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Biomedical subjects

D K Whitaker

Publications and source records attributed to D K Whitaker.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Evening primrose oil (Epogam) in the treatment of chronic hand dermatitis: disappointing therapeutic results.

BACKGROUND: Hand dermatitis is a common therapeutic challenge with limited and unsatisfactory therapy modules. A possible beneficial role of oral evening primrose oil needs to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: Pharmacological doses of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) could improve the water permeability barrier of the epidermis in chronic hand dermatitis. Clinical improvement, changes in the lipogram and epidermal lipid composition could define functional improvement of the skin. Electron-microscopic evaluation of the epidermal lipid bilayer could underline the efficacy of essential fatty acids in chronic hand dermatitis. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with chronic (> 1 year), stable hand dermatitis entered a 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Patch test with the European standard of allergens, haematogram and serum IgE values were determined before commencement of the study. Active therapy (600 mg/day of GLA) was administered to half the patient group. Medication was given for 16 weeks and observations continued for another 8 weeks. Patients were assessed clinically, using a visual analogue scale at 4-week intervals. Plasma and red blood cell lipograms, as well as skin biopsies, were taken before therapy, after the 16-week supplementation period and at week 24. Tissue was used for histological evaluation, electron-microscopic assessment and epidermal lipid analysis. RESULTS: Improvement in clinical parameters was present in the Epogam and placebo groups, but no statistical difference could be confirmed between the groups. Haematogram, blood and epidermal biochemistry were normal at baseline. No change in the lipid composition of plasma red cells or epidermis could be detected during the trail. Ultrastructurally skin specimens showed no change during the study period. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that the therapeutic value of orally administered GLA for chronic hand dermatitis is not superior to that of placebo.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Preliminary study of a pregnanolone emulsion (Kabi 2213) for i.v. induction of general anaesthesia.

Pregnanolone emulsion was administered i.v. to 13 healthy male volunteers to assess its potential as an agent for i.v. induction of general anaesthesia and to establish a pharmacokinetic profile at two doses. Each subject received 0.5 mg kg-1, 0.75 mg kg-1 and 1.0 mg kg-1 on successive occasions, the rate of administration being constant for each dose. Pregnanolone emulsion was found to produce smooth and reliable induction of general anaesthesia with cardiorespiratory effects comparable to those of other i.v. induction agents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

An ultrastructural study of initial changes in epithelium damaged by surface freezing.

The changes seen in frozen thawed epithelium have been compared with pathological changes occurring under other circumstances. The intact cell membranes, invaginated cells, and varying densities of cell cytoplasm are all compatible with osmotic changes occurring after alteration in cell membrane permeability as is the development of bullae under these conditions. It is suggested, therefore, that this constitutes the major mechanism of cryosurgical attack at these temperatures. The finding that ultrastructural damage was evident very shortly after thawing, implicates changes directly due to freezing and thawing but does not necessarily rule out later additional cell damage occurring in an ischaemic situation.

Animals↗