Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Ryan

Publications and source records attributed to P Ryan.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Failure of effervescent zinc acetate lozenges to alter the course of upper respiratory tract infections in Australian adults.

Effervescent lozenges containing 10 mg of zinc acetate were evaluated as a treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in a double-blind randomized trial by using a placebo which was indistinguishable to most observers in taste and appearance from the active material. Of the 70 treatment courses used by 55 individuals in 34 families, 63 (33 zinc and 30 placebo) were considered evaluable, in that the volunteer used the medication at least four times daily for at least 3 days, the average utilization being 5.4 days at an average dose of six lozenges daily. Six users of zinc reported nausea (versus no placebo users), and eight reported an unpleasant taste or aftertaste (versus one placebo user). No benefit was observed among the users of zinc acetate. The mean duration of symptoms in users of the zinc was 12.1 days, compared with 7.7 days in those who used the placebo. Nor was any beneficial effect of zinc evident among the four zinc-treated versus the two placebo-treated individuals from whom rhinovirus was grown.

Acetates↗
PubMed1987

Herpes zoster arteritis: pathological findings.

This paper describes the pathological findings in two cases of delayed contralateral hemiparesis following herpes zoster arteritis. Both died of cerebral haemorrhage and a necrotizing angiitis was found involving the major vessels of the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere. No feature of granulomatous arteritis or of encephalitis was found. It is likely that the virus spreads along intracranial branches of the ophthalmic nerve supplying the major arteries and causes the inflammatory reaction by direct invasion of vascular muscle.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The immediate effect of burn wound excision on pulmonary function in sheep: the role of prostanoids, oxygen radicals, and chemoattractants.

Pulmonary dysfunction is a well-recognized complication of burn wound excision. It remains unclear whether this is caused by bacteria or inflammatory mediators released during excision of the wound. We produced a 15% full-thickness burn in 18 sheep, and between days 5 and 7 completely excised the wound under general anesthesia. Pulmonary parameters of static and dynamic lung compliance (CSTAT and CDYN), PaO2/FiO2, and pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) were measured, as well as burn lymph, venous and aortic thromboxane B2 (TxB2), chemotactic index (chemotaxis/chemikinesis), and oxygen radical activity reflected in the level of lipid peroxidation in lung tissue. We noted a transient increase in burn lymph and venous TxB2 during excision, increasing from a preburn value of 200 and 220 +/- 50 pg/ml to 950 +/- 210 and 980 +/- 280 pg/ml, respectively. In 13 of 18 sheep, chemotactic activity and lung tissue lipid peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) content, were not increased. In this group only a very transient decrease in CDYN, PaO2/FiO2, and a 3 mm Hg increase in mean Ppa was seen with excision, with these parameters returning rapidly to baseline. Five of the 13 sheep had wound biopsy specimens that were greater than 10(6) organisms/gm tissue. In the remaining five sheep, plasma chemotactic index was also significantly increased with excision, as was lung MDA content, while decreases in CDYN, CSTAT, and PaO2/FiO2 and an increase in Ppa were more protracted. Three of these five sheep had wound biopsy specimens greater than 10(6) organisms/gm. We conclude that a release of thromboxane occurs during excision, which corresponds in time to transient lung dysfunction. If there is also a release of chemotactic factors, a more protracted pulmonary response occurs with evidence of O2 radical-induced lung changes.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1986

Campylobacter bacteraemia: a report of 10 cases.

Ten cases of campylobacter bacteraemia, which were diagnosed over a three-year period, are described. Four patients presented with acute gastrointestinal illness, three patients had acute febrile illnesses, two patients had cellulitis and one patient presented with ureteric colic. Two patients had lifelong agammaglobulinaemia, two were undergoing corticosteroid therapy and there was one nosocomial infection. In contrast with previous reports, the most common species that was isolated was Campylobacter jejuni, which was found in eight cases, and this includes the first report of cellulitis that was most probably caused by C. jejuni. All of these isolations of campylobacter have occurred since the introduction of the radiometric technique of processing blood cultures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Prophylactic efficacy of intranasal alpha 2-interferon against rhinovirus infections in the family setting.

In a double-blind evaluation of alpha 2-interferon as prophylaxis against naturally acquired respiratory infections, 120 adult members of 46 Australian families used 325 courses of intranasal spray during a six-month period, applying 5 million IU to the anterior nasal mucosa daily for seven days when respiratory symptoms developed in another member of the family. Used in this way, the alpha 2-interferon was well tolerated, and the rate of minor nasal bleeding (12 percent) did not increase with repeated courses. By comparison with the control group of 109 members of 49 families who used 319 seven-day courses of placebo spray, the users of alpha 2-interferon experienced 33 percent fewer days with nasal symptoms and 41 percent fewer episodes of "definite" respiratory illness. The users of alpha 2-interferon who were exposed to rhinovirus infections experienced 76 percent fewer days with symptoms and 86 percent fewer "definite" illnesses than their counterparts who used placebo. All of the observed clinical benefits, which suggested prevention of 6.8 "definite" respiratory illnesses per 100 courses of medication used, could be explained by a protective effect against illness associated with rhinoviruses that was not demonstrated for influenza A or B or coronavirus 229E.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1986

Correlation of predicted serum bactericidal activities and values measured in volunteers.

A method was devised for predicting the serum bactericidal activity of new drugs. Six healthy volunteers received 2 g moxalactam, cefoperazone and cefotaxime, respectively, as 30-min infusions in a crossover manner at one-week intervals. The pharmacokinetics of each drug was characterized and the bactericidal activity of the serum 1 h after infusion was measured against panels of six strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, six strains of Escherichia coli, six strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and four strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The minimum bactericidal concentration of each antibiotic was determined for each organism by the standard NCCLS reference method and the method of Stratton and Reller. On the basis of these values and a serum concentration-time curve constructed from individual patient pharmacokinetic parameters, the bactericidal activity of the serum 1 h after infusion was predicted. These predictions showed a 90% agreement with measured values calculated according to the method of Stratton and Reller, whereas an agreement of 74% was obtained with the reference method. This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001).

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Stress and acute respiratory infection.

To examine the relationship between stress and upper respiratory tract infection, 235 adults aged 14-57 years, from 94 families affiliated with three suburban family physicians in Adelaide, South Australia, participated in a six-month prospective study. High and low stress groups were identified by median splits of data collected from the Life Events Inventory, the Daily Hassles Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire, which were administered both before and during the six months of respiratory diary data collection. Using intra-study stress data, the high stress group experienced significantly more episodes (mean of 2.71 vs. 1.56, p less than 0.0005) and symptom days (mean of 29.43 vs. 15.42, p = 0.005) of respiratory illness. The two groups were almost identical with respect to age, sex, occupational status, smoking, passive smoking, exposure to air pollution, family size, and proneness to acute respiratory infection in childhood. In a multivariate model with total respiratory episodes as the dependent variable, 21% of the variance was explained, and two stress variables accounted for 9% of the explained variance. Significant, but less strong relationships were also identified between intra-study stress variables and clinically "definite" episodes and symptom days in both clinically definite and total respiratory episodes. Pre-study measures of stress emphasized chronic stresses and were less strongly related to measures of respiratory illness than those collected during the study. However, significantly more episodes (mean of 2.50 vs. 1.75, p less than 0.02) and symptom days (mean of 28.00 vs. 17.06, p less than 0.03) were experienced in the high stress group. In the multivariate analyses, pre-study stress remained significantly associated with total respiratory episodes and symptom days in total and "definite" respiratory episodes. In all of the multivariate analyses performed, sex (female) and age also appeared as important correlates of respiratory illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Topical ibuprofen decreases thromboxane release from the endotoxin-stimulated burn wound.

A full-thickness burn wound in adult sheep releases prostanoids when they are injected locally with E. coli endotoxin, 2 micrograms/kg, resulting in an increase in pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) from 20 +/- 3 to 34 +/- 5 mm Hg, and a decrease in mean arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) from 88 +/- 6 to 70 +/- 5 torr; this corresponds to an increase in venous plasma TxB2 content from a baseline of 220 +/- 79 pg/ml to 440 +/- 90 pg/ml. Burn prostanoid production, measured in lymph, increased ten- to fifteen-fold for both thromboxane A2, measured as TxB2, and prostacyclin, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. The intravenous administration of ibuprofen, 12.5 mg/kg, eliminated both the increase in Ppa and decrease in PaO2 as well as the increase in burn lymph prostanoids. However, plasma prostanoids were also decreased below baseline, a potentially deleterious effect. A topical ibuprofen cream, 5% ibuprofen in a water-soluble ester, was applied to the burn hide every 6 hrs x 4 after which endotoxin was again injected below the hide. The pulmonary dysfunction was prevented as was the increase in plasma TxB2 with the value remaining at baseline. Burn lymph levels were only increased three- to five fold. Ibuprofen levels in burn lymph were maintained at 1-2 mcg/ml. The addition of the cream to the burn, however, did increase the wound bacterial content to 10(5)-10(7) bacteria/gram of tissue compared to 10(2)-10(3) for the dry, untreated burn, probably due to softening of the burn. Topically applied ibuprofen, therefore, can decrease burn wound prostanoid production from local endotoxin, preventing lung dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1986

Breast feeding and smoking hygiene: major influences on cotinine in urine of smokers' infants.

The determinants of urine cotinine levels were studied in a group of 101 infants aged 3 months, including 79 infants whose mothers were current smokers. At a pre-arranged home visit the infants' mothers completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and samples of maternal urine and breast milk and infants' urine were collected. Cotinine and nicotine levels were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Infant urine cotinine levels ranged from 0 to 140 micrograms/l (0-1120 ng cotinine/mg creatinine). A linear dose response relation between mother's smoking rate and infant urine cotinine level was observed among breast-fed infants (r = 0.79, p less than 0.001). The relation was weaker among infants fed by both breast and bottle (r = 0.56, p = 0.01) and was not apparent among bottle-fed infants (r = 0.15, p = 0.16). In addition to mode of feeding and mother's smoking rate, mother's smoking "hygiene" (assessed by the reported frequency of smoking while feeding and with infant in same room) was independently associated with infant urine cotinine level. Father's smoking pattern and exposure to smoke outside the household did not relate significantly to infant cotinine levels. We conclude that when mothers smoke, breast feeding is the principal determinant of cotinine in infants' urine. It is likely that most of this cotinine comes from cotinine in mothers' breast milk, but further research is needed to establish how much nicotine is ingested by breast-fed infants of mothers who smoke, and to investigate possible health effects.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMed1986

Endotoxemia causes increased lung tissue lipid peroxidation in unanesthetized sheep.

Our purpose was to determine whether lipid peroxidation of lung tissue, a reflection of O2 radical injury, occurs with endotoxin, and whether the degree of tissue change corresponds with the degree of increased protein permeability. Unanesthetized adult sheep with lung lymph fistulas were given Escherichia coli endotoxin at a dose of 2 micrograms/kg (n = 34). Tissue lipid peroxidation was measured using the thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA). The MDA content of lung tissue in nanomoles per gram increased from a control value of 48 +/- 8 to 98 +/- 18 at 5 h postendotoxin (2 micrograms/kg), whereas lung lymph protein transport (Cp), was increased 3- to 4-fold. The MDA content returned to base line with Cp by 24 h postendotoxin. Six sheep given endotoxin were pretreated with 12.5 mg/kg of ibuprofen, and six were infused with dimethylthiourea (DMTU) 0.75 g/kg. With ibuprofen, Cp was only increased 2.5- to 3-fold and MDA was increased to 69 +/- 15 nmol/g. With DMTU, the increase in Cp was comparable to that with endotoxin alone, as was the MDA of lung tissue with a value of 92 +/- 12 nmol/g. The correlation of tissue MDA with Cp in all animals was 0.83. We conclude that lipid peroxidation occurs in lung tissue after a moderately severe endotoxin injury with the degree of change corresponding to the degree of increased Cp.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Primary leptomeningeal glioma mimicking an acoustic neuroma: case report with review of the literature.

Primary leptomeningeal gliomas are rare. Historically, they have been found in the spinal canal more frequently; however, in the recent literature nearly all have been found within the cranium. In the only cadaveric study of leptomeningeal glial nests, the most frequent site was the medulla and pons. Until now, no leptomeningeal glioma has been found at this site. We report what we believe to be the first such case mimicking an acoustic neuroma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of the postburn hyperdynamic state and changes in lung function (effect of wound bacterial content).

The pulmonary and systemic response to a full-thickness burn (15% of total body surface area) was determined in 15 adult sheep. Also compared was the effect of wound bacterial content and prostanoid release on this response. Burn wound thromboxane A2, measured as TxB2, and prostacyclin, measured as 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, were measured in burn wound lymph. Animals were monitored for 7 days. On the final day, a full-thickness biopsy specimen of burn tissue was obtained for quantitative bacteriology. Wounds with 10(4) or less organisms per gram of burn tissue were considered colonized, whereas those with 10(5) or more organisms per gram of burn tissue indicated wound infection. Seven sheep had 10(4) or less bacteria and the remaining eight sheep had 10(6) or greater bacteria. We noted a significant mean increase in cardiac index from a baseline of 5 to 6.2 L/min/m2, a decrease in systemic vascular resistance from 16 to 12 mm Hg/L/min, and a mean increase in oxygen consumption from a baseline of 135 to 165 ml/min/m2 during the 7-day study period. There were no differences in these responses between the colonized and the infected wounds. Pulmonary artery pressure increased from a mean baseline of 19 to 24 mm Hg and arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) decreased from a baseline of 90 to 80 mm Hg in the infected wound group, with values remaining at baseline in the colonized wound group. These changes corresponded with an increase in lymph and plasma TxB2 from a baseline of 200 to 210 pg/ml to 1000 +/- 250 and 600 +/- 190 pg/ml, respectively. Values in the animals with colonized wounds were not significantly increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1986

Infant botulism.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Australia↗
PubMed1985

Diabetes mellitus.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1985

A pilot study to validate the etiologies and defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis of noncompliance.

A descriptive study was used to examine the defining characteristics of noncompliance as generated by review of the literature and extensive practice. The purpose was to determine (1) the presence of selected etiologies and defining characteristics in individuals; (2) the comprehensiveness of the list for all clinical findings; and (3) nurses' perceptions of the importance of the etiologies and defining characteristics in making the diagnosis of noncompliance.

Attitude to Health↗