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Biomedical subjects

M McKay

Publications and source records attributed to M McKay.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Eczematous dermatitis: a practical review.

Eczematous dermatitis is a common condition that can interfere with social function, sleep and employment. Its persistence and accompanying pruritus may be stressful and frustrating for patients. The most common and best characterized type of eczema, atopic dermatitis, appears to be increasing in incidence. Other common eczematous dermatoses, particularly allergic dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis, must be accurately diagnosed, since improvement and resolution rely on appropriate diagnosis and avoidance of pertinent triggering factors. Principles of treatment include general skin care, patient education about avoidance of irritants, skin hydration and the use of topical corticosteroids when necessary. Use of systemic corticosteroids is not generally recommended for the treatment of chronic eczematous dermatitis.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1996

Functional hyperemia in striated muscle is reduced following blockade of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

This study was designed to determine the role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in the control of the arteriolar diameter during functional hyperemia. The hamster cremaster muscle was prepared for in vivo microscopy and stimulated electrically for 1 min before and after topical application of 10 microM glibenclamide to block ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Glibenclamide treatment resulted in a small, though not significant, decrease in resting arteriolar diameter (P > 0.05). Glibenclamide almost completely inhibited the vasodilation of the first-order and the third-order arterioles in response to topical application of 1 microM cromakalim (P < 0.05). During muscle stimulation, the first-order arterioles dilated from 69 +/- 3 to 89 +/- 3 microns (n = 7), and the third-order arterioles dilated from 16 +/- 1 to 35 +/- 2 microns (n = 7). In this set of experiments glibenclamide treatment resulted in a significant decrease (approximately 4 microns) in the resting diameters of the first-order arterioles, but had no significant effect on the resting diameter of third-order arterioles. Glibenclamide treatment significantly attenuated the vasodilation associated with muscle contraction to 72 +/- 3 and to 21 +/- 3 microns, respectively (P < 0.05). These results suggests that ATP-sensitive potassium channels are an important mediator in the vasodilatory response to muscle stimulation in the hamster cremaster muscle.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1996

Life and death in the three millimeter pocket.

Periodontal diseases are, in part, the result of an interaction of the patient's immune system with the local bacterial population. We can measure the result of the interaction and sometimes repair it. We can identify the bacteria involved in the process. What we cannot do is measure the patient's immune regulators; therefore we cannot predictably measure the recrudescence of disease activity or differentiate before hand the presence of refractory disease. We need fast, comfortable, inexpensive methods to measure the patient's immune regulators.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1995

The Canadian perspective on postpartum home care.

Because of the unique nature of the Canadian health-care system, postpartum home care in Canada has taken on a distinctive form. The provision of postpartum home care is the responsibility of the individual provinces, and different approaches have been developed in each location. The most commonly observed pattern of postpartum care involves publicly funded services provided by public health nurses. Health-care reform and shortened hospital stays have led to changing patterns of care. In turn, these changes have precipitated issues for the mother-infant dyad, the family, and the community.

Canada↗
PubMed1993

Dysesthetic ("essential") vulvodynia. Treatment with amitriptyline.

Twenty patients with chronic vulvar burning (vulvodynia) who had relief of symptoms only after treatment with low-dose amitriptyline were studied retrospectively. These patients had several factors in common, which suggested a possible neurologic component to their symptoms. The dosage of amitriptyline (initiated at 10 mg, gradually increased to 40-60 mg daily) was not sufficient to treat depression, but was in the range effective for other cutaneous dysesthesias. This study defines dysesthetic ("essential") vulvodynia, and describes a typical profile and symptom pattern for patients most likely to respond to treatment with amitriptyline (an average age of 66 with vulvodynia for three years). Dysesthetic vulvodynia appears to be a subset different from vulvar vestibulitis and other types of vulvodynia that are less responsive to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Vulvodynia. Diagnostic patterns.

The symptom of vulvar burning demands special evaluation and management. Possible factors include complications of therapy, inflammatory dermatoses, lichen sclerosus, and infection with organisms such as Candida, human papillomavirus, and herpes simplex virus. Vulvar vestibulitis and dysesthetic vulvodynia or pudendal neuralgia have characteristic patterns of discomfort. Psychological aspects of vulvodynia include the need for supportive therapy.

Candidiasis↗
PubMed1991

Vulvitis and vulvovaginitis: cutaneous considerations.

Vulvar dermatoses (previously dystrophies) include psoriasis, allergic or irritant reactions, lichen sclerosus, lichen simplex chronicus, lichen planus, and tinea. Some of these have bullous or erosive forms, but they differ from the immune-mediated vesiculobullous disease group, which includes vulvar pemphigus, benign familial pemphigus, pemphigoid, linear IgA disease, and dermatitis herpetiformis. Vulvar ulcers can occur in dermatoses resulting from systemic disease (Behçet's syndrome, lupus, pellagra, and Reiter's disease) or malignancies resembling dermatoses (extramammary Paget's disease, squamous cell carcinoma, and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia). Many vulvar dermatoses itch or burn. Vulvodynia occurs with irritant and allergic dermatitis, vulvar dermatoses, complications of steroid use, candidiasis, papillomatosis, vestibulitis, or essential (dysesthetic) vulvodynia. Diagnostic tests (potassium hydroxide, cultures, and biopsy) should establish the diagnosis and therapy should be specific. Few skin diseases are curable but all are treatable; effective management is defined by whether a medication reliably controls outbreaks or symptoms when it is used. Patience is recommended, because treatment may take weeks or months.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1991

A comparison between Ki-67 antibody reactivity and other pathological variables in breast carcinoma.

Methods of assessing tumor proliferation rates include mitosis counting, flow cytometry and thymidine labelling. While the former is inaccurate and poorly reproducible, the latter methods are time consuming and expensive to perform. Ki-67 is a monoclonal mouse antibody which has been shown to react with a nuclear antigen in proliferating cells. Frozen sections from 75 specimens of breast carcinoma were immunostained with this antibody using an immunoperoxidase technique. The percentage of tumor cells stained, the Ki-67 score, was then compared with a number of pathological and clinical variables in the patients concerned. A positive correlation was seen between the Ki-67 score and mitotic rate (r = 0.71); and a negative correlation was seen between Ki-67 score and estrogen receptor status (r = -0.4). Ki-67 immunostaining may represent a cheap and reproducible method of assessing proliferation rates of breast carcinomas which is applicable in routine laboratories. Further prospective studies are being undertaken to assess its contribution to prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Vulvar dermatoses.

Benign and malignant vulvar disorders may look alike, making diagnosis difficult for even experienced vulvologists. Understanding basic principles of differential diagnosis and diagnostic testing is necessary for good medical or surgical management. Skin diseases do not respond quickly even when treatment is appropriate. Therefore it is especially important to establish the correct diagnosis as early as possible. This group of dermatoses demands careful distinction of sometimes subtle differences, but the physician and patient will be rewarded by a sure response to correct therapy.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1990

Vulvar dermatoses: common problems in dermatological and gynaecological practice.

The most commonly encountered vulvar dermatoses present as cutaneous papules or scaly plaques. The two major categories are the papulosquamous disorders, which include psoriasis, seborrhoea and the 'lichens' (lichen planus, lichen sclerosus, lichen simplex chronicus) and chronic or recurrent infections (tinea, Candida, papillomavirus, herpes simplex). These conditions are morphologically similar, and treatment for one condition may affect the appearance of another. Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC, histologically squamous cell hyperplasia) is a secondary dermatosis, a non-specific cutaneous change indicating the presence of pruritus. Candida, tinea, lichen sclerosus, papillomavirus and topical agents have all been implicated in the development of LSC. Chronic vulvar burning (vulvodynia) is rarely associated with cutaneous change other than erythema, but may occur with vulvar dermatoses, occult Candida or papillomavirus infection, vulvar vestibulitis or cutaneous dysaesthesias. Topical preparations are most commonly used to treat vulvar disorders. Treatment trials typically require several weeks of therapy to determine responses. Allergic reactions to components must be distinguished from irritants, and complications of therapy must be recognised and prevented if possible. Overuse of topical medications, especially steroids, may lead to mycotic superinfection or to rebound dermatoses related to steroid withdrawal. Anxious patients may overclean or overtreat sensitive genital skin in the belief that they are unclean or harbour a sexually transmitted disease. In some situations, systemic medication may offer an appropriate adjunct or alternative to topical therapy.

Female↗