Biomedical subjects

C J De Gara

Publications and source records attributed to C J De Gara.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Speed of healing and symptom relief in grade II to IV gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Esophagitis healing proportions are often incorrectly called the healing rate. The aim of this study was to compare different drug classes by expressing the speed of healing and symptom relief through a new approach. METHODS: A fully recursive literature search to July 1996 identified 43 articles on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (7635 patients) meeting strict inclusion criteria: single- or double-blind randomized studies in adults with endoscopically proven erosive or ulcerative esophagitis. For each drug class, linear regression analysis estimated the average percentage of patients who were healed and heartburn free per week. RESULTS: Mean overall healing proportion irrespective of drug dose or treatment duration (< or =12 weeks) was highest with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs; 83.6% +/- 11.4%) vs. H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs; 51.9% +/- 17.1%), sucralfate (39.2% +/- 22.4%), or placebo (28.2% +/- 15.6%). Correcting for patients without baseline heartburn, the mean heartburn-free proportion was highest with PPIs (77.4% +/- 10.4%) vs. H2RAs (47.6% +/- 15.5%). PPIs showed a significantly faster healing rate (11.7%/wk) vs. H2RAs (5.9%/wk) and placebo (2.9%/wk). PPIs provided faster, more complete heartburn relief (11.5%/wk) vs. H2RAs (6.4%/wk). CONCLUSIONS: More complete esophagitis healing and heartburn relief is observed with PPIs vs. H2RAs and occurs nearly twice as fast. This semiquantitative expression of speed of healing and symptom relief permits comparisons for future economic evaluation and quality-of-life assessments.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Artificial nutrition support in hospitals in the United Kingdom--1994: Third national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how artificial nutrition support is used in hospitals in the United Kingdom and to determine whether there have been any alterations in practice when compared to similar studies in 1988 (1) and 1991 (2). DESIGN: A 94-question survey about artificial nutrition support (ANS) was sent to all district dietitians registered with the British Dietetic Association on 1 January 1994. Information was collected additionally from pharmacists, nutrition nurses and clinicians. RESULTS: 66.6% of questionnaires distributed were returned with analysable information. Of the respondents, 37.3% had access to nutrition support teams, compared with 27% in 1988. The documentation of usage of nutrition support was poor, only 33% of respondents being able to accurately quantify administration of enteral nutrition (EN), and 53% parenteral nutrition (PN). CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasing awareness about the role of artificial nutrition support, and the value of nutrition support teams there has only been a modest increase in the provision and monitoring of NSTs in the last 3 years. This has important implications when considering audit of such practices.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Colon cancer detection: an algorithm using endoscopy and barium enema.

A review of findings on flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), colonoscopy and selected double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) radiographs from a group of 66 patients with rectal bleeding was performed to test the value of an algorithm in the detection of colonic cancers and polyps. In this algorithm the FS findings would direct patients either to colonoscopy or to a modified DCBE which focused attention on the colon proximal to the sigmoid. Only patients with neoplasms diagnosed by FS, or by MDCBE after negative FS, would proceed to colonoscopy. The study population contained four cancers, 11 polyps > 5 mm and 11 polyps < or = 5 mm; FS+MDCBE missed four polyps, all < 5 mm. For polyps > 5 mm and cancer, FS+MDCBE had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 82%, a negative predictive value of 1.0 and a positive predictive value of 0.62. Using the algorithm, 24 patients (36%) would have required colonoscopy. The results suggest that FS+MDCBE is a potentially valuable method for screening patients for colonic neoplasia.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1994

Hepatic interstitial laser photocoagulation. An investigation of the relationship between acute thermal lesions and their sonographic images.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between hepatic interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) lesions and their acute ultrasound images was evaluated. In addition, the natural history of ILP lesions in normal pig liver was documented. METHODS: Eighteen pigs underwent laparotomy and ultrasound-monitored ILP. In part 1 of the study, 12 pigs each had four separate exposures (1.50 W for 60, 100, 300, and 500 seconds) and were divided into four groups according to when they were killed (0, 3, 7, and 21 days). In part 2 of the study, six pigs each had two sequential exposures (1.60 W for 1,000 and then 500 seconds) at separate hepatic sites. Survival time was 3 days. Necropsy and histologic examination were performed in all animals. In 0- and 3-day survivors, actual thermal lesions were compared with "early" (immediately after ILP) and "late" (1 hour after ILP) ultrasound images. RESULTS: In the 300-, 500-, and 1,000-second exposures of parts 1 and 2, thermal lesions were overestimated or approximated by early ultrasound and were underestimated or approximated by late ultrasound. Analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences between thermal lesions and their early and late ultrasound images (F = 18.6, P < .001, no interactions). Time-growth characteristics of ILP lesions were reasonably consistent on ultrasound; exceptions were identifiable 200 seconds into the exposure. In part 2, ultrasound changes were minimal in five of six 500-second (second sequential) technically satisfactory exposures. Thermal lesions were seen at necropsy. All lesions healed by formation of granulation tissue and collagen. CONCLUSIONS: During ILP, early ultrasound images frequently overestimate actual thermal lesions. Ultrasound-monitored ILP of tumors may be most effective if, on early ultrasound, echogenic changes extend beyond the tumor margins. Late ultrasound images underestimate or approximate thermal lesions. Their value in clinical ILP should be investigated. It is unclear why ultrasound images of proven thermal lesions were not seen during 5 of 6 otherwise satisfactory 500-second ILP exposures performed immediately after 1,000-second exposures.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Artificial nutrition support in hospitals in the United Kingdom - 1991: Second national survey.

Objective - to determine current clinical practice of nutrition support in hospitals in the UK and to determine whether there have been any apparent changes in practices since 1988. Design - An 81 question survey about enteral and parenteral nutriton was sent to all District Dietitians registered with the British Dietetic Association. Information was collected additionally from pharmacists and clinicians. Results - 61.2% of questionnaires distributed were completed and returned. 32.5% of respondents had access to nutrition support teams, compared with 27% in 1988. The documentation of usage of nutrition support was poor, only 33% being able to accurately quantify administation of enteral nutrition, and 53% parenteral nutrition. Since 1988 the number of respondents using peripheral parenteral nutrition had doubled to 15%. Those using percutaneous gastrostomies had increased from 6% to 74%. Those using respiratory enteral diet formulations had quadrupled to 33%. There have been no other apparent major changes in nutrition support practice in the UK, in the last 3 years. Conclusions - Despite increasing awareness about the role of artificial nutrition support, and the value of Nutrition Support Teams there has been little or no progress in the provision or monitoring of support in the last 3 years. This has important implications when considering audit of such practices.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1987

The effects of intravenous famotidine on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion in man.

Eight healthy male volunteers were each studied on four occasions in a 7 hour double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment. Three continuous 6 hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion rates of famotidine, calculated to achieve steady-state plasma concentrations of 10, 30 and 90 ng ml-1, were compared to placebo. Commencing at the third study hour, hourly incremental step-up i.v. infusions of pentagastrin 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 micrograms kg-1. hour were administered on each of the four study days. Hourly blood samples were taken for the subsequent determination of plasma famotidine concentration. The three famotidine infusion rates inhibited basal gastric secretion. Pentagastrin-stimulated secretion was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose of famotidine (38.7 micrograms kg-1.hour) inhibited each infusion rate of pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion between 92 and 96%. The lowest dose of famotidine (4.3 micrograms kg-1.hour) inhibited pentagastrin 0.1 micrograms kg-1.hour stimulated secretion by 50% but, when stimulated with pentagastrin 2.0 micrograms kg-1.hour, gastric secretion was inhibited by only 25%. This study indicates that the intravenous preparation of famotidine is a potent inhibitor of pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Nocturnal gastric acid secretion: its importance in the pathophysiology and rational therapy of duodenal ulcer.

The importance of nocturnal acid secretion has long been acknowledged. The aim of therapy at present is to control acid secretion throughout the entire 24-h period. However, the fact that in DU patients a 400-mg nighttime dose of cimetidine is more effective than a 200-mg one, along with the observation that poorly responsive patients also show little decrease in H+ activity, suggests that a larger single nocturnal dose is an effective primary treatment for DU patients. In studies investigating the effects of different regimens of H2 antagonists on 24-h H+ activity and nocturnal acid secretion in DU patients and healthy volunteers, 400 mg cimetidine twice daily was compared with 800 mg cimetidine at night, 150 mg ranitidine twice daily, 300 mg ranitidine at night, and placebo. In 12 DU patients no significant difference was observed between twice daily or nighttime cimetidine and twice daily or nighttime ranitidine in the reduction of 24-h H+ activity. Cimetidine at night was significantly more effective than the twice daily regimen in reducing nocturnal acid output. Ranitidine, 300 mg at night, decreased nighttime H+ activity more than 800 mg cimetidine at night, although no significant differences in overnight acid output were observed. In another study of four DU patients and four volunteers, 400 mg cimetidine twice daily was compared with 800 or 1200 mg cimetidine at night, 150 mg ranitidine at night, and placebo. All treatments were equally effective at night but had no effect during the day. Hence, early reports seem to confirm that daytime administration of H2 antagonists is unnecessary.

Administration, Oral↗