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Biomedical subjects

M J Finnegan

Publications and source records attributed to M J Finnegan.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Comparison of nebulized and intravenous terbutaline during exacerbations of pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Twenty three patients completed a double-blind study, comparing intravenous and nebulized terbutaline, during the first four days of a pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis (CF), with follow-up to day 10. Routine treatment with chest physiotherapy and appropriate intravenous antibiotics was given to all patients. The best peak flow rate (PF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), in the past year and at entry to the study, revealed no significant difference between the groups. However, on day 10, PF, FEV1 and FVC, of the nebulizer group remained significantly reduced compared to best values in the previous year, whereas the PF and FEV1 in the intravenous group were not significantly reduced compared to the best values in the previous year. Comparison of regression lines showing the overall rate of improvement of PF, FEV1 and FVC between the two groups showed that the rate of improvement of each parameter was more rapid in the group receiving intravenous terbutaline. This was statistically significant for PF. It is possible that during acute exacerbations of infection, sputum retention makes it more difficult for the inhaled bronchodilators to reach the airways and intravenous therapy is, therefore, more beneficial.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1991

The effect of smoking on the development of allergic disease and specific immunological responses in a factory workforce exposed to humidifier contaminants.

The effects of smoking on the development of work related asthma and on the production of specific IgE and IgG antibodies to antigen from a contaminated humidifier are described for a sample of 258 workers from a printing factory. Current smoking was associated with low production of IgG antibody but with higher production of IgE antibody. No dose response for either antibody was found when numbers of cigarettes or pack-years smoked were considered. Work related asthma was detected in 12 workers by peak flow recordings. Six were current smokers and one was an ex-smoker. One subject with work related asthma had a high (and one a marginal) concentration of specific IgE to humidifier antigen.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMed1989

Vasculitis complicating cystic fibrosis.

Twelve patients with skin vasculitis complicating cystic fibrosis are described. Seven of these were proven histologically and of these two had systemic vascultitis. Staining of vasculitic tissue by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique using both monoclonal and polyclonal antisera directed against Haemophilus influenzae, staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not consistently reveal any bacterial antigens in these tissues. In one patient the vasculitis appeared secondary to ranitidine. There was no evidence of autoimmune disease in any of the patients. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were detected in the serum of 40 per cent of the patients with vasculitis complicating cystic fibrosis but in none of 61 controls with cystic fibrosis (but without vasculitis) matched for age and sex and with similar bacteriological flora of sputum.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Amoebae and humidifier fever.

One hundred and nineteen sera from workers at four different work sites exposed to different contaminated humidifiers were examined by the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) technique for antibodies to the amoebae Acanthamoeba polyphaga and Naegleria gruberi. Twenty-five of the sera were from workers with humidifier fever (HF) and six from workers with work related asthma (WRA) shown to be due to the contaminated humidifiers. A positive IFA test was found to correlate precipitin reaction to humidifier antigen, but did not correlate with smoking habit, work related symptoms (detected by standard questionnaire) or with HF or WRA. Amoebae were identified in all humidifiers studied.

Amoeba↗
PubMed1985

Factors affecting the development of precipitating antibodies in workers exposed to contaminated humidifiers.

A total of 601 sera from groups of workers exposed to heavily and moderately contaminated humidifiers respectively were examined by the double diffusion test for precipitating antibodies to humidifier extracts. Clinical information was obtained using a standardized questionnaire. Skin-prick tests to control, to three common inhalant antigens and to an extract from the humidifier were performed in 103 subjects exposed to a heavily contaminated humidifier. In this environment a strong inverse relationship between current smoking and precipitins was detected (P less than 0.001). Pack years smoked had no bearing on precipitin level. In the larger study there was a clear dose response effect of smoking on precipitins. The effect of smoking appeared to reverse within 3 years. Duration of exposure also had a major effect on the development of precipitins with a clear 'dose response' again being seen in the larger study. These relationships did not apply in the groups exposed to moderately contaminated humidifiers. Levels of airborne antigen were measured using a competitive ELISA inhibition assay and were found to be much lower in sites with moderately contaminated humidifiers than at sites with heavily contaminated humidifiers. Our results suggest that the airborne antigen level is crucial in determining the pattern and strength of precipitin response in smokers and non-smokers exposed to contaminated humidifiers.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1985

Amiodarone and chronic lung fibrosis.

A covariate analysis was performed on the major lung function indices that are affected by pulmonary fibrosis in 29 patients who had recently started amiodarone therapy and compared with those of a group of 41 patients who had been treated for a mean of 19.6 months. Patients with other factors which affect gas transfer were excluded. A trend towards reduction in transfer factor, transfer coefficient and membrane diffusion was detected but did not reach statistical significance. A lower than expected incidence of acute pulmonary fibrosis was observed. In the treated group, there was no deterioration of transfer factor, transfer coefficient or membrane diffusion with either increasing duration of therapy or total dose taken.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed1984

The sick building syndrome: prevalence studies.

Random samples or the entire workforce in nine offices in which similar clerical work was being performed were studied using a doctor administered questionnaire that inquired into symptoms that have been linked with the "sick building syndrome." Five of the offices were fully air conditioned, one had recirculation of air and mechanical ventilation, and three were naturally ventilated. Workers in three air conditioned and three naturally ventilated buildings were interviewed blind. Seven of the buildings were studied at our request in the absence of any known problem. Comparison of prevalences of symptoms between the naturally ventilated and the other buildings showed a repeated pattern of nasal, eye, and mucous membrane symptoms with lethargy, dry skin, and headaches. There were highly significant excesses of these six symptoms in the air conditioned buildings when compared by chi 2 tests with the naturally ventilated buildings. It is suggested that these six symptoms represent the sick building syndrome and that the size of the problem is probably greater than is currently recognised. Possible causes are discussed.

Air Conditioning↗