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Biomedical subjects

J Hewitt

Publications and source records attributed to J Hewitt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Treatment of idiopathic infertility, cervical mucus hostility, and male infertility: artificial insemination with husband's semen or in vitro fertilization?

Couples with male infertility (n = 86), idiopathic infertility (n = 68), and cervical mucus hostility (n = 48) of a long duration were treated either by in vitro fertilization (IVF) or artificial insemination with husband's semen (AIH). The incidence of pregnancy per cycle in couples in whom the male partner was infertile was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher after IVF, compared with AIH (21% versus 5%, respectively). The differences were most apparent in couples with asthenospermia (47% versus 0%, respectively); no significant difference was found when the infertility was caused by oligospermia only (11% versus 9%, respectively). More patients with idiopathic infertility became pregnant after one cycle with IVF, compared with AIH (20% versus 8%, respectively); but, because of intragroup disparity in size, this difference was not significant. A highly significant difference (P less than 0.01) was found after one attempt with IVF, compared with AIH, in patients with cervical mucus hostility (38% versus 3%, respectively).

Cervix Mucus↗
PubMed1985

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterotoxigenic (ETEC) related diarrhoeal disease in a neonatal unit.

In an outbreak of summer diarrhoea in the neonatal unit, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, 25 (69%) of the 36 infants had organisms demonstrated in their stools. Four (11%) had EPEC alone, six (17%) ETEC alone, six (17%) EPEC plus rotavirus and nine (25%) all three organisms. Eleven (30%) infants had no organisms in their stools. Rotavirus alone was not present in any of the stools. Seven infants had septicaemia. The overall mortality was 22% and 62.5% of the deaths occurred in low birthweight infants. In a study of 41 infants without diarrhoea during the following winter and summer periods 55% of winter, 43% of summer controls, and four of 12 (33%) mothers had rotavirus. Only two (4.8%) of 41 infants had E. coli (EPEC). The findings suggest that E. coli (EPEC strain 044/K74[c], and ETEC) was the major cause of the outbreak and it was associated with a high mortality.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1985

Neutrophil mean peroxidase: a biologically interesting parameter with a potential for WBC differential quality control.

This study has shown the neutrophil mean peroxidase measurement on the Technicon H6000 to be a simple reproducible technique for measuring neutrophil myeloperoxidase. This measurement shows no interference from contaminating eosinophils unlike spectrophotometric methods. The WBC count had little effect on the CV of the neutrophil mean peroxidase within the normal working range of the machine. Variations in the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the peroxidase substrate also had little effect on this measurement. Haemoglobin however had a significant inhibitory effect on the neutrophil mean peroxidase but this was in a predictable manner. The same inhibition of peroxidase also caused a decrease in the eosinophil count. This varied between individuals. The method described represents a suitable assay for the detection of varying degrees of neutrophil myeloperoxidase activity including the acquired and hereditary deficiencies. This parameter is potentially useful for the quality control of the cytochemically derived WBC differential.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of the specificity of monoclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

The specificity of monoclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis was determined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Radiolabelled, non-precipitating monoclonal antibody was incorporated in the top gel together with unlabelled polyvalent, precipitating anti-bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) antibody. Inclusion of labelled antibody in individual precipitate lines was demonstrated by autoradiography. Each monoclonal antibody was localized in a single precipitate line: antibody TB73 reacted with BCG antigen 56; TB71 and TB72 reacted with BCG antigen 78; and TB78 reacted with BCG antigen 82. The technique permits precise determination of the specificity of monoclonal antibodies at the level of reactivity with native immunogenic components of complex microorganisms without prior antigen purification.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Observers' reaction to touchers.

20 men and 20 women were shown nine photographs in which two people were interacting. The first photograph shown showed a male and a female engaged in a nontouching interaction. The remaining eight photographs showed a touching interaction. Subjects rated their affective reaction to each of the touching interactions relative to their reaction to the first (nontouch) interaction. In the latter 8 photographs, the person facing the camera was either male or female, the person with back to camera was either male or female, and the touch shown was either a hand touch or a hug. All touching interactions were rated more positively than the standard (nontouch interactions). Male and female subjects tended to show identical reactions to the photographs. More positive reactions were shown to cross-sex hugging than to same-sex hugging and interactions showing hand touch.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Vulvovaginogingival syndrome. New characteristic grouping of plurimucous erosive lichen planus].

The triple association of a chronic painful erosive vulvitis, an erosive or desquamative vaginitis and an erosive vestibular gingivitis constitutes a hitherto unreported syndrome. The first 19 cases of this affection seen in the Hôpital Tarnier over the last three years are presented and analyzed, the etiology of these erosive mucosal lesions, limited to three body regions, being lichen planus in each case. Detection of mucosal erosion at one of these three sites now requires clinical investigation of the other two, and biopsy of least one of them from the edge of an eroded zone, as well as search for other-possible mucocutaneous areas of lichen planus. Clinical onset is often asynchronous, one lesion appearing before the others, the simplest to recognize being gingival erosive lichen. In one case, however, peri-erosive lamellar detachments suggested chronic desquamative gingivitis of possible benign pemphigoid origin. Erosive lichen planus of vulva and vagina has not been reported previously. Knowledge of this syndrome allows correlation between lichen planus and certain cases of erosive gingivitis, erythroplastic vulvitis and desquamative vaginitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Aetiology of diarrhoea in adequately nourished young African children in Durban, South Africa.

Two inter-related hospital-based studies on the causes of diarrhoea in African children who were not overtly malnourished, were performed over a period of two years in Durban, South Africa. The first study involved 126 inpatients selected for previously untreated diarrhoea of less than 96 h duration. On examination and culture of the stools of these children bacteria were identified in 60%, rotavirus in 20% and parasites in 4%. No pathogens were identified in 33%. The bacteria most frequently encountered were Campylobacter jejuni (21%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (18%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (11%) and salmonella (8%). Of those cases having an identifiable cause 16% had more than one organism. The majority of children had mild disease and recovered clinically in 5.4 (1.3) days (Mean (s.d.]. The second study included 352 outpatients with diarrhoea who were randomly selected without regard to duration of disease or prior treatment. The results of faecal investigations were as follows: 28% had bacterial pathogens, 34% rotavirus, 15% parasites and 61% no pathogens. The bacteria most frequently detected were C. jejuni 7%, EPEC 7%, salmonella 6%, and shigella 5%. Ten per cent of positive cases had more than one pathogen. The most likely reason for the higher percentage with no identifiable pathogen is the prolonged duration of diarrhoea in 19% for more than seven days. In 128 control children with diarrhoea, stool samples were investigated during the same period as the two studies: 13% had bacteria, 2% rotavirus and 14% parasites. The bacteria involved were C. jejuni (5%). EPEC (5%), salmonella (2%) and shigella (2%).

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Macrocephaly and minor congenital anomalies in children with learning problems.

To determine whether existing data which indicate a significant prevalence of abnormal head circumference and minor congenital anomalies in referred learning disabled populations could be replicated in a nonreferred population, 75 children enrolled in learning disabilities resource programs in an elementary school district were compared with a matched group of 73 children. Macrocephaly (occipitofrontal head circumference of 2 or more SD above the mean) was noted significantly more often in resource than in control children (12 versus 3) (p less than 0.05). Macrocephalic resource children had significantly lower achievement scores than either normocephalic resource or control children (p less than 0.05). There were no significant differences between resource and control children for mean number of anomalies per child, frequency of individual anomalies per group, or evidence of recurring anomaly patterns in the resource children. The macrocephalic resource children revealed the same prevalence of anomalies as normocephalic resource and control children, with no evidence of recurring anomaly patterns. Resource children with four or more anomalies did not differ from those with three or fewer anomalies on any psychometric parameters. Clinical, familial, radiological, and psychometric investigation of several macrocephalic resource children indicated similar patterns of learning deficits and documented evidence of familial macrocephaly but did not show any recognizable CNS abnormalities. This study confirms a significant prevalence of macrocephaly in children with learning problems. It indicates the need for further research into the prevalance and patterns of learning deficits in children with familial macrocephaly. The results add to recent concerns about the psychoeducational criteria of specific learning disabilities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

[Skin manifestations of sarcoidosis. Review of the literature and 53 personal cases].

The authors review the literature and 53 personal cases, and describe the very variable appearances of the skin lesions in sarcoidosis: these may be divided into two main groups: non-specific "vasculitis" mainly represented by acute lesions of the erythema nodosum type, and specific polymorphic lesions often difficult to diagnose clinically and requiring skin biopsy. As in previous reports, the personal cases bring out a number of special features: silicotic granulomatous sarcoid like lesions may be observed in authentic cases of sarcoidosis; lesions identical to those described in systemic sarcoidosis may appear in isolation without other localisations. Is this cutaneous sarcoid? or sarcoid-like granulomata of unknown origin? The treatment of sarcoid skin lesions is described briefly.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1984

[Male genital dyskeratotic tumor. 2 case reports].

Two cases of genital vegetant tumors are described associated with lichen sclerous in male patients. Clinically they were very close to giant condyloma acuminatum. This diagnosis was rejected after histological examination of the tumors. The pathological changes consisted of epithelial hyperplasia, dyskeratosis, epidermal dysplasia and presence of some vacuolated keratinocytes. After surgical excision, the relapses are frequent. Etr etinate or local 5-fluorouracil seemed to prevent these relapses.

Humans↗