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Biomedical subjects

P Morton

Publications and source records attributed to P Morton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Topical benzyl alcohol reduces cataract surgery need: two long-term double blind studies.

Substances derived from biotransformation of non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) produced by patients responsive to the biological liquid oxidant activity (BLOA) test, have been shown to have anticataract activity. They are all aromatic alcohols with physico-chemical properties similar to benzyl alcohols (BA); they were very efficacious in preventing in vitro (cyanate, heat) cataracts and in vivo (uveitis, radiation, selenite) cataracts but had no effect on sugar cataracts. The mechanism underlying this effect seems to be mainly antioxidant together with a stabilizing effect on lens membrane integrity and a stimulating effect on Na-K ATPase and membrane sodium pump. The well balanced lipo- and hydro-solubility of these compounds makes them very suitable for topical application to the eye as lipid solubility is the major factor governing transcorneal penetration of drugs. In the two long-term double blind studies on humans described here, comparing BA, placebo and Catalin in the topical treatment of progressive cataract rapid (2-3 weeks treatment) reversal of incipient cataract was obtained accompanied by a marked improvement of vision and by a significantly lower percentage of eyes requiring surgery after 22 months treatment with BA than with placebo and Catalin. In conclusion, further studies on the effect on the eye of BA and similar compounds such as phenyl-ethanol are advisable especially because they are already used as preservatives in eye-drop formulations.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1987

Coronary artery surgery and myxoedema.

A patient with a preoperative diagnosis of myxoedema had triple vessel coronary artery bypass surgery. The perioperative and postoperative course was essentially uneventful. The most appropriate management of a patient with coronary artery disease who has concomitant myxoedema is first to improve myocardial blood flow by relieving coronary obstruction and then to treat the thyroid deficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pathology of the heart and conduction system in lymphoma and leukaemia.

The clinical and pathological findings in two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and two patients with T helper cell prolymphocytic leukaemia affecting the heart are described. All four patients had extensive malignant disease, with infiltration of multiple organs. Cardiac infiltration varied from microscopic foci in one case, to grossly identifiable tumour deposits destroying and replacing normal heart structures in three cases. Two patients with infiltration of the conduction system had abnormal electrocardiograms and cardiac dysfunction: one died suddenly, and the other died in heart failure. A third patient with widespread cardiac lymphoma did not show any electrocardiographic abnormalities or dysfunction. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of cardiac and conduction system disease, particularly in the light of the evolution of specific antitumour chemotherapeutic agents.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of transdermal nitrate and isosorbide dinitrate in chronic stable angina.

The effects of transdermal nitrate (TN) (Transiderm-Nitro TTS, Geigy Pharmaceuticals, one 10 cm2 patch daily) and oral isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) (Sorbitrate, Stuart Pharmaceuticals, 10 mg three times daily) were compared in a group of 20 patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. Treadmill exercise duration was prolonged from a median time of 365 s to 428 s after ISDN (P less than 0.05), but was unchanged after TN. The difference between the active treatments was not significant. Weekly consumption of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) increased during treatment with TN from a median value of 5.5 to 6.3 (P less than 0.05). A decrease was observed after ISDN (7.8 to 3.9, P = NS), and the difference between the drugs was significant (P less than 0.01). Systolic arterial pressure was significantly lower during the ISDN than during the TN treatment period in both the supine (135 +/- 5 vs 128 +/- 5 mm Hg; P less than 0.05) and standing positions (134 +/- 5 vs 122 +/- 5 mm Hg; P less than 0.05). No change in weekly attack rate, the degree of ST depression at angina on treadmill testing, or the number of episodes of ST depression recorded during a 24 h period by Holter monitoring was observed after either drug. In this study, an antianginal effect was demonstrated for ISDN but not for TN. It is suggested that the dose of TN may have been inadequate to demonstrate such an effect, and further studies using a higher dose schedule will be required.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1986

Acute haemodynamic effects of pinacidil in man.

The acute haemodynamic effects of i.v. pinacidil 0.2 mg kg-1 infused over 8 min were studied in 10 normotensive patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation. Mean arterial pressure fell from 94 +/- 3 mmHg (mean +/- s.e. mean) before infusion to 74 +/- 3 mmHg at 10 min after commencing infusion (P less than 0.001) and during this time heart rate increased from 75 +/- 4 to 106 +/- 7 beats min-1 (P less than 0.001). Significant changes were recorded until the end of the observation period (70 min after commencing infusion). Cardiac index increased from 3.2 +/- 0.2 to 4.0 +/- 0.2 l min-1 m-2 (P less than 0.001) and systemic vascular resistance fell from 16 +/- 1 to 10 +/- 1 units (P less than 0.001) at 10 min after commencing infusion. By the end of the observation period, the values had returned to pre-infusion levels. Only small changes in pulmonary haemodynamics were observed. These results indicate that pinacidil acts as a peripheral arteriolar vasodilator, and as such may have a role in the treatment of arterial hypertension and of cardiac failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Changes in cardiac cathepsin B activity in response to interventions that alter heart size or protein metabolism: comparison with cathepsin D.

The specific activity of cardiac cathepsin B is significantly decreased by starvation and corticosteroid treatment in vivo, and by exposure of the heart in vitro to insulin, hydrocortisone and cycloheximide. Increases in cathepsin B activity occur following isoproterenol-induced cardiac damage in vivo and exposure in vitro to sucrose. Cathepsin B activity in heart is not changed during normal aging or in thyrotoxicosis. These responses are different from simultaneous changes in cardiac cathepsin D activity in several instances (starvation, corticosteroid treatment, aging and thyrotoxicosis). In the past, measurements of cathepsin D activity in heart have sometimes been considered to be representative of lysosomal proteinase activity in general and used as an index of cardiac lysosomal proteolytic capacity. The present results suggest that changes in cathepsin D do not necessarily reflect alterations in other lysosomal proteinases and may not serve as a valid indicator of overall lysosomal proteolytic capacity under all conditions.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1981

Arteriovenous malformations of the gastrointestinal tract.

Congenital arteriovenous malformations of bowel occurring as solitary or multiple lesions may cause obscure gastrointestinal bleeding with negative radiological and endoscopic studies. These malformations may be missed at laparotomy and selective visceral angiography is essential for localisation and to assess is extent of the lesions. An immediate post-resection radiograph with barium injection into the arteries is recommended to assess the completeness of the resection before abdominal closure. There is a need, when discussing vascular malformations of the bowel, to distinguish the acquired degenerative colonic lesions from the congenital arteriovenous malformations which are more common in the small bowel.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is an acutely malignant fungal disease causing local thrombosis and infarction. Gastrointestinal infection most commonly occurs in diabetics or in the immunologically compromised. This case demonstrates the radiological appearances of the gastrointestinal lesion and prolonged survival with amphotericin-B therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Dextranomer: a review of its general properties and therapeutic efficacy.

Dextranomer is a hydrophilic dextran polymer advocated as a 'cleansing agent' for various types of exudating wounds or ulcers, including stasis (venous) ulcers and decubitus ulcers. It appears to exert its effect by a capillary action which absorbs wound exudate, as well as wound debris and micro-organisms, into the dextranomer beads or into the spaces between the beads, thus removing such products from the wound surface. Dextranomer is an aid to wound or ulcer management, and does not directly affect tissue repair in such ulcers, but as with other 'cleansing' agents or techniques, removal of debris (and possibly micro-organisms) from the wound could be expected to promote natural healing. Reports of its effectiveness in open studies, often in patients with seemingly resistant lesions, have been encouraging. Similarly, in comparative trials results have usually favoured dextranomer, but a clear indication of the relative efficacy and benefits as compared with other treatments used for exudating lesions has not yet emerged. Further well designed comparative studies are needed to provide such information.

Animals↗