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Biomedical subjects

R A Sparks

Publications and source records attributed to R A Sparks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Immunoglobulin levels in the serum and cervical mucus of tailed copper IUD users.

Immunoglobulin levels were measured by agar gel single radial immunodiffusion in the serum and cervical mucus of 50 tailed copper IUD users, 20 combined oral contraceptive users and 20 women not using contraception (controls). IgG, IgA and IgM levels were significantly higher in the copper IUD users compared to the other two groups. It is not known whether this was related to the small numbers of bacteria found in the uterine cavity of tailed IUD users or to the foreign body reaction of the device.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Diffraction methods for biological macromolecules. Least squares refinement.

Most of the methods mentioned in this chapter were known in the early 1960s. Because of the availability of large, fast computers, however, the most popular technique has been the full-matrix least-squares method. The most significant contributions to crystallographic least-squares calculations which have recently been developed have been for protein or polynucleotide structure refinement. It is clear that these new techniques and those of the early 1960s are more economical than the full-matrix least-squares method even for small-molecule structures.

DNA↗
PubMed1981

Bacteriological colonisation of uterine cavity: role of tailed intrauterine contraceptive device.

Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) are thought to cause pelvic inflammatory disease by allowing vaginal bacteria to pass into the uterus along the tail of the device. In this study the uterine cavities of 22 women using an IUCD were examined by a multiple biopsy technique. All five uteruses with a tailless IUCD were sterile but 15 out of 17 with a tailed device contained bacteria. The bacteria had not reached the fundus and most were commensals. The bacteria were not introduced by insertion of the IUCD as bacteria were present in several cases long after insertion. No differences in bacterial count were found between monofilamentous and multifilamentous devices. Bacteria were cultured from only four devices, which suggested that the bacteria adhere to the endometrium and not to the device. The bacteria in the cavity represent interference by the tail with the protective mechanisms of the uterus, which explains the increase in pelvic inflammatory disease in IUCD users.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The bacteriology of the cervix and uterus.

Fifty hysterectomy specimens were studied by a multiple biopsy technique to determine the normal bacteriological flora of the uterine cavity and cervical canal. All the uterine cavities and 23 of the cervical canals were sterile. The lower half of the other 27 cervical canals contained organisms similar to those found in the vaginal vault.

Adult↗