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Biomedical subjects

R Hopkins

Publications and source records attributed to R Hopkins.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Sulphasalazine in the management of psoriatic arthritis.

There are few 'second-line' drugs available for the treatment of PSA and their use is often limited by toxicity. Thirty-nine patients with active PSA recruited from two rheumatology units were randomly allocated to either enteric-coated sulphasalazine (SASP) or placebo and followed for 24 wk. Six patients in the SASP group and 11 on placebo discontinued therapy before 24 wk. Evaluation of effect of treatment revealed significant improvements in articular index in both groups at 12 wk. By 24 wk the articular index in placebo group was still showing benefit. In addition to articular index the SASP group improved significantly in terms of visual analogue scale, duration of morning stiffness and ESR. SASP is effective in PSA but the partial clinical response to placebo indicates the importance of placebo-controlled studies in this variable disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Osteoarthritis in weight-bearing wrists?

To test the suggestion [1] that turning the wrist into a weight-bearing joint by using a stick is likely to cause OA in that joint, 50 consecutive patients (excluding those with RA) who had used a stick for more than 1 year were studied clinically and radiographically. The data did not support this hypothesis. The changes in the original paper, as in one of these patients, were likely to be due to avascular necrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Recent advances in addictive disorders. Prevention. Current research and trends.

The AOD prevention programs of the 1990s should be resiliency-focused and include interventions of sufficient dosage and strength. Although some child behavioral technology exists to tackle successfully changes in resiliency, additional prevention strategies need to be developed and studied. In some way, the prevention field is hampered by the lack of sufficient research in the child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology fields, that includes transactional research in parenting and child rearing for high-risk youth. We simply do not know enough to determine how parents and other adults can best foster resilience in children. Questions that arise include how much to protect children from environmental stressors and how much to push them to confront new life stressors in the form of challenges to develop new skills or talents. There are no simple answers to these questions, but a number of useful guidelines could help parents and teachers to increase resilience in youth. Some of the guidelines currently being stressed include developing in youth an increased sense of responsibility for their own success, helping them to identify their talents, motivating them to dedicate their lives to helping society rather than feeling their only purpose in life is to be consumers, providing realistic appraisals and feedback for youth rather than graciously building up their self-esteem, stressing multicultural competence in an ever-shrinking world, encouraging and valuing education and skills training, increasing cooperative solutions to problems rather than competitive or aggressive solutions, and increasing a sense of responsibility for others and caring for others. Clearly, these are important objectives for creating the type of citizens that can make American strong in the twentieth century.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Complications of use of carbon fibre in the temporomandibular joint: a case report.

The aetiology of recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation is numerous. A case is described of frequent dislocation which was finally treated using a carbon fibre sling. However this was removed 3 years later due to the presence of a radiolucency in the head of the condyle. Radiographic and photographic appearances of this carbon fibre induced radiolucency are shown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Survey of satisfaction with care in a rheumatology outpatient clinic.

Consumer satisfaction is increasingly recognised by hospital administrators and health care providers as an important aspect of health care. A study was undertaken to investigate the satisfaction with care among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) attending a rheumatology outpatient clinic at Leeds General Infirmary. The Leeds satisfaction questionnaire was developed and rigorously tested for reliability (Cronbachs alpha) and stability (test/retest). The Leeds satisfaction questionnaire was then completed by 70 patients with RA who had attended the Leeds General Infirmary on at least three previous occasions. The results showed that patients were, in general, satisfied with the care they received. The highest satisfaction scores were obtained on the scale for technical quality and competence of health professionals. The least satisfaction was accredited to the difficulty of unscheduled access to the clinic and the lack of continuity with the providers of care. The time spent in the waiting area before consultation was highlighted as the one aspect which caused the greatest dissatisfaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The development and use of Patient Knowledge Questionnaire in rheumatoid arthritis.

A multi-choice Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (PKQ) was developed for use with patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Test/re-test was used to test its stability (r = 0.81), and Kuder Richardson formula 20 (r = 0.72) for internal consistency. Seventy randomly selected RA patients then completed the PKQ in a rheumatology out-patient clinic of a large teaching hospital. There was a wide variation in total scores ranging from 3 to 28 out of 30. Total scores correlated with years of general education (P less than 0.05) but not with disease duration or age. Sixty-two per cent of patients knew that the cause of RA is, as yet, unknown but 27% thought it could be caused by injury and 11% by cold damp weather. Fifty-two per cent had no idea why they had blood tests. All but four patients were taking some form of medication but there was widespread confusion about disease-modifying drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Exercise was reasonably well understood but many patients were unable to differentiate between methods of energy conservation and joint protection. This study highlights the need for careful individual knowledge assessment by use of tools such as the PKQ and effective patient education programmes.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Responsible alcohol service: a study of server, manager, and environmental impact.

A responsible alcohol-service training program was evaluated for its impact on changing beliefs, knowledge, and behavior in 97 servers and 43 managers and on changing establishment policies that encourage safer drinking environments. The training program had a significant impact on changing the beliefs and knowledge of both servers and managers. Observation 4 to 6 weeks after training showed no effects on server behavior, but there was a tendency toward more establishment policies compared with controls.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of cellular viability in cardiovascular tissue as studied with 3Hproline and 3Hinulin.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to develop a quantifiable assay for the assessment of cellular viability in cardiovascular tissue. DESIGN: Radiolabelled proline and inulin were used to assess metabolic viability of the cellular component of cuspal tissue from porcine heart valves. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS: Pig hearts were removed within 20 min of death and transported on ice in tissue culture medium. Cuspal tissues were dissected rapidly and held on ice in physiological medium until assayed. MAIN RESULTS: Radiolabelled inulin was shown to be a useful marker for determining the amount of radiolabelled proline present in the extracellular tissue volume, permitting calculation of the amount of radiolabelled proline accumulated by the cellular component. Proline accumulation by the cellular component was affected by concentration of proline, time allowed for proline accumulation, in vitro cold ischaemia, and metabolic poisons. Based on mg tissue protein, proline and inulin accumulations were equivalent for aortic, pulmonary, mitral, and tricuspid valve tissues, suggesting that these valve tissues may be used interchangeably in assessment of metabolic viability of cellular components of cardiovascular tissue. CONCLUSION: Radiolabelled proline and inulin transport assays allow a quantitative estimate of total cellular viability.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Patients' perceptions of staff in a department of rheumatology.

Three groups of 44 rheumatic patients were studied in a Regional Rheumatology Centre, and two out-patient clinics (one conducted by a consultant, the other by a nurse practitioner). A questionnaire determined their perceptions of staff members, their spouses, and the patients with whom they had most contact. In the usual in- and out-patient setting, patients preferred to be told about their condition by the consultant. In the clinic where they saw a nurse practitioner regularly, over half preferred to be told by her. The patients found it easier to discuss their condition with a nurse (particularly of a lower rank than a sister). Much came from spouses and other patients. The consultant and sister had important roles in reassuring the patients, but doctors were not successful in making patients feel useful and needed. Nurses were somewhat better--but not that good (30%). This was a vital role for the spouse, who nevertheless in hospital produced much anxiety, closely followed by visitors, other patients and doctors. Nurses and occupational therapists were very calming and relaxing people.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

The pharmacokinetics of the antidepressant tianeptine and its main metabolite in healthy humans--influence of alcohol co-administration.

A balanced 3 way cross-over study involving 12 young healthy volunteers (6 men and 6 women) was used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of the antidepressant tianeptine following a single dose administered by oral and intravenous route. The influence of alcohol on the pharmacokinetics of tianeptine when given per os was also investigated. Kinetic parameters of metabolite MC5, the C5 side chain beta-oxidation product of tianeptine, were simultaneously determined. Following intravenous administration total clearance and volume of distribution of tianeptine were 230 +/- 59 ml.min-1 and 0.47 +/- 0.14 l.kg-1 respectively. When given orally, tianeptine was absorbed rapidly (tmax = 0.94 +/- 0.47 h). The mean systemic availability was estimated to be 99 +/- 29%. Tianeptine was eliminated from plasma with a half-life of 2.5 +/- 1.1 h, mainly via extrarenal route since its renal clearance averaged 0.38 +/- 0.47 ml.min-1. Plasma levels of metabolite MC5 were lower than those of the parent drug but decreased with a longer half-life (7.2 +/- 5.7 h). Alcohol co-administration decreased tianeptine absorption rate and lowered tianeptine plasma levels by about 30% but did not affect those of the MC5 metabolite.

Administration, Oral↗