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Biomedical subjects

M H Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to M H Thomas.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Clinical trial of penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis.

The medical records of our first 200 consecutive rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with penicillamine were analyzed retrospectively. All but 5 patients (97.5%) had undergone earlier chrysotherapy that resulted in either therapeutic failure or toxicity. Only 57 patients (28.5%) were still receiving penicillamine on January 1, 1981, and the duration of therapy ranged from 23 to 62 months. The dropout rate due to toxicity, therapeutic failure, relapse, or other reasons was very high (71.5%). Toxic effects required permanent discontinuance in 56 patients (28%). Therapy was discontinued for 36 patients (18%) because of no benefit. A striking number (20) had relapse after therapeutic success and while continuing to take penicillamine, and the therapy had to be discontinued, a relapse rate of 10%. Therapy for the remaining 15.5% was discontinued for miscellaneous reasons that were not related to penicillamine per se: patient anxiety (6%), lost to followup (5%), hospitalization for reasons unrelated to penicillamine therapy (2%), lack of cooperation and study protocol (1% each), or pregnancy (0.5%). By our criteria, 142 patients (71%) received benefit (remission or improvement). Therapy results for these patients were as follows: still on penicillamine on January 1, 1981 (28.5%); no longer receiving the drug due to toxicity (19.5%); no longer receiving penicillamine due to relapse while on continuing therapy (10%); no longer receiving penicillamine due to miscellaneous reasons not related to penicillamine therapy (13%). This study shows that penicillamine is a valuable drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but its value in clinical practice is limited by a rather high incidence of both toxicity and relapse during treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The excretion of cefuroxime in human bile.

Cefuroxime is a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. An intravenous injection of cefuroxime 1.5 g was administered to 25 patients after induction of anaesthesia for cholecystectomy. Concentrations of antibiotic were measured and the mean levels in microgram/ml found to be: serum 120.5, common bile duct bile 42.8, gallbladder bile 5.4, gallbladder wall 39.2. The drug levels exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations for most organisms commonly encountered in the biliary tract. There was no difference in cefuroxime levels in bile from functioning or non-functioning gallbladders. It is suggested that the diffusion of antibiotic into and out of the inflamed gallbladder is similar to that in abscesses and in experimental tissue cages. No side effects, toxicity or wound infections occurred.

Bile↗
PubMed1977

Doppler ultrasound in the functional assessment of extended deep femoral angioplasty.

Twelve patients who have had an extended deep femoral angioplasty (EFDA) for severe lower limb ischaemia have been assessed. The patients underwent a standard exercise ankle pressure test before operation and 6 months after operation. The test included the measurement of resting brachial and ankle pressures, walking distance on a treadmill and the post-exercise pressure response. A limb ischaemic score was derived from these measurements; 8 patients showed an improved score, 3 patients exhibited no change and 1 was worse. The mean improvement in walking distance of the successful cases was 182 per cent (s.d. 96 per cent). There were no amputation during the period of study.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Urolithiasis after intestinal bypass for morbid obesity.

Urinary calculi, predominantly of oxalate composition, have been noted in 10 to 14% of a large series of morbidly obese patients after jejunoileal intestinal bypass at this institution. Physical and metabolic changes after bypass surgery, including the presence of hyderoxaluria, hyperuricemia, and fluid and electrolyte disturbances are reviewed in their possible relationship to this increased incidence of urolithiasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Desensitization to portrayals of real-life aggression as a function of exposure to television violence.

In two separate experiments, the hypothesis that exposure to violence in the context of television drama decreases subjects' emotional responsivity to portrayals of real-life aggression was tested. Subjects were shown either an excerpt from a violent police drama or a segment of an exciting but nonviolent volley-ball game before watching a videotaped scene of real aggression. Emotionality was measured by changes in skin resistance which was measured continuously throughout the session. In Experiment 1, subjects were 8- to 10-year-old children and the real aggression was a film of an argument and fight between two preschoolers. In Experiment 2, college students participated and reactions to real aggression were measured while subjects watched scenes from news films of the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. With the exception of adult females, subjects who previously had viewed the aggression drama were less aroused by the scenes of real aggression than were subjects who had seen the control film. Further support for the hypothesis was provided by the finding that for most groups of subjects, the amount of television violence normally viewed was negatively related to responsivity while viewing aggression.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Does watching violence on television cause apathy?

The hypothesis that exposure to televised violence serves to increase children's toleration of real-life aggression was investigated. Fifth-grade boys and girls were exposed to either a violent television excerpt or a nonviolent, exciting control program. Immediately thereafter, each child was lead to believe that he had been given responsibility for monitoring the behavior of two younger children. Subjects who had witnessed the aggressive television program were found to be significantly slower to summon appropriate adult aid when the younger children began to argue and fight than were subjects who had viewed the control film.

Aggression↗
PubMed1973

Retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with malignant disease.

The clinical features of 19 patients with malignant infiltration of the retroperitoneal tissues are described. These patients usually presented with unexplained uraemia and nonspecific symptoms; only a few had other evidence of malignancy. The diagnosis was resolved only by histological examination of multiple biopsy specimens. Since the prognosis is usually very poor it is essential to distinguish this condition from non-malignant causes of retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1970

Methods for the localization of incompetent ankle perforating veins.

A test for localizing incompetent ankle perforating veins uses an injection of fluorescein into a vein on the dorsum of the foot, with subsequent scanning of the leg under ultraviolet light. The test was found to be 96% accurate, and to be simple, safe, and cheap. It is considered to be particularly suitable for assessing legs with very early changes and with recurrent varicose veins.

Ankle↗