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Biomedical subjects

E T O'Brien

Publications and source records attributed to E T O'Brien.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Sphygmomanometers in hospital and family practice: problems and recommendations.

The accuracy and working condition of 210 sphygmomanometers were tested: 100 (50 and mercury and 50 aneroid) models were used in family practices and 100 mercury models in hospitals. Faults in the inflation-deflation system were common and caused mainly by dirt or wear in the control valves. Leakage occurred in 48% of the hospital and 33% of the family practice sphygmomanometers. In the mercury models the mercury or air vents were often in an unsatisfactory condition or the calibrated glass tube dirty. The accuracy of the gauges was examined at 90 and 150 mm Hg: fewer than 2% of the mercury sphygmomanometers but 30% of the aneroid models had errors greater than +/- 4 mm Hg at either pressure. Over half of the cuffs examined had bladders widths less than the recommended size, and 94% had bladders shorter than the length recommended for use on normal adults. Mercury sphygmomanometers should be bought in preference to aneroid models as they are more accurate, less expensive in the long term, and can be maintained by the owner; they should be checked every six to 12 months depending on usage. Replacement parts should be kept readily available.

Equipment Failure↗
PubMed1982

The clinical pharmacology of tolmesoxide. A new vasodilator antihypertensive agent.

The haemodynamic response and pharmacokinetics of single dose oral tolmesoxide were studied at various dose levels in 4 patients with severe hypertension. There was a reproducible fall in mean arterial pressure from baseline of 24.2% and a rise in heart rate of 37.6% following administration of tolmesoxide. The onset of antihypertensive action occurred within 1 h, with a peak effect at 3 h after dosing. The mean duration of action was up to 12.0 h. Tolmesoxide had a mean half-life of 3.0 h. It was rapidly absorbed with a mean peak plasma level occurring at 1.0 h. Plasma levels correlated well with the doses administered. Side-effects include mild nausea, facial flushing and postural symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Bioavailability of labetalol increases with age.

The antihypertensive drug labetalol was administered orally and intravenously to ten hypertensive patients aged between 28 and 75 years. There was a significant increase with age in both bioavailability and half-life of labetalol. Clearance tended to be lower in the elderly subjects. First pass metabolism results in variable oral bioavailability of labetalol which is greater in the elderly and this should be borne in mind when using the drug in this age group.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Hypertension in the elderly: an overview.

Hypertension in the elderly is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. There is no convincing data which prove that treatment of mild to moderate hypertension in this age group improves prognosis, but a review of available data suggests that treatment is beneficial. It is suggested that a thiazide diuretic or a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug should be used as first-line therapy. These drugs may be combined if an inadequate response is seen and other drugs may be used if the blood pressure is not controlled.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1981

Accuracy of the London School of Hygiene and Remler M2000 sphygmomanometers.

1. The accuracy of the Remler M2000, a semiautomatic portable blood pressure recorder, was assessed with the London School of Hygiene (LSH) and Hawkesley random-zero sphygmomanometers used as reference standards. 2. The Remler gave higher recordings than the LSH sphygmomanometer, the mean systolic and diastolic differences being 5.9 mmHg (P less than 0.001) and 4.7 mmHg (P less than 0.001) respectively. No significant difference was demonstrated between paired Remler and Hawkesley recordings. 3. When simultaneous paired LSH and Hawkesley sphygmomanometer recordings were compared, with LSH gave lower blood pressures: 7.1 mmHg (P less than 0.001) for systolic and 3.6 mmHg (P less than 0.001) for diastolic recordings. 4. The LSH sphygmomanometer underestimates blood pressure, partly due to a calibration error but also because the selection of end points for this device differs from other methods of blood pressure measurement.

Blood Pressure Determination↗
PubMed1981

The sprained finger that isn't.

Six athletic injuries commonly misdiagnosed as a sprained finger are three types of closed tendon injuries, two types of intra-articular fractures involving the middle joint and a volar plate avulsion of the middle joint. The proper diagnosis can usually be made with a good history, a thorough examination and anteroposterior, lateral and oblique x-rays of the finger. Reconstructive procedures can be performed for missed injuries, but the results are inferior to those obtained with early treatment.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1980

Printed information for the lay public on cardiovascular disease.

Booklets from several countries on various aspects of cardiovascular disease, intended for distribution to the public and to patients, could be classified into three categories dealing with primary prevention, secondary prevention, and management. Much material was duplicated, whereas some diseases were completely ignored. Only two types of booklets should be available. One would deal with preventive measures for all cardiovascular diseases, while the other would be a series of booklets on individual conditions, combining information on secondary prevention and on management.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1980

Segmental reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.

The classical findings of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS), OR Sudeck's atrophy, include pain, swelling, limitation of motion, and patchy demineralization, all of which usually affect an entire extremity. This report presents two cases of RSDS which involve only a portion of an extremity--the fourth and fifth fingers. It is concluded that this segmental distribution is best explained by neural pathway transmission.

Female↗