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Biomedical subjects

J Malone-Lee

Publications and source records attributed to J Malone-Lee.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Characterisation of detrusor contractile function in relation to old age.

This report describes an age-related clinical study of detrusor muscle function using urodynamic data obtained from 1391 women and 324 men of different age groups who were free from overt neurological disease and diabetes. Isometric detrusor function during unstable activity was assessed by integrating the calculated force of unstable detrusor activity during filling of the bladder. Isotonic voiding activity was measured by calculating the velocity constant Q*, which reflects the speed of detrusor muscle shortening. In addition, the change in detrusor pressure on initiation of voiding and the post-micturition residual urine volume were recorded. Older patients of both sexes had higher residual urine volumes. Older women showed lower detrusor shortening velocities. There were no age-related differences in isometric detrusor function. Older women showed a tendency for the detrusor contraction to fail on initiation of voiding, whereas older men did not demonstrate this difference. Voiding dysfunction in late life was more marked amongst women and seemed to be related to a failure of isotonic detrusor function with no related changes in isometric function.

Adult↗

Measurement of oxybutynin and its N-desethyl metabolite in plasma, and its application to pharmacokinetic studies in young, elderly and frail elderly volunteers.

1. A quantitative h.p.l.c. plasma assay for oxybutynin (OB) and its active metabolite, N-desethyl oxybutynin (DEOB) is described. The method is linear with coefficients of variation ranging between 4 and 11.8% for OB and 4.6-9.1% for DEOB over the typical concentration range measured. Minimum detectable levels were 0.5 and 5 ng/ml for OB and DEOB respectively from a 2 ml sample. 2. Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained after a single oral dose of OB and after administration two or three times daily to frail elderly and elderly volunteer groups respectively. Single dose results were also compared with data from young healthy volunteers. 3. There was a wide range in peak blood levels and high levels of parent drug were matched by high DEOB metabolite levels. Plasma levels on repeated administration were as would be predicted from the single dose kinetics. 4. Area under the plasma time course curve for DEOB metabolite was less than or equal to 5 than that of the parent drug. 5. A trend of increasing peak plasma levels and bioavailability was observed with increasing age and frailty, with the differences more apparent between the active elderly and frail elderly groups than between the active elderly and young volunteers. 6. Results indicate that for frail elderly patients a lower initial starting dose of 2.5 mg OB given two or three times a day may provide adequate therapeutic blood levels of the drug.

Administration, Oral↗

Terodiline with bladder retraining for treating detrusor instability in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To compare terodiline with bladder retraining against placebo with bladder retraining in the treatment of detrusor instability in frail elderly patients. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, parallel group study. Treatment lasted for six weeks. Frequency of micturition and episodes of incontinence recorded on diary chart by patients. SETTING: Incontinence clinic and a geriatric day hospital at two teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: 37 frail but ambulant patients, mean (range) age 80.4 (70-89) years with urinary frequency and urge incontinence, due to detrusor instability. Two patients withdrew before the first assessment (one in each group) and one could not complete the diary chart (placebo group). INTERVENTIONS: 19 patients received bladder retraining and terodiline 25 mg daily and 18 bladder retraining and placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in urinary frequency and number of episodes of incontinence after six weeks' treatment. Patient's subjective evaluation of symptoms. RESULTS: Little difference was found in the results of treatment with terodiline and placebo. The change in episodes of incontinence per 24 hours was no different in the two groups (95% confidence interval -0.6 to 1.2; p = 0.75) and the difference between treatments in the change in frequency of micturition per 24 hours (-0.2) was not significant (-1.1 to 1.2; p = 0.76). Ten patients taking terodiline thought they had improved compared with seven receiving placebo; this difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Although the number of patients in each group was small and may have been insufficient to detect a drug effect, the possible benefit of terodiline is likely to be small.

Aged↗

Reducing the leakage of body-worn incontinence pads.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of various absorbent materials (fluff pulp and superabsorbent) on the leakage performance of incontinence pads. A shaped pad-and-pant system was used as the basic design and four pad types made to different specifications were compared using a double-blind technique. Forty-five elderly hospital residents who were incontinent of urine used all four pad types in a randomly allocated order. Data were recorded on more than 5000 pads over a 2-month period. Leakage was reduced by adding a second layer of fluff pulp and, whilst the addition of a superabsorbent material tended to reduce leakage further, we found no clear relationship between the amount of superabsorbent and the reduction of leakage. Other data indicated the importance of securing the pad in place with the appropriate net pants and the leakage rates of pads in relation to the amount of urine they contained. This research suggests that superabsorbent materials have great potential for reducing the leakage rate of incontinence pads but that the way in which they are incorporated into the pad, the amount of fluff pulp and the design of the pad also play an important part.

Absorption↗

A new comprehensive microcomputer software programme for the urodynamics clinic.

Urodynamic investigation has undoubtedly been greatly refined and facilitated with the use of the modern generation of microcomputers. Manual techniques of data storage, analysis and interpretation are tedious, time consuming and lead to significant observer-dependent transcription errors. The logical solution to this problem is to develop a specifically designed software programme which would operate in conjunction with the microcomputer system integrated in most modern urodynamic apparatus. We describe here our experiences with the development of just such a system.

Computer Systems↗

Cross-infection between animals and man: possible feline transmission of Staphylococcus aureus infection in humans?

An outbreak of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred on a rehabilitation geriatric ward. Intensive screening of patients and staff revealed an unusually high carriage rate in the nursing staff (38%), thought to be related to a ward cat which was heavily colonized from the environment. Infection control measures and removal of the cat led to rapid resolution of the outbreak.

Aged↗

Urinary incontinence in a large psychiatric hospital.

Of 792 patients resident in a large psychiatric hospital 266 (33.6%) were found to be incontinent of urine and 243 of these patients were reported on. Of these, 154 (63.4%) were also incontinent of faeces. A majority of patients experienced urinary incontinence regularly day and night and the amount of wetting was usually very considerable. The symptoms identified indicated a mixture of aetiological factors, but physical disability appeared to play an important role. Evidence of inefficient bladder emptying was found in 46% of patients tested. A similar proportion of patients who were X-rayed were found to have colonic faecal stasis. Strategies for managing this very large problem were not well developed. Lack of attention to the symptoms of urinary and faecal incontinence will compromise the ability of residents of large psychiatric hospitals to be settled in the community.

Adult↗

A clinical study of Sudocrem in the management of dermatitis due to the physical stress of incontinence in a geriatric population.

A double blind controlled trial was carried out to measure the efficacy of Sudocrem, compared with zinc cream BP, in the treatment and prevention of incontinence-associated dermatitis in an elderly inpatient population. Three objective measures of skin condition were used to assess efficacy. Sudocrem was shown to be superior to zinc cream BP in the treatment of dermatitis, with no significant difference shown in terms of prophylaxis. The objective measures of skin health seemed to be a promising advance on earlier, subjective methods, and their further development is recommended. There was some indication that the normal skin of an incontinent patient does not deteriorate when managed with Sudocrem or zinc cream.

Aged↗

Long-term catheter management: minimizing the problem of premature replacement due to balloon deflation.

Balloon deflation in long-term indwelling urinary catheters has been reported, and can necessitate a premature replacement of the catheter. This problem is studied in catheters of various materials and their performance in this respect compared. The catheters are also compared in terms of any change in effective shaft diameter. The results show that 100% silicone catheters perform significantly less well than silicone-coated latex ones on both parameters. The implications of these findings are discussed, and recommendations are made with regard to the selection of catheters for long-term use.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

A multicentre comparative evaluation of catheter valves.

Catheter valves are an alternative to leg bags for urine drainage, but no studies have yet been published which have compared the performance of different valves. This study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of the seven catheter valves available on the UK market in April 1996. The study was carried out by the Continence Products Evaluation (CPE) Network funded by the Medical Devices Agency (Department of Health). Each valve type was tested for 1 week by 19-36 cognitively unimpaired and manually dextrous subjects recruited from 11 test centres. At the end of each week, subjects completed an evaluation form (based on a three-point rating scale) to record product performance. The same catheter valves were also tested for ease of opening/closing by 33 subjects (mostly catheter users) who had some manual impairment. Performance scores varied widely between products. It was found that, to be successful, a valve needs to be easy to manipulate, leak-free, comfortable and inconspicuous. Prescribers need to be aware of the strengths and limitations of different valves for appropriate product selection.

Attitude to Health↗

Rapid urinalysis assays for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in premenopausal women is a frequent complaint in general practice. UTI is usually diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and the use of one or more laboratory tests, the most common being rapid urinalysis reagent assays (urine dip) or midstream urine culture. In order to correlate the leucocyte esterase results of a rapid urinalysis assay with direct urine microscopy for pyuria, undiluted non-centrifuged urine samples from 206 volunteer female healthcare professionals were subjected to analysis using direct urine microscopy using a counting chamber and a rapid urinalysis assay. Of the 206 specimens, 74 were positive for leucocyte esterase using the rapid urinalysis assay, and 39 specimens demonstrated significant pyuria (greater than or equal to 10 leucocytes/microl) on direct microscopy. When the leucocyte esterase results were correlated with the direct urine microscopy results, an assay reading of 15 leucocytes/microl ('trace' on the visual scale) had a sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 79%, positive predictive value of 53% and a negative predictive value of 97%. An assay reading of 25 leucocytes/microl ('+' on the visual scale) or greater had a sensitivity of 63%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 75% and a negative predictive value of 91%. In premenopausal, non-pregnant females, a rapid urinalysis assay result of 25 leucocytes/microl or greater will predict significant pyuria on urine microscopy with reasonable confidence, thereby reducing the need for more costly urine cultures.

Adult↗