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Biomedical subjects

R W Morris

Publications and source records attributed to R W Morris.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

An analysis of worldwide safety experience with auranofin.

A total of 3,475 patients with rheumatoid arthritis have received auranofin (AF) during clinical trials in 27 countries. Over a 4-year period, treatment with AF was relatively well tolerated. Most reactions were mild, easily managed and occurred during the first few months of treatment. Gastrointestinal side effects were the most common problems reported with AF followed by mucocutaneous reactions. Less frequently observed were conjunctivitis, proteinuria and, rarely, thrombocytopenia. The percentage of patients withdrawn for adverse effects per patient-year was less with AF when compared to injectable gold (14 vs 40%). These results confirm previous reports of AF safety and improved tolerance versus parenteral gold.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1984

Negative selection of patients for dialysis and transplantation in the United Kingdom.

In order to understand why the United Kingdom ranks low in the treatment of end stage renal failure a questionnaire investigating knowledge of current acceptance practice for dialysis and transplantation was sent to various groups of doctors throughout the country. The questionnaire comprised 16 case histories of patients with established end stage renal failure and associated social and medical problems. In each case the responding doctor was asked to indicate whether the patient would be suitable for treatment by dialysis or transplantation or both. The questionnaire was sent to a randomly selected sample of general practitioners and non-renal consultant physicians and their responses compared with those of all the nephrologists identified in the United Kingdom. The mean number of cases rejected by both general practitioners and non-renal consultant physicians was significantly higher than the number rejected by nephrologists. The findings suggest that underreferral of patients to dialysis and transplant units contributes to the current low acceptance rate of new patients into treatment programmes in the United Kingdom.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A controlled trial of pain on skin infiltration with local anaesthetics.

A double-blind, randomised controlled trial was performed to compare the pain experienced on intradermal and subcutaneous injection of lignocaine 1% with adrenaline 1:100,000, lignocaine 1%, procaine 1% and normal saline. A linear analogue pain scale was used to assess pain. Lignocaine with adrenaline caused the most pain and was more painful than lignocaine 1%, which in turn was more painful than procaine or normal saline. These differences were significant at p less than 0.05 or greater for all comparisons except procaine 1% and normal saline. In conclusion, procaine 1% appears to be the local anaesthetic of choice from among those tested for intradermal and subcutaneous injection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Confirming the diagnosis of mild hypertension.

Patients with newly found raised blood pressure are known to have lower pressures at subsequent measurements even when not treated. A study was undertaken to determine the extent to which (a) the number of follow-up measurements and (b) the duration of the intervals between them contributed to this fall in pressure. In 42 general practices 110 patients were identified as having for the first time a diastolic pressure (phase V) greater than 90 and less than 110 mm Hg. Both diastolic and systolic pressures were appreciably lower when measured at return visits when compared with the first measurement. The systolic pressure dropped appreciably in the intervals between the first and the second visits and again between the second and third visits. The diastolic pressure fell appreciably only between the first and second visits. The duration of the interval between visits was not associated with a fall in either systolic or diastolic pressure, but the number of measurements was. This pattern of fall in pressure was not affected by the patient's age or sex. From these results we conclude that patients with newly identified blood pressures that are mildly raised should be seen at two further visits before a decision about treatment is made. The timing of these follow-up visits is not crucial.

Female↗
PubMed1983

The use of phototypes to measure obesity in elderly females.

The measurement of weight and height in old people may in some cases be impossible. A subjective assessment of obesity is a simple alternative. Results are presented of a study of overweight in elderly women, where fieldworkers made subjective assessments and anthropometric measures. In analysing an index of weight adjusted for height, it was found that differences between means of the five assessment categories explained 61 per cent of the total variation, although the percentage dropped to 59 when analysis was restricted to patients whose weight was taken from their notes. The method should be useful for cross-sectional studies in which the prevalence of obesity is to be estimated.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Childhood respiratory illness and the home environment. I. Relations between nitrogen dioxide, temperature and relative humidity.

The relation between the use of gas for cooking, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), temperature and relative humidity was investigated in an urban area of northern England. In a pilot study conducted in a random sample of 40 homes measurements of temperature and relative humidity were not significantly different between homes with a gas cooker and homes with an electric cooker but weekly average levels of NO2 were higher in bedrooms (p less than 0.005) and living rooms (P less than 0.01) of gas homes. In the main study conducted in gas cooking homes only, access was gained to 183 (54.3%) of 337 randomly selected homes. No correlation was found in children's bedrooms between with weekly average level of NO2 (range 4.7 to 160.8 ppb) and weekly average temperature (ranged 7.7 to 22.0 degree C; r = 0.05, p greater than 0.10) or relative humidity (range 37.0 to 98.1%; r = 0.07, p greater than 0.10). Levels of NO2 in the bedroom were positively correlated with those in the living room (range 9.0 to 292.2 ppb; r = 0.39, p less than 0.01). Factors which tended to be associated with high levels of NO2 in the home included gas fires, paraffin heaters and use of the cooker for heating and drying clothes.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1982

Childhood respiratory illness and the home environment. II. Association between respiratory illness and nitrogen dioxide, temperature and relative humidity.

The relation of respiratory illness to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), temperature and relative humidity in homes with a gas cooker was investigated in five and six year old children living in an urban area of the northern England. NO2 was measured for one week in the child's bedroom and living room of each home, and temperature and relative humidity were measured in the bedroom only. Information on respiratory conditions experienced by the child and characteristics of the home was collected in a self-administered questionnaire completed by the child's mother. Access was gained to 183 homes (54.3% of 337) where only gas was used for cooking. Complete information was obtained for 179 (93.7%) of 191 children who lived in the 183 homes. After allowing for the effects of age, sex, social class, and number of cigarette smokers in the home and temperature or relative humidity, no statistically significant relation was found between the prevalence of having one or more respiratory conditions and weekly average levels of NO2 in the bedroom (range 4.7 to 160.8 ppb) or living room (range 9.0 to 292.2 ppb). However, the prevalence of having one or more respiratory conditions tended to be highest in homes with high levels of NO2 and lowest in homes with low levels, consistent with earlier findings. A significant positive association was found between the prevalence of respiratory conditions and relative humidity (p less than .05). A harmful effect on health from NO2 cannot be totally dismissed but if it exists it is weak and difficult to detect in small samples of children.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1981

Weight-for-height as a measure of obesity in English children five to 11 years old.

The relation between measurements of height, weight and triceps skinfold for 7758 English boys and girls aged five to 11 are investigated. It is shown that the correlation between weight adjusted for height and triceps skinfold increases from about 0.5 at age five to nearly 0.7 at age 11, but that some curvature in the relation exists, a closer association between the variables being found for relatively heavy children than for relatively light children. However, the relation between the two measurements is not sufficiently great for weight-for-height to be used as a proxy measure of obesity. Skinfold measurements are recommended, except in large epidemiological studies or when fully trained observers are not available.

Body Height↗
PubMed1980

Double-blind clinical trial of a nitrofurantoin/sulphadiazine combination at two dosage levels in acute symptomatic urinary infections.

A double-blind trial was carried out in 177 patients with acute symptomatic urinary tract infections to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nitrofurantoin plus sulphadiazine at two dosage levels. Patients were allocated, at random, to receive 7-days' treatment with either 50 mg nitrofurantoin plus 150 mg sulphadiazine 3-times daily or 100 mg nitrofurantoin plus 500 mg sulphadiazine 3-times daily, and were followed-up 10 to 14 days later. Only the 73 (41%) patients with significant bacteriuria on entry were included in the analysis of the efficacy results. There were no statistically significant differences between the two treatments either in bacteriological cure rates, which were approximately 90% in both groups, or in the complete or partial resolution of symptoms, recorded in over 90% of patients at the 2-week follow-up visit. The main side-effects recorded were anorexia, nausea, vomiting and/or headache, and were fewer in the group treated with the lower dosage.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Potentiation of lethality in mice by combinations of pentazocine and tripelennamine.

Quantal dose-response curves were generated to determine the median lethal doses (LD50S) for pentazocine and tripelennamine, either alone or in combination. LD50S of the drug combinations in mice demonstrated significant potentiation when compared with either drug administered alone. Attempts to antagonize the lethality of such combinations have, to date, been unsuccessful.

Animals↗