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Biomedical subjects

P Kent

Publications and source records attributed to P Kent.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Smoking-related beliefs and behaviour of South Australians with diabetes.

Data cumulated from three representative population surveys (n = 9402) in South Australia were used to determine smoking prevalence of those aged 15 years or over with and without self-reported medically confirmed diabetes. Overall, smoking prevalence in the two groups did not differ. However, among those aged under 40 years with self-reported diabetes, smoking prevalence approached 55 per cent, which was significantly higher than in young respondents without diabetes (32 per cent). Diabetic smokers were no more likely than were nondiabetic smokers to have tried to quit or to be ready to quit; one-quarter of diabetic smokers had no thought of quitting or of modifying their habit. Smokers with diabetes were significantly more likely to be heavy smokers (43.5 per cent) than were nondiabetic smokers (23.4 per cent). Fewer smokers with diabetes tended to believe that smoking causes or aggravates heart disease or circulatory problems than did other smokers, although these differences did not reach statistical significance. Additional effort is required to find methods to assist people with diabetes to refrain from smoking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Radiotracer measurement of ureteric blood flow.

This paper describes a novel technique using the blood flow tracer C14-iodoantipyrine to measure ureteric blood flow in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The ureters were divided into five equal segments, and the blood flow was measured using a modification of the Fick principle. There was a gradient down the ureter with a significant difference between upper (159 ml./100 gm./min.) and lower (83 ml./100 gm./min.) ureteric segmental blood flows. This technique may allow the role of ureteric ischemia to be investigated in a variety of disease states.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

24-hour survival of autotransfused red cells in elective aortic surgery: a comparison of two intraoperative autotransfusion systems.

Twelve patients undergoing elective aortic surgery had intraoperative autotransfusion using either the Haemonetics Cell Saver or the Solcotrans device. The 24-h post-transfusion survival of the patients' preoperative red cells, labelled with indium-111, was compared with the survival of salvaged red cells labelled with chromium-51. A correction coefficient for the instability of the indium-111 label was calculated from the study of red cell survival in six healthy volunteers. There was no significant difference in the volume of circulating red cells measured using each isotope, indicating that extensive early destruction of the autotransfused red cells does not occur. The percentage survival of autotransfused red cells at 24 h was similar to that of the red cells that had not undergone salvage. Both devices were comparable with respect to the effects of cell salvage on the 24-h survival rate of autotransfused red cells.

Aortic Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Comparing subjective and objective assessments of the severity of vibration induced white finger.

The present staging of the disease severity of vibration induced white finger (VWF) is based on the patients' symptoms. Forty patients, with a history of VWF, with disease severity stage III or stage IV, on the Taylor-Pelmear scale, were investigated. Total, reactive hyperaemic blood flow to the hands was measured using an isotope limb blood flow (ILBF) technique. Skin blood flow patterns were assessed using a cold provocation test, followed by thermographic assessment of hand rewarming. Thermographic abnormalities were detected in 39 patients (97%). Decreased post-occlusive, reactive hyperaemic blood flow occurred in 29 patients (73%). There was no difference in skin blood flow patterns or in total hand blood flow between the stage III and stage IV groups. Reduction of postocclusive reactive hyperaemic blood flow may be indicative of occlusive lesions of the digital vessels. We conclude that the classification of the severity of VWF using subjective assessment, needs to be augmented by objective evidence of altered blood flow.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Altered sensitivity of digital blood flow to acute vibration in patients with vasospastic disease.

Fifteen patients with primary Raynaud's, 18 patients with vibration induced white finger (VWF) and 15 controls were exposed to sine wave vibration, with an amplitude of 0.15 mm and frequencies of 40, 80 and 120 Hz. Baseline digital blood flow was measured using venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography. A digit was vibrated for 1 min and subsequent blood flow measurements were taken from both vibrated and non-vibrated digits. Vibration at 40 Hz causes a significant decrease in flow in the vibrated digits of the control group only (P less than 0.05, Wilcoxon test). Vibration at 80 Hz shows a significant decrease in blood flow in the vibrated digits of both the control and the VWF groups (P less than 0.005) and also in the non-vibrated digits of the VWF group (P less than 0.05). Vibration at 120 Hz significantly decreases blood flow in the vibrated digits of normal control, VWF and Raynauds group (P less than 0.001). The Raynaud's non-vibrated digits also had decreased flow (P less than 0.005). These results imply that patients with established vasospastic disease are less sensitive to the direct effects of acute vibration than controls. The results also imply that vibration at 40, 80 and 120Hz affect digital blood flow in controls through local mechanism. Vibration at certain frequencies, appears to modulate blood flow in patients with vasospastic disease by acting through central mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Dual tracer technique to measure salvaged red cell survival following autotransfusion in aortic surgery.

The survival of autotransfused red cells was measured for two salvage devices used in 12 elective aortic reconstructions. Six patients underwent cell salvage with the Solco-trans device and six with the Haemonetics cell saver. A double tracer technique was used to take account of post-operative blood loss and fluid replacement. Comparison was made with the results of a group of normal volunteers. A comparison was made of the labelling efficiency of damaged and undamaged red cells using chromium to check that red cells damaged during autotransfusion can be labelled. No significant difference was seen. There was no significant difference in red cell survival between the volunteer group and either of the two salvage device groups. These results suggest that red cell survival is not compromised by the autotransfusion process using these two devices.

Aortic Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Intravenous pentoxifylline in the treatment of rest pain: a preliminary report.

Twenty patients with ischemic rest pain were treated with intravenous pentoxifylline, 1,200 mg daily, for up to three weeks. Ten patients obtained sufficient relief to avoid surgical intervention. Seven of these had complete or near complete relief of rest pain, but the other three required continuing analgesia. Transcutaneous oxygen measurements showed a significant increase after the course of treatment. There were marked gastrointestinal side effects in six patients, necessitating early withdrawal from the study. Three of these six patients had shown a favorable response to medication prior to withdrawal. These preliminary results suggest that pentoxifylline may provide a sufficient increase in tissue oxygen availability to avoid, or at least postpone, surgical intervention. A double blind controlled study is required to further assess the efficacy of this drug as an intravenous treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Assessment of arterial disease using digital systolic pressure measurement.

Digital systolic pressure measurements were made on 140 big toes using a photoplethysmographic technique before and after extrinsic heating of the foot. Most patients with apparent, critically ischemic feet demonstrated vasomotor activity, suggesting that much of the microcirculation of the foot was in fact intact. Significantly, nine of 21 feet which would have fallen into a critically ischemic category were recategorized after heating into a less severe group. These data confirm the value of toe pressure measurements in the assessment of severe ischemia but show that adequate foot vasodilation is essential to allow accurate conclusions to be drawn and to allow meaningful interpretation of results.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Haemoglobin M-Hyde Park associated with polyagglutinable red blood cells in a South African family.

Twelve of 35 members tested in a large ethnically-mixed South African family were found to have both haemoglobin M type Hyde Park and persistent polyagglutinable red blood cells. The characteristics of the polyagglutination have not been recorded previously. The cells of affected family members were not agglutinated by Arachis hypogea, Dolichos biflorus or Salvia sclarea, but were agglutinated weakly by Salvia horminum and BSII (GSII) and reacted strongly with Glycine soja and Sophora japonica lectins. BSI (GSI) lectin agglutinated the group A but not the group O cells. The N and MN cells were agglutinated more strongly than normal by Vicia graminea, other anti-N lectins and human anti-N but the M and MN cells reacted as expected with human anti-M. The name 'Hyde Park' is provisionally suggested for this type of polyagglutination, although it appears unlikely that the evidently complete association between the polyagglutination and the variant haemoglobin is the result of a single genetic mutation. More likely, the connection has a post-genetic origin, perhaps showing that bonds, possibly affected adversely by precocious senescence, normally occur between the haemoglobin and alpha-sialoglycoprotein molecules in red blood cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The slow miracle.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The potential of intradialytic parenteral nutrition: A review.

Malnutrition is common in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients and is strongly related to increased morbidity and mortality. Among the various approaches to treat malnutrition in this patient population, intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) is the treatment of choice for a small but important percentage of malnourished CHD patients. However, the new revised policies relating to IDPN reimbursement by Medicare in the US have made it very difficult to qualify patients for this potentially useful therapy. This restrictive policy was adopted mainly because there are no clear data that support IDPN use or efficacy. Studies to date in the literature do not provide clear documentation of the benefits of IDPN or their cost-effectiveness. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate studies relating to the use of IDPN as a potential therapy to treat malnutrition in CHD patients and to discuss potential trials to prove its cost-effectiveness.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗