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Biomedical subjects

G Whelan

Publications and source records attributed to G Whelan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Quantitative measure of muscle strength and size in chronic alcoholism: an early indication of tissue damage.

We measured quadriceps strength and thickness in 101 male alcoholic patients and in 58 controls in order to investigate the force-size relationships of skeletal muscle in an alcoholic population. The relationship of these parameters with the duration of alcoholism, nutritional status and biochemical and haematological markers of heavy chronic alcohol use was investigated. Alcohol consumption of more than 42 standard drinks (420 g alcohol) per week for at least 5 years is associated with muscle weakness and wasting. There was no evidence of under-nutrition in these alcoholic subjects and muscle wasting occurred independently of peripheral neuropathy, a history of muscle pain, abnormalities of liver enzymes and elevation of mean red cell corpuscular volume. Quantitation of muscle size and strength in heavy drinkers may provide a useful early indicator of health impairment in alcoholics.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Induction of anaesthesia with halothane and isoflurane in the rabbit: a comparison of the use of a face-mask or an anaesthetic chamber.

The effects of induction of anaesthesia with halothane or isoflurane were studied in rabbits. The anaesthetic agents were delivered either via a face-mask, or the animals were placed in an anaesthetic induction chamber. All rabbits had periods of apnoea during induction, lasting 30-120 s, resulting in moderate hypercapnia and acidosis. Periods of apnoea were associated with a marked bradycardia. The combination of bradycardia and hypercapnia during induction may represent an increased risk of anaesthetic associated mortality. Animals in all groups tried to avoid inhaling anaesthetic vapour, and this behaviour, together with the occurrence of breath-holding suggests that induction was aversive.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1995

Alcohol-related health problems in the elderly.

Alcohol misuse is common in the elderly, and the problem may be compounded by the body's reduced ability to metabolise ethanol and interactions with over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Older heavy drinkers are likely to present with mental health problems--anxiety, depression, dementia, confusion and sleep disturbance--or physical problems--gait disturbance, falls and liver disease. Alcohol use must be accurately assessed, and physical, neurological and mental state examinations performed. Treatment should be individualised, with the patient's needs being matched to the treatment options available.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Anaesthesia of laboratory rabbits using etorphine/methotrimeprazine and midazolam.

The use of etorphine (a potent mu-opioid), methotrimeprazine (a phenothiazine tranquilizer) and midazolam (a benzodiazepine) in laboratory rabbits is described. The central ear artery was cannulated under local anaesthesia using lignocaine/prilocaine cream, enabling cardiovascular monitoring in conscious animals. Anaesthesia was characterized by respiratory arrest, profound analgesia and a stable cardiovascular system (after commencing intermittent positive pressure ventilation). Reversal of anaesthesia with buprenorphine (a partial mu agonist) did not reduce the degree of post-operative respiratory depression, but shortened the period of unconsciousness considerably. This anesthetic regimen can only be recommended for rabbits that are free of respiratory disease and if facilities for IPPV are available.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1994

The use of etorphine/methotrimeprazine and midazolam as an anaesthetic technique in laboratory rats and mice.

The results of a preliminary evaluation of etorphine/methotrimeprazine ('Small Animal Immobilon') and midazolam in rats and mice are reported, and this regimen is compared to fentanyl/fluanisone/midazolam in mice. In rats, a surgical plane of anaesthesia with good muscle relaxation was produced, but blood gas analysis showed the presence of severe hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidosis. In mice etorphine/methotrimeprazine/midazolam and fentanyl/fluanisone/midazolam produced adequate anaesthesia, but blood gas analysis showed severe respiratory depression with both regimens. Since etorphine/methotrimeprazine/midazolam produced severe respiratory depression in rats and mice it is suggested that this regimen is used with caution. Administration of supplemental oxygen would seem advisable when using either etorphine/methotrimeprazine/midazolam or fentanyl/fluanisone/midazolam in rats and mice.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1994

Alcohol, thiamin deficiency, and neuropsychological disorders.

In this paper, two of the major themes in contemporary neuropsychological research are reviewed. These are the nature of cognitive impairment observed in alcohol related brain injury, and the cause or causes of alcohol related brain injury. Two experiments are briefly reported which address these issues. The first experiment concerns the nature of abilities which are involved in a test of memory (delayed matching to sample), which is fundamental to current experimental models of human amnesia. The second experiment involves preliminary data from a randomised, double-blind, multi-dose trial of intra-muscular thiamin for the treatment of alcohol related brain injury, in alcohol dependent subjects who do not show any overt signs of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Biological markers of alcoholism.

The roles of two categories of biological markers--those relating to alcohol consumption and those relating to the risk of developing alcohol related problems--are reviewed. Platelet Mono-amino oxidase levels are low in individuals with a strong inheritance of their drinking problem (Cloninger Type II alcoholics). Elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels identify regular heavy drinkers with a sensitivity between 40-60%. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) has a high specificity (95%) and is useful in detecting regular heavy drinkers in the ambulatory care population if other causes of an elevated MCV can be included.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1992

Oesophageal propulsive force and its relation to manometric pressure.

A fixed volume capsule incorporating a force transducer and a side hole for manometric measurements was constructed and calibrated. Simultaneous measurements of the propulsive (aboral) force and the manometric pressure (intraluminal pressure) were made at 5, 10, and 15 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter and in response to dry and wet (5, 10, and 15 ml) swallows. The propulsive force and manometric pressure waves had a simultaneous onset and were of similar duration. Peak values of propulsive force for wet swallows increased significantly as measurements were made progressively more distally within the oesophagus and were greatest in the distal oesophagus. The association between manometric pressure and propulsive force is not strong (r = 0.61) suggesting that intraluminal pressure is a poor predictor of propulsive force and hence an unreliable measure of oesophageal 'function'.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The assessment of depth of anaesthesia in animals and man.

The assessment of the depth of anaesthesia in man has received much attention in recent years, following a number of reports of people being aware during surgery. A range of different measures have been suggested for determining the adequacy of anaesthesia in man, but such a critical assessment is rarely applied to laboratory animals. This article describes the methods used to assess anaesthetic depth in both man and animals, and compares the relative states of knowledge about anaesthetic depth in animals and man.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1991

Does a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or more identify accurately problem drinkers in a drink-driver population?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or more identifies accurately problem drinking in an apprehended drinking driver. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytic study of 86 drink drivers ("diagnostic test study"). SETTING: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, drink-driver education programme. SUBJECTS: Men aged between 18-25 years, applying for relicensing after disqualification, who were participants at 10 consecutive drink-driver education courses conducted in early 1987. OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reports of the amount of alcohol consumed and the amount of money spent on alcohol per week, the standard Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) score and the blood alcohol level at apprehension. The first three measures were used as reference standards for alcohol-related problems, against which the blood alcohol level was compared. MAJOR RESULTS: Scatter plots of BAC against amount consumed, amount spent and the MAST scores showed that a large proportion of the heaviest drinkers were not identified by the BAC. Log-transformed correlation coefficients were: for amount spent v. amount consumed, r = 0.73; for MAST score v. amount consumed, r = 0.52, and for MAST score v. amount spent r = 0.53. Correlating the BAC with the log of the MAST score gave r = 0.21, BAC with log of the amount consumed, r = 0.20, and BAC with log of the amount spent, r = 0.15. Comparing a BAC of 0.15 or more with a MAST score of greater than or equal to 5, we obtained a sensitivity of 0.36, a specificity of 0.76, a positive predictive value of 0.86, and a negative predictive value of 0.23. The prevalence of heavy drinking as measured by the MAST score was 0.80. CONCLUSION: A blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more identifies only a third of the problem drinkers in this sample of drink drivers. Although it selected a group of drinkers with alcohol-related problems, it missed most of the problem drinkers and did not reliably identify the heaviest drinkers.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease.

Epidemiologic studies of inflammatory bowel disease indicate that these disorders occur in susceptible individuals, possibly due to genetic abnormalities, resulting in disturbance of bowel wall function. Environmental factor(s) exerting a primary effect at an early age, in most patients, cause the disease to manifest usually in teenagers or young adults. Secondary environmental factors may alter disease expression, severity, or influence relapse. Studies in identical twins provide the best evidence for the role of genetic factors in the cause of Crohn's disease. Changing trends in disease incidence (seen in many countries) provide strong support for environmental factors as playing a major influence in disease expression. We now require further laboratory and epidemiologic studies in family members at risk of disease, in migrants who move from low incidence areas to high incidence areas, and in area where Crohn's disease particularly is starting to appear. The clinician can play an important role by performing careful observations in patients with a view to uncovering new clues to disease etiology.

Contraceptives, Oral↗