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R J Berry

Publications and source records attributed to R J Berry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The changing epidemiology of neural tube defects. United States, 1968-1989.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the recent trends and epidemiologic characteristics of neural tube defects in the United States. RESEARCH DESIGN: Ongoing surveillance data. SETTING: Two birth defect surveillance systems: the nationwide Birth Defects Monitoring Program and the Metropolitan Atlanta (Ga) Congenital Defects Program for 1970 through 1989 and 1968 through 1989, respectively. PARTICIPANTS: Between 1970 and 1989, using discharge diagnoses of approximately 1 million live-born and stillborn infants per year, the Birth Defects Monitoring Program identified 15,503 cases of spina bifida and anencephaly. Between 1968 and 1989, using discharge diagnoses and clinical records until age 1 year of 38,000 infants per year, the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program identified 800 cases of spina bifida and anencephaly. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: Nationwide, neural tube defect rates have declined from 1.3 per 1000 births in 1970 to 0.6 per 1000 births in 1989. In Atlanta, neural tube defect rates have declined from 2.0 per 1000 births in 1968 to 0.6 per 1000 births in 1989. Several changes in the epidemiologic characteristics of neural tube defects were observed: (1) the proportion of spina bifida cases has increased; (2) the proportion of neural tube defect cases compared with the proportion of other unrelated defects has increased; (3) the race ratio of whites to other races for isolated neural tube defect cases has declined in Atlanta; and (4) the rate of isolated neural tube defects in females has also decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The declining rates of neural tube defects can be partially explained by increased widespread prenatal diagnostic techniques, strongly suggesting the role of environmental factors in neural tube defects. In particular, the use of multivitamins and folic acid to prevent the occurrence of neural tube defects needs further evaluation. Nevertheless, the changing clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of cases over time points to the etiologic heterogeneity of these conditions.

Anencephaly↗
PubMed1992

Life history and bioeconomy of the house mouse.

1. More is known about the western European house mouse, Mus (musculus) domesticus than any other non-human mammal. If laboratory and field information is combined, an extremely valuable understanding of the species' bioeconomy could be obtained. 2. The seven stages of mouse life-history are surveyed (up to birth, nest life, sex life, social structure, population statics and stability, senescence, and death), and the interactions between the changing phenotype and the environment are described. 3. These interactions can be used to build up a model of the opportunities and compromises which result in the fitness of individual mice. It is not yet possible to quantify such a model, but this should in principle be achievable.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

How far investigations for occult metastases in breast cancer aid the clinician.

This retrospective study aimed to assess the usefulness and clinical importance of current, commonly used, diagnostic staging procedures in breast cancer. The analysis comprises all 398 women clinically staged I-III (UICC criteria), and irradiated with radical intent in the Professorial Unit of Radiotherapy at the Middlesex Hospital over a ten-year period (1978-1987). The routine initial screening in this institution included the following staging investigations within 4 weeks of referral: 99mTc MDP bone scan; chest X-ray; liver function tests (including serum alkaline phosphatase) and liver ultrasound scan. Further enquiry and examination of the patient, clear progression of disease, additional radiographs or a recommended repeat interval scan provided sufficient additional information to confirm metastatic disease. The overall rate of detection of metastatic disease at three months was 29/389 (7.4%) for skeletal scintigraphy, 10/386 (2.6%) for chest radiographs, 8/271 (2.9%) for liver ultrasound and 3/347 (0.8%) for serum alkaline phosphatase. In total 37/398 (9.3%) of patients were confirmed to have metastatic disease by three months. Skeletal scintigraphy alone appears to identify 78% (29/37) of those with detectable metastatic disease at 3 months. Skeletal scintigraphy and liver ultrasound will identify 95% (35/37).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Metastatic carcinoma in the cervical lymph nodes from an occult primary: a conservative approach to the role of radiotherapy.

This retrospective study examines the results of treatment for cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary epithelial cancer of squamous cell or anaplastic histology. The analysis covers a series of 87 consecutive unselected patients at the Middlesex Hospital, London, in the years between 1954 and 1986. Fifty-eight patients received radiation therapy with a view to cure, 25 patients were treated with radiotherapy to a palliative dose, 1 patient only had a radical neck dissection, and 3 patients received no treatment apart from excision biopsy. In contrast to common practice in the United States, only a single patient received prophylactic radiation to the nasopharynx as part of the initial therapy. Overall actuarial survival for all patients (87) at 2 years was 43% and at 5 years 33%, and in the radically treated group (58) it was 52% and 40%, respectively. Only 6 of the 87 patients (7%) subsequently revealed a primary tumor above the clavicles. Overall disease control above the clavicles was achieved in 53% (46/87), but was 64% (37/58) in the radically treated group. Guidelines for radiation therapy are discussed in view of these results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Metastatic adenocarcinoma in the cervical lymph nodes from an occult primary.

Cervical lymph node metastases as the only site of disease is a rare presentation of an adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin. This retrospective analysis examines the records of ten consecutive patients at the Middlesex Hospital with this diagnosis between 1954 and 1986. The diagnostic protocol employed and the results of radical treatment are evaluated. Nine patients received radiation therapy with intent to cure, and one patient had a radical neck dissection. Overall actuarial survival for all patients (10) at 2 years was 23% and at 5 years 0%. Only two of the 10 patients subsequently revealed a primary tumour--both below the clavicles. Disease control above the clavicles was not achieved in a single patient despite radical treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

First interim progress report on the second British Institute of Radiology Fractionation Study: short versus long overall treatment times for radiotherapy of carcinoma of the laryngopharynx.

Preliminary data from a second British Institute of Radiology Fractionation Trial comparing short (less than or equal to 4 weeks) and long (greater than 4 weeks) overall treatment times are reported. The intake of patients ran from January, 1975 to December, 1985 when 611 patients with carcinoma of the laryngo-pharynx were registered in this prospective, randomized, multicentre clinical trial. No significant differences have, so far, been demonstrated between the two arms of the trial with respect to observed survival rates, tumour-free or laryngectomy-free rates. Further long-term follow-up is continuing.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1989

A microcomputer-based vital records data base with interactive graphic assessment for states and localities.

Vital records data bases describe large populations over long periods of time, yet their organization and size often preclude or discourage their use. We constructed a microcomputer-based data base of all singleton births in Massachusetts, 1975-84. The original data were stored in 700,000 records, each 174 bytes long, occupying a total of over 120 megabytes (MB). By removing redundant information and unique identifiers, and packing the data, we store 21 fields of this information in a 16-byte record resulting in a data base of 11.1 MB, a saving of over 90 percent of disk space. By using programs written expressly for this data base, we can display a birth weight frequency plot of the entire data set in under 65 seconds on an IBM-compatible PC-AT. Comparable assessments in SAS-PC took over 105 minutes and in main frame SAS on an AS-9000 took over 37 CPU seconds. Implementing similar systems for state registries on births, deaths, cancers, and birth defects potentially offers investigators easy access to vast stores of information and would enable public health officials to produce timely reports, initiate a variety of surveillance activities, and respond rapidly to residents' inquiries about clusters and anomalous disease patterns.

Birth Certificates↗
PubMed1988

Periconceptional use of multivitamins and the occurrence of neural tube defects.

We studied the association between multivitamin use during the periconceptional period and the occurrence of neural tube defects using data from the Atlanta Birth Defects Case-Control Study. There were 347 babies with neural tube defects who were live born or stillborn to residents of metropolitan Atlanta from 1968 through 1980. The 2829 control-babies born without birth defects were randomly selected through birth certificates. Periconceptional multivitamin use was defined as reported use for each of the three months before conception through the first three months of pregnancy. Mothers who reported not using multivitamins any time during the six-month period were defined as nonusers. Fourteen percent of mothers reported periconceptional multivitamin use and 40% reported nonuse. Multivitamin users were different from nonusers in a number of demographic, health-related, and life-style characteristics. We found an overall apparent protective effect of periconceptional multivitamin use on the occurrence of neural tube defects, with a crude estimated relative risk of 0.40 (95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.63). At this time, it is not possible to determine whether this apparently lower risk is the direct result of multivitamin use or the result of other characteristics of women who use multivitamins.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

T-cell receptor VT beta genes in natural populations of mice.

The composition of 15 VT beta gene subfamilies has been examined by Southern hybridization among a broad spectrum of colony bred rat and mouse species extending phylogenetically from Rattus to Mus musculus domesticus. Most mouse species contain a similar content of VT beta genes as determined by the number of hybridizing restriction fragment (RF) bands. Furthermore, the extent of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) appears to be limited. Some VT beta gene families, however, are missing from Rattus (VT beta 7, VT beta 12) and M. shortridgei (VT beta 9, VT beta 16). Extension of the VT beta survey to a panel of 38 wild caught mice reveals that nearly a third lack specific hybridization to the VT beta 5 probe. Previous reports have established that the mouse inbred strains SJL, C57BR, C57L, and SWR lack 50% of their VT beta repertoire, including VT beta 5 (Behlke et al. 1985). This study demonstrates that natural populations of mice also carry a significantly reduced VT beta gene repertoire.

Animals↗