PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J M Forrest

Publications and source records attributed to J M Forrest.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The compliance of diabetic patients: relationship between subjective assessment by physicians and objective measurement of patient performance.

During a survey period of 9 months, diabetic patients attending an outpatient clinic were asked routinely by the nursing staff to produce their home urine/glucose monitoring charts and diet charts. If they could not do so, the importance of bringing these charts was explained and they were instructed to bring their charts at subsequent visits. In addition, the individual responses of 109 consecutive patients were monitored as index cases. The physicians of these 109 patients were asked to grade each patient according to their estimate of the patient's compliance. This subjective rating was correlated with the actual performance of the patients in bringing charts. During the survey the overall number of patients attending the clinic who brought urine/blood charts increased from 31% to 59%. The corresponding figures for diet charts were 6% and 21%. Before intervention, the group rated "high compliance" was more likely than the "low compliance" rated group to bring urine/glucose charts. However, after adjustment for this baseline difference the subsequent performances of the high and low rated groups were comparable. These two groups of patients also performed similarly with respect to diet charts. It is concluded that patients judged subjectively to have poor compliance were able to modify their behaviour similarly to those assessed as having good compliance.

Adult↗

Rubella vaccination in Australia: 1. A five-year follow-up of vaccinated schoolgirls.

Schoolgirl rubella vaccination commenced in New South Wales in 1971. Serological follow up of 242 girls, four to five years after vaccination, showed that 9% of girls had missed the vaccination programme. Only 5% of vaccinees were still susceptible to rubella in comparison with 27% of unvaccinated male controls. The efficacy of the programme is thus well demonstrated. Screening for vaccine failures at the time of prescribing contraceptives is suggested as a means of detecting schoolgirl vaccine failures. It is noted that the first cohort of schoolgirl vaccinees has not yet reached the peak childbearing age range.

Adolescent↗

Rubella vaccination in Australia: 2. Experience with the RA27/3 rubella vaccine and results of a double-blind trial in schoolgirls.

RA27/3 rubella vaccine (Almevax) was used for the first time in Australia. The seroconversion rate was similar to that seen with Cendehill vaccine (Cedevax), but there were fewer subjects with low antibody titres after Almevax vaccine. Although Almevax vaccine was associated with a significantly higher incidence of sore throat, rash and joint involvement in seronegative adults, the incidence of side effects in a double-blind trial in schoolgirls was similar for the two vaccines, and the morbidity was low in both groups. Almevax vaccination successfully boosted low antibody titres in 11 of 14 women who had previously responded poorly to Cendevax vaccination. It would be difficult to differentiate the better vaccine for the schoolgirl programme. In some clinical situations, however, one vaccine has advantages over the other.

Adolescent↗

Rubella infection and diabetes mellitus.

The incidence of diabetes mellitus was increased in patients with congenital rubella. Experimental congenital rubella infection in rabbits caused histological changes in the beta-cells of the pancreatic islets similar to those found in mice made diabetic by the M variant of the encephalomyocarditis virus. It is concluded that the diabetes seen in congenital rubella is due to viral infection of the pancreatic islet cells.

Adult↗

Drugs in pregnancy and lactation.

The hazards of exposing the human fetus to drugs have become increasingly apparent in the last 15 years, during which time drug usage has steadily increased. Even though a direct cause-and-effect relationship between certain commonly used drugs and fetal disorders or malformations has been difficult to establish, the principle of avoidance of all but essential medications in pregnancy and in the potentially pregnant has become increasingly important. This paper summarizes the factors determining fetal damage and lists the problems associated with some drugs frequently encountered in practice.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

HL-A antigens in congenital rubella and the role of antigens 1 and 8 in the epidemiology of natural rubella.

Study of 87 patients (53 adults, 23 males; 34 children, 18 males) with congenital rubella revealed an increased incidence of several HL-A antigens, including HL-A5, HL-A1, HL-A3 and HL-A8, the frequency of HL-A1 being raised because of the statistically significant increase of this antigen in the adult female subjects compared with normal controls. Correlation of the level of seropositivity to rubella virus in 29 normal adult populations, according to racial origin and geographic location, with the frequency of various HL-A antigens revealed the most significant association with HL-A1 (r equals 0.71). It is suggested that the presence on the cell surface of HL-A1 or the combination of HL-A1 and 8 may fovour rubella virus infection.

Adult↗