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Biomedical subjects

D L Morris

Publications and source records attributed to D L Morris.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Cocaine use and the risk for endocarditis in intravenous drug users.

Endocarditis is a relatively frequent infection in intravenous drug users. We compared features in the cases of 102 patients with those in intravenous drug users with other causes of fever to identify risk factors predictive of endocarditis. Logistic regression analysis showed cocaine use to be strongly associated with endocarditis. This special risk involving cocaine use has not been reported previously; the explanation for it may provide insight into the pathogenesis of endocarditis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The management of inflammatory complications of colonic diverticular disease.

Inflammatory complications of colonic diverticular disease remain a common and dangerous cause for hospital admission in our ageing society. The presentation, pathology, general and surgical management of acute diverticulitis, peritonitis and perforation of colonic diverticular disease are reviewed.

Diverticulitis, Colonic↗
PubMed1987

Increased plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in scuba divers after submersion.

Increased plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in scuba divers after submersion. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 87-90, 1987. After submersion under water in a motionless state of neutral buoyancy, scuba divers frequently report feelings of well-being or euphoria similar to those reported after strenuous exercise. Since strenuous exercise is associated with a stress-related increase in plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (beta-EIR), this study was undertaken to measure plasma beta-EIR after submersion in a state of neutral buoyancy under conditions that do not involve strenuous exercise or other extreme stresses. Plasma beta-EIR was measured by radioimmunoassay in male scuba divers before and immediately after remaining motionless 10 ft under water in a state of neutral buoyancy. A significant (P less than 0.01) increase in plasma beta-EIR was found under these conditions. Venipuncture and scuba breathing out of the water did not alter beta-EIR levels. These results indicate that the milder stress associated with submersion in a state of neutral buoyancy involves an increase in plasma beta-EIR similar to that caused by severe stress.

Diving↗
PubMed1986

Incidence of bile reflux in gastric ulcer and after partial gastrectomy.

Duodenogastric bile reflux (DGBR) is reported to be increased in patients with gastric ulcer (GU) and following Billroth I partial gastrectomy (BIPG). pH, total bacterial counts, and total and free bile acids were measured in gastric juice aspirated hourly for 24 h in 6 patients with GU, 7 patients with a BIPG performed for GU and in 8 healthy normal controls. Intragastric pH was significantly higher in the BIPG group during the day (P less than 0.001) and at night (P less than 0.001) compared with normals and the GU group. There were no differences between GUs and normal patients. Bile acid concentrations in the gastric juice were not significantly different between GU and control groups over the 24 h. Median and range values were 0.14 (0.06-0.52) mmol l-1 in GU patients and 0.14 (0.05-0.67) mmol l-1 in the normals. However total bile acid concentrations were significantly greater in the BIPG group (0.23, 0.04-0.84) compared with GU or controls. (P = 0.04, P = 0.02). Our data do not support the role of DGBR in the pathogenesis of GU, but deoxycholic acid was detected in significantly greater amounts in BIPG subjects than controls (chi 2 = 12.94, P less than 0.001) or GU subjects (none detected) and may be important in the pathogenesis of gastric stump cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and radiographic features of simple and hydatid cysts of the liver.

The advances of hydatid chemotherapy and the non-operative management of simple (epithelial) hepatic cysts make a correct diagnosis of increasing importance. Twenty-six patients with hepatic hydatid cysts and eleven with simple cysts were reviewed. In both groups clinical presentation was most frequently due to pain. Sex, age and size of the cysts were similar. Hydatid serology was negative in six of the hydatid patients (23 per cent). None of the simple cyst patients had positive serology but one had a borderline titre. Ultrasound and computerized tomography identified daughter cysts within the main cyst in only 17 hydatid cysts (65 per cent) and considerable intra-cyst debris was also present in five of the simple cysts. Seven of the simple cysts were deroofed surgically and the remainder underwent percutaneous aspiration. Sixteen of the hydatid cysts were found to have a biliary communication whereas this was not found with any simple cyst. The difficulties in making a precise diagnosis in some patients with a liver cyst should deter the interventional radiologist and restrain the hydatid chemotherapist.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Pharmacokinetics of albendazole in man.

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole were investigated in healthy volunteers and in patients receiving albendazole for treatment of hydatid disease. Unchanged albendazole was below detectable limits in plasma, urine, bile and cyst fluid. The major metabolite present in all fluids was the sulfoxide. Maximum concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide in plasma were very variable, probably due to variable absorption of albendazole.

Absorption↗
PubMed1986

Can albendazole reduce the risk of implantation of spilled protoscoleces? An animal study.

Post-operative recurrence of hydatid disease occurs in approximately 10% of patients. The role of pre- or post-spillage chemotherapy with albendazole (10 mg/kg) was investigated in a gerbil model. All animals received approximately 5000 protoscoleces of ovine Echinococcus granulosus by intraperitoneal injection. Pre-spillage albendazole therapy did not protect against the development of cysts whilst a significant reduction in numbers of peritoneal cysts was seen in gerbils treated with albendazole 10 mg/kg for one week after inoculation. Two weeks therapy was no more effective. A very short course of albendazole treatment immediately following intraperitoneal 'spillage' of protoscoleces in a gerbil significantly reduced the number of cysts which developed. This finding may well be of clinical value.

Albendazole↗
PubMed1986

Effect of albendazole sulphoxide on viability of hydatid protoscoleces in vitro.

Hydatid protoscoleces obtained from sheep (infected with Echinococcus granulosus) were treated in culture medium with albendazole sulphoxide at final concentrations of 100, 500 and 1000 micrograms/l and the viability was assessed at regular intervals. Over a period of up to 31 days concentrations of 500 and 1000 micrograms/l of sulphoxide significantly reduced the viability in treated groups, as compared with appropriate controls, whilst 100 micrograms/l of sulphoxide had no effect.

Albendazole↗
PubMed1986

Protoscolicidal effect of praziquantel--in-vitro and electron microscopical studies on Echinococcus granulosus.

Praziquantel was investigated in an in-vitro culture system of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid disease). Live protoscoleces were obtained from ovine pulmonary and hepatic cysts. As well as testing for serial viability, protoscoleces were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Praziquantel concentrations as low as 50 micrograms/l had a profound and rapid effect on the viability of protoscoleces. Electron microscopy of treated parasite demonstrated gross damage to the tegument. Praziquantel is a most effective and rapid scolicidal agent which may well be of clinical value.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Lactate extraction during net lactate release in legs of humans during exercise.

Lactate metabolism was studied in six normal males using a primed continuous infusion of lactate tracer during continuous graded supine cycle ergometer exercise. Subjects exercised at 49, 98, 147, and 196 W for 6 min at each work load. Blood was sampled from the brachial artery, the iliac vein, and the brachial vein. Arteriovenous differences were determined for chemical lactate concentration and L-[1-14C]-lactate. Tracer-measured lactate extraction was determined from the decrease in lactate radioactivity per volume of blood perfusing the tissue bed. Net lactate release was determined from the change in lactate concentration across the tissue bed. Total lactate release was taken as the sum of tracer-measured lactate extraction and net (chemical) release. At rest the arms and legs showed tracer-measured lactate extraction, as determined from the isotope extraction, despite net chemical release. Exercise elicited an increase in both net lactate release and tracer-measured lactate extraction by the legs. For the legs the total lactate release (net lactate release + tracer-measured lactate extraction) was roughly equal to twice the net lactate release under all conditions. The tracer-measured lactate extraction by the exercising legs was positively correlated to arterial lactate concentration (r = 0.81, P less than 0.001) at the lower two power outputs. The arms showed net lactate extraction during exercise, which was correlated to the arterial concentration (r = 0.86). The results demonstrate that exercising skeletal muscle extracts a significant amount of lactate during net lactate release and that the working skeletal muscle appears to be a major site of blood lactate removal during exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Homogeneous apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay for thyroxin-binding globulin in serum.

In this automated apoenzyme reactivation immunoassay system (Ames Optimate) for thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG), the sample and N6-aminohexylflavin adenine dinucleotide-labeled TBG react sequentially with antiserum. Then apoglucose oxidase is added to combine with the free fraction and generate glucose oxidase activity, which is measured colorimetrically. The assay requires 100 microL of sample and covers the clinically significant range for TBG (less than 2.5 to 55 mg/L). The first result is obtained in 16 min; assay of 29 samples and their blanks is completed in less than 1 h. The lower limit of detection is about 2.5 mg/L. Between-assay CVs (n = 9) were less than 9%, within-assay CVs (n = 5) were less than 6%, and analytical recovery of TBG was 103-112%. Reagents are stable at 4 degrees C for at least five months. Results by this method for serum TBG (y) compared well with those determined by radioimmunoassay (x): y = 1.029x--0.352 (r = 0.990, n = 49, Syx = 1.165 mg/L). In addition, with 39 other sera the ratio of total thyroxin (by RIA) to TBG compared well with free thyroxin measured by equilibrium dialysis (r = 0.930) and the free thyroxin index (r = 0.970).

Apoenzymes↗