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Biomedical subjects

A B Drake-Lee

Publications and source records attributed to A B Drake-Lee.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Factors affecting ciliary function in vitro: a preliminary study.

Nasal ciliary function forms an important defence mechanism within the upper respiratory tract which has largely been ignored in recent years. The effects of various drugs used extensively in the treatment of diseases of the nose have not been fully established. Furthermore, the physiological control of ciliary activity is unclear. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of drugs on ciliary beat frequency in vitro using a photometric technique. A dose-dependent response to alpha and beta receptor drugs was found, cocaine hydrochloride achieved ciliostasis even at 40-fold dilution, and potassium ions, except at the limits of tolerance for excitable tissue, did not affect ciliary function. In conclusion, we suggest that alpha and beta receptors may be present on ciliated epithelium and be involved in the control of ciliary function in vivo. Ion fluxes across the ciliary cell membrane may also be important in ciliary activity akin to nervous tissue.

Adrenergic Agonists↗
PubMed1992

Beyond music: auditory temporary threshold shift in rock musicians after a heavy metal concert.

Audiometry was undertaken before and within half an hour following a heavy metal concert to assess evidence of noise damage. Of the four members tested, one member wore an ear defender in his right ear during the period of noise exposure. All unprotected ears showed a temporary threshold shift which was maximum in the lower frequencies. There was some evidence that early noise damage had occurred with a dip at 6 kHz. The role of music as noise and its potential to damage the cochlea are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A review of the morphology of human nasal mast cells as studied by light and electron microscopy.

This review discusses the distribution and classification of human nasal mast cells after the use of different fixatives, and some of their staining characteristics, both at the light- and electron-microscopical level. The problems encountered with alcoholic and formaldehyde fixation are discussed as well as the limitations of different stains (including the basic aniline dyes), esterase cytochemistry and immunological techniques. Also, the respective limitations of light and electron microscopy are compared. Cells studied by means of electron microscopy are much more difficult to quantify objectively. It is concluded that classification of mast cells--by means of their morphology, fixation and staining characteristics--into two categories (mucosal vs. connective tissue; T-vs. T/C cells) is simplistic, especially since human nasal mast cells are both heterogeneous and pleomorphic.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Mast cell numbers in the mucosa of the inferior turbinate in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: a light microscopic study.

The number of mast cells in the inferior turbinate from patients with perennial allergy due to house dust mite were compared with ten normal controls. Ten random high powered fields were counted in the epithelium and the submucosa in samples which had been divided into two and fixed either in aqueous formalin or Carnoy's fixative. The sections from each block were stained with either Azure A or Chloroacetate esterase technique. No statistical differences were found. The lack of increase in mast cell numbers was attributed to degranulation since numbers have been shown to be increased in perennial allergy when sections are examined ultrastructurally.

Cell Count↗
PubMed1991

Ultrastructure of nasal mast cells in normal subjects and patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.

The ultrastructure of mast cells from the nine normal inferior turbinates were compared with those found in eight patients with perennial allergic rhinitis due to house dust mite allergy. Forty-six mast cells from normal patients were found in forty blocks and eighty cells were found in thirty-three blocks in patients with perennial allergy suggesting an increase of mast cell numbers in perennial allergy. There were no basophils outside the blood vessels and whole mast cells were found only in the submucosa. There was no difference in the morphology of cells of different sizes. Mast cells were more degranulated in the allergic mucosa. Degranulation, irrespective of cell size was found at all depths of the mucosa. A review of the literature covered the in vivo and in vitro descriptions of the ultrastructural morphology of human mast cells in the respiratory tract.

Cell Count↗
PubMed1991

Auditing the reliability of recall of patients for minor surgical procedures.

The aim of this study was to document the reliability of patients in an ENT clinic for the history of previous operations and to investigate the effect of asking more detailed questions. 162 Patients were questioned using one of two questionnaires, followed by examination. The results of the survey call in question the reliability of the history of previous surgery, particularly of procedures performed in childhood or regarded as minor. Thirty-eight patients did not admit to having undergone dental extraction under general anaesthetic until directly questioned. No male patients admitted to genitourinary surgery unless directly questioned. Four out of 84 patients did not admit to tonsillectomy until directly questioned and a further 5 patients were discovered to have undergone tonsillectomy only by examination, despite direct questions. In conclusion, this study illustrates the importance of direct questioning and highlights the poor reliability of some patients in revealing surgical procedures under general anesthetic which may be regarded as trivial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Nasal mucociliary function: comparison of saccharin clearance with ciliary beat frequency.

Mucociliary clearance as measured by saccharin clearance time is in part dependent on the physiological characteristics of mucus and is partly dependent on ciliary function. This study compared the relationship between saccharin clearance time and ciliary beat frequency in 44 patients attending a rhinology clinic. Whilst saccharin clearance time may be used as a screening test for ciliary function there was no clear linear relationship between mucociliary clearance and ciliary beat frequency.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The value of preoperative estimation of haemoglobin in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Preoperative estimation of haemoglobin in children undergoing tonsillectomy is routinely practised in most centres. To assess the value of this investigation the haemoglobin of 250 consecutive children undergoing tonsillectomy was estimated. Two children were clinically found anaemic preoperatively, and this was confirmed on blood testing. Since the prevalence of anaemia is low, it is proposed that the practice of routine preoperative estimation of haemoglobin is unnecessary, traumatic and expensive, and therefore requires reconsideration.

Anemia↗
PubMed1989

Nasal polyps and sinusitis in children with cystic fibrosis.

Eighteen children suffering from cystic fibrosis and nasal polyps were studied. Two patients presented with nasal polyps at two years of age; the remaining patients had an initial polypectomy at any age up to fifteen years (mean age of seven and a half years). There were no obvious correlations between the cultures of the sinus washouts and the corresponding sputum samples. Organisms were only grown from five of the fifteen wash outs and from nine of the sputum samples. The patients with severe polyposis were not obviously more atopic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The role of bacterial infection of the maxillary sinus in nasal polyps.

Fifty-two adult patients with nasal polyps were studied. All patients had preoperative sinus radiographs which were coded on the degree of mucosal thickening and these were compared with the results of irrigation of the maxillary sinuses. All irrigations were sent for culture and microscopy for pus cells. Pus cells and bacteria were found in only 16 of 104 wash-outs. It was concluded that the disease results in stasis of secretions and secondary maxillary sinusitis.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1989

A review of the role of radiology in non-healing granulomas of the nose and nasal sinuses.

This paper reviews the radiological features of 20 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis and seven cases of lethal midline granulomas. It compares the findings of plain sinus radiographs and tomography. There are no specific radiological features of either Wegener's granulomatosis or lethal midline granuloma. Plain sinus radiographs underestimate the extent of bony changes and the differences between Wegener's and lethal midline granulomas are one of degree. Computerised tomography will show the extent of the disease. The role of nuclear magnetic resonance is also discussed. Nuclear magnetic resonance does not show bone destruction but the T2 weighted response of the tissues helps to differentiate the condition from neoplasia. The literature is reviewed and compared with the study.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1988

The release of histamine from nasal polyp tissue and peripheral blood when challenged with antihuman IgE, house dust mite extract and mixed grass pollen extract and compared with positive skin tests.

Nasal polyps are a condition of uncertain aetiology but are associated with diseases of the lower respiratory tract, in particular, asthma and cystic fibrosis. Asthma may be mediated by mast cell reactions and the commonest allergen to degranulate mast cells is house dust mite. Mast cells have been shown to be degranulated in nasal polyps. This study looks at thirty-six patients who had nasal polypectomy and of whom fourteen were asthmatic to see if histamine was released from polyp tissue and peripheral blood when they were challenged with antihuman IgE and extracts of house dust mite and mixed grass pollens. These results were compared with skin tests to these allergens. A release of above 15 per cent of the total histamine was considered positive. Eight patients released histamine from polyp tissue but only three patients released histamine with both anti IgE and allergen extracts. The release from blood compared well with positive skin tests (p greater than 0.05 corrected chi square). Although allergy may cause mast cell degranulation in polyp tissue, this study suggests that it is unlikely to be a common cause of nasal polyps.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The effects of different fixations on the distribution and numbers of mast cells in patients with nasal polyps.

Mast cells in rats have been categorized into mucosal and connective tissue mast cells by properties which include their fixation characteristics and their distribution in tissues. There are a number of factors which make this classification unsatisfactory including the variability of fixation, intensity of background staining and the application of animal studies to man. Seasonal allergic reactions in the nose of man occur both in the surface metachromatic cells and in those within the epithelium; the latter are presumed to be mucosal mast cells. The aim of this study was to look at the distribution and the fixation characteristics of mast cells in inferior turbinates and nasal polyps. Both techniques show that cells are more abundant in the submucosa and the fact that Carnoy's fixative shows them better and this may be due to the lack of intensity in the background staining. There is no evidence that mast cells are more frequent in the epithelium. These findings would suggest the nasal polyps are not an allergic disease.

Acetates↗