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Biomedical subjects

A J Dixon

Publications and source records attributed to A J Dixon.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Randomized clinical trial of the effect of applying ointment to surgical wounds before occlusive dressing.

BACKGROUND: A blinded randomized clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of applying ointment to a wound before occlusive dressing, in comparison with no ointment or sterile paraffin. METHODS: Some 778 patients with 1801 surgical wounds following excision of skin lesions were enrolled in the trial. No ointment was placed on 510 sutured wounds of 247 patients, paraffin ointment was put on 729 wounds (269 patients) and mupirocin ointment on 562 wounds (262 patients). Wound infection, scar, haemorrhage, dehiscence and other complications were assessed at suture removal. At 6-9 months after surgery, patients were surveyed to assess the wounds, with a response rate of 74.0 per cent. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in outcome for all endpoints evaluated. The infection rate was 1.4 per cent with no ointment, 1.6 per cent for paraffin and 2.3 per cent for mupirocin (P = 0.490). Total complication rates were 3.5, 4.7 and 4.8 per cent for no ointment, paraffin and mupirocin respectively (P = 0.590). Some 10.9, 10.3 and 8.2 per cent of patients respectively had a neutral or negative perception of their wounds at 6-9 months after surgery (P = 0.650). There was no difference in postoperative pain, degree of inconvenience or overall level of satisfaction with treatment. CONCLUSION: Putting ointment on a surgical wound before occlusive dressing does not benefit the patient. In view of the risk of antibiotic resistance, mupirocin ointment is not indicated for clean surgical wounds.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

An effective, cosmetically acceptable, novel hydro-gel emollient for the management of dry skin conditions.

BACKGROUND: A novel hydro-gel emollient (Doublebase) has been developed with improved moisturizing effects. OBJECTIVE: To test this novel hydro-gel for its moisturizing effect, for its potential to cause skin irritancy/allergy and for its clinical effectiveness and acceptability in dry skin conditions. METHODS/RESULTS: Skin hydration (corneometry) and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) studies with a single application in 18 volunteers confirmed its efficacy (p < 0.0001) and showed that it was superior to Ultrabase and Diprobase (p < 0.001). Skin hydration studies with multiple applications in 12 volunteers also showed that it was superior to Ultrabase and Diprobase (p < 0.0001). Irritation tests in 74 eczema-prone patients resulted in only one mild reaction, and allergy tests in 99 healthy volunteers elicited no positive reactions. The clinical acceptability and effectiveness of Doublebase was demonstrated in an open study of 78 patients with dry skin conditions. CONCLUSION: Doublebase may be considered a suitable preparation that can be used effectively by most patients with dry skin conditions.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2001

Evaluating the efficacy of vaccine storage in the general practice setting.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation of guidelines for vaccine storage in general practice, and their effectiveness in achieving optimum vaccine storage temperatures in fridges. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional surveys over time--phase 1 1996/97, phase 2 1998/99, phase 3 1999/2000. SETTING: Central Coast, New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Phase 1--all general practices on the Central Coast. Phases 2 and 3--samples of practices. INTERVENTIONS: Each practice was surveyed about how they stored vaccines. A datalogger recorded fridge temperatures over six days. Individual feedback and advice were given. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of: 1. fridges maintaining a temperature in the 2-8 degrees C range; 2. fridges freezing; 3. practices with one person responsible for vaccine storage; 4. bridge temperature checked daily; 5. fridges storing no items other than vaccines; 6. bridges with thermometers; and 7. associations between storage practices and fridge temperatures. RESULTS: In phase 1, 102 fridges, and in phase 3, a random sample of 36 practices was surveyed. The findings for phase 1 and phase 3 respectively were: 31% and 50% of fridges were in the 2-8 degrees C range; 36% and 25% were <0 degrees C; one person was responsible in 52% and 53% of cases; 20% and 38% reported daily checks; 74% and 94% of fridges had no extraneous items and 53% and 86% of fridges had thermometers. No statistically significant associations were found between vaccine storage practices and bridge temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements in vaccine storage practices, a quarter of fridges were freezing, thereby compromising the potency of many of the immunisation schedule vaccines.

Drug Storage↗
PubMed2001

Probable colchicine-induced neutropenia not related to intentional overdose.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of neutropenia caused by colchicine not associated with intentional overdose or with preceding severe gastrointestinal symptoms. CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old white man was admitted to the hospital with intractable pain from an acute attack of gout. The patient was treated with standard doses of oral colchicine for several days. He experienced mild loose stools, but no severe diarrhea or nausea during treatment. The patient then developed severe neutropenia, with an absolute neutrophil count of 240 cells/mm3. His white blood cell count returned to normal after discontinuing colchicine and administering filgrastim. DISCUSSION: Although colchicine is commonly associated with neutropenia in cases of intentional or accidental overdose, the patient developed this adverse effect after being treated with doses commonly used for the acute treatment of gout. In addition, this patient had taken low-dose colchicine for many years without experiencing hematologic adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Colchicine is often an attractive alternative to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents for the treatment of gout, especially in patients at risk for renal impairment or gastropathy. Our case illustrates that colchicine treatment can cause hematologic adverse effects; the clinician should monitor cell counts in patients receiving this agent, especially at the higher doses used for acute treatment of gout.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Novel kainic acid analogues. Effects on cyclic GMP content of adult rat cerebellar slices.

On the basis of previous electrophysiological studies, it has been proposed that there are three main classes of excitatory amino acid receptor in the mammalian central nervous system, which are activated preferentially by kainic acid, quisqualic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate respectively. Although the pharmacology of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor has been investigated extensively, potent and selective ligands which act at the kainate or quisqualate sites are lacking. In this study, we report that a number of novel kainate analogues possess either agonist or antagonist activity in a system which permits investigation of receptor-mediated coupled responses, viz. the ability of excitatory amino acids to elevate cyclic GMP concentrations in incubated cerebellar slices prepared from the adult rat. The data reported here provide some clues as to the likely structural requirements for developing effective kainate antagonists.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Kainic acid derivatives with anticonvulsant activity.

beta-Kainic acid, and the glycine and amino-methylphosphonate derivatives of alpha- and beta-kainic acid, have been injected intracerebroventricularly in DBA/2 mice, that show sound-induced seizure responses. An anticonvulsant effect is observed with marked protection against the tonic and clonic phases of the seizure response. ED50 values against clonus are (in mumol): beta-kainic acid, 0.09; beta-kainylglycine, 0.11; alpha-kainylglycine, 0.28; alpha-kainylaminomethylphosphonate, 0.31; beta-kainylaminomethylphosphonate, greater than 1.5. In addition a direct convulsant effect occurs after the alpha-kainyl derivatives.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1982

Ultrastructural localisation of fibronectin in mouse kidney.

The ultrastructural localisation of fibronectin in mouse kidney was investigated by indirect immunoperoxidase cytochemistry. In glomeruli, fibronectin was found predominantly in matrix between endothelial and mesangial cells. Smaller quantities were demonstrable in peripheral capillary walls both subendothelially and around visceral epithelial cell foot processes. It was present between parietal epithelial cells and Bowman's capsule and at the base of tubular epithelial cells outlining the inner aspect of tubular basement membranes.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Interstitial nephritis.

The clinical and pathological findings are reviewed in ten cases where renal biopsy showed abnormalities predominantly within the interstitium. In six the nephritis was considered to be drug-induced; in two the aetiology was slightly obscure but the most likely diagnosis was considered to be sarcoidosis. Of the remaining two cases one was chronic pyelonephritis and the other polyarteritis nodosa. The diagnosis and pathogenesis of the renal lesions are discussed and attention is drawn to the importance of distinguishing primary interstitial changes from those found in association with glomerular disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Immunoperoxidase localisation of fibronectin in glomeruli of formalin fixed paraffin processed renal tissue.

An indirect immunoperoxidase technique was used to demonstrate fibronectin in sections of routine formalin fixed paraffin embedded renal tissue. Previous exposure of the sections to a solution of pepsin (4 mg/ml) in 0.01 N HCl for 2 h at 37 degrees C was essential in order to demonstrate antigenicity of fibronectin previously masked by fixation and embedding procedures.

Fibronectins↗
PubMed1980

Distribution of fibronectin in normal and diseased human kidneys.

The distribution of fibronectin in 42 renal biopsies was investigated using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique on paraffin sections of formalin-fixed material. Biopsies were obtained from normal human kidneys and from patients with a variety of glomerular disorders. In normal glomeruli, fibronectin was present in Bowman's capsule, in the mesangium, and outlining peripheral capillary loops. A significant increase in fibronectin was observed in most types of glomerulopathy with a distribution closely related to the histopathological diagnosis. Fibronectin was diminished or absent in segmental scars, old diabetic nodules, and hyalinised glomeruli.

Diabetic Nephropathies↗
PubMed1978

Indoprofen and naproxen in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical trial.

Thirty-six patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis took part in a double-blind crossover trial, in which they received either indoprofen 800 mg/day, naproxen 500 mg/day, or a matching placebo. Indoprofen was shown to be significantly superior as an analgesic and in improving grip strength and the patients preferred it. Adverse effects were comparable, although indigestion was seen slightly more often during indoprofen treatment. Indoprofen is therefore at least as effective as existing anti-inflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis and seems to be better tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The great toe as a clinical problem in rheumatoid arthritis.

Two hundred consecutive in-patients with rheumatoid arthritis were examined for pain or deformity of the feet, and of the great toe in particular. Some abnormality occured in 196 feet and the deformities observed are presented. The symptoms that arise from these deformities are mainly derived from ill-fitting shoes, and the need for suitable foot-wear is emphasized. Two hitherto un-named entities are described namely Hallux tortus and chisel toe, since they give rise to their own shoe-fitting problems.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1975

Synthetic D(-)penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis. Double-blind controlled study of a high and low dosage regimen.

Doses of 600 mg and 1200 mg of D(-)penicillamine daily were superior to a standard regimen of therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. The higher dose did not produce significantly greater therapeutic benefit in the group of patients so treated, although individual patients sometimes improved more. The frequency of rashes, blood dyscrasias, and withdrawals from the trial increased withe dosage. It is concluded that D(-)penicillamine is a useful treatment that the daily dose should be as low as possible, and that it should be increased at infrequent intervals only, with due regard to the likelihood of further improvement in relation to an increased risk of adverse reactions.

Acetaminophen↗