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Biomedical subjects

D F Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to D F Thompson.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Therapeutic dosing of pralidoxime chloride.

Pralidoxime chloride is a useful agent in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning. Poisindex, a widely used poisoning treatment resource, recommends dosing pralidoxime chloride as an intermittent iv infusion every 8-12 hours, whereas other authors have used continuous iv infusion with good results. Available animal data suggest that a serum concentration of 4 micrograms/ml may be a minimal level to protect against the toxic effects of organophosphates. Pharmacokinetic simulations, based on parameters obtained from healthy nonpoisoned subjects, show that pralidoxime levels fall rapidly to less than 4 micrograms/ml within 1.5-2 hours after a 1-g iv bolus. Continuous iv infusion (0.5 g/h) maintains pralidoxime levels greater than 4 micrograms/ml throughout the length of infusion. We conclude that continuous iv infusion of pralidoxime chloride may be the preferred method of administration in patients with acute organophosphate poisoning. Clinical trials will be necessary to document the effectiveness of this regimen.

Animals↗

Publication rates in U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy, 1976-1992.

To establish publication rates of U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy (SCOP) for 1976-1992, we obtained data from the Science Citation Index (SCI) Corporate Index. The SCI data base covers the top 4500 journals in the technical and scientific fields. Citations were counted without regard to publication type (letter, abstract, review, etc.). Duplicative publications were eliminated. Faculty counts were obtained from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Roster of Faculty and Staff for the inclusive years. Total publications for all schools increased over 100% from 1976 to 1992, and the number of faculty members increased by 40% during that time. However, only 12 (16%) of the SCOP averaged 50 or more publications/year, whereas 43 (59%) averaged fewer than 20. Data were also normalized by full-time faculty members. Only 13 (18%) SCOP averaged 1.0 or more publication/faculty/year, and 38 (52%) averaged fewer than 0.5. Publication rates were greater for medical center-based than for nonmedical center-based SCOP (p < 0.05), and for public than for private SCOP (p < 0.05). These data suggest that over half of the existing SCOP are minimally productive, generating less than 20 publications/year or 0.5 publication/faculty/year.

Faculty↗

Drug-induced lichen planus.

Lichen planus is a relatively common skin disorder of unknown etiology. A wide variety of drugs have been implicated in its cause. Using five or more cases of drug-induced lichen planus reported in at least three separate reports with at least one case of probable cause by the scale of Naranjo et al as criteria, sufficient evidence exists that beta-blockers, methyldopa, penicillamine, quinidine, and quinine play a role in this disorder. Evidence is insufficient for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, sulfonylurea agents, carbamazepine, gold, lithium, and a host of miscellaneous drugs. Given available epidemiologic evidence, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents probably should also be considered causative. Differentiating drug-induced lichen planus from the idiopathic disorder is difficult; most evidence is based on the dechallenge and rechallenge with the drug when these data are available.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Drug-induced gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia is a relatively common physical finding in men. A wide variety of drugs have been implicated in its cause. Sufficient evidence in the literature suggests that calcium-channel blockers, cancer chemotherapeutic agents, and histamine2-receptor blockers may play a role in the disorder. Evidence for digitalis glycosides and neuroleptic agents is insufficient. Ketoconazole and spironolactone can also produce gynecomastia, and data for marijuana are contradictory. Large numbers of drugs have only case reports of temporal association with the disorder.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Drug-induced pure red cell aplasia.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is an uncommon hematologic disorder characterized by the absence of erythroblasts in otherwise normal bone marrow. It is commonly an autoimmune disorder sometimes associated with a congenital error. It may also be acquired in association with thymomas, hematologic malignancies, human parvovirus B19 infection, drugs, and other disease states. Thirty drugs have been implicated as causative in PRCA, but most literature reports describe only one or two patients. Data evaluating possible mechanisms of drug-induced PRCA are extremely limited, with conflicting results from different investigators. The criteria we used were at least five patients reported, reports from at least three separate investigators, and a minimum of one case of probable causality or better using a published assessment scale. With these criteria, phenytoin, azathioprine, and isoniazid had sufficient evidence of causality. All three are documented causes of PRCA and should be considered in any case of selective erythrocyte aplasia.

Anticonvulsants↗