PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Briggs

Publications and source records attributed to M Briggs.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

A sensitive single reverse passive haemagglutination test for detecting both HBsAg and anti-HBs.

A trial of a modified reverse passive haemagglutination test for HBsAg using a 0.1% cell suspension instead of the recommended 1% showed an approximately eight-fold increase in detection sensitivity. The test can be performed within 30 minutes and lends itself to mass screening techniques. Confirmation tests can be done using the 0.1% method. In addition, the same serological plates and cells used for HBsAg screening can then be used to screen for high-titre anti-HBs. This makes the overall screening for both HBsAg and high-titre anti-HBs donors cheap and convenient.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1979

Plasma lipoprotein changes during oral contraception.

Changes in plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration were measured in healthy young women who received 21-days' oral treatment with either norethisterone acetate (1, 2, or 5 mg daily) or ethinyloestradiol (20 or 50 microgram daily). Similar measurements were also made in groups of women receiving progestogens or oestrogens for gynaecological indications, and in women taking oral contraceptives. Oestrogens alone stimulate increases in HDL-cholesterol, while progestogens alone suppress the concentration. Combinations of oestrogens and progestogens have variable effects depending on the relative doses and chemical compositions of the two hormones. Because HDL-cholesterol concentration is thought to be negatively correlated to cardiovascular disease risks, products which induce a large decrease are to be avoided, though other risk factors must be taken into account in the selection of oral contraceptives.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1978

Liver enzyme concentrations as measure of possible infectivity in chronic asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B.

Fifty-two British-born blood donors who were chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were tested for the presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg by an immunoradiometric assay. The presence of HBeAg was closely associated with a slight rise in serum liver enzyme concentrations, a high HBsAg titre, and male sex. We suggest that the finding of persistently raised serum liver enzyme concentrations in an asymptomatic HBsAg carrier might be useful as a likely indicator of HBeAg and high infectivity.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1978

Evaluation of the single radial haemolysis (SRH) technique for rubella antibody measurement.

Sera from 1258 individuals have been tested by four laboratories for rubella antibody by both the haemagglutination-inhibition and single radial haemolysis techniques. There was good agreement between the results obtained by the two methods. Although sheep red blood cells were used in the single radial haemolysis plates, no problems were encountered with sera from patients with infectious mononucleosis. The single haemolysis technique was found to be simple, convenient, and reliable, and suited to the rapid screening of large numbers of sera to assess susceptibility to rubella in the context of a vaccination campaign. However, since the technique does not detect anti-rubella IgM, it should not be used as the only test to investigate suspected recent infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1977

A comparison of different methods of screening blood donations for HBsAg.

In a retrospective comparison between countermigration immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) and reverse passive haemagglutination (RPHA) for screening 260,500 blood donations, the latter's 10-fold increase in sensitivity resulted in 36% more HBsAg detections. In a prospective comparison between RPHA and radioimmunoassay (RIA) the latter's 40-fold increase in sensitivity over RPHA resulted in 11% more detections than RPHA in 27,094 new donors. One in 500 new donors was HBsAg-positive by RPHA, compared with 1 in 11,000 established donors who had donated and been tested previously. Acute hepatitis B infections, though uncommon, accounted for a greater proportion of the HBsAg-positive found in "established" rather than new donors. Reported post-transfusion hepatitis cases have declined following the introduction of screening tests in 1971. The feasibility of RIA testing at a transfusion centre supplied simply with the two basic RIA reagents has been demonstrated.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1977

Role of sexual and non-sexual practices in the transmission of hepatitis B.

Medical, social, and sexual histories were taken from 198 men attending a department for sexually transmitted diseases. Their blood was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and its antibody, and also for syphilis and liver function. Infection with hepatitis B virus was found to be common among practising homosexuals and to occur much more frequently in them than in heterosexuals. Hepatitis B appeared to be transmitted sexually rather than by other means, but it was not possible in this study to link its transmission with any particular homosexual practice. However, risk of infection increased considerably with the number of sexual partners and nearly half of those with more than 40 sexual partners had been infected.

Hepatitis B↗
PubMed1977

The use and misuse of vitamin supplements.

Overt vitamin deficiency in Australia is a medical curiosity. Suspected hypovitaminoses in the general population requires education in nutrition, rather than supplementation by vitamin capsules. Vitamin supplementation, however, may be needed by patients receiving long-term drug treatment, or with chronic malabsorption conditions. The receipt of specific additional vitamins may also be beneficial during pregnancy, or in persons dedicated to a totally vegan diet.

Avitaminosis↗