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Biomedical subjects

D Davies

Publications and source records attributed to D Davies.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

The determination of polychlorinated biphenyl in small samples of monkey milk and tissues. I.

The feasibility of analysing less than or equal to 5 ml blood and 1 ml monkey milk samples for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was tested by fortification of similar size human blood and milk samples with Aroclor 1260 at the 1, 5, 10 and 10 ng/g level, respectively. Recoveries were 71, 82 and 89% for blood and 95% for milk. Recoveries of > 90% were obtained, when 100 mg samples of monkey liver, kidney and adipose tissue were fortified with Aroclor 1254 at the 0.2, 0.5 and 1 microgram/g level. The methodology was then applied to blood, collected from monkeys receiving Aroclor 1254 at definite intervals of dosing. The initial PCB level rose from 2.2 to 4.5 ng/g after 120 days. Monkey milk analysed at different days of lactation showed little variation in the PCB content on a whole milk basis. The peak height ratios varied among the substrates and with those of standard Aroclor 1254.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1980

Catecholamine turnover in essential hypertension.

With the more widespread use of sensitive specific methods of measurements of catecholamines and metabolites, more emphasis must be given to assessment of dynamic indices of catecholamine turnover. Wide inter-individual differences in noradrenaline clearance from plasma and in resting endogenous production rate, together with individual differences in responsiveness, frustrate simplistic attempts to relate plasma level of transmitter with turnover. To assess catecholamine function adequately plasma and urinary levels of catecholamine and the main metabolites should be determined together with an index of responsiveness. Central nervous catecholamine turnover cannot be easily assessed from measurement of urinary metabolite excretion Cerebrospinal fluid concentration of MHPG may provide an index of brain noradrenaline turnover.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1978

An approach to the management of children with cleft lip or palate.

A number of the more common problems which may be encountered in the management of children born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate is discussed. Present-day concepts of aetiology, parental counselling and timing of surgery are referred to and contentious aspects of management are mentioned.

Child↗
PubMed1978

Sulfametopyrazine prophylaxis in chronic bronchitis.

From a double-blind randomized controlled trial by 32 general practitioners on 218 patients with chronic bronchitis it appeared that sulfametopyrazine given once a week over one winter reduced the number of respiratory illnesses and the loss of time from work to about half that of a control group. It had no effect on time off work in individual spells of illness nor on the amount and purulence of sputum. Side-effects were few and mild.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase assay in renal transplant recipients.

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities were measured in 181 patients with renal allografts during a 15-month period. Activities were high immediately after transplantation but decreased rapidly in the absences of complication. Urinary NAG activities increased by 50% or more in relation to 33 of 36 (92%) episodes of acute rejection diagnosed and treated by clinicians during the first 90 days after transplantation. The increase preceded clinical diagnosis in 70% of the cases, the median interval being 1.5 days. NAG activities decreased after treatment of rejection in 90% of the cases. Chronic rejection, renal vein thrombosis, renal artery stenosis, oliguria, hypotension, and the administraion of gentamicin may also cause increased NAG activity. Urinary NAG assay is simple and inexpensive, and is a useful aid to the early diagnosis of rejection of renal transplants. Results must, however, be interpreted by the clinician, bearing in mind other causes for increased activity.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1978

Cushing's syndrome, nodular adrenal hyperplasia and virilizing carcinoma.

A 48-year-old hypertensive diabetic woman rapidly became virilized. Urine 17-oxo-and oxogenic steroids and plasma testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA, DHEA-sulphate and androstenediol were greatly elevated. Plasma cortisol was constantly high and was not suppressed by dexamethasone. Circulating immunoreactive ACTH was consistently detectable at 18-24 ng/l. A 450 g carcinoma arising from a nodular hyperplastic right adrenal gland was resected. Production by the tumour of 17a-hydroxypregnenolone, 17a-hydroxyprogesterone and five C-19 steroids, but very little prenenolone, progesterone or cortisol, was shown by blood sampling, tumour culture and dramatic falls after operation. The plasma cortisol fell to half, with no diurnal variation, consistent with persistent Cushing's syndrome, and the plasma ACTH rose to 55 ng/l. She died 3 months later from a myocardial infarction. Autopsy revealed a pituitary basophil adenoma at a site where radiologically there had been an indentation in the fossa floor for at least 7 years. The left adrenal gland showed nodular hyperplasia. Therefore we conclude that mild pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome may have been present for many years before development of a virilizing carcinoma. This case demonstrates that adrenal carcinoma in man can sometimes develop as a consequence of nodular adrenal hyperplasia which may in turn be due to long-standing trophic hyper-stimulation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1977

A comparison of ornipressin and adrenaline for local vasoconstriction.

The effectiveness of ornipressin and adrenaline as local vasoconstrictors is compared, with special reference to cleft-lip-and-palate surgery. A latent period of 3 - 5 minutes with the use of ornipressin is advised. A brief review comparing the local and general effects of ornipressin and adrenaline is included.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1977

Intravenous infusion of a dextrin, Caloreen, in human subjects: metabolic studies.

1. Caloreen, a glucose-polymer dextrin infused into human volunteers, although producing a clear increase in total plasma carbohydrate did not produce a satisfactory increase in plasma glucose levels or serum insulin levels. 2. Urinary losses were high and although small fragments of the dextrin (suggesting metabolic breakdown of the dextrin) were demonstrated in the urine, no suppression of plasma free fatty acid, glucagon or immediate increase in the respiratory quotient were noted, suggesting that the metabolism is too slow to make it useful for parenteral nutrition in its present form. 3. A dextrin with fewer branch-links might be more suitable.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Deaths from coronary artery disease and coalworkers' pneumoconiosis.

When pneumoconiosis makes a material contribution to a miner's death benefit is paid to his widow. Doctors from the Department of Health and Social Security have argued that extensive pneumoconiosis not only does not increase the risks of death if coronary thrombosis develops but also that it may exert a beneficial effect. This view has been put to the National Insurance Commissioners on at least three occasions recently. There are however, several reasons for coming to the opposite conclusion. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT PROGRESSIVE MASSIVE FIBROSIS Reduces mortality or the development of atheroma, and until such evidence is produced it is unwise to believe that the presence of any severe disease improves anyone's changes of surviving coronary thrombosis. Rather, it should be recongised that any disease which produces a high mortality is inevitably associated with a lower mortality from other conditions. As doctors from the Department will continue to argue that severe pneumoconiosis does not increase the risk of death from coronary thrombosis informed readers are asked to adjudicate between the conflicting views.

Adult↗