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Biomedical subjects

H O'Neill

Publications and source records attributed to H O'Neill.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Adenovirus 12 and dermatitis herpetiformis.

Previous studies have shown that A-gliadin, a major gluten-derived peptide known to activate the gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE) of coeliac disease (CD), and the non-structural E1B peptide produced during early lytic gastrointestinal infection with human adenovirus type 12 (AD12) share an identical twelve amino acid sequence. It is suggested that immunological cross reactivity between these two peptides may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CD. As a milder but histologically identical GSE is found in the majority of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), a condition also thought to be caused by dietary gluten, we postulated that AD12 may also be involved in the pathogenesis of DH. To test this we assayed sera from 40 patients with DH and 18 healthy controls for AD12-neutralizing antibodies as evidence of past viral exposure. Detectable AD12 antibodies (titre of 13 or higher) were found in only 15% (6/40) of DH patients, compared with 27.8% (5/18) controls (not significant). These findings do not support a causative role for AD12 in the pathogenesis of DH.

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1992

Blunted prolactin responses to d-fenfluramine in sociopathy. Evidence for subsensitivity of central serotonergic function.

Using a neuroendocrine probe we studied nine male offenders in a forensic hospital, convicted of murder, with a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, who had been behaviourally 'quiescent' for varying periods and who had not recently been abusing drugs. Nine healthy age-matched men also participated. All subjects received 30 mg d-fenfluramine (d-FEN), a 5-HT releasing agent, orally, after an overnight fast, and serial samples for prolactin estimation were taken hourly for five hours. Responses were significantly impaired in the patients, suggesting a subsensitivity of certain 5-HT systems in antisocial personality disorder, regardless of recent or ongoing behavioural disturbance.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Hepatitis B screening in a northern Irish mental handicap institution: relevance to hepatitis B vaccination.

The current DHSS guidelines on immunisation against hepatitis B in mental handicap hospitals recommend vaccination for personnel at risk directly involved in patient care (who may have direct contact with patients or their body fluids) and for new admissions into institutions where the incidence is known to be high. We report a serological survey of hepatitis B markers in over 99% of the residents of a large mental handicap hospital. Of 720 patients tested only one carried hepatitis surface antigen. This patient was anti-HBe positive. Only 4.5% of the residents carried any hepatitis marker. These results do not suggest the need for a local vaccination programme for patients or staff.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1988

Difficulties in laser Doppler measurement of skin blood flow under applied external pressure.

During the course of a study of skin blood flow under applied external pressure, it became apparent that decreasing blood flow by loading the skin surface reveals problems that are fundamental to the method of laser Doppler flowmetry. These problems have to do with the fact that the laser Doppler is extremely sensitive to red cell motion of any kind, whether associated with the ordered red cell motion of blood flow or the random red cell motion associated with changes in temperature or vessel occlusion. This effect becomes increasingly important whenever blood flow is compromised (a situation of considerable clinical significance), since the random portion of the signal then becomes significant in comparison with the diminished blood flow. Experiments have been conducted in living animals and with stationary drops of blood which clearly show the importance of these effects with regard to the interpretation of laser Doppler signals. Significant laser Doppler flow signals were repeatedly observed after manipulations which could reasonably be expected to reduce blood flow to zero.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Skin blood flow changes and tissue deformations produced by cylindrical indentors.

Since skin blood flow as a function of applied pressure depends on many factors, one may find different curves within each group of subjects, making separation of groups difficult. A dimensional analysis has been out which indicates that the percent decrease in skin blood flow associated with external loading is primarily a function of only three variables: the ratios of bone depth and bone diameter to indentor diameter, and percent compression of the tissue overlying the bone. The load itself is found to be unimportant. It is concluded that measurement of bone depth, bone diameter, and tissue deformation are more important than pressure measurements. Measurements of skin displacement and average indentor pressure for four male subjects indicate that tissue stiffness increases with age, regardless of disability, so that higher pressures are required to produce the same displacement in older subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Development and evaluation of a universal contoured cushion.

A new wheelchair seat cushion has been developed which reduces the ischaemia producing forces and redistributes them to the more tolerant areas of the posterior thighs and lateral gluteal muscles. The cushion is fabricated of foam materials and designed to stabilise the pelvis and promote proper spinal-pelvic alignment. Pressure measurements were recorded at the skin cushion interface for 66 subjects while seated on the cushion in their own wheelchair. The cushion was considered effective if maximum interface pressures recorded were: coccyx: less than 20 mmHg, ischii: less than 65 mmHg, trochanters: less than 70 mmHg, and posterior thighs: less than 80 mmHg. The cushion was considered ineffective if the interface pressure at any one location exceeded these criteria. The cushion was found effective for 52 of the subjects. The cushion was more effective (90 per cent versus 58 per cent) for subjects without certain skeletal deformities (pelvic obliquity, bony resections). Eighty-three per cent of the respondents who were followed on the cushion reported that they preferred the cushion to their previous cushions with improved posture, balance and comfort being the most commonly cited reasons. This study has shown the cushion to be a preferred alternative to other commercially available wheelchair cushions for those who are paraplegic.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Aetiology of chronic constrictive pericarditis.

In a consecutive series of 32 cases of chronic constrictive pericarditis treated by pericardiectomy during the past 25 years, four were attributable to rheumatoid disease, two to trauma, one to sarcoidosis, and four, at a maximum, to tuberculosis. In the remaining 21 cases of undetermined aetiology there was no evidence of tuberculosis. It appears, therefore, that tuberculosis was not a common cause of chronic constrictive pericarditis during the period under review, which included the 1950s and early 1960s when tuberculosis was widespread.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Problems in the management of patients with artificial valves during pregnancy.

During the past 15 years, 12 patients with prosthetic valves were treated during 18 pregnancies in the four Dublin maternity hospitals. These patients were on long-term anticoagulants and their pregnancies were reviewed to assess the problems associated with anticoagulation. One baby had warfarin embryopathy, six pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortions and there were two intrauterine deaths. On the basis of the findings a policy on the most appropriate anticoagulant regimen in such cases was formulated.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1982

Haemodynamic effects of pregnancy in patients with heart failure.

Four patients, who were maintained on a constant regimen of treatment, developed congestive cardiac failure during pregnancy. They were examined regularly and carefully during the course of pregnancy to assess the progress of their failure. All four demonstrated unequivocal improvement during the third trimester attributable to obstruction of the inferior vena cava restricting venous return to the right side of the heart. This resulted in a fall in venous pressure in the neck and the resulting fall in right ventricular output could be very valuable in patients with left ventricular failure.

Cardiac Output↗