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Biomedical subjects

G Smith

Publications and source records attributed to G Smith.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources

Long-term metabolic effects of truncal vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy for chronic duodenal ulcer.

In a review of 305 consecutive patients who had undergone truncal vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy for duodenal ulceration 5-15 (mean 10.5) years before, symptomatic and metabolic sequelae were related to a dietary survey in 109 patients. The incidence of post vagotomy symptoms was related to the incidence of weight loss and reduced dietary energy intake. The dietary survey did not show any trends in the incidence of weight loss since operation. Biochemical steatorrhoea occurred in 48% of 96 patients, but this was not related to dietary fat intake, or to weight loss unless diarrhoea was also present. Anaemia was noted in 13% of patients, but the incidence was not related to dietary survey, age, symptoms or post-vagotomy gastric acid output.

Journal Article↗

Brugia pahangi in the BALB/C mouse: a model for testing filaricidal compounds.

The BALB/C mouse infected with Brugia pahangi has been evaluated as a model for the selection of filaricidal compounds with activity against immature worms. Mice were infected by the intraperitoneal inoculation of 50 infective larvae and candidate compounds were administered by the intraperitoneal (i.p.), subcutaneous or oral route once daily from day 4 to day 8 post infection. Animals were examined on days 29 to 32 post infection. Variation in the larval recoveries from undrugged mice within and between experimental groups limited the value of drug assessments based upon percentage worm recoveries. The infection rate of undrugged mice was 85% over-all, range 60 to 100%. Using the infection rate of drugged v. undrugged animals as the criterion of activity the test has been evaluated with a series of standard nematicidal compounds. Levamisole and the benzimidazole carbamates, mebendazole, flubendazole and fenbendazole given i.p. at 10 mg/kg daily were active in this screen whilst DEC, DEC-N-oxide, ivermectin, amoscanate, metrifonate and suramin were inactive at the dosages tested. No retardation of growth or morphological abnormalities were observed in worms from the drugged mice.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the combined effects of atropine and neostigmine on the lower oesophageal sphincter.

The effects, on the lower oesophageal sphincter, of the simultaneous administration of atropine and neostigmine were studied in 10 healthy patients undergoing gynaecological surgery. Atropine 1.2 mg and neostigmine 2.5 mg were given to antagonize neuromuscular blockade at the termination of surgery. For the succeeding 15-20 min, frequent measurements of lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LOSP) were made whilst anaesthesia was maintained. It was demonstrated that this drug combination resulted in a significant decrease in LOSP initially, but that this potentially deleterious effect was transient in nature.

Atropine↗

Measurement of plasma catecholamine concentrations. An assessment of anxiety.

This study was designed to assess the value of measurement of plasma catecholamine concentrations as an objective index of anxiety. A preliminary study was undertaken on 11 healthy volunteers (medically qualified), to determine if venous cannulation per se produced any change in plasma catecholamine concentrations. There were no changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations in the 2 h following insertion of an i.v. cannula, suggesting that venous cannulation did not induce a measurable stress response. A second study was performed on 48 surgical patients who were asked to rate their perceived anxiety on a linear analogue scale immediately before premedication and immediately before induction of anaesthesia. Venous blood was obtained at the same time as these ratings. There were no significant changes in perceived anxiety or plasma noradrenaline concentrations following premedication. However, compared with values before premedication, there was a mean percentage increase in plasma adrenaline concentration of 40% before induction of anaesthesia. A significant correlation was shown between mean percentage change in Linear Analogue Anxiety Score and mean percentage change in plasma adrenaline concentrations (r = 0.32).

Adolescent↗

Effects of anaesthetic technique on deep vein thrombosis. A comparison of subarachnoid and general anaesthesia.

Forty patients with fractured neck of femur were allocated randomly to undergo surgery under general anaesthesia (GA) or subarachnoid anaesthesia (SAB). After operation, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), assessed by venography, was found to be 40% in the SAB group, which was significantly lower than the incidence (76.2%) in the GA group. These observations may account for the previously reported effect of SAB, in comparison with GA, in reducing early postoperative mortality in this category of patient.

Adult↗

Morphine sulphate slow release. Comparison with i.m. morphine for postoperative analgesia.

Eighty patients undergoing abdominal surgery were studied after operation. Morphine was administered regularly every 4 h by either the i.m. (morphine sulphate 10 mg) or the oral route (MST Continus 20 mg) in a double-blind double-dummy trial. Both MST and i.m. morphine provided satisfactory postoperative analgesia, but significantly greater amounts of supplementary i.m. morphine were required in the MST group. More adverse effects were reported by the patients in the i.m. morphine group. The mean serum morphine concentration in 12 patients in the MST group was 1.7 ng ml-1 at 08.00 h and 19.5 ng ml-1 at 16.00 h on the 1st day after operation, suggesting impaired gastric emptying in the early postoperative period. It is therefore recommended that further studies of the bioavailability of MST in the early postoperative period be undertaken before any recommendations are made regarding its routine use for pain relief at that time.

Administration, Oral↗

Ventricular septal rupture diagnosed by simultaneous cross-sectional echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound.

Thirteen patients with intraventricular septal rupture in the course of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been examined with simultaneous cross-sectional echocardiography (CSE) and Doppler ultrasound. Visualization of the rupture was achieved in six patients by CSE alone. The simultaneous technique identified the rupture in all patients. Eight patients were operated upon; seven of them are still alive. We conclude that simultaneous CSE and Doppler ultrasound is a sensitive, rapid and safe technique for diagnosing ventricular septal rupture (VSR) after AMI.

Aged↗

Protein kinase activities associated with the virions of pseudorabies and herpes simplex virus.

Protein kinase has been extracted in soluble form from virions of pseudorabies virus using 10% NP40, 0.6 M-NaCl. Chromatographic analysis of the extract on DEAE-cellulose and on phosphocellulose showed it to contain more than one kinase. The activity responsible for the phosphorylation of the major phosphoproteins (mol. wts. 120 000, 115 000 and 72 000) of virions was found to be similar in its properties to the host enzyme casein kinase II. Purified casein kinase II from ascites cells or from pig liver was able to phosphorylate heat-inactivated virions. In addition to the major phosphoproteins, active virion preparations were able to phosphorylate a minor low molecular weight phosphoprotein, incorporation into which could be stimulated by the addition of cyclic AMP to the assay. Purified host cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase also phosphorylated this protein in heat-inactivated virions. Analysis of herpes simplex virus type 1 showed that the major phosphoproteins (VP12 and VP23) could be phosphorylated in heat-inactivated virions by added casein kinase II. One of these (VP12) together with a further minor phosphoprotein (VP14) could be phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Animals↗

A comparison of nalbuphine and morphine as premedication agents for minor gynaecological surgery.

Nalbuphine 10 mg and morphine 10 mg were compared in a randomised double-blind trial as intramuscular premedication in 50 patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery. Both nalbuphine and morphine produced significant sedation without anxiolysis as assessed by patient linear analogue scales, but there were no significant differences between the two drugs. Observer ratings demonstrated that nalbuphine produced calm/sleepy patients to a greater extent than morphine. There were no differences in untoward effects produced by each drug.

Adult↗

Comparison of oral slow release morphine (MST) with intramuscular morphine for premedication.

Oral morphine sulphate slow-release (MST) 40 mg and intramuscular morphine sulphate 10 mg, each administered with intramuscular atropine 0.6 mg, were compared in a randomised double-blind trial as premedication agents in 30 patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Both formulations produced sedation but no anxiolysis in the anaesthetic room, as measured by 10 cm, horizontal linear analogue scales. There was no significant difference between the preparations in terms of postoperative pain, recorded either by the linear analogue scales or using a patient questionnaire. The usage of analgesics and anti-emetics postoperatively was comparable in both groups.

Administration, Oral↗

A comparison of triazolam and diazepam as premedication agents for minor gynaecological surgery.

Triazolam 0.25 mg, diazepam 10 mg and placebo were compared in a randomized double-blind trial of oral premedication in 90 patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery. Both triazolam and diazepam produced a significant sedative effect as measured by patient self assessment linear analogue scales but only diazepam was more anxiolytic than placebo. Psychomotor performance assessed by the letter-search test at 3 and 6 hours after awakening showed a decrement in performance in patients receiving triazolam at 3 hours compared with the two other groups. Triazolam was shown to have a pronounced amnesic effect and whilst it might be used for premedication, its lack of anxiolysis coupled with a significant impairment of psychomotor performance at 3 hours after awakening, render the drug unsuitable for premedication in the short stay patient.

Adult↗

The role of endoscopic treatment after radical radiotherapy for invasive bladder cancer.

In a 6-year period 232 patients were treated by radical radiotherapy for transitional cell cancer of the bladder. Fifty-eight patients had secondary surgical management to control either locally persistent or recurrent tumour. Endoscopic treatment alone was used in 31 patients with down-staged tumours and the survival of this group compared favourably with that of 27 patients selected for salvage cystectomy (5-year survival rate 88% cf. 44%). A group of patients with favourable prognostic factors may be identified in whom cystectomy can be avoided without prejudice to survival.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗

Prediction of response to radiotherapy for localised prostatic cancer.

Fifty-one patients with TO-4 NX MO carcinoma of the prostate were treated by external beam radiotherapy. Comparison with 40 patients with TO-3 NX MO disease, whose treatment was deferred initially, showed a higher incidence of local progression in the untreated patients. Age at presentation and initial T category did not have a significant influence upon the probability of disease progression after radiotherapy, whereas all but one of the irradiated patients with Gleason sum scores greater than or equal to 6 progressed. Treatment-related morbidity was appreciable and prolonged proctitis occurred in 31 patients. There was one treatment-related death. Biopsy 1 year after treatment did not yield information of prognostic significance. It is recommended that the selection of patients with localised carcinoma of the prostate for treatment by radiotherapy is based on histological grade. The Gleason score is a practical method for identifying those who would best be treated by other methods.

Aged↗

Protection of recently shorn sheep against adverse weather using plastic coats.

Sheep cold stressed for 10.5 h had plastic coats applied then the cold stress was continued. In 9 of 10 sheep (test group) showing hypothermia at the time coats were applied, body temperatures had returned to near normal 2.5 h later and to normal in 13.5 h. One sheep severely hypothermic before the coat was applied did not improve and was killed after 2.5 h. Sheep that were cold stressed without coats (wet controls) developed marked hypothermia and were killed between 10.5 h and 21 h. Rectal temperatures remained normal in controls that were cold stressed with coats on (coated wet controls) and in the controls not subjected to wetting (dry controls). Plasma cortisol increased markedly in the cold stressed sheep until plastic coats were applied, but the levels had fallen to normal levels 20 h later. Serum thyroxine levels increased at a faster rate in the test group and in wet controls than in the dry controls and coated wet controls during the first 9 h of cold stress. In 4 sheep of the test group energy utilisation increased markedly and remained high for a variable time after coats were applied then gradually returned to pre-cold stress levels. Liver tyrosine aminotransferase levels of the wet controls were markedly elevated compared to levels found in the test group sheep killed 79.5 h after coats were applied. Histological changes in the spleen and liver of wet controls was absent or only mildly present in the test group sheep. There was severe depletion of muscle and liver glycogen in the wet controls compared with the test group sheep, which were similar to the dry controls and coated wet controls.

Animals↗

The interaction of denzimol (a new anticonvulsant) with carbamazepine and phenytoin.

Denzimol, a new anticonvulsant drug, is currently undergoing clinical evaluation. In this paper we report its use in six patients who were also taking carbamazepine and two patients taking phenytoin. There was a striking elevation of serum carbamazepine, carbamazepine-10, 11 epoxide and phenytoin concentrations in all patients on the addition of denzimol therapy. The interaction with carbamazepine is greater in severity than any other reported to date and denzimol's interaction with both carbamazepine and phenytoin is likely to prove of major clinical significance.

Anticonvulsants↗