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Biomedical subjects

D R Briggs

Publications and source records attributed to D R Briggs.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The synergistic preservative effects of the essential oils of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) against acid-tolerant food microflora.

Essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from five different varieties of Ocimum basilicum L. plants (Anise, Bush, Cinnamon, Dark Opal and a commercial sample of dried basil) were examined for antimicrobial activity against a wide range of foodborne Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, yeasts and moulds by an agar well diffusion method. All five essential oils of basil showed antimicrobial activity against most of the organisms tested with the exception of Flavimonas oryzihabitans and Pseudomonas species. The inhibitory effect of Anise oil, in comparison with mixtures of the predominant components of pure linalool and methyl chavicol, against the acid-tolerant organisms, Lactobacillus curvatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was examined in broth by an indirect impedance method. Synergistic effects between Anise oil, low pH (pH 4.2) and salt (5% NaCl) were determined. The antimicrobial effect of Anise oil was also assessed in a tomato juice medium by direct viable count, showing that the growth of Lact. curvatus and S. cerevisiae was completely inhibited by 0.1% and 1% Anise oil, respectively. The results of the current study indicate the need for further investigations to understand the antimicrobial effects of basil oils in the presence of other food ingredients and preservation parameters.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of dietary fibre in meals-on-wheels meals in Melbourne.

The elderly are considered to be a group of persons who are at risk of suffering the health problems that are associated with inadequate nutrition. The delivery of meals to homes, the meals-on-wheels programme, has been an approach to reduce this risk, but there is little information about the contribution of such a programme to the total diet or to particular nutrient intakes. The dietary-fibre content of meals that were collected over four seasons from three Melbourne metropolitan meals-on-wheels areas was determined chemically and compared with the fibre content as calculated by means of food-composition tables. The analysed and calculated dietary-fibre contents of meals-on-wheels meals were 7.3 g and 6.4 g, respectively. The total daily dietary-fibre intake was assessed in recipients of the meals-on-wheels services by a three-day food-record, and also by means of a dietary history. The dietary-fibre intake was 16 g/day by both methods. Most dietary fibre came from vegetables; the fruit fibre was derived exclusively from citrus fruit, and no cereal fibre was provided, except in desserts. The contribution of meals-on-wheels meals to the estimated daily dietary-fibre intake of meals-on-wheels recipients was 46% as determined by chemical analysis and 40% as calculated from food-composition tables. The contribution of meals-on-wheels meals to a suggested desirable total intake of dietary fibre of 25-30 g/day for the elderly was 24%-29% as analysed and 21%-26% as calculated. Thus, the contribution of meals-on-wheels meals to the total dietary-fibre intake was reasonable but low in comparison with the desirable intake. Home-delivered meals could contain higher levels of dietary fibre by the inclusion of more foods which contain whole-grain cereals, nuts, legumes and vegetables.

Diet↗
PubMed1985

Evaluation of cyclosporine-treated mice as hosts for growing and testing the chemosensitivity of first-transplant-generation human tumor xenografts implanted under the kidney capsule.

Freshly resected human tumors were grown as xenografts under the kidney capsules of conventional mice immunosuppressed by daily treatment with cyclosporine A (CsA; 60 mg/kg/day, sc). Tumor persistence and growth in CsA-treated mice were comparable to those found in nude mice. Lower doses or less aggressive schedules of CsA resulted in xenograft rejection. CsA (60 mg/kg/day, sc) treatment of mice was toxic but not lethal. It resulted in a 20% decrease in water consumption, a 10% loss in body weight, and significant reductions in thymus, kidney, and liver weights. Therapeutic doses of cancer chemotherapeutic agents were tolerated by CsA-treated mice, but 10% lethal doses were lethal in 100% of the mice. These results indicate that CsA-treated mice would be an economic alternative to nude mice for growing human tumor xenografts and for testing their chemosensitivity, with the caveat that the dose-limiting toxicity of cancer chemotherapeutic agents will be reached at lower doses in CsA-treated mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Eustachian tube function in children.

Eustachian tube function of children with bilateral serous otitis media was studied in 14 ears following myringotomy and pressure equalizing tube insertion. Cases with non-Eustachian tube pathology potentially contributing to Eustachian tube dysfunction were excluded from the study. Eustachian tube function was evaluated utilizing an impedance audiometer to document neutralization of positive and negative middle ear pressures. All cases showed persistent tubal dysfunction for up to six months. Partial incomplete neutralization of positive pressure occurred in 64 per cent, but in no case could negative pressure be partially neutralized even when "locking" was relieved with valsalva. Continuous ventilation of the middle ear for up to six months did not allow a return to normal Eustachian tube function. This is extremely effective palliation, and should be recognized as such.

Child↗
PubMed1975

Intramuscular hemangioma in the head and neck.

Intramuscular hemangioma is a distinct type of hemangioma occurring within skeletal muscle and making up less than one per cent of all hemangiomas. They occur most often in the trunk and extremities, perhaps beacuse of the larger muscle volume in thos areas. 13.5 per cent of intramuscular hemangiomas do occur in the head and neck region and for this reason they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck masses. The first case of an intramuscular hemangioma of the digastric muscle is presented and confirmed by electron microscopic sections. An interesting finding in this tumor is the proliferation of both endothelial cells and pericytes. Hemangiomas are classified according to vessel size; "large vessel" cavernous, "small vessel" capillary, and "mixed". Various etiologies and modalities of treatment are discussed, and total excision with ligation of the feeding vessels is advocated to prevent the high incidence of later recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemexfoliation as an adjunct to facial rejuvenation.

Rhytidectomy and chemexfoliation are complementary procedures. The combination of rhytidectomy and chemexfoliation as a one-stage procedure is advocated for the rejuvenation of the aging face. The advantages of the combined technique are stressed. Recognition of the facial T-zone for application of a stronger solution and occlusive mask is noted. Careful selection of patients and technical details of the procedure are outlined.

Dermatologic Surgical Procedures↗