoms and less for psychotic symptoms. In schizophrenia, differences were less apparent, but patients with event associated episodes had less need of anti-psychotic maintenance medication over the follow-up period and tended to have spent more time in complete remission. EV+ schizophrenic subjects also had higher morbid risk for schizophrenia in their first degree relatives, and tended to be female and to have less typical symptoms than EV- schizophrenic patients.

Adult↗