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Biomedical subjects

D Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to D Edwards.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Exogenous human surfactant for treatment of severe respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized prospective clinical trial.

We performed a randomized, prospective clinical trial comparing intratracheal administration of human surfactant with conventional treatment with intermittent mandatory mechanical ventilation alone for treatment of severe respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants of less than 30 weeks gestation. Twenty-two infants (mean gestational age 27.0 weeks, mean birth weight 987 gm) were given surfactant, and 23 infants (mean gestational age 27.2 week, mean birth weight 1055 gm) received intermittent mandatory ventilation. Infants given surfactant required less FiO2 during the first week, had lower mean airway pressure during the first 48 hours, and had improved ventilatory index and a/A PO2 ratio. Death or the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly less among infants given surfactant (P = 0.019). Pneumothorax, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, and need for FiO2 greater than or equal to 0.3 for greater than 30 days was significantly less in the surfactant group. This trial confirms the efficacy of treatment with human surfactant in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.

Amniotic Fluid↗

High-dose cyclophosphamide in small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

Eighteen patients with untreated small-cell cancer of the lung have been treated with cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg on two occasions at an interval of four weeks. An additional eight patients received etoposide in addition to cyclophosphamide. Measurements of tumor volume were made by thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scan before and after each cycle. When compared with our previous study in which only one cycle of cyclophosphamide was given, the double procedure did not increase response rate, decrease the incidence of local relapse, or prolong the relapse-free interval. Survival after relapse was shorter with two cycles of chemotherapy mainly due to greater difficulty in administering further chemotherapy. The CT scans showed a decrease in tumor volume from 99.2 cc to 21 cc after the first cycle, but a smaller decrease to 14.1 cc after the second. These results show that the rapid emergence of drug resistance imposes limitations on the use of very high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Jail nurse.

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Nursing Care↗

Non-metabolizable amino acids are potent stimulators of hepatic and renal ornithine decarboxylase activity.

The non-metabolizable amino acids alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and cycloleucine and the poorly metabolizable amino acid D-alanine potently stimulated hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in starved rats. The stimulation by AIB was shown to have several of the characteristics of stimulation by a protein meal and occurred in hypophysectomized animals. AIB also stimulated renal, but not brain or heart, ODC activity.

Alanine↗

Preoperative staging of lung cancer: accuracy of computed tomography versus mediastinoscopy.

Forty-four patients coming to surgery for carcinoma of the bronchus underwent preoperative staging of the mediastinum by computed tomography (CT scanning) and surgical exploration of the mediastinum by cervical mediastinoscopy or left anterior mediastinotomy or both. Where mediastinal nodes were affected the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography was inferior to that of mediastinoscopy (57% and 85% versus 71% and 100%). The sensitivity of computed tomography in predicting mediastinal invasion was superior to that of mediastinoscopy (77% v 46%), especially in the case of lower-lobe tumours (67% v 17%). Mediastinoscopy had the considerable advantage of 100% specificity. In the assessment of hilar lymphadenopathy computed tomography had a sensitivity of 38% and a specificity of 64%. In cases where computed tomography showed a normal mediastinum or enlargement of the hilar glands only, mediastinal exploration conferred no additional information and could have been omitted. A computed tomography scan showing mediastinal abnormality is an indication for mediastinoscopy and not a contraindication to surgery. In 23 patients computed tomography showed some abnormality of the mediastinum, confirmed at mediastinoscopy in 12 cases. The remaining 11 patients underwent thoracotomy, resection being carried out in nine. Postsurgical staging showed that six of these tumours were N0 lesions without invasion; in two further N0 cases there was a minor degree of mediastinal invasion which did not prevent resection, and the remaining tumour was N1 without invasion.

Aged↗

Experience with mebendazole in the treatment of inoperable hydatid disease in England.

Eleven heterogeneous patients with inoperable hydatid disease were treated with high doses of oral mebendazole, up to 200 mg/kg/day for 16 to 48 weeks. Toxicity was not encountered. Despite careful assessment it proved difficult critically to evaluate the efficacy of mebendazole. In four patients chemotherapy appeared to have been at least partially successful and success seems to have correlated with serum levels in excess of 100 ng/ml one to three hours after dosage. The problems of assessment are discussed and the need for controlled trials of mebendazole in hydatid disease are stressed.

Adolescent↗

Computed tomography of the thorax in the diagnosis and management of malignant disease.

The role of computed tomography (CT) scanning in the investigation of patients with intrathoracic malignancy has not yet been clearly defined. Current evidence suggests that it is the most sensitive diagnostic imaging technique for identifying the extent of primary lung cancers and their relationship to intrathoracic anatomy. It is an advance in the staging of intrathoracic malignancy as it identifies adenopathy in the paratracheal region and the mediastinum more readily. Discovery of small (less than 0.8 mm) pulmonary nodules is common in patients with some extrathoracic malignant conditions, but differentiating malignant deposits from benign nodules remains a problem. CT has a potential place in radiotherapy field planning and in identifying lung cancers in the occasional patient presenting with suspicious symptoms or positive cytology and a normal chest radiograph.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Suspected malabsorption of aminophylline in pancreatis.

The case of a patient with pancreatitis in whom low theophylline concentrations were observed on oral aminophylline is presented. Therapeutic theophylline concentrations were obtained with intravenous aminophylline. However, serum levels following oral doses were only 20 to 40% of those observed with intravenous administration, suggesting malabsorption. The most reasonable explanation for this was the patient's pancreatic dysfunction, since adequate absorption of oral aminophylline had been demonstrated on a previous admission not associated with pancreatis, and other possible causes of malabsorption were ruled out.

Administration, Oral↗

Protein binding of valproic acid in the presence of elevated free fatty acids in patient and normal human serum.

Two recent reports indicate that free fatty acids (FFA) can decrease the binding of valproic acid (VPA) to plasma proteins. Since FFA can increase in several physiological and clinical situations, it becomes necessary to define the relationship between elevated FFA and VPA free fraction. This study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, serum was obtained from nine patients who were receiving Intralipid. A base-line sample was taken when therapy was absent. A second sample was taken during or immediately after Intralipid therapy. Protein binding VPA (equilibrium dialysis) and FFA levels were determined on each sample. FFA increased in eight patients; the median increase was 80.1%. VPA free fractions increased in six of the eight patients showing an increase in FFA; the median increase in free fraction was 18.7%. Rank correlation between FFA differences and free fraction differences indicated a significant positive linear correlation (r = 0.800). In the second phase, oleic acid was added to normal serum in five different concentrations (500-5,000 microEq/liter) with VPA at 100 microgram/ml. Free fraction of VPA increased continuously from a blank value of 9.6% (+/- 1.4) to 44.1% (+/- 2.5) with increasing concentrations of oleic acid.

Fat Emulsions, Intravenous↗