Biomedical subjects

R Beetham

Publications and source records attributed to R Beetham.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1976

Immunoelectrophoretic study of proteins in middle ear effusion. A study of secretory otitis media in children.

An immunoelectrophoretic study of the proteins of middle ear effusions in children with secretory otitis media is described. The findings support the view that the effusion is an exudate as a result of mucosal reaction. The protein content of the fluid appears to decrease as the condition becomes more chronic, and this seems to be enhanced by antibiotic treatment. In cases of bilateral disease, the ears may be in a quite different pathological phase, thus each ear should be treated independently.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1976

Faecal composition after surgery for Hirschsprung's disease.

Diarrhoea and perianal excoriation occur frequently after the endorectal pull-through operation for Hirschsprung's disease. A new method of faecal analysis was performed on 3-day stool collections in 17 postoperative Hirschsprung patients and in 14 normal children, in order to define the faecal abnormality and to establish the cause of perianal excoriation in these patients. Loose stools in postoperative patients were deficient in dry solid content and contained an excess of extractable faecal water. This also had a raised electrolyte concentration, particularly with respect to sodium. Total daily output of faecal water was normal. Formed stools from postoperative patients were also deficient in drysolids but had a normal extractable water content. Excess extractable faecal water, the main abnormality of loose stools in these patients, is the result of abnormal water absorption from the distal colon. Perianal excoriation in these patients is most closely associated with the concentration of sodium in faecal water.

Anal Canal↗

PubMed1975

The significance of variation in the selectivity of proteinuria.

The selectivity of proteinuria has been determined immunochemically at least 4 times over periods of 3 years or more in 27 children and adolescents who had been investigated by renal biopsy. Variations of the selectivity outside the limits of experimental error were observed in 14 patients, in 8 of whom there was a progressive decline. Six of these 8 had focal and segmental glomerular lesions, including one case of Alport's syndrome, and 2 had proliferative glomerulonephritis. Two different anomalies of relative IgG clearance were noted: in proliferative glomerulonephritis there was a constantly low clearance, and in focal glomerulosclerosis an elevated clearance increasing with time. Indirect evidence suggests that the latter may be due to the presence of low molecular weight IgG fragments in serum and urine.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Trans-femoral lumbar epidural venography.

Epidural venography is a relatively simple, safe and highly accurate method of diagnosing lumbar disc herniations. Good opacification of the epidural venous plexus can be obtained by selective catheterization of the ascending lumbar vein or pre-sacral branches of the internal iliac veins. Experience with 100 cases of lumbar disc herniations is described. The authors think that epidural venography is a more sensitive technique than myelography, particularly with lateral disc herniation at the L5-S1 level. It is not associated with the morbidity or complications of myelography and can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Epidural venography is recommended as the examination of choice in patients with suspected lumbar disc herniation.

Epidural Space↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The assessment of subclinical ifosfamide-induced renal tubular toxicity using urinary excretion of retinol-binding protein.

The excretion of retinol-binding protein in early morning urine samples, expressed as a ratio to urinary creatinine (RBPCR), was used as a measure of proximal renal tubular toxicity in children during or after treatment with ifosfamide-containing chemotherapy. The results showed a progressive increase in renal tubular leak after exposure to ifosfamide that persisted after treatment. The toxic effect appeared to be greatest in younger children and at least partly dose-dependent, although partially reversible after each course of chemotherapy. However, few patients had related symptoms and none experienced major metabolic difficulty. RBPCR appears to offer a sensitive and noninvasive way of monitoring sequential change in renal tubular function after exposure to ifosfamide. Further studies are required to define more clearly the effect of cumulative dose, age, and drug scheduling and to identify whether a level of renal tubular dysfunction, measured by RBPCR or a similar noninvasive technique, can identify a threshold beyond which further exposure to ifosfamide is likely to be significantly and permanently damaging.

Age Factors↗