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Biomedical subjects

C Victor

Publications and source records attributed to C Victor.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Is housing a public health issue? A survey of directors of public health.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the views of directors of public health on the importance of housing for public health and their departments' and health authorities' participation in housing issues. DESIGN: Postal self administered questionnaire survey. SETTING: All district health authorities in England and health boards in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. SUBJECTS: All 221 district directors of public health in England and chief administrative medical officers in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Response to questionnaire consisting of fixed and open ended questions on housing issues. RESULTS: The response rate was 89% (196/221). Housing was perceived as a major health problem by 33% (65/196) of directors. Positive responses were most likely from inner city districts. In 47% (93/196) of departments there was a formal time commitment to housing issues with a median time of one session/week (range one per month to 10 per week). The main function was allocation of medical priority for public sector rehousing. Overall, 73% (144/196) reported some participation in this process. Reported participation in joint care planning and links with non-statutory housing organisations were uncommon. 53% (104/196) of directors had included housing issues in their annual health report. In 16% (32/196) of districts specific services for the homeless had been set up. CONCLUSIONS: Although concern about the impact of current housing policy on public health was shown by a substantial number of directors, the main activity was still allocation of medical priority despite a background of increasing housing need and homelessness. The underlying need is for greater advocacy to produce a healthy housing policy for all, and the annual public health report could be used to promote this objective.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of the cervical cytology screening programme in an inner city health district.

District health authorities have been instructed to operate a cervical cytology call and recall screening programme using the age-sex registers held by family practitioner committees. A detailed evaluation of implementation in an inner London district showed that 477 out of 687 (69%) invitation letters sent to women by the family practitioner committee were either inaccurate or inappropriate: almost half of the recorded addresses were incorrect and a further fifth of the women were not eligible for a test. Overall, 90 women had a smear, which is only 13% of the total but 43% of those found to be eligible. The findings did not differ significantly with age. The findings have major implications not only for the effectiveness of call and recall for screening for cervical cancer but also for the future development of screening for breast cancer in such areas.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

HIV testing in antenatal clinics: the impact on women.

One hundred and fifty-five women attending antenatal clinics in an inner city area where the rate of AIDS reporting is high were interviewed to examine the acceptability of different modes and purposes of antenatal HIV testing. Eighty-two per cent of women felt the test should be available in antenatal clinics, but only 48% reported that they themselves would take the test. Seventy-four per cent would accept anonymous testing. Potential anxiety levels surrounding the HIV test were significantly higher than for other (currently routine) tests in antenatal clinics. The implications of these findings for policy are discussed.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1983

Idiotypes on B lymphocytes: association with immunoglobulins.

Several idiotypic (Id) specificities have been identified by immunofluorescence on the membranes of B cells in the spleens of nonimmune mice. These determinants are displayed at frequencies varying from 0.22 to 1.83% of B cells and are entirely immunoglobulin (Ig) in nature. No Id determinants were observed on the membranes of four Slg- Abelson virus-transformed pre-B cell lines that are sensitive to LPS. Under our experimental conditions, we did not observe a significant increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation subsequent to the in vitro incubation of splenic lymphocytes from normal mice with various amounts of anti-Id antibodies specific for several cross-reactive (IdX) or individual Id. Similarly, in utero exposure to anti-Id antibodies against myeloma proteins specific for T-independent antigens displaying B cell mitogenic properties did not alter the proliferation of lymphocytes induced by these mitogens. In contrast, exposure to anti-Id antibodies in vitro as well as in utero had a profound and specific effect on the corresponding antibody responses and maturation of small lymphocytes into plasma cells. When normal B cells were cultured with the B cell mitogen LPS in the presence of anti-Id antibodies directed against the J558IdX, specific suppression of the maturation of IdX+ plasma cells was observed. In mice exposed to maternal anti-Id in utero, we observed a severe inability to mount an immune response to any compound that elicited antibody molecules bearing the Id that was complementary to the maternal anti-Id. These same maternally Id-suppressed mice, however, gave a normal response when the same compound was presented as a mitogen. Our results reinforce the concept that Id on membranes of B lymphocytes are associated only with Ig receptors and do not support the possibility of mitogen-like poly-clonal stimulatory properties of anti-Id antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The readmission of elderly people to hospital in an inner-city health district.

The hospital sector in Britain has, over the last decade, achieved substantial reductions in the average length of stay for patients aged 65 and over. One consequence of this may be increased readmission rates. Furthermore, readmission rates are increasingly being proposed as a surrogate measure of outcome after hospital treatment. All admissions of people aged 65 + to two inner-London hospitals in May 1988 were monitored for 6 months after discharge and readmission rates calculated. Of the 386 patients discharged, 130 (38%) were readmitted within 6 months. The 1 week readmission rate was 6%; at 1 month it was 18%. Readmissions showed no variation regarding age or sex of patients but were related to specialty of treatment and length of stay. Consistently, those readmitted has a shorter length of stay than those not readmitted. If readmission rates are to have any utility as a surrogate outcome indicator they must be calculated on a common basis which relates to unplanned readmissions occurring fairly rapidly after discharge, and are related to the index admission.

Journal Article↗