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Biomedical subjects

R A Hazelton

Publications and source records attributed to R A Hazelton.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Hormonal manipulation of the immune response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a drug trial of an anabolic steroid, 19-nortestosterone.

Ten patients (8 female, 2 male) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were entered into an open trial with the anabolic steroid 19-nortestosterone (19-nor). Their clinical condition did not improve, nor were significant changes observed in the majority of laboratory data. However, overall the platelet count rose, and in patients with abnormal levels of T lymphocytes bearing receptors for IgG Fc treatment returned the values to normal. Despite this latter result, suppressor cell activity remained slightly below the normal range throughout the study period.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Pyogenic spinal osteomyelitis--its clinical and radiological presentation.

We report 2 cases with different radiological presentations of vertebral pyogenic osteomyelitis. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms are discussed. Bone pain and tenderness associated with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are the most frequent clinical features that should alert the clinician to this diagnosis. This condition frequently escapes early diagnosis and is often considered late in the differential diagnosis of back pain.

Adult↗

Serologic titres to micro-organisms in systemic lupus erythematosus: a family study.

Serologic titres were measured to a number of micro-organisms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, their consanguineous and nonconsanguineous relatives and a group of control subjects. There was no significant difference in titres observed for any of the organisms in the different subject groups. The significance of these results is discussed. Despite the negative results, an infective aetiology for systemic lupus erythematosus remains a viable hypothesis.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Altered thiol status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The thiol status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is significantly different from that of controls. Plasma thiol levels are lower, albumin thiol reactivity is altered and intracellular thiol levels measured after hemoglobin precipitation are increased. These variations correlate with other indices of disease severity and are one measure of a disturbance in the degree of oxidation of the blood. Penicillamine, in common with other effective therapeutic agents, produces an increase in serum thiol concentration. It causes a greater effect on serum thiol reactivity than other drugs and in particular it increases 'fast reacting' thiol levels without significantly altering the 'slow reacting' thiol level.

Adult↗

Serum copper and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase in rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum copper and thiol levels an caeruloplasmin activity were determined and compared with measurements of articular index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and zinc and haemoglobin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Superoxide dismutase activity, thiol, zinc, and copper levels of haemolysate were measured and compared with each other and to the above parameters. In serum, caeruloplasmin activity increased and thiol levels decreased, whereas in the haemolysate superoxide dismutase activity decreased and thiol levels increased. It is suggested that the changes in copper levels and in the activities of process which may be copper-dependent between plasma and cytosol in patients with rheumatoid arthritis reflect a change in oxidative status of the blood which may have implications in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adult↗

The effect of fenclofenac on thyroid function tests in vivo and in vitro.

Clinically euthyroid patients on long term maintenance therapy with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenclofenac (Flenac) show an unusual and abnormal pattern of serum thyroid function tests. In all twelve patients studied, total T4 concentrations were grossly subnormal (mean 28.4 +/- 9.9 (SD) nmol/l and total T3 levels low-normal (mean 1.4 +/- 0.3 (SD) nmol/l), whereas rT3 (mean 0.36 +/- 0.06 (SD) nmol/l) and basal TSH levels (mean 1.9 +/- 0.5 (SD) mu/l) were within their respective normal ranges. Free T4 levels were low normal (mean 11.0 +/- 1.0 (SD) pmol/l) while TSH, T4 and T3 responses to intravenous TRH were similar to those found in euthyroid subjects. These effects appear to be due predominantly to in vivo inhibition of binding of thyroid hormones to carrier proteins in serum, rather than in vitro drug interference in the radioimmunoassays employed. Fenclofenac does, however, interfere in those laboratory methods employing serum proteins as binding agents. Thus the Thyopac 4 method for serum total T4 grossly over-estimates T4 levels, while thyroid hormone binding capacity (Thyopac 3) is low. Since fenclofenac is one of the most potent drugs interfering with routine indices of thyroid status, it is suggested that suspected thyroid dysfunction is excluded before commencing therapy with the drug.

Adult↗

Cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and evaluation of diagnostic tests.

We describe a 34 year old woman who presented initially with a progressive pseudobulbar palsy. A delay of five months occurred before a diagnosis of cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus was made. Currently available investigations for cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus are evaluated and the need for an easily performed specific diagnostic test is discussed.

Adult↗