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Biomedical subjects

C G Davies

Publications and source records attributed to C G Davies.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Diaphragm disease: the limitation of laparoscopy and assessment of the small bowel for strictures using a ball bearing.

Diaphragm disease is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction that will be seen with increasing frequency with the widespread use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We present a case study of a patient with diaphragm disease where the diagnosis was not apparent at laparoscopy, and passage of a steel ball through the small intestine was required to identify all strictures present. A high index of suspicion, recognition of the limitations of conventional diagnostic aids, and the need to assess the full length of the small bowel are all important in the surgical management of this condition.

Diaphragm↗

The effect of iron supplements and blood transfusion on iron absorption by low birthweight infants fed pasteurized human breast milk.

Using serial metabolic balances, iron absorption was measured in six preterm infants (mean gestational age 29 weeks), and two fullterm small for gestational age (SGA) infants, between day 10 and 70 after birth. They were all fed breast milk. Iron supplements (2.5--13 mg/kg day) were given from day 30. Three preterm infants received blood transfusions for anemia. During the first 30 days of life iron balance was negative in the preterm infants (mean +/- SEM = -0.10 +/- 0.02 mg/kg day) and positive in the full term SGA infants (mean +/- SEM = 0.098 +/- 0.02 mg/kg day). In infants who were not tranfused, absorption of supplementary iron was a linear function of iron intake, and corresponded closely to 34% absorption. An iron intake of 5--6 mg/kg day resulted in the absorption of amounts of iron close to those being laid down in utero. Blood transfusion was followed by a reduction in iron absorption; in two cases it became negative, becoming positive again as the hemoglobin fell below about 12.0 g/100 ml. These data show that a mechanism exists in preterm infants for the control of iron absorption which does not operate at the hemoglobin concentrations that prevail in such infants, unless they are transfused.

Absorption↗

Kinetics of the inhibition of ascorbic acid browning by sulphite.

Despite differences in the structures of aldoses and ascorbic acid, ASA, the non-enzymic browning of the latter involves intermediates similar to those found in Maillard browning. The kinetics of the sulphite-inhibited browning of ASA suggest that, under anaerobic conditions, the rate of reaction of sulphite species, S(IV), is of first order with respect to S(IV). The possibility that S(IV) could catalyse the hydrolysis of the lactone ring of ASA is considered by reference to D-glucono-delta-lactone. Evidence is presented to suggest that, under aerobic conditions, autoxidation of ASA leads to the oxidation of S(IV). The composition of melanoidins from ASA-glycine mixtures is compared with that from arabinose-glycine; the former contain 2 x 5 times more ASA-derived residues per glycine molecule than arabinose-derived residues per glycine molecule in the latter. The implications of these findings to the mechanism of ASA browning are discussed.

Anaerobiosis↗