Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T C Aitchison

Publications and source records attributed to T C Aitchison.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The number and distribution of benign pigmented moles (melanocytic naevi) in a healthy British population.

Total body mole counts have been performed on 432 normal healthy Caucasian subjects aged 4 days to 96 years (204 males and 228 females). The mean total body mole count in the first decade of life is three for females and two for males, rising rapidly in the second decade to a mean of 23 for females and 18 for males. In the third decade numbers are highest, with a mean of 33 for females and 22 for males. Thereafter, numbers of moles slowly drop until in the eighth decade they have fallen to levels similar to those seen in pre-pubertal children. There is a significant association between the presence of naevi in early childhood (prior to 5 years of age) and the development in later life of large numbers of moles. In women there is no significant association between total mole counts and either parity or use of the oral contraceptive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Cancer, warts, and sunshine in renal transplant patients. A case-control study.

94 renal transplant patients were examined for the presence of cutaneous malignancies, actinic keratoses, warts, and cutaneous fungal infection, and a history was taken of infection with herpes simplex and herpes zoster. Each patient had a control matched for age, sex, and sun exposure. Of the 17 patients with high exposure to sunshine (more than 3 months in a tropical or subtropical climate or more than 5 years in an outdoor occupation), 2 had squamous cell carcinoma and 7 actinic keratoses. These lesions did not occur in the other renal transplant patients or the control group. The immunosuppressive effect of ultraviolet radiation in the sunburn spectrum (290-320 nm) in man and animals may be related to the increased incidence of cutaneous malignancy, actinic keratoses, and warts. Transplant patients should be under regular surveillance for the early detection and treatment of premalignant cutaneous lesions, and they should receive advice on avoiding sun exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Screening for the small-for-dates fetus: a two-stage ultrasonic examination schedule.

To find an effective routine screening method for small-for-dates fetuses 474 women with singleton pregnancies participated in a two-stage ultrasonic examination schedule. At the first-stage examination, which was conducted in early pregnancy, fetal crown-rump length or biparietal diameter was measured for an accurate assessment of gestational age, which was essential for interpreting the results of the second-stage examination. The second-stage examination was performed at 34-36 weeks and entailed measuring seven fetal variables, the results of which were assessed singly and in combination after delivery to identify the best indicator of small-for-dates fetuses. Fetal head measurements proved to be the least sensitive indicators of growth retardation, correctly identifying only 56-59% of cases. Measurements of trunk area and circumference, however, correctly identified 81% and 83% of cases respectively, but the most effective screening index was the product of crown-rump length and trunk area: with this index 34 out of 36 small-for-dates fetuses (94%) were correctly identified. Calculating the product of crown-rump length and trunk area from ultrasonic displays is quick and simple, and combined with the first-stage examination is a highly reliable screening method for small-for-dates fetuses.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1979

A study of endometrial RNA polymerase activity in infertile women.

Endometrial RNA polymerase activity, which is sensitive to oestrogens and progesterone, has been measured in normal and infertile patients. One-third of the infertile patients studied had abnormal values. An analysis of the relationship of abnormal RNA polymerase activity to clinical abnormalities and to pregnancies occurring without treatment suggests that this assay may detect a biochemical fault in the endometrium which is related to the failure to conceive.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗
PubMed1976

An evaluation of the AVL 937C blood-gas and pH microanalyser.

The AVL 937C blood-gas and pH microanalyser was evaluated with particular reference to its use in obsterics and in neonatal paediatrics in which its ability to analyse blood smaples as small as 40 micronlitre would be of particular value. Analysing samples of cord blood, maternal venous blood and foetal scalp blood, the reproducibility over the range of values measured was excellent with samples of 40-100 micronlitre. SD of the variation in values measured on samples collected in syringes were po2 0.11 kPa; Pco2 0.21 kPa; PH 0.005 unit. The same values for specimens collected in capillary tubes were: Po2 0.19 kPa;Pco 0.43 kPa; pH 0.013 unit. Analysis of tonometered blood samples showed a similar high standard of accuracy. The 91-98% confidence limits for the measurement of blood-gas values in samples collected in syringes were: Po2-0.22 to +0.49kPa; Pco2-0.53 to +0.42 kPa. The same values for samples collected in capillary tubes were: Po2 -0.38 to +0.70 kPa; Pco2 -0.97 to +0.86 kPa.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clearance of UVB-induced erythema in patients with non-melanoma skin cancer.

We have examined the clearance of UVB-induced erythema in 10 non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) patients, comparing their responses to a control group. All participants were followed to resolution of erythema, as measured by a chromameter. The resultant response pattern was modelled in three phases, with comparison of the rates of decay in erythema carried out. Analysis of the rapid decay phase demonstrated a significantly slower rate of resolution of erythema in the NMSC group, compared with the controls. Further elucidation of the molecular and genetic mechanisms controlling this response may improve our understanding of UV-induced carcinogenesis.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that homoeopathy is a placebo by examining its effect in patients with allergic rhinitis and so contest the evidence from three previous trials in this series. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group, multicentre study. SETTING: Four general practices and a hospital ear, nose, and throat outpatient department. PARTICIPANTS: 51 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. INTERVENTION: Random assignment to an oral 30c homoeopathic preparation of principal inhalant allergen or to placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes from baseline in nasal inspiratory peak flow and symptom visual analogue scale score over third and fourth weeks after randomisation. RESULTS: Fifty patients completed the study. The homoeopathy group had a significant objective improvement in nasal airflow compared with the placebo group (mean difference 19.8 l/min, 95% confidence interval 10.4 to 29.1, P=0.0001). Both groups reported improvement in symptoms, with patients taking homoeopathy reporting more improvement in all but one of the centres, which had more patients with aggravations. On average no significant difference between the groups was seen on visual analogue scale scores. Initial aggravations of rhinitis symptoms were more common with homoeopathy than placebo (7 (30%) v 2 (7%), P=0.04). Addition of these results to those of three previous trials (n=253) showed a mean symptom reduction on visual analogue scores of 28% (10.9 mm) for homoeopathy compared with 3% (1.1 mm) for placebo (95% confidence interval 4.2 to 15.4, P=0.0007). CONCLUSION: The objective results reinforce earlier evidence that homoeopathic dilutions differ from placebo.

Adolescent↗