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Biomedical subjects

D G Cramp

Publications and source records attributed to D G Cramp.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

ANABEL: intelligent blood-gas analysis in the intensive care unit.

ANABEL (ANalysis of Acid-Base status by Evaluating Lisp) is a prototype medical intelligent decision-support system aiming to assist clinicians in an Intensive Care Unit environment with the interpretation of blood-gas measurements. Its architecture is based on the merging of representations for declarative (domain-descriptive) and procedural (problem-solving) medical knowledge. The system performs diagnosis in two stages (tentative and differential) by first evaluating elementary computational units of procedural knowledge (procedures) and then abstracting their symbolic outputs in generating text. Thus, a 'semantic trace' is built which reflects the system's line of reasoning in reaching its conclusion. This paper describes the design aspects, development and clinical validation of ANABEL.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗
PubMed1989

Of mice and men--data capture in the clinical environment.

We have considered the problem of data capture in the critical care area. Review of previous work on the use of alternative input devices for speed and accuracy of data entry yields conflicting information but suggests that requirements depend on input task, data type and skill of the user. We have performed comparative studies of the QWERTY keybord, cursor control keys, mouse and graphics tablet for data entry in two intensive therapy unit (ITU) environments. The graphics tablet proved overall the best of the devices studied. We report the potential applications of this type of input device.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed1979

The effect of metoprolol on plasma lipids.

Fifteen hypertensive patients entered a single-blind study to examine the effects of metoprolol (100 mg twice daily) on fasting plasma lipids. In 12 patients who completed the study, non-esterified fatty acid concentrations fell, but cholesterol and triglyceride levels were unchanged after 12 weeks' treatment. These results conflict with earlier reports of the effect of metoprolol on plasma triglyceride concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

An evaluation of a simple polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system for lipoproteins and its use for the characterisation of hyperlipoproteinaemia.

The use of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a screening procedure for the characterisation of hyperlipoproteinaemia is described. Sixty-one samples were investigated and classified by four different methods: (1) chemical profile derived from visual appearance and estimation of total cholesterol and triglyceride; (2) 'SML' profile by nephelometry; (3) electrophoresis on agarose gel; and (4) electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the closest correlation with the chemical profile when compared with the other two methods. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was found to be a rapid, reliable, and satisfactory procedure for plasma lipoprotein phenotyping.

Blood Protein Electrophoresis↗
PubMed1978

The integrative role of lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase in triglyceride clearance.

There is evidence that not only lipoprotein lipase (LPL) but also lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) are involved in the directional flow of triglyceride (TG) from endogenous very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and chylomicrons as part of a general energy storage pathway. Evidence is given to suggest that LCAT plays an integrative role in this process.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Plasma lipoprotein patterns in patients receiving dialysis therapy for chronic renal failure.

A study is reported of the prevalence, nature and possible aetiology of the hyperlipidaemia found in a group of 74 patients receiving maintenance dialysis. Sixty patients were receiving haemodialysis and 14 peritoneal dialysis. Sixty-four per cent of the male and 83% of the female patients had a lipoprotein abnormality which was predominantly of the Type IV pattern, probably due to a combination of increased hepatic triglyceride synthesis and diminished peripheral clearance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Plasma triglyceride secretion and metabolism in chronic renal failure.

Endogenous very low density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG) production rate has been studied in 13 patients with chronic renal failure who were not on dialysis treatment. In these patients the VLDL-TG plasma concentration was significanlty raised when compared with the control group; the fractional turnover rate was reduced but the absolute turnover rate was increased. The results suggest that increased hepatic production of VLDL-TG is a contributory factor to the hypertriglyceridaemia of chronic renal failure.

Female↗
PubMed1977

Metabolic response to intravenous salbutamol therapy in acute asthma.

In patients suffering from an acute attack of asthma the effects of salbutamol infusion (10 microng/min) on their plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglyceride, insulin, and glucose were compared with those in a group of asthmatics not requiring infusion. Salbutamol was found significantly to increase the plasma concentrations of glucose and insulin while having little effect on NEFA or triglyceride. However, NEFA concentrations were found to be significantly increased in patients with an acute attack of asthma at the time of their admission to hospital. This increase is attributed to the stress of the asthmatic attack itself.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1976

Controlled storage of biological energy: The role of plasma lipoproteins.

A scheme is advanced whereby plasma-lipoproteins form an integrated controlled pathway for storage of energy as triglyceride. The importance of insulin within this system is indicated and the consequence of possible errors considered. Changes secondary to organ disease are found to fit within the proposed pathway. Although many refinements remain to be added, this hypothesis seems to form a plausible framework within which lipoprotein abnormality and the underlying condition may be better understood and thereby treated.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1976

A systems model of blood glucose control.

A mathematical model for the short-term control of glucose is presented, focusing upon the role of the liver. Non-linear representation is provided, enabling complete system behaviour of the metabolic and endocrine processes to be analysed, including both basic auto-regulation and higher levels of control. The level of a priori knowledge incorporated in the formulation is maximised by including unit process dynamics, making direct use of known enzymological data. From simulation results, hypotheses concerning system structure are tested. Hormones are seen to be important in maintaining the biochemical environment, providing the coarse control. The dominant control of flux within the glucose metabolic pathways is intrinsic to the enzyme systems which can be looked upon as providing the fine tuning and auto regulatory effects.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1975

Disorders of blood-lipids in renal disease.

Hyperlipidaemia is a characteristic feature not only of the nephrotic syndrome but also of chronic renal disease without the features of that syndrome. There is evidence for disordered lipid metabolism in patients with chronic renal disease. In these patients the disordered lipid metabolism, the precise cause of which is unknown, is characterised by hypertriglyceridaemia, the aetiology of which is probably multifactorial. Hyperlipidaemia is an important potential risk factor in the aetiology of cardiovascular disease, which may be a leading cause of death in patients undergoing long-term maintenance haemodialysis therapy.

Antigens↗