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Biomedical subjects

D Austin

Publications and source records attributed to D Austin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A prospective randomised trial of 4 Gy or 8 Gy single doses in the treatment of metastatic bone pain.

270 patients with painful bone metastases requiring palliative radiotherapy were randomised to receive single fractions of 4 Gy or 8 Gy in a randomised trial. Pain scores and analgesic usage were recorded before treatment and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Pain was assessed by patients on a 4 point graded scale using pain charts administered by a central trials office. Response was defined as an improved rating compared to the pretreatment value. Compliance with the pain chart was 72% at 4 weeks. At 4 weeks, the actual response rates were 69% for 8 Gy and 44% for 4 Gy (p less than 0.001), but there was no difference in complete response (no pain) rates at 4 weeks or duration of response between the two arms. It is concluded that 8 Gy gives a higher probability of pain relief than 4 Gy, but that 4 Gy can be an effective alternative in situations of reduced tolerance.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

A procedure for making a bruxism device in the office.

Microtrauma to the temporomandibular joint, the masticatory muscles, and the dentition can be significant in mandibular parafunctional activity such as nocturnal clenching and bruxing. Intraoral therapy can be useful in helping to reduce the deleterious effects of this activity. This article presents an in-office procedure for a device to reduce a delay in starting treatment and the time needed for adjustment of the device in the mouth.

Bruxism↗
PubMed1991

The implications and applications of biostatistical analysis in craniomandibular and orofacial pain disorders.

This article will acquaint the reader with the most commonly used summary statistics and their appropriate use in craniomandibular and orofacial pain disorders. Hopefully it will also encourage the reader to critically examine published papers, experimental design, and statistical treatment of data by asking these questions: Have experiments been properly designed? Has enough information been presented so that research can be repeated? Were subjects randomly assigned and treated? Was the statistical analysis described clearly and succinctly, and was it appropriate? Did the experimental data and results support the conclusions of the article? Were the findings statistically significant, and if so, were they clinically significant and meaningful? Anecdotal clinical studies of temporomandibular disorder sufferers can no longer be considered as the gold standard.

Biometry↗
PubMed1991

Long-term results of appliance therapies in anterior disk displacement with reduction: a review of the literature.

The diagnosis and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been a source of controversy in the dental community for decades. This controversy has been especially acute in the management of patients with anteromedial disk displacement (ADD) with reduction. This article presents a review of the literature specifically concerning the long-term results of appliance therapy in ADD with reduction patients. The literature review identified the failure of many past investigators to conduct scientifically well-designed studies or to use comparable criteria. However, from the evidence examined, both appliances seem to be able to decrease muscle and joint pain and increase mandibular function. The anterior repositioning splint seems to be superior to the flat-plane occlusal splint in eliminating reciprocal clicking and palpatory tenderness of the temporomandibular joint. The recapture of the disk is permanent in only a small percentage of patients suggesting that the use of irreversible procedures must be carefully evaluated.

Facial Pain↗
PubMed1991

Nucleotide sequence of the glpD gene encoding aerobic sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli K-12.

Aerobic sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, encoded by the glpD gene of Escherichia coli, is a cytoplasmic membrane-associated respiratory enzyme. The nucleotide sequence of glpD was determined. An open reading frame of 501 codons was preceded by a consensus Shine-Dalgarno sequence. The proposed translational start and reading frame of glpD were confirmed by determining the nucleotide sequence across the fusion joint of a glpD-lacZ translational fusion. The predicted molecular weight, 56,750, corresponds well with the reported value of 58,000 for purified sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The flavin-binding domain, located at the amino terminus, was identified by comparison with the amino acid sequences of other flavoproteins from E. coli. Repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences were identified downstream of the glpD coding region. The site for transcription termination was located between 87 and 216 bp downstream of the translation stop codon.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1990

Laboratory evaluation of an immunochemiluminometric assay of triiodothyronine in serum.

We evaluated an immunochemiluminometric assay for total triiodothyronine (T3) in serum. Acridinium ester is used as chemiluminescent label, with magnetic particle separation. Intra-run precision was demonstrated by CVs of 8.6%, 8.1%, and 4.4% at T3 concentrations of 1.3, 2.2, and 4.3 nmol/L, respectively. Between-run CVs were 19.1%, 8.8%, and 6.9% at respective T3 concentrations of 0.9, 2.4, and 6.2 nmol/L. We tested the validity of a two-point calibration system by comparing it with a set of 10 calibrators; use of the latter only minimally improved assay precision. The central 95% reference range, determined by data from 109 healthy blood donors, was 1.5-3.2 nmol/L. Comparison with a standard radioimmunoassay method revealed constant error, attributed to bias or matrix effects between the different calibrators used in the two assay systems. Assay time for 60 samples was 2.5 h. We conclude that this assay is rapid and precise, and offers safety and time advantages over conventional RIA techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Some determinants of fear about AIDS among Australian college students.

An 18-item questionnaire assessing attitudes toward AIDS and homosexuality was administered to 420 Australian tertiary students. The predictive power of attitudes toward homosexuality, empathy toward AIDS sufferers, knowledge about AIDS, church attendance, age, and sex was tested using independent and stepwise multiple-regression analyses. In the stepwise analysis attitudes toward homosexuality and empathy toward AIDS sufferers were the major contributors to fear about AIDS. Church attendance and age improved the over-all prediction significantly, but only slightly. In the independent analysis all variables, except church attendance, were significant predictors. Educational programmes on AIDS should address the relationship between homosexuality and fear of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Intracranial astrocytoma with diffuse bone marrow metastasis: a case report and review of the literature.

A 41 year old male presented with headache, lethargy, and ataxia and found to have a left temporal lobe mass and a leukoerythroblastic peripheral blood smear. The latter prompted an iliac crest bone marrow biopsy on which a diagnosis of metastatic glioma was made and verified by immunohistologic characterization. The patient was treated with cranial irradiation and simultaneous systemic BCNU (bis-dichloroethylnitrosurea) with complete response. This case with diffuse bone marrow involvement demonstrates that a glioblastoma is capable of extracranial metastases without previous intervention. From a review of reported cases of gliomas of extraneural metastasis, it is concluded that untreated gliomas are capable of vascular spread although less frequently than previously manipulated tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Low dose single fraction radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic bone pain: a pilot study.

Single fraction radiotherapy can be used effectively to palliate painful bone metastases. The optimal single dose of radiotherapy required for pain relief is unknown. Twenty-six patients have been treated with a single fraction of 4 Gy to the site of the bone pain. Partial pain relief was seen in 9/21 (5%). Response occurred within 3 weeks of radiotherapy. These results question the mechanism of pain relief following radiotherapy and suggest a method of pain control using single repeatable low dose treatments.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The frequency of 'occult' ventricular fibrillation masquerading as a flat line in prehospital cardiac arrest.

We investigated the frequency with which a "vector of ventricular fibrillation" may exist in persons in prehospital cardiac arrest. Emergency medical technicians trained in defibrillation were directed to record the rhythm in three different monitor leads whenever they noted an initial flat line. Before these lead switches, the technicians performed a flat line protocol that included inspection of the lead connections to the patient and to the defibrillator, and checks of the calibration and battery status of the devices. They performed this flat line protocol for 127 cardiac arrest patients; 118 were in confirmed asystole after technical problems were corrected. Ventricular fibrillation was detected in only three (2.5%) when the monitor lead was switched. Initial technical problems were more frequent and were identified for ten patients (8%). The frequency of occult ventricular fibrillation (three of 118 asystolic patients) yields a 95% confidence that the true frequency is no greater than 8% to 9%. This suggests that ventricular fibrillation masquerading as asystole is rare. These data do not support protocols for empiric countershocks of patients with an initial flat line on the monitor.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1988

An innovative approach to medical control: semiautomatic defibrillators with solid-state memory modules for recording cardiac arrest events.

We evaluated the use of microprocessor-based memory modules incorporated into automatic external defibrillators. These solid-state modules store information about each clinical use, including selected segments of the ECG rhythm and notations on defibrillator operation. A playback unit provides annotated printouts of the recorded information. The purpose of our evaluation was to determine whether this memory module could adequately support medical control "run-reviews" when compared with dualfunction (voice and ECG) tape recordings. A total of 41 resuscitation attempts by emergency medical technicians trained to defibrillate (EMT-Ds) were evaluated in five preselected performance areas: defibrillation skills, command and communication at the scene, patient assessment and support, safety, and speed. When performance was reviewed using the tape recordings, the average EMT-D performance score was 16.2 (maximum, 20); when reviewed using the printouts from the medical control modules, the average score, 7.2, was significantly lower (P less than .01). The lower scores with the medical control module occurred because not all five areas of skill could be evaluated adequately by the memory module approach. Assessment of the areas of communication/command at the scene, patient assessment/support, and safety required verbal tape recordings. The medical control module appeared superior to the tape recordings at providing a quick, convenient, and accurate evaluation of rhythm assessment, shock decisions, time intervals, and defibrillator performance. They make several features of medical control review easier and more convenient, and may encourage implementation of early defibrillation programs. We conclude, however, that medical control modules cannot replace on-scene tape recordings for adequate medical control of EMT-D programs.

Automation↗
PubMed1987

Changing cigarette habits and bladder cancer risk: a case-control study.

With the use of data from the 8,764 subjects in the National Bladder Cancer Study, the separate contribution of various aspects of a person's cigarette smoking history to his increased risk of bladder cancer was estimated. These estimates have not been previously available, owing to the smaller sizes of earlier studies. Our data indicated that people who have only smoked unfiltered cigarettes have higher risks than those who have only smoked filtered cigarettes but that people who have switched from unfiltered to filtered have experienced no reduction in risk. Our data also indicated that smoking cessation substantially reduced the risk. The former smoker appeared to benefit both because he stopped adding to the burden of irreversible damage and because he ceased being exposed to some reversible hazard. Thus the former smoker had a lower risk than the current smoker even though they had smoked the same number of cigarettes daily for the same number of years, but the former smoker's risk remained higher than the risk of a person who never smoked. Our data suggest that one-half of the bladder cancer occurring among men in the United States and one-third of that among women is caused by cigarette smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Possible influence of strain differences on pregnancy initiation in laboratory rats.

Recent research in this laboratory has failed to replicate previous findings that the first ejaculatory series of the male is sufficient to induce a high incidence of pregnancy in female laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). The incidence of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in albino and hooded females were compared in a standard experimental paradigm. Eight percent of Sprague-Dawley albino females exhibited a progestational response, while 45% of the Long-Evans hooded females became progestational. On the basis of these findings, and a lack of previous formal comparison of genetic strains, it is suggested that genetic differences among strains may be at least partially responsible for differences observed in the ability of a single ejaculatory series to impregnate female laboratory rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Reproductive capacity of male laboratory rats.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the reproductive capacity (i.e., the ability to successfully transfer an ejaculate and induce a progestational response in the female) of male laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). Males were individually mated to successive females in a single session for one ejaculatory series each. There was a marked decline in both the total number of sperm per ejaculate and the number of sperm transported to the uterus with repeated ejaculations. Dimensions of the copulatory plug of the male decreased over successive ejaculations, reflecting a diminished output of the secretions of the reproductive accessory glands. Male copulatory behavior changed over successive ejaculations. Actual fertility appeared somewhat diminished in late ejaculatory series. Such constraints on the reproductive capacity of the male may have implications for the mating strategy employed by wild males in the field.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Prospective randomised trial of single and multifraction radiotherapy schedules in the treatment of painful bony metastases.

A prospective randomised trial comparing a single fraction of 8 Gy with 30 Gy in 10 daily fractions for the relief of metastatic bone pain was performed. In 28 months, 288 patients were randomised. Pain was assessed using a questionnaire completed by the patient at home on a daily basis. No difference was found in the speed of onset or duration of pain relief between the two treatment regimes, and pain relief was independent of the histology of the primary tumour.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

Ventilation skills of emergency medical technicians: A teaching challenge for emergency medicine.

We assessed the ability of 64 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to ventilate a resuscitation manikin with a bag valve mask and with a pocket face mask to determine if their skill levels met the American Heart Association standard of 12 ventilations per minute, each with a tidal volume of 800 mL or more. All ventilation attempts were made during ongoing chest compressions (60 per minute). A successful ventilation was defined as a tidal volume of 800 mL +/- 40 mL. In a preliminary skills assessment, EMTs averaged 4.8 attempts with the bag valve mask and 2.9 attempts with the pocket face mask before a successful ventilation (P less than .01). In a formal skills assessment that lasted two minutes, successful ventilations per minute averaged 8.3 with the bag value mask and 9.9 with the pocket face mask (P less than 0.1). EMTs passed if they averaged ten or more successful ventilations per minute; 67% passed with the bag valve mask and 77% with the pocket face mask (NS). During a ten-minute extended skill assessment the EMTs averaged 9.6 ventilations per minute with the bag valve mask and 9.5 with the pocket face mask (NS). EMTs achieved initial success and maintained continued success better with the pocket face mask, but a reasonably high percentage (67%) met an objective standard when using the bag valve mask. We propose that objective standards be used to test the skills of EMTs for any ventilatory adjunct that they are permitted to use.

Allied Health Personnel↗