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Biomedical subjects

M Watt

Publications and source records attributed to M Watt.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein and low birthweight: a prospective study throughout pregnancy.

Maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured serially between 15 weeks gestation and term in 520 patients. Thirty-seven of these women were delivered of normal singleton infants with birthweights less than 2.5 kg. The median plasma AFP values in this group of women were highest between 15 and 20 weeks gestation and then declined steadily towards term. It is concluded that the use of maternal plasma or serum AFP in the early detection of low birthweight babies is optimal in the period most suitable for screening for fetal neural tube defects.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Sustained release metoprolol: a comparison with conventional formulation in the treatment of hypertension.

Thirty patients with essential hypertension (WHO Stage I or II) completed a double blind crossover trial in which they received metoprolol as monotherapy as either a slow release formulation of 200 mg once daily or a conventional formulation of 100 mg bd. Duration of treatment was six weeks on each preparation, given in randomised order. Mean values of resting blood pressure and heart rate, measured 22 to 24 hours after the daily dose of the SR formulation or 12-14 hours after the second dose of the conventional form were significantly lower than pretreatment levels. The two treatments were equally effective and equally well tolerated.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1979

Significance of elevated mid-trimester maternal plasma-alpha-fetoprotein values.

In a prospective trial of 15,481 pregnancies, 667 women (4.3%) had two sequential mid-trimester plasma-alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) values above 2 times the median. The outcome of these pregnancies was open neural-tube defect (12.4%), birthweight less than 2.5 kg (10.3%), twins (9.8%), fetal wastage (9.5%), perinatal death (2.6%), other (1.3%), and "normal" singleton (54.1%). At higher A.F.P. cutoffs the proportion of "normal" singleton pregnancies declined rapidly, being 19% at 3 times the median and 9% at 4 times the median. If it is assumed that ultrasonography and amniotic-fluid A.F.P. assay can detect twins and most cases of neural-tube defect, the outcome of the residual pregnancies is still strongly influenced by plasma-A.F.P. level. Thus at a cut-off of 4 times the median two-thirds of the pregnancies in this residual group will end in spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or neonatal death. It is suggested that counselling of women taking part in A.F.P. screening programmes should be strongly influenced by maternal plasma-A.F.P. levels, even if ultrasonographic findings and amniotic-fluid levels are normal.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1979

The relation between maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein and birth weight in twin pregnancies.

In the course of routine screening for neural tube defects, maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured between 15 and 23 weeks of gestation in 64 twin pregnancies. Women with AFP levels more than twice the median for singleton pregnancies gave birth to infants with significantly decreased birth weights. Women with AFP less than the median also tended to produce twins with decreased birth weights. The distribution of gestations at delivery suggested that in twin pregnancies low AFP values gave an early warning of growth retardation while high values signal possible premature delivery.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1978

Untrained community help in the rehabilitation of stroke sufferers with language disorder.

The Newcastle Speech-After-Stroke Project is one of many schemes in Britain that have used untrained helpers to set up community clubs and home visiting for dysphasic stroke sufferers. To examine the contribution to rehabilitation made by such activities, patients' language abilities and social confidence were assessed when they entered the project and after about six months. Formal tests of language showed no significant improvement after six months, but social confidence increased. Such projects can make a valuable contribution in helping dysphasic people to regain a role in the community. Nevertheless, too much should not be expected of them in the way of direct help in the patients' recovery of language.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗
PubMed1978

Once daily administration of a beta-blocker in hypertension.

In 156 patients in general practice, a slow release formulation of oxprenolol given once daily was substituted for conventional beta-receptor-blockers given two or three times daily. At the end of eight weeks there was a significant improvement in blood pressure control which was thought to be due to improved patient compliance. There was also a reduction in the frequency and severity of side-effects which was not drug specific but could be partly explained by the reduction in blood pressure. As 77 percent of the patients considered the once daily dose in a calendar pack to be helpful, simplification of dosage was thought to be an important factor in improving patient compliance, which resulted in better blood pressure control without an increase in unwanted effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein screening for fetal neural tube defects.

Maternal plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening for fetal neural tube defects (NTD) was used as a part of routine antenatal care in three hospitals over a 26 month period. Blood samples were obtained for plasma AFP measurement at 15 to 20 weeks gestation from 6377 women, representing 79 per cent of antenatal bookings. The outcome of pregnancy was ascertained in 96 per cent of patients: 13 cases of anencephaly and 7 of open spina bifida were detected by plasma screening and a further 3 cases of open NTD through the mother's previous medical history and amniotic fluid determination. Four fetuses with open NTDs and four with closed NTDS were not detected by plasma AFP measurement and the detection efficiency for open NTDs was thus 83 per cent. Integration of screening into the existing pattern of antenatal care required only minor alterations in clinic schedules. Some extra time was needed for explanation of the objectives of the study, for ultrasound examination and for amniocentesis. Eight patients declined the offer of a plasma test, while only one refused an amniocentesis.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1977

Maternal serum-alpha-fetoprotein measurements as an early indicator of low birth-weight.

In a prospective trial of 4224 pregnancies, 103 women had serum-alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) above 2-3 times the median value for their stage of gestation. 10-7% of these delivered infants with birth-weights less than 2-5 kg. This was significantly greater than the rate of 4-2% for low-birth-weight infants in the general population. At higher multiples of the median serum-A.F.P. value the proportion of pregnancies leading to low-birth-weight infants was even greater. It is suggested that early identification of pregnancies with high risk of premature delivery may be an important corollary of maternal serum A.F.P. screening.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1975

Drug surveillance in general practice: a study of oxprenolol in the treatment of angina.

Information on the incidence of adverse drug reactions is essential for rational drug therapy. Accurate information of this type is almost entirely derived from intensive surveillance of hospital patients and may not reflect the situation in general practice. In a sutdy of oxprenolol (Trasicor) in the treatment of angina in general practice, a simple non-comparative assessment of efficacy indicated complete or substantial relief of symptoms in nearly 80 percent of patients. Side effects, which were principally related to beta-blockade and were all reversible, occured in 16.6 percent of patients but necessitated stopping treatment in only 10 percent. Simple studies of this nature may yeild valuable evicence about the benefit-to-risk ratio of drugs used under general practice conditions.

Angina Pectoris↗