Clinical hypnosis.
Clinical hypnosis is now an available tool for general practitioners. Hypnotists do not possess any magical powers. It is the patient who possess the magic; the hypnotist merely unlocks this power.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Burrows.
Clinical hypnosis is now an available tool for general practitioners. Hypnotists do not possess any magical powers. It is the patient who possess the magic; the hypnotist merely unlocks this power.
The pharmacokinetic properties of four erythromycin formulations were compared in six adult horses after administration of single and multiple oral doses. Formulations of erythromycin administered were estolate and phosphate given 37.5 mg/kg every 12 h and 25 mg/kg every 8 h, and stearate and ethylsuccinate given 25 mg/kg every 8 h. Areas under the curve (AUC) and maximum plasma erythromycin concentrations (Cmax) were equal or greater (P > or = 0.05) following administration of erythromycin phosphate and stearate compared with those values following administration of erythromycin estolate or ethylsuccinate. In comparing an 8 h vs. a 12 h dosage interval for multiple doses of erythromycin phosphate or estolate, there were no significant differences observed in AUC(24-28 h), peak-trough plasma concentrations or duration that plasma concentrations exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Rhodococcus equi. Comparisons of pharmacokinetic parameters between single and multiple doses were made for each formulation. Differences in Cmax, tmax, or t1/2 beta between single and multiple doses were demonstrated for erythromycin ethylsuccinate and estolate. Based on equivalent plasma antibiotic concentrations, erythromycin phosphate or stearate could be substituted for estolate in the treatment of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Furthermore, there was no advantage of an 8-h interval, compared with an interval of 12 h.
A double-blind, randomized study of parallel group design comparing remoxipride and thioridazine (dose range 150-600 mg/day of either drug) was undertaken at 11 Australian centres. A total of 144 patients (remoxipride = 73, thioridazine = 71) with DSM-III-R schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder commenced the study, and 89 patients (remoxipride = 45, thioridazine = 44) completed the 6 weeks of the trial. The mean daily doses at last rating were 404 mg (remoxipride) and 378 mg (thioridazine). Initial Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores decreased by a mean 8.7 points in both remoxipride and thioridazine groups. Equivalent treatment responses were also confirmed by Clinical Global Impression. During the study, sedatives or hypnotics were needed by 68% of the remoxipride patients and 51% of the thioridazine patients. Thioridazine was associated with more postural hypotension, drowsiness, increased sleep, headache, dizziness on rising, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction and weight gain, while remoxipride patients reported more insomnia. There were no differences between remoxipride and thioridazine on dystonia, hypokinesia, dyskinesia, rigidity and akathisia. The results indicate that remoxipride has similar antipsychotic efficacy to thioridazine but causes fewer side effects.
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BACKGROUND: Oxygen-derived free radicals (ODFRs) and subsequent lipid peroxidation may be responsible for myocardial damage associated with ischaemia/reperfusion after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). These potentially cytotoxic ODFRs are likely to be generated in the plasma, where the primary target organ or cell may be the endothelium. Some of these toxic effects may be limited by the action of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The aim of this study was to determine whether there was evidence of ODFR-mediated damage to the endothelium after PTCA and to examine the roles of lipid peroxides and GPx. METHODS: Serial samples of plasma were obtained at the time of catheter insertion, at the time of balloon inflation, 10 min after inflation, and 60 min after inflation, from 16 patients undergoing PTCA. We measured levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf, a specific product of the endothelium and a marker of damage), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, an indirect measure of the activity of ODFRs in peroxidizing lipoproteins), and the antioxidant GPx. RESULTS: There was a simultaneous peak in the levels of TBARS (P = 0.0096) with a fall in the levels of GPx (P = 0.004) 10 min after balloon deflation. Sixty min after balloon deflation, GPx levels were still reduced (P = 0.005) but there was a rise in levels of vWf (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Our interpretation of these data is that an early peak in ODFR activity associated with PTCA causes an endothelial injury 1 h after inflation. This may be related to the reduced ability of GPx to scavenge ODFRs.
We previously showed that pretreatment with inhibitors of hepatic P-450 microsomal enzymes prolonged xylazine-ketamine anesthesia, which sometimes led to mortality in rats. In this study we determined if similar effects were produced in broiler chickens and mice. A combination of 5 mg xylazine/kg and 15 mg ketamine/kg im was given to broiler chickens 5-6 w of age, and a combination of 10 mg xylazine/kg and 200 mg ketamine/kg ip was given to mice. The loss of righting reflex was used to measure duration of anesthesia. Pretreatment with 100 mg chloramphenicol/kg im, 150 mg cimetidine/kg im, 25 mg SKF-525A/kg im or 40 mg ketoconazole/kg po significantly increased the duration of xylazine + ketamine anesthesia in the chickens. Pretreatment with 40 mg phenobarbital/kg im bid for 3 d, 25 mg 3-methylcholanthrene/kg im sid for 3 d, or 50 mg rifampin/kg im bid for 2 d failed to alter the duration of xylazine + ketamine anesthesia in the broilers. None of the inhibitors tested altered the duration of anesthesia in mice. Some chickens pretreated with inhibitors (cimetidine, ketoconazole, SKF-525A) or inducers (phenobarbital, 3-MC, rifampin) died. This study suggests that hepatic metabolism of xylazine may be similar in the rat and broiler chicken and that the pulmonary metabolism of xylazine and ketamine may be different in chickens and rats.
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The Profile of Mood States was administered to 90 Australian women, 30 depressed, 30 anxious, and 30 nonpsychiatric controls. Both clinical groups scored higher than the McNair, Lorr, and Droppleman (1971) normative samples on the negative mood states and scored lower on Vigor. The means for these groups are presented and compared with the 1971 normative data of McNair, Lorr, and Droppleman.
To investigate sex differences in the professional achievements and personal life-styles of graduates, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The sample comprised surviving female medical graduates of the University of Melbourne and an equal number of male medical graduates who were matched by year of graduation. The final response rate was 70% (1764 subjects returned questionnaires) and was representative for both age and sex. This article describes the practice patterns and family lives of graduates. Considerable sex-related differences were found in the professional achievements and personal life-styles of the surveyed medical graduates. Women's professional careers tended to be more circumscribed than were those of male colleagues. Women were less involved in areas outside clinical practice such as teaching or lecturing, committees, medical administration, and research and its publication. Female doctors earned significantly (P less than 0.0001) less than did male doctors and were more likely to work as employees, locums or in sessional employment (P less than 0.0001). Women were more involved in all aspects of household activities, especially during midlife (40-60 years of age)--the peak career years for male doctors. The career underachievement of female doctors is likely to continue unless considerable changes are made to current postgraduate training schemes and career structures.
The effect of allopurinol pretreatment 12 hours before an intraperitoneal challenge with a sublethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin (50 micrograms kg-1) was evaluated in 18 horses. The horses were divided among three equal groups: 1-endotoxin alone; 2-5 mg allopurinol kg-1 bodyweight plus endotoxin; and 3-50 mg allopurinol kg-1 bodyweight plus endotoxin. A variety of evaluation parameters were used. No differences among the groups were noted in rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, haematological values, blood PaO2, blood PaCO2, blood pH or blood bicarbonate. Significant (P less than 0.05) differences between the groups were noted as regards the changes in capillary refill time, base excess, blood glucose, blood lactate, blood beta-glucuronidase and recumbency time. The protection afforded by 5 mg allopurinol kg-1 appeared to be superior to that with 50 mg allopurinol kg-1.
The present study investigated whether administration of percutaneous estradiol for the 7 days encompassing menstruation (the paramenstruum) would be effective in alleviating menstrual migraine. The study was a double-blind cross-over placebo comparison of percutaneous estradiol in gel form. Twenty-two women who suffered from regular recurring menstrual migraine were studied during 2 assessment menstrual cycles, 4 treatment cycles (2 of estradiol gel, 2 of placebo gel), and 1 follow-up (no treatment) cycle. Women completed daily records of the occurrence and severity of migraine and medication used. Eighteen women completed the study. There was a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine in the paramenstruum and in the amount of medication taken during use of percutaneous estradiol. Women expressed a significant preference for continuation of therapy with percutaneous estradiol.
Progestogens are increasingly being advocated as a necessary and integral part of hormone replacement therapy. Yet few studies have measured the acceptability of these regimes. One factor profoundly affecting acceptability, and thus patient compliance, is the presence of adverse psychological effects of progestogens. There have been few double-blind trials which have evaluated such effects of progestogens and compared them with the effects of oestrogen administration alone. There is some evidence of less favourable effects when certain progestogens are added to oestrogen or used alone. Whilst the literature is limited there is an indication that adverse effects of progestogens may relate to dosage, type of progestogen and individual sensitivity of women to hormone provocation of symptoms. Further studies are needed to test these hypotheses.
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Clinical reports have suggested that antidepressant medication may contribute to the sexual dysfunction experienced by some depressed patients. A double-blind trial in a non-psychiatric male population compared amitriptyline (tricyclic), mianserin (tetracyclic) and placebo for their effects on nocturnal sexual arousal. In a three-way crossover design active drug or placebo were taken for two weeks preceding measurement of the frequency, amplitude and duration of nocturnal penile tumescence and synchronous sleep indices. Both active compounds significantly decreased the amplitude and the total duration of nocturnal erections. The effects on sleep indices were as previously reported. Few differences were found between the tricyclic and tetracyclic drugs. Some implications of these findings are considered.
A single blind study was planned to investigate whether benzodiapines would reduce androgens in women with idiopathic hirsutism. Placebo was given for the first month followed by four months of a benzodiazepine (chlorazepate 15 mg nocte or diazepam 10 mg nocte ). Plasma samples were collected during the follicular and luteal phases of each therapy month. Hair growth was assessed monthly. Eighteen women concluded the five months of the trial of whom ten received chlorazepate and eight diazepam. Comparison of follicular plasma samples during the placebo phase and fourth month of benzodiazepine found a significant increase in sex hormone binding globulin and a significant decrease in dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate with benzodiazepine therapy. No significant effects on hair growth were observed. A longer therapy time may be needed to demonstrate effects of benzodiapines on hirsutism. Further studies are needed to determine whether benzodiazepines affect hormonal parameters in normal men and women.
90 patients with a primary depressive illness, admitted consecutively to one psychiatric ward were studied. All patients had the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) done before initial treatment. First treatment response was correlated with the DST results. The non-suppressors, as a group, improved with treatment better than the suppressors. However, unlike in previous studies, no relationship was found between non-suppression and poor response to antidepressant medication.