Biomedical subjects
R Jackson
Publications and source records attributed to R Jackson.
Chemoprophylaxis of fascioliasis with triclabendazole.
In a field experiment, moderate to heavy natural concomitant infections with immature and mature Fasciola hepatica were treated with triclahendazole at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg and an efficiency of 99.8% was achieved. Subsequent treatments of all susceptible farm animals at the same dose rate at intervals of eight to eleven weeks were carried out for 14 months; no patent infections could be detected in sheep and cattle during the whole period. Evidence is presented that pasture contamination with liver fluke was reduced to a negligible level for a further 12 months after the final treatment. It is suggested that, if regular treatments with triclabendazole are given within the pre-patent period of Fasciola hepatica infection for the whole season, the infection can be eradicated or reduced to such a low level that control of the disease could be maintained with less frequent strategic drenching for a considerable period.
Secular trends in underreporting of cigarette consumption.
Information on the cigarette smoking habits of all New Zealanders aged 15 years and over was collected in two consecutive national censuses in 1976 and 1981. These data show that the self-reported per capita consumption of cigarettes declined by 9.4 per cent during this five-year period. A comparison of census data with national cigarette sales data for the corresponding years indicated considerable underreporting of cigarette use in the two censuses. However, there was little change in the degree of underreporting between 1976 (28 per cent) and 1981 (30 per cent) and the estimated decline in per capita consumption of cigarettes based on sales data (8.6 per cent) was similar to the census-based estimate. These findings suggest that trends in self-reported consumption are a reliable indicator of national trends in cigarette smoking habits.
Alcohol consumption and blood pressure.
The relationship between alcohol consumption and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was examined in a representative population sample of 1,429 men and women aged 35-64 years in Auckland, New Zealand during 1982. Univariate plots demonstrated a U-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and systolic and diastolic blood pressures in men and in women aged 50 years and older, with light and moderate drinkers (less than 0-34 g alcohol/day) having lower blood pressure levels than either nondrinkers or heavy drinkers. No clear relationship was seen in younger women. The U-shaped relationship in men, particularly for systolic blood pressure, remained after controlling for potential confounders, whereas in women aged 50 years and older, there appeared to be a threshold level of approximately four drinks per day, below which drinkers had similar blood pressure levels to nondrinkers. In the multivariate analyses, it was calculated that among men, light and moderate drinkers had systolic levels 4.8 mmHg lower and diastolic levels 1.7 mmHg lower than nondrinkers and heavy drinkers, while among women aged 50-64 years, nondrinkers, light drinkers, or moderate drinkers had systolic levels 10.2 mmHg lower and diastolic levels 4.5 mmHg lower than heavy drinkers. These findings suggest that in men and in women aged 50 years and older, there is a nonlinear relationship between blood pressure and alcohol consumption, and that there is a level of alcohol consumption, of approximately four drinks per day, below which drinkers have either similar or lower blood pressure levels compared to nondrinkers.
Coronary heart disease mortality, morbidity, and risk factor trends in New Zealand.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates declined by 22 and 13% for European men and women respectively between 1968 and 1981. Data from two methodologically identical population-based registers indicate that in the period 1974-1981 there was no change in either the event rates or case fatality rates of definite myocardial infarction. In the same period there was a significant 17% decline in the sudden death event rates. These declines have been associated with a decrease in the consumption of dairy products, a reduction in self-reported cigarette smoking habits, improved control of hypertension, and possibly by reductions in serum cholesterol levels and an increase in habitual physical activity in the community. There have also been improvements in the medical management of patients with CHD although this appears to be of secondary importance in contributing to the decline in CHD mortality.
Cosmetic sets from Late Iron Age and Roman Britain.
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Anti-thymocyte globulin and prednisone immunotherapy of recent onset type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Increasing evidence that Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease, together with successful cure/prevention in animal models of this disease (e.g. BB/W rat) has led to several trials of immunotherapy in recent onset Type 1 diabetes of man. In this communication we report our experience with short courses of prednisone and antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM) plus prednisone. Prednisone characteristically suppressed Ia positive T lymphocytes into the normal range, but had no long-lasting effect on T-cell phenotype. ATGAM plus prednisone markedly decreased the ratio of T4/T8 ("helper"/"suppressor-cytotoxic") positive T lymphocytes, and this remained suppressed for months. ATGAM treated patients had lower HbA1c on a lower dose of insulin 100 or more days following immune therapy (with 4 out of 5 patients requiring less than 0.2 U/Kg insulin/day). Two patients in the ATGAM treated group did not require insulin for more than 8 months; during remission they had normal fasting blood glucose values, but with abnormal glucose tolerance on oral glucose tolerance testing. Severe, though transient, thrombocytopenia was observed in 2 patients on ATGAM therapy which outweighed its clinical effects.
The use of ultrasound in obstetrics.
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Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis. A 15-year follow-up.
A 37-year-old man was seen because of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis that had been present since he was 2 to 3 years old. His case illustrates the progressive nature of the disease, and during the years attempts to treat the condition were as mutilating in some cases as the disease itself.
Mania following change from trazodone to imipramine.
Case reports are presented of two depressed patients with probable bipolar disorder who did not respond to trazodone but developed mania when this drug was abruptly replaced with imipramine. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Trends in sales of drugs for asthma in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, 1975-81.
As part of an investigation into the recent epidemic of deaths from asthma in New Zealand, trends in the sales of drugs for asthma in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom during 1975-81 were examined. Data on sales of drugs were obtained from an international pharmaceutical market research organisation. A striking increase in sales of sympathomimetic aerosols, steroid aerosols, and theophylline per caput occurred in all three countries, with the greatest increase occurring in New Zealand. Sales of sodium cromoglycate also increased in New Zealand and the UK but fell in Australia. By 1981 New Zealand had the highest sales of all these drugs per caput. Explanations for the rising mortality from asthma in New Zealand despite large increases in drug sales need to be explored. Although the temporal association between mortality and sales of drugs suggests that direct drug toxicity is unlikely, there may be more subtle adverse effects of drug use.
Current results of the University of Arizona Adjuvant Breast Cancer trials (1974-1984).
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Analysis of insulin receptors on human lymphoblastoid cell lines by flow cytometry.
Antibodies to the insulin receptor have provided important experimental probes of receptor structure and function. In the present study, we have characterized the insulin receptor on human lymphoblastoid cell lines using polyclonal and monoclonal anti-receptor antibodies and fluorescence flow cytometry. The cell lines were derived by Epstein-Barr virus transformation of peripheral mononuclear leucocytes from normal subjects or patients with disorders that affect the insulin receptor. Fluorescence analysis revealed a high level of specific fluorescence on lymphoid cell lines from normal individuals (mean peak fluorescence 30-50 units above the control) and was similar to the labelling of the spontaneously transformed lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9. Transformed cells from patients with syndromes of insulin resistance, such as the Rabson Mendenhall syndrome, leprechaunism and the type A syndrome of insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans, exhibited little or no specific fluorescence. In all cases, there was an unimodal distribution of receptors on cells. In addition, there was a good correlation between specific binding of 125I-insulin and percentage peak fluorescence. The data indicate that fluorescence flow cytometry can be used to study the distribution of insulin receptor on different cell lines and to study cells derived from patients with disease states.
Cloning and analysis of pif, replication and leading regions of the F plasmid.
We describe the molecular cloning of BglII fragments of the hybrid plasmid pRS5 (pSC101 and EcoRI fragments of F; f7, f5, f3 and f6). The clones isolated were examined for the expression of F-specified replication, incompatibility, mobilization and inhibition of T7 bacteriophage multiplication. Proteins directed by the BglII clones were labelled in Escherichia coli K12 maxicells and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The sizes of previously reported proteins, encoded by the replication, incompatibility and leading regions encompassed by these plasmids have been confirmed in this study. In addition, the results demonstrate that a pif gene, which encodes an 80,000 dalton polypeptide essential for the inhibition T7 phage multiplication, is located on the BglII fragment that spans the junction of EcoRI fragments f7 and f5.
The prevalence of sexually stressful events among females in the general population.
Five hundred sixteen adult females were administered a questionnaire inquiring into the nature of sexually stressful events in their lives. There were 500 responses, and, of those, 298 (59.9%) had experienced an event of this type. A total of 416 different incidents were reported. They were categorized by the authors as either noninvasive (harassment, obscene calls, exposures, "peepers") or invasive (fondling, attempted rape, rape). The invasive incidents were most often initiated by a friend, acquaintance, or relative. The noninvasive events were almost always perpetrated by strangers. The subjects were asked to report the emotional impact of the events. All were reported to be stressful, with rape being the most stressful event. Regardless of whether formal therapy was sought, all victims reported lowered stress levels over time. There were 98 incidents reported when the subjects were 13 years of age or younger. There were 45 invasive events, including 9 rapes. All the rapes were committed by acquaintances or relatives. Only one victim of childhood rape received professional attention. Of the 41 women who were raped, nearly 75% were raped by acquaintances or relatives. This does not parallel existing emergency room data, suggesting that the group of patients who report to medical authorities may be a skewed sample of rape victims. Only four victims reported their rapes to either legal or medical authorities.
Trixacarid mange in guinea pigs.
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Field trials with a killed, nine-strain, oil adjuvanted Bacteroides nodosus footrot vaccine in sheep.
Field trials were set up on five properties to determine the cure and protection rates of a killed, nine-strain, oil adjuvanted Bacteriodes nodosus footrot vaccine, under natural conditions. Foot infections were scored at the time of the first vaccination and at approximately four weeks and ten weeks later. Cure rates were 34-47% for vaccinated sheep, and 18-47% for untreated sheep. Using the Australian Licensing Authorities calculation, the cure rates for the vaccine ranged from -40% to 44%. A lack of suitable conditions for spread of footrot meant that protection rates could not be determined.
A survey on the prevalence, treatment and control of footrot in Central Otago.
The results of a postal survey which yielded a 43% response on the prevalence, treatment and control of footrot in Central Otago flocks is presented. Analysis of data showed that footrot is an important and emerging disease, particularly of fine-wool flocks, and that most farmers have a poor knowledge and understanding of the epidemiology, treatment and control of the disease.