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Biomedical subjects

J Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to J Wilson.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

Holistic physicians and family practitioners: similarities, differences and implications for health policy.

Although loosely defined, holistic or alternative medicine has been viewed by most observers as fundamentally at odds with mainstream biomedical approaches. Convergence or integration of the two are seen as highly unlikely. We attempt to assess the potential for such integration empirically through a survey of physicians, members of the American Holistic Medical Association (N = 340) and a comparison group of family practitioners (N = 142). Although social origins of the two groups are similar, they differ in their completion of residency training and a variety of practice characteristics. While the groups differ in the predicted directions in their evaluation and utilization of holistic techniques and in their attitudes toward the nature of medical practice, there is a good deal of overlap. Personal experiences, especially those in the area of religion/spirituality and psychotherapy differ sharply between the groups. Policy concerned with fostering cooperation or convergence between holistic and mainstream medicine should differentiate between clinical attitudes and behaviors (which appear to be more compatible than has been suggested), and the personal world views of physicians (which appear to be much further apart).

Adult↗

Comparative effects of verapamil and isradipine on steady-state digoxin kinetics.

The effects on the steady-state digoxin pharmacokinetics of verapamil (240 mg/day) and a new dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, isradipine (15 mg/day), were compared. Nineteen healthy white men, aged 23 to 40 years, ingested 0.25 mg digoxin tablets every 12 hours for two consecutive periods of 2 weeks. Each subject also received one of the calcium channel blockers during one of these periods, with agent and sequence randomized. Analyst-blind RIA serum digoxin determinations demonstrated that the nine subjects who received isradipine, 5 mg t.i.d., had a small increment in peak digoxin level from 2.3 +/- 0.6 to 2.9 +/- 0.7 ng/ml (p less than 0.05) but no significant change in steady-state level or AUC over 12 hours. By contrast, the 10 subjects who received verapamil, 80 mg t.i.d., showed significant increases in steady-state (0.9 +/- 0.1 to 1.3 +/- 0.2 ng/ml; p less than 0.001) and peak serum digoxin concentrations (2.5 +/- 0.7 to 3.6 +/- 0.8 ng/ml; p less than 0.001) and in AUC (15.7 +/- 1.7 to 23.6 +/- 2.9 ng . hr/ml; p less than 0.001). Neither calcium channel blocker reduced renal digoxin clearance. Verapamil increases digoxin levels without affecting renal clearance. Isradipine has no clinically important interaction with digoxin.

Adult↗

Coronary artery calibre after direct intra-arterial infusion of epoprostenol (prostacyclin).

Because epoprostenol (prostacyclin) is a prostaglandin that causes vasodilatation and inhibits platelet function it may be of benefit during coronary artery angioplasty. The safety and capacity of intracoronary epoprostenol to dilate coronary arteries were assessed in 16 patients undergoing routine coronary angiography. The view that best displayed the left epicardial coronary arteries was selected as a control for each patient. Intracoronary epoprostenol was then given and the angiogram was repeated in the chosen view. The procedure was repeated twice: once with a higher dose of epoprostenol and once after intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate. Angiograms were coded and analysed by an observer who was unaware of the treatment. The calibre of the arteries was measured from traced projections of the angiograms. The blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram were recorded throughout. The first two patients were given epoprostenol infusions of 2.5 and 5.0 ng/kg per minute to assess safety, and there were no untoward reactions. The next ten patients had epoprostenol infusions of 5.0 and 7.5 ng/kg per minute followed by intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate. No haemodynamic disturbances occurred and coronary luminal calibre did not change with epoprostenol (mean (SD) luminal diameter: 2.85 (0.62) mm control, 2.80 (0.61) mm at 5.0 ng/kg, and 2.80 (0.54) mm at 7.5 ng/kg), but it did increase significantly with isosorbide dinitrate (to 3.17 (0.36) mm). The last four patients had epoprostenol infusions of 7.5 and 10 ng/kg followed by intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate and two of them became hypotensive (one after epoprostenol and one after isosorbide dinitrate). Coronary luminal calibre did not change significantly (3.5 (0.45) mm control, 2.96 (0.81) mm at 7.5 ng/kg, 3.45 (0.96) mm at 10 ng/kg, and 3.20 (0.61) mm with isosorbide dinitrate). Eight patients developed tall T waves on the electrocardiogram during epoprostenol infusion but none had arrhythmias. The results indicate that clinically tolerable doses of intracoronary epoprostenol do not significantly dilate the epicardial coronary arteries. This route of administration is therefore unlikely to be of use during coronary angioplasty, although the antiplatelet action of intravenous epoprostenol might help to prevent restenosis.

Coronary Angiography↗

Restriction enzyme analysis of the mitochondrial genome in mitochondrial myopathy.

The mitochondrial myopathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders some of which may be caused by mutations in the mitochondrial genome. Mitochondrial DNA from 10 patients with mitochondrial myopathy and their mothers was analysed using five restriction enzymes and 11 mitochondrial probes in bacteriophage M13. No abnormalities were found in seven out of the 10 patients. Polymorphisms which have not previously been reported were detected in three patients and two of their mothers. These results exclude the presence of deletions or insertions of greater than 60 bp in the region of the mitochondrial genome examined. Any causative mitochondrial DNA mutations in these disorders are therefore likely to be point mutations or small structural rearrangements.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗

Recovery after optic neuritis in childhood.

Thirty-nine children who presented with optic neuritis in childhood were reviewed after a follow up period from 3 months to 29 years (mean 8.8 years). At follow-up, 30 out of 39 (77%) of the children had had no further episodes and in three (8%) there was recurrence of optic neuritis alone. Multiple sclerosis had developed in six patients (15%), a much lower frequency than after optic neuritis in adult life. Regardless of the initial degree of visual impairment or neurological outcome, the visual prognosis was excellent. Pattern evoked potentials at follow-up were much more frequently normal (55%) than in adults (10%) after optic neuritis.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of the effects of nebulized terbutaline with intravenous enprofylline in patients with acute asthma.

We compared the bronchodilating effects of intravenously administered enprofylline (2 mg/kg) with nebulized terbutaline (10 mg) in patients presenting to hospital with acute asthma in a multicenter double-blind parallel study. One hundred twenty three patients were randomized into the study, and 69 of these fulfilled the inclusion criteria and a retrospective time to study entry criterion; 34 received enprofylline and 35 received terbutaline. There was no significant difference in maximum increase in forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) between the enprofylline group (0.24 +/- 0.33 L) and the terbutaline group (0.25 +/- 0.28 L) (p greater than 0.05), nor for the increase in FEV1 over the 1-hour study period. Tremor was reported more in the group receiving terbutaline, and nausea was reported more in the group receiving enprofylline. Two patients experienced hypotension and one patient had a vasovagal episode with enprofylline treatment. Both agents acted as bronchodilators with similar efficacy in patients with acute asthma in this study.

Acute Disease↗