Biomedical subjects

G L Swift

Publications and source records attributed to G L Swift.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Smoking habits in psoriasis: a case control study.

We have examined smoking habits in 108 patients with psoriasis, including some with palmoplantar distribution, and compared the results with matched controls from the community. There was a significant association between psoriasis, current smoking status (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.44-5.42, P less than 0.01) and smoking habits prior to the onset of disease (OR = 3.75, 95% CI 1.68-9.47, P less than 0.001). There was also a marked dose-response relationship; the relative risk of psoriasis in those currently smoking more than 20 cigarettes/day was significantly elevated (OR = 5.3, 95% CI 2.1-13.0, P less than 0.001). Separate analysis of patients without palmoplantar distribution of psoriasis showed a significant association with smoking prior to onset of psoriasis (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.5-9.8, P less than 0.001). Smoking may play a role in the aetiology of this common skin disorder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Risk of ulceration with long-term indomethacin: endoscopic and histological changes in upper gastro-intestinal mucosa.

Twenty patients taking long-term indomethacin were chosen for the study because all had a normal endoscopic examination; biopsies, however, from the oesophagus, gastric antrum and duodenal bulb revealed histological inflammation in all patients in at least one site. After 8 weeks during which indomethacin therapy was continued, a further endoscopy revealed lesions in 5 patients--peptic ulcer in 3 and erosions in 2--but only 1 of these had any change in gastro-intestinal symptoms. Irrespective of whether mucosal lesions are seen on endoscopy in patients established on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, they remain in danger of developing both ulcers and erosions which are likely to be asymptomatic. At no time can one justifiably feel this patient group is not at risk of peptic ulceration.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1992

Are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs always necessary? A general practice survey.

The number of patients receiving long-term 'repeat prescriptions' for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was examined in a General Practice; a group of them with osteoarthritis or musculoskeletal pain attempted to withdraw their NSAID treatment and substitute alternative analgesics. Thirty-eight randomly selected patients, with conditions other than rheumatoid arthritis, were interviewed and alternative analgesics prescribed to replace their NSAID therapy. After one month, 22 had very satisfactory pain relief without their NSAID but 16 had resumed therapy, with four of them on a reduced dosage; three others wished to try an alternative analgesic again. Five initially with gastro-intestinal symptoms were asymptomatic within a month of discontinuing their NSAID. After four months, 24 of the 38 had discontinued NSAIDs, including one who had an upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage during the study; two others were taking a reduced dosage.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

A long-term clinical review of patients with oesophageal pain.

Oesophageal and cardiac chest pain are often difficult to distinguish on clinical grounds. The clinical course of 32 patients with recurrent chest pain due to oesophageal dysmotility has recently been assessed by questionnaire 9 years after diagnosis. Twenty-six of the 27 who replied continued to have pain, but despite this there was a significant reduction in the number of hospital admissions associated with chest pain. Repeat oesophageal manometry in nine showed that the disturbance in motility persisted. Three had died, one of them from a myocardial infarction; two patients could not be traced.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate enemas in the treatment of ulcerative proctitis.

Eleven patients with active proctitis or proctosigmoiditis completed one month's treatment with tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate enemas administered at night. Symptoms, sigmoidoscopic appearances, and the histological grade of acute inflammation were assessed at the commencement of therapy and after one month. An overall score of these features showed improvement in 9 of 11 patients, which encourages further investigation of bismuth in controlled trials for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Effect of ranitidine on gastroduodenal mucosal damage in patients on long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Twenty-four patients taking long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were followed in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the effect of ranitidine 300 and 600 mg daily on upper gastrointestinal mucosal damage and to assess methods of monitoring mucosal damage. Sixteen were given ranitidine and 8 had placebo throughout the study. Comparisons suggested that ranitidine reduced symptoms and endoscopic evidence of mucosal damage. Histological evidence of gastritis was present in only half of those on ranitidine but in all receiving placebo. Erosions and blood loss occurred intermittently during the study but faecal blood losses using 51Cr-labelled red cells failed to identify any difference between groups. Endoscopic observation of erosions and serial biopsies may provide simple, reliable measurements for future studies to assess the effect of therapy in reducing mucosal damage from long-term NSAIDs.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1987

Effects of prenatal undernutrition on prevertebral sympathetic neurons in the rat: a morphological and fluorescence histochemical study.

The effects of maternal undernutrition during the last seven and last fourteen days of pregnancy on neurons of the rat coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion has been investigated in neonates and in adult animals. The parameters studied were neuron diameter and the level of neuronal noradrenaline fluorescence. The morphology was more permanently affected by fourteen than by seven days undernutrition as shown by the smaller neuron diameters persisting at six months. Both periods of undernutrition affected noradrenaline levels permanently: seven days undernutrition producing a rise and fourteen days producing a depression. These changes demonstrate the permanent effects of maternal undernutrition on the development and maturation of prevertebral sympathetic neurons.

Animals↗