Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I L Thomas.
Fossil fuels currently supply most of the world's energy needs, and however unacceptable their long-term consequences, the supplies are likely to remain adequate for the next few generations. Scientists and policy makers must make use of this period of grace to assess alternative sources of energy and determine what is scientifically possible, environmentally acceptable and technologically promising.
We report the results of a controlled, randomized, prospective, 'double blind' evaluation of the effect of danazol treatment in 120 patients after hysteroscopic endometrial resection. After endometrial resection, the women were allocated to 1 of 3 groups: Group A- placebo; Group B - high-dose danazol (600 mg daily); Group C - low-dose danazol (200 mg daily) plus placebo tablets. Tablets were specifically manufactured for the study, were identical in appearance, and were supplied in individual prepackaged boxes. The duration of treatment was 3 months and patients' compliance was noted. Amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea and premenstrual tension symptoms were assessed for each group by 1 or 2 independent gynaecologists at follow-up intervals of 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. A statistically-significant increased rate of amenorrhoea was found in patients who received treatment with the higher-dose danazol (600 mg day) following endometrial resection. While not statistically significant, the same trend was noted with the low-dose danazol. This result should influence our clinical management of women with menorrhagia, and the long-term results on the same cohort of patients are awaited with interest.
Between February, 1988, and January, 1991, 222 women with histologically proven cervical wart virus infection without dysplasia were randomized to be managed by 1 of 4 protocols. Group 1 acted as control, Group 2 were asked to use condoms for 6 months, Group 3 underwent local ablative therapy and Group 4 were asked to use condoms after ablative therapy. Assessment at 2 and 3 years of follow-up showed no statistically significant superiority for treatment over observation. Defaulters from follow-up were over 50% by the completion of the study.
Postpartum haemorrhoids are a common problem, for which the recently marketed cooling device, Anurex (Roussel Uclaf Australia, Pennant Hills, NSW), was evaluated in 129 women randomly allocated to treatment and control groups. There was no difference in the rate of resolution of pain between the groups. The test group estimated a greater duration of pain relief, but this was not statistically significant. Anal bleeding and itching were not significantly reduced in the test group. There was no difference between discomfort scores related to application of the device in the groups, but a significant number in the test group encountered difficulty in insertion of the device. It is concluded that the introduction of the Anurex device as a standard method of treatment of postpartum haemorrhoids is not justified.
A series of 1,908 women delivering vaginally, and actively managed in stage 3 of labour, were randomly assigned to 2 groups to study if cord drainage of placental blood facilitated delivery of the placenta. Prophylactic oxytocics were given with the birth of the anterior shoulder. In both groups, early cord clamping was practised, timing being at the midwives' discretion. In the control group the cord remained clamped; in the drainage group the cord was unclamped and the volume of placental blood measured. Controlled cord traction completed active management at evidence of separation/descent of the placenta. Rates for retained placenta, postpartum haemorrhage and transfusion were similar. It was concluded that when the third stage of labour is actively managed, placental drainage of cord blood confers no extra benefits. Pre- and post-delivery Kleihauer tests were performed on blood from 20 women in each group. All tests were negative. Contrary to previous work, this does not suggest that cord drainage reduces the fetomaternal transfusion rate. The well known association of prolonged duration of stage 3 of labour and the risk of haemorrhage was strongly confirmed.
Over a 2-year study period 5,858 public antenatal patients were screened with the Welcome hepatitis B surface antigen HA screening kit; 52 (0.89%) were positive (carriers) and 45 (87%) of these were identifiable as high risk patients and would have been diagnosed by selective screening; the remaining 7 (13%) would have been missed. Using a subsample of 1,000 women, it was found that high risk factors were present in 237 (23.7%). Restriction of screening to the high risk group cost an estimated $97 per carrier identified; universal screening cost $354 to identify each carrier. Screening only the high risk group would have missed the 7 carriers in the low risk group, which was estimated to number 4,470 patients (76.3% of the total). Estimated cost of screening the low risk group was $14,036, or $2,005 per carrier identified. The advent of highly effective vaccines enables the almost complete prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B. In mid-1988, vaccine costs in terms of hepatitis B prevention per baby were estimated to be $2,432 for vaccination of babies born to mothers in the high risk group, irrespective of maternal serology; and $9,729 for universal vaccination. Carrier rates vary between populations. For our clinic patients, universal screening and vaccination of all babies of high risk group mothers are considered appropriate. Selective screening may be more appropriate in a low risk private practice.
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The effect of a wedge-shaped pillow (Ozzlo pillow) was compared with a standard hospital pillow, used to support the abdomen of a pregnant woman while lying on her side, in preventing or alleviating backache and backache-related insomnia; 92 women at 36 weeks' gestation completed the study. Backache was found to be very common (87%), the onset of pain occurring before 29 weeks in 59%. Age, parity, previous backache and type of bed used did not correlate with the backache scores during the period of study. Lower scores for backache were recorded by women in the week they used the Ozzlo pillow compared with the week they used the standard pillow. Sleeping was deemed better by the patient with the Ozzlo pillow, though actual sleeping scores did not corroborate this. While significantly more felt the Ozzlo pillow was superior to a standard pillow for backache and sleeping, some found both methods helpful. The simple measure of supporting the abdomen with a pillow when in lateral recumbency is likely to benefit many women in late pregnancy. A wedge-shaped pillow of the Ozzlo type, conforming to the shape of the abdomen and supporting it more closely, may be of greater help than a standard cushion or pillow.
The effectiveness of transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain relief in labour was evaluated by randomizing 280 patients in early labour into 2 groups. Inoperative sham machines were applied to patients in the control group and active units to those in the test group. Neither patients nor attending labour ward staff were aware of which group the patient was in. The intensity of low back pain and abdominal pain was assessed by the patient each hour on a visual analogue pain scale. Each patient served as her own control by switching off the machine for 2 contractions every hour and then recording the intensity of pain. The amount of conventional analgesia each patient received was recorded by labour ward staff. There was no difference in the intensity of pain recorded by each group. Nor was there any difference between the 2 groups in the change of pain experienced when the machine was switched off. Moreover there was no difference in the amount of other analgesia required. Some differences were found when those with little low back pain were excluded from the study. We conclude that TENS is ineffective as a routine method of pain relief in labour. It is likely to benefit only those with severe back pain and then only to a modest degree.
Ripening of the unfavourable cervix prior to induction of labour using traction on a Foley catheter (32 patients) was compared with 40 mg of prostaglandin F2 alpha in Tylose gel applied to the external cervical os and held in place for 12 hours with a vaginal diaphragm (25 patients). Each patient in the above groups had a modified Bishop score of 0-3 and was randomly allocated to one or other group. Comparison was made with a further 25 patients in whom the cervical score was 4-6. Timing of amniotomy and commencement of Syntocinon infusion were equivalent for all patients. Prostaglandins conferred no advantage over Foley catheter in terms of amniotomy-delivery interval, operative delivery rate, and condition of the baby one minute after birth. The disadvantages of prostaglandins for cervical ripening are a longer preparation-delivery interval, and cost ($77 versus $4.75 for the Foley catheter). Currently, prostaglandins are not officially approved for use in Australia for induction of labour. It is suggested, therefore, that the Foley catheter is preferable for ripening the unfavourable cervix as a prelude to amniotomy.
Four selenium-labeled free bile acids and four selenium-labeled conjugated bile acids, labeled with Se-75 at the C-19, C-22, C-23, or C-24 position, have been synthesized and their absorption and excretion compared with that of [24-14C]cholic acid, following both oral and intravenous administration. All but one of the compounds is absorbed and excreted in bile to a significant extent. One compound, SeHCAT, has been selected for particular study. It is quantitatively absorbed from the gut at the same rate as cholic acid, and both are excreted into the bile at the same rate. It remains almost entirely confined to the enterohepatic circulation (the gut, liver, and biliary tree) and excretion is exclusively fecal. Whole-body retention, measured for 41 days, and tissue distributions suggest that the absorbed radiation dose would be small compared with that in many established tests. Such a compound offers the possibility of a simple, novel, and aesthetically acceptable method of investigating small-bowel disease. It therefore merits further investigation.
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Mg ions alleviate the inhibitory effect of vancomycin on Escherichia coli. This is not due to the formation of an antibacterial-inactive complex. It is suggested that vancomycin and Mg compete for a receptor site, or sites, on (or in) the bacterial cell.