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Biomedical subjects

J Watkins

Publications and source records attributed to J Watkins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Volleyball injuries: a survey of injuries of Scottish National League male players.

Injuries sustained in male volleyball players in the first division of the Scottish National League during the 1989-1990 season were investigated by means of a questionnaire survey. Forty-six injuries were reported, representing an incidence of 0.53 injuries per player. Damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments accounted for most of the injuries. The cause of most injuries was blocking or spiking. In 74% of cases the injured players were able to resume training and playing within 2 weeks of the injury. In 10% of cases the injured players were unable to train or play for 7-14 weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of body position on the afterload response during sustained exercise.

Hemodynamic and cardiovascular responses were studied in 80 males (age: 30 +/- 2 years) at rest, and during separate three minute trials of upright and supine isometric deadlift exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). MVC did not differ significantly between supine and upright deadlift exercise. In comparison to values at rest, both forms of isometric exercise resulted in significant increases (p less than 0.05) in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, oxygen uptake, oxygen pulse and double product. In the upright exercise, the values obtained for all of the physiological variables were found to be significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than in the supine exercise. These findings indicate that the upright isometric deadlift produces a higher after-load than the supine maneuver, and that this response may be a good indicator of cardiovascular functioning.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of mast cell activation (tryptase) in two patients suffering from drug-induced hypotensoid reactions.

Tryptase is predominantly found in mast cells, where it resides in secretory granules, and is released with other mediators during mast cell degranulation. By using a newly developed commercial assay for measurements of tryptase levels we have investigated two cases of suspected drug-induced anaphylaxis. Each patient had a similar clinical presentation, consisting of hypotension and cyanosis after administration of thiopentone and suxamethonium. One of the patients showed a highly elevated serum level of tryptase reaching 26 micrograms/l 30 min after the initial reaction. In addition, slightly elevated levels of specific IgE antibodies to thiopentone were detected. The other patient with similar symptoms showed no increase in the level of tryptase, nor any specific IgE to thiopentone or suxamethonium. These data indicate the patient I suffered from true anaphylaxis, whereas the reaction of patient II occurred by a different mechanism.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1991

An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with a swimming pool.

In August 1988 an increase was noted in the number of cases of cryptosporidiosis identified by the microbiology laboratory at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. By 31 October, 67 cases had been reported. Preliminary investigations implicated the use of one of two swimming pools at a local sports centre and oocysts were identified in the pool water. Inspection of the pool revealed significant plumbing defects which had allowed ingress of sewage from the main sewer into the circulating pool water. Epidemiological investigation confirmed an association between head immersion and illness. The pools were closed when oocysts were identified in the water and extensive cleaning and repair work was undertaken. The pool water was retested for cryptosporidial oocysts and found to be negative before the pool reopened.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A simultaneous, noninvasive comparison with sinus rhythm, of two activity sensing, rate adaptive pacemakers, in an elderly population.

We compared the rate response to low level work, arm exercise, step testing, and treadmill exercise between the Siemens Sensolog 703 S (Sg) and the Medtronic Activitrax (Ax) pacemakers, and simultaneous sinus rhythm (SR) in an elderly population. In ten subjects mean age 70.6 years, range 49-81 years, the pacemaker responses were noninvasively compared by strapping the units to the chest wall under constant and equal pressure applied by an adjustable belt. Pacemaker rates and SR were recorded simultaneously on a three-channel ECG recorder. The units were programmed in situ to give an increase in rate from 70 beats/min sitting, to 100 beats/min after walking at a normal pace for 30 seconds. Programming took three times longer for Sg (P less than 0.02). The response to standing and bending was poor for both units (Ax mean 75.7 beats/min, Sg mean 77.6 beats/min), when compared to SR (mean 90.3 beats/min). A 20-step test resulted in a greater rate response from Ax (mean 105.3 beats/min) than from Sg (mean 96.3 beats/min [P = 0.09]), though both were still less than SR (116.3). There were significant differences between the two pacemakers on treadmill testing, at peak rate achieved (Ax mean 112.5 beats/min; Sg mean 102.7 beats/min [P less than 0.005], SR mean 122.5 beats/min) and at end exercise (Ax mean 112.5 beats/min; Sg mean 92.9 beats/min [P less than 0.002], SR mean 121.3 beats/min). Arm exercise, however, resulted in a significantly greater response from Sg than Ax (105.1 and 88.5 beats/min, respectively; P less than 0.01, SR 98.7 beats/min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

Problems of mediator measurement for a national advisory service to U.K. anaesthetists.

Large numbers of life threatening anaphylactoid reactions are encountered following administration of general anaesthesia. Advice on the future management of the survivors is essential and requires investigation of the reaction mechanism. Demonstration of histamine release is important but unlikely to be achieved in life threatening situations. A national advisory service to anaesthetists assesses IgE-mediated histamine release in terms of the presence and utilization of specific antibodies, and non-specific histamine release in terms of urinary methylhistamine excretion.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1990

C4a anaphylatoxin levels as an indicator of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The use of a synthetic protease inhibitor, nafamstat mesilate, has enabled reliable estimations of in vivo complement activation to be made in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Elevation of C3a anaphylatoxins was found in two out of 24 patients and elevation of C4a anaphylatoxins was found in 20 out of 24 patients, confirming that complement activation, predominantly by the classical pathway, is a common occurrence in the disease. Significantly higher levels of C4a anaphylatoxin were found in 16 patients, with more aggressive disease requiring supplementary treatment with azathioprine, while the remaining eight patients, with less severe disease, required purely steroid therapy. Very strong associations between elevated C4a anaphylatoxins and raised DNA antibody titres, C1q binding activity and low complement C4 levels were also observed, suggesting that anaphylatoxin measurement may be a sensitive additional method for monitoring disease activity in SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Complement activation in systemic sclerosis.

The use of a synthetic protease inhibitor, nafamstat mesilate, has enabled reliable estimations of in vivo complement activation to be made in patients with systemic sclerosis. Elevations of C3a and C4a anaphylatoxins were found in 2 and 24 out of 30 patients respectively, indicating that complement activation, predominantly by the classical pathway, is a common occurrence in the disease, even though complement C3 and C4 levels were within the reference range.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Fatal haemopathological consequences of general anaesthesia.

A previously healthy 63-yr-old female died following an anaphylactoid response to anaesthesia with thiopentone and suxamethonium. Postmortem findings strongly suggested that disseminated intravascular coagulation played a significant role in her death. The local mechanism behind the reaction is unknown, but the formation of thiopentone-suxamethonium colloid aggregates during induction, may have led to "aggregate anaphylaxis".

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1989

Second report from an anaesthetic reactions advisory service.

The continued work of the advisory service is reported; this now amounts to at least 300 enquiries about clinically severe adverse reactions each year. Thiopentone is still the most commonly associated intravenous induction agent with adverse reactions (76%), particularly when it is used with suxamethonium. Local anaesthetics account for between 5 and 10% reports.

Anaphylaxis↗