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Biomedical subjects

B Milne

Publications and source records attributed to B Milne.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Prolonged spinal analgesia in the rat with the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist oxymetazoline.

The acute intrathecal (i.t.) injection of 50, 100, 200, 250 and 300 nmol of oxymetazoline produced dose-dependent antinociception in rats assessed by tail flick and paw pressure tests. Significant antinociception was observed with all doses of oxymetazoline except 50 nmol in the paw pressure test. The ED50 values for i.t. oxymetazoline in the tail flick and paw pressure tests were 120 nmol (95% CI: 76-178 nmol) and 148 nmol (95% CI: 120-186 nmol), respectively. Oxymetazoline had a long duration of action; a single i.t. dose of 100 nmol significantly elevated tail flick latency and paw pressure threshold for 8 h. The alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine, given i.t. 1 h after oxymetazoline, attenuated the antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner. Phentolamine (50 micrograms i.t.) produced almost complete antagonism in the tail flick and paw pressure tests. These data indicate that oxymetazoline produces long lasting antinociception in the rat following i.t. injection, and that the effect is mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors in the spinal cord.

Anesthesia, Spinal↗

Cardiac tamponade complicating anaesthetic induction for repair of ascending aorta dissection.

A case is described of a 69-year-old woman with dissection of the ascending aorta who developed cardiac tamponade during induction of anaesthesia. The tamponade was diagnosed by a haemodynamic profile showing approximation of the central venous, pulmonary wedge and pulmonary arterial diastolic pressures, and was treated with rapid surgical intervention and drainage of the haemopericardium. Cardiac tamponade and dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta are conditions with contrasting anaesthetic considerations and the problems encountered are discussed.

Aged↗

Monoamine and opioid interactions in spinal analgesia and tolerance.

Noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons, originating in the brainstem and terminating in the dorsal horn, modulate the spinal processing of nociception. The inhibitory effects of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) on elements of nociceptive transmission may be direct, or secondary to the release of neuromodulators such as opioid peptides. Two major criteria have been used in pharmacological studies of spinal opioid and monoamine interactions: the ability of opioid antagonists to attenuate the antinociceptive effects evoked by stimulating the release of endogenous NE and 5-HT in the lumbar spinal cord, or by the intrathecal injection of exogenous NE and 5-HT; and the development of cross tolerance between opioids and each of NE and 5-HT. Evidence regarding the spinal interaction between opioids and monoamines in mediating behavioural analgesia is reviewed. Recent results from this laboratory indicate that IT (-)naloxone but not (+)naloxone produces dose-dependent antagonism of IT NE-induced antinociception in the rat. This effect was not due to hyperalgesia. In rats made tolerant to spinal morphine using continuous IT infusion, the antinociceptive effect of continuous IT NE was significantly attenuated. However, no cross tolerance was observed between morphine and 5-HT. Observations from a variety of studies support the hypothesis of a spinal opioid link which contributes, in part, to NE-induced antinociception. However, this interaction remains to be conclusively established.

Analgesia↗

Determination of cross tolerance in rat spinal cord using intrathecal infusion via sequential mini-osmotic pumps.

Continuous intrathecal (IT) infusion via ALZET mini-osmotic pumps was used to induced spinal tolerance to morphine in the rat. Naloxone (1 mg/kg IP), injected on day 3 of continuous IT morphine (10 micrograms/hr), produced mild withdrawal symptoms in all morphine-treated animals. In rats pretreated with continuous IT morphine (10 micrograms/hr) or saline, systemic morphine (2, 4, 8, 10 and 15 mg/kg IP) produced equivalent, dose-dependent antinociception using the tail-flick and paw pressure tests. The rostral and caudal distribution of methylene blue dye in rat spinal cord was determined on days 1-7 of continuous IT infusion. The dye remained localized near the catheter tip throughout infusion; maximum distribution was 1.5 cm rostrally and 1.0 cm caudally. The data indicate that morphine, infused at the rate of 10 micrograms/hr, does not undergo extensive redistribution in the spinal cord. A sequential, double mini-osmotic pump technique for cross tolerance studies in rat spinal cord is described. In rats pretreated with continuous IT norepinephrine for 4 days, the antinociceptive actions of continuous IT morphine were reduced but not significantly different from saline-pretreated animals. These data suggest that morphine, injected into the spinal cord, does not produce behavioural analgesia by activation of local adrenergic systems.

Analgesics↗

Inflammatory bowel disease: effects on lifestyle.

While there has been speculation in the literature about what life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is like, patients have not, prior to this study, been asked about their perceptions. This paper reports the results of a study which measured the impact of having IBD on eight lifestyle variables. Eighty IBD patients completed the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Stress Index. Results showed that although the impact of IBD on relationships, school and employment, recreational activities, sexuality, psychosomatic symptomatology, body image and worry was minimal, the patients' satisfaction with life was impaired as a result of having IBD. Rationale for this discrepancy and the significance of the findings for nurses are presented.

Adolescent↗

Transducer offset by electrocautery resulting in erroneous blood pressure measurement.

During a coronary artery bypass operation arterial blood pressure measured with a Bentley Trantec model 800 transducer increased erroneously while continuous electrocautery was being used. This phenomenon has recurred infrequently, with fictitious hypotension being observed in one patient. To reproduce the problem of pressure offset during electrosurgery a bench test demonstrated that with peak to peak voltage of 20 volts from the electrosurgical unit, three of seven Bentley transducers had offsets as much as +/- 50 mmHg. It is important for anaesthetists to determine if electrosurgery units are functioning before treating apparent pressure drifts.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

Arterial isoflurane concentration and EEG burst suppression during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Isoflurane (1.5 to 3.0 vol% in oxygen) was used to control intraoperative hypertension in 10 patients undergoing hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Isoflurane was administered through the membrane oxygenator of the bypass pump and yielded plateau concentrations in arterial blood ranging from 36.6 to 84.4 micrograms/ml (0.5 and 1.16 vol%, respectively). Isoflurane dosing resulted in prolonged periods (21 to 63 minutes) of EEG burst suppression and isoelectric activity in nine patients. Burst suppression was not a result of hypothermia. There was a close temporal relationship between isoflurane concentration and the onset of burst suppression (mean onset time: 27.3 +/- 4.56 minutes after isoflurane begun). The mean arterial isoflurane concentration at the onset of burst suppression was 46.5 +/- 10.7 micrograms/ml; the nasopharyngeal temperature was 26.0 degrees +/- 0.61 degrees C. Isoflurane was eliminated rapidly from blood with a mean apparent t1/2 of 18.8 +/- 5.46 minutes.

Adult↗

A stress management programme for inflammatory bowel disease patients.

This randomized controlled trial was designed to determine whether practising stress management techniques would decrease activity and promote psychosocial functioning in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Eighty ambulatory adults received a pre-intervention interview, at which time baseline data about disease activity and psychosocial functioning were collected. They were then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received six classes on stress management which included autogenics, personal planning skills and communication techniques. All 80 subjects were followed up at 4-month intervals for 1 year by interviewers who were blind to group designation. The data collection instruments, which were used at all assessment points, comprised three questionnaires: the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Stress Index. These instruments produced scores which decreased with improvement in physical and psychosocial well-being. At all assessment points, both the CDAI and IBD Stress Index scores dropped significantly (P less than 0.05) from baseline in the treatment group. However, there was no significant change in the scores of the control group throughout the study year. There were no significant changes in medications at any assessment point in either group that could account for changes in the scores. The results of this study indicate that stress management techniques may have therapeutic benefits for IBD patients.

Adult↗

Analgesia and autonomic function following intrathecal administration of morphine and norepinephrine to the rat.

The acute intrathecal (i.t.) administration of 10, 25, 50, and 100 microgram morphine and 7.5, 10, 15, and 30 microgram (-)norepinephrine (NE) to the rat produced dose-dependent, long-lasting analgesia as assessed by the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. For i.t. morphine, maximum analgesia was observed 30-60 min after drug administration. The duration of analgesia in the tail-flick test ranged from 30 to 150 min; the duration of analgesia in the hot-plate test ranged from 60 to 120 min. For i.t. NE, maximum analgesia was observed 15-60 min after drug infusion. The duration of NE-induced analgesia in the hot-plate test ranged from 45 to 120 min and was 120 min in the tail-flick test. The effects of acute i.t. and intravenous (i.v.) infusions of morphine (10 microgram) and NE (15 microgram) on heart rate, blood pressure, arterial pH, partial pressure of oxygen (Po2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco2), and standard bicarbonate were determined over 45 min in rats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose (70 mg/kg). Morphine significantly decreased Po2 throughout the experiment but did not affect blood pressure, heart rate, pH, Pco2 and standard bicarbonate. A significant increase in blood pressure (137% of control) was observed 2.5 min after i.t. administration of NE. Intravenous NE produced a marked increase in blood pressure (246% of control) followed by a compensatory decrease in heart rate. There were no significant changes in blood gases with i.t. and i.v. NE. The data suggest that i.t. morphine and NE can produce effective analgesia with minimal effects on cardiovascular and respiratory function.

Analgesia↗

Intrathecal clonidine: analgesia and effect on opiate withdrawal in the rat.

Clonidine, an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist, has analgesic properties and recently has been used to suppress opiate withdrawal. These two properties theoretically make it a suitable analgesic substitute in patients tolerant to opioids. The objectives of this study were to see if intrathecal clonidine is analgesic and whether it can modify morphine withdrawal at the spinal level. Rats chronically implanted with catheters in the lumbar subarachnoid space were utilized. In analgesia experiments, intrathecal clonidine produced analgesia with the peak effect in the paw-lick test occurring at 200nM, and in the tail-flick test analgesia was apparent at 100 nM and peaked at 400 nM (in 10 microL Ringer's lactate). In dependency experiments, animals dependent on morphine (300 mg X kg-1) received intrathecal clonidine 25, 50, 200 nM in 10 microliter Ringer's lactate 72 h after morphine. Following this, a naloxone challenge, 3 mg X kg-1 was administered and withdrawal assessed. Clonidine-treated animals showed significant weight loss and decrease in temperature, and those treated with high doses showed marked hypothermia and hind-limb flaccidity. Intrathecal clonidine prevented the hyperalgesia associated with opiate withdrawal but did not affect the occurrence of the majority of behavioral signs (e.g., piloerection, irritability) associated with morphine withdrawal. Intrathecal clonidine prevented the naloxone-induced increase in blood pressure during withdrawal and in animals not treated with morphine-produced hypotension. Thus, intrathecal clonidine is analgesic, and part of the antiwithdrawal action of clonidine may be exerted at the spinal level.

Analgesics↗

Bimodality in glucose tolerance distributions in the urban Polynesian population of Western Samoa.

The frequency distribution of log plasma glucose concentrations in certain populations show two distinct subgroups--a non-diabetic group and a hyperglycaemic group--when suitable methods of distributional analysis are used. These two groups show up as a double peak (bimodality) in the best-fit frequency distributions of log plasma glucose, and the separation or cut-off point where the two curves intersect, gives an indication of the plasma glucose level at which diabetes could be diagnosed. Venous plasma glucose concentrations 2 hr after a 75 g oral glucose load were determined in the urban Polynesian population of Western Samoa, in subjects aged 20 yr and over. Bimodality was evident in subjects over 35 yr of age in both sexes, but for the younger age groups the frequency distribution of log plasma glucose follows the usual unimodal Gaussian curve. The data show that among these Polynesians, as with Pimas and Nauruans, the frequency distribution of log plasma glucose concentrations can be used to separate the population into normal and hyperglycaemic groups.

Adult↗

The haemodynamic effects of intraaortic versus intravenous administration of protamine for reversal of heparin in man.

A recent report suggests that there may be advantages of intraaortic (IA) versus intravenous (IV) administration of protamine for reversal of heparin at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. Because complete haemodynamic measurements were not performed in that study, we prospectively and randomly assessed the effects of protamine sulphate administered via either route. Patients were studied in the period immediately following cardiopulmonary bypass. Heparin, 300 units . Kg-1, plus 150 units . Kg-1 when required, was administered to keep the activated clotting time greater than 400 sec. Protamine 3 mg . Kg-1 was injected over 30 sec. intravenously in the IV group (n = 5) and into the ascending aorta in the IA group (n = 5). There was a significant decrease in arterial blood pressure (28.6 per cent) from 109.2 +/- 5.6 mmHg (S.E.) systolic to 78.0 +/- 9.0 mmHg observed in the IA group one minute post protamine, which returned to baseline by 2.5 min (analysis of variance p less than 0.05). No significant hypotension was observed in the IV group. There was no significant change in heart rate, left atrial pressure, central venous pressure, systemic vascular resistance or cardiac index with either IA or IV protamine. In contrast to our recent study in pigs there was no significant change in pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance or cardiac output with protamine. Results indicate that there are no haemodynamic benefits of IA vs IV injection of protamine.

Blood Pressure↗

Femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass prior to induction of anaesthesia in the management of upper airway obstruction.

A case is presented of a female with respiratory distress who was initially treated as having asthma. Her chest x-ray was normal but tracheal tomograms revealed a tracheal tumour almost completely occluding the tracheal lumen. The impending tracheal occlusion was managed with femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass instituted under local anaesthesia prior to induction of anaesthesia and diagnostic bronchoscopy and airway establishment with tracheal intubation. Other indications for the use of cardiopulmonary bypass prior to the induction of anaesthesia are reviewed.

Aged↗

Thiopental bolus during carotid endarterectomy-rational drug therapy?

Ten studies were performed to examine the time course of arterial and venous thiopental concentrations following the administration of thiopental (4 mg X kg-1 over 3 min) for cerebral protection during carotid occlusion in nine patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy; in five patients the time course of EEG change was also studied. The arterial and venous thiopental concentrations were similar with no evidence of a sustained arterial-venous gradient. The average arterial concentration was 20.1 microgram X ml-1 +/- 10 (SD) at 2 min after thiopental, and fell rapidly to 13.0 micrograms X ml-1 +/- 3.2 at 5 min, 10.7 micrograms X ml-1 +/- 4.4 at 10 min and 6.2 micrograms X ml-1 at 30 min. After thiopental the EEG record showed an increase in delta activity and in four patients a burst suppression pattern was seen. The duration of burst suppression activity was variable (130 to 367 seconds) but in all instances cortical activity had returned to the pre-thiopental level by five to ten minutes. Thus concentrations of thiopental of 10-30 micrograms X ml-1 were associated with EEG burst suppression and both were seen only within the first five minutes after drug administration. In contrast the carotid artery was occluded for considerably longer (26 +/- 4) minutes. We conclude that, since there was no sustained arterial-venous gradient, either arterial or venous concentrations are adequate for the study of thiopental pharmacokinetics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗