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Biomedical subjects

A M Summerton

Publications and source records attributed to A M Summerton.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The general practitioner-patient consultation pattern as a tool for cancer diagnosis in general practice.

A case-control study design was used to examine consultation patterns during the three years leading up to the diagnosis of an internal malignancy, within the context of the registered patient list of a single large general practice at Winterton, North Lincolnshire. Using a combination of matching, consultation subclassification, and conditional logistic regression, account was taken of the major confounders affecting consultation rates. Generally, the odds of cancer rose in tandem with increases in the average time between new consultations. This trend was significant for all breast cancers (at the 5% level) and persisted after adjustment for occupation, smoking, and marital status (P = 0.03), as well as after the exclusion of patients identified by routine screening (P = 0.05).

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1995

The use of desk-top cholesterol analysers in general practice.

An examination of the use of desk-top cholesterol analysers was performed within 10 practices in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The survey entailed a questionnaire survey of the principal users of desk-top cholesterol analysers and the analysis of two laboratory quality control samples. The majority of practices used Boehringer Lipotrend, with frequency of use varying from < 5 tests/week to a maximum of 20/week. Training by manufacturers was absent in four practices. The maintenance of analysers was inadequate in seven practices as was quality control in five practices. Analysis of laboratory quality control samples showed about 50% of results within 0.5 mmol/l of mean, but 20.6% differed from mean by > 1 mmol/l. The coefficients of variation were 18% and 20% respectively. The use of desk-top cholesterol analysers is increasing in general practice, but improvements in training and quality control are necessary to ensure precise and accurate results with near-patient testing.

Bias↗
PubMed1989

New direct method for measuring red cell lithium.

A new direct method for the measurement of red cell lithium was compared with the indirect method. Good correlation (r = 0.97) was found and the coefficients of variation of the direct and indirect methods were 3.9% and 5.5%, respectively. In the direct method red cells suspended in choline chloride were centrifuged through dibutyl phthalate, which removes plasma adherent to the cells. A haemolysate is made of the sedimented red cells. The lithium concentration of this was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There are many conflicting reports about the value of red cell lithium, and methodological problems have been proposed as a reason for this. It is suggested that the simpler, more precise direct method described here should be used in future.

Erythrocytes↗