Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R F Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to R F Harrison.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

A critical evaluation of tests used to assess gestational age.

The reliability of eight methods for estimating gestational age in the third trimester of pregnancy has been assessed in patients with fetuses of known maturity. Late ultrasound cephalometry, amniotic fluid creatinine estimations and lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio were found to be significantly more reliable than the other five methods. The mean of estimated gestational ages provided by the three techniques used in combination gave a significantly more accurate prediction of fetal age than any single test and allowed formation of a 'maturity profile'.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1977

Inhibition of puerperal lactation. A double blind study of bromocriptine and placebo.

Bromocriptine and placebo were randomly allocated for three weeks to 52 postpartum patients requiring lactation suppression. Bromocriptine significantly lowered plasma prolactin levels and suppressed breast milk, breast pain and engorgement quicker than placebo. No side-effects were noted and rebound lactation did not occur. Menstruation appeared to re-start sooner when Bromocriptine was given.

Bromocriptine↗
PubMed1977

Assessment of factors constituting an "inducibility profile".

A survey of 440 patients examined vaginally during the last month of pregnancy showed a correlation between quantitative assessment of the pelvic score features described by Bishop and the duration of induced labor. Cervical dilatation was as useful as the total Bishop score in this respect. Cervical dilatation and station of the head together were especially predictive for long labor and these two factors together with length of cervix were especially predictive for shorter labors. It was also apparent from this study that previous cervical surgery or vaginal termination of pregnancy was associated with a lower incidence of low Bishop scores. The changes in individual components of the Bishop score during the last month of pregnancy are described.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1976

A double-blind trial of ethamsylate in the treatment of primary and intrauterine-device menorrhagia.

22 patients complaining of primary menorrhagia or menorrhagia associated with an intrauterine device (I.U.C.D.) were studied in a double blind trial with crossover of ethamsylate and placebo. Acutal menstrual blood-losses were calculated from the iron content of used sanitary material during one pre-trail menstrual period and four trial menstrual periods, during which patients received ethamsylate ("Dicynene") treatment during two menstrual cycles and placebo during two cycles. During ethamsylate treatment the mean menstrual blood-loss was reduced by 50% in patients with primary menorrhagia and by 19% in patients with an I.U.C.D. This difference between the two groups is probably accounted for by the differing values of initial blood-loss which was significantly higher in the group with primary menorrhagia. Tampon usage and the duration of bleeding were not significantly altered by ethamsylate treatment. Reported side-effects, which were not serious, were equally common during ethamsylate and placebo treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Doxycycline treatment and human infertility.

The role of mycoplasmas in infertility was studied in 120 couples. During the twelve months of the study 27 couples (22-5%) conceived. T mycoplasmas were isolated from 63% of these couples, and Mycoplasma hominis from 18%, compared with 56% and 13%, respectively, in those who did not conceive. 88, with primary infertility of unascertained cause, took part in a controlled trial with doxycycline. The couples in the trial were allocated randomly to three groups: 30 received doxycycline, 28 received a placebo, and 30 couples were untreated. Although a twenty-eight-day course of doxycycline eradicated M. hominis and T-strain mycoplasmas from 27 (96%) of the 28 couples harbouring them, the rate of conception was no higher in those treated with the drug than in control groups. It is concluded that mycoplasmas are not associated with primary infertility and that, although doxycycline eradicates them, this drug is of no benefit in the treatment of primary infertility of unascertained cause.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Antibodies against spermatozoa in infertile women with poorly invading spermatozoa on postcoital tests.

Sixty-four women with poorly invading spermatozoa on postcoital tests (PCT's) were investigated for serum spermatozoal antibodies by the immunofluorescent technique. Control groups tested were women with explained infertility but normal PCT's, normal pregnant women, and normal previously pregnant women. A positive immunofluorescent test was obtained in 19 of 64 women with abnormal PCT's compared with 26 of 51 patients with explained infertility, including 11 of 13 who had well-identified gynecological disorders, 12 of 61 pregnant women, and one of 59 previously pregnant normal women. High titers (larger than or equal to 1/200) were found in a few patients in all groups except normal nonpregnant women. In no patient was evidence of complement fixation found. The immunofluorescent test, as carried out here, is therefore of little value in discriminating a group of patients in whom immunologic abnormalities are the primary cause of the infertility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Immunologic studies of male infertility.

Infertile men with azo- or oligospermia of unknown cause were investigated for evidence of testicular autoimmunity. Testicular germinal cell antibodies were found in 14% of the patients, compared with 5% of normal men, and 21% had spermatozoal antibodies, compared with 5% of the normal subjects. One-third had positive macrophage inhibitory factor tests, compared with 5% of normal subjects. However, of autoantibodies against thyroid, stomach, and nuclear material, only the prevalence of thyroid cytoplasmic antibodies was significantly greater than in normal subjects; serum IgG, IgM, and IgA levels were normal in all cases tested. Furthermore, there was no excess of lymphoid tissue on biopsy and no evidence of antibody deposition in the testicular tissue. The evidence for autoimmunity is less impressive than that for leprous orchitis, which has been proposed as a model for testicular organ-specific autoimmunity. Nevertheless, it is possible that certain germinal cell or spermatozoal antibodies may be directed against factors necessary for orderly spermatogenesis. If so, they may play a role in some cases of maturation arrest and shedding defects.

Adult↗