PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F McPherson

Publications and source records attributed to F McPherson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

High service users: does the clinical psychologist have a role?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of psychological intervention on high users of the GP service. DESIGN: A sample of high-attenders was offered the opportunity to attend an interview with a clinical psychologist. A three-year (one year before and two years after psychological intervention) survey of patient records was carried out to determine the pattern of patient attendances. In addition, GP and patient satisfaction questionnaires were utilised to rate the psychological service. SETTING: A GP surgery situated in the coastal region of Scotland. SUBJECTS: All adult patients, who had consulted over 12 times in the 12 months prior to the beginning of the study except those who had ongoing medical problems that the GP felt were being dealt with adequately, were invited to a psychological interview. In all, 174 invitations were sent, and 101 agreed to psychological intervention. RESULTS: After three months both the GPs and patients positively rated the input of the psychologist. There were short-term benefits from the psychological intervention in terms of attendance rates, which were not in evidence in the long term. For the participating group there was a significant decrease in attendance rate three months after psychological intervention compared to the non-participating group (P < 0.001). However, at 12 and 24 months after intervention both groups reduced attendance at a similar rate. CONCLUSION: Psychologist intervention had a short, but not long term, benefit, in reducing attendance rates. However, both GPs and patients found the provision of a report from the psychologist useful.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Repression of p27kip1 synthesis by platelet-derived growth factor in BALB/c 3T3 cells.

We have investigated the regulation of p27kip1, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in BALB/c 3T3 cells during growth factor-stimulated transition from quiescence (G0) to a proliferative (G1) state. The level of p27kip1 protein falls dramatically after mitogenic stimulation and is accompanied by a decrease in cyclin E associated p27kip1, as well as a transient increase in cyclin D1-associated p27kip1 that later declines concomitantly with the loss of total p27kip1. Analysis of metabolically labelled cells revealed that cyclin D2, cyclin D3, and cdk4 were also partnered with p27kip1 in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells and that this association decreased after platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment. Furthermore, the decline in p27kip1 and reduced association with cyclin D3, initiated by the addition of PDGF but not plasma-derived factors, suggested that these changes are involved in competence, the first step in the exit from G0. Synthesis of p27kip1 as determined by incorporation of [35S]methionine was repressed upon mitogenic stimulation, and PDGF was sufficient to elicit this repression within 2 to 3 h. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated the reduced rate of synthesis was not the result of an increased rate of degradation. Full repression of p27kip1 synthesis required the continued presence of PDGF and failed to occur in the presence of the RNA polymerase inhibitor 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside. These characteristics demonstrate that repression was a late effect of PDGF and was consistent with our finding that conditional expression of activated H-ras did not affect synthesis of p27kip1. Northern (RNA) analysis of p27kip1 mRNA revealed that the repression was not accompanied by a corresponding decrease in p27kip1 mRNA, suggesting that the PDGF-regulated decrease in p27kip1 expression occurred through a translational mechanism.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1991

Reported social alcohol consumption during pregnancy and infants' development at 18 months.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between mothers' self reported drinking habits before, during, and after pregnancy and infants' mental and motor development at 18 months of age. DESIGN: Follow up study of all singleton live births born to primigravidas living in Dundee and booked into antenatal clinics from 1 May 1985 to 30 April 1986. SETTING: District of Dundee. SUBJECTS: 846 children aged 18 months, of whom 592 attended for assessment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on Bayley scales of infant mental and motor development. RESULTS: For full term children, maternal alcohol consumption was not significantly related to any adverse effect on the children's mental or motor development measures at age 18 months. After confounding factors had been controlled for, alcohol consumption before pregnancy and after pregnancy was significantly related to better motor performance and mental performance. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women probably need not abstain from alcohol altogether as no detectable adverse relation was found between the child's mental and physical development and the mother's weekly consumption at levels in excess of 100g absolute alcohol. However, to allow for a margin of safety and taking into account the findings of an earlier phase of this study on the immediate effects on the newborn, it is recommended that pregnant women should drink no more than eight units of alcohol a week, the equivalent of about one drink a day.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1990

Effects of dexamethasone on body fluid and electrolyte composition of rats.

Low-dose infusions of dexamethasone (2 micrograms/day for 2 and 4 weeks) increased systolic blood pressure and decreased body weight gain in male rats. Total body sodium, calcium and magnesium were increased by dexamethasone treatment; potassium was unaffected. These changes have been evaluated bearing in mind that glucocorticoids have profound catabolic effects. Relative to pretreatment values, dexamethasone decreased exchangeable body sodium for the first two weeks of treatment although values were not significantly different from vehicle-treated controls. Hematocrit, plasma cholesterol and transaminase activities were increased by dexamethasone; white cell numbers and plasma volumes were decreased; plasma Na+, K+ and Ca2+, red cell numbers, extracellular fluid volume, and glomerular filtration rate were not significantly affected. It is concluded that glucocorticoids cause plasma volume to contract, possibly as a result of glucocorticoid-induced natriuresis. Any effects of dexamethasone on whole-body ionic composition are obscured by simultaneous changes of intermediary metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Clinical psychology: an independent profession.

There are few clinical psychologists, just over 1,000 in the NHS in England and Wales. Derek Thomas, Bernard Kat and Frank McPherson review the profession and argue that it should be organised on a district basis.

England↗
PubMed1979

Microsomal biphenyl 2-hydroxylation in the presence of some carcinogenic alkylaryltriazenes.

A hepatic mixed-function oxygenase system gave enhanced biphenyl 2-hydroxylation in the presence of known carcinogens in vitro and was therefore suggested as a convenient short-term assay for the detection of potentially dangerous compounds. However, the test did not yield the expected increase of biphenyl 2-hydroxylation with any of 8 selected carcinogenic triazenes. The new data are discussed in relation to the original supposition and to the hydroxylation pattern of various triazene substrates in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathology quiz: small cell osteosarcoma.

A 15-year-old black male presented with shortness of breath, leg weakness, and pain in his back and rib cage. Four years previously he had noticed a lump in his upper back and complained of pain when playing basketball, especially on contact to that area. Recently, the pain had become more constant and increased in intensity. This was associated with loss of control in his legs, weakness, and paraesthesia. General physical examination revealed a palpable mass in the right midline upper back. Laboratory results were within normal limits. Radiographic scans demonstrated a destructive soft tissue mass at T6 vertebral body with scattered stippled calcification (Figure 1). The patient underwent a biopsy followed by excision of the mass (Figure 2) and decompressive laminectomy with reconstruction.

Adolescent↗