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Biomedical subjects

D J Lane

Publications and source records attributed to D J Lane.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

A steroid sparing effect of ketotifen in steroid-dependent asthmatics.

In a multicentre, double-blind trial, the steroid sparing effect of a new anti-anaphylactic agent ketotifen was assessed against placebo in eighty-six steroid-dependent asthmatics. Mean reduction in total daily prednisolone dosage in patients on ketotifen was 4.0 +/- 3.6 mg compared to 1.7 +/- 2.8 mg on placebo, a result significantly in favour of the active drug (P < 0.01). This suggests that ketotifen has a place similar to that of disodium cromoglycate or steroid aerosols in the managment of steroid-dependent asthmatics. It has the advantage of requiring only twice-daily oral administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The pattern of breathing in patients with chronic airflow obstruction.

1. The pattern of breathing in 12 patients with severe irreversible airflow obstruction has been studied during ventilatory stimulation by rebreathing CO2. Mean maximum tidal volume response was only 1.23 +/- 0.30 litres (mean +/- SD); this represented 65% of mean measured vital capacity and 82% of mean measured inspiratory capacity. During the course of rebreathing mean total breath duration was reduced from 3.48 +/- 0.93 to 2.44 +/- 0.48 s. 2. End-expiratory thoracic gas volume (FRC) was elevated at rest in all subjects and increased significantly by a further 0.50 +/- 1.90 litres during ventilatory stimulation in 10 of the 12 subjects. The maximum increase in FRC was proportional to the degree of airflow obstruction afforded by the airways in each subject. 3. It is suggested that the increase in FRC during ventilatory stimulation is responsible for the diminished tidal volume response and is an important determinant of breathing pattern and symptomatology in patients with airflow obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The pattern of stimulated breathing in man during non-elastic expiratory loading.

1. The pattern of breathing expressed as the relationship between tidal volume and the components of breath interval was studied in normal subjects during CO2 rebreathing, both under unloaded conditions and following the introduction of a non-elastic expiratory resistance. 2. Under unloaded conditions end-expiratory thoracic gas volume (FRC) measured plethysmographically did not alter during the course of the rebreathing experiment. Maximum tidal volume attained (VT, max.) was equal to or just less than the inspiratory capacity of the subject measured at rest. Expiratory reserve volume was not encroached upon even at the highest levels of ventilation. 3. Under loaded conditions the pattern of breathing was altered. VT, max. was diminished in all subjects and FRC showed a progressive rise during rebreathing which was proportional to the resistive load afforded by the artificial resistance. There were no consistent differences in the components of breath duration either at rest or on maximal ventilatory stimulation between the loaded and unloaded states. 4. It is suggested that the pattern of breathing adopted under conditions of expiratory non-elastic loading is influenced more by the secondary effects of breathing at an elevated lung volume, than by the effect of the non-elastic load per se.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Occupational formalin asthma.

Hypersensitivity to formalin used to sterilise artificial kidney machines was shown by inhalation provocation tests to be responsible for attacks of wheezing accompanied by productive cough in two members of the nursing staff of a haemodialysis unit. Three further members of the staff of 28 who were continually exposed to this substance occupationally had developed similar recurrent but less frequent episodes since joining the unit. Two underwent inhalation provocation tests with formalin which did not reproduce these symptoms. Single episodes of these symptoms had been noted by three additional staff members so that altogether eight (29%) had experienced attacks described as bronchitic since becoming exposed to formalin. We suggest that, while exposure to formalin did not seem to be directly responsible in all cases, it might have increased susceptibility to other provoking agents or induced a hyper-reactive responsiveness of the airways. The responses observed in the two nurses after inhalation provocation tests with fromalin were predominantly of airways obstruction. Wheezing began between two and three hours after exposure, and peak expiratory flow rates fell maximally by approximately 50%. Reactions persisted for 10 hours to 10 days depending on the exposure dose. A productive cough was a prominent feature. The sputum appeared to be mucopurulent, but culture produced a scanty growth of Haemophilus influenzae only, together with upper respiratory tract commensals. The cellular content was not homogeneous, neutrophil leucocytes and eosinophil leucocoytes variably dominating. Variable responses of neutrophil and eosinophil leucocytes were also seen in the peripheral blood.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

HLA in asthma.

100 adult patients with asthma were typed for HLA. These patients were skin tested with a panel of allergens and divided into skin test positive (61) and skin test negative (39) patients. There was a decreased frequency of HLA-B12 in the negative skin test group (18%) compared to the skin test positive group (43%) and the controls (36%). A further subdivision of these patients into extrinsic asthma (positive skin tests and/or allergic history) and intrinsic asthma (negative skin tests and no allergic history) was made. There was an increased frequency in the extrinsic asthmatics of HLA-B8 (37 compared to 28% in normals) and a decreased frequency of B12 in the intrinsic asthmatics (13 compared to 36% in normals). 4 or 5 patients who had negative skin tests but gave a history of asthma following exposure to specific allergens, suggesting a type III immune complex asthma, were both A1 and B8.

Adolescent↗