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Biomedical subjects

D Hughes

Publications and source records attributed to D Hughes.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Effect of prazosin vs placebo on chronic left ventricular heart failure.

The effect of the vasodilator prazosin vs placebo on exercise duration until marked dyspnea, and on left ventricular function measured by echocardiography, was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized study in 24 patients with chronic left ventricular failure despite digitalis and diuretic therapy. Compared with the double-blind placebo, prazosin reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure times heart rate, improved clinical symptoms, decreased cardiothoracic ratio measured by chest roentgenography, decreased left ventricular and left atrial dimensions, improved ejection fraction and Vcf measured by echocardiography, and improved treadmill exercise duration. All 12 patients taking prazosin had greater than or equal to 20% improved treadmill exercise duration; none of 12 receiving placebo improved. In six of 12 patients taking prazosin, roentgenographic evidence of pulmonary venous congestion disappeared compared with none of the patients on placebo. These data suggest that prazosin may be effective in treating chronic left ventricular failure.

Adult↗

Comparison of trimazosin and methyldopa in hypertension.

Eighteen patients with hypertension participated in a double-blind, randomized study to evaluate the effect of trimazosin, methyldopa, and placebo on supine and standing blood pressure and heart rate. Of 6 patients on methyldopa, one developed drug fever (and was dropped from the study) and one developed impotence. None of 6 patients on trimazosin and none of 6 patients on placebo developed any adverse effects. The mean supine blood pressure on 900 mg trimazosin daily was 17.0/12.8 mm Hg lower than that on the first placebo trial (p less than 0.01) and 17.0/12.1 mm Hg lower than that on the second placebo trial (p less than 0.01). The mean supine blood pressure on 2,250 mg methyldopa daily was 17.8/12.4 mm Hg lower than that on the first placebo trial (p less than 0.01) and 16.8/13.0 mm Hg lower than that on the second placebo trial (p less than 0.01). The mean supine blood pressure was not significantly affected by placebo. Trimazosin, 900 mg daily, and methyldopa, 2,250 mg daily, were equally effective in lowering supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure and did not affect supine or standing heart rate.

Blood Pressure↗

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the guinea pig. Failure to suppress with crude human chorionic gonadotrophin.

A single intraperitoneal dose of 3000 IU of crude human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), of proven in vitro immunosuppressive activity, gave only marginal effect on the clinical and histopathological course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in guinea pigs, which did not reach statistical significance. Treatment 7 and 11 days after immunization significantly reduced the Mantoux reaction concomitant with decreased perivascular inflammation, but with unaltered or (when treated at onset) slightly enhanced clinical disease, with in vitro lymphocyte reactivity increased in accord. Much earlier treatment gave the opposite effect of a marginal improvement. HCG in vitro immunosuppressive potency was dependent on its concentration, intensity of immune response and sequence of addition. While the action of HCG on EAE does not point to an effective therapy for multiple sclerosis, as suggested by the influence of pregnancy on this disease, non-HCG fractions of urine during pregnancy may yet contain highly efficacious immunosuppressants.

Animals↗

Specific inhibitory action of polyunsaturated fatty acids on lymphocyte transformation induced by PHA and PPD.

Both saturated (SFA) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFS) inhibited PHA- and PPD-induced lymphocyte transformation. The degree of inhibition varied with the nature of the fatty acid (FA) and further comparison with their effect on unstimulated lymphocyte cultures suggests a specific action of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on the lymphocyte PHA- and -PPD interaction. These findings are briefly discussed in the light of similar observations with PUFA-derived prostaglandins.

Arachidonic Acids↗

Non-specificity of laboratory test for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

It has been claimed that the inhibiting effect of linoleic acid on the macrophage electrophoretic mobility test provides a specific laboratory method for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (M.S.) and may also enable susceptible relatives of M.S. patients to be identified. Three trials of the method under double-blind conditions have failed to confirm that the test is diagnostically useful.

Animals↗

Carcinomatous neuromyopathy. 2. Immunological studies. An electrophysiological and immunological study of patients with carcinoma of the lung.

Significant cellular sensitivity to peripheral nerve antigens was found by MIF assay in 36% of patients with lung cancer (P<0·005) as compared with 62% of patients with peripheral neuropathy without neoplasia. No sensitivity was found in controls or the cancer sub-group without neuromuscular abnormality. The significance of these findings for an immune mechanism is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗