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Biomedical subjects

J M Glass

Publications and source records attributed to J M Glass.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Splenectomy in a general hospital.

Splenectomy is often performed in patients with malignant disease or trauma who are at a high risk of complications. In the long term, it increases the risk of infection by encapsulated bacteria. An audit was performed to determine the reasons for splenectomy in a district general hospital, to review the results and complications of surgery, and to see how often the patients were prescribed antibacterial prophylaxis. Twenty-eight patients underwent splenectomy in 3 years. The indication was haematological disease in 13 and trauma in four. In the remaining nine the spleen was removed either as part of a radical gastrectomy or during some other abdominal procedure. Six of the 28 patients had died, one within 30 days from disseminated intravascular coagulopathy following an emergency gastrectomy and splenectomy for haematemesis, two from progressive haematological malignant disease, two from non-haematological malignancy, and one from bronchopneumonia. Of the nine patients (32%) with complications, three required a further laparotomy. Most patients had been prescribed pneumococcal vaccine (85%) and prophylactic antibiotics (93%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

'Surgical mules': the smuggling of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract.

The presentation to surgical units of patients carrying illegal drugs in the gastrointestinal tract is a frequent occurrence at hospitals sited close to international airports. Drugs, usually heroin or cocaine, are wrapped in cellophane packets or condoms. The packages are intracorporeally concealed by being swallowed or passed into the rectum. The majority of drug traffickers carrying intracorporeal drug packages do not require any medical intervention. Recent reports have suggested that these patients are best treated expectantly avoiding any operative procedures. However, the quantity of drug in any one of the ingested packets is usually above the toxic dose and acute drug toxicity, as well as bowel obstruction, can result in fatalities. We report a series of five patients who presented over a period of 2 years to a hospital close to Heathrow International Airport, London. The presentation and treatment are reviewed and the management of such 'surgical mules' discussed. We have shown that conservative treatment is appropriate providing bowel obstruction or package perforation has not occurred.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Homicide among black males in Jefferson County, Alabama 1978-1989.

This study examined 1505 of 1573 (96%) homicides occurring in Jefferson County, Alabama, between 1978 and 1989, that were investigated by the Coroner/Medical Examiners' Office. During this 12 year period, Jefferson County's average annual homicide rate was 18.9 per 100,000 compared to an 11.3 per 100,000 State of Alabama's rate and a 9.3 per 100,000 US rate. In Jefferson County, the average annual homicide rate among blacks (41.4) was almost six times the rate among whites (7.1). The highest average annual race-specific homicide rate was in black males (75.9), followed by black females (12.4), white males (10.4) and white females (4.1). Black males in the 25-34 year age group had the highest rate (159.7), followed by black males in the 35-44 year age group (151.7) and then by black males in the 15-24 year age group (96.2). These rates ranged from almost eight to over eleven times the rates of similarly aged, black females or white males and were over 33 times higher than the rates for white females of the same age. Our results emphasize the high rates of black male on black male violence, the acquaintance of the black male victim and perpetrator, and the importance of arguments as an inciting event. Moreover, we determined that while the raw numbers and rates for black homicides were and are staggering, the average annual homicide rate for black males was actually declining at a greater rate than for all other race-sex groups. Further, our results suggest that a number of hypothesized determinants commonly believed to be associated with the increase in the homicide rate among black males between 15 and 24 years of age, such as drug use, increased availability of firearms and increased child abuse were not, in fact, major determinants of the change in homicide rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

In vitro photodynamic treatment of normal and human papilloma virus-transfected keratinocytes with photofrin II and red light.

Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light of appropriate wavelength to excite a photosensitizer to result in tissue destruction. The photosensitizer dihematoporphyrin ether and red light were used to treat normal and human papilloma virus type 18-transfected keratinocytes in vitro. Although both cell lines were sensitive to treatment, normal keratinocytes retained more dihematoporphyrin ether and were more sensitive to photodynamic therapy than were transfected cells. In vitro data fail to show the selective retention of dihematoporphyrin ether reported elsewhere in the literature in papillomas and tumors. We did not find selective uptake or retention of dihematoporphyrin ether by human papilloma virus-transfected cells, despite previously published in vivo data to the contrary. Dihematoporphyrin ether retention and thus selective photosensitivity of papillomas in vivo is not caused by individual cellular differences in the processing of dihematoporphyrin ether. In addition, because in vitro results may not parallel in vivo results, both in vivo and in vitro models must be investigated in the study of phototherapeutic agents.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1989

Homicide in Alabama: an analysis of urban, suburban and rural murders in the Deep South.

Eleven hundred forty-four (1144) homicides occurring in Alabama, U.S.A. during a 2-year period are presented and analyzed according to the demographic parameters of the victims, location in urban, suburban, or rural community, type of homicide based on a medical examiner's classification, presence of drugs, weapon employed and other factors. Urban dwellers, Blacks and males are found to be at high risk. Alcohol is much more prevalent than other drugs in homicide victims. Although the handgun is the weapon most commonly used throughout the state, in the rural regions the longgun is used almost as often. The difficulty of making valid comparisons with other homicide studies is discussed and the establishment of a uniform classification of homicides urged.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The quantity and distribution of radiolabeled dexamethasone delivered to tissue by iontophoresis.

A pilot study was conducted in the first of two monkeys using either radiolabeled Dm-Na-P or radiolabeled hydrocortisone sodium succinate, together with lidocaine HCl. This study indicated an approximately tenfold increase in the quantity of Dm-Na-P delivered to the test electrodes (4 mA; 20 minutes) whereas the quantity of hydrocortisone delivered from the test electrodes was only marginally (approximately 10%) increased as compared with that from the controls. In terms of an anti-inflammatory activity, the effective dose of Dm-Na-P in all tissue layers underlying the test electrodes was at least tenfold that of the hydrocortisone. Therefore, further trials with hydrocortisone were abandoned. In the second animal, positive test electrodes (5 mA; 20 minutes, were sited over five joints on the right side of the body and matching control electrodes (0 mA; 20 minutes) were placed over corresponding joints on the left side of the body. The control and test electrodes each contained 1.0 ml tritium-labeled Dm-Na-P (approximately 4.0 mg) and 2.0 ml 4% lidocaine HCl (80 mg). Local tissue concentrations of Dm-Na-P were higher than those that would be obtained by systematic therapy and lower than would be obtained by local injection.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Intracranial missile emboli.

Projectile embolization into the intracranial arterial system is an extremely rare occurrence. Vessel size restricts the entrance of foreign bodies except those of small caliber such as shotgun pellets. Several cases of cervical neck and intracranial projectile emboli resulting from penetrating wounds of the neck and head have been reported. A case of pellet embolization into the intracranial segments of both internal carotid arteries following penetrating pellet wounds of the heart and ascending aorta is presented.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dose dependent reduction of glucose utilization by pentobarbital in rat brain.

A new method of determining the rate of glucose utilization in brain regions of individual rats has been used to measure the dose dependency of the reduction of the metabolic activity of the cerebral cortex by pentobarbital. Cerebral cortical glucose utilization is depressed to a basal level of 44% of the control rate when cerebral pentobarbital levels exceed 50 microgram per g of tissue. The major portion of this effect occurs between the cerebral pentobarbital range of 10--20 microgram per g, which can be achieved by 1/5 to 1/10 the normal anesthetic intraperitoneal dosage. If a depression of brain metabolism is responsible for the previously reported protection of the brain from ischemic damage, these data suggest a substantial reduction of brain metabolic rate is achieved in the rat at a barbiturate dosage which may be therapeutically relevant in the human after acute brain ischemia.

Animals↗