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Biomedical subjects

R Scott

Publications and source records attributed to R Scott.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Length of residence, life change and psychiatric morbidity in an Australian urban population.

A component of a large population study of a random sample of 750 Canberra residents is described, in which length of residence in Canberra is related to the quality and quantity of recent life experiences, and to indices of minor psychiatric morbidity (the General Health Questionnair and the Zung Depression Scale). Life event frequency, but neither measure of morbidity, distinguished between persons with different lengths of residence in Canberra. It can be suggested that a random sample, containing an under-representation of migrants and persons moving from rural to urban environments, in whom the transition in shifting place of residence would be expected to be greatest, is an inappropriate sample to test hypotheses concerning length of residence and psychiatric morbidity, Future studies should give due emphasis to the adequate inclusion of these groups of persons.

Australia↗
PubMed1979

Neurosis and social bonds in an urban population.

The hypothesis that a deficiency in social bonds is a significant causal factor in neurosis was examined in a sample of an urban population (N = 756). The General Health Questionnaire was used as a measure of morbidity while social bonds were measured by the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction. An association was found between neurosis and a deficiency, particularly a perceived deficiency, in social bonds. Attention is now being directed to the interpretation of this association and to establishing the direction of causality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Glucocorticoids and the rhesus fetal lung.

The effects of glucocorticoids on primate fetal lung function have not been clearly delineated. In this prospective study of preterm rhesus fetuses exposed in utero to betamethasone for 72 hours, the most significant alteration was a striking increase in maximum lung volumes. Functionally less significant increases in residual lung volumes were also noted. The lungs of the treated fetuses did not exhibit lower extract surface tensions or increased phospholipid concentrations. These findings suggest that the major effect of betamethasone is on lung connective tissue elements, with minimal effects on alveolar surfactant. Additional evidence of the multisystemic effects of glucocorticoids was obtained in that significant differences in fetal, adrenal, hepatic, and placental weights also were observed.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1978

Respiratory syncytial virus infection. Rapid diagnosis in children by use of indirect immunofluorescence.

Specimens of 387 nasopharyngeal suction smears obtained from 354 children hospitalized with acute respiratory infections during an eight-month period were examined for the presence of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique (IFAT) and by conventional tissue culture infectivity techniques. Respiratory syncytial virus was identified in nasopharyngeal suction smear specimens from 123 of these specimens (32%) with the use of both techniques. Of the specimens positive on tissue culture 92% were also positive for RS virus by IFAT. However, eight specimens positive for RS virus by tissue culture were negative by IFAT, although three of the specimens were technically unsuitable. Six percent of the specimens negative for RS virus by tissue culture were positive for RS virus antigen when tested by IFAT. Using IFAT, identification of RS virus could be accomplished within four to six hours, whereas isolation by tissue culture took an average period of ten days. These data suggest that IFAT is a reliable means for the rapid diagnosis of RS virus infection in infants and children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Hypercalciuria related to cadmium exposure.

A work force has been investigated for possible cadmium intoxication. One group who are coppersmiths have an 18.5 per cent prevalence of upper urinary tract stone disease associated with a statistically highly significant hypercalciuria and reduced serum inorganic phosphate. Proof of exposure to cadmium has been confirmed in all workers. The trace element cadmium should be kept in mind when investigating stone formers who exhibit an unexplained hypercalciuria.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1978

Reduction in urinary oxalate values by allopurinol.

A variety of substances have been used to prevent recurrence of stone disease. Recently there has been considerable interest in the ability of allopurinol to prevent stone recurrence. This article discusses the effect of allopurinol on the urinary oxalate in a group of stone formers. A significant reduction was obtained especially in subjects in whom the blood urate levels exceeded 300 mumol./L. Possible mechanisms explaining the mode of action of the drug are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Development of in vitro correlates of cell-mediated immunity to respiratory syncytial virus infection in humans.

Groups of infants and children with infections due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were tested at the onset of illness and one, two, and five months later for the presence of RSV-specific cell-mediated immunity, as determined by in vitro lymphocyte transformation (LTF) activity, and for complement-fixing (CF) antibody. An LTF response specific for RSV was observed in 65 % of patients, and the response was largely associated with E-rosette-forming thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes. A significant cell-mediated immune response was observed in 78% of patients six months of age or younger, whereas only 46% of patients older than six months exhibited such responses. The difference between the mean stimulation index of the maximal LTF response in the two age groups was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). On the other hand, a fourfold or greater rise in titers of CF antibody was observed in only 22% of patients six months of age or younger, whereas significant rises in antibody activity were observed in 50% of subjects older than six months. In view of the fact that RSV infection is most severe in the young infant, these observations raise the possibility that cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions may be related to the pathogenesis of RSV infection of infants.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1978

Age related differences in cellular immune response to vaccine induced rubella infection.

Employing the techniques of in-vitro lymphocyte transformation (LTF) and using Putnam strain of rubella virus as the antigen, the development of rubella specific cellular immune response was studied in different age groups of rubella seronegative normal subjects at various intervals after subcutaneous administration of HPV=77/DE5 live attenuated rubella vaccine. The rubella specific lymphocyte response in children ranging in age from two to twelve years was characterized by significant LTF activity at two months, followed by a gradual decrease. The response in adult subjects 18 to 35 years of age showed a slight delay initially in the appearance and the maximum LTF activity appeared to be 3--4 fold lower (P less than 0.01) than observed in the children. No difference was observed in the maximum antibody titers to rubella virus between these two groups of subjects. These observations suggest that the age related differences in the lymphoproliferative responses might be associated with adverse effects which are known to occur more frequently in adolescent and older patients than in childhood population after vaccine induced rubella infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Methyl cholanthrene and cadmium induced changes in rat prostate.

Cadmium workers have been thought to be more likely to develop prostatic cancer. The present study compares the effects of cadmium on rat prostate as compared with a known carcinogen, 20 methyl cholanthrene. The various histological effects produced are discussed. Possibly the most important aspect is the stratification and primitive clear cells found in rat prostatic acini in cadmium injected rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The effect of allopurinol on urinary oxalate excretion in stone formers.

Allopurinol is a drug which could be valuable in the treatment of stone patients. In 29 subjects treated with 300 mg of the drug per day it has been found that there was a significant fall in urine oxalate excretion if the blood urate was above 330 mumol/l. In 10 subjects followed for 1 year the urine oxalate was significantly reduced and maintained at a lower level than the original.

Allopurinol↗
PubMed1978

Frequency distribution and 'reference values' of plasma alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activity in the adult population of a Scottish new town.

As part of a study to establish the prevalence of renal calculus disease, alkaline phosphatase activity was measured by the method recommended by the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology in the plasma of 3823 adults from the Scottish new town of Cumbernauld. The enzyme activity differs in males and females and increases with age. Reference ranges are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Social bonds in the epidemiology of neurosis: a preliminary communication.

In a random sample of the general population (N = 142) a strong inverse relationship was found between social bonds and the presence of neurotic symptoms. This association was strongest in the case of close affectional ties. Together, measures of social bonds accounted for 47 per cent of the variance in neurotic symptoms. While there is likely to be contamination between the two sets of variables, and while the data do not indicate the direction of causality, these findings constitute an aetiological lead which should be pursued.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Psychophysiological correlates of the spontaneous K-complex.

A pilot study covering three nights and two studies were carried out to investigate the psychophysiological correlates of the spontaneous K-complex in relation to intense psychotherapy. The pilot study produced evidence that the K-complex was not consistent and stable within or across nights and that its variability might be sensitive to psycho-emotional influences. In the first major study 2 subjects were recorded non-consecutively over a 3-wk. period during experience of intensive therapy while in the second 6 subjects were studied before and after two therapeutic sessions. Results indicated that nights after therapy differed significantly from baseline nights and a significant interaction took place between subjects and therapy on one or more variables of the K-complex and several eye movement indices. Some relationship to length of time in therapy was also noted. These findings were interpreted to indicate a possible relationship between complete expression of feeling and the occurrence of phasic events in the sleeping EEG.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

"It hurts red:" a preliminary study of children's perception of pain.

Children's perception of pain was investigated in an exploratory study. Some synaesthetic aspects were examined such as the color of pain, texture, shape, pattern and continuous vs intermittent quality. A projective test was developed using cartoons to illustrate two situations in which children commonly experience pain, a self-administered hammer blow and a doctor-administered needle. Interviews were tape-recorded with 58 children in hospital outpatient clinics and school situations in Kindergarten and Grades 1 through 3 in Licking County, Ohio. Significantly more children perceived the pain of a needle as jagged rather than smooth, and the pain of a hammer blow as a continuous rather than on-and-off pain. A finding of interest is the consistently greater differentiation in synaesthetic perception by the younger group on four of the five variables. Synaesthetic perception may be more characteristic of children in Piager's preoperational stage (aged 4-6); more cognitively oriented perception may be exhibited by 7- to 9-yr.-old children who approximate the stage of concrete operations.

Age Factors↗