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Biomedical subjects

P P Lynch

Publications and source records attributed to P P Lynch.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Voluntary agencies dealing with drug and alcohol misusers: a comparison of three surveys conducted in London, Scotland, and Tasmania.

A comparison is presented of three independent surveys of voluntary agencies dealing with drug misusers in London, Scotland, and Tasmania. The comparison shows that in all three locations: (1) agencies demonstrate a recent and rapid growth, are predominantly small and rely on the commitment of a few workers, are heavily dependent on government funding and most funds are spent on salaries; (2) staff are largely unqualified and recently appointed, see their primary activity as counseling; and (3) clients are predominantly male. The community base of these agencies means wide variability in type of agency and creates problems in assessing success and in developing relationships between them and agencies in the statutory sector.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Relationships between avian exposure, humoral immune response, and pigeon breeders' disease among Scottish pigeon fanciers.

In a large scale clinical survey of Scottish pigeon fanciers, 277 people completed a detailed questionnaire and provided a venous blood sample. There were 29 (10.4%) who fulfilled the clinical criteria for pigeon breeders' disease used in the study and 84 (30.3%) who showed a significant serum IgG antibody response to pigeon gammaglobulin (4 micrograms/ml) and were considered to have been sensitised. Increasing exposure was associated with a progressive tendency towards sensitisation, but the intensity of the antibody response was related to the presence of symptoms and not the degree of exposure. Thirteen out of 15 subjects in the survey with a serum concentration of antipigeon IgG greater than 60 micrograms/ml fulfilled the clinical criteria for pigeon breeders' disease, and those affected within 10 years of starting the hobby had the highest mean antibody response. Accurate quantitation of antibody response is therefore helpful in the investigation of pigeon breeders' disease. The radioimmunoassay provides a quantitative method for determining antibody response that can be used in the routine screening of pigeon fanciers and in serial monitoring of their response.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Antibody measurement in extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Serum IgG antibody against purified avian antigens was quantified by radioimmunoassay in 507 active pigeon fanciers, of whom 110 had documented Pigeon Breeders Disease (PBD). The incidence of PBD increased from 3.7% in the antibody-negative group to 78% of those with IgG antibody greater than 30 micrograms/ml. The highest levels of antibody tended to occur in subjects with relatively short avian exposure, and a significant correlation between decreasing antibody levels and increasing years of avian contact was demonstrated, which was unrelated to age or smoking history. The antibody -positive subjects had lower daily hours of avian contact and this group which contained most of the PBD subjects demonstrated some self-regulation of antigen exposure.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Seasonal variation of antibody levels among pigeon fanciers.

IgG antibody against avian antigens was measured by quantitative radioimmunoassay in serum samples obtained regularly from twenty pigeon fanciers over a 1-year period. A seasonal variation was seen in nine antibody-positive subjects; eight of whom had symptoms of pigeon breeder's disease (PBD), and a clear peak of antibody production occurred during late summer, corresponding with the period of maximum avian contact in the sporting season. All subjects with insignificant specific IgG levels were asymptomatic and displayed minimal changes throughout the year despite a similar exposure pattern to antigen for all individuals. Raised total IgG was a feature of six symptomatic subjects, two of whom had raised total IgA. Three of these six subjects had maximum hypergamma-globulinaemia coinciding with peak specific-antibody levels, but in general the total immunoglobulin levels tended to remain high throughout the year with only marginal fluctuations. The total immunoglobulin levels in the other individuals were within normal limits and displayed no remarkable changes during the year. The subjects with pigeon breeder's disease had a more active immune responsiveness to avian contact, and the association of the highest levels with periods of maximal contact with antigen may have an important bearing on the dynamic nature of this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Skin testing and extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Skin testing with six common allergens, tuberculin and a sterile avian antigen preparation from pigeon serum was performed on 102 pigeon fanciers. The incidence of positive prick tests to common allergens was no different for subjects with extrinsic allergic alveolitis. EAA, caused by avian exposure than the whole group. Positive immediate weal and flare reactions following skin prick testing with avian antigen occurred in 22 subjects and was closely correlated with atopy. However, when the same antigen was administered intradermally, 69 subjects developed an immediate (15 min) weal and flare reaction which did not correlate with atopy, instead, the weal diameter correlated significantly with the serum IgG antibody titre against pigeon serum gamma-globulin antigen, and furthermore, the higher grades of reaction were highly selective for subjects with EAA. Ten subjects, all with strong early intradermal skin reactions, developed a late (4-6 h) skin reaction; this was again highly selective for EAA. The subjects with cutaneous anergy to tuberculin had markedly higher IgG antibody titres to avian antigens, and these included the majority of the subjects with alveolitis.

Allergens↗
PubMed1982

Antibody against a pigeon bloom-extract: a further antigen in pigeon fanciers' lung.

Pigeon bloom, a waxy powder which coats the feathers of racing pigeons, has been investigated as a potential antigen in pigeon fanciers' lung. Precipitins to a soluble bloom-extract were demonstrated in fifty-nine of ninety-seven people studied at two Scottish-pigeon shows, whilst precipitins to pigeon serum were found in thirty-seven. A radioimmunoassay was developed to allow an estimation of the intensity of antibody response to this antigen in nineteen pigeon fanciers being investigated for pigeon fanciers' lung. The mean antibody level to bloom extract was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in those with acute symptoms compared to those with less severe symptoms. Pigeon bloom is a highly antigenic material and provides an alternative to pigeon droppings as a source for the inhalant antigens regularly encountered by those keeping pigeons.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1980

A survey of P1-antibodies in Scottish pigeon fanciers.

The incidence and characteristics of P1-antibodies in Scottish pigeon fanciers has been assessed. Of 223 individuals participating in the study, 23.3% were P1-negative and of these, 53.9% had detectable P1-antibodies. These antibodies were shown to belong to the IgM class and the highest serum levels were found in those pigeon fanciers with symptoms of respiratory disease who were sensitized to pigeon antigens. Of pigeon fanciers' sera, 10.3% gave false positive reactions for the Hepatitis B surface antigen in a reversed passive haemagglutination test. The reactions were most prevalent in sensitized fanciers and were shown to be directed not against the absorbed HBsAg antibody, but against the turkey red cells used as carriers in the test. No relationship was observed between the existence of P1-antibodies and false-positive hepatitis reactions. It was concluded that the inhalation of avian antigens by pigeon fanciers can induce the production of at least three distinct populations of antibodies. No evidence was obtained to imply any special role for P1-antibodies in the aetiology of pigeon fanciers' disease.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗