Biomedical subjects
G Fitzpatrick
Publications and source records attributed to G Fitzpatrick.
Use of herbal medicines in ambulatory surgical patients.
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Application of Ugi reactions in synthesis of divalent neoglycoconjugates: evidence that the sugars are presented in restricted conformation.
[reaction: see text]. The Ugi reaction has been used to prepare divalent galactose derivatives. NMR analysis shows that a divalent neoglycoconjugate, where the glycopeptides are bridged by a terephthaloyl group, is an 83:17 mixture of two conformers; the amide groups of the major isomer have E-anti conformations. The spatial relationship and the relative orientation of the sugars are restricted, which may have consequences for the recognition of this and related structures in biological systems.
Design of an interface to allow microfluidic electrophoresis chips to drink from the fire hose of the external environment.
An interface design is presented that facilitates automated sample introduction into an electrokinetic microchip, without perturbing the liquids within the microfluidic device. The design utilizes an interface flow channel with a volume flow resistance that is 0.54-4.1 x 10(6) times lower than the volume flow resistance of the electrokinetic fluid manifold used for mixing, reaction, separation, and analysis. A channel, 300 microm deep, 1 mm wide and 15-20 mm long, was etched in glass substrates to create the sample introduction channel (SIC) for a manifold of electrokinetic flow channels in the range of 10-13 microm depth and 36-275 microm width. Volume flow rates of up to 1 mL/min were pumped through the SIC without perturbing the solutions within the electrokinetic channel manifold. Calculations support this observation, suggesting a leakage flow to electroosmotic flow ratio of 0.1:1% in the electrokinetic channels, arising from 66-700 microL/min pressure-driven flow rates in the SIC. Peak heights for capillary electrophoresis separations in the electrokinetic flow manifold showed no dependence on whether the SIC pump was on or off. On-chip mixing, reaction and separation of anti-ovalbumin and ovalbumin could be performed with good quantitative results, independent of the SIC pump operation. Reproducibility of injection performance, estimated from peak height variations, ranged from 1.5-4%, depending upon the device design and the sample composition.
Comparative studies on peptides representing the so-called tachykinin-like region of the Alzheimer Abeta peptide [Abeta(25-35)].
In an attempt to answer the question of whether or not the so-called tachykinin-like region of the Alzheimer beta-amyloid protein [Abeta(25-35)] can act as a tachykinin, the sequences Abeta(25-35), Abeta(25-35)amide and their norleucine-35 and phenylalanine-31 analogues were synthesized. These peptides were examined with ligand binding studies, electron microscopy, CD and NMR. In all cases some differences were found between the Abeta(25-35) analogue and the corresponding Phe31 peptide. In addition, in ligand displacement studies on tachykinin NK1 receptors, only the Phe31 analogue showed activity comparable to that of genuine tachykinins. We conclude that peptides based on Abeta(25-35) but with a Phe residue at position 31 do display properties typical of a tachykinin, but that peptides with Ile at this position do not.
Intravascular volume optimisation during repair of proximal femoral fracture. Regional anaesthesia is usually technique of choice.
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Small bowel obstruction by jejunal enterolith.
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Micromachined analytical devices: microchips for semen testing.
Micromachined devices (microchips) have been designed and tested for a range of clinically important assays. In this study we compare sperm motility determined using disposable glass microchips and a conventional Makler chamber. The 17 x 14 mm glass microchips contained three etched test structures each comprising either duplicate or quadruplicate analytical microchannels. Semen samples with sperm counts ranging from 21 to 78 million sperm per ml and forward progression scores of from 1+ to 3+ were evaluated and swimming times ranging from 360 s (3.3+ progression) to 770 s (1+,2 forward progression) observed in the microchips. Motility determined by the time taken for sperm to swim to the end of a microchannel (100 microns wide x 40 microns deep x 10 mm long) in the microchip correlated with forward progression of the sperm determined by the conventional Makler chamber method. This study demonstrates the feasibility of microchips for sperm motility testing and suggests that this technique would be applicable to the study of other types of motile cells.
Propranolol reduces the anxiety associated with day case surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To find out if propranolol, a non-cardioselective beta-blocker, can reduce the anxiety associated with day case surgery. DESIGN: Prospective randomized double blind trial. SETTING: University hospital, Ireland. SUBJECTS: An unselected group of 53 patients undergoing day case surgery. INTERVENTION: Subjects randomised to receive either propranolol (10 mg) or placebo on the morning of operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure; pulse, anxiety, pain score and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Mean (SD) Hospital Anxiety and Depression score was significantly lower in the propranolol group than in the control group (2.5 (0.7) compared with 4.6 (0.7), p < 0.0001) before discharge. CONCLUSION: A low dose of propranolol given on the morning of day case surgery significantly reduced patients' anxiety.
Anaesthesia for thyroplasty.
The purpose of this report is to describe the anaesthetic considerations for layngoplastic procedures. Thyroplasty is a procedure which restores the voice in unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The procedure employs an external approach via a window cut at the appropriate level in the thyroid ala. A wedge of silastic is inserted against the inner perichondrium, thereby displacing the vocal cord medially and permitting voice production. Correct placement of the implant is assessed by asking the patient to phonate; patient cooperation is therefore necessary at certain times during the procedure. We describe our management of a patient undergoing thyroplasty. The use of a benzodiazepine agonist-antagonist combination provided both optimal operating conditions and patient comfort.
Lowering the morbidity and mortality from trauma.
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Purtscher's retinopathy and fat embolism.
A 19-year-old woman who sustained multiple trauma but no head injury developed fulminant fat embolism syndrome (FES). Her neurological deterioration was associated with cerebral oedema and the concomitant Purtscher's type retinopathy. We suggest that the pathogenesis of the retinopathy and of the cerebral oedema are the same and that Purtscher's retinopathy and retinopathy of the FES are indistinguishable.
Malfunction in a needle valve.
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Epidural buprenorphine for postoperative pain relief.
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Epidural morphine for post-operative analgesia: experience with ten cases.
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Epidural buprenorphine for pain relief after major abdominal surgery. A controlled comparison with epidural morphine.
In a controlled trial epidural buprenorphine was compared with epidural morphine as the sole means of analgesia after major abdominal surgery. Bolus injections of buprenorphine 60 micrograms in 10 ml or morphine 2 mg in 10 ml of normal saline were given on demand for the first 48 hours postoperatively. Both drugs produced significant reduction in pain scores as assessed by the linear visual analogue scale and both produced prolonged analgesia at this dosage, which could be extended by further 'top-ups'. The authors conclude that, for postoperative epidural analgesia, buprenorphine may be the opiate of choice and the reasons for this are discussed.
Testing for sedative-hypnotic drugs in the impaired driver: a survey of 72,000 arrests.
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The diagnosis of a choledochal cyst by ultrasound.
A case of a choledochal cyst is described in which the correct diagnosis was obtained preoperatively by ultrasound. The cyst contained calculi. A specific preoperative diagnosis will lead to lower operative morbidity and mortality.