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Biomedical subjects

J A Corless

Publications and source records attributed to J A Corless.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

A world-wide internet survey of public knowledge about tuberculosis.

Four simple multiple-choice questions about tuberculosis (TB) were posted on a non-medical internet site for a 2-month period. A total of 564 responses were received. Sixty-two were excluded as individuals had made multiple attempts at the questions. Sixty-five per cent of responses were from North America, 14.5% from Europe and 12% from Australia and New Zealand, with only a small number of responses from Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South America. Of the respondents 49.5% correctly answered that cough is the commonest symptom of TB, 45% knew that TB was transmitted mainly by air-borne droplets, 37.8% knew that TB was caused by a bacterium. Only 19.5% knew that the most important risk factor for developing TB was HIV infection and only 4% answered all questions correctly. This survey suggests that knowledge about tuberculosis is limited in computer-literate individuals throughout the world.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The use of leukotriene modifying drugs in asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Only rarely in modern medicine is an entirely new class of drug developed. Recently, a number of drugs that act as leukotriene modifiers (LTM's) have been licensed for use in the treatment of asthma. Airway obstruction in asthma has two key components--bronchoconstriction of airway smooth muscle and airway inflammation. Although a number of mediators are involved in this process, it has been demonstrated that leukotrienes can precipitate both. Leukotrienes are formed in eosinophils, mast cells and neutrophils. LTM's have been shown to attenuate bronchial hyper-reactivity and reduce chemotaxis of inflammatory cells in the asthmatic airway. This article reviews the data from clinical trials of LTM's, discusses their role in asthma therapy and postulates on use in other common respiratory diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces in a young woman with anorexia nervosa.

UNLABELLED: An eighteen year-old woman with anorexia nervosa was admitted to hospital with acute dyspnea. There was no history of trauma to the chest and the patient denied any vomiting. METHOD: A chest radiograph was taken which showed bilateral pneumothoraces with complete collapse of both lungs. RESULTS: Following insertion of bilateral chest drains the patient made a complete recovery, later having bilateral pleurectomies performed to prevent recurrence. DISCUSSION: We discuss the evidence suggesting that the state of malnutrition that results from anorexia nervosa may in fact predispose patients to the development of pneumothoraces.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Leukotriene receptor antagonists for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Leukotriene receptor antagonists are a new class of drug that were initially identified for use in asthma. As they have an effect on neutrophil mediated inflammation, they may be of benefit in bronchiectasis. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether leukotriene receptor antagonists have any additive benefit over and above conventional treatment for bronchiectasis (usually consisting of antibiotics and postural drainage). SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Airways Group clinical trials register derived from MEDLINE, EMBASE and hand searching of major journals was searched using the terms:Bronchiec* AND leukotrien* OR anti-leuk* OR cysteinyl, Bronchiec* AND monteluk*, Bronchiec* AND zafirluk* SELECTION CRITERIA: Only randomised, controlled trials were considered DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The results of searches were analysed by both authors MAIN RESULTS: No randomised, controlled trials were identified REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Further research is required to establish any benefit from the use of leukotriene antagonists in bronchiectasis.

Acetates↗
PubMed2000

Surgery vs non-surgical treatment for bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment for bronchiectasis comprises postural drainage and various regimes of antibiotic therapy. If the disease is confined to localised areas of lung, surgical resection of the affected segments is often performed. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefit of surgical resection compared with standard ("conservative") treatment. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Airways Group trials register derived from MEDLINE, EMBASE and hand searching of major journals was searched using the terms [bronchiect* AND surg* OR resection OR lobect* OR pneumonect* OR segementect*]. SELECTION CRITERIA: Only randomised, controlled trials were considered DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The titles, abstracts and citations were independently reviewed by the two reviewers to assess potential relevance for full review. STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS Not applicable MAIN RESULTS: No randomised or controlled clinical trials were found, other than case series or case-controlled studies. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of bronchiectasis is widely used, but there appear to be no randomised controlled trials. It is not possible to provide an unbiased estimate of its benefit compared to conservative therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Mycobacterial culture results of smear-positive patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis in Liverpool.

The aim of this study was to assess the final mycobacterial culture results of patients with smear-positive sputum or bronchial washings and to investigate the efficiency of local tuberculosis (TB) contact-tracing. Retrospective analysis of mycobacterial cultures and contact-tracing was performed in every patient with smear-positive sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in two Liverpool teaching hospitals (1996-1998). Of these patients 116 with smear-positive sputum or BAL were identified. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) was cultured in 57 (49%), environmental mycobacteria in 37 (32%) and cultures were negative in 22 (19%) of the patients. Contact-tracing information was available in 107 of the 116 (92%) patients. A total number of 1,357 contacts were screened for possible tuberculosis. Of these, 420 (31%) were contacts of patients who cultured environmental organisms or had negative cultures. In this study, 51% of smear-positive patients in Liverpool did not have tuberculosis. Inefficiencies in current contact-tracing procedures have been identified which result from screening contacts of index cases that are subsequently found not to have cultured Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The authors believe that there are clear grounds for using rapid tests to identify and type mycobacteria more quickly than current solid or liquid media methods. It is also suggested that regional variations in the frequency of infection with environmental mycobacteria should be considered when formulating tuberculosis contact-tracing procedures.

Adolescent↗