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L Teare

Publications and source records attributed to L Teare.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Cannabis for dyskinesia in Parkinson disease: a randomized double-blind crossover study.

BACKGROUND: The long-term treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) may be complicated by the development of levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Clinical and animal model data support the view that modulation of cannabinoid function may exert an antidyskinetic effect. The authors conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial to examine the hypothesis that cannabis may have a beneficial effect on dyskinesia in PD. METHODS: A 4-week dose escalation study was performed to assess the safety and tolerability of cannabis in six PD patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Then a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study (RCT) was performed, in which 19 PD patients were randomized to receive oral cannabis extract followed by placebo or vice versa. Each treatment phase lasted for 4 weeks with an intervening 2-week washout phase. The primary outcome measure was a change in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (items 32 to 34) dyskinesia score. Secondary outcome measures included the Rush scale, Bain scale, tablet arm drawing task, and total UPDRS score following a levodopa challenge, as well as patient-completed measures of a dyskinesia activities of daily living (ADL) scale, the PDQ-39, on-off diaries, and a range of category rating scales. RESULTS: Seventeen patients completed the RCT. Cannabis was well tolerated, and had no pro- or antiparkinsonian action. There was no evidence for a treatment effect on levodopa-induced dyskinesia as assessed by the UPDRS, or any of the secondary outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Orally administered cannabis extract resulted in no objective or subjective improvement in dyskinesias or parkinsonism.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Stroke in Devon: knowledge was good, but action was poor.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Effective implementation of early treatment strategies for stroke requires prompt admission to hospital. There are several reasons for delayed admission. Good awareness should facilitate early admission. We identified local targets for education. METHODS: Four groups, each of 40 people, completed questionnaires to determine their knowledge of stroke symptoms and risk factors, and the action they took or would take in the event of a stroke. The groups were: patients with a diagnosis of stroke or TIA (within 48 hrs of admission); patients at risk of stroke; the general population; and nurses. RESULTS: Forty per cent of stroke patients identified their stroke. Median time from onset of symptoms to seeking medical help was 30 minutes. Medical help was sought by the patient themselves in only 15% of cases. In 80% of cases the GP was called rather than an ambulance. Of the at risk group, 93% were able to list at least one symptom of acute stroke, as were 88% of the general population. An ambulance would be called by 73% of the at risk group in the event of a stroke. Patients with self reported risk factors for stroke were largely unaware of their increased risk. Only 7.5% of at risk patients acquired their stroke information from the medical profession. CONCLUSIONS: Public knowledge about stroke is good. However, stroke patients access acute services poorly. At risk patients have limited awareness of their increased risk. A campaign should target people at risk, reinforcing the diagnosis of stroke and access to medical services.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

The use of linezolid in the treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal septicaemia in two patients with burn injuries.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are multi-resistant micro-organisms that have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens during the last decade. Emergence of this organism has been blamed mainly on the increased and inappropriate use of antibiotics, in particular, the cephalosporins and the glycopeptide, vancomycin. Burns patients are highly vulnerable to acquiring VRE infections, being both debilitated and immunocompromised, and often receiving antibiotics that further diminish their intrinsic microbial flora. We report on two patients with large burn injuries who acquired vancomycin-resistant enterococcal septicaemia during their in-patient stay. Both patients were successfully treated using the antibiotic, linezolid. Linezolid is the first in a new class of antibiotics known as the oxazolidinones whose mode of action inhibits early bacterial protein synthesis. Linezolid has a spectrum of activity against Gram-positive micro-organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and VRE, and can provide a useful treatment alternative to the glycopeptides.

Acetamides↗
PubMed2001

Hand hygiene.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed2000

Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in residents and staff at a residential home for elderly people following a case of invasive disease.

A study of the carriage of Neisseria meningitidis among staff and residents of a 'closed community' (a residential home for elderly people) was conducted after a resident developed invasive meningococcal disease. All 39 other residents and 49 staff who worked at the home during the previous seven days were offered a throat swab and 38 residents and 49 staff consented. Two residents (none in the index case's social group) and one staff member were found to be carrying N. meningitidis, all phenotypically distinct from the infecting isolate. Thus, all four individuals carried different organisms and the index case was sporadic. Our findings suggest that residents or staff in long stay residential settings where a sporadic case occurs need not be offered meningococcal prophylaxis unless they fulfil the existing definition of 'close personal contacts' of the case.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Neutralising antibody responses to two doses of measles vaccine at 5 and 13 months of age in the United Kingdom.

Fifty-three children born in the United Kingdom between April 1993 and July 1994 were given two doses of measles vaccine, at 5 and 13 months of age, and their neutralising antibody reports were studied to assess the feasibility of protecting infants (aged 1 to 11 months) in the event of an outbreak or who were due to travel abroad. Sixteen infants responded at 5 months, an additional 35 responded at 13 months and two did not respond. The responses were inversely related to the levels of maternal antibodies (p < 0.0001). Infants who responded at 5 months also produced higher responses at 13 months than those who did not respond initially (p = 0.0001). No serious side effects were encountered. These data suggest that measles vaccine protects 30% of infants at 5 months and that a second dose at 13 months results in almost universal seroconversion.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Outcome of referrals to a district immunisation advisory clinic.

We have studied referrals to and outcomes of consultation at a district immunisation advisory clinic, aiming to examine and confirm the rarity of true contraindications, the safety of immunising children with possible contraindications, and the influence on parents of counselling by well informed professionals. We examined medical records and postal questionnaires to parents, representing 30 months' work. Three hundred and fifty-eight children were referred to the clinic, 248 of whom were seen and 110 (31%) did not attend. Fourteen children who attended (6%) had a true contraindication to the vaccine(s) in question and 202 of the remaining 234 (86%) proceeded to vaccination with no adverse effect. Forty of the 110 (36%) who were referred but did not attend were vaccinated, and no adverse effects were reported, but the immunisation rate of this group was significantly lower than that seen in the clinic (chi 2 test, p < 0.001). True contraindications to childhood immunisation were rare, and children with difficult problems were safely vaccinated. The immunisation advisory clinic is effective in counselling parents who are uncertain about childhood immunisation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

False contraindications to childhood immunization.

An immunization advisory clinic was set up in mid-Essex in 1988 to provide a referral facility for professionals and parents who were unsure about the eligibility of certain children to receive immunization. This paper describes four typical cases. The history and management of each case are described and the fact that all the children were successfully immunized is highlighted. It is hoped that by sharing the experiences of the immunization advisory clinic with other professional staff, more positive decisions regarding immunizations will be made.

Child, Preschool↗