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Biomedical subjects

D H Hull

Publications and source records attributed to D H Hull.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Recurrent loss of consciousness in an aircrew member--a controllable cause.

A healthy 38-year-old technician aircrewman gave a 3-month history of recurrent loss of consciousness. Treatment for presumptive post-traumatic epilepsy was unsuccessful. Repeated cardiac investigation was negative until an episode of unconsciousness while instrumentated with a "Cardio-memo" recorder showed that an attack was accompanied by cardiac asystole. Further (invasive) cardiac investigations including electrophysiological studies were normal. Insertion of a dual chamber pacemaker (mode DDD) prevented any further attacks over a period of 4 years' observation. He was found fit to resume restricted flying duties and has experienced no problems in the air or elsewhere.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Cigarette smoking and duodenal ulcer.

Tobacco smoking delays healing of gastric ulcer and may influence duodenal ulceration. Seventy men, all cigarette smokers, were found to have duodenal ulceration at endoscopy. All were advised to stop smoking and received a three-month course of cimetidine. Endoscopy was repeated at three months (n = 63) and at six months (n = 56). At three months most (79%) patients showed ulcer healing and there was no difference between men who had and had not stopped smoking. At six months, however, a higher proportion (61% vs 28%, p less than 0.05) of smokers (n = 38) than ex-smokers (n = 18) had duodenal ulceration. This difference reflected a combination of increased ulcer persistence and ulcer relapse. Neither cimetidine nor cigarette smoking nor ulcer healing appeared substantially to affect duodenitis and fixed deformity. We conclude that continued cigarette smoking does not prevent the powerful duodenal ulcer healing effect of cimetidine but does predispose to an increased expectation of duodenal ulceration soon after cimetidine has been stopped.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Mild hypertension.

The history of antihypertensive drug treatment is reviewed and the results of therapeutic trials summarised. Studies in aviation medicine and current aeromedical practice are described. Despite the success of drug treatment, any effect on the occurrence of coronary events or of coronary deaths is slight. Reasons for this disappointing outcome are suggested, and the implications for the treatment of hypertensive aviators are explored.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1981

Identifying borderline hypertensives: comparative value of various blood pressure measurements.

Ambulant male military aircrew patients (n = 299) were divided into two groups based on historic evidence of normotension (N) or of untreated borderline essential hypertension (BH). All patients had their blood pressure (BP) measured under various conditions and body positions. Results were analyzed to assess the capability of each BP measurement condition to assign patients correctly to their appropriate group. Clinical BP (physician-recorded with patient seated) and orthostatic stand BP (technician-recorded) showed best sensitivity and acceptable specificity. By incorporating the results of both these measurement conditions, a predictor approximating 90% for most BH and N patients was obtained. Use of these two measurements should enable recognition of most BH patients at a single evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Blood pressure variability of the individual in orthostatic testing.

Within-subject blood pressure (BP) variability was studied in the context of orthostatic testing. Nineteen healthy men volunteered for biweekly orthostatic testing. BP's were taken on alternate minutes during 5 min of supine rest and a subsequent 5 min of quiet standing. Within-subject variance was computed for systole and diastole by protocol condition; respective variances were than pooled (i.e. averaged) across subjects. The within-subject estimate of variance for a single BP reading in either position was approximately 6 torr (i.e. 1 S.D.). This variance estimate was reduced by averaging additional BP readings from the same visit, and more so by averaging BP readings from multiple visits. These findings have use in the design of orthostatic protocols and in the interpretation of BP data derived therefrom.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Relaxed +GZ tolerance in healthy men: effect of age.

Fifty-three healthy US Air Force aircrewmen, 26-55 yr old, volunteered for a centrifuge study designed to determine the effect of age on relaxed +GZ tolerance. Each was subjected to G forces of gradual and rapid onset, with G tolerance determined by standardized contraction of peripheral visual fields. Of the subject characteristics studied, only age was positively correlated with rapid-onset G tolerance; both age and weight were positively correlated with gradual-onset G tolerance. A combination of age and weight gave a stronger positive correlation with G tolerance (rapid- and gradual-onset) than did either characteristic alone. No significant negative correlations were observed. We conclude that aging may offer some protection from G stress; there is no evidence that aging leads to a decrement in G tolerance.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1978

Treatment of hypertension in aviators: a clinical trial with Aldactazide.

Thirty-two USAF aircrewmen with mild or moderate, uncomplicated essential hypertension were treated with Aldactazide (spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide). The study was designed to determine the efficacy and safety of this drug combination in aircrew subject to the stress of flying high-performance aircraft. All patients were investigated in detail before, and again 6 weeks after, beginning Aldactazide treatment. Adequate blood pressure control was achieved in 94% of patients; 84% were able to return to flying duties. Treatment was associated with a moderate loss of weight and plasma volume, and a slight reduction in renal function. Tolerance to multiple stress tests was unimpaired after treatment. Symptoms attributable to treatment were minimal. We conclude that in the dose used, four tablets or less daily, Aldactazide is a safe and fairly effective secondline treatment for hypertensive aircrewmen.

Adult↗