PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Harris

Publications and source records attributed to F Harris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Clinical evaluation of oral mexiletine therapy in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.

The effect of oral mexiletine therapy on ventricular arrhythmias was evaluated in 58 patients in whom conventional drugs had been unsuccessful. Mean daily dose of mexiletine was 652 mg (range 250 to 1,500) and mean duration of therapy was 14.4 months (range 0.1 to 34.4). Mexiletine was associated with a decrease of 52% in total premature ventricular complexes in 24 hours compared with control (6,841 +/- 1,053 [SEM] versus 3,248 +/- 734, p less than 0.005) and 19 patients (36.5%) had a greater than 83% decrease in ventricular ectopic rhythm. The drug was discontinued in 6 of these 19 patients because 5 of them (26%) experienced side effects after a mean period of 29.6 weeks (range 0.83 to 63.2) and sudden death occurred in 1 patient (5%); this indicates effective suppression of ventricular ectopic rhythm without significant side effects in 13 (25%) of 52 patients during long-term therapy. Adjustment of drug dosage to achieve therapeutic blood levels resulted in an efficacy on ventricular ectopic rhythm similar to that obtained with the maximal tolerated dose. There was no correlation between drug dose and therapeutic effectiveness. Mexiletine was associated with a 48% decrease in episodes of ventricular tachycardia (345.5 versus 179.3/24 h) and 5 of 10 patients with a history of cardiac arrest remained free of symptomatic ventricular tachyarrhythmias for 14.8 months (range 3.7 to 24.3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1985

Epidemiology of facial clefting.

An analysis was performed of patients with facial clefts notified between 1960 and 1982 to the Liverpool Congenital Malformations Registry. From 1960-82 there were 325 727 births in the area surveyed and 544 cases of facial clefting were notified. When 88 patients with recognised syndromes and multiple congenital anomalies were excluded, the overall prevalence of facial clefts alone was 1.4 per 1000 total births. This group was then classified further into 137 cases of cleft lip alone, 166 cases of cleft lip and palate, and 153 cases of cleft palate alone. The prevalence of these groups per 1000 total births is 0.42, 0.51, and 0.47 respectively. There were some fluctuations in annual prevalence with rises being observed in the mid and late 1960s and mid and late 1970s. There was a noticeable male predominance in the cleft lip and cleft lip and palate groups of 1.52:1 and 1.98:1 respectively, with a 1:1 ratio in the cleft palate group. There were no significant differences in birthweight and mean maternal age in the three groups. In the cleft palate group, however, there was a significant trend towards an increase in the frequence of conception in the second half of the year. There was a maternal history of epilepsy in 4.4% of the cleft lip and 3% of the cleft lip and palate groups but only in 1 patient (0.6%) in the cleft palate group. The study illustrates the importance of environmental factors in the aetiology of facial clefting.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1985

Benign intracranial hypertension following severe hyponatremic dehydration in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

A case of salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia with severe hyponatremic dehydration is presented. Clinical signs and symptoms of cerebral edema with elevated intracranial pressure were present. Conventional treatment was started, and after initial concern regarding future head growth and development, there was a good outcome with normal development at 1 year of age. This course is suggestive of benign intracranial hypertension. Possible mechanisms are discussed with a review of the relevant literature.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗
PubMed1985

Slipped upper femoral epiphysis and primary juvenile hypothyroidism.

The pathogenesis of slipped upper femoral epiphysis is unknown but the condition has been linked with various endocrine disorders. Nine patients with slipped epiphyses in association with primary juvenile hypothyroidism are presented. In all patients, slipping occurred or symptoms developed in the affected hip before the hypothyroidism was diagnosed. A generalised pathology was suggested by the absence of trauma (8 patients), by bilateral slipping (6 patients), and by obesity and short stature in all patients. All cases had delayed skeletal maturation and characteristic metaphysial changes were seen on their radiographs. The clinical diagnosis of juvenile hypothyroidism can be difficult but it merits consideration in patients who have a slipped upper femoral epiphysis in association with short stature, obesity, delay in skeletal maturity, or any one of these.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The incidence of Down's syndrome over a 19-year period with special reference to maternal age.

The incidence of Down's syndrome in the Liverpool and Bootle areas from 1961 to 1979 was investigated. A total of 319 liveborn cases was ascertained over this period. Using 3-year moving averages, the incidence of the condition fell gradually from 1.62 per 1000 livebirths for 1961 to 1963 to 1.09 per 1000 livebirths for 1977 to 1979. This trend is significant at the 0.1% level. Over the same period the mean maternal age of Down's syndrome births fell gradually from 36.7 years in 1961 to 29.0 years in 1979. This trend is significant at the 1% level. There was a contemporaneous decrease in the proportion of total births to women over 35 years in the study area. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on 175 out of the 319 index cases (54.9%). Of these, there were 161 trisomies (92%), 11 translocations (6.3%), and three mosaics (1.7%). Between 1969 and 1979 four terminations of pregnancy for Down's syndrome were performed, all for trisomy. Quinquennial age specific incidences for Down's syndrome were calculated for the years 1960 to 1964, 1965 to 1969, 1970 to 1974, and 1975 to 1979. There have been no statistically significant changes over this time. It is suggested that the fall in incidence of Down's syndrome can be explained by the fall in mean maternal age.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Trisomy 13 and extended survival.

A 9-year-old boy with classical clinical features of trisomy 13 (Patau's syndrome), with confirmation on chromosome analysis of blood and skin, is reported in view of his relative longevity.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1979

The role of danazol in the management of precocious puberty.

The management, investigation and treatment of 12 children with precocious puberty is described. Danazol, a synthetic derivative of ethisterone, has been used over a period of 3 1/2 years. Its clinical, endocrine and biochemical effects have been evaluated. Danazol ha a very useful clinical effect in controlling the development of secondary sexual features but does not modify the rapid linear growth and skeletal maturity seen in this condition.

17-Ketosteroids↗
PubMed1978

Repeat lumbar puncture in the diagnosis of meningitis.

Meningitis may be difficult to diagnose. If it is suspected clinically and a first lumbar puncture is normal, a second cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample may be required within a few hours to confirm the diagnosis. A child is presented in whom CSF was normal 14 hours after the onset of illness, but who 14 hours later showed the characteristic changes of purulent meningitis. This case differs from those previously cited in the literature, in that the blood cultures taken at the time of the first lumbar puncture were also negative.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Hearing conservation.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced↗