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Biomedical subjects

R J Abbott

Publications and source records attributed to R J Abbott.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Bilateral subdural haematomas and normal CT brain scans.

We describe the case of a 59-year-old man who presented with headaches suggestive of raised intracranial pressure. He had a normal computerised tomographic (CT) scan on two occasions over a period of two months during which time he continued to deteriorate. Eventually, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed the presence of bilateral subdural haematomas. This case thus illustrates that normal CT scans may not exclude an intracranial pathology--and, if in doubt, an MRI scan should be sought.

Brain↗
PubMed1989

Thunderclap headache: is it migraine?

In a prospective study, 14 out of 49 patients presenting to a Regional Neurosurgical Unit with sudden headache suggestive of subarachnoid haemorrhage had normal CSF and a normal CT scan: it did not prove possible, on clinical grounds alone, to distinguish these from those that had bled. We have now followed all these patients for a minimum of 18 months. Only one has had no further headache, 4 have had musculoskeletal pain, 5 psychogenic pain, and 4 migraine type symptoms. None went on to have an unequivocal subarachnoid haemorrhage, and we conclude that angiography cannot be justified in patients with this type of "thunderclap headache".

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Status epilepticus complicating migraine.

We describe 2 patients who developed status epilepticus in association with migraine attacks. One patient died and at the autopsy had ischaemic changes confined to the occipital lobes. The second patient made an uneventful recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Assessment of an immunoassay for interferon-alpha in cerebrospinal fluid as a diagnostic aid in infections of the central nervous system.

A highly sensitive and specific immunoradiometric assay, based upon a monoclonal antibody, was used to measure interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with central nervous system infections and in controls with non-infectious neurological disorders. IFN-alpha was detected in all 21 patients with viral meningitis but in only one of four patients with non-viral aseptic meningitis. It was also present in the CSF of three of four patients with herpes encephalitis and five of seven patients with acute bacterial meningitis. By contrast, IFN-alpha was present in the CSF in low concentrations in only five (7%) of 71 neurological controls. This rapid test is positive in viral meningitis and may help in distinguishing viral infection from other causes of aseptic meningitis. It is usually negative in non-infective disorders but will not distinguish between viral and bacterial infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Immunoreactive IFN-gamma in CSF in neurological disorders.

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was measured in the CSF of neurological patients using a highly specific and sensitive immunoradiometric assay. It was detected in 52% of patients presenting as suspected meningitis or encephalitis and in 83% with proven viral meningitis. In contrast IFN-gamma was detected in only 26% of patients who did not have an acute infection at the time of presentation. Only 15% of patients with multiple sclerosis had detectable CSF IFN-gamma. The presence of IFN-gamma in CSF in response to acute viral infections of the central nervous system may be of importance in relation to the pathophysiology of immunologically mediated neurological disorders.

Encephalitis↗
PubMed1986

Spinal cord injury during windsurfing.

Two patients are described who developed severe pain in the thoracic region after windsurfing in rough weather. On examination there were signs of a thoracic cord lesion. Investigations revealed no evidence of cord compression and, since the symptoms and signs resolved spontaneously, an ischaemic aetiology is postulated.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) occurs as a hypersensitivity response in certain patients exposed to neuroleptics. It is a relatively rare, but potentially lethal complication, the incidence of which may have been underestimated. Recent interest in NMS has arisen due to the recognition that specific therapy may now be available. This review summarises the clinical features and discusses recent ideas regarding aetiology and treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Brain stem signs in acute cervical cord trauma.

Four cases are reported which illustrate mechanisms by which patients with cervical cord trauma may develop signs of acute brain stem damage. Two patients suffered vertebro-basilar ischaemia as a result of trauma to the vertebral arteries. The remaining two patients developed cavitating lesions within the cervical cord which later dissected rostrally into the brain stem.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1985

Sensory thresholds and motor responsiveness in thyroid disease: their responses to treatment and warming.

It has been our clinical observation that patients with hypothyroidism are relatively insensitive to the discomfort of venepuncture, whereas thyrotoxic patients seem to have a heightened sensitivity. In an initial study we have measured the sensory thresholds of perception along with motor responsiveness in hypothyroid, thyrotoxic and euthyroid subjects, employing a simple and readily reproducible technique. Sensory thresholds were elevated and motor responsiveness impaired in hypothyroid subjects as compared to euthyroid controls. In thyrotoxic subjects, motor responsiveness was significantly enhanced, but sensory thresholds did not differ from control values. In a subsequent study the threshold abnormalities of thyroid dysfunction were corrected by rendering the patients euthyroid with appropriate therapy. Warming a further group of untreated hypothyroid patients produced a similar improvement in motor responsiveness to that seen in the L-thyroxine-treated group, thus implying that this parameter is at least, in part, temperature dependent. Sensory thresholds would seem to be reliable reflectors of tissue thyroid status in hypothyroidism, whereas motor responsiveness seems the better guide to thyroid status across the whole spectrum of thyroid function.

Carbimazole↗
PubMed1984

Major extracellular protease of Neurospora crassa.

The inducible extracellular alkaline protease of Neurospora crassa was demonstrated to be a glycoprotein containing D-galactose residues by use of the enzyme-lectin conjugate horseradish peroxidase-Ricinus communis-agglutinin-120. The carbohydrate moiety of the protease appears to be a poor antigen since an antiserum made to the native enzyme recognizes epitopes determined only by the polypeptide portion of the enzyme. Immunochemical techniques were used to quantitatively precipitate protease labeled in vivo for electrophoretic analysis. Protease synthesis could not be detected in control, uninduced cultures, whereas ca. 0.4% of total cellular protein synthesis is devoted to protease formation under inducing conditions.

Antibodies↗