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Biomedical subjects

G M Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to G M Robinson.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Wellington coroner autopsy cases 1970-89: acute deaths due to drugs, alcohol and poisons.

Coronal autopsy reports attributing deaths to drugs or poisonings were examined for the period 1970-89. There were 239 deaths of which 69% were suicide, 23% were accidental, 4% therapeutic misadventure, and 4% of uncertain category. 10.4% of deaths were due solely to alcohol and alcohol was found in another 13% of deaths from other drugs and poisons [corrected]. Twenty-seven percent of deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Five percent of deaths were due to poisons. Prescription drugs were the cause of deaths in 54% with the principle drug classes being opioids (14%), tricyclic antidepressants (12%), barbiturates (11%), hypnosedatives (8%). Prescribers need to be aware of the interactions of such drugs with alcohol, and to consider safer alternative drugs for those at risk of overdose or drug misuse.

Accidents↗
PubMed1992

Transition from the hospital to the community: small group program.

1. Clients in a psychiatric hospital often experience loss of control over their lives and dissatisfaction with their quality of living. A small group rehabilitation program can counteract the effects of institutionalization and restore a sense of mastery to chronic psychiatric clients. 2. The therapeutic nurse-client relationship provides consistency and stability for clients who must cope with the stress of the mental health system and the transition to a community setting. 3. The program strives to restore individuals' self-confidence and dignity, improve their quality of life, and decrease the frequency and length of hospitalization.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

A combination of raised serum AST:ALT ratio and erythrocyte mean cell volume level detects excessive alcohol consumption.

The usefulness of the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST): serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio as a guide to the presence of alcoholism was evaluated in four groups of patients. In alcoholics with elevated transaminases the mean AST:ALT ratio was found to be 1.50 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49-1.51), in hepatitis B infection 0.51 (95% CI: 0.50-0.52), in liver cancer 1.25 (95% CI: 1.20-1.29), and in nonmalignant obstructive jaundice 0.59 (95% CI: 0.57-0.61). In alcoholics with normal transaminases the AST:ALT ratio was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.61-1.67). The combination of an AST:ALT ratio of greater than 1.00 with an erythrocyte mean cell volume (MCV) above 90.0 fL resulted in a sensitivity of 97.3% and a specificity of 88.9% for detecting alcoholism in these four groups of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Experimental model of hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis caused by diversion of abomasal outflow in sheep.

Hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis accompanied by hypokalemia and hyponatremia was induced experimentally in 7 adult sheep by diversion (loss) of gastric contents through an Ivan and Johnston cannula placed in the cranial part of the duodenum just distal to the pylorus. Cannula placement was easily accomplished, and cannulae were tolerated well by the sheep. Volume of effluent produced during the 60- to 120-hour period of diversion ranged from 7.7 to 14.9 L and tended to be greatest during the first 24 hours. All sheep became dehydrated, with mean PCV and plasma total protein concentration increases of 94.2 and 61.7%, respectively. Plasma chloride concentration decreased in linear fashion from a prediversion mean of 113 mEq/L (range, 111 to 117 mEq/L) to an end-point mean of 54 mEq/L (range, 45 to 65 mEq/L). Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations also decreased, though potassium concentration increased terminally. There were rapid increases in arterial blood pH and bicarbonate and base excess concentrations during the first 48 hours after diversion. However, during the final stages of diversion, sheep developed superimposed metabolic acidosis with increased plasma lactate concentration and high anion gap.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1989

The Wellington Hospital smoking cessation clinic.

We evaluated a hospital based stop smoking programme which includes an initial assessment followed by six once-weekly group meetings. Optional use of nicotine-containing chewing gum was chosen by 50% of subjects. The subject's abstinence was validated by personal interviews and measurement of blood thiocyanate and/or expired breath carbon monoxide levels. Ten intakes totalling 195 subjects have been followed for one year. Abstinence rates at the end of the six week course varied from 40% to 75% with a mean of 56%. At three months intakes had abstinence rates of 18% to 63% with a mean of 40%. At six months rates varied from 14% to 53% with a mean of 36% and at twelve months 5% to 47% with a mean of 32% were abstinent. Twenty-nine percent of those who elected to use Nicorette were abstinent at one year.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Is clonidine useful in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal?

The comparative efficacy of clonidine and chlormethiazole has been examined in the management of acute alcohol withdrawal. A double blind randomized study was conducted in consecutive patients admitted to a hospital detoxification unit. Patients were assessed regularly by a standard alcohol withdrawal rating-scale. Thirty-two patients received either clonidine or chlormethiazole in reducing dosages over 96 hr. All the patients receiving chlormethiazole had uneventful withdrawals. However, eight patients treated with clonidine were withdrawn from the trial due to hallucinations (two), seizures (two), symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (three) or drowsiness (one), indicating that clonidine is less effective than chlormethiazole in the prevention of the major manifestations of alcohol withdrawal.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Induction of equine postanesthetic myositis after halothane-induced hypotension.

Wick catheters were used to measure intracompartmental pressures of the extensor carpi radialis muscles and long heads of the triceps brachii muscles of 7 horses maintained under halothane anesthesia during controlled ventilation. Horses were positioned in left lateral recumbency on a water bed for 4 hours. Using a crossover design, 6 of the 7 horses were subjected to normotensive and hypotensive anesthesia on separate occasions. Hypotension was achieved by increasing the inspired halothane concentration. Hematologic and biochemical measurements were determined at designated intervals before, during, and for 7 days after each anesthetic episode. Under hypotensive conditions, 2 horses developed severe generalized myositis and were euthanatized. Three of the 5 other horses developed swelling of the downside masseter muscle, 4 demonstrated mild extensor deficits of the downside forelimb, and 1 had a severe extensor deficit of the uppermost hind limb. As a group, the hypotensive horses had markedly increased activities of serum enzymes (creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, and blood lactate) and abnormalities in calcium-phosphorus homeostasis. Lameness or enzyme alterations were not observed in normotensive horses. Although the intracompartmental pressure values were markedly increased in the muscle bellies of the compressed limbs of all horses, there was a statistically significant difference in intracompartmental pressures between the downside or compressed muscle compartments of the extensor carpi radialis of hypotensive and normotensive horses. High concentrations of halothane may predispose anesthetized horses to postanesthetic myositis, even when protective padding is used. Intracompartmental muscle pressure, as measured by the wick catheter, may not be a reliable predictor of equine postanesthetic lameness.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1987

AIDS--risk behaviours and AIDS knowledge in intravenous drug users.

Surveys of intravenous drug users were undertaken in July 1985 and one year later to assess behaviours which could result in risk of HIV infection and transmission. Ready availability of sterile syringes was reported by 48% in 1986 and 63% in 1985. Sharing of syringes amongst intravenous drug users is a common practice. In 1986, 22% of subjects reported no sharing of syringes, 16% sharing with one and 62% with between 2 and 20 others. There was a significant trend towards less sharing, and improved sterilisation of syringes in 1986. Nearly all subjects were aware of the risks of HIV transmission via shared syringes. In 1985, 19% of subjects reported adopting safer-sex practices compared with 28% in 1986. A history of prostitution was reported by 50% of women. All subjects were aware intravenous drug users had been asked not to donate blood, and none reported having done so within five years. All the subjects tested for HIV antibody were negative.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Smoking cessation.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Family Practice↗
PubMed1978

A delayed induced-motion illusion.

We report a striking visual illusion which involves an induced motion that is delayed in time. An observer visually tracks a moving target in the neightborhood of a fixed target. The fixed target appears to be entrained by the moving target and appears to follow its movements after a lag of 0.33 second. A series of experiments showed that while the illusion depends on low background salience it obtains with both smooth and oscillatory motion in all directions including depth, under monocular and binocular viewing, in the absence of vestibular and kinesthetic motion cues or eye movements, and under a wide range of relative and absolute target luminance and position. The strength of the illusion and the magnitude of the induced movement's delay seem not to depend on any of the above factors. The illusion, by resisting a peripheral explanation, may provide some clues to central perceptual processing. In addition, we suggest the possibility that errors of judgment based on the nonveridical perception of motion displaced in time may play a role in nighttime automobile and aircraft accidents.

Eye Movements↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knot security of suture materials.

The knot security of chromic gut, polyglycolic acid, polyglactin 910, polydioxanone, polypropylene, and monofilament nylon size 2-0 suture materials were tested biomechanically in vitro. Twenty reproducible knots were tied and incubated in canine serum at 37 degrees for 24 hours before testing. A "secure knot" was defined as a knot that, when tested to failure, broke rather than untied by slippage. The minimum number of throws necessary to make a secure, snug (1500 g tension) square knot was three for gut, polyglycolic acid, polyglactin 910, and polypropylene and four for polydioxanone and nylon. All throws including the first were counted. With all suture materials tested, surgeon's knots were as secure as square knots. Only gut, polyglycolic acid, and polydioxanone granny knots were as secure as square knots; no loosely tied (500 g tension) asymmetric square knots were as secure as snug square knots, and only polydioxanone and polypropylene loose square knots were as secure as snug square knots. Square knots used to start a continuous pattern required one additional throw with gut, polydioxanone, and nylon. Square knots used to end a continuous pattern required two to three additional throws with all materials tested.

Catgut↗