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Biomedical subjects

R Heddle

Publications and source records attributed to R Heddle.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Hydroxyurea induced hepatitis.

A case of hydroxyurea-induced self-limited hepatitis with an influenza-like reaction to hydroxyurea therapy is presented. The association was supported by recurrence of the symptoms on rechallenge with the drug.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury↗

Does the peritoneum need to be closed at laparotomy?

Closure of vertical laparotomy wounds was randomized between a two-layer technique of continuous catgut to peritoneum and continuous nylon to sheath and a one-layer technique in which the peritoneal suture line was omitted. In 162 two-layer closures there were 4 burst abdomens and 7 wound hernias (6.8 per cent wound failures); in 164 one-layer closures there were 5 burst abdomens and 7 hernias (7.3 per cent failures). Of 21 patients in this series with jaundice, the abdominal wounds dehisced in 3, and 4 patients developed incisional hernias (33.3 per cent failures) compared with a 5.2 per cent failure rate in the 305 non-jaundiced patients (P less than 0.01). Closure of the peritoneum as a separate layer, as widely advised and practised, appears to play no significant role in the healing of the laparotomy wound.

Animals↗

Motor mechanisms associated with slowing of the gastric emptying of a solid meal by an intraduodenal lipid infusion.

The aim of this study was to define better the motor phenomena associated with the slowing of gastric emptying by a duodenal lipid infusion. Antral, pyloric and duodenal motility were recorded in 10 healthy subjects with a manometric assembly which incorporated multiple perfused side-holes and a sleeve sensor positioned astride the pylorus. The gastric emptying of a standard solid meal and the distribution of the ingesta between the proximal and distal stomach were monitored with a radionuclide technique. A triglyceride emulsion was infused into the duodenum for 45 min once 25% of the meal had emptied. The infusion caused significant slowing in the rate of gastric emptying (P less than 0.01). This slowing in gastric emptying was associated with the suppression of pressure waves in the distal antrum (P less than 0.01) and proximal duodenum (P less than 0.01), the induction of pressure waves isolated to a narrow pyloric segment (P less than 0.01), and a redistribution of ingesta from the distal to proximal stomach. These findings suggest that pressure waves isolated to the pylorus, changes in the intragastric distribution of ingested food, and changes in proximal duodenal motility may all act in concert with changes in antral motility to regulate the gastric emptying of solids.

Adult↗

Stimulation of pyloric contractions by intraduodenal triglyceride is persistent and sensitive to atropine.

Intraduodenal lipid infusion stimulates phasic and tonic pyloric contractions and suppresses antral contractions. This study determined: (i) whether this response is sustained over 90 min; and (ii) the role of muscarinic mediation of this response. Antropyloroduodenal motility was recorded in 17 healthy volunteers with a sleeve/sidehole manometric assembly. Subjects received either a 90 min intraduodenal infusion of saline or triglyceride (20% Intralipid) at a rate of 1 mL/min; 30 min after the start of this infusion, the eight subjects who received triglyceride were given intravenous atropine 15 micrograms/kg over 30 s, followed by a maintenance infusion of 4 micrograms/kg/h until the study was completed. Intraduodenal triglyceride infusion stimulated isolated pyloric pressure waves consistently, producing a median rate of 2.4 per min after 30 min of triglyceride infusion, compared with a median rate of 0 per min pre-infusion. In intravenous saline studies, there was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the median rate of isolated pyloric pressure waves to 1.3 per min at 90 min, when compared with pyloric pressure waves at 30 min. Atropine reduced isolated pyloric pressure waves to a median rate of 0 per min, significantly different from preatropine (P < 0.01) and from intravenous saline studies (P < 0.0001). These results indicate that the phasic pyloric response to intraduodenal lipid persists during 90 min stimulation, albeit with significant attenuation. In humans, muscarinic cholinergic blockade prevents the occurrence of triglyceride stimulated localized pyloric contractions.

Adult↗

Dietary compliance in the short bowel syndrome.

Psychologic problems associated with the short bowel syndrome have received limited recognition. The literature has previously considered these problems as due to the underlying condition or its treatment. We present a case illustrating these as well as addressing the problem of compliance to treatment that has been previously neglected. The occurrence of metabolic acidosis in this patient whenever there was not strict dietary adherence to diet provide a ready marker to her noncompliance.

Acidosis↗

Management of bee-sting anaphylaxis.

A retrospective case analysis of 101 adverse reactions to bee-stings and a prospective questionnaire analysis of the proposed management by local medical practitioners and resident hospital staff members of three hypothetical bee-sting reactions has revealed that understanding of the use of adrenaline in patients with reactions to bee envenomation is confused with regard to the indications for its use, dosage and route; that corticosteroid agents are used or are recommended too frequently, sometimes as the sole therapeutic agent; and that there is a lack of awareness of the need for volume replacement in hypotensive shocked patients. These conclusions highlight the urgent need for a greater understanding of the optimal forms of management for patients with acute anaphylactic reactions to bee envenomation.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗