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Biomedical subjects

R Harper

Publications and source records attributed to R Harper.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Counselling the relatives of the long-term adult mentally ill. II. A low-cost supportive model.

A psychosocial intervention is described geared to the needs of carers of the long-term mentally ill, which is feasible for a busy clinical team to implement: relatives were not selected for the group by patient diagnosis or motivation and little extra staff input was required. An interactive education session at home was followed by a monthly relatives group which aimed to reduce components of expressed emotion (EE) and to alleviate burden. The group facilitators adopted a directive but non-judgemental style, and constructive coping efforts were encouraged. The intervention was effective at reducing EE and improving family relationships. The study offers a realistic model of how to offer support to people providing long-term care for the severely mentally ill.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of absorbable materials for surgical haemostasis.

The haemostatic effect of two new materials has been compared with surgical gauze and oxidized cellulose using a standardized liver laceration in New Zealand White rabbits. Following excision of a 3 cm2 disc of tissue from the liver, 42 rabbits were randomized to the use of gauze swabs (n = 6), oxidized cellulose (Surgicel) (n = 12), porcine collagen (Medistat) (n = 12) or calcium alginate (Kaltostat) (n = 12) to control the resulting haemorrhage. Blood loss and time to haemostasis were accurately recorded. The absorbable materials were left in situ and animals killed between 2 weeks and 6 months later to examine speed of absorption and resulting adhesions. Calcium alginate stopped bleeding in less than 3 min in all animals compared with a mean (+/- s.e.m.) of 5.7 +/- 0.75 min for porcine collagen, 12.5 +/- 0.9 min for oxidized cellulose and greater than 15 min with gauze (P less than 0.001). Oxidized cellulose and calcium alginate reabsorbed within 3 months leaving a fibrous scar, but a vigorous foreign body reaction was seen with porcine collagen which caused intestinal obstruction in 5 out of 12 animals within 3 months.

Absorption↗
PubMed1988

Measurement of progesterone in saliva: assessment of the normal fertile range using spontaneous conception cycles.

The concentration of progesterone in saliva can be used as an alternative to the measurement of the hormone in plasma because the steroid profiles are qualitatively, although not quantitatively, similar. Reference values for concentrations of the hormone during the luteal phase have been established using data derived from selected, apparently normal women, some of whom conceived in the study cycle. Six to eight days after the LH surge salivary progesterone values of 300-800 pmol/l can be regarded as 'normal' and can therefore be used as a reference for the clinical assessment of infertile women. Moreover, since there is a significant within-subject, between-cycle correlation (P less than 0.001) in salivary progesterone index values, the clinical information derived from one cycle is likely to be representative for that individual.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Microscopic split-skin grafts: a new technique for 30-fold expansion.

Split skin was diced into 200 microns squares for use as a graft for large granulating wounds in pigs. "Diced" skin expanded 26-fold to give healing rates virtually identical with those obtainable with meshed split skin, despite a ten-fold difference in the area of donor skin used. The technique has been successfully applied in five patients with venous ulcers and seems to be a simple alternative to tissue culture for grafting extensive wounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Mechanism of egg attachment stalk formation in the lobster, Homarus.

We have examined the formation of the egg attachment stalk in the lobsters Homarus americanus and H. gammarus. The formation of the stalk is similar in both species. Ovulated oocytes are surrounded by a single coat, envelope 1, composed of layers 1A and 1B. After passage through the gonopore and exposure to sea water, envelope 1 swells and becomes sticky. A second coat, envelope 2, forms between the oocyte and envelope 1 during a complex cortical reaction initiated after fertilization. Eggs pass over the ventral surface of spawning females to the region of the pleopods, where they stick by means of layer 1A to each other and to the ovigerous setae. Layers 1A and 1B are soft and pliable at this time. During egg attachment, the pleopods beat vigorously and cause envelope 1 to stretch and form attachment stalks. Beating probably also causes the attachment stalks to twist and wrap around the ovigerous setae. After the egg mass is secured to the ovigerous setae, envelope 1 of both the attachment stalk and egg coat condenses to form a tough material capable of securing the egg mass to the pleopods for intervals up to 16 months. After larvae hatch, portions of the egg coats and the attachment stalks are retained on the ovigerous setae until the female undergoes her next molt.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

T lymphocyte subpopulations in high-risk infants: influence of age and blood transfusions.

Methodology was established to analyze T lymphocytes and T cell subsets with monoclonal antibodies on microsamples of blood obtained by heel puncture in infants. Results in 39 high-risk infants indicated that during the early neonatal period they had a higher percentage of T4-bearing cells and a lower percentage of T8 antigen-positive cells as compared with adults. These values progressively approached adult values, and at 3 to 7 months the T cell subsets and the T4/T8 ratios were within the adult range. A significant inverse relationship was noted between the number of blood transfusions given to the infants between 2 and 12 weeks of age and the corresponding T4/T8 ratio. These findings suggest that interpretation of T cell subsets in frequently transfused infants should take into consideration not only the age of the infant but also the possible influence of transfusions per se on the distribution of T cell subsets in the peripheral blood.

Aging↗
PubMed1985

Ethnic heterogeneity in the distribution of the OKT4 antigen on lymphocytes: studies in three black families.

Human T lymphocytes bear characteristic membrane antigens which allow for identification on these cells and their subpopulations with monoclonal antibody reagents directed against the specific cell-surface antigens. During a study of T lymphocyte subpopulations in a group of 41 infants from a high risk nursery, three of the seven black infants studied were found to be missing cells reactive with the monoclonal antibody OKT4 which identifies the helper-inducer subset of T cells. Immunological evaluation of these infants and study of their family members revealed that the OKT4 non-reactive lymphocytes reacted normally with another antibody, OKT4A, which also identifies the helper-inducer subset of T cells. The deficiency of the antigen recognized by the OKT4 antibody appeared not to reflect T cell immaturity and was not associated with obvious immunodeficiency. The OKT4 negative phenotype appeared to be transmitted in an autosomal recessive mode. Our studies suggest that heterozygosity for this phenotype is relatively common among the black population and that heterozygotes are not easily distinguishable from the random population on the basis of lymphocyte reactivity with the OKT4 monoclonal antibody.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1984

Normal variation in the length of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle: effect of chronological age.

Normal probability plots were used to analyse the distribution of follicular phase length in a population of 293 apparently ovulatory menstrual cycles from women aged between 18 and 39 years. The length of the follicular phase was defined as the interval (in days) from the onset of menstruation up to, but not including, the day of the LH peak. Follicular phase length appeared to be log-normally distributed and graphical inspection of the probability plot suggested that the geometric mean (and 95% confidence limits) of follicular phase length in this study group was 12.9 (10.3 to 16.3) days. There was a significant decrease (P less than 0.001) in follicular phase length with chronological age, from 14.2 days in women aged 18-24 years to 10.4 days in women aged 40-44 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Xenon-enhanced CT CBF measurements in cerebral AVM's before and after excision. Contribution to pathogenesis and treatment.

Unlike neurological deficits resulting from intracranial hemorrhage in patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which have well defined etiology, the pathogenesis and treatment of progressive and/or fluctuating non-hemorrhagic neurological and psychological deficits require clarification. Values for local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) and local partition coefficients (L lambda) were measured by the method using stable xenon (Xe)-computerized tomography (CT-CBF) scanning, and were compared to 133Xe inhalation values using external probes in 16 patients with cerebral AVM's. Values were measured by both methods before and after total excision of AVM's in five cases. Neurological and mental status assessments were compared with LCBF results. Clinical improvement was most evident after total excision of AVM's. Other procedures, such as clipping of vessels, partial excision, and ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus, were associated with frequent complications. Embolization carried risks of cerebral infarction and was not efficacious unless combined with excision. Medical treatment resulted in poor or unsuccessful seizure control, with neurological deterioration despite anticonvulsant therapy. Compared with age-matched normal individuals, LCBF values in patients with AVM's were significantly reduced, particularly adjacent to the AVM's. Mean L lambda values for gray and white matter were normal. After excision, LCBF values in gray and white matter increased significantly up to normal. Due to overestimation of CBF by shunt flow with the 133Xe method of measurement, no correlation was found with results of the CT-CBF method before AVM excision, but significant correlation of the two methods resulted after excision. If accurate LCBF values are obtained by high resolution, direct measurement of tracer clearance from brain tissue, progressive and/or fluctuating neuropsychological deficits correlate with the degree of cerebral steal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Respiratory behavior in near-miss sudden infant death syndrome.

Seventeen infants with unexplained prolonged apnea that has been designated near-miss sudden infant death syndrome were monitored for sleep and cardiorespiratory variables during a 12-hour, all-night recording session. Infants were matched for gestational age, sex, and age at recording with control infants. Respiratory variables studied included respiratory rate, respiratory variability, apnea duration, apnea density, and periodic breathing. No statistically significant differences were found in sleep state or respiratory variables between near-miss and control infants. Eight infants (47%) had no recurrence of prolonged apnea, whereas three (17.6%) had recurrent apneic episodes for six weeks to eight months following the original episode. No clinical or polygraphic finding predicted which infant would exhibit recurrent apnea. None of the infants was monitored at home. All infants were developing normally when examined at 1 to 2 years of age.

Apnea↗
PubMed1981

Use of tympanometry in an airline medical service.

Tympanometry is a procedure in otologic medicine which enables the examiner to objectively evaluate the mobility and patency of the eardrum, the functional condition of the middle ear, and to ascertain the ventilation capability of the Eustachian tube. It does this by varying the air pressure in the closed ear canal, emitting a low-frequency sound concurrently, and measuring the compliance or mobility of the eardrum on a graph. It has been found to be a very useful adjunct in the evaluation and management of the otological problems in a commercial air carrier.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗