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Biomedical subjects

R Newcombe

Publications and source records attributed to R Newcombe.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Antecedents and outcome of very early neonatal seizures in infants born at or after term.

Recent experimentally derived evidence has confirmed earlier suggestions that seizures which occur within 48 h of birth in babies born at or later than 37 completed weeks gestation are particularly likely to reflect intrapartum asphyxia. We have compared 54 cases of such seizures with 41,090 controls in a geographically defined population. Nulliparity, hydramnios, post-term pregnancy, oxytocin augmentation of labour, abnormalities of fetal heart rate and/or meconium-stained amniotic fluid, prolonged second stage of labour, emergency caesarean section, assisted vaginal delivery, low Apgar score and resuscitation at delivery and subsequent ventilatory support were all statistically significantly more common among cases than among controls. Five of the 54 babies who developed seizures died within 28 days of birth and 11 of the 49 survivors had an impairment diagnosed by 3 years of age which was usually associated with some degree of cerebral palsy. Comparison of the frequency of antecedent perinatal risk factors in the seizure babies who died, those who survived with disabilities and normal survivors failed to reveal any clear pattern.

Cerebral Palsy↗
PubMed1987

A double-blind controlled trial of high dose methylprednisolone in patients with multiple sclerosis: 1. Clinical effects.

A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of high-dose, pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone was carried out in 50 individuals with multiple sclerosis; 22 patients were in acute relapse and 28 had chronic progressive disease. After a baseline assessment using the Kurtzke functional and expanded disability status scales each patient was randomly allocated to intravenous treatment with methylprednisolone (500 mg) or a saline placebo administered as a single daily dose for 5 days. Clinical assessments were repeated at 1 and 4 weeks after starting treatment. The results from all 50 patients showed a highly significant effect in favour of methylprednisolone treatment (p less than 0.001). In patients with relapse, there was a significant decrease in clinical disability scores at 1 and 4 weeks in the methylprednisolone treated group compared with controls (p less than 0.05 for each comparison). In the chronic progressive group, disability scores at 4 weeks only were significantly lower after treatment with methylprednisolone (p less than 0.01), mainly attributable to improvement in pyramidal function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The relationship of salt intake and arterial blood pressure in salted-tea drinking Kashmiris.

In this study we attempted to explore the relationship between salt and blood pressure in a salted-tea drinking population of Northern Kashmir which has not been exposed to a Western way of life. All the available family members of randomly selected houses in 14 villages were studied. Dietary intake was documented for the whole month of the study period to estimate the daily salt consumption in 281 subjects (193 males, 88 females), whose ages were reliably known. Their age ranged from 15 to 85 years (median 35) and their mean daily salt intake was 150 +/- 52 mmol (range 80-440). Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed a significant increase with the salt intake and age; multiple regression analysis suggested an independent effect of salt intake on blood pressure after adjusting for age. Twenty-six subjects (9.3%) had hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg); their daily salt intake was significantly higher than that of normotensive subjects (mean 167 +/- SD 53 vs 142 +/- 46 mmol; P less than 0.001). These studies suggest a relationship between habitual high salt intake and blood pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Employment in pregnancy: prevalence, maternal characteristics, perinatal outcome.

Data from the Cardiff Births Survey was used to examine the relation between the nature of employment and perinatal outcome. The proportion of all expectant mothers who work during pregnancy increased from 38.7% in 1965/69 to 43.9% in 1975/79 (p less than 0.001). The percentage of working primiparas, however, remained unchanged at approximately 80%, whereas the percentage of working multiparas rose from 15.1% to 22.1%. The non-employed primiparas were more likely than the employed primiparas to be at the extremes of maternal age, to have a history of medical problems and previous abortions, and to attend less often for antenatal care. Perinatal outcome (measured in terms of perinatal mortality, birthweight, and length of gestation) was significantly better among the employed mothers. Non-employed mothers in social classes I and II seemed to be a particularly high risk group. Exclusion of mothers with an adverse obstetric or medical history considerably reduced the differences in perinatal outcome between the two groups. The findings suggest that healthy women without an adverse obstetric or medical history can safely continue in employment during pregnancy.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1981

Effect of an intravenous infusion of aminoacids (Aminoplex 14) on gastric secretion in healthy subjects and patients with duodenal ulcers.

The effect of an intravenous infusion of an aminoacid solution (Aminoplex 14) on gastric secretion is compared in healthy subjects and in duodenal ulcer patients. The acid secretory response was twice as high in duodenal ulcer patients than in normal subjects, 60 minutes after starting the infusion. Serum gastrin levels, although initially higher in duodenal ulcer patients, showed no augmentation throughout the infusion. Blood glucose, serum osmolality and PCV estimations did not alter significantly. Serum aminoacid levels showed a pronounced rise, doubling basal values, and tended to parallel the increase in acid output. Cimetidine, administered orally, suppressed the acid secretory response to intravenous aminoacid. The marked stimulation in acid secretion following aminoacid infusion in duodenal ulcer patients was not elicited after truncal or highly selective vagotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Behavioural treatment of hyperactive children.

This study reports the value of behavioural treatment of hyperactive children. Twelve children with multiple behavioural problems, including concentration difficulties, were identified and treated during a 3-month period. Six of the children began treatment immediately; the other 6 children received similar treatment but after a delay of between 4 and 6 weeks. Children were seen at the clinic or in the home, depending upon the individual difficulties and geographical distances. Initially the families were seen weekly, but the frequency later was determined by the severity of the problems and the response to treatment. There was a significant improvement in the children's behaviour as reported by the parents, the home visitor, and videotaped recordings. During the initial period of beteen 4 and 6 weeks the treated children improved significantly, whereas the others, as yet untreated, showed no change. As soon as the treatment was introduced to the second group these children's behaviour also improved and to about same extent in 6 weeks as the treated children had in up to 12 weeks' treatment. This interesting observation suggests that a short period of treatment, only 6 weeks, may be sufficient for most children with hyperactivity. This is more feasible with the present-day resources of many departments.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1977

Changes in distribution of gestational age and birth weight among firstborn infants of Cardiff residents.

We studied data on firstborn singleton infants born to primiparous Cardiff residents during the decade 1965-1974. Both mean birth weight and gestational age at delivery fell appreciably during 1965-74. Changes in maternal age, height, smoking habits, or history of abortion did not explain these findings. The increased proportion of infants weighing less than 2500 g may be explained by the overall reduction in gestational age at delivery, which, in turn, may have resulted from increased use of elective delivery during the second quinquennium.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1975

The lesion in stereotactic suscaudate tractotomy.

The anatomical distribution of 25 stereotactic tractotomy lesions is described. The posterior half of these lesions lie in a subcaudate position and the anterior half, for the most part, lies beneath the central segment of frontal white matter.

Caudate Nucleus↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Taurolin as an oral rinse. I. Antimicrobial effects in vitro and in vivo.

Taurolin, a synthetic antimicrobial agent, has been suggested to be of potential value as an inhibitor of dental plaque. Although data on the antibacterial activity of Taurolin are available there is a dearth of information for effects on oral bacterial isolates and antibacterial activity in the mouth. This study assessed the in vivo and in vitro antibacterial properties of a Taurolin rinse by a) determining the MID values against seven oral isolates and b) measuring salivary bacterial counts following a single rinse. By comparing activity with chlorhexidine, it was hoped to determine substantivity and predict the relative ability of Taurolin to inhibit plaque through an antimicrobial effect. For Taurolin, MID values against the test organisms were found to range between 1:20 and 1:80, while for chlorhexidine, values between 1:320 to 1:640 were obtained. The effects on salivary bacterial counts revealed that Taurolin significantly reduced salivary bacterial counts compared to saline up to 5 hours post rinsing, but was significantly less effective than chlorhexidine after 30 minutes and up to 7 hours. Results indicate that Taurolin has some persistence of antimicrobial activity in the mouth. This suggests that Taurolin would possess some plaque inhibitory properties albeit less than chlorhexidine. These conclusions were confirmed in a subsequent investigation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Taurolin as an oral rinse. II. Effects on in vitro and in vivo plaque regrowth.

A Taurolin solution has been shown previously to possess antibacterial activity, not only by a bactericidal effect but also by reducing bacterial surface adherence. Such mechanisms may contribute to reduction in dental plaque in the mouth, however this remains to be determined. The present study assessed whether a Taurolin rinse could firstly effect bacterial surface growth and, secondly, whether the same rinse could reduce plaque regrowth over a 4-day period. The findings showed that the Taurolin reduced in vitro bacterial surface growth and in vivo plaque regrowth compared to saline, but was not as effective as a chlorhexidine rinse. The findings suggest Taurolin would probably have a moderate effect on plaque and gingivitis in longer-term use.

Analysis of Variance↗