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Biomedical subjects

P Elton

Publications and source records attributed to P Elton.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Pleasure or pain? A profile of smokers in Northern England.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a profile of smokers using multiple indices of physical, mental and social health. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The setting was Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, an urban district in the North West of England. A random sample of over 15000 adults from the Health Authority adult population completed a written questionnaire. Prevalence ratios were calculated for physical, mental and social health indicators for smokers compared with non-smokers, adjusted for borough, age and deprivation score of place of residence. RESULTS: Smokers were less likely to report their current health as good, and reported a significantly higher prevalence of arthritis, bronchitis, backache and respiratory symptoms. Smokers had more mobility problems and recent severe pain. Smokers had less healthy lifestyles across many behaviours (e.g. poorer diet, taking less regular exercise and more problem drinking). Depression and the proportion of people with a high psychiatric morbidity score were increased. More women smokers reported a lack of social support, and smokers more often reported financial difficulties. Differences were exaggerated by comparing heavy smokers with non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of the level of deprivation of their area of residence, smokers have poorer physical, social and mental health, with a dose-response effect. Smoking creates considerable pain, but little evidence of pleasure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Screening for genetic haemochromatosis in blood samples with raised alanine aminotransferase.

BACKGROUND: In the UK approximately 1 in 140 people are homozygous for the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene and are at risk from iron overload caused by genetic haemochromatosis (GH). Early detection can prevent organ damage secondary to iron deposition and increase life expectancy. AIM: To screen for GH in all blood samples sent to the laboratory for routine liver function tests in which raised serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was detected. METHODS: ALT was measured in sera sent to the laboratory for routine liver function tests. In those samples found to have raised activity, transferrin saturation and ferritin were measured followed by genetic testing when transferrin saturation was increased. RESULTS: Of the 35 069 serum samples assayed for routine liver function tests, 1490 (4.2%) had raised ALT levels (>50 u/l). Transferrin saturation and serum ferritin concentrations were measured in these patient samples, and in 56 transferrin saturation was >60%. Further blood samples were requested from these patients for genetic testing: 33 samples were obtained. There were nine patients homozygous for the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene and three compound heterozygotes (heterozygous for both C282Y and H63D mutations). CONCLUSIONS: The association of raised ALT activity and transferrin saturation of >60% could provide a simple, cost effective method for detecting individuals with clinical haemochromatosis. Although many patients with GH may have been missed, this study suggests that the clinical penetrance of the disorder may be much lower than is generally supposed and that genetic screening will identify many people who may never develop clinical haemochromatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The heat moisture exchange device (HME) in neonatal ventilation.

The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of the Heat Moisture Exchange (HME) device with conventional humidification in neonates. Sixty-four neonates were randomized at intubation to receive conventional humidification (CH) (n = 34) or HME, via a Neoaid device (n = 30). Groups were compared for intrinsic characteristics and outcome variables. Data were assumed nonparametric and analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Fisher's Exact test. No significant differences were found in group characteristics or outcome variables. Trends were noted for documented patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), endotracheal tube blockage, and positive endotracheal aspirate culture. Rate of pneumothorax 2/34 (CH) versus 4/30 (HME) (p = 0.4); rate of tube blockage 3/34 (CH) versus 2/30 (HME) (p = 1.0); rate of PDA 8/34 (CH) versus 14/30 (HME) (p = 0.093) and rate of endotracheal colonisation 1 7/34 (CH) versus 9/30 (HME) (p = 0.17). No significant difference was found for duration of ventilation or period in greater than 40% oxygen between the two groups. There were no significant outcome differences between CH and HME. The HME device was cost-effective and simple to use. A larger multicenter trial is warranted to confirm the efficacy of HME.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1996

Parameterization studies for the SAM and HMMER methods of hidden Markov model generation.

Multiple sequence alignment of distantly related viral proteins remains a challenge to all currently available alignment methods. The hidden Markov model approach offers a new, flexible method for the generation of multiple sequence alignments. The results of studies attempting to infer appropriate parameter constraints for the generation of de novo HMMs for globin, kinase, aspartic acid protease, and ribonuclease H sequences by both the SAM and HMMER methods are described.

Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases↗
PubMed1992

Does the offer of cervical screening with breast screening encourage older women to have a cervical smear test?

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine what effect the offer of a cervical smear test when attending for breast screening has on the uptake of cervical and breast screening. DESIGN: The study involved randomisation to compare uptake in those women invited for cervical screening in advance with their breast screening invitation (group 1) with those invited for breast screening only and then offered a smear test upon arrival for breast screening (group 2). The main outcome measure was improvement in the uptake of cervical screening among older women without detriment to the breast screening service. SETTING: The study took place at the Northern Hospital in North Manchester. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 2131 women aged 50-64 years invited for breast screening at the Northern Hospital in the summer of 1990. MAIN RESULTS: Overall, 54% of the women who were eligible attended for breast screening, 52% attended from group 1 and 55% from group 2. Of those attending for breast screening, 957 were eligible for cervical screening and 193 (20%) had a smear test. There was a difference in the proportion tested from each group (p < 0.001), 28% had a smear test from group 1 and 13% from group 2. Forty five percent of the 193 had not had a cervical smear for at least five years. CONCLUSIONS: The cervical screening facility did attract some women who were overdue for a smear test and who might not normally have attended for cervical screening, and there was no evidence to suggest that it had a detrimental effect on the breast screening uptake. An advanced cervical screening invitation seemed preferable to an invitation upon arrival at the breast screening unit.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Study of otitis media and malaria among pyrexic attender of an under-fives clinic.

All 138 children attending two under-five clinics with a rectal temperature of 100 degrees F or over had their ears examined and a blood film taken for malaria parasites. Twenty-eight per cent were found to have otitis media and 37 per cent to have malaria. No symptom was found to be sufficiently discriminating for a diagnosis to be made on history alone in either condition.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between research and service development: an illustrative example of a pilot study introducing complementary therapies into primary care.

In this paper the commissioners of an evaluation and the researchers jointly review the relationship between research and service development at a local level in an evaluated health authority pilot project to introduce complementary therapies into primary care. The article discusses the importance of organisational arrangements between the research and the service development, focusing on the close working relationship between researchers and stakeholders in the research and corresponding service development. The relationship between the research and service development was not linear and the benefits were not based solely on outcomes of the treatment but also on the ways the evaluation gave insight into how the pilot service was delivered. Factors such as personal commitment to the project and close working relationships by all concerned are important. These elements are rarely emphasised but have to be taken into account if evidence-based health care is to achieve its potential.

Complementary Therapies↗