Biomedical subjects

S Allanson

Publications and source records attributed to S Allanson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

The abortion decision: fantasy processes.

This paper considers that features intrinsic to pregnancy and to an unwanted pregnancy/abortion decision heighten the likelihood of the occurrence, and the importance, of fantasy in the decision-maker's thinking. In addition, investigation of fantasy or non-rational processes in an abortion decision emphasizes the complexity of decision-making in a way which may challenge ideas of decision-making in general. The results of a pilot study using a short fantasy inventory with 20 women facing an abortion decision are presented to highlight fantasy, not as irrational or pathological, but as legitimately coexisting with logical, reasoning, non-fantasy thought in the abortion decision. The clinical value of the fantasy inventory is explored.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1995

The abortion decision: reasons and ambivalence.

Self-in-relation theory and pilot data responses to an Abortion Decision Balance Sheet by 20 women attending an abortion-providing clinic challenge previous formulations of the abortion decision. Pilot data suggest that: women may make an abortion decision based primarily on pragmatics, a belief in their right to choose and knowledge of the safety and simplicity of the procedure. A discrepancy may exist for a significant minority of women between their abstract beliefs/knowledge and the personal meaning for them of the pregnancy, abortion and its safety. Important links may exist between maternal attachment and anxiety about the safety of the abortion procedure. Ramifications for counselling and future research are discussed.

Abortion Applicants↗

PubMed1985

Concentration effects in assays of sheep liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase and their interpretation in terms of enzyme dissociation.

Enzyme assays exhibit lag-phases during which the rate of acetaldehyde oxidation or p-nitrophenylacetate hydrolysis accelerates. A steady-state rate is achieved, but the time taken for this to occur increases as the enzyme concentration is decreased. With 0.009 microM enzyme this takes about 15 minutes. Analysis of experimental results suggests that the activation occurs because the tetrameric enzyme dissociates to a more active species. Gel filtration behaviour of the enzyme at different concentrations and stability tests with urea provide some general support for this hypothesis.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

PubMed1984

The removal of cytosolic-type aldehyde dehydrogenase from preparations of sheep liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase and the unusual properties of the purified mitochondrial enzyme in assays.

The pI approximately 5.2 isoenzymes of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase were separated from the other isoenzymes by pH-gradient chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel. The pI approximately 5.2 material is immunologically identical with cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase. It also shows sensitivity to 20 microM-disulfiram and insensitivity to 4M-urea in assays. These and other criteria seem to establish that the material is identical with the cytosolic enzyme. Mitochondrial enzyme that had been purified to remove pI approximately 5.2 isoenzymes shows concentration-dependent lag phases in assays. These effects are possibly due to the slow establishment of equilibrium between tetramer and either dimers or monomers, with the dissociated species being intrinsically more active than the tetramer.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗