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Biomedical subjects

R Freeman

Publications and source records attributed to R Freeman.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

The triangle of health: applications for general practice, Part 2: The dental team.

The triangle of health (physical, psychological and social) allows the dental health professional to appreciate the importance of the holistic view of health. The three dimensions of health are as applicable to the health and well-being of the dental health professional as they are to the patients they treat. Parallels between physical, psychological and social determinants of oral health for the patient are related to those for the health of the dental team members. Through an awareness of such matters dental health professionals can promote health for their patients and themselves.

Burnout, Professional↗
PubMed1997

Does adjunctive fluoxetine influence the post-hospital course of restrictor-type anorexia nervosa? A 24-month prospective, longitudinal followup and comparison with historical controls.

A 24-month naturalistic, prospective longitudinal followup study was conducted on 33 patients with anorexia nervosa who had participated in an intensive, multidisciplinary inpatient treatment program and were receiving fluoxetine as part of their continuing treatment regimen. Data on course, outcome, and treatment exposure in this cohort were obtained using standardized, comprehensive interviews administered at 6-month intervals after hospital discharge. Longitudinal course data for these patients were compared with data for matched historical controls who had received identical inpatient and followup treatment but without adjunctive fluoxetine. Analyses failed to show that fluoxetine had a significant effect on the cumulative probability of remaining at target weight during the followup period, the risk of sustained weight loss, or other clinical measures of outcome. Thus, adjunctive treatment with fluoxetine may not have additive long-term therapeutic benefit when measured against the effects of sustained and intensive followup treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Incidence and predictors of cytomegalovirus pneumonia in orthotopic liver transplant recipients. Boston Center for Liver Transplantation CMVIG Study Group.

The incidence, predictors, and outcome of cytomegalovirus pneumonia in OLT recipients have not been well defined. We conducted an analysis of prospectively collected data from 141 OLT recipients who were included as part of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of CMV immune globulin prophylaxis. Cytomegalovirus pneumonia was diagnosed in 13 of 141 (9.2%) OLT recipients during the first year posttransplant and was associated with a higher 1-year mortality compared with those recipients without CMV pneumonia (84.6 vs. 17.2%, P=0.0001). Univariate analysis demonstrated that CMV viremia (P=0.001), invasive fungal disease (P=0.0001), donor(+)/pretransplant recipient(-) CMV serologic status (P=0.013), abdominal operation (excluding retransplantation) after liver transplantation (P=0.0027), bacteremia (P=0.0105), and advanced United Network of Organ Sharing status (P=0.023) were associated with CMV pneumonia. Cytomegalovirus viremia was diagnosed in 11 of 13 patients with CMV pneumonia at a median of 11 days (range 1-66 days) before diagnosis of CMV pneumonia. In a multivariate analysis using a time-dependent, Cox proportional hazards model, CMV viremia (RR=8.6, 95% CI 1.8-39.7, P=0.0012), invasive fungal disease (RR=6.5, 95% CI 2.1-20.3, P=0.0001), and abdominal reoperation (RR=4.4, 95% CI 1.4-13.1, P=0.0043) were found to be independent predictors of CMV pneumonia. The attributable mortality associated with CMV pneumonia within the first year after liver transplantation for the patients with CMV pneumonia was 67.4%. Intensified measures for prevention of CMV should be considered for patients at high risk of developing CMV pneumonia.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Dentists practising in Lothian treat HIV seropositive patients: is this a resolution of conflict or a case of Hobson's choice?

Dentists are now required to treat HIV-positive patients in their practices. Dentists working in high HIV prevalence areas treat HIV seropositive patients but what affects this treatment decision? The aim of this study is to investigate the role of conflict with regard to treatment decisions. All 371 dentists practising in Lothian were sent a questionnaire. Two hundred and fifteen questionnaires were returned giving a valid response rate of 60%. The findings of this study would support the view that dentists are able to use their scientific knowledge which reduces anxieties and assists in the resolution of their conflict with regard to the treatment of HIV seropositive patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Myotonia in colchicine myoneuropathy.

Colchicine may induce a myoneuropathy in patients with renal insufficiency. To date, myotonia has not been described in this disorder. We recently studied 4 patients treated with routine doses of colchicine who, in the setting of renal insufficiency, developed a severe myoneuropathy characterized by prominent myotonic discharges on electromyography. In addition, 1 of the 4 patients had profound clinical myotonia. In the 3 patients in whom biopsies were performed, marked myopathic change with intracytoplasmic vacuolization was identified. All 4 patients improved rapidly with discontinuation of the medication. The patient in whom electrophysiologic studies were repeated had a complete resolution of the myotonic discharges. Colchicine myoneuropathy can present with prominent clinical and electrophysiologic myotonia that resolves completely with discontinuation of the medication.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A randomized, placebo-controlled study on the effect of cyclic intermittent etidronate therapy on the bone mineral density changes associated with six months of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether intermittent cyclic etidronate therapy blocks the decline in bone density associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-one premenopausal subjects who needed treatment with leuprolide (Lupron) 3.75 mg monthly for 6 months were randomized to etidronate or placebo. Bone turnover was assessed by measurement of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and fasting urinary calcium/creatinine ratios. Bone density was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment produced a significant decrease (4% to 10%) in bone density at the anteroposterior and lateral spine in placebo-treated patients (11). No significant change was demonstrated in etidronate-treated patients (15). Significant increases in serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and urinary calcium/creatinine ratios were noted in the placebo group. No significant change in these parameters were evident in the etidronate group. CONCLUSION: Etidronate blocks bone mineral density changes associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy and normalizes serum and urine indicators of bone turnover.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Infection with Bacillus cereus after close-range gunshot injuries.

Three patients were admitted with close-range gunshot wounds of the knee and lower leg, inflicted in all three cases through clothing. At admission, all of the patients were given antibiotics (cefuroxime and metronidazole) to prevent streptococcal and anaerobic infection. All of the patients developed severe tissue infection with Bacillus cereus within days of admission. In one case, the organism was also recovered from the blood. B. cereus is capable of causing severe infection after trauma and its ubiquity in the environment allows it easy access to gunshot wounds. Its potent production of beta-lactamase renders penicillins and cephalosporins predictably ineffective. The early administration of a non-beta-lactam drug (such as ciprofloxacin) should be considered in cases where Bacillus cereus is isolated from traumatic wounds.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1996

Heterogeneity within apparently pure cultures of Escherichia coli freshly isolated from significant bacteriuria.

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS), a highly discriminatory method for comparison of isolates, was used to assess the homogeneity of colonies taken from apparently pure cultures of Escherichia coli in 10 urine specimens. Ten randomly selected colonies were subcultured from each urine for comparison. For six urines, the set of 10 single-colony isolates proved indistinguishable by PyMS. However, for four urines there was clear heterogeneity. For two urines, one of the isolates was distinct, and the remaining nine indistinguishable. One urine yielded seven indistinguishable isolates, and three further individually distinct isolates. One urine yielded two clusters of indistinguishable isolates, one comprising seven and the other three isolates. Thus, significant heterogeneity (as measured by PyMS) occurs in apparently pure cultures of E. coli from urinary tract infection. The nature of this heterogeneity remains to be established, as does the significance, if any, of this phenomenon in urinary tract infection.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1996

Stress and the progression of periodontal disease.

This study examined the association between occupational stress and the progression of periodontitis in employed adults. 23 regular dental attenders, enrolled in a longitudinal study of periodontal disease, were examined on 2 occasions at an interval of 5.5 (SD 0.6) years. The mean age at the 2nd examination was 41.1 (SD 7.3) years. Clinical measurements of periodontal status including clinical attachment level were made at four proximal sites on all teeth. A questionnaire, the occupational stress indicator, was used at the second examination to assess stress retrospectively. The mean change in clinical attachment level was 0.63 (SD 0.42) mm and 9.6 (SD 8.6)% of sites measured at both examination lost > or = 3 mm of periodontal attachment. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between mean loss of periodontal attachment and measures of occupational stress and sociodemographic data. In the final regression model, an increase in loss of periodontal attachment was significantly predicted by increasing age, lower socio-economic status, lower job satisfaction and type A personality. In addition, locus of control was included in the regression model which explained 65% of the variance in the loss of periodontal attachment. The results suggest that occupational stress may have a relationship to the progression of periodontitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Dangerousness and dentistry: an explanation of dentists' reactions and responses to the treatment of HIV-seropositive patients.

Factors which influence health professional's willingness to treat HIV seropositive patients have been explained in terms of the concept of dangerousness. Can this concept be used as a vehicle to explain dentists' responses? All dentists currently in practice in Northern Ireland (n = 664) were invited to take part in the study. A final valid response rate of 73.3% was achieved. Attitudes and behavioural aspects of dental practice were examined in relation to whether they had or had not treated and HIV seropositive patients. In addition correlation and factor analyses were conducted. The results indicated that the concept of "dangerousness' provides a useful framework to explain dentists' attitudes and behaviours with respect to the provision of dental care for this patient group.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

Does storage of sputum specimens adversely affect culture results?

It has been recommended that samples submitted for microbiological examination should be retained for 48 hours after issue of the final report. In order to ascertain whether reproducible results could be achieved following storage of sputum specimens, two laboratories each re-cultured 100 samples 48 hours after their report had been issued and a further laboratory re-cultured 100 samples 48 hours after receipt. Discordant results were obtained in only 5-25% of specimens, indicating that potential respiratory pathogens could survive storage.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1996

Coarse graining spectral analysis of HR and BP variability in patients with autonomic failure.

We examined heart rate and blood pressure variability (HRV and BPV) during graded tilt (5 min in each position: supine, -10 degrees, 10 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, -10 degrees, supine) in autonomic failure patients and age-matched controls. Heart rate was not different between patients and controls and increased with tilt (P < 0.001). Total HRV was reduced in patients (P < 0.03). Patients had reduced low-frequency (0-0.15 Hz) HRV and BPV (P < 0.005). With tilt, low-frequency BPV increased in controls, whereas high-frequency (> 0.15 Hz) BPV increased in patients. The slope of the fractal component (beta) for HRV and BPV was not different between patients and controls. HRV-beta increased (1.5-1.9, P < 0.01) with tilt, but BPV-beta (approximately 1.8) was unaffected. Values of beta close to 1 indicate high signal regulatory complexity, and values of beta close to 2 indicate low complexity. HRV and BPV provide clear evidence of impaired sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system response to tilt with autonomic failure. The similarity in signal complexity with reduced fractal and harmonic spectral power, in patients compared with controls, suggests unchanged cardiovascular neural input and integration with reduced output in autonomic failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The treatment of postprandial hypotension in autonomic failure with 3,4-DL-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine.

Postprandial hypotension occurs commonly in patients with autonomic failure and may be due to attenuation of the normal sympathetic nervous system activation in response to meal ingestion. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of the norepinephrine precursor 3,4-DL-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (DL-DOPS) on this condition. We measured blood pressure, heart rate, forearm vascular resistance, and plasma DL-DOPS and norepinephrine in 11 patients with autonomic failure. DL-DOPS attenuated the postprandial fall in blood pressure. This was associated with an increase in plasma norepinephrine and forearm vascular resistance. DL-DOPS therapy did not change the postprandial increase in heart rate. There was a trend toward increased supine hypertension associated with DL-DOPS treatment. This study shows that DL-DOPS is a promising treatment for postprandial hypotension and provides support for the hypothesis that postprandial hypotension is, at least in part, due to decreased activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Dysmorphophobia: a case successfully treated using a multidisciplinary approach.

Dysmorphophobia is a syndrome in which a person of normal appearance becomes obsessed with an aspect of their appearance which they feel is noticeably defective, and for which they constantly seek treatment. This case report describes the successful management of a young woman with dysmorphophobia using a multidisciplinary approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Preemptive ganciclovir therapy to prevent cytomegalovirus disease in cytomegalovirus antibody-positive renal transplant recipients. A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preemptive ganciclovir therapy administered daily during antilymphocyte antibody therapy can prevent cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant recipients who are positive for cytomegalovirus antibody. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, multicenter trial. SETTING: 6 university-affiliated transplantation centers. PATIENTS: 113 renal transplant recipients who were positive for cytomegalovirus antibody. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1) ganciclovir, 2.5 mg/kg body weight administered intravenously on every day that antilymphocyte antibody therapy was administered or 2) no anticytomegalovirus therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Patients were observed for 6 months after completion of antilymphocyte antibody therapy for development of cytomegalovirus disease and cytomegalovirus viremia. RESULTS: Cytomegalovirus disease occurred in 14% of patients (9 of 64) who received preemptive ganciclovir therapy and in 33% of controls (16 of 49) (P = 0.018). Cytomegalovirus was isolated from buffy-coat specimens from 17% of patients (11 of 64) receiving preemptive ganciclovir and from 35% of controls (17 of 49) (P = 0.03). Controlling for the reason (induction or treatment of rejection) for using antilymphocyte antibodies in a Cox proportional hazards model, we found that preemptive ganciclovir still protected against cytomegalovirus disease (adjusted relative risk, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.64). No adverse events were attributed to preemptive ganciclovir therapy during or within 6 months of its administration. CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive ganciclovir therapy administered daily during courses of treatment with antilymphocyte antibodies reduced the excessive occurrence of cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant recipients who were positive for cytomegalovirus antibody. This approach, which links the most potent immunosuppression to intensive antimicrobial therapy, allows preventive therapy to be given to those patients at greatest risk for developing infectious complications. These patients are likely to benefit most from the preventive strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Whirlpool baths in nursing homes: use, maintenance, and contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infection was associated with the use of a whirlpool bath in a nursing home. The nursing home inspection unit asked for guidance on whirlpool baths in nursing homes and advice for proprietors about their use, cleaning, disinfection, and maintenance. Seventeen whirlpool baths in 16 nursing homes in two health districts were examined for the presence of P. aeruginosa. A survey was made of the use made of whirlpool baths, methods used to clean and disinfect them, and the occurrence of P. aeruginosa wound infection in users. P. aeruginosa were found in large numbers in water samples from all whirlpool baths after agitation. Only one of the 253 residents who used whirlpool baths was known to have a P. aeruginosa wound infection. The local nursing home inspection unit was advised that whirlpool baths could continue to be used in nursing homes but only by continent residents with intact skin. The bath should be cleaned and disinfected, preferably with hypochlorite, after each use; the bath should be more thoroughly cleaned and disinfected daily and the bath should be fully serviced at least once a year. Suspected or confirmed cases of P. aeruginosa infection in residents of nursing homes should be reported to the consultant in communicable disease control. The prevalence of known infection with P. aeruginosa was low in the residents of the nursing homes, but the unguided and unregulated use of whirlpool baths in nursing homes may present an infection hazard to residents who use the bath and to hospitals that admit residents from such nursing homes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗