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Biomedical subjects

A Henderson

Publications and source records attributed to A Henderson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Severe botulism after eating home-preserved asparagus.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of adult botulism acquired in Queensland. CLINICAL FEATURES: After eating home-preserved asparagus, a 33-year-old man presented with internal and external ophthalmoplegia, bilateral facial nerve palsies, and descending muscle weakness culminating in a sudden respiratory arrest. Electrophysiological testing demonstrated normal nerve conduction velocities and an incremental response of evoked motor potentials on repetitive stimulation, confirming the clinical diagnosis of botulism. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Treatment with trivalent antitoxin, oral treatment with vancomycin and supportive mechanical ventilation for four weeks resulted in complete clinical recovery. Plasmapheresis was also used but its contribution to the patient's improvement is dubious. CONCLUSIONS: Although botulism is rare in Australia, clinicians should be aware of the clinical presentation and the rapidity of confirmation of the diagnosis by electrophysiological testing. Patients should be nursed in an intensive care setting. Regular testing of vital capacity should be performed to determine the need for mechanical ventilation.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Transcription in Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland cells is altered following exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields: analysis of chromosome 3R.

The use of the transcription autoradiographic method permits identification of nascent RNA chains directly on identifiable regions of Drosophila salivary gland chromosomes. Changes in transcriptional activity at 13 defined regions of the right arm of chromosome 3 (3R) were observed following 20-min exposures of salivary glands to five different extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic (EM) fields. Changes in translational patterns were also induced by the ELF EM fields in exposed cells. Differences included an increase in over-all polypeptide synthesis as well as in the number of polypeptides resolved in cells exposed to EM fields.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Fulminant primary Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia and septicaemia in previously well adults.

We report two cases of primary, community acquired, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, occurring in previously well adults without any recognisable environmental risk factors. Both patients died within 36 h of the onset of symptoms, despite broad spectrum antibiotics and aggressive supportive care. In neither case was the diagnosis considered in life and neither patient received adequate anti-pseudomonas therapy. Heightened awareness of this rare, fulminant, variant of primary Pseudomonas pneumonia is required if specific anti-pseudomonas therapy is to have any impact on outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Genetic and environmental determinants of factor VII coagulant activity in ethnic groups at differing risk of coronary heart disease.

It has been shown previously that individuals possessing the Gln353 allele of factor VII have significantly lower factor VIIc levels. In this population based study of Europeans, Afro-Caribbeans and Gujarati Indians, the Gln353 allele was associated with lower factor VIIc in all groups, carriers having factor VIIc levels 20-25% below the group mean. Although the Afro-Caribbeans had the lowest factor VIIc levels, the frequency of the Gln353 allele was not different from the European sample. However, in the Gujaratis, the frequency of the Gln353 allele was significantly higher than in the Europeans (0.25 compared to 0.09, P less than 0.001). Factor VIIc is known to be positively correlated with plasma triglyceride levels, although the Gujaratis, having the highest mean triglyceride levels, did not have the highest mean factor VIIc levels. On examination of the relationship between triglycerides and factor VIIc in the Gujaratis there was a correlation (r = 0.23, P = 0.13) in individuals homozygous for the factor VII Arg353 allele, but no correlation (r = 0.001, P = 0.5) among Gln353 carriers. This striking difference suggests that the effect of triglycerides on factor VIIc is genotype specific and thus provides an example of gene-environment interaction. The high frequency of the Gln353 allele, with its associated lack of relationship between triglyceride and factor VIIc levels, may explain the lower than expected factor VIIc levels in the Gujaratis.

Africa↗
PubMed1992

A survey of interhospital transfer of head-injured patients with inadequately treated life-threatening extracranial injuries.

A 12 month prospective study was undertaken to determine the frequency of untreated life-threatening extracranial injuries in patients transferred to a major trauma centre because of head injury. Of the 43 patients transferred (15 with isolated head injury and 28 with multiple injuries), four (9%) had an untreated life-threatening extracranial injury, which caused death in two. All four patients with untreated extracranial injuries were transferred from hospitals with general surgical staff and facilities. In three of the patients (none with a major head injury), the extracranial injuries were recognized at the referring hospital, but were left untreated in the rush to transfer the patient to a neurosurgical facility. In the fourth patient, who had a severe head injury, recurrent hypotension from a ruptured spleen was mistakenly ascribed to a scalp wound. The series shows that the dangerous practice of hurriedly transferring patients to trauma centres because of actual or perceived head injuries, while leaving major extracranial injuries untreated, continues despite warnings in the literature and the efforts of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons through the Early Management of Severe Trauma programme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Management of theophylline overdose patients in the intensive care unit.

In a retrospective survey of all adults admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with acute theophylline poisoning over the last five years, we identified 38 patients (6.8% of all admissions for poisoning), two of whom died. Thirty-five (92%) had taken a sustained-release preparation. Eight patients had grand mal seizures and six developed arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation, 3; atrial fibrillation, 2; supraventricular tachycardia, 1). Severe vomiting was present in 34 (89%) and proved to be a serious obstacle to the administration of enteral charcoal. The vomiting was controlled by intravenous metoclopramide in seventeen patients (50%), but the remaining seventeen required mechanical ventilation with sedation and muscle relaxation for the effective delivery of nasogastric charcoal. Importantly, in nine (24%), the serum theophylline concentration continued to rise despite enteral charcoal. Charcoal haemoperfusion was used in seven (18%). We present an algorithm for the management of severe, acute theophylline poisoning.

Absorption↗
PubMed1992

Critical care nurses need to know about abused women.

Women in abusive relationships are often ignored by the healthcare system because of the unclear roles of healthcare workers when dealing with this population. This article provides guidelines for critical care nurses to help break this cycle of violence.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Fulminant metoclopramide induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome rapidly responsive to intravenous dantrolene.

We report a case of fulminant neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a man aged 70 developing within 12 hours of starting six-hourly intravenous metoclopramide. The muscle rigidity and hyperpyrexia were unresponsive to intravenous benztropine but resolved within one hour of intravenous dantrolene 2 mg/kg. Within six hours the patient had a partial relapse which resolved completely following further intravenous dantrolene 2 mg/kg. This case demonstrates that the rapid effect of intravenous dantrolene can be life saving in fulminant neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Changes in levels of c-myc and histone H2B following exposure of cells to low-frequency sinusoidal electromagnetic fields: evidence for a window effect.

Human HL-60 cells were exposed for 20 min to an electromagnetic field at frequencies ranging from 15 to 150 Hz and at densities from 0.2 to 2.3 mT (2 to 23 gauss). Following each exposure, quantitative levels of c-myc and histone H2B transcripts were determined by dot-blot hybridization analyses and compared with unexposed control samples. The most pronounced increase in each transcript occurred after exposure at 45 Hz, with levels more than four times that found in unexposed controls.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1990

Whole blood staining in suspension for nonspecific esterase and alkaline phosphatase analyzed with a Technicon H-1.

We adapted previously published methods for nonspecific esterase and alkaline phosphatase staining of white blood cells in suspension for use on a Technicon H-1 hematology analyzer. The objective was to develop a semiautomated method using whole blood that could be employed on a large scale for hematology laboratory applications, including toxicology studies, measurement of neutrophil left shift, and cytochemical classification of myeloid leukemias. The nonspecific esterase method uses the pararosaniline stain, generating the unstable substrate from two stable precursors. Whole blood is added to the substrate plus dye mix. Next, acid lysis and fixation steps destroy red cells and stabilize the monocyte staining. The alkaline phosphatase stain employs a stable naphthyl phosphate substrate and fast blue B coupling dye. The red cells are lysed with a pH 10.3 propanediol buffer, and the white blood cells are then stabilized with formalin fixation. For both methods the staining is performed off-line, and the sample is then diluted with propanediol to match the refractive index of the sheath on the H-1 analyzer, before aspiration into the direct cytometry port. A cytogram of scattered versus absorbed light is obtained. The number of cells staining and the intensity of the stain can be quantified from the cytogram.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗