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Biomedical subjects

M Weintraub

Publications and source records attributed to M Weintraub.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Uricosuric effects of niridazole.

Niridazole, an antischistosomal drug, caused a 44% decrease in the serum uric acid (SUA) concentration in 11 patients with schistosomiasis. The mean SUA (+/- SE) was 6.3 +/- 1.4 mg/100 ml at baseline and 3.5 +/- 1.5 mg/100 ml (p less than 0.01) on day 7 of treatment. There was a significant increase in the urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio, from 0.446 +/- 0.165 at baseline to 0.550 +/- 0.145 on day 3. There was no significant difference on day 7. The fractional clearance of uric acid rose from 7.2 +/- 6.8% to 13.9 +/- 17.3% (p less than 0.01), indicating a uricosuric effect. Oxypurine excretion was unchanged. In a separate study on 7 other patients, the SUA remained low for 4 to 7 days after the last dose. Niridazole, although not an organic acid, has uricosuric effects.

Creatinine↗
PubMed1977

Piroxicam (CP 16171) in rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled clinical trial with novel assessment techniques.

Piroxicam (CP 16171), a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, decreased pain, stiffness, and inflammation and increased the patient's ability to perform tasks in a double-blind study of patients with active, definite rheumatoid arthritis, poorly controlled despite standard therapy. Clinically and statistically significant improvement occurred in grip strength, walking time, and morning stiffness, and in patient and physician evaluation. Seventy-five per cent of the piroxicam-treated patients increased their daily activities. Three patients treated with the tablet form of piroxicam developed gastrointestinal ulcerations. Another patient developed iron deficiency anemia.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1976

Adverse drug reactions-a matter of opinion.

The accurate identification of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is difficult because ADRs usually present no unique clinical or laboratory findings that demarcate them from the manifestations of concurrent illnesses. The identification of ADRs depends on the clinical assessments of physicians-sometimes the clinician treating the patient and at other times a clinical pharmacologist. Considering the complex and subjective nature of clinically identifying ADRs, how accurately are ADRs identified? To answer this question, three clinical pharmacologists each independently evaluated 60 selected cases to determine if medication, alcohol, or "recreational" drugs had caused the hospitalization. The three clinical pharmacologists agreed on only 30 cases (50%), and 27 of these were thought to be unrelated to medications. In 19 of the 30 cases about which the clinical pharmacologists disagreed, they disagreed on whether or not a medication-or alcohol-related event had occurred at all. The clinical pharmacologists disagreed with the physicians treating the patient in 22% to 37% of the cases, but because of the differences among the pharmacologists, the treating physicians agreed with at least one of them in 95% of the cases. Complete agreement between the clinical pharmacologists and the treating physicians occurred in 47% of the cases. This degree of disparity in the clinical identification of ADRs shows that the evaluation of ADRs is subjective and imprecise. The accurate identification of ADRs awaits the development of an objective technique for recognizing ADRs.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗
PubMed1976

"Uniformed" consent and the wealthy volunteer: an analysis of patient volunteers in a clinical trial of a new anti-inflammatory drug.

After a 16-week clinical trial of a new anti-inflammatory drug, the participants were given a factual test to determine whether they had understood and remembered the information given them when consent was solicited. They filled out a questionnaire about their reasons for volunteering and their views on clinical studies and on medical practice in general. Demographic information was also obtained. Two thirds of the participants did not remember that they had been informed about potential risk (gastrointestinal ulceration). Some subjects remembered, but misunderstood, what they had been told; others developed erroneous ideas about the trial and the study drug. The volunteers agreed to participate in the study to help both their own arthritis and that of other patients. They took pride in their self-sacrifice and in being commended by their friends for their altruism. Analysis of the demographic data shows that indigent persons are not necessarily the most likely to participate in clinical trials. Two thirds of the subjects were from the middle class. The median family income was $13,000. To improve the informed consent procedure, we recommend group meetings in which the participants in a clinical trial can discuss the protocol and the risks of the study. Obtaining consent again, after initial anxiety has decreased, may improve comprehension.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Correlation between electrocardiographic changes, serum digoxin, and total body digoxin content.

Serial electrocardiograms and serum digoxin levels were obtained in four healthy volunteers receiving daily doses of digoxin, 0.25 mg for the first two weeks and 0.5 mg for two more weeks. We found a linear relationship between serum digoxin levels and the "PTQ index" (a function of the PR-interval, corrected QT-time, and T-wave depression). In 3 of the 4 subjects the correlation was statistically significant. The degree of linear correlation was improved when PTQ was correlated with the computer-calculated total body burden of digoxin.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Caffeine in the "sundown syndrome." Report of negative results.

This paper reports the results of a double blind study in patients with senile dementia to determine if the quality and quantity of sleep could be changed with various amounts of caffeine. Twelve patients with dementia were studied in a nursing home setting. Patients were medication free for a month prior to the study. Four treatments were given in a double blind technique. These included an uncaffeinated liquid and coffee with various amounts of caffeine. Measurements checked included sleep induction time, quality of sleep, total length of sleep, time awake during the night, and a global rating. No significant differences were noted between the noncaffeinated placebo and the coffee containing various amounts of caffeine.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Reduced variation of tracer binding in digoxin radioimmunoassay by use of (125I)-labeled tyrosine-methyl-ester derivative: relation of thyroxine concentration to binding.

Between-sample variation in tracer binding in the 125I-labeled digoxin radioimmunoassay was investigated with two tracers, 3-O-succinyl-digoxigenin-[125I]-labeled tyrosine and [125I]-labeled tyrosine-methyl-ester-digoxin. Digoxin-free serum samples having various concentrations of thyroxine were assayed with both tracers. The percentage of tracer bound when the samples were assayed with the first-mentioned tracer was increased significantly for the low thyroxine groups when compared to the normal (P less than 0.001) or the high thyroxine groups (P less than 0.05). Little difference existed when the latter tracer was used. There was variation in tracer binding when serum from dogs dosed with thyrotropin was assayed with the first tracer, but there was little variation with the second. Tracer binding may be influenced by thyroxine-binding proteins. Variation in tracer binding appears to be reduced when [125I]-labeled tyrosine-methyl-ester-digoxin is used.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Alterations in the effects of warfarin in dogs by halofenate: an influence upon the kinetics of prothrombin.

The interaction between warfarin and the new lipid lowering agent halofenate (MK 185) [2- acetamidoethyl (p-chlorophenyl) (m-trifluoromethylphenoxy) acetate] was studied in dogs in both short- and long-term experiments. Our data suggest that halofenate potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin by increasing the degradation of prothrombin (factor II) (Kdeg on placebo = 211 +/- 32 X 10(-4) X Hr-1 mean +/- SEM; on halofenate = 268 +/- 39 X 10(-4) X Hr-1 mean +/- SEM; P less than 0.01). However, a concomitant increase in factor II synthesis of 34% results in resistance to warfarin's effect if halofenate is administered prior to warfarin. The mean prothrombin time of 4 dogs on 2 mg of warfarin following halofenate pretreatment for 8 weeks was 74.8% +/- 17.3 (SE) of the anticoagulated control dog. On 2 mg of warfarin alone, it was 133.7% +/- 42.0 (P less than 0.001). Cessation of halofenate from combined therapy resulted in a delayed augmentation of warfarin effect. These data suggest that the nature of the interaction between warfarin and drugs such as halofenate which alter the kinetics of prothrombin may depend on the sequence of administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Serial serum digoxin concentrations and quantitative electrocardiographic changes.

Four elderly female patients in sinus rhythm and with mild congestive cardiac failure were treated with digoxin and studied over a 6-month period. There were significant linear correlations between serum digoxin concentrations and several quantitative electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. T-wave amplitude was the most important ECG variable. ECG changes reverted to baseline values when digoxin was discontinued. These findings suggest that quantitative ECG changes are potentially useful in clinical and research situations involving digitalis glycosides.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

Incidence and range of microscopic hematuria in patients with indwelling urinary catheters.

The presence and number of red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine after catheterization were ascertained in 40 patients without urinary tract pathology or other cause for hematuria. Before catheterization, 90% of the patients had less than or equal to 1 RBC/high power field (HPF), a figure similar to that for normal volunteers. Two days after catheterization, however, 61,5% of the patients had 2 RBC/HPF with a range between zero and "too numerous to count." The incidence of "hematuria" (greater than or equal to 2 RBC/HPF) declined with time. Neither urinary specific gravity nor urinary tract infection could be correlated with hematuria. At any time after catheterization, 90% of the patients had greater than or equal to 50 RBC/HPF. These data may be helpful in differentiating hematuria caused by the catheter from that due to drug reactions or disease states.

Adult↗