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Biomedical subjects

A C Ames

Publications and source records attributed to A C Ames.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Prostate specific antigen--a screening test for prostatic cancer?

A series of 287 patients referred by their family doctors with symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction were asked to attend the hospital for "pre-clinic" screening for carcinoma of prostate (CaP). Blood samples were collected from 211 patients and analysed for serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). Thirty-six patients had a serum PSA greater than 10 micrograms/l and 7 had PAP levels greater than 5 iu/l. In no instance was the PAP elevated without an associated increase in PSA concentration. Patients with raised markers underwent further investigations which included prostatic biopsy and/or resection; 17 patients were proved to have carcinoma of the prostate, 9 of whom had distant metastases. The specificity of PSA for detecting prostate cancer in this study was 90% with a sensitivity of 89.5%, in contrast to values for PAP of 100% and 36.8%. The routine use of PAP as a marker for prostatic cancer should be abandoned. The use of PSA as a screening test in a group of patients with prostatism appears justified, but with a positive predictive value of only 47%, its use in a mass unselected screening programme is not recommended.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1975

Lactic acidosis complicating treatment of ketosis of labour.

Hypertonic glucose, fructose, and sorbitol solutions were given intravenously to women in the first stage of labour who had ketonuria and ketonaemia as evidenced by a raised blood acetoacetate and 3-hydrosybutyrate. There was no difference in the antiketogenic action of these, which was rapid and effective, but when compared with a control group who were given normal saline they had a high incidence of hyperlactataemia, and nine out of 28 patients developed lactic acidosis after the infusions. The "lactatogenic" effect was shared by all three substrates, and when they are used in the treatment of ketosis of labour, and the mother develops lactic acidosis, they might exacerbate pre-existing lactic acidosis and precipitate fetal distress.

Acetoacetates↗
PubMed1975

An appraisal of the "Vacutainer" system for blood collection.

The conventional syringe/needle/container system for the collection and handling of blood samples is compared with the Vacutainer system using evacuated tubes. The relative advantages and disadvantages of both systems are evaluated. The Vacutainer system is quicker and simpler to use, with greater versatility, producing blood specimens of higher quality and at a cost comparable with that by the syringe system. The problems of blood contamination during blood sampling and distribution with both systems are discussed.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed1968

Lead poisoning in blind children.

Many partially sighted children use the mouth, lips, and tongue as an aid in identifying objects-this has been termed discriminatory pica. Investigation of a case of lead poisoning in a pupil at a residential school for the blind led to the discovery of others with asymptomatic lead poisoning, all of whom had the same habit.All the children recovered without treatment when they abandoned their habit of discrimination by use of the mouth. Authorities responsible for schools for the blind should be aware of this risk.

Adolescent↗