PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Mathieson

Publications and source records attributed to P Mathieson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment and outcome of adult patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in five UK renal units.

BACKGROUND: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the least studied of the causes of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, and there are few specific guidelines for treatment. AIM: To review data from five UK renal units to investigate whether adult patients with FSGS were treated uniformly, and to examine the effect of treatment on proteinuria and survival. DESIGN: Retrospective record review. METHODS: We examined electronic records of patients with idiopathic FSGS for information on baseline clinical parameters, treatment regimens and outcomes. RESULTS: Of 136 patients with primary FSGS and nephrotic range proteinuria, 76 (56%) were treated with prednisolone and of this group, 59% were treated with additional immunosuppression. Among the treated patients, the total remission rate (complete and partial) was 67%, and one hospital achieved a remission rate of 80%. Treated patients had a significantly higher remission rate than those who were not treated. Remission was associated with a 5-year survival off dialysis of 94%, compared with 53% if remission was not achieved. Baseline serum creatinine and remission were independently associated with survival off dialysis in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. DISCUSSION: Patients with primary FSGS and nephrotic range proteinuria, who are treated with corticosteroids, are more likely to enter remission than those who are not treated. Remission rates of up to 80% can be achieved with prolonged treatment, and remission is an independent predictor of survival off dialysis. Patients who do not achieve remission have a poor prognosis. Further clarification of optimal treatment regimens requires additional, prospective studies.

Adolescent↗

The supposed effect of interactive imagery in paired associate learning.

Previous experiments designed to investigate the effects of interactive imagery in paired associate learning have included the confounded variable of intralist similarity: Images of objects interacting have corresponded to pairs with different connectives, and images of independent objects have corresponded to pairs with the same connective (the conjunction "and"). For the "different" group of our first experiment, the members of the different pairs were linked by different connectives, most of which denoted an action. For the "same" group, the members were linked by the same connective, usually one denoting an action. For the "and" group, the members were linked by the connective "and". Cued recall by the "different" group was superior to that of the other two groups. Recall by the "same" and "and" groups did not differ. Within the "different" group, recall of "and" pairs did not differ from the recall of "action" pairs with which they had been mixed. In a second experiment, subjects were required to match the members of a pair. Analogous results were obtained. Overall, the findings imply that recall effects that have previously been interpreted as being a result of interactive imagery may be the result merely of variations in intralist similarity.

Adult↗

Serum sickness and acute renal failure after streptokinase therapy for myocardial infarction.

A patient developed serum sickness and acute renal failure following therapy with streptokinase for myocardial ischaemia. There was a previous history of a cellulitic infection of the leg, and antibodies to streptokinase were measurable in a serum sample taken from the patient before therapy. A cryoglobulin was detected at the time of presentation with serum sickness. This contained polyclonal IgG (with anti-streptokinase activity), streptokinase, and C3. Circulating immune complexes were demonstrated by C1q-binding assay. Deposition of C3 was observed in skin and renal biopsies, and bound to erythrocytes. Renal histology, however, showed acute tubular necrosis, with no vasculitis or inflammatory cell infiltrate. This case provides an unusual example of the characterization of an immune complex comprising a specific antibody and an exogenous antigen, and has clinical implications for the use of streptokinase.

Acute Kidney Injury↗