Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A S Hale

Publications and source records attributed to A S Hale.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Collection and preparation of blood products.

Blood-component therapy has become an integral part of veterinary practice. Although access to veterinary blood banks has increased, practitioners may prefer to create their own blood-donor program to provide for their blood-product needs or to respond to an emergent need. Before embarking on such an endeavor, it is important to understand the techniques and requirements for such a program. This article will discuss issues in donor selection and management, supplies and techniques of blood-component acquisition, and supplies and techniques of blood-component preparation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Erotomania induced by venlafaxine: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a never previously reported case of erotomania induced by venlafaxine and highlight the effect of antidepressants on the dopaminergic system. METHOD: A case of erotomania is described. RESULT: Erotomania occurring in two separate occasions developed after treatment with high doses of venlafaxine. The episode remitted only after lowering the dose of the venlafaxine. CONCLUSION: Erotomania may occur with agents such as antidepressants. The dopamine neurotransmission of mood can provide further evidence for the development of newer classes of antidepressants.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A review of the safety and tolerability of sertindole.

The safety and efficacy of sertindole have been established in three double-blind randomized controlled studies conducted in the United States, North America and Europe. In these three studies the tendency for sertindole to cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPS), a critical factor affecting compliance, was investigated. At 12-24 mg/day, sertindole was associated with placebo levels of EPS, which were significantly lower than for all doses of haloperidol. In the European study, 24 mg sertindole demonstrated slightly, but statistically significantly, more EPS than 8 mg (P = 0.05). However, the incidence of EPS-related events was comparable with that reported for placebo in the United States and North American studies. The frequency of use of anti-EPS medication was also comparable in the sertindole and placebo groups. Slight prolongation of the Q-T interval was seen with sertindole in early clinical trials. Although no patients reported any clinical problems related to Q-T prolongation in these three studies, its use is contraindicated in patients suffering from underlying cardiac diseases or hypokalaemia and in those patients undergoing concomitant treatment with other medication known to prolong the Q-T interval. Most of the other adverse events reported for sertindole are related to its alpha, antagonistic activity.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Biochemical characterization of canine blood group antigens: immunoprecipitation of DEA 1.2, 4 and 7 and identification of a dog erythrocyte membrane antigen homologous to human Rhesus.

Despite the clinical significance of the canine blood group antigens, relatively little is known of the biochemistry of these molecules. In this study the canine blood group antigens DEA (dog erythrocyte antigen) 1.2, 4 and 7 were immunoprecipitated from red blood cells (RBC) bearing the corresponding blood group, and molecular weights of 85 kD (DEA 1.2), 32-40 kD (DEA 4) and 53-66 kD (DEA 7) assigned. DEA 1.2 and DEA 4 each appeared as a single band, whereas DEA 7 comprised three distinct bands (53, 58 and 66 kD). Polyclonal antisera specific for two peptides derived from the sequence of the human Rhesus blood group (Rh30A-C and Rh50A-C) were used in western blotting against canine and human erythrocyte membranes. The Rh30A-C antiserum identified a band of molecular weight 32 kD in both human and canine RBC, and the antiserum specific for Rh50A-C identified a band of 38-60 kD in human membranes and of 40-53 kD in canine RBC. This finding is consistent with conservation of areas of the Rhesus protein sequence between human and canine erythrocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Canine blood groups and their importance in veterinary transfusion medicine.

Over 13 canine blood groups have been described. Eight DEA types are recognized as international standards. Typing sera produced by canine alloimmunization exists for six DEA types: 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Naturally occurring antibody is found against DEA 3, 5, and 7. DEA 1.1 and 1.2 antibody-antigen interactions result in acute hemolytic transfusion reactions. DEA 3, 5, and 7 antibody-antigen interaction in vivo results in permanent red blood cell sequestration and loss in 3 to 5 days. DEA 4 antibody-antigen interactions produce no effect on red blood cell survival in vivo. A dog possessing DEA 4 and no other antigen is considered a "universal" donors. Veterinary transfusion medicine has advanced beyond uncrossmatched, untyped red blood cell transfusion. Whenever possible, transfusion should be between typed and crossmatched individuals. "Universal" donors and crossmatch should be utilized when typing of the recipient is not feasible. Canine blood typing is routinely performed in service laboratories across North America. In-clinic assays are not available for all canine blood group antigens. Recent production of monoclonal antibodies will lead to biochemical definition of the canine blood groups DEA 1.1 and 3. Additional efforts to define the erythrocytes on a molecular level are underway. Advances efforts in this areal will allow for more rapid and uniform testing of the canine red blood cell. Future exploration of DEA type and disease association is needed. A known association exists between DEA 1.1 and neonatal isoerythrolysis. Further screening of the dog population for DEA type may yield markers for autoimmune and neoplastic disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The outcome of targeting community mental health services: evidence from the West Lambeth schizophrenia cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To report outcome of targeting community mental health services to people with schizophrenia in an inner London district who had been shown, one year after discharge, to have high levels of psychotic symptomatology and social disability but very low levels of supported housing and structured day activity. DESIGN: Repeat interview survey of symptoms, disability, and receipt of care four years after index discharge. SETTING: Inner London health district with considerable social deprivation and a mental hospital in the process of closure. SUBJECTS: 51 patients originally aged 20-65 years who satisfied the research diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contact with services during the three months before interview, levels of symptoms (from present state examination), global social disability rating. RESULTS: 65% (33/51) of the study group had been readmitted at least once in the three years between surveys. Recent contacts with community psychiatric nurses and rates of hospital admission increased (8 at one year v 24 at four years, p < 0.01; 5 v 13, p < 0.06). Conversely, fewer patients were in contact with social workers (17 v 7, p < 0.03). Proportions in supported housing, day care, or sheltered work did not change. Unemployment rates remained very high. A considerable reduction (almost a halving) in psychiatric symptoms was observed, but there was no significant change in mean levels of social disability. CONCLUSIONS: The policy of targeting the long term mentally ill resulted in significant increases in professional psychiatric input to the cohort but failed to improve access to social workers or suitable accommodation. Improvements in social functioning did not follow from reductions in the proportions of patients with psychotic mental states. Social interventions are likely to be crucial to achieving the Health of the Nation target of improving social functioning for the seriously mentally ill, as improving mental state seems in itself to be insufficient.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The importance of accidents in evaluating the cost of SSRIs: a review.

Economic studies attempting to justify the increased cost of new antidepressants such as the SSRIs are often difficult to interpret, marginal benefits hinging on minute differences in assumptions and interpretation. Studies to date have focused largely upon the costs of treatment failure, which in turn relates to compliance rates. A missing factor is the cost of accidents, especially serious road traffic accidents. Most tricyclic antidepressants seriously impair driving performance, even more so than alcohol or benzodiazepines, whilst SSRIs do not. With moves towards maintenance and continuation therapy for depression, patients on tricyclics remain at long-term risk for such accidents. Cost savings from reducing the rate of accidents could more than pay for the increased costs of SSRIs.

Accidents↗
PubMed1994

Exorcism-resistant ghost possession treated with clopenthixol.

BACKGROUND: An Indian man now in Britain explained his criminal behaviour as episodic ghost possession. Traditional exorcisms failed to help. METHOD: A 'Western' diagnosis of dissociative state or paranoid schizophrenia was made. Treatment commenced using trifluoperazine and clopenthixol. RESULTS: The patient underwent remission during neuroleptic treatment, despite previous evidence of genuine possession. CONCLUSIONS: Many cultures give rise to apparently genuine cases of ghost possession. Neuroleptics may relieve symptoms of exorcism-resistant possession.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1994

Psychosurgery: stereotactic subcaudate tractomy. An indispensable treatment.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic subcaudate tractotomy (SST) is the only type of psychosurgery performed at the Geoffrey Knight Unit, London, where nearly 1300 operations have been done since 1961. Statistically reliable data are not available to prove the effectiveness of SST. A detailed statement about contemporary psychosurgery is given. METHOD: Relevant publications from the Unit and via Medline are discussed. The outcome figures are reviewed. The outcome is assessed at the Unit in global and clinical terms, associated with results of self-completed questionnaires. RESULTS: SST allows 40-60% of patients to live normal or near-normal lives, perhaps with continuation of medication. A reduction in suicide rate to 1% post-operatively, from 15% in cases of uncontrolled affective disorders is seen. CONCLUSION: As a treatment of last resort, no controlled trial against a comparable treatment is possible. It appears reasonable to offer SST to patients with suicidal and deluded depression or with frequently swinging moods, not responding to other treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

New antidepressants: use in high-risk patients.

This paper will review evidence on the safety and efficacy of new antidepressants in high-risk patients. Where available, data will be reviewed on the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, and citalopram, and on the new reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A moclobemide.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Community care for patients with schizophrenia one year after hospital discharge.

OBJECTIVES: To document the circumstances and care of patients with schizophrenia who had recently been discharged from local psychiatric inpatient services, and to establish the extent to which misgivings about community care might be justified. DESIGN: Cross sectional surveys with review of case notes. Follow up interviews with questionnaires administered one year after discharge. SETTING: Two inner London districts (West Lambeth and Lewisham) with high levels of social deprivation and at different stages of developing community services. PATIENTS: 90 and 50 patients in the two services respectively, aged 18 to 65, who satisfied the Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia and who were discharged from inpatient services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosis elicited by present state examination, global social disability rating, use of services during the three months before interview. RESULTS: 89 of the 140 patients (64%) had been ill for five or more years, yet few were former long stay inpatients. 55% (50/91; 95% confidence interval 45% to 65%) of those interviewed had current psychotic mental states and 22% (27/124; 16% to 31%) were functioning socially at very poor or severely maladjusted levels. 86% (107/124) were unemployed. The majority of patients had seen a mental health or social service professional, yet only 16% (20/124) were in specialised accomodation (excluding hospitals) and only 23% (17/73) of those eligible had used day care. Small numbers of people had experienced homelessness (two) or imprisonment (four over six months). CONCLUSIONS: Many schizophrenic patients leaving local psychiatric inpatient care have active symptomatology and profound social disabilities. Community care was characterised by high rates of contact with service professionals but little supported accommodation or day activity. This group of clients may require dedicated provision, which would actively encourage them to use services protected from the demands of those with less severe illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Tyramine conjugation test distinguishes unipolar from bipolar depressed patients and controls.

Tyramine sulphate conjugation following oral tyramine administration (the tyramine test) has previously been found to distinguish endogenous unipolar from neurotic depression and appears to be a trait marker. In this study, the test was used in 24 unipolar depressed patients compared with similar sized matched groups of bipolar depressed patients and normal controls. Most of the depressed patients in each group showed endogenous features. The study found that whereas tyramine sulphate conjugation was significantly impaired in unipolar patients, values in the bipolars were similar to those of controls. These results provide further evidence for the biological difference between unipolar and bipolar depression.

Administration, Oral↗