PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J D Merrett

Publications and source records attributed to J D Merrett.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Symptoms at one year following concussion from minor head injuries.

Of 131 patients with mild concussion, 19 (14.5%) still had symptoms after 1 year. Of these 19 patients, 10 had some symptoms of which they had not complained at 6 weeks. Symptoms at 1 year were more common among women and among patients who had had positive neurological findings at 24 h. Of the 19 patients who had symptoms at 1 year, 8 were involved in law suits and 6 had been suspected of malingering 6 weeks after their accident. Five of these patients were both involved in law suits and suspected of malingering.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Intralaboratory quality control of hematology. Comparison of two systems.

Two systems for quality control have been compared, viz., the whole-blood control preparation method and the algorithm method using the geometric moving average XB and a new estimator Y. The system involving whole-blood controls has the advantage of simplicity of operation, but the economic cost of commercial preparations is often high. The algorith system has the advantage that results of all the test samples are used in the calculation; to some extent, this provides a buffer against random variation. The number of count-outs in a given channel is related to the precision of the channel, which in turn is a function of the number of determinations and calculations required for that result. An error of around 1% is introduced into the result each time a calculation is performed. A successful quality control scheme should contain elements of both control preparation and algorithm methods.

Erythrocyte Count↗
PubMed1979

A prospective study of liver enzyme and other changes following repeat administration of halothane and enflurane.

A prospective study of liver enzymes and other measurements following repeat administrations of halothane or enflurane was carried out in patients undergoing minor urological operations. The patient populations were similar with respect to frequency of factors which might influence liver function, social habits, drug therapy and time intervals between administrations. Sixty-three received two or more administrations of halothane and 66 received two or more administrations of enflurane, both drugs given with nitrous oxide in oxygen. There was a greater frequency of increased enzymatic activity following repeat administrations of halothane than following enflurane and the average alanine aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations were increased to a greater degree following halothane than enflurane. There was no change in the eosinophil count and no significant postoperative morbidity. Change in alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase occured more frequently in obese patients receiving halothane.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

The injuries of terrorist bombing: a study of 1532 consecutive patients.

Of 1532 explosion victims only 9 died in hospital. Injury to the chest or abdominal organs was rare (10 patients of whom 5 died). Primary blast lung was apparent in only 2 patients. Major limb amputations occured in 16 patients of whom 4 died. None of the 50 patients with burns required skin grafts. Injuries were predominantly to the head and neck and limbs, suggesting the protective effect of clothing. Half of the patients suffered from emotional shock, most with no physical injury and 82 per cent of whom were female. Eighty-three per cent of patients arrived at hospital between 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The effects of mental and physical stress on the incidence of skin disorders.

The effect of civil unrest and terrorism in Northern Ireland from 1969 on skin diseases which are generally accepted to be aggravated by stress and strain has been studied (1) by reporting cases making claims against the government for skin diseases developed as the result of violence and (2), studying changes in the pattern of skin diseases at skin clinics in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. There has been little change in the pattern of skin diseases which could be attributed to mental or physical stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

British and West African facial form in ideal occlusion.

True lateral cephalometric radiographs of 20 adult male British subjects and 20 Nigerian adult males were collected. All subjects showed an ideal occlusion of the teeth. These radiographs were analysed using a facial polygon joining the points Nasion, Sella, Articulare, Gonion and Menton. Additionally, measurements were made of the axial inclination of the incisor teeth and the distances from the incisal edges and apices of the teeth to the facial plane. Statistical examination of the results using "t" tests revealed that the average British mandible had a longer ramus but shorter body joined at a wider angle than the Negro, that the nasal part of the face was longer on average in the British group and that the incisor teeth, on average, projected further and were inclined further forward in the Nigerian group. A linear discriminant function in only three variables predicted with 100 per cent accuracy membership of the two groups. The three variables were the mandibular body length, the height of the nasal part of the face, and the amount by which the incisal edges of the lower incisor teeth projected beyond the facial plane.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Relation of alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotype to the performance of pulmonary function tests and to the prevalence of respiratory illness in a working population.

Individuals with severe alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha1AT) deficiency (phenotype Pi ZZ) are abnormally liable to develop emphysema, but it is uncertain whether those with partial alpha1AT deficiency (phenotypes Pi MS and MZ) are similarly susceptible. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of the various Pi phenotypes in a working population in Northern Ireland and to compare the performance of simple pulmonary function tests and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and chest illness between different phenotypes. The population sample consisted of 1995 working men and women aged between 35 and 70 years. The MRC Questionnaire (1966) was used to assess respiratory symptoms, a forced expiratory spirogram was recorded, and a blood sample was analysed for alpha1AT phenotype by acid starch gel electrophoresis and antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis in every case. The percentage frequencies of the alpha1AT phenotypes were: Pi MM 86-5; MS 7-97; MZ 3-86; IM 0-6; FM 0-4; SZ 0-25; M 0-15; SS 0-1; Z 0-05; MP 0-05; FS 0-05. Respiratory symptoms and a history of previous chest illness occurred with similar frequency among the Pi M, MS, and MZ phenotypes, and a comparison of the regression coefficients for FEV1, FVC, and MMF on age for each phenotype group showed no significant differences between them overall, or when subdivided according to smoking habits or dust exposure. These findings provide no evidence that individuals of phenotype Pi MS or MZ are more than usually liable to develop chronic airways obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Potato avoidance during pregnancy in women with a previous infant with either anencephaly and/or spina bifida.

This investigation is a direct attempt to test Renwick's (1972) hypothesis that 95% of anencephaly and spina bifida (ASB) is preventable by the avoidance of potatoes during pregnancy. Although the numbers involved in the study are small, the investigation fails to support the concept that short-term avoidance of potatoes before conception and throughout pregnancy in women who have had a previous ASB infant reduces the recurrence risk. In the potato-free group, of 23 pregnancies which went to term two infants had ASB (8-7%); whereas in the non-potato-free group, of 56 which went to term two infants had ASB (3-6%). The recurrence risk in both groups was about 5%. The incidence of ASB in the groups shows no significant difference (P = 0-58) and in the potato-free group was not reduced by 95% as postulated by Renwick.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1974

Measles virus-specific IgG in cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis.

The prevalence of measles virus-specific IgG in cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) of patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) has been compared with that in fluids from patients with other neurological diseases and from normal control subjects. The prevalence in the three groups was 58.1%, 24.1%, and 0% respectively. Fivefold concentration of the specimens increased the prevalence in the first two groups to 80.6% and 34.5% respectively, while measles IgG was not detected in any fluids of the normal control group, even after concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed1974

Cerebral embolism and mitral stenosis: survival with and without anticoagulants.

Eighty-four patients with mitral stenosis and cerebral embolism have been followed up for 20 years. Half of the series (those treated in the early years) had no anticoagulant treatment and half were given long-term warfarin therapy. Mortality rate and causes of death have been reviewed, and comparison of survival times of treated and untreated groups by life-table analysis bears out the immediate need for anticoagulants when a diagnosis of systemic embolism is established. It is wise to continue the treatment for six months but it may be reasonable to discontinue it after one year with patients who can be assured of regular review.

Adult↗