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Biomedical subjects

H S Schoeman

Publications and source records attributed to H S Schoeman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Effects of triamcinolone on quality of life in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of triamcinolone acetonide on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adult patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: This study was conducted in South Africa as a placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. Following a 7-day baseline run-in, patients were treated for 28 days with either triamcinolone or placebo. Interviewer-assisted quality-of-life assessments were conducted using the Juniper Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Total symptom scores, including nasal congestion, were measured using daily diary cards. RESULTS: A total of 337 patients were recruited and 253 patients completed the study per protocol, of which 55 had seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and 198 had persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR). Improvements in the mean scores per area of the RQLQ were significantly better with triamcinolone compared with placebo for the entire study group for activities (P = .04 at visit 4) and sleep, nasal symptoms, emotional problems, and overall score (P = .002, P = .04, P = .03, and P = .04, respectively, at visit 3). When the patients with SAR were separated from the patients with PAR in the analysis, improvement with triamcinolone was better than placebo only in the PAR patients. The overall investigator and patient assessments of relief favored triamcinolone. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone given for 4 weeks improves symptom scores and HRQL in patients with allergic rhinitis. The ability of triamcinolone to relieve nasal congestion symptoms in PAR patients was correlated with improvements in HRQL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Out-of-season breeding of milk goats--the effect of light treatment, melatonin and breed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectivity of melatonin in addition to light treatment (exposure to 2 hours of light during the night = a long-day photoperiod) to modify the breeding season of Saanen and cross-bred milk goats and to compare the difference between the breeds. Twenty-two Saanen and 22 cross-bred does were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups. Group 1 (controls) received no treatment, Group 2 received light treatment for 37 days and Group 3 received light treatment plus melatonin implants after the light treatment. After a further 35 days the 3 groups were brought together and a billy goat that had also been exposed to the extra light at night, had received a melatonin implant and had been isolated from the does during the treatment period, was introduced to the does for natural mating. Ultrasound scanning was used to diagnose pregnancy and all the pregnant goats kidded. Significantly more Saanen does compared to cross-bred does (P = 0.018) became pregnant and kidded after natural mating, when the group that received melatonin as well as light treatment was compared to the group that received light treatment only. Compared to light treatment only, the addition of melatonin to light treatment improved (P = 0.0028) conception after natural mating, in both the Saanen and the cross-bred does.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A survey of animal welfare needs in Soweto.

The diagnostic phase of an interactive research evaluation model was used in the investigation of the animal welfare needs of a low-income urban community in South Africa. Data were gathered by means of a structured interview and direct observations by animal welfare officers. During the survey of 871 animal owners in Soweto, it was found that dogs were owned by 778 households and cats by 88 households. The dog to human ratio was estimated at 1:12.4. Respondents were asked whether they enjoyed owning animals and 96.1% said that they did. Only 26.3% mentioned that they had problems with their own animals and 16.6% had problems with other people's animals. Treatment of sick animals (29.7%) was seen as a priority. However, less than 1% (n = 6) used the services of private veterinarians. Others took their animals to welfare organisations or did not have them treated. Perceptions of affordable costs of veterinary treatments were also recorded. In addition to treatment, respondents indicated a need for vaccination (22.5%), sterilisation (16.5%), control of internal (3.7%) and external (8.8%) parasites, education and extension (6.6%), prevention of cruelty to animals (3.2%) and expansion of veterinary clinics to other parts of Soweto (1.3%).

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1996

Ototoxicity of aminoglycoside drugs in tuberculosis treatment.

The possible ototoxic effect of kanamycin, streptomycin and a standard anti-TB drug combination, used in the treatment of 92 TB patients (7-71 years old), was examined by measuring the highest audible electric bone conduction frequency before and after treatment, using an Audimax 500 audiometer. At the so-called "safe" levels of drug administration it was found that kanamycin was markedly ototoxic, streptomycin very slightly ototoxic and the standard anti-TB drug combination had practically no ototoxic effect. Furthermore, it was found that none of these drugs were gender specific. Lastly, the possible effects of ageing on highest audible bone conduction frequency is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Shear bond strength of a composite resin to differently silicoated base metal alloys.

This study was undertaken to determine the shear bond strength of Charisma composite resin to both thermal and pyrogenic silicoated base metal alloys namely, Duracast MS, Rexillium V and Wironit extra-hard. The bonded specimens were subjected to three stress treatments prior to shear bond testing. The results indicated that both silicoating techniques significantly improved shear bond strengths to sandblasted alloys, whereas wet heat and thermocycling treatments reduced the bond strengths, except for pyrogenic silicoated Wironit. Thermocycling was more detrimental to thermal than to pyrogenic silicoated Rexillium nad Wironit specimens.

Composite Resins↗
PubMed1995

A comparison of the metabolic effects of captopril and atenolol on glucose, insulin and lipoproteins in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

The metabolic effects of captopril 25 mg twice daily and atenolol 50 mg daily on glucose, insulin and lipids were compared in 83 otherwise healthy mild-to-moderate hypertensive between the ages of 25 and 60 years in a randomised double-blind trial. Hourly glucose and insulin levels were measured during a 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Lipid profiles including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL2, HDL3, triglycerides, apoprotein (Apo)A1, ApoB, and Apo(a) were obtained before and after the treatment period. Blood pressure decreased significantly and equivalently in both treatment groups. The glucose and insulin levels and glucose x insulin product at 2 hours after the glucose load increased after 12 weeks of treatment with atenolol compared with the baseline values, but these parameters all decreased after the treatment period with captopril compared with their baseline values. These results indicate an improvement in insulin sensitivity with captopril and a deterioration with atenolol. HDL-cholesterol and HDL3 decreased in the atenolol group but increased in the captopril group. We conclude that captopril has more favourable effects than atenolol on glucose, insulin and lipid metabolism in the treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1995

Tentative age-related norms for high frequency electric bone conduction audiometry.

From 172 male and female patients aged 7-71 years old and admitted in one month to a tuberculosis hospital, 150 had their highest audible electric bone conduction (EBC) frequency evaluated, prior to the commencement of any medical treatment. Various problems in establishing high frequency norms are discussed and from the results of this study tentative age-related highest frequency EBC norms are suggested. Possible clinical applications of evaluating the highest audible EBC frequency is suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Pilot trial to determine the efficacy of a low dose of fish oil in the treatment of angina pectoris in the geriatric patient.

23 geriatric patients completed a single-blind placebo controlled, crossover trial using fish oil as adjunctive therapy for stable angina pectoris. The results indicated a significant reduction in the number of anginal attacks, as well as a significant reduction in the consumption of sublingual isosorbide dinitrate tablets. A possible prolonged carry over effect of fish oil was noted after crossover from the active substance to placebo.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Zocor, the postmarketing experience.

The aim of this study was to develop and test a descriptive, intensive drug surveillance methodology in order to examine the effectiveness and safety of new drugs in the immediate postmarketing period. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, simvastatin (Zocor), was chosen as the test drug. Data were collected from 100 randomly chosen cardiologists, specialist physicians and general practitioners practising in the six main centres of South Africa. A 66% doctor response rate was achieved and 438 patients were enrolled in the study. The overall effectiveness expressed as a percentage decrease (from baseline) in total cholesterol levels was 20.5% for the 251 patients who started on a 10 mg daily dose of the drug and 27.6% for the 42 patients who started on 10 mg but changed to 20 mg/d. The safety profile of simvastatin was comparable with the premarketing clinical trial data, and patient non-compliance appeared to be dose-related. The methodology employed was found to be suitable for the collection of safety and effectiveness data in the postmarketing period and simvastatin was shown to be effective with few adverse events reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The effect of autonomic blockers on heart rate: a comparison between two ethnic groups.

The influence of autonomic blockers on the heart rate of ten Bushmen and eight White volunteers was studied. There were significant differences in heart rate response to atropine alone between the White's and Bushmen. However, after prior beta-adrenoceptor blockade, these differences were no longer significant. It is postulated that a varying pharmacogenetic sensitivity to autonomic blockers may result from inequality of vagal or sympathetic tone.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1989

The value of magnetic resonance imaging in the staging of musculoskeletal tumours.

In view of the changes that are occurring in the management of musculoskeletal tumours and the importance of precise pre-operative staging, a study to determine the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a modality for this purpose was undertaken. Sixty-four patients were examined and 70 MRI examinations were carried out. Fifteen cases were found to be benign and 49 malignant. As a result of the accuracy of these MRI examinations and their remarkable similarity with the pathological specimens, which was shown to be statistically significant (P less than 0,005), we propose a modification to the sequence of the diagnostic staging modalities for musculoskeletal tumours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Double-blind study comparing indoramin and propranolol in the treatment of black patients with hypertension.

A 20-week double-blind randomised study of 50 black hypertensive patients was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of indoramin (Baratol; Wyeth/Ayerst) and propranolol in patients who did not respond to diuretic therapy alone. Indoramin (initial dose 50 mg/d) or propranolol (initial dose 80 mg/d) was added to the regimen of patients whose supine diastolic blood pressure (SDBP) remained elevated at 100- 200 mmHg after 2 weeks' treatment with a combination diuretic tablet (hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg plus amiloride HCl 5 mg). Supine systolic blood pressure (SSBP) and SDBP of all patients was successfully controlled (SDBP lowered to less than 95 mmHg) by daily doses that did not exceed 100 mg of indoramin or 160 mg of propranolol; over 90% of patients in each group achieved control with lower doses, i.e. 50-75 mg of indoramin or 80-120 mg of propranolol. Although heart rate decreased from baseline values by approximately 9/min with both agents, the decreases were not significantly different between the treatment groups, and neither agent caused orthostatic hypotension. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the types or frequency of side-effects. Indoramin is well tolerated and is as effective as propranolol in black patients with essential hypertension who are not controlled by a thiazide diuretic alone.

Adult↗