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Biomedical subjects

K W Somerville

Publications and source records attributed to K W Somerville.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Smoking and Crohn's disease.

In a case-control study 82 patients with Crohn's disease and matched controls drawn from general practice lists were questioned about their smoking habits. Patients with Crohn's disease were significantly more likely to be smokers than the controls, and the association was stronger for smoking habit before the onset of the disease than for current smoking habit, the relative risks for smokers compared with non-smokers being 4.8 and 3.5 respectively. Taken in conjunction with earlier data showing an association between non-smoking and ulcerative colitis, these results suggest that smoking habit may be an important determinant of the type of inflammatory bowel disease that develops in predisposed subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Pilot study of combination treatment for gall stones with medium dose chenodeoxycholic acid and a terpene preparation.

Thirty patients with radiolucent stones in a radiologically functioning gall bladder were treated for up to two years with a combination of Rowachol (one capsule twice daily), a mixture of cyclic monoterpenes, and chenodeoxycholic acid (7.0-10.5 mg/kg/day). The patients were not selected for body weight or size of stones. All complete dissolutions diagnosed by oral cholecystography were confirmed or refuted by ultrasound examination. Control of symptoms was excellent, only one patient withdrawing from the study because of persistent biliary pain. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was detected biochemically, and diarrhoea due to chenodeoxycholic acid was minimal at this dose. Stones disappeared completely in 11 patients (37%) within one year and in 15 (50%) within two years. These results compared favourably with those obtained with similar doses of chenodeoxycholic acid alone, in particular those of the National Co-operative Gallstone Study (complete dissolution in 13.5% of patients at two years). Treatment with a combination of medium dose chenodeoxycholic acid with Rowachol for radiolucent gall stones is economical, effective, and likely to minimise persistent symptoms and adverse effects of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Smoking and ulcerative colitis.

In a case-control study of smoking and ulcerative colitis patients with the disease were much less likely to smoke than community controls matched for age and sex. The difference was substantial, with an estimated relative risk of 3.8 for non-smoking on current habits, was even larger (6.2) when habits at onset of the disease were examined, and was mainly accounted for by 42 of 55 patients who had given up smoking a mean of eight years before onset. The association could not be explained by confounding by social class. These findings suggest that smoking directly or indirectly confers protection against ulcerative colitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Omeprazole: effects on oxidative drug metabolism.

Omeprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, and a potent inhibitor of gastric parietal cell H+/K+ ATPase, was tested for drug interactions at two dose levels (30 mg and 60 mg/day) in man using the model drugs [14C]-aminopyrine and antipyrine. Elimination of both models was assessed before and after 15 days treatment with omeprazole. In addition [14C]-aminopyrine metabolism was assessed on day 2 of treatment to investigate the rapidity of onset of any effect. In 10 healthy male volunteers omeprazole 60 mg/day for 14 days prolonged aminopyrine 14CO2 half life (t1/2), measured on the 15th day, by 21% (P less than 0.05), and reduced percent dose demethylated in 2 h (ABT2) by 19% (P less than 0.005). No effect was seen on day 2 of therapy. After 14 days treatment antipyrine half-life was prolonged by 10% (P less than 0.025) and clearance was reduced by 14% (P = 0.063). In nine healthy male volunteers omeprazole 30 mg/day for 14 days prolonged aminopyrine 14CO2 by 13% and reduced ABT2 by 11%. Both changes just failed to reach statistical significance. At this dose antipyrine metabolism was unaltered. As the dose of omeprazole used in clinical practice may be less than 30 mg/day it is unlikely that metabolic inhibition will occur during routine use, although it will be necessary to test for interactions with therapeutically more important compounds. Interactions should be looked for when large doses of omeprazole are being used to treat hypersecretory states.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Delayed release peppermint oil capsules (Colpermin) for the spastic colon syndrome: a pharmacokinetic study.

Excretion of menthol (as glucuronide) from orally ingested peppermint oil contained in Colpermin was compared with oil contained in two soft gelatine capsules. Total 24 h urinary excretion of menthol was similar in the two formulations in healthy volunteers, but peak menthol excretion levels were lower and excretion delayed with Colpermin. Menthol excretion was reduced in ileostomy patients who took Colpermin and moderate amounts of unmetabolised menthol were recovered from the ileostomy effluent. This is consistent with Colpermin being a delayed-release form of peppermint oil.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

An unusual cause of variceal haemorrhage in an elderly patient.

An elderly patient with nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver and hypothyroidism who presented with life-threatening bleeding from oesophageal varices is discussed. Progress has been uneventful following a semi-emergency portocaval shunt 5 years ago with no evidence of hepatic encephalopathy. This is presumably a tribute to the relatively well-preserved hepatic function in this condition.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Gall-stone dissolution and recurrence: are we being misled?

Oral cholecystography repeated at six-months intervals is the standard method for determining reduction in size of gall stones (partial success) and complete dissolution of stones (complete success). In a comparative study of oral cholecystography and cholecystosonography six out of 14 patients with gall stones achieving complete success by oral cholecystographic criteria had stones still detectable by ultrasonography. Repeat oral cholecystography in a further 11 patients receiving post-dissolution maintenance treatment detected stones in two, whereas ultrasonography detected stones in seven. In future complete dissolution of gall stones should be reported only if both oral cholecystography and ultrasonographic studies give negative results and the progress of patients receiving post-dissolution maintenance treatment is monitored by ultrasonography rather than serial oral cholecystography.

Chenodeoxycholic Acid↗