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Biomedical subjects

Philip Prescott

Publications and source records attributed to Philip Prescott.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A non-invasive method for in situ quantification of subpopulation behaviour in mixed cell culture.

Ongoing advances in quantitative molecular- and cellular-biology highlight the need for correspondingly quantitative methods in tissue-biology, in which the presence and activity of specific cell-subpopulations can be assessed in situ. However, many experimental techniques disturb the natural tissue balance, making it difficult to draw realistic conclusions concerning in situ cell behaviour. In this study, we present a widely applicable and minimally invasive method which combines fluorescence cell labelling, retrospective image analysis and mathematical data processing to detect the presence and activity of cell subpopulations, using adhesion patterns in STRO-1 immunoselected human mesenchymal populations and the homogeneous osteoblast-like MG63 continuous cell line as an illustration. Adhesion is considered on tissue culture plastic and fibronectin surfaces, using cell area as a readily obtainable and individual cell specific measure of spreading. The underlying statistical distributions of cell areas are investigated and mappings between distributions are examined using a combination of graphical and non-parametric statistical methods. We show that activity can be quantified in subpopulations as small as 1% by cell number, and outline behaviour of significant subpopulations in both STRO-1+/- fractions. This method has considerable potential to understand in situ cell behaviour and thus has wide applicability, for example in developmental biology and tissue engineering.

Cell Line↗
PubMed2006

Do skin prick and conjunctival provocation tests predict symptom severity in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis?

BACKGROUND: In the investigation of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR), quantitative skin and conjunctival allergen challenge tests are used to measure individual allergen sensitivity. These tests are reproducible and relate well to prevalence but their relationship to symptom severity is less well established. OBJECTIVE: We wished to determine if quantitative skin prick tests (QSPT) and conjunctival provocation tests (CPTs) using a single grass pollen allergen extract are reproducible and predict symptom severity in SAR. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 91 participants in a previously published randomized placebo controlled study of low dosage allergen immunotherapy who were randomized to receive placebo treatment. We examined the relationship between pre-seasonal QSPT, CPT and SAR symptoms. RESULTS: We found a high level of reproducibility when repeated measures were compared for both the QSPT (P < 0.001) and the CPT (P < 0.001) and moderate correlation (0.49) between the standard skin prick test (SPT) and the QSPT (P < 0.001). We found weak negative correlation (-0.27) between the QSPT and the CPT (P < 0.001). We found no correlation between seasonal symptom, use of rescue medication or quality of life (QOL) scores and pre-seasonal QSPT or CPT. Conclusion In the assessment of seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis, quantitative skin and conjunctival allergen challenge tests are strongly reproducible, although there is no correlation between these tests and seasonal symptom, use of rescue medication or QOL scores.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

A single-blinded, randomized pilot study evaluating the aroma of Lavandula augustifolia as a treatment for mild insomnia.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is the most common of all sleep complaints and is under-researched. The current treatments of choice are conventional hypnotics agents, but these have potential for serious adverse reactions. Uncontrolled and anecdotal evidence suggests that lavender oil is an effective treatment for insomnia, but this has not been formally investigated. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the proposed trial methodology and the efficacy of Lavandula augustifolia (lavender) on insomnia. INTERVENTIONS: INTERVENTIONS consisted of Lavandula augustifolia (treatment) and sweet almond oil as placebo/control. The aroma was supplied via an Aromastream device (Tisserand Aromatherapy, Sussex, UK). DESIGN: This was a pilot study with randomized, single-blind, cross-over design (baseline, two treatment periods, and a washout period, each of 1 week duration). SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Volunteers with defined insomnia treated on a domiciliary basis participated in the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were assessed with the following: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) indicating insomnia (score > 5 at entry); Borkovec and Nau (B&N) Questionnaire evaluating treatment credibility; and Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) assessing attitudes to CAM and health beliefs. RESULTS: Ten (10) volunteers (5 male and 5 female) were entered and completed the 4 week study. Lavender created an improvement of -2.5 points in PSQI (p = 0.07, 95% CI - 4.95 to - 0.4). Each intervention was equally credible and belief in CAM did not predict outcome. Women and younger volunteers with a milder insomnia improved more than others. No period or carry-over effect was observed. CONCLUSION: The methodology for this pilot study appeared to be appropriate. Outcomes favor lavender, and a larger trial is required to draw definitive conclusions.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Can suicides be identified from case records? A case control study using blind rating.

A majority of case control studies of suicide risks in psychiatric patients reveal an excess of risk factors in cases. None of the case control studies has been conducted blind to case identity. The present study examined the possibility that skilled clinicians could identify suicides blind from case records of last episode of care. Records of 39 suicides of psychiatric patients and their matched controls (N = 78) were abstracted blind and dichotomously rated for suicide by seven raters. Success in identification of cases approximated to chance expectation. Pending replication, these disappointing findings call in question the clinical utility of risk factor findings to date, their validity as a basis for significant change in service provision and the medico-legal significance of records in suicide-related civil law suits.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Can a standardized acupuncture technique palliate disabling breathlessness: a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The management of disabling breathlessness is poor, and a standardized form of acupuncture has been reported as offering benefit. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of standardized acupuncture treatment. DESIGN: A single-blind, randomized, crossover study. SETTING: This study was carried out on a domiciliary basis in Southampton (UK). INTERVENTIONS: This study evaluated a standardized acupuncture technique vs an appropriately validated placebo/control (mock transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]) for disabling, nonmalignant breathlessness (largely COPD). The acupuncture was provided by an appropriately trained nurse acupuncturist. Each patient received six treatments in each phase of the study, with an intervening 2-week washout period. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The primary outcome was worst breathlessness (visual analog scale, 0 to 100 mm), with the sample size based on an 80% power to detect a 10-mm difference between treatment means. Secondary outcomes included the St George's respiratory questionnaire score and treatment credibility. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were entered into the study (33 with COPD), and 24 patients completed both treatment phases. The primary outcome improved significantly during the course of the study, but there were no significant treatment differences between acupuncture and the placebo/control of mock TENS for either primary or secondary outcomes. The placebo was shown to be a credible control. There was no evidence of a carryover effect from the first to second phase of the study. CONCLUSION: This standardized acupuncture technique does not show specific efficacy in disabling nonmalignant breathlessness, but those entered into the study did experience clinically significant benefit from both treatments.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2003

Enzyme potentiated desensitisation in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: double blind randomised controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of enzyme potentiated desensitisation in the treatment of severe summer hay fever poorly controlled by pharmacotherapy. DESIGN: Double blind randomised placebo controlled parallel group study. SETTING: Hospital in Hampshire. PARTICIPANTS: 183 participants aged between 18 and 64 with a history of severe summer hay fever for at least two years; all were skin prick test positive to timothy grass pollen. 90 randomised to active treatment; 93 randomised to placebo. INTERVENTIONS: Active treatment: two injections of enzyme potentiated desensitisation, given between eight and 11 weeks apart, each comprising 200 Fishman units of beta glucuronidase, 50 pg 1,3-cyclohexanediol, 50 ng protamine sulphate, and a mixed inhaled allergen extract (pollen mixes for trees, grasses, and weeds; allergenic fungal spores; cat and dog danders; dust and storage mites) in a total volume of 0.05 ml of buffered saline. Placebo: two injections of 0.05 ml buffered saline solution. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of problem-free days; global rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life scores assessed weekly during pollen season. RESULTS: The active treatment group and the placebo group did not differ in the proportion of problem-free days, quality of life scores, symptom severity scores, change in quantitative skin prick provocation threshold, or change in conjunctival provocation threshold. No clinically significant adverse reactions occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Enzyme potentiated desensitisation showed no treatment effect in this study.

Adult↗