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Biomedical subjects

P Hay

Publications and source records attributed to P Hay.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

The epidemiology of eating disorder behaviors: an Australian community-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims were to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of respective eating disorder behaviors (DSM-IV criteria) in a representative community-based sample. METHOD: Data were obtained from 3,001 interviews of a randomly selected sample of 4,200 individuals' (age > 15 years) households in South Australia. RESULTS: Ninety-six (3.2%) of respondents had regular current episodes of binge eating, 48 (1.6%) regularly fasted or used strict dieting, 24 (0.8%) purged. An estimated 8 (0.3%) had bulimia nervosa and 30 (1%) had binge eating disorder. Binge eating and dieting were most common in people who were in their early to mid thirties. Dieting and purging, but not regular binge eating, were more common in women than in men. Purging was most common in the 35-44 year age range. The only behavior significantly associated with (increased) weight was binge eating. Unmarried subjects were less likely to diet than married subjects. No significant differences in rates of these behaviors were found for household income. DISCUSSION: Problematic eating disorder behaviors in older women and in men were more common than expected and merit further clinical and research attention.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Abnormal intracellular IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production as HIV-1-assocated markers of immune dysfunction.

We used three-colour cytometry to analyse intracellular cytokine production in activated whole blood cultures derived from patients with HIV-1 infection. We assessed mitogen-induced IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma production from T cells as possible markers of immune dysfunction. The percentages of T cells staining for IL-2 were significantly reduced in stimulated cultures from HIV+ individuals relative to normal controls (P<0.0001); this reduction was observed in both the CD4+ and the CD8+ subsets. IL-2 production was significantly reduced in CD4+ T cells from HIV+ individuals clinically classified as symptomatics compared with HIV+ asymptomatics (P<0.001); in addition, production of IL-2 inversely correlated with viral load (r2=0.832). On the other hand, HIV+ individuals showed significantly more T cells staining positive for IFN-gamma (P<0.0001); subset analysis identified these T cells as CD8+. Increased IFN-gamma production in the CD8+ T cell subset of HIV+ individuals correlated neither with clinical status nor with plasma viral load. IL-4 staining in activated T cells was low (<5%) and no differences were observed between HIV+ and control groups. Three-colour FACS analysis of whole blood provides a sensitive, rapid and relatively easy means to detect cytokine profiles within T cell subpopulations. Only small volumes of blood are required (0.5 ml), since there is no need for cell isolation, making it more practical than ELISA or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the analysis of immune function in HIV+ individuals. This technique could therefore play a role in mapping the dynamics and extent of immune recovery in AIDS patients undergoing triple combination therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Optimisation of a peptide-based indirect ELISA for the detection of antibody in the serum of HIV-1 seropositive patients.

A modified peptide-based indirect ELISA technique for the detection of HIV-1 specific antibodies in the sera of HIV-1 seropositive individuals is described. We found that the reduction of non-specific binding of HIV-1 seropositive sera to the ELISA plate was essential for the reliable detection of serum antibodies in the peptide based indirect ELISA. Optimal results were obtained using Immulon microtitre plates, different concentrations of denatured. purified grade of casein in the blocking (1%) and washing (0.25%) solutions and by diluting HIV-1 seropositive sera 1 in 1600. These conditions reduced non-specific binding and improved assay sensitivity. We show that the inclusion of a control peptide is essential to reducing the incidence of false positive and false negative results. Taken together, the modifications described in this report improve reliability of the peptide-based indirect ELISA without compromising its sensitivity and have particular relevance for those wishing to apply the peptide-based indirect ELISA technique to serum samples which exhibit high levels of non-specific binding. To illustrate this, levels of antibody in the sera of HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative donors that are specific for peptides derived from a conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 sharing homology with the FAS apoptosis antigen were analysed using this technique.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA by PCR in clotted blood specimens.

Six hundred and ninety-two specimens, each consisting of a suspension of the residual free cells in samples of clotted blood (but not the clots themselves) from 680 patients at high risk for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), were tested by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure which had been optimized to give a sensitivity of detection of one copy of HIV-1 proviral plasmid DNA, and the results were compared to those of testing for antibody to HIV on the same specimens. Fifty-one of the specimens were positive for antibody to HIV and 49 of these were also positive by the PCR; the two samples which gave discordant results were found to be PCR-positive when the test was repeated on DNA extracted from the clots themselves. Two specimens were found to be negative for antibody to HIV but were positive by the PCR (53 positive specimens in all). Direct sequencing of the PCR DNA products confirmed their specificity in all cases and demonstrated that no two patients gave the same predicted amino acid sequence for the V3 loop region. The sequences revealed both European/North American and African motifs at the crown of the V3 loop thus indicating a diversity of HIV strains in the SW Thames Region of South London. The results show that the confirmatory PCR for HIV-1 can be carried out efficiently on the same clotted blood specimens as used for routine HIV serology on patients undergoing diagnostic evaluation.

Africa↗
PubMed1995

Neuropsychological outcome from psychosurgery for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Seventeen obsessive-compulsive disorder patients treated with psychosurgery were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Their performance on neuropsychological testing was compared with that of an age and severity matched sample of 17 OCD sufferers who had not received psychosurgery. The psychosurgery and control groups did not differ in intellectual or memory functioning, consistent with earlier findings that psychosurgery does not reduce global ability estimates. The psychosurgery group performed more poorly than the control group on an adaptation of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, demonstrating the possible impact of frontal lobe lesions on the abilities underpinning the formation and shifting of response sets.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Does neurosurgery for obsessive-compulsive disorder produce personality change?

Seventeen patients suffering from intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder treated with neurosurgery were assessed before surgery and a mean 10 +/- 5.1 years after surgery. Change in personality was assessed using a special 34-item schedule on patients and informants. The majority of subjects had not noted any significant changes in personality. The subjects were rated by themselves and their informants to have improved overall in the following characteristics: they were less obsessional, cried less, demonstrated a greater depth of feelings, laughed more, were more sociable, and were less anxious or dependent. Six subjects were judged by informants to have improved in their degree of obsessionality, which was distinguishable from the impact on obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The traits that showed an overall negative change were initiative/drive and energy level. Four subjects (2/4 open and 2/13 stereotactic surgery) were judged to have a negative personality change. Ratings of neuroticism, anxiety, depression, and capacity for pleasure showed significant improvement. We conclude that while most obsessive-compulsive disorder patients treated with stereotactic surgery do not experience a personality change, a small proportion report a positive or negative impact. Of note is the improvement in obsessionality in some patients, and an adverse personality change of the "frontal lobe type" in a few patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Fluid handling properties of hydrogel dressings.

The fluid handling properties of four hydrogel dressings were examined in a laboratory-based study to determine their ability to absorb liquid from or donate liquid to a range of standard test substrates simulating wound tissue in various states of hydration. The tests suggest that three of the dressings are likely to be effective fluid-donating agents, and one of the dressings has a dual ability to donate or absorb liquid depending upon moisture content and nature of the substrate to which it is applied. These observations are discussed in the context of the clinical use of hydrogel dressings.

Absorption↗
PubMed1995

General practice update: chlamydia infection in women.

The prevalence of cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection in general practice populations ranges between 2% and 12%. Untreated infection can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancy. These risks are increased by cervical invasive procedures, especially termination of pregnancy. However, most women with chlamydia infection have no symptoms. General practitioners and practice nurses carrying out pelvic examinations should have facilities for taking endocervical specimens for chlamydia. Routine chlamydia screening, should be considered if the local prevalence of infection is over 6%. Otherwise chlamydia testing should be offered to women requesting termination of pregnancy and to those who have risk factors: aged less than 25 years, absence of barrier contraception, recent change of sexual partner, vaginal discharge, friable cervix or sterile pyuria. Women found to have chlamydia infection need appropriate antibiotics, advice about contact tracing and referral to a genitourinary medicine clinic. Good communication between general practitioners and genitourinary physicians is essential. Both general practitioners and practice nurses have an important role to play in reducing the prevalence of cervical chlamydia infection and its potentially devastating consequences.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1993

Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder by psychosurgery.

We report a longitudinal study of 26 patients with medically intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who were treated with psychosurgery and had a comprehensive follow-up for a mean 10 years. Seventeen patients had combined orbitomedial and cingulate lesions, 6 cingulate lesions only and 3 orbitomedial lesions only. Eighteen patients were interviewed personally and lesions verified on magnetic resonance imaging scans in fourteen. On a 6-point global rating scale, 10 (38%) patients had obvious improvement, another 6 (23%) showed mild improvement of doubtful clinical value, and the remaining 10 showed either no change (n = 6; 23%) or were judged to be worse (n = 4; 15%). Both obsessive and compulsive symptoms improved, and this change was independent of the changes in anxiety and depression scores. No significant predictors of improvement were identified. Patients with cingulate lesions only fared worse. Eight patients who had a second operation did not show much improvement. A comparison of a subgroup of patients with 10 matched nonsurgical OCD controls supported the contention that the improvement in OCD was attributable to the psychosurgery. Important adverse effects in the stereotactic surgery group (n = 20) were epilepsy (1 patient) and personality change (2 patients). The psychosurgery group performed relatively poorly on the Wisconsin Card Sort Test but did not show any deterioration in Wechsler Intelligence and Memory scores.

Adult↗