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Biomedical subjects

M Barry

Publications and source records attributed to M Barry.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Misinformation about medications in rural Ghana.

Misuse of medications is a serious problem in developing countries where drug sales are not regulated. This study assessed drug knowledge and use in a rural Ghanaian town. We surveyed health care workers and a community population sample regarding knowledge and use of available drugs. Although drugs were used by a large percentage of the population, only a small percentage correctly described their recommended use. Doctors and medical assistants were knowledgeable in the correct use of drugs, while chemists were poorly informed. However, the majority of the non-health care worker (NHCW) population bought drugs from chemists without a prescription. We conclude that in this rural setting, chemists contributed to drug misuse by providing misinformation about drugs and selling drugs according to popular demand. Educational programs for chemists and the population regarding drug use and regulation of drug sales by chemists will be critical to drug reform in Ghana.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Astrocyte taurine.

The evidence presented, together with the lack of solid evidence for a specific receptor site, strongly suggests that taurine does not act as a traditional neurotransmitter in the CNS. In fact, the properties seen to be governing its efflux from both glial cells and neurons argue strongly in favor of a primary role in volume regulation. However, subsequent to its release into the extracellular space, it is possible that the inherent neuroactive properties (e.g., inhibitory neuromodulation and Ca(2+)-level modulation) may be important at the synapse, at the cell plasma membrane, and intracellularly in further directing the level of neuronal activity. Whether or not the levels of released taurine are great enough to sustain these effects has still to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The effect of chloroquine prophylaxis on yellow fever vaccine antibody response: comparison of plaque reduction neutralization test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Weekly oral chloroquine prophylaxis for malaria has been associated with impaired antibody response to intradermal rabies vaccination. Experimental data indicate that chloroquine may inhibit yellow fever virus in vitro, yet there has been no clinical evidence to suggest that antibody response to yellow fever vaccine is impaired by concomitant oral administration of chloroquine. A prospective trial was undertaken to evaluate the antibody response to yellow fever 17D vaccine (Connaught Laboratories) of volunteers who were randomized to taking either chloroquine or no drug. Of fifty subjects, 28 were randomized to taking chloroquine, 22 were randomized to taking no drug. Yellow fever 17D vaccine was administered on day 0 and blood sampled on days 0, 14, 35 and 210. Chloroquine was administered weekly for four weeks. There was no significant difference in peak antibody titer by plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) between the group that took chloroquine (mean log peak of reciprocal titer 1.43 +/- SD 0.60) with vaccine subcutaneously compared to vaccine-only group (mean log peak of reciprocal titer = 1.21 +/- 0.55). All fifty subjects seroconverted to yellow fever vaccine by day 210. ELISA testing was also performed on all subjects. The two tests showed good correlation (Spearman r = 0.675), although ELISA readings were positive by day 14 in significantly more subjects (p = .01). We conclude that routine anti-malarial doses of chloroquine do not affect antibody response to yellow fever 17D vaccine. ELISA testing, a less complex and less time-consuming test, correlates well with PRNT and is proposed for additional trials to measure yellow fever 17D vaccine response in flavivirus non-immune subjects.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

World Health Organization Consensus Committee recommendations concerning the diagnosis of BPH.

The expert committees, which met in Paris in June 1991 under the patronage of WHO to establish a consensus concerning BPH, adopted the recommendations summarised in this report. Despite certain criticisms which can be made, these recommendations offer the advantage of simplicity and uniformity, thereby constituting a "universal language". This will facilitate comparison of patients and therapeutic results, both in everyday practice and in the course of clinical trials. These recommendations will be periodically re-evaluated in the light of clinical experience and technological progress.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed1991

[Syphilitic uveitis and human immunodeficiency virus infection].

Ocular syphilis is rare in human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals. We think that syphilis should be considered in evaluating such patients presenting with uveitis. Most often, ocular syphilis includes retinitis associated with anterior or posterior uveitis, sometimes with optic neuritis. Concurrent neurosyphilis is frequent and may be more aggressive; it may progress more rapidly and cause more atypical signs than in patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection. This suggests the need for lumbar puncture in the evaluation of coinfected patients. The standard serological tests for syphilis (in blood and cerebrospinal fluid) may be nonreactive in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive patients. It may be because of the alteration of immunologic response of such patients. All coinfected patients with human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis should be treated with high-dose intravenous penicillin G sodium as recommended for neurosyphilis. We describe two human immunodeficiency virus infected patients with ocular syphilis and neurosyphilis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Cycloheximide blocks the retention of maternal experience in postpartum rats.

Two studies were done to determine the effects of cycloheximide (CYX), a protein synthesis inhibitor, on maternal experience effects in rats. In the first study eight groups received a 2-h maternal experience 36 h after cesarean (c)-section and two groups received no post c-section experience. Among the experienced groups, two received icv injections of CYX or saline (SAL) 30 min before the maternal experience, two received CYX or SAL 10 min after the experience, and two received the injections 24 h after the experience. One inexperienced group received CYX and the other received SAL 36 h after c-section. Tests for maternal behavior occurred 10 days after c-section. CYX was not able to block or disrupt the "acquisition" or expression of ongoing maternal behavior during the 2-h experience phase. However, CYX was able to block the long-term "retention" of a 2-h maternal experience if the drug was present during or immediately after the experience, prior to "consolidation." The second study investigated the effects of CYX administered immediately after the maternal experience on the expression and retention of maternal behavior 4 and 6 days after c-section, to determine whether the hormonally mediated short-onset latencies of the 4-day group would be blocked by CYX. Eight groups of animals were tested for maternal behavior. Four were tested 4 days after c-section and four were tested 6 days after c-section. Within each of these groups two were experienced and two inexperienced; within each experience condition one group received CYX and one received SAL. Day 4 groups exhibited shorter onset latencies than Day 6 groups. There was also a CYX-SAL difference in maternal onset latencies among experienced Day 6 groups but not among Day 4 groups. These data indicate that the blocking effects of CYX can be seen only when hormonal priming of maternal behavior is no longer in evidence.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Enzyme induction and inhibition.

The rate and extent of drug metabolism significantly influences drug effect. Enzyme induction by increasing the metabolism of drugs may result in important drug interactions. Other implications of enzyme induction include alterations in the metabolism of endogenous substrates, vitamins and activity of extrahepatic enzyme systems. Similarly a wide range of drugs may produce clinically significant drug interactions following enzyme inhibition. Assessment of enzyme induction and inhibition in man involves diverse methods including the use of model drugs.

Enzyme Induction↗
PubMed1990

Severity of cirrhosis and the relationship of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration to plasma protein binding of lidocaine.

The concentration of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, the major determinant of the plasma protein binding of basic drugs, and the extent of lidocaine protein binding was related to the severity of liver disease in 30 cirrhotic patients. In comparison with matched control subjects, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration (77 +/- 7 versus 37 +/- 3 mg/dl; mean +/- SEM; p less than 0.01) and lidocaine binding (69% +/- 2% versus 35% +/- 2%; p less than 0.01) was markedly reduced. There was a significant negative correlation (r = 0.78; p less than 0.01) between free lidocaine and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentration. Furthermore, both were significantly related to the severity of liver disease, as assessed by use of the Child Turcotte classification.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Tissue zinc status and drug elimination in patients with chronic liver disease.

1. The zinc status and drug-metabolizing ability of 15 patients with histologically diagnosed hepatic cirrhosis were studied. Zinc status was assessed using both serum and leucocyte zinc concentrations, and drug-metabolizing ability was assessed by antipyrine kinetics. 2. Patients with cirrhosis were found to have lower serum and leucocyte zinc concentrations when compared with a healthy control group. 3. Leucocyte zinc content and antipyrine clearance were correlated. Those patients with the lowest leucocyte zinc content had the greatest impairment of drug metabolism. Antipyrine elimination and serum zinc concentrations were not correlated. 4. Leucocyte zinc concentrations and antipyrine clearance were not influenced by the severity of liver dysfunction, as assessed by using the Child Turcotte classification. 5. These results suggest that tissue zinc depletion in some patients with hepatic cirrhosis may explain in part the impaired capacity to metabolize drugs.

Antipyrine↗
PubMed1990

Allopurinol influences aminophenazone elimination.

The authors observed an interaction between allopurinol and both theophylline and warfarin in 2 patients. To determine the possible effect of allopurinol on hepatic oxidative metabolism a [14C]-aminophenazone (aminopyrine) breath test was performed before and during treatment with allopurinol 100mg daily in 5 patients with hyperuricaemia. Allopurinol prolonged the [14CO2]-aminophenazone half-life from 72 +/- 13 to 104 +/- 16 minutes (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05). It is possible that allopurinol may produce clinically significant drug interactions through an inhibitory effect not only on xanthine oxidase metabolism but also on oxidative metabolism.

Allopurinol↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of high-level gentamicin resistant enterococcal isolates from Zimbabwe.

High-level gentamicin resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration of greater than or equal to 2,000 mcg/ml) in Enterococcus faecalis has not previously been reported in Africa to our knowledge. Eight of 28 (29%) rectal swab specimens obtained from hospitalized patients in Zimbabwe had gentamicin resistant enterococci. Previous exposure to penicillins or aminoglycosides were risk factors for colonization with these organisms. This study documents the presence of high-level gentamicin resistant enterococci in Africa and suggests that penicillin or aminoglycoside usage may select for gentamicin resistant enterococcal plasmids in Africa.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1989

Diagnostic value of the apex beat.

100 patients were examined without knowledge of other findings to assess the value of apex displacement as a sign of cardiomegaly; 25 had a radiographic cardiothoracic ratio greater than 50%. The apex was located in only half of the patients, palpability being influenced by frame size, percentage ideal body weight, and percentage body fat. By comparison with the cardiothoracic ratio, apex displacement beyond the midclavicular line as the diagnostic test for cardiomegaly had a specificity of 76%, a sensitivity of 59%, a positive predictive value of 59.4%, and a negative predictive value of 76.9%. Another clinical sign of cardiomegaly, apex more than 10 cm from the midsternal line, was more sensitive but even less specific.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Pregnancy and travel.

The special problems of travel during pregnancy have become clinically important as more women are traveling to remote places for business or recreation. Optimal maintenance of fetal and maternal health under these circumstances entails specific considerations for which data, unfortunately, remain incomplete. Nevertheless, questions regarding immunizations, antimalarials, therapy for traveler's diarrhea, and even the risks of high altitude or vigorous exercise for the pregnant woman may be examined clinically. With a few important exceptions, sufficient information is available to ensure relatively safe travel in pregnancy provided precautions are taken and preparations are made.

Aircraft↗