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Biomedical subjects

P Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to P Roberts.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

A chronic myeloproliferative disorder associated with monosomy 7 in the bone marrow cells; normal karyotype in acute transformation.

A chronic myeloproliferative disorder associated with monosomy 7 of the bone marrow cells is described in a male infant. After nearly 4 years, during which time no drug therapy was given, the disease transformed to a 'blast crisis' and at this stage the karyotypes of the marrow and unstimulated blood cells were shown to be normal. It is proposed that the development of the myeloproliferative disorder associated with monosomy 7 is a multistage process and the acquisition of the chromosomal abnormality is a secondary event.

Bone Marrow↗

"No two fields ever grow grass the same way": assessment of conservation abilities in the elderly.

Within the past ten years, standard cognitive assessment procedures, including Piagetian tasks, have often been used with the elderly. The present paper examines several possible difficulties in interpreting the results of studied which employ Piagetian tasks, especially conservation tasks, with older individuals. First, it is noted that Piaget's clinical method allows more flexibility in the assessment of competence than do the more quantifiable, American techniques. However, most of the research studies suggesting a cognitive decline with age have utilized rigid assessment procedures. Second, the paper examines the possibility of task misinterpretation by the elderly. Examples from recent research, in which older persons stressed reality-based problem solving strategies rather than the more abstract strategies traditionally associated with Piagetian tasks, are provided. The possibility of cognitive change instead of cognitive decline with age is discussed, and the importance of utilizing procedures which can measure this change is stressed.

Aged↗

Massive large-bowel haemorrhage.

Operative intervention for massive colonic haemorrhage is fortunately rarely necessary, but planned, low-risk segmental resections can only be performed if the bleeding site is known. This information can most frequently be obtained by using a combination of sigmoidoscopy, barium enema examination, and selective mesenteric angiography.

Colonic Diseases↗

Human regional tumour lymph nodes: alterations of micro-architecture and lymphocyte subpopulations.

Axillary lymph nodes draining mammary carcinoma showed an alteration of both micro-architectue and lymphocyte subpopulations. Lymph nodes with a normal or increased T and/or B lymphocyte compartment (assessed by histology) had a low incidence of nodal tumour spread, whilst hypocellularity of the T- or B-lymphocyte-dependent areas was associated with a significant increase in metastatic invasion. Tumour-draining lymph nodes, in particular the more proximal ones, were often enlarged, spherical and tense due to an increased cellular content, predominatly B lymphocytes and their various subsets. The increased number and percentage of B lymphocytes was associated with follicular hyperplasia and prominent germinal centres. Lymph nodes with a prominent paracortex tended to have a higher ratio of T to B lymphocytes than nodes with a hypocellular paracortical area, but in many instances both the T- and B-lymphocyte-dependent areas were increased. There was no correlation between a particular axillary-node lymphocyte subpopulation pattern (assessed by surface markers) and the size, degree of necrosis, inflammatory infiltrate or histologic type of breast carcinoma, or the presence of metastatic node invasion.

Axilla↗

Training cognitive functioning in the elderly--inability to replicate previous findings.

This study was designed to replicate Hornblum and Overton's study which trained conservation ability in elderly women [1]. Thirty-four elderly women volunteers were given a pretest battery of area and volume conservation tasks; participants also completed an extensive life history questionnaire. Conservation scores were the highest yet recorded by elderly participants. Thirty-two women received perfect conservation scores; only two were "partial conservers"; no participant was a "nonconserver." Consequently, training was not implemented. These women had high levels of education, good health, adequate income, satisfying leisure activities, and positive attitudes about aging. Advanced chronological age does not guarantee poor conservation performance. The mechanism(s) whereby life history variables influence cognitive functioning needs to be determined.

Aged↗

B-lineage prolymphocytic leukemia as a distinct clinicopathologic entity.

Prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) was described originally by Galton and his colleagues as a special variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with distinct clinical and hematologic features. Subsequent authors have described considerable heterogeneity in the clinical and immunologic features of PLL but have not dealt in detail with pathologic descriptions of their cases. Consequently, one might question whether PLL represents one disorder or a heterogeneous group of disorders. Three patients who satisfied Galton's original diagnostic criteria for PLL were examined by pathologic and immunologic methods. The spleens of these patients showed distinctive pseudonodular pathologic features. The malignant prolymphocytes were characterized as B-lineage by the presence of surface IgM and IgD, the expression of HLA-DR antigen, the absence of E-rosette formation, and the absence of natural killer cell activity. The existence of B-lineage prolymphocytic leukemia is affirmed as a distinct entity with unique pathologic, clinical, and immunobiologic characteristics.

Aged↗

An analysis of overcorrection movements.

Overcorrection procedures were designed for three profoundly retarded adults such that the overcorrection activities were topographically dissimilar to (i.e., did not physically prevent) the stereotyped behavior targeted for treatment. Using reversal designs, we recorded data on both the target behavior and the behavior used as the overcorrection responses. Results showed that overcorrection was effective in reducing the stereotyped behavior for each subject; however, the rates of the overcorrection responses either remained variable or decreased during the treatment phases. These findings suggest that although overcorrection is a valuable technique in reducing behavior, the overcorrection responses (e.g., restitutional acts, positive practice, functional movement training) may not increase in the absence of specific reinforcement contingencies. The importance of utilizing differential reinforcement procedures, especially with mentally retarded persons, in conjunction with ocercorrection was discussed.

Adolescent↗

Stimulation of phagocytosis by human lysozyme.

Human lysozyme in physiologic concentrations (10--400 mug/ml) significantly (p less than 0.001) stimulates the phagocytosis of yeast cells by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. This stimulating effect was observed even in the absence of serum factors. Hen egg white lysozyme or protamine sulfate had no effect on phagocytosis. The stimulating effect of human lysozyme was not the result of opsonization but was apparently related to the effects on constituent membranes of the phagocytic cells.

Cell Membrane↗

The school health team and school health physician: new role and operation.

A new concept of school health redefines the school physician's role as dealing primarily with behavior and learning disorders in children. It is an on-site operation, using a multidisciplinary team of professionals. We outlined internal team operations, as well as modes of remediation. Many types of behavior and learning problems were seen by our school health team during the first year of operation. It is important to recognize the multiplicity of diagnoses on individual elementary school children, as well as the differentiation of early organics from late functional primary causes. We need to reassess the delivery of school health care. The expansion of school health to include the multidisciplinary team approach to behavior and learning problem is a primary priority. We suggest using outside medical agencies for periodic physical illness.

Adolescent↗