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Biomedical subjects

G Economou

Publications and source records attributed to G Economou.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1971

A cross-over comparison of the effect of morphine, pethidine, pentazocine, and phenazocine on biliary pressure.

The effects on biliary pressure of pentazocine, morphine, pethidine, and phenazocine were compared by direct measurement through a ;T' tube after choledochotomy. In two within-patient comparisons, the mean increases in biliary pressure following intramuscular morphine were significantly greater than those following pentazocine. When pethidine and phenazocine were compared with pentazocine, the mean increases were lower following pentazocine but not to a statistically significant extent. Pentazocine appears to be the most appropriate strong analgesic in biliary and pancreatic disease.

Biliary Tract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of temperature on QCT: implications for mineral densitometry.

OBJECTIVE: Inaccuracies in quantitative CT (QCT) for vertebral bone mineral measurements may result from differences between the temperature of the vertebrae and the calibration standards. This study aims to quantify these effects by using scans of marrow-equivalent materials and computer simulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT numbers of fat, water, gelatin suspension, and bone were measured within an anthropomorphic phantom at temperatures between -18 and 38 degrees C. A computer simulation was then performed using these materials to represent marrow fat, soft tissue, and bone in varying proportions over this temperature range. Postprocessing single and dual energy QCT calculations were then performed on the data acquired from the simulation. RESULTS: A change of 80 HU in the CT number of water on cooling from 38 to -18 degrees C was demonstrated. An increase of 95 HU in the CT number of fat occurred over the same temperature range. Dry cortical bone showed no change in CT number with temperature changes from 24 to -18 degrees C. In the computer simulation, the fat error associated with single energy QCT for trabecular bone mineral densitometry was 20% less for specimens at room temperature than at body temperature. In simulated frozen specimens, varying marrow fat/soft tissue composition had almost no effect on single energy QCT mineral densitometry. Dual energy QCT methods that use a fat-equivalent reference material were significantly influenced by the temperature of the specimen. CONCLUSION: The fat error of single energy QCT for mineral densitometry may have been underestimated in previous in vitro studies using vertebral specimens scanned at room temperature. In the simulation, the fat error diminished as the temperature of the specimen was reduced and was negligible when frozen. Fat-equivalent reference materials used for dual energy QCT in vivo should have similar X-ray-attenuating properties at room temperature to those of marrow fat at body temperature.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A three-day octreotide-containing helicobacter pylori eradication therapy for cure of peptic ulcers.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Octreotide is used to arrest peptic ulcer hemorrhage. Since it has anti-secretory properties, it could also be used in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, to cure peptic ulcer before discharging patients from hospital. The aim of this pilot study was to determine safety and efficacy of an ultra short quadruple octreotide containing H. pylori eradication therapy in patients with peptic ulcer. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-six consecutive symptomatic H. pylori-positive patients with duodenal (n = 20) or gastric ulcer (n = 6), were treated with a three-day course of octreotide 0.3 mg/day subcutaneously, amoxicillin plus metronidazole 2 g/day orally and colloid bismuth subcitrate 480 mg/day. CLO-test, culture and crush tissue smears were performed on admission to the study, at 4 and 8 weeks post treatment. The effect of octreotide on intragastric pH (n = 10) was also investigated. RESULTS: Octreotide significantly increased the mean 24-hour intragastric pH > 3 over 68.9% of the time (37.1%-99.5%). There were no treatment side effects. Ulcer pain was abolished at between 2-12 days. By intention-to-treat 24/26(92.3%, 95% CI 82%-100%) ulcers had healed at 4 weeks. H. pylori eradication rate at 8 weeks was 88.5% (23/26) (95% CI 76%-100%). CONCLUSIONS: Our ultra-short octreotide containing quadruple therapy is a safe and effective regime in eradicating H. pylori and healing peptic ulcers. It may be a suitable therapy for hospitalized patients with peptic ulcer hemorrhage.

Adult↗