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Biomedical subjects

A M Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to A M Ellis.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Hybrid external fixation in complex tibial plateau and plafond fractures: an Australian audit of outcomes.

Hybrid external fixators are useful for the management of complex tibial plateau and plafond fractures, as they provide rigid fixation with relatively minimal soft tissue disruption. We reviewed the outcomes of patients with proximal (plateau) and distal (plafond) tibial fractures who were treated with hybrid frames at the Royal North Shore Hospital from 1998 to 2001. Twenty-four patients were identified from the hospital operating records and chart, X-ray and clinical reviews were performed. Follow-up periods averaged 13 months. Fractures were classified using the Ruedi classification for ankle fractures, and the Schatzker classification for the knee fractures. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Iowa knee score and the AOFAS ankle score. As one of the first Australian audits our outcomes were consistent with international standards.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed2003

Prison construction and guarding behaviour by European honeybees is dependent on inmate small hive beetle density.

Increasing small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) density changes prison construction and guarding behaviour in European honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). These changes include more guard bees per imprisoned beetle and the construction of more beetle prisons at the higher beetle density. Despite this, the number of beetles per prison (inmate density) did not change. Beetles solicited food more actively at the higher density and at night. In response, guard bees increased their aggressive behaviour towards beetle prisoners but did not feed beetles more at the higher density. Only 5% of all beetles were found among the combs at the low density but this percentage increased five-fold at the higher one. Successful comb infiltration (and thus reproduction) by beetles is a possible explanation for the significant damage beetles cause to European honeybee colonies in the USA.

Aggression↗
PubMed2001

Use of simulation technology in Australian Defence Force resuscitation training.

Realistic training of health personnel for the resuscitation of military casualties is problematic. There are few opportunities for personnel to obtain the necessary experience unless working in a busy emergency or trauma environment. Even so, the specific nature of military trauma means that many aspects of casualty management may not be adequately covered in the civilian domain. This paper discusses the use of advanced simulation technology in the training of military resuscitation teams. Such training has been available to members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for two years.

Australia↗
PubMed2000

Excitation evoked by FMRFamide and FLRFamide in the heart of Buccinum undatum and evidence for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate as an RF-tetrapeptide second messenger.

In this study the relative potencies of four established molluscan cardioexcitatory agents were examined on Buccinum heart. The potencies were, in decending order: phenylalanine-leucine-arginine-phenylalanine-NH2 (FLRFamide) > phenylalanine-methionine-arginine-phenylalanine-NH2 (FMRFamide; 80% of maximum) > 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT; 60% of maximum) > guanosine triphosphate (GTP; 15% of maximum). FMRFamide and FLRFamide had similar dose-response curve patterns with thresholds at 10(-9) mol l(-1) but FLRFamide was more potent than FMRFamide. The superfused atrium was much less sensitive to all agonists than the internally perfused ventricle. FLRFamide and FMRFamide induced small depolarizations (1-2 mV) which triggered a burst of action potentials of about 5 mV which on reaching 4 mV triggered a burst of fast twitch contractions. Lithium, at high concentrations inhibited FMRFamide and 5-HT responses of internally perfused ventricles. Neomycin also inhibited peptide responses, but was without effect on 5-HT responses. Heparin, however, for technical reasons was without effect on ventricular responses to all three agonists. FMRFamide and FLRFamide appear to share a common receptor, the potency difference being due to the substitution of leucine for methionine in FLRFamide. The RF N-terminal sequence appears crucial for receptor activation. The Phospholipase C inhibitor neomycin equally inhibits responses to the two peptides while 5-HT responses are unaffected. This implicates a peptide/receptor interaction which activated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) as a second messenger.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Intra-articular local anaesthesia for pain after hip arthroplasty.

We investigated 15 patients with painful hip arthroplasties using intra-articular injection of bupivicaine. Fourteen had pain relief and 13 of them were subsequently found to have loosening of one or both components. The relief of pain after total hip arthroplasty by intra-articular injection of bupivicaine indicates that a satisfactory result is probable after revision surgery with refixation of the components.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation: a review of seven cases.

BACKGROUND: Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is a rare tumour-like condition mostly affecting the tubular bones of the hands and feet. Although it recurs in 50% of cases after local excision, it is a form of heterotopic ossification and its behaviour is otherwise benign. The present study describes seven cases of BPOP collected by the Bone Tumour Registry of New South Wales. METHODS: Clinical data, radiographs and histological specimens collected by the Bone Tumour Registry of New South Wales were examined, and further clinical data were sought from the referring doctor where necessary. RESULTS: Six males and one female aged 18 to 37 years (median 30 years) presented between 1988 and 1995. There were three cases involving the hands, three involving the feet and one involving the distal humerus. Initial treatment was by local excision in all cases. There was local recurrence in three cases. The initial diagnosis was wrong in five of the seven cases. Radiologically, BPOP appears as a well-defined tumour arising directly from the bony cortex, without periosteal reaction or change to the underlying bone. Histologically, a large amount of hypercellular cartilage shows maturation to trabecular bone, which frequently contains spindle cells in the intertrabecular spaces. CONCLUSION: BPOP is a rare, locally recurrent but otherwise benign condition of bone which must be distinguished from more sinister lesions such as parosteal osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Sexual abuse and drinking and drug use: implications for prevention.

Based on a survey of adolescent females in grades seven through twelve in a suburban school system, the relationship between drinking, drug use, and sexual abuse is examined. Using a holistic approach to adolescent deviant behavior, connections between family, peer, psychosocial factors and drug use and delinquency are explored. Girls who report sexual molestation are more likely to have used a number of drugs, different from the prevalence profile of the larger sample. Significant correlations for younger girls between sexual molestation and delinquency are also reported. Implications for school based drug prevention programs are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Contribution of antiplatelet activity to the effects of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in anaesthetized rats.

The effects of certain 5-HT receptor antagonists were examined on ischaemia-induced and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, on ex vivo platelet aggregation and on isolated cardiac muscle. Methiothepin (1 mg kg-1) reduced the total number of ischaemia-induced ventricular premature beats whereas ICI 170,809 (1 mg kg-1) reduced reperfusion-induced mortality to 10% compared with 70% in controls. ICI 169,369 did not significantly alter either ischaemia- or reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. High concentrations of both ICI 169,369 and ICI 170,809 caused reductions in the maximum driving frequency of isolated cardiac muscle but methiothepin had no significant effect. Administration of ketanserin, ritanserin, methiothepin or ICI 170,809, but not ICI 169,369, abolished the ability of 5-HT to enhance platelet aggregation. The results of these experiments suggest that the ability of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists to reduce reperfusion-induced arrhythmias may be related to their antiplatelet activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Drug abuse and eating disorders: prevention implications.

This article explores the relationship between drug and alcohol abuse and eating disorders in a sample of adolescent females using a self-report methodology. An Eating Disorders Risk (EDR) Scale is adopted and correlated with drug and alcohol use, other forms of deviance, family and peer relationships, and depression. The findings support the concept of a generalized theory of addictions based on psychosocial, family, and peer factors. Family and peer prevention applications and a need for further research on the correlates of depression are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Five year outcome of preterm sextuplets related to size at birth.

Preterm sextuplets were studied to examine whether growth retardation affects long term outcome. All were growing normally at 5 years. Intelligence quotients (IQ) ranged from 105-116 and motor impairment scores from 1.0-7.0. No neurological or behavioural abnormalities were found. The largest sextuplet has maintained her position for growth and IQ. No relation between test scores and birth weight or perinatal variables was found in the remaining siblings.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1987

Ketanserin and ritanserin can reduce reperfusion-induced but not ischaemia-induced arrhythmias in anaesthetised rats.

The effects of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) antagonists ketanserin and ritanserin on ischaemia- and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias were investigated in pentobarbitone-anaesthetised rats. Both ketanserin (3 mg kg-1) and ritanserin (1 mg kg-1) significantly reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (from 60 to 25% and 88 to 12%, respectively) and the mortality induced by reperfusion after 5 min of myocardial ischaemia. Neither drug significantly altered the number of ventricular ectopic beats, the incidence of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or mortality during the first 25 min of coronary artery occlusion. Significant dose-dependent reductions in heart rate and arterial blood pressure were observed with all doses of ketanserin (0.1-3 mg kg-1) and ritanserin (0.3 and 1 mg kg-1), but neither drug had any major effect on arterial blood gases or pH. In isolated guinea pig and rat atria and ventricular muscle preparations, ketanserin (10(-5) M) and ritanserin (3 X 10(-5) M) reduced the maximal driving frequency, whereas 5-HT itself was without effect. The results suggest that the antiarrhythmic activity of ketanserin and ritanserin observed in this study was probably not due to 5-HT2 receptor or alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockade, but may have been due to a direct action on cardiac muscle.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Directed-donor programs may adversely affect autologous donor participation.

One hundred autologous whole blood donors (11 men, 89 women; 49 preoperative, 51 prenatal) completed a questionnaire concerning their motivations as autologous donors, their perceptions of the relative safety of blood donor options, and their interest in directed donations. Concern about acquiring AIDS from transfusion was the most prevalent reason for autologous donation. Nearly all participants knew that autologous blood was safer than volunteer blood, and most also believed that directed-donor blood was safer than volunteer blood. Most would have used a directed-donor program if available, particularly if they were ineligible as autologous donors. Furthermore, their interest in directed donations was unaffected by written material, provided pathway through the questionnaire, that included a statement that no scientific evidence exists to support directed donations' being safer than volunteer blood. One donor in five believed that autologous and directed donations were equivalent in safety, and 19 (15 of whom were prenatal donors) indicated that they probably or surely would not have participated in the autologous program if directed donations had been available. This study demonstrates that a sizable proportion of autologous donor candidates might not participate if a directed donation program were available. The unrestricted availability of directed donations may thus contribute to suboptimal use of autologous donor programs.

Blood Donors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Osteomyelitis and pyogenic sacroiliitis: A difficult diagnosis.

Pyogenic sacroiliitis is an uncommon infection often diagnosed late because of poor localization of symptoms and inadequate physical examination. We describe a 12-year-old girl whose osteomyelitis and pyogenic sacroiliitis was initially misdiagnosed and discuss examination, investigation and management of the condition. This case highlights the importance of thorough physical examination and the consideration of septic arthritis in an unusual joint.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intravertebral spinal neurenteric cysts: a unique radiographic sign--"the hole-in-one vertebra".

A well-defined circular defect in the midst of a complex vertebral anomaly, visible on a plain radiograph, is diagnostic of an intravertebral extension of a neurenteric cyst. It may represent a connecting stalk between a mediastinal cyst and an intraspinal lesion. The "hole-in-one" vertebra is an indication for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. When surgical excision of a mediastinal cyst is undertaken, the intravertebral tract should be curetted to avoid recurrence.

Child↗