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Biomedical subjects

C Davidson

Publications and source records attributed to C Davidson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

The early and late effects of digoxin treatment on the sodium transport, sodium content and Na+K+- ATPase or erythrocytes.

1 Erythrocyte sodium content, sodium transport (ouabain sensitive sodium flux Eos, and ouabain sensitive efflux rate constant ERCos) sodium, potassium activated ouabain sensitive adenosine triphosphatase (Na+K+ATPase) and plasma digoxin were measured in patients during acute digitalisation and in patients who were on long-term digoxin treatment. 2 In the six patients who were studied during digitalisation, the ERCos and Na+K+ATPase activity decreased and erythrocyte sodium content increased during days 2-4 treatment, but there was no change in Eos. 3 In 39 patients on long term digoxin therapy (2-119 months) the erythrocyte sodium content was normal, but the erythrocyte Na+K+ATPase activity was higher than the control group. When the results from these 39 patients were divided according to the duration of treatment it was found that the erythrocyte sodium content was higher in patients treated for 2-4 months than in patients treated for longer periods and the erythrocyte Na+K+ATPase activity increased with duration of treatment. In eight patients (duration of treatment greater than 29 months) in whom ERCos and Eos were measured, ERCos and Eos were higher than the control group. 4 The results suggest that the effects of digoxin on erythrocytes which occur during acute digoxin treatment do not persist in the long term. 5 The possible explanation for the higher ERCos, Eos and Na+K+ATPase activity in patients treated with digoxin for more than 2 months is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

Arthropathy in Dressler's syndrome.

Three patients developed a polyarthritis in association with Dressler's (post-myocardial infarction) syndrome. Joint involvement was more pronounced in the upper limbs and persisted many months after other features of Dressler's syndrome had settled. In 2 cases the findings in the joints were slight and might have been overlooked but for the persistently raised ESR. There was a prompt symptomatic response to prednisone.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1981

An universal and accurate replica technique for scanning electron microscope study in clinical dentistry.

One of the main concerns of dental research is the observation of the oral tissues and the materials applied to the dentition. The changes in composition and structure of the outer surfaces and the materials deposited on these surfaces are of special interest. In the literature, a variety of replica techniques for these purposes is described (Grundy in 1971 [12]; Saxton in 1973 [25]). The use of these techniques is limited because of artifacts in the samples, and a restricted resolution power resulting from useful magnifications in the order of 800x. An accurate and universal replica technique for the examination of specimens to be viewed under the SEM has been developed. The first impression is made by a light body silicone elastomer (President Coltene). The positive replica is made by electrodeposition of copper in an electro plating bath (Acru plat 5 electronic, Dr. Th. Wieland, D-7530 Pforzheim). The reliability and accuracy of this replica technique was verified by a scanning electron microscopic comparison of the replicas and the actual structures of etched enamel. To illustrate the applicability of the replica technique to structures with much lower hardness, also high resolution images of dental plaque were produced. The copper surface offers a perfect, original and proper electroconductive medium that withstands the bombardment of electrons and the relatively severe conditions in the scanning electron microscope. Reproducibility was accurate as judged by the duplication in position, size, and shape of the fine detail at magnifications of 7500x offering a resolution of 25 nm.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1980

Hypokalaemia and diuretics: an analysis of publications.

Published data have been used to define the characteristics of the fall in serum potassium concentration after taking diuretics and the efficacy of the various treatments given to prevent or correct it. The average fall is less after the usual doses of frusemide (about 0.3 mmol/l) than after the usual doses of thiazides (about 0.6 mmol/l) and is little influenced by the dose or duration of treatment. The fall with a given drug is the same in heart failure and hypertension, but the initial serum potassium concentration is higher in heart failure, so that the final value is lower in hypertension. In standard doses potassium supplements are less effective than potassium-retaining diuretics in correcting the hypokalaemia. The relation between the average serum potassium value and the frequency of low values (hypokalaemia) is such that very low values after taking diuretics are unusual in patients with hypertension or heart failure. Hypokalaemia would almost disappear as an important complication of diuretic treatment if it was defined as a value less than 3.0 mmol/l rather than as a value less than 3.5 mmol/l.

Chlorothiazide↗
PubMed1980

Comparison of five beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists with different ancillary properties during sustained twice daily therapy in angina pectoris.

The effects of five beta-adrenoreceptor blocking agents and placebo during twice daily sustained therapy were compared in 23 patients with stable, exertional angina pectoris. The study was double blind in design, and each drug was prescribed for a period of one month in a random fashion. The number of anginal attacks and consumption of glyceryl trinitrate tablets during the one month period were significantly reduced by a similar degree during therapy with all five beta blocking drugs in comparison to the placebo (P less than 0.01). Exercise tolerance, when assessed 12 hours after a previous dose had been given and 1 hour after the morning dose was given, also improved by a similar degree with all five drugs in comparison to the placebo (P less than 0.01). The increase in exercise duration was associated with a significant reduction in the S-T segment depression, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and the product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure, with each of the five drugs--effects markedly different from those obtained with the placebo (P less than 0.01). These data show that noncardioselective (propranolol and oxprenolol) and cardioselective (practolol, metoprolol and tolamolol) agents, as well as drugs with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (oxprenolol and practolol), were equally effective antianginal agents during sustained therapy. Furthermore, twice daily therapy with any of these drugs was effective in the management of patients with angina pectoris.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1980

Qualitative and quantitative methods of studying the effect of lipids on bacteria grown on the surface of solid culture media.

New qualitative and quantitative methods are described for the investigation of the antibacterial activity of lipids on solid media by the application of lipid-impregnated filter paper over a lawn of the organisms. The methods have been used to investigate the antibacterial activity of unsaturated fatty acids that are important in skin defence. Oleic and linoleic acids inhibited Streptococcus pyogenes markedly, Staphylococcus aureus and Staph epidermidis to a lesser extent and had no effect on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The inhibition of growth of a strain of Str. pyogenes from a sore throat was greater than that of a strain from an outbreak of impetigo. Linoleic acid was a more potent inhibitor of bacterial growth than oleic acid, and with both acids inhibition was more pronounced under aerobic than under anaerobic conditions of incubation. The methods described could be applied in other fields such as pharmacology, horticulture and industry.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1980

The erythrocyte sodium and potassium in patients treated with digoxin.

1 Four healthy persons and ten patients with heart failure were studied for 5 to 20 days after they started taking digoxin. The sodium content of their erythrocytes increased and there was an equimolar decrease in potassium content. 2 The increase in erythrocyte sodium for a given increase in plasma digoxin during this acute digitalization was less on average and varied more in the patients than in the healthy persons, that is the patients' erythrocytes were less responsive to digoxin. 3 The average erythrocyte sodium was greater in 183 patients who had been taking digoxin for at least 2 months than in 100 healthy persons not taking digoxin but there was no significant correlation between the plasma digoxin concentrations and erythrocyte sodium concentration in the patients. Indeed, there was no apparent change in the erythrocyte sodium in many of the patients taking digoxin. 4 If the erythrocyte sodium concentration is a reliable guide to the tissue effects of digoxin then the results suggest that there is a wide variation in the response to digoxin between patients both during acute digitalization and during chronic treatment with digoxin.

Digoxin↗
PubMed1979

Comparison of the immediate effects of five beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking drugs with different ancillary properties in angina pectoris.

We compared the immediate effects of five beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking agents in 16 patients with stable angina pectoris. Acute dose-response studies showed that all five drugs improved exercise tolerance and reduced ST-segment depression, heart rate and blood pressure by a similar degree in comparison with a placebo (P less than 0.01). Near maximum improvement in exercise tolerance occurred when the acute cumulative oral dose had reached 160 mg for propranolol and oxprenolol, 200 mg for metoprolol and tolamolol and 400 mg for practolol. When these drugs were administered as a single doses, increase in walking time before the development of angina and reduction in ST-segment depression, heart rate and systolic blood pressure all occurred within one hour and persisted for eight hours--effects markedly different from the response to a placebo (P less than 0.01). These data show that non-cardioselective agents (propranolol and oxprenolol), cardioselective agents (practolol, metoprolol and tolamolol), as well as drugs with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (oxprenolol and practolol), were equally effective in the treatment of angina pectoris.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Potassium depletion in heart failure and its relation to long-term treatment with diuretics: a review of the literature.

There have been many studies which suggest that patients with heart failure were potassium depleted. This depletion has been attributed to the use of potent diuretics, and these are now given with either potassium supplements or potassium-retaining diuretics. A detailed examination of the studies suggests that the reported decrease in body potassium compared with the results in healthy persons is not due to the diuretics. It can be partly explained by a failure to match patients and controls in terms of age, and the remaining difference can be explained by muscle wasting. There is therefore no evidence of a potassium depletion in these patients with heart failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The effects of potassium supplements, spironolactone of amiloride on the potassium status of patients with heart failure.

Extra potassium supplements, spironolactone or amiloride were given for 5 months to forty-nine patients with heart failure who were taking furosemide and were in a steady state. Plasma potassium increased with all three treatments but there was no significant increase in total body potassium or red cell potassium. These findings together with other studies suggest that patients with heart failure taking diuretics do not have a significant depletion of body potassium.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Effect of long-term diuretic treatment on body-potassium in heart-disease.

Plasma and total body potassium have been measured in 151 patients with chronic heart-disease, 83 of whom were taking diuretics and potassium supplements. After allowance for age and body-size, the deficit in total body-potassium was only 3-5% (100-150 mmol) in the diuretic group. 13 of the 83 patients taking diuretic had hypokalaemia (less than 3-5 mmol/1) but the potassium deficit was no greater than in the patients with normal plasma-potassium. There was no relation between the dose of potassium supplements and either the plasma-potassium or the total body-potasium. It is suggested that potassium depletion is not a major problem in patients with heart-failure treated with diuretics. The dose of potassium supplements should therefore be determined entirely by the plasma-potassium.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Comparison of antihypertensive activity of beta-blocking drugs during chronic treatment.

The hypotensive activity of five beta-adrenoceptor antagonists with different ancillary pharmacological properties was compared in a randomised double-blind factorial trial in 25 untreated patients with stable, uncomplicated essential hypertension. In doses that produced similar reductions in exercise tachycardia all drugs had similar blood-pressure lowering activity, greater on systolic than diastolic pressure and greatest during exercise. With the exception of vasodilator activity the possession of any particular combinaton of ancillary pharmacological properties did not significantly influence the specific antihypertensive activity of these compounds.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1976

Diurnal pattern of water and electrolyte excretion and body weight in idiopathic orthostatic hypotension. The effect of three treatments.

The diurnal pattern of water and solute excretion and body weight were examined in five control subjects and in a patient with idiopathic orthostatic hypotension before and during treatment. The patient had a reversed diurnal pattern of excretion of sodium, urea and water but not of potassium and creatinine, and there was an excessive diurnal variation in body weight. The effects of three treatments, high salt diet alone and then with the addition of head-up tilt, and later fludrocortisone, were studied. Fludrocortisone caused marked clinical improvement and retention of sodium and water. Once a steady state was achieved none of the treatments had any significant effect either on the diurnal variation in weight or on the water and solute xcretion pattern except for a small reduction in sodium excretion at night when the patient slept with a head-up tilt. In is concluded that these treatments cause symptomatic improvement in idiopathic orthostatic hypotension through an increase in extracellular fluid volume rather than through any change in the abnormal diurnal pattern of water and salt excretion.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Comparative anti-hypertensive effectiveness of beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists with different pharmacological properties: dose-response studies during acute and chronic administration.

1. Immediate and long-term blood pressure-lowering activity of five beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists with different ancillary pharmacological properties were compared in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled factorial trial in twenty-five previously untreated patients with stable uncomplicated essential hypertension. 2. In doses which produced similar reductions in exercise tachycardia, all drugs exerted similar anti-hypertensive activity, which was greater on systolic than diastolic pressure and greatest during exercise. 3. These effects were maximum within an hour and lasted for over 8 h after a single oral dose. 4. Blood pressure-lowering activity, particularly the reduction in exercise systolic pressure, was significantly related to the logarithm of the dose of each drug. 5. Anti-hypertensive activity was maximally enhanced after 4 weeks of sustained treatment at any given dose. There was no short-term habituation to treatment and substitution with placebo resulted in a return of the blood pressure to pretreatment values within 4 weeks without subsequent overshoot. 6. The blood pressure-lowering activity of these drugs was predominantly related to their common property of competitive antagonism of cardiac beta-adrenoreceptors; their ancillary pharmacological properties, with the exception of intrinsic vasodilator activity, played little part in this response.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗