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Biomedical subjects

G Watkinson

Publications and source records attributed to G Watkinson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The value of the 14C breath test in the assessment of fat absorption.

The absorption of oral 14C-glyceryl tripalmitate was tested in 77 subjects by hourly interval sampling of breath 14CO2 for up to 6 h. A highly significant correlation was obtained between maximum breath 14CO2 activity and faecal fat excretion. The test was very effective in differentiating between patients with and without steatorrhoea. Repetition of this examination with oral 14C-palmitic acid demonstrated normal absorption in pancreatic steatorrhoea but impaired absorption in intestinal steatorrhoea, thus enabling these conditions to be distinguished. The 14C breath tests are most useful as simple and inexpensive outpatient screening tests for steatorrhoea.

Breath Tests

Reduction in peripheral blood K cells and activated T cells in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Lymphocyte subpopulations were measured in the peripheral blood of 13 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 13 with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and 16 age- and sex-matched normal subjects. A significant, relative and absolute, reduction in activated T cells and K cells, compared with that in normal subjects, was found in PBC but not in CAH. The reduction in K cells observed in PBC was found to be accompanied by a parallel decrease in lymphocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity.

Adult

Computer interrogation of patients.

A system of routine interrogation of patients using a computer has been developed. It includes a visual display unit with a specially designed response keyboard, and the program has been designed to adapt to the individual patient. The system was evaluated objectively, using the criteria of accuracy in eliciting symptoms, acceptability to the patient, and cost. While doctors will always take the ultimate management decisions, it seems that machines can be programmed to undertake the routine interrogation of patients, elicit evidence accurately and acceptably, and calculate the probabilities of disease as effectively as doctors.

Attitude

The management of ulcerative colitis.

The modern medical and surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis has been detailed. Whilst improvements in medical management have been few in the past decade there have been advances in dietary management and in the use of new drugs such as azathioprine and disodium cromoglycate which are currently being evaluated. Sulphasalazine remains a valuable drug in treating attacks of the disease and in preventing relapses, and its mode of action is now better understood. Steroid therapy, used orally, parenterally or topically, is of value in managing acute colitic attacks. Surgery is often required and total proctocolectomy with ileostomy remains the operation of choice. Colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis still remains a controversial operation but has its enthusiastic advocates. The interesting a new operation of proctocolectomy, with the establishment of an ileal bladder and continent ileostomy, is being assessed in Sweden and in a few centres in Britain and America.

Azathioprine

Ulcerative colitis.

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Colitis, Ulcerative

Histocompatibility antigens in active chronic hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.

The frequency of antigens HL-A 1 (48%) and HL-A 8 (52%) in 54 patients with active chronic hepatitis from south-east England was significantly higher than in 89 control subjects from the same region (22% and 17% respectively). No correlation could be detected with the age and sex of the patients or with the presence of a particular immunological abnormality but the frequency of HL-A 1 and HL-A 8 was much lower in the nine patients who were positive for HBAg than in the 45 HBAg-negative cases. These results provide further evidence of the importance of genetic factors in active chronic hepatitis. In contrast the frequency of HL-A 1 and HL-A 8 in primary biliary cirrhosis, both in 45 patients from south-east England and in 28 patients from western Scotland, was not significantly different from that found in control groups from the same regions.

Age Factors

Australia antigen and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Sera from 64 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis have been examined for Australia antigen (Au). On immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis all sera were negative. Using a radioimmunoprecipitation technique 15.6% of sera contained antigen compared with an incidence of 3.1% in matched controls, a significant difference (p = 0.015). Anti-Au was found in 9.4% of patients and in 7.8% of controls. In lymphocyte transformation studies lymphocytes from one of 24 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis transformed on stimulation with an Au-rich serum.

Antibodies, Viral