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Biomedical subjects

R Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to R Ferguson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Predicting problems in school performance from preschool health, developmental and behavioural assessments.

To determine the accuracy of various predictors of school problems, we conducted a 3-year prospective study of 1999 children who began school in the Niagara region of Ontario in 1980. During the year before school entry the parents gave a health, developmental and behavioural history during an interview with a community health nurse, and the children underwent vision and hearing screening tests and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST). At the end of the 1980-81 school year the kindergarten teachers rated the children's learning problems. At the end of the 1982-83 school year the presence of school problems was ascertained, and the predictive accuracy of items from the preschool history and examination and of the kindergarten teachers' ratings was calculated. The health, developmental and behavioural history with or without the DDST was found to predict later school problems with acceptable accuracy. The kindergarten teachers' ratings gave slightly more accurate predictions. We conclude that in communities where prompt diagnostic evaluation and effective therapeutic or preventive help can be provided to children identified as being at high risk, health professionals may play a useful role in screening for future school problems.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

A familial risk of chronic renal failure among blacks on dialysis?

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is strongly associated with both hypertension and diabetes. As both diabetes and hypertension tend to be familial, we hypothesized a familial clustering of ESRD cases. Using 114 cases from three dialysis centers and 99 controls, the exposure odds ratio was determined. Mantel-Haenszel analysis demonstrated that individual history of hypertension (ORmh = 5.14; 95% Cl = 2.29-11.56) and history of chronic renal failure in a first or second degree relative (chi 2mh = 5.12; p less than 0.05) were significant "risk" factors for being dialysed for ESRD, while family history of hypertension posed a more questionable risk (ORmh = 1.92 95% Cl 0.96-3.86). In fact, when the subset of patients identified with hypertensive renal disease was considered independently, the risk due to family history of hypertension increased 14-fold which suggests a role as a confounder for hypertensive renal disease. The effect of chronic renal failure in a relative was independent of family history of diabetes.

Black People↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of public health preschool child developmental screening: the process and outcomes of a community program.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a public health and education screening program aimed at all 4,797 four to five year old children registering for kindergarten in three school districts of southern Ontario, Canada. Children received either the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) with a community health intervention program for positive screeness; the DDST with no intervention for positive screenees; or no screening test. The intervention program consisted of referral to the child's physician for assessment; a review conference between the child's teacher and the school health nurse; parent counseling; and monitoring of the child in school by the school health nurse. At the end of the third school year, no differences were found between positive screenees in the community health intervention group and the "no intervention" groups using individual academic achievement, cognitive, and developmental tests. Parents' reports revealed no differences between groups in children's mental, social, and behavioral well-being. However, parents of intervention program children had more worry about their child's school progress suggesting a potentially harmful labeling effect. In comparison to a random sample of children with normal DDST results, or a random sample of children who had randomly not been screened, the children with positive preschool DDSTs had substantially more school problems three years after screening.

Child Development↗
PubMed1987

The epidemiology of end-state renal disease: the six-year South-Central Los Angeles experience, 1980-85.

Using the End-Stage Renal Disease Medical Information System and 1980 census information, the crude cumulative incidence among Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites in south central Los Angeles was determined to be 160.1, 49.28, and 55.3 per 100,000 respectively. Sex-specific rates were slightly greater in males. Among Blacks, nephrosclerosis and diabetes represented 41.5 and 30.2 per cent of the cases respectively and increased during the period 1980-85.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Transfusion-associated AIDS: donor-recipient human immunodeficiency virus exhibits genetic heterogeneity.

The genetic diversity of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolated from transfusion-associated AIDS patients has been examined. Restriction enzyme mapping studies of integrated proviral DNA of donor and recipient origin demonstrated genomic variation between isolates. Analysis of the molecularly cloned viral genomes of one donor-recipient pair showed that virus from the recipient had restriction enzyme site differences from the donor, noticeably clustered in the env and orf-2 regions, and also had a greater number of restriction sites in common with the donor as well. These results suggest that HIV may undergo genomic variation in vivo. Comparison of donor-recipient viruses may further the understanding of the molecular basis for AIDS pathogenesis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Cisapride: influence on oesophageal and gastric emptying and gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux oesophagitis.

A preliminary, double-blind placebo controlled trial of cisapride in reflux oesophagitis was conducted. Eighteen patients were allocated to treatment with either placebo or cisapride, 10 mg three times daily, orally, before meals. Gastric emptying of a scrambled egg meal, oesophageal transit of a liquid bolus and ambulatory monitoring of oesophageal pH were assessed before and after four weeks' therapy. Overall, gastric emptying rates were not influenced by cisapride, although a small but significant reduction in gastric isotope retention, 20 minutes after meal ingestion was observed in patients on the active drug. Oesophageal transit times were not altered by cisapride. A small but significant reduction in the duration of gastro-oesophageal reflux followed cisapride therapy when compared with placebo.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The effect of antibiotic therapy before admission to hospital on recognition of the causative organism in acute bacterial meningitis.

A large series of patients with acute bacterial meningitis has been reviewed in order to determine whether antibiotic treatment before admission to hospital adversely affects recognition of the causal organisms. Although bacteria were identified less often in those who had had pre-admission antibiotics compared with those who had not, the difference was not statistically significant.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Comparative observation of fibroblasts derived from the papillary and reticular dermis of infants and adults: growth kinetics, packing density at confluence and surface morphology.

We have confirmed the reports of Harper and Grove (Science, 204 (1979) 526-527), and Azzarone and Macierira-Coehlo (J. Cell Sci., 57 (1982) 177-187) that fibroblasts derived from the papillary dermis have greater in vitro growth potential and longer replicative lifespans than genomically identical fibroblasts derived from the reticular dermis. In addition we demonstrate that the kinetics of cell replication differ for papillary and reticular fibroblasts derived from infant and adult donors. Infant papillary fibroblasts replicate at faster rates than reticular fibroblasts throughout the growth cycle. Adult papillary and reticular fibroblasts replicate at similar rates at low cell densities, but exponential growth of reticular fibroblasts slows at lower cell densities than papillary fibroblasts suggesting that they are more sensitive to density-dependent inhibition of replication. The surface morphologies of reticular fibroblasts and papillary fibroblasts at confluence correlate with their growth kinetics. The decreased cell yields of reticular fibroblasts appears related to the spreading behaviors of individual cells which stretch and occupy more area of the growth surface than do papillary fibroblasts. These data and the reports cited clearly show that one must account for the presence of at least two distinct populations of dermal fibroblasts when examining their biological properties in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Lidocaine removal during resin hemoperfusion for phenobarbital intoxication.

A deeply comatose patient with severe phenobarbital intoxication was hemoperfused with an Amerlite XAD-4 column. She was receiving lidocaine for ventricular ectopy. The rate of lidocaine infusion had to be increased to control ventricular arrhythmias during hemoperfusion. Plasma clearance for lidocaine by the column was 122 ml/min at initiation and 75 ml/min at 2 h. These findings suggest that an increment in lidocaine infusion may be needed during resin hemoperfusion in patients receiving this drug because of its removal by the column.

Female↗
PubMed1984

The usefulness of the Denver Developmental Screening Test to predict kindergarten problems in a general community population.

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) was administered to 2,569 children five to seven months prior to starting kindergarten in September 1980 in a geographically well-defined community. The test was administered by trained public health nurses. At the end of the 1980-1981 school year, all 163 kindergarten teachers in the area completed a rating form for each child in their class. The rating form determined global ratings of: 1) learning abilities; 2) classroom behavior; 3) amount of special attention required; and 4) referrals to special education services outside the classroom. The specificity of the DDST in predicting kindergarten teacher ratings was 99 per cent for all areas. Test sensitivity varied from 5 per cent to 10 per cent in detecting problems in the four areas. The predictive values of an positive test varied from 31 per cent for behavior problems to 62 per cent for extra attention required in the classroom. Negative test predictive values varied from 79 per cent to 93 per cent. These results based on kindergarten teacher ratings suggest that, because of the low sensitivity and modest predictive value, the DDST may be relatively inefficient to use in a school entry screening program in a general community population of children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1983

Morphologic alterations in the Purkinje neuron of the rat induced by lysergic acid diethylamide and fixation.

The effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on the morphology of the cerebellar cortex of the rat was studied with electron microscopy. Hippocampal electrical activity was used as an objective measure of drug efficacy. At a dose of 1700 micrograms/kg, the amplitude from the hippocampus was diminished (in 2 to 5 min) and this effect lasted for about 65 to 165 min. A morphologic alteration consisting of cisternal stacks occurred in the dendrites of Purkinje neurons of rats treated with this dose of LSD, with the perfusion carried out correctly. These stacks of smooth endoplasmic reticulum were seen 2 h after injection and persisted for at least 8 h. A reduction in the volume of perfused fluid to less than 500 ml caused similar changes in the dendrites of the Purkinje neuron of untreated rats; this was one way to experimentally induce a faulty perfusion. With LSD and faulty perfusion (reduced volume) more severe changes occurred in the dendrites and small stacks of smooth endoplasmic reticulum were seen in the Purkinje soma; similar changes were also seen when the perfusion of a control animal was mismanaged during the initial 3 min. The Purkinje neuron seems to manifest morphologic alterations, generally of two types, with exposure to a variety of noxious agents. The LSD caused some perturbation of this neuron, and this was found under properly controlled conditions of fixation. The results are interpreted as indicating that LSD is causing a metabolic alteration which could disrupt the synaptic activity over several hours.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Mitogen responsiveness and inhibitory activity of mesenteric lymph node cells. Conditioned medium containing T cell growth factor reverses suppressor function.

Blood-, lymph node-, and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (PBL, LNC, and TIL, respectively) from patients with colonic neoplasms were tested for responsiveness to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). All populations responded, with LNC and PBL showing comparable reactivities while TIL were less reactive as assessed by incorporation of 3H-thymidine. Increased mitogen responsiveness was observed for T cells enriched by SRBC rosette formation or passage through nylon columns. Mitomycin C-treated LNC and TIL inhibited PHA induced 3H-thymidine incorporation of admixed autologous PBL, suggesting the presence of suppressor cells. Suppressor activity resided primarily in the SRBC rosetting population and was dose-dependent, with increasing numbers of LNC giving greater diminution of PHA response. Suppression by LNC was apparent only when they were added to PBL responders within 6 h of the initiation of stimulation assays, in common with the effects of Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced suppressors on PBL phytomitogen responsiveness. Con A-induced and LNC-suppressor activity could be reversed by addition of lymphocyte-conditioned medium (CM) containing T cell growth factor (TCGF; interleukin IL-2). These data provide further evidence that the suppressor phenomena observed in this system are a function of activated T cells present both in drainage lymph nodes and at the tumour site.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1982

Improved patient and primary renal allograft survival in uremic diabetic recipients.

From January 1968 to December 1981, 470 uremic diabetic patients received primary renal allografts at the University of Minnesota. Until 1979, the patient and graft survival rates were less good in diabetic than in nondiabetic recipients. Since 1979, the results in diabetics have been at least equal to those achieved in nondiabetic patients. Two-year actuarial patient and graft survival rates in diabetic renal allograft recipients were, respectively, 71 and 66% from 1968 to 1976 (n = 156), 78 and 64% from 1976 to 1979 (n = 187), and 88 and 82% from 1979 to 1981 (n = 127). Improved survival rates were seen in all donor source and recipient age categories. For comparison, the 2-year patient and graft survival rates in nondiabetic renal allograft recipients who received transplants between 1979 and 1981 (n = 162) were 92 and 79%. Changes associated with improved survival rates included performance of pretransplant splenectomy on all patients except those receiving grafts from HLA-identical siblings, deliberate transfusions of blood from greater than or equal to 5 random donors at least 1 month before transplantation, intensive insulin therapy for diabetic management post-transplant, and less vigorous treatment of repetitive rejection episodes. The current results show that diabetic recipients are no longer at higher risk than nondiabetics for graft or patient loss, at least during the first 2 years after transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Palliative intubation of oesophagogastric neoplasms at fibreoptic endoscopy.

Of one hundred and twenty-one patients with neoplastic obstruction of the oesophagus or cardia 118 underwent palliative intubation at fibreoptic endoscopy on a total of 135 occasions. Sixty had adenocarcinoma, 49 had squamous carcinoma, and in nine the oesophagus was involved by a growth arising elsewhere. Satisfactory swallowing ws restored in 112 patients. Thirteen patients died in hospital shortly after the procedure. Five fatal and 10 non-fatal perforations were sustained in 135 intubation procedures. Complications of tube function included food blockage on 26 occasions, tumour overgrowth on seven occasions, displacement on 16 occasions, disappearance of the tube in two patients, and late oesophageal perforation on nine occasions. Fifty-six patients survived for three months, 33 for six months, and 10 for a year after intubation. Comparison with series in the literature of patients who underwent surgical palliative intubation suggests that endoscopic palliation has lower mortality and morbidity, and an increased survival time, and is now the method of choice for palliation of oesophagogastric neoplasms.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Catecholamine neurons of the central nervous system in organotypic culture.

A standardized dissection has been designed to produce explants from the locus coeruleus of the newborn mouse brain. This area, termed the peduncular region, may be explanted with or without cerebellar neurons. Organotypic cultures with peduncular cells contain a cluster of 20-50 (or more) closely-packed large neurons, characterized by intracellular refractile granules in the living state. When treated with the glyoxylic acid method, somata of the granule-containing neurons exhibited catecholamine fluorescence, and a profuse plexus of varicose fluorescent fibers permeated the explant and its outgrowth. Intracellular staining of these cells with horseradish peroxidase demonstrated bipolar and multipolar neurons (25-30 micrometers), with stout dendrites and varicose axons. Granule-containing neurons stained for acetylcholinesterase. Electron microscopically, large dense granules were seen, which appear to correspond to the granules seen in living neurons. Cultures with these cells also have a high concentration of catecholamines in the medium. It is concluded that the granule-bearing neurons of the living culture are in fact neurons of the locus coeruleus.

Acetylcholinesterase↗