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Biomedical subjects

S Grewal

Publications and source records attributed to S Grewal.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Bilateral infraorbital nerve block is superior to peri-incisional infiltration for analgesia after repair of cleft lip.

Cleft lip repair is a common operation in infants and requires that the child is pain-free during the postoperative period so that handling does not affect the integrity of the delicate surgical site. This study was designed to compare the efficacy and duration of effect of 0.125% bupivacaine given preoperatively as a bilateral infraorbital nerve block with peri-incisional infiltration of the same local anaesthetic for postoperative analgesia in cleft lip repair. It was a randomised, double blind, prospective study in 30 children aged 4-20 months (ASA grade 1). After a standard induction, group A (n = 15) were given a bilateral infraorbital nerve block with 0.125% bupivacaine and group B (n = 15) had peri-incisional infiltration with the same solution. No additional systemic analgesics were given before or during the operation. Intraoperative monitoring comprised measurement of heart rate and blood pressure and post-operatively pain relief was recorded using a behavioural pain relief score. The heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure were also monitored at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after tracheal extubation. The results showed that group A had significantly better pain relief (higher scores) than group B for eight hours postoperatively (p < 0.05). The analgesic requirement in group B became significant at two hours postoperatively, while group A had significant analgesic requirements only after eight hours. The significant rise in heart rate and blood pressure that accompanied tracheal intubation in both groups suggested that while both methods of analgesia may be adequate to prevent responses to skin incision, they do not substitute for adequate systemic analgesia during the operation. We conclude that infraorbital nerve block with 0.125% bupivacaine provides better and more prolonged analgesia than peri-incisional infiltration in cleft lip repair.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1999

Acute hydrops in the corneal ectasias: associated factors and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with the development of hydrops and affecting its clinical outcome. METHODS: Chart review of all patients with acute hydrops seen by a referral cornea service during a 2.5-year period between June 1996 and December 1998. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (22 eyes) with acute hydrops were seen. Nineteen patients had keratoconus, 2 had pellucid marginal degeneration, and 1 had keratoglobus. Twenty-one of 22 (95%) eyes had seasonal allergies and 20 of 22 (91%) eyes had allergy-associated eye-rubbing behavior. Six of 22 (27%) had a diagnosis of Down's syndrome. Six patients were able to identify a traumatic inciting event: vigorous eye rubbing in 4 and traumatic contact lens insertion in 2. The affected area ranged from 7% to 100% of the corneal surface area and was related to disease duration and final visual acuity. Proximity of the area of edema to the corneal limbus ranged from 0 to 2.3 mm and was also related to prognosis. Three serious complications were observed: a leak, an infectious keratitis, and an infectious keratitis and coincidental neovascular glaucoma. Various medical therapies did not differ significantly in their effect on outcome, and ultimately 4 (18%) of 22 patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty. Best-corrected visual acuity was equal to or better than prehydrops visual acuity in 5 of the 6 patients in whom prehydrops visual acuity was known, without corneal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Allergy and eye-rubbing appear to be important risk factors in the development of hydrops. Visual results are acceptable in some patients without surgery. Close observation allows for the early detection and treatment of complications such as perforation and infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Breast health practices and South Asian women.

Breast cancer is an important women's health issue in all communities. To detect breast cancer early, all women should practise monthly breast self-examination, have regular clinical breast examinations and attend mammography screening at suggested intervals. Participation in these breast health practices is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including how women define health and health practices, priorities in women's lives and their explanations of the causes of diseases such as cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Beliefs related to breast health practices: the perceptions of South Asian women living in Canada.

Breast cancer is becoming a major concern for many South Asian women. Clinical observations of women from a South Asian community living in Canada revealed an under use of early detection strategies. The purpose of this qualitative ethnoscience study was to examine breast health practices from the perspective of South Asian women to provide a foundation for the development of culturally suitable breast health services for this group. Open-ended interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 50 South Asian women over the age of 30 who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer. Adequate representation of the main religious groups (i.e. Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Christian) was ensured through sampling techniques. Analysis of translated interviews involved identification of themes and the development of a taxonomy to represent relationships among emerging cultural themes and domains. Four central domains of beliefs related to breast health practices were identified: beliefs about a woman's calling, beliefs about cancer, beliefs about taking care of your breasts and beliefs about accessing services. These beliefs hold important implications for how health promotion strategies should be structured and offered, In particular, attention must be paid to the language that is used to talk about breast cancer, the importance of the role of the family in women's health decisions and traditions related to using narratives to share information and advice.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Microtubers from somatic embryos of Bunium persicum.

Improvement in induction and growth of microtubers was related to macro and micro constituents of MS-medium, kinetin and sucrose levels. MS-medium at half strength constituents induced more conversion of somatic embryos (75%) with marginally longer and more tubering shoots (75%). However, tuber size was one third of full strength medium grown tubers. Addition of various concentrations of kinetin revealed a dose dependent stimulatory relationship in tuber formation showing enhanced tuber formation and their growth at 1 x 10(-8) M kinetin level. All plantlets produced tubers of 32.5 mg average weight. Plant conversion and shoot growth was maximum at 30 g/L of sucrose concentration and tuber weight increased approximately five times when sucrose level was raised to 60 g/L. Tubering explants also increased from 2 to 90%.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1995

Chromosome aberration test for the insecticide, dichlorvos, on fish chromosomes.

Chromosome aberration test was applied for an organophosphorus insecticide, dichlorvos, using fish as model. Channa punctatus, an ophiocephalid, having a small number (2n = 32) and a rather large size of chromosomes, was used for the purpose. Dichlorvos, with O,O-dimethyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate as the active component, was dissolved in the aquarium water at concentration level equal to that found in drainage from agricultural fields (0.01 ppm). The chromosomal preparations were made from the kidney cells of the fish after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h intervals. Controls were kept in ordinary water. The aberrations observed were chromatid gaps, sub-chromatid gaps, centromeric gaps, precocious separation of chromatids and polyploidy. These were found to be significantly higher as compared to that of the controls. This test proved its efficacy in the fish model without the administration of the chemical by injection.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

In vivo properties of SB 200646A, a 5-HT2C/2B receptor antagonist.

1. SB 200646A, N-(1-methyl-5-indolyl)-N'-(3-pyridyl) urea hydrochloride, the first reported selective 5-HT2C/2B over 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, (pK1 rat 5-HT2C receptor 6.9, pA2 rat 5-HT2B receptor 7.5, pK1 rat 5-HT2A receptor 5.2) dose-dependently blocked a putative rat model of 5-HT2C receptor activation; 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine (mCPP, 5 mg kg-1, i.p. 20 min pretest)-induced hypolocomotion (estimated ID50 19.2 mg kg-1, p.o.). 2. SB 200646A also blocked another putative in vivo model of 5-HT2C receptor function; mCPP (5 mg kg-1, i.p. 20 min pretest)-induced hypophagia in 23 h food-deprived rats (estimated ID50 18.3 mg kg-1, p.o.). 3. SB 200646A did not antagonize 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI)-induced head shakes in rats at doses up to 200 mg kg-1, p.o., an effect thought to be mediated by 5-HT2A receptors for which SB 200646A has its next highest affinity (50 fold less) after the 5-HT2C and 5-HT2B sites. 4. SB 200646A (20, 40 mg kg-1, p.o., 1 h pretest) also reversed mCPP (0.5 mg kg-1, i.p., 30 min pretest)-induced anxiety in the social interaction test, under low light familiar conditions. 5. When given alone, under high light unfamiliar conditions, SB 200646A (2-40 mg kg-1, p.o.) increased active social interaction without affecting locomotor activity in the rat social interaction test. This is consistent with an anxiolytic action of SB 200646A. 6. These results indicate that SB 200646A has in vivo efficacy and that 5-HT2C or 5-HT2B receptors are indeed likely to mediate mCPP-induced hypolocomotion, hypophagia and anxiogenesis. They also suggest that 5-HT2C,2B receptor blockade induces anxiolysis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for mucopolysaccharidoses and leukodystrophies.

The only effective treatment for selected metabolic diseases is a successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Best results with HCT are obtained when performed early in the course of the disease. Hence, timely identification and referral are critical. Also, early identification of affected patients during the newborn period via screening may be invaluable, particularly for the infantile onset rapidly progressive forms of diseases. Rapid availability of a donor graft is often crucial for these patients. Preliminary experience suggests that results after umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplant may be comparable to those after marrow transplants. UCB grafts have certain benefits of rapid availability and even reduced risk of GvHD. Hence, UCB transplant represents an alternative to marrow HCT. Related haploidentical HCT, possibly with very high doses of CD34+ cells, may also represent an option. However, expertise has been developed in very few transplant centers and no large reports are available of its use for patients with inherited metabolic diseases.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Promoting multiculturalism in healthcare on a zero budget.

When a B.C. health commission proposed strategies for promoting cultural awareness in healthcare, members of one hospital staff took up the challenge. With no budget and in addition to their regular duties, they researched and developed practical tools for healthcare workers in the midst of Victoria's diverse community.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗