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Biomedical subjects

D Machin

Publications and source records attributed to D Machin.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Focal lymphocytic thyroiditis in Southampton.

The presence of focal collections of lymphocytes within the thyroid gland has been associated with autoimmune thyroiditis. In a prospective study 197 thyroid glands were examined from post mortems performed in two Southampton hospitals over a 12 month period. The mean thyroid mass was 19.5 g in women and 22.2 g in men. Varying degrees of focal lymphocytic thyroiditis were present in 54 per cent of women and 24 per cent of men. Morphometry showed that on average less than 4 per cent of the gland was infiltrated by lymphocytes. There was no significant relationship with age. A possible association between focal lymphocytic thyroiditis and circulating thyroid autoantibodies has been shown.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Metronidazole v ampicillin: differing effects on the postoperative recovery.

One hundred and eight adult patients undergoing appendicectomy (37 advanced appendicitis and 71 early appendicitis or normal appendices) were randomised into a trial comparing the effects of ampicillin (anti-aerobic) and metronidazole (anti-anaerobic) based regimes. Although there were less wound infections amongst those patients receiving metronidazole (14%) as compared to ampicillin (27%) this difference failed to reach statistical significance. However, ampicillin appears to be superior in shortening the length of postoperative fever, 3.0 compared to 3.5 d for those patients receiving metronidazole. There is some suggestion that this advantage is reversed amongst those patients with wound infections. Further study is required to clarify this point. Our study suggests further evidence of differing clinical action of these drugs in appendicectomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Scoring system to improve cost effectiveness of open access endoscopy.

The introduction of an open access general practitioner endoscopy service may result in many unnecessary examinations being performed. In an attempt to prevent this, 235 patients attending for endoscopy were interviewed and the results analysed to determine which factors best discriminated between those with major disease (ulcers, cancers, oesophageal strictures; n = 48) and those without (n = 187). The six characteristics which best discriminated between the two groups were increasing age, history of vomiting, male sex, smoking, and a past history of peptic ulcer or hiatus hernia. With the use of these six features a scoring system was devised, designed to give an indication of the likelihood of finding such disease in an individual patient. This was assessed prospectively in a further 356 patients. The results showed that by utilising this scoring system it would be possible to reduce the number of examinations performed by 30% yet still detect 98% of serious disease. If confirmed in further prospective studies, this scoring system (or a modification) could more accurately assess individual priority for endoscopy and enable optimum use to be made of limited resources.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Is the statistical assessment of papers submitted to the "British Medical Journal" effective?

A study was performed to judge the effectiveness of the statistical assessment scheme for papers submitted to the "British Medical Journal." Statistical criticism of the content of 200 submitted papers which had already been seen by a subject referee led directly or indirectly to 73 (37%) being rejected for publication. In most cases (53 out of 73) serious problems requiring more than minor revision were identified. A comparison of reports on subsequently unpublished and published papers showed that adverse statistical assessments--suggesting major problems--were more common in the papers that were not accepted for publication. Moderate, or less, revision was recommended for 63% of published papers but 39% of the remainder. A checklist of relevant questions was used in making a detailed comparison of 12 published papers, six of which had been statistically assessed and six of which had not. This comparison yielded little evidence that the papers that had been assessed were statistically more acceptable than those that had not been assessed but re-emphasised the subjectivity of refereeing and assessment.

Periodicals as Topic↗
PubMed1983

Trends in induced abortion in England and Wales.

Analysis of routinely published abortion and fertility data for England and Wales between 1968 and 1980 shows that the age-specific abortion rates increased from 1968 until about 1973 when the rates peaked for all ages; rates then declined until 1977 but have subsequently returned to higher levels. Two factors are implicated: (1) the recent changes are related to parallel changes in the fertility rate; but (2) there is also a tendency for recent cohorts of women to resort to abortion more readily. These relationships are derived from analyses of fertility rates and abortion ratios, the proportion of conceptions that result in abortions. The results are discussed in terms of attitudes and practices related to birth control.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1983

Trends in primary care in the United Kingdom.

Trends in primary care in the United Kingdom were studied using the diagnostic information available at Intercontinental Medical Statistics Ltd (IMS) for 1969-80. Total consultation rates overall showed an increase until 1978 when they started to decline. Diseases of the respiratory system showed a decline for first consultations. Diseases of the musculoskeletal and connective tissue and diseases of the nervous system and sense organs showed an increase. Diseases of the respiratory system, circulatory system, and mental disorders accounted for 15.4%, 11.2%, and 9.6% respectively of the total consultations in 1980. Neuroses and personality disorders accounted for the highest consultation rates in general practice. This study identifies areas for further research in general practice and the potential of this data base, if expanded, for the continuous monitoring of morbidity in primary care.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1982

Creatine kinase activity in the detection of carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: comparison of two methods.

Serum creatine kinase activity was estimated in 48 control women and 22 female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by two different methods. One method is based on the colorimetric determination of creatine liberated from creatine phosphate; the other, an N-acetyl cysteine activated UV system, was used in an automated mode. The two methods were equally efficient in carrier detection, and results were closely correlated over the range of values encountered in controls and carriers. Log creatine kinase values appeared to be normally distributed in controls, but the distribution in carriers appeared skewed towards its upper end. If both distributions are assumed to be Normal, the probability, together with its standard error, that a consultand is a carrier, can be calculated from her creatine kinase value, and if the latter is expressed in standard deviation units of the control log creatine kinase distribution, probability estimates can be compared between laboratories.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

A randomised trial to evaluate the effect of infra-red stimulation of local trigger points, versus placebo, on the pain caused by cervical osteoarthrosis.

Claims have been made that local heat is particularly useful in treating osteoarthritis pain. This randomised trial evaluates the short term efficacy of local heat, on the pain caused by cervical osteoarthrosis. Two treatment groups were compared, one receiving mock TNS and the other heat from an infra-red gun (the IRS Medtec 100). Both the placebo and treatment groups received treatment on local tender trigger points. Each patient received four treatments. Pain was assessed before entry into the trial and after the completion of treatment; the parameters used for assessing pain were, analgesic intake, sleep disturbance due to pain and subjective pain score. Twenty-six patients were entered into the trial, twenty-five completed treatment. In the group receiving treatment from the infra-red gun (IRS Medtec 100) 75% obtained significant pain relief. In the group receiving mock TNS 31% obtained significant pain relief. A chi-squared test comparing these two groups give a P value of 0.07.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

A method of assessing the clinical effects of acupuncture.

This article describes a data handling system designed to assess the effects of acupuncture in some common diseases. The objectives of this system are to provide a simple, swift and practical method that can be effectively operated within the limits of a busy clinic. This would provide crude descriptive data that will be of use in itself as well as suggesting further ideas for more detailed research. The system is based on the use of simple questionnaires, these are formulated so that they can be used by the patients alone. An initial form is used to record basic patient data and then one of the five symptom group forms (pain, headache, indigestion, lower bowel disorder and breathlessness) is then used to evaluate the severity of any particular disease. All the questionnaires are based on similar criteria, such as drug intake, sleep disturbance due to the disease and patient's subjective evaluation of the severity of their disease. The symptom group forms are filled in by the patient at the beginning of treatment, at the end of treatment and after a three month follow-up period. The questionnaires have been piloted on some 300 patients, and have been found to be a valid and effective method of assessing treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1981

Lymphocyte transformation to specific antigens associated with Crohn's disease.

Specific lymphocyte transformation to three micro-organisms that have been implicated in Crohn's disease was performed. These were Pseudomonas maltophilia, Mycobacterium kansasii and Rotavirus. No significant differences were observed for any of the antigens tested. Simultaneous testing of nonspecific stimulation by PHA also showed no difference between patients and controls. These results do not support an aetiological role for these organisms mediated by a purely cellular mechanism.

Adult↗