Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E F Ring

Publications and source records attributed to E F Ring.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Thermologic methods in clinical pharmacology-skin temperature measurement in drug trials.

With the increasing availability of thermographic equipment the definition of "thermography" and "thermologic methods" is important, since differing techniques and standards may be applied. Recommendations are given for optimum use of skin-surface temperature measurements in the assessment of clinical drug trials. Sites for thermographic measurement, different methods for quantitation, and sources of further information are included. A brief checklist of minimal technical requirements and an example of information for patients are also included.

Drug Evaluation↗
PubMed1981

Problems in the assessment of disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis.

Serial assessments of disease activity using clinical, laboratory and thermographic indices were made on 20 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) before and after active in-patient exercise classes and two months after discharge. Clinical measurements and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate suggested decreased activity by the time of the final assessment but plasma viscosity and thermography suggested increased activity and levels of C-reactive protein were unchanged. Functional improvements occurred mostly during the in-patient period. A wide range of complement levels was found but did not change, and IgG rheumatoid factor levels were negative throughout. The problems of laboratory assessment in AS are stressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Prostaglandin E1 infusions for vascular insufficiency in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Twelve patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) and severe Raynaud's phenomenon received infusions of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) at a dose of 6-10 ng/kg/min, with either saline or 5% dextrose, for 72 hours in a single-blind cross-over study. The infusions were administered intravenously by centrally positioned catheters. Infusions were well tolerated with only mild side effects. Following the PGE1 infusion cold tolerance improved and attacks of Raynaud's phenomenon were less frequent, less severe, and shorter in duration. This subjective improvement was maintained for several weeks in most patients, and 2 noted healing of ischaemic ulcers. There was no significant change in objective measurements of hand function after either infusion. However, pain measured on a 10 cm visual analogue scale improved 2.19 cm with PGE1 and only 0.91 cm with normal saline (P less than 0.05). Temperature of the fingers and hands recorded by thermography did not change significantly with saline infusions, but did rise during PGE1 infusions (mean rise 2.0 degrees C at 48 hours, p less than 0.001), and was maintained when measured again 2 weeks later (mean rise 1.56 degrees C, p less 0.001). PGE1 may therefore be suitable treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon and the vascular insufficiency of systemic sclerosis and other connective tissue diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Intra-articular steroids in osteoarthritis.

Intra-articular steroid therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee has been reassessed by two placebo-controlled trials of 20 mg of triamcinalone hexacetonide in 48 joints. Steroid injections caused a significantly greater reduction in pain and tenderness than placebo, and were preferred by patients. However, the benefits were small and transient. Maximum pain reduction occurred one week after injection, and was accompanied by a fall in the thermographic index suggesting an anti-inflammatory mode of action. Synovial fluid was unafffected by injections, and there was no correlation between synovial fluid cell counts or the radiological grading, and the degree of pain reduction.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

A combined clinical and immunological assessment of four cyclophosphamide regimes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Four dosage regimes of cyclophosphamide have been compared in patients with late rheumatoid arthritis, in an attempt to separate toxicity from efficacy. Joint inflammation was assessed clinically and objectively by quantitative thermography. Delayed hypersensitivity in vitro was assessed using leucocyte migration inhibition (L.M.T.) to a standard antigen, Streptokinase. There was no significant difference in clinical response or side-effects between a continuous oral regime (1 mg/kg/day) and the same total dose given as an intermittent oral regime. Responders and non-responders were seen in both groups and there was a significant relationship between clinical response and fall in platelet count, suggesting a variable threshold. The same total dose given as an intermittent intravenous regime caused considerable side-effects but these could be avoided by the addition of methylprednisolone. Both intravenous regimes induced a much more rapid fall in the Thermographic Index (T.I.) than the oral regimes. Indeed many patients receiving oral cyclophosphamide showed an increase in joint inflammation in the first three weeks of treatment. Immunological studies demonstrated a corresponding increase in reactivity to Streptokinase over this period. There was a highly significant correlation between changes in L.M.T. and T.I. both early in treatment and, in the oral groups, over a period of six months.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1979

A thermographic and clinical comparison of three intra-articular steroid preparations in rheumatoid arthritis.

We have compared three intra-articular steroid preparations in a double blind study on 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and bilateral synovitis of the knees. One knee was injected with 1.0 ml of either prednisolone t-butyl acetate, methyl prednisolone acetate, or triamcinolone hexacetonide, and the patients were followed up for 6 weeks with regular clinical and thermographic assessments. Thermographic improvement was seen with all 3 drugs but was greatest initially and longest lasting with triamcinolone. No significant systemic improvement was seen with any drug after a single injection, though all 3 steroid preparations suppressed endogenous cortisol.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1978

A thermographic assessment of three intra-articular prednisolone analogues given in rheumatoid synovitis.

1 Three intra-articular prednisolone analogues have been studied in a group of forty-six rheumatoid arthritic subjects. Each compound was tested at 50 mg and 100 mg dose over 3 weeks. 2 The anti-inflammatory effect was assessed by quantitative thermography. Systemic escape of the drug was monitored by plasma prednisolone and cortisol levels. 3 Both the systemic escape from the joint and the duration of effect on injected and uninjected knees were related to drug solubility. 4 Depression of plasma cortisol occurred with all three preparations and was most prolonged with the long-acting preparation. 5 Increasing the dose from 50 mg to 100 mg increased the antiflammatory effect only with the soluble acetate preparation.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1978

Therapeutic value of arthroscopy.

Thermography before and after joint irrigation at arthroscopy showed no significant improvement of inflammation in 14 patients. Subjectively, those with chondrocalcinosis did best.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1977

Quantitative thermographic assessment of inositol nicotinate therapy in Raynaud's phenomena.

The basal temperature of the hands has been measured by quantitative thermography in a group of normal controls and rheumatoid patients exhibiting Raynaud's phenomenon. The thermographic index for both the dorsum of the hand and the fingers was significantly lower in the patients with Raynaud's. Oral treatment with inositol nicotinate (Hexopal) was followed by an initial rise in the thermographic index in both areas. After the initial increase the temperature fell again but then rose after two months treatment. At nine months two subjects on continuous therapy had higher indices than the four who had discontinued therapy. It is suggested that long-term treatment with nicotinate acid derivatives may produce improvement in the peripheral circulation by a different mechanism than the transient effect detected by short-term studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Comparison of intra-articular methotrexate with intra-articular triamcinolone hexacetonide by thermography.

A comparison of intra-articular methotrexate and intra-articular triamcinolone hexacetonide was made in 42 arthritic patients with persistent bilateral knee effusions. One knee was injected with either 5 mg methotrexate (two injections of 2.5 mg a week apart) or a single injection of 20 mg triamcinolone. An objective assessment of both knees was made by quantitative thermography at 0,3,7,14 and 21 days. Joints injected with triamcinolone showed a greater fall in thermographic index (T.I) than the joints injected with methotrexate, which showed similar change to the non-injected knee joints in both groups. Four patients received larger doses of methotrexate, up to 20 mg, though the fall in T.I. was still less than the mean fall for triamcinolone injected joints. Peak venous blood levels of methotrexate were reached 1 hour after intra-articular injection, and a sphygmomanometer cuff inflated around the leg above the injected knee for periods of up to 1 hour did not appreciably delay this. Methotrexate had no immediate anti-inflammatory effect, even in psoriatic arthropathy, and did not give the relief of intra-articular steroid.

Adult↗