Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R M Ford

Publications and source records attributed to R M Ford.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

The prevention of asthma--some basic needs.

The present attitude in Australia towards the treatment of asthma is reviewed and attention is drawn to the need for employment of more basic methods of prevention. The disease is not just a chest condition but a manifestation, in many if not in most cases, of a generalized weakness of sensitivity- the bronchi are simply shock organs where much of the action takes place. A plea is also made for a reappraisal of teaching about asthma and related diseases at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1976

Parallel variation of ventricular CSF tryptophan and free serum tryptophan in man.

Tryptophan was measured in the ventricular CSE and serum and the neutral amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine were measured in the serum of two cases with ventricular drains. Samples were taken every two hours for 24 hours in one case and for 16 hours in the other. The CSF tryptophan was correlated significantly with the free--that is, non-albumin-bound--serum tryptophan but not with the total serum tryptophan. CSF tryptophan was not correlated significantly with the ratio of free serum tryptophan to the sum of the neutral amino acids. These data suggest that, in man, brain tryptophan concentrations are influenced by the free and not the total serum tryptophan and that physiological variations of the neutral amino acids do not appreciably influence the concentration of brain trytophan.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Studies on cyclic AMP in different compartments of cerebrospinal fluid.

Adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) was measured in the CSF of 42 patients undergoing radiological investigation, neurosurgical procedures, or investigation of hepatic coma. The concentration of cAMP was significantly higher in ventricular CSF than in lumbar CSF. Premedication with pentobarbitone plus promethazine increased cAMP in lumbar CSF. There was no difference in cAMP concentration in lumbar CSF obtained before or after injection of air or after the administration of diazepam during lumbar pneumoencephalography. Lumbar CSF cAMP concentration was significantly increased in patients in hepatic coma. The concentration of cAMP in the lateral ventricle was not affected by general anaesthesia or by the presence of a complete block of the aqueduct of Sylvius. There was no decrease in lumbar CSF cAMP in patients with a complete stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius, partial blocks of CSF flow at the cervical level, or a complete block at the lower thoracic level. The concentration of cisternal CSF cAMP was similar to that of lumbar CSF. These results suggest that (1) there is a ventriculolumbar gradient in the concentration of cAMP but of insufficient magnitude to be detected by mixing of lumbar and ventricular CSF during pneumoencephalography, (2) lumbar CSF cAMP concentration is not dependent on brain as a source of this nucleotide; the source of this nucleotide may be largely derived from the spinal cord, (3) premedication may affect the concentration of cAMP in lumbar CSF cAMP, (4) the formation of cAMP is unimpaired in hepatic coma.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Humoral and cellular immunity in asthma.

Parameters of humoral and cellular immunity have been measured in 91 asthmatic patients. Mean serum levels of IgG and IgE were raised. IgG levels were higher in those with a family history of asthma. IgE levels were higher in those with a past history of atopic eczema, but intrinsic and extrinsic asthma could not be differentiated on the basis of IgE levels. Thirteen of 74 patients failed to respond to tetanus immunization, while only 1 failed to respond to Salmonella typhi H antigen. Tetanus nonresponders had a raised mean serum IgA level, reduced spontaneous lymphocyte tritiated thymidine uptake, and reduced thymidine uptake in fetal calf serum. Eight of 87 patients failed to mount delayed hypersensitivity reactions to a battery of five intradermal antigens. The tritiated thymidine uptake of lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin was normal in autologous serum, but reduced in fetal calf serum. The data support the hypothesis that asthma may be associated with immunodeficiency states.

Adolescent↗