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Biomedical subjects

A J Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to A J Gordon.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of piroxicam in elderly vs young adults.

Age-dependent changes in pharmacokinetics are considered a possible factor contributing to a higher risk of side-effects from drug treatment in the elderly. However, very little is known about the kinetics and metabolism of most NSAI agents in geriatric subjects. In a prospective age-comparison study, the single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of piroxicam 20 mg once daily were determined in 44 subjects ranging in age from 30 to 80 years. Plasma concentrations, elimination half-life, AUC, and volume of distribution were not influenced by age or sex and were in agreement with previously reported results in young adults. Pharmacokinetic parameters in 18 patients with evidence of mild or moderate renal impairment at study entry were not different from those in patients without impairment. Based on this and other studies, elderly patients receiving the recommended dose of piroxicam are not exposed to undue risk related to pharmacokinetic considerations.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1985

A multicentre prospective randomized controlled trial of induction of labour with an automatic closed-loop feedback controlled oxytocin infusion system.

A randomized prospective controlled trial of an automatic feed-back controlled oxytocin infusion system (AIS) for the induction of labour at term was carried out in three hospitals. In primiparae, a four-fold reduction in the total dose of oxytocin infused, for the same induction-delivery interval, was achieved with the AIS compared with standard labour ward protocols relying on midwife control of oxytocin infusion rate. In multiparae, the total dose of oxytocin infused was almost halved when the AIS was used, while the mean duration of labour was increased by 1.6 h to 7.5 h. There were no differences in the mode of delivery or Apgar scores. It is concluded that the AIS is a safe technique for induction of labour. Its use has demonstrated that term labour can be induced efficiently with a mean oxytocin infusion rate between 2.5 and 3 mU/min (max 8.8 mU/min) and a total oxytocin dose infused of less than 5 U.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Alcohol use in the perspective of cultural ecology.

Examination of the use of alcohol in traditional agrarian society reveals that drinking and the drinking context is for the most part integrative, conflict-reducing, and reinforcing of corporate identity. With acculturation and modernization, and the introduction of full-scale cash-based economies, alcohol use is more frequently a social and pathological and serves individual as opposed to jointly shared objectives. Analysis of these issues is accomplished through a review of the cultural ecological perspectives on drinking and culture in a variety of societies around the world.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1983

Cervical ripening.

When induction of labour is being considered the first step should be to assess the cervical score. If this is low, the gestational age should be confirmed since an unripe cervix is normal in earlier pregnancy and there may be a mistake in the patient's dates. If the maturity is confirmed, the choice lies between delivering the baby and waiting. Few genuine indications for induction change by waiting and increased risks may occur by postponing the date of delivery. The choice may then lie between elective caesarean section or amniotomy and intravenous oxytocin with an unripe cervix on the one hand, and cervical ripening before induction of labour on the other (Lancet, 1979). The last course has many advantages to commend it. There is still much to be learnt about cervical ripening. The success of the prostaglandins suggests that they may be the agents of choice at present. The ideal preparation would be one that could be administered vaginally to ripen the cervix without inducing uterine contractions. A major problem to date has been the absence of a commercially available PGE2 preparation for local use and this has necessitated the formulation of home-made gels and pessaries by individual hospital pharmacies. However, recently Prostin E2 vaginal tablets (each containing dinoprostone 3 mg) have been marketed and initial studies (Stewart et al, 1983) have shown promising results.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

Effect of dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide on urinary hydroxyproline to creatinine ratios in sheep.

The possibility of altering bone collagen turnover rates by injecting large doses of dexamethasone or by administering large doses of cyclophosphamide orally was investigated in sheep on low and high dietary intakes by measuring changes in the ratios of free and total hydroxyproline to creatinine and of calcium to creatinine in the urine. Dexamethasone at the rate of 1.15 mg/kg live weight caused an increase in free hydroxyproline excretion of 111 and 26% and in calcium excretion of 402 and 243% in the low and high intake sheep respectively. Cyclophosphamide (10 mg/kg) had little effect except for causing a slight decrease in total hydroxyproline excretion in the sheep on the high dietary intake. Heavier sheep on high dietary intakes excreted more free hydroxyproline than lighter sheep on low intakes. It was concluded that dosing sheep with corticosteroids for the purpose of defleecing could cause abnormal collagen metabolism. Skeletal disorders are a likely result but further long-term field work would be necessary to determine the practical significance of these findings.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Treatment of Essential hypertension with single daily doses of a prazosin-polythiazide combination: a multicentre study with Minizide.

In a multicentre study conducted by thirty-two investigators in ten European, Asian, and Latin-American countries the combination of prazosin 0.5 mg and polythiazide 0.25 mg per tablet was used as the only drug treatment for all grades of hypertension in 551 adult male and female out-patients. After a 2-week placebo period, patients received 1 tablet daily. The dosage was increased, as necessary, by 1 tablet every 2 weeks to a maximum of 4 tablets daily to provide an adequate blood pressure response. Duration of therapy averaged 7.8 weeks. Blood pressure was reduced by an average of 15% systolic and 17% diastolic and the degree of severity of blood pressure improved in 93% of patients. Two-thirds of the patients ended the study with a diastolic blood pressure equal to or less than 90 mm Hg. The dosage at the end of the therapy period averaged 2 tablets of Minizide as a single daily dose. Side-effects were mostly mild or moderate and were typical of those expected for antihypertensive medication. It is concluded that this combination drug is efficacious in the treatment of hypertension and, together with its good toleration profile and ease of administration, will enhance compliance with therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Sustained antihypertensive response with Minizide: long-term follow-up in a multicentre study.

The safety and effectiveness of prazosin hydrochloride combined with polythiazide for the treatment of hypertension was studied in four European countries by ten investigators. One-hundred and seventy-seven adult male and female patients, 91% with essential hypertension were treated for an average of 7 months. Reductions from placebo-controlled baseline blood pressure exceeded 15% over the 8-week short-term phase of the study with further reductions of up to 22% observed at the end of the study. Ninety-six per cent of all patients completed therapy with a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or less. Most patients were adequately controlled on 2 tablets or less once daily. Each tablet contained 0.5 mg prazosin hydrochloride and 0.25 mg polythiazide. Long-term toleration was excellent. Side-effects were typical of those expected with antihypertensive medication and nearly all were reported during the first 8 weeks of treatment with no interruption or discontinuation of drug. Nearly all patients were followed throughout for laboratory changes. There were minimal changes consistent with the therapy and there was no pattern indicative of toxic potential. It is concluded that the drug combination, Minizide, is effective and well tolerated as initial and long-term therapy in hypertension and that the convenient dosage regimen will lead to enhanced treatment compliance for this chronic condition.

Adolescent↗