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Biomedical subjects

A Forsyth

Publications and source records attributed to A Forsyth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Predicting initiation to and cessation of buprenorphine and temazepam use amongst adolescents.

Two interviews separated by 12 months (mean) were conducted with a purposive sample of Glaswegian adolescent drug misusers. Across that interval, beginning to use buprenorphine and temazepam were predictable by prior extent of other substance use, especially cannabis and tobacco, and by the Drug Misuse Scale, using selected MMPI items. About 50% of those who had been using either drug prior to first interview did not use at all between first and second interview. For temazepam, this cessation was not predictable, but ceasing to use buprenorphine was more likely the less time subjects had used this drug and if they had never injected. It is concluded that personality and frequent substance use predispose to drug misuse, but that additional factors must lead to dependence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Allergic contact dermatitis in atopic dermatitis.

Of 73 adult patients attending a clinic specially provided to treat patients with atopic dermatitis, 31 (42%) showed one or more positive patch reaction on contact testing. There was a striking female preponderance in the patch test positive group (26F:5M) in contrast to those with negative test results (9F:17M). The commonest allergens identified were fragrances in 13 patients, nickel (7), rubber (5), lanolin (4) and formaldehyde (3). In 21 patients, topical preparations, cosmetic or medically prescribed, could be implicated. Contact sensitivity seems to be relatively common in adult patients who have a continuing problem with their atopic dermatitis. Recognizing this sensitization may be important in their management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Scottish cocaine users: wealthy snorters or delinquent smokers?

Ninety-two cocaine users were interviewed in Scotland. Most were middle-class nasal users, also used other drugs and generally gave cocaine a positive rating. One half of them had at some time used cocaine more than once a week. For some, this period lasted some months, when as much as 30 'lines' of cocaine were used per day of cocaine use. More of these heavy users reported adverse effects of cocaine than was the case for light users. Nonetheless, most heavy users had reduced their use by themselves to the point that their current cocaine use was no different from that of light users. Possible explanations for this apparently spontaneous reduction are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A short scale for predicting drug misuse using selected items from the MMPI.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered to 210 young people who either used no drugs, used non-opioids, used opioids but did not inject and drug injectors. From the data collected a short scale of 37 items was derived which distinguished between non-users and drug users. Validation was then attempted using 214 subjects who were either in drug treatment programmes or alcohol treatment programmes as well as appropriate control groups. The Drug Misuse Scale was able to distinguish between these groups. The MacAndrew Scale proved better at distinguishing subjects in alcohol treatment programmes. However, the Drug Misuse Scale proved to be significantly better at distinguishing the drug misusers. It is suggested that the Drug Misuse Scale may prove a valuable clinical tool.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Keratinocyte expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) correlated with infiltration of lymphocyte function associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) positive cells in evolving allergic contact dermatitis reactions.

Adhesion molecules are considered to have an important role in inflammatory reactions. We investigated the kinetics of ICAM-1 expression on keratinocytes and correlated this with the numbers of lymphocytes expressing LFA-1 in the dermis and epidermis of evolving allergic contact dermatitis reactions. In nickel-sensitive individuals, after application of a nickel patch, increased expression of ICAM-1 on keratinocytes was observed as early as 3 h and reached a maximum at 48 h. The number of lymphocytes expressing LFA-1 in the dermis and epidermis was greatest at 48 h. The LFA-1 cells were observed to be in close proximity to keratinocytes expressing ICAM-1, thus supporting the hypothesis that T-lymphocytes attach to keratinocytes via LFA-1/ICAM-1 molecules.

Cell Adhesion Molecules↗
PubMed1991

Recurrent aphthous ulceration and food sensitivity.

Forty patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) were investigated to ascertain the possibility of food sensitivity being a significant precipitating factor in their recurrent oral ulceration. All patients were hematologically normal and did not respond to vitamin B1 and B6 therapy. Patch testing (Standard European Series) was undertaken in 21 patients. Twenty patients showed a positive reaction to a number of substances which were considered clinically relevant. Professional advice on avoidance of the allergen was given, resulting in an improvement in eighteen patients. It is concluded that food sensitivity and allergies to other substances should be considered as an etiologic factor in hematologically normal patients with recurrent oral ulceration.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The use of buprenorphine and temazepam by drug injectors.

There has been concern over the growing misuse of buprenorphine and temazepam in Scotland. In interviews with 78 clients of Glasgow drug agencies during 1989-1990, it was found that buprenorphine and temazepam are now more widely and frequently misused than heroin or other opiates. Fifty-eight percent of buprenorphine users used six to seven days weekly. Fewer users of other drugs used as frequently. Heroin, other opiates and temazepam were associated with criminality. Buprenorphine, perhaps because it is relatively inexpensive, was not associated with criminality. Implications for drug policy and treatment are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Sensitivity reaction to the cinnamonaldehyde component of toothpaste.

Sixteen patients developed a variety of oral lesions following a change in the toothpaste they used. Mucosal biopsy demonstrated features consistent with application of a topical medicament and patch testing, towards the constituents of the toothpastes, indicated the flavouring agent cinnamonaldehyde as being the likely responsible agent. Avoidance of the implicated toothpastes resulted in a considerable improvement in clinical signs and symptoms, whereas rechallenge in ten patients resulted in recurrence of symptoms in eight patients. It is concluded that sensitivity to the cinnamonaldehyde constituent of certain toothpastes, although uncommon, should be considered as a possible aetiological factor in patients presenting with non-specific oral changes.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum↗
PubMed1990

The criminality of new drug users in Glasgow.

The drug use and crime of 210 teenage licit and illicit drug users were examined. Over 90% of the sample, including non-users, soft drug users, opioid users and injectors, were obtained via the same 'snowball' of friends and acquaintances. None had been injecting for more than 2 years. It was found that the frequency of use of all licit and illict drugs and the frequency of all crimes were intercorrelated. However, even many of the opioid injectors in this sample were not near-daily users and 'addiction' did not explain the results of regression equations predicting crime and drug use; crime explained drug use more than drug use explained crime and drug use was not a major unique predictor of theft. The criminal drug-using teenagers in this sample were better regarded as 'delinquents' than as 'drug-abusers' or 'drug addicts'. Delinquent behaviour of all kinds appeared to be increased by prior criminal experience, having delinquent friends and lack of conventional social support (notably including having spent time in care). Implications of these findings for theories of delinquency and the practice of treatment and prevention are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Thermographic assessment of patch-test responses.

Infra-red thermography was used to quantify, at patch test sites, the allergic responses to experimental preparations of nickel sulphate and primary irritant responses to sodium lauryl sulphate in small groups of volunteers. The technique was also used to assess the patch-test responses in a much larger group of patients who had undergone routine patch testing for contact allergy with a wide range of test substances and among which there were large numbers of allergic, irritant and equivocal reactions. Thermographically, when compared to the surrounding normal skin surface, the sites of allergic reactions appeared as hot areas, the temperature and area of which were apparently dependent on the severity of the response. For allergic responses, there was a good correlation between the clinical assessment and either of two thermographic parameters, temperature and area of involvement. Compared with an aqueous solution of nickel sulphate, 'poor' formulations of the allergen, such as a suspension in soft paraffin base, elicited smaller and cooler reactions. Irritant reaction sites were not 'hot' and the temperature at such sites was no different from that of the surrounding normal skin. Infra-red thermography is a convenient non-invasive technique which apparently can be used to discriminate between irritant and allergic responses and to quantify the latter type of response.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Recurrent erythema multiforme: a possible role of foodstuffs.

Seven patients are described, who presented with a history of recurrent episodes of erythema multiforme and who were subsequently found to be sensitive, by patch testing, to benzoic acid. Advice on avoidance of benzoic acid resulted in resolution of attacks in four patients, but three patients who were not able to adhere to an exclusion diet continued to have symptoms. These findings implicate benzoic acid, a food preservative, as an aetiological factor in erythema multiforme. It is proposed that patch testing to food substances should be carried out on patients who present with recurrent erythema multiforme, since avoidance of potential allergens may lead to resolution of symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The relationship between crime and opioid use.

Accepting that opioid use and crime are associated and develop together, amongst opioid-using criminals the need for opioids may cause crime on a day-to-day basis or both may tend to be determined by some other set of factors. Previous studies have either failed to allow for such other factors, or have failed to compare opioid users to adequate control groups. From interviews with 151 Scottish prisoners and non-prisoners, divided into five drug-using groups: (1) alcohol only; (2) cannabis and alcohol; (3) other drugs but not opioids; (4) moderate opioids; (5) heavy opioids, data were obtained on drug use frequency, crime frequency and a variety of other variables. It was found that: (1) there were no differences between incarcerated and non-incarcerated opioid users, in fact incarceration had no substantial effects on other variables; (2) heavy opioid users committed crimes significantly more frequently than did moderate opioid users, non-opioid polydrug users, cannabis users or alcohol users. But, moderate opioid users did not commit crimes significantly more frequently than did the other groups; (3) other drugs were related to crime. Polydrug use (including cannabis use) was more related to theft and delinquency than was opioid use. Alcohol use was related to fraud; (4) there were larger explanations of crime than opioid use--criminal experience and polydrug use--and crime was a better explanation of opioid use variance than opioid use was of crime. It is concluded that need for opioids did not simply cause crime. Rather, crime and opioid use tended to influence each other. However, this relationship was not special to opioids but, depending on historical circumstances, could--and to some extent does--apply to any drug. In consequence, society's treatment of drug-using criminals needs to deal with drug use and crime together.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Contact dermatitis in children.

125 children under the age of 12 years were patch tested over a period of 7 years. 60 (48%) of the children had 1 or more positive (+ve) reactions, of which 92% (55/60) were considered relevant. The most common allergens were metals (35 + ves), fragrances (24 + ves) and rubber compounds (11 + ves). 40 of the children were also tested for contact urticaria against food additives and fragrances, of whom 20 were positive (benzoic acid 14, cinnamaldehyde 12).

Acrolein↗
PubMed1989

Allergic reactions to rubber condoms.

With the increased use of condoms, contact dermatitis to rubber is being seen more often. To develop a rubber condom suitable for use by rubber sensitive people, a "hypoallergenic" condom, which is washed in ammonia to reduce the residues of rubber accelerators, has been manufactured. Fifty patients allergic to various rubber accelerators were patch tested with an ordinary condom and the new washed condom. Fifty patients undergoing routine patch test investigation who were not allergic to rubber were also tested as controls. Twenty two of the rubber sensitive patients had a positive reaction to the new rubber condom compared with four of the control patients. Washing rubber condoms in ammonia does not appear to reduce the residues of rubber accelerators sufficiently for their use by rubber sensitive people. A non-allergenic condom is required.

Adolescent↗