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Biomedical subjects

D J Wright

Publications and source records attributed to D J Wright.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Rigid bronchoscopy under intravenous general anaesthesia with oxygen Venturi ventilation.

In a study of 100 patients undergoing rigid bronchoscopy under intravenous general anaesthesia with oxygen Venturi ventilation no major complications were observed. Minor complications included one adverse reaction to alphaxalone-alphadolone acetate (Althesin), one prolonged episode of laryngeal spasm after removal of the bronchoscope, and subsequent muscle pain attributed to suxamethonium in 36 patients. The last complication occurred significantly less frequently (p less than 0 . 025) in those patients who were pretreated with a small dose of a non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agent. Serial arterial blood gas sampling in 10 patients showed adequate ventilation during bronchoscopy, but carbon dioxide retention developed in nine cases immediately after the bronchoscope was withdrawn. With adequate precautions, however, the procedure is safe and well tolerated, even in patients with severe impairment of respiratory function.

Adult↗

John Hunter and venereal disease.

John Hunter's contribution to the understanding of venereal disease is reviewed. Hunter's evidence for the unitary nature of these diseases is examined and the advances he made in diagnosis, pathology, and management are considered.

Female↗

Terminal changes in mice experimentally infected with Borrelia duttoni.

The terminal changes following Borrelia duttoni infection in mice consisted of disseminated intravascular coagulation with associated depression in temperature, and in white cell and platelet counts with the development of a positive limulus lysate test. Apart from thrombosis and haemorrhage, similar changes were found in mice given cyclophosphamide prior to infection. The results suggest that neither intravascular coagulation nor immune complex formation are major factors in causing death in borreliosis.

Animals↗

Reaction following treatment of murine borreliosis and Shwartzman type reacion with borrelial sonicates.

Treatment of experimental murine borreliosis induced an acute transient fall in temperature, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia with appearance of circulating 'endotroxin-like' material. This reaction to treatment could be reproduced by the inoculatioh of borrelial sonicates into infected mice or by two injections of the same sonicate given 24 hours apart, into normal mice. Sensitization or precipitation of the reaction could not be induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide, although a reaction indistinguishable from the reaction to treatment could be provoked in mice by two successive injections of lipopolysaccharide given 24 hours apart. The nature of this reaction in mice was investigated and the relation of both reactions to the Shwartzman reaction, Endotoxin.

Ampicillin↗

The determination of a reference range for urinary oestrogen excretion in late pregnancy.

A reference range for urinary oestrogen excretion between 28 and 40 weeks has been produced by analysis of 18 870 estimations. The data were transformed logarithmically to give a Gaussian distribution on which parametric analysis was performed: non-parametric analysis was carried out on the untransformed data: the results of both analyses were compatible. Multiple pregnancies tended to have levels above the 50th centile, light-for-dates fetuses below the 50th centile. Antepartum haemorrhage showed no difference from the general reference range. Intrauterine death was preceded by a level below the 5th centile if the estimation was carried out less than one week before the fetus died.

Estrogens↗

Neuropharmacological agents modifying endotoxin-induced changes in mice.

A variety of neuropharmacological agents were tested to elucidate how chlorpromazine influenced an endotoxin-induced reaction. The results obtained, particularly with beta-adrenergic blocking agents, reserpine and fusaric acid, suggested that the primary locus of chlorpromazine's action was mediated by peripheral beta-adrenergic receptor blockade. Such a locus is compatible with the low doses of propranolol which suppress the reaction, and with successful treatment of shock with dopamine.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

The metabolism of some food additives related to piperonal in the rabbit.

1. The metabolism of piperonylidene acetone, and the food additives piperonyl acetone, piperonyl acetate and piperonyl isobutyrate were studied in male rabbits after oral doses of 100 mg/kg. 2. Both piperonylidene acetone and piperonyl acetone were extensively excreted as 4-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-butan-2-ol to the extent of 71.5% and 81.5% dose respectively in the three-day urine. 3. The esters, piperonyl acetate and piperonyl isobutyrate, were both metabolized to piperonylic acid, to the extent of 70.5% and 11.4% of dose respectively, in the three-day urine.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the office endometrial biopsy in the detection of endometrial carcinoma and atypical hyperplasia.

The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy and limitations of the outpatient endometrial biopsy in detection of endometrial carcinoma and atypical hyperplasia. This was done by reviewing all the endometrial material from the 891 women at this clinic whose first endometrial sample in 1974 was by the biopsy technique. The results of this material were correlated with subsequently available additional uterine samples obtained over a three year period by biopsy, dilatation and curettage, or hysterectomy. The detection rate by biopsy for the 21 cases of endometrial carcinoma proven by hysterectomy was 81%. There was a 5% false negative rate and no false positives. For the 25 cases of atypical hyperplasia proven by hysterectomy, the detection rate by biopsy was 68%. There was lack of hysterectomy confirmation in 33% and 24% false negatives. Insufficient material was obtained initially in 9% of the 891 women. Five percent of this group were found at hysterectomy to have either endometrial carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia. With an understanding of its limitations, the endometrial biopsy, although somewhat less accurate than the D & C, is considered to be a useful diagnostic tool for detection of these lesions.

Adolescent↗

Smoking and gastric juice volume in outpatients.

The volumes and pH of gastric juice in 26 outpatients presenting for dental surgery were measured by simple aspiration through a nasogastric tube introduced after the induction of anaesthesia. The average volume in these patients who were non-smokers was 9 ml and in those patients who had smoked on the day of the operation was 19 ml. Four of the smokers had more than 25 ml of gastric juice with a pH of 2.0 or less. It is suggested that out-patients who smoke would benefit from prophylaxis such as oral antacids or metoclopramide before anaesthesia.

Adult↗

The early history of anaesthesia in Newfoundland.

The early history of anaesthesia in Newfoundland is described by reference to newspapers and other writings of the time. News of ether first reached Newfoundland in February 1847 with a report from England of Robert Liston's amputation of a leg on December 21, 1846. Ether was first used in St. John's some days before July 30, 1847, for an operation to amputate both legs, the surgeon being Edward Keilley. Chloroform was used in St. John's a few days before May 4, 1848 by Samuel Carson in an obstetrical case, and on May 10, 1848 it was used during the amputation of a leg by Edward Keilley. Also discussed are some other items of anaesthetic interest which occurred during the years following until the appointment of the first (albeit part-time) anaesthetist in St. John's in 1912.

Anesthesia↗

In vivo and in vitro effect of cyclophosphamide on Borrelia duttoni.

Sera taken from mice given cyclophosphamide 75 min previously fails to substantially inhibit borrelial multiplication in vitro. Mice given cyclophosphamide were infected with Borrelia duttoni. Inability to demonstrate specific antibody in these mice did not prevent recovery from infection, resolution of the bacteraemia or appearance of an antigenic variant. Cyclophosphamide may delete suppressor lymphocytes allowing enhanced production of antibodies which may not only protect, but induce antigenic variation. Alternatively, recovery from infection may be unrelated to the immune response.

Animals↗

Assessment of fetal lung maturity by colorimetric phospholipid determination without digestion.

A previously described method for the determination of phospholipid concentration in amniotic fluid without digestion has been modified to make it more suitable for use in a routine laboratory. Results compare well with those by the original procedure. Results from nearly 70 amniotic fluids, collected at delivery, were compared with lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios determined on the same fluids. Statistical analysis of these data showed that for the prediction of lung immaturity, determination of total phospholipid concentration was at least as good as the L/S ratio.

Amniotic Fluid↗