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Biomedical subjects

D Webb

Publications and source records attributed to D Webb.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Myotonia dystrophica: unusual features in a Labrador family.

A large family with myotonia dystrophica has been recognized in an isolated area of Labrador. The complete family tree showed 29 of 108 members to be affected, including an infant with the congenital form of the disease. The propositus presented with epiphora and reduced frequency of blinking, with incomplete closure--features that have not previously been stressed. Ten of the younger affected persons had no lens opacities, although most had systemic muscle signs. Slit-lamp examination was therefore not a valuable method of early detection of the disease in the family. Many of the women affected by myotonia dystrophica had obstetric complications, particularly hydramnios, premature onset of labour, necessity for cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal death. Hydramnios was associated in each instances with perinatal death. The fetus in each case of hydramnios may have had the gene for myotonia dystrophica. Immunoglobulin A concentrations were reduced significantly in 27 affected persons in comparison with 77 unaffected family members. There were no such differences for the other immunoglobulin classes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Effects of caffeine on DRL performance in the mouse.

Mice were trained to stable and efficient DRL 18 sec performance utilizing a nose-poke as the operant. Caffeine, at doses less than 48 mg/kg, increased both response bursts (IRTs less than 3 sec) and longer IRTs, and shifted the IRT distribution towards shorter, nonreinforced IRTs. Auditory feedback for responses decreased the number of bursts emitted and produced performance more resistant to drug effects. These results are similar to those previously reported for caffeine on DRL in the rat, and for amphetamine on DRL in a variety of species.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1978

Ticarcillin disodium in anaerobic infections.

Twenty-five patients were treated with ticarcillin disodium, 18 of whom had anaerobic infections that included pleuropulmonary infections (seven), mandibular osteomyelitis (four), perirectal abscess (two), sepsis, primary site unknown (one), liver abscess (one), pelvic abscess (one), decubitus ulcer (one), and synergistic gangrene (one). Seven had no anaerobic infections. Three had anaerobic septicemia. Culture results included anaerobes: peptococci (ten), peptostreptococci (ten), Bacteroides fragilis (six), Bacteroides not fragilis (ten), eubacteria (three), fusobacteria (two), Clostridium (one), Veillonella (one), and acidaminococcus (one); aerobes: Proteus (three), Klebsiella (two), Escherichia coli (two), and streptococci (two). Six patients with mixed aerobic infections initially received gentamicin sulfate in addition. The serum levels were 110 +/- 20 microgram/ml one hour after intravenous infusion of 5 g of ticarcillin disodium. All anaerobic isolates were susceptible at less than or equal to 100 microgram/ml and 85% by less than or equal to 25 microgram/ml of ticarcillin. Sixteen patients responded well to ticarcillin and two failed to respond. Our study suggests that ticarcillin is useful in the treatment of anaerobic infections.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1975

Conning the general practitioner--how drug-abusing patients obtain prescriptions.

A sample of 100 patients attending drug dependence clinics was questioned about the methods they used to obtain psychotropic drugs from general practitioners. Sixty-one per cent said they were obtaining psychotropic drugs and 39 per cent said they had obtained psychotropic drugs from this source during the preceding 12 months. Drugs obtained included minor tranquillisers, barbiturates, amphetamines, and methylphenidate (;Ritalin'). Some degree of deception of the general practitioner by the patient was almost always clear. Three recommendations to help prevent this are suggested.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cefoxitin therapy for bacterial endocarditis.

Of 22 patients who were suspected of having bacterial endocarditis and who were treated with cefoxitin intravenously (8-12 g per day), 12 were evaluated for responses to therapy. Ten patients had infections due to a single pathogen, and two had polymicrobial infections. Staphylococci were isolated from eight patients, and streptococci from four; both of these pathogens were susceptible to 2-16 micrograms of cefoxitin/ml. Staphylococcus aureus and four strains of anaerobic bacteria, including Bacteroides fragilis (minimal inhibitory concentration, 32 micrograms/ml), were isolated from one patient. The average level of cefoxitin in serum was 32.8 micrograms/ml (range, 14.5-64 micrograms/ml) at 1 hr after an intravenous dose of 2 g; after 5 hr the average level in serum was 8.5 micrograms/ml (range, 2-20 micrograms/ml). The mean (+/- SD) level of cefoxitin in myocardial tissues from eight rabbits at 1 hr following a 250-mg/kg dose of the antibiotic was 4 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g. On the average, patients were treated for 29 days (range, 14-40 days), and they became afebrile in 6.2 days (range, three to 20 days). Both clinical and microbiologic responses to cefoxitin therapy were excellent in 10 patients with monobacterial infections. Both patients with polymicrobial infections were not cured. One, who was infected with a mixed flora of anaerobes, died; the other was cured after surgical valvectomy. These results suggest that cefoxitin is effective in the treatment of endocarditis due to a single susceptible organism but that this antibiotic should be used with caution in patients whose endocarditis is caused by a mixed population of bacterial pathogens.

Adult↗