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Biomedical subjects

R G Hall

Publications and source records attributed to R G Hall.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Effects of rapid smoking. Physiologic evaluation of a smoking-cessation therapy.

We studied 24 healthy young male smokers to ascertain the medical safety of a highly effective smoking-abatement technique called rapid smoking. In comparison with results obtained after a 12-h cigarette fast or after normal smoking, statistically significant increases occurred after rapid smoking in heart and respiratory rates, systolic blood pressure, carboxyhemoglobin, and pH (p less than 0.05), while arterial PCO2, HCO3-, and serum [K+] fell (p less than 0.05). Rapid smoking produced alveolar hyperventilation in all subjects. In eight, arterial PO2 increased appropriately, but in 16, fell paradoxically (p less than 0.01); seven had arterial PO2 below 80 torr. Because this fall could represent ventilation/perfusion mismatch due to early bronchoconstrictive disease, in subjects with normal flow/volume loops and spirometry rapid smoking may be a simple, provocative screening test for early airway disease. Despite the changes produced there were no arrhythmias. Rapid smoking is safe for healthy subjects but should not now be used for higher-risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1974

Endoscopy in the elderly.

The endoscopic experience involving the study of 114 patients in the geriatric age group (65-89 years) in a district general hospital is described. The cases examined were mainly patients with dyspepsia, gastrointestinal blood loss, suspected upper alimentary tract carcinoma or those who had undergone gastric surgery. The procedure was well tolerated and safe. Useful information was obtained in the majority of patients (93 per cent). When the endoscopic and radiological findings were compared the endoscopist and radiologist were in agreement in 55 per cent of the cases examined by both techniques. In the others endoscopy played an essential role in establishing the presence of radiologically undetected or undetectable disease, and in confirming or excluding radiologically doubtful disease.

Age Factors↗