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Biomedical subjects

M Schonell

Publications and source records attributed to M Schonell.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Relaxation therapy in asthma: a critical review.

This review discusses the relationship between the psychological and physiological factors responsible for airways in asthma and indicates the mechanisms by which psychological methods of treatment may influence airway caliber. The effects of mental and muscular relaxation therapy, systematic desensitization, and biofeedback-assisted relaxation are evaluated in children and adults with asthma. The methodology and results of studies are analyzed critically to present a balanced opinion of the subjective and objective effects of these methods of treatment. Muscular relaxation therapy alone appears to have no effect. Certain mental relaxation techniques, such as autogenic training and transcendental mediation, systematic desensitization, and biofeedback-assisted relaxation, can produce subjective improvement as well as clinically significant improvement in respiratory function and other objective parameters. As with any therapy the response is variable and is influenced by factors such as age and severity of asthma.

Adult

Pulmonary strongyloidiasis and lung abscess.

We report a case of lung abscess associated with pulmonary strongyloidiasis which occurred in an asthmatic patient three years after migrating to Australia from Burma where strongyloidiasis is endemic. Thiabendazole was effective in eradicating the Strongyloides infection.

Humans

Radiation pneumonia complicating adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy.

A patient with Hodgkin's disease developed acute radiation pneumonia four months after completion of mantle radiotherapy and during cyclical adjuvant chemotherapy. Respiratory function tests were useful in the diagnosis of the interstitial abnormality and in monitoring response to prednisone. Serial respiratory function tests in patients receiving bimodal therapy may facilitate early diagnosis of this potentially serious complication.

Adult

The relation of social factors to physical and psychiatric illness.

A study in social factors associated with illness status was conducted in an Australian suburban community. Forty six per cent of adults reported a chronic physical condition and twenty four per cent were psychiatrically impaired. Life event stress, adverse childhood experience and poor social support were related to both physical psychiatric illness. Low occupation status was associated with poor physical health and a poor coping style was associated with psychiatric illness. Twenty per cent of the physical illness and thirty seven per cent of the psychiatric impairment could be attributed to the presence of social factors.

Adult

Bronchodilator effect of hexoprenaline aerosol in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.

The bronchodilator effects of aerosols of hexoprenaline (200 microgram and 400 microgram), and salbutamol (200 microgram) were compared in 15 patients with asthma, and nine patients with chronic bronchitis. In both groups of patients, hexoprenaline and salbutamol produced a similar increase in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and mean percentage increase in FEV1. Neither drug caused tachycardia or arrhythmia. It was concluded that hexoprenaline aerosol was a safe and effective bronchodilator.

Adult

Pseudomonas pneumonia with bacteraemia.

A previously healthy man developed fulminating pneumonia and bacteraemia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This organism was isolated from sputum and blood before death, and from the lung, liver and spleen at autopsy. Bacteraemic psuedomonas pneumonia is rare, carries a high mortality, and is usually associated with serious underlying disease.

Humans

The relation between physical, psychological, and social morbidity in a suburban community.

Questionnaire scales of physical, psychological, and social morbidity were utilized to discover the relation between these indices in a representative Australian suburban sample of 863 adults aged 20-69 years. The physical and psychological morbidity of the sample was considerable and comparable to that revealed by other health surveys. There was a positive association between the occurrence of physical and psychological illness. The level of social isolation was low and in this residentially stable sample there was no association between social isolation and either physical or psychological morbidity.

Adult

Rifampin.

Rifampin is a potent antituberculous drug. In the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis it is highly effective provided it is given in combination with other drugs to which the patient's organisms are sensitive. Rifampin and ethambutol is a particularly powerful combination and will achieve almost 100% sputum conversion. It seems likely that rifampin will replace streptomycin, and ethambutol will replace PAS in first-treatment cases. Optimum first-line treatment will thus consist of rifampin, INH and ethambutol, with the probability of almost 100% success and the possibility also that the total duration of treatment may be considerably reduced. Rifampin is well tolerated but it may give rise to liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia in a small proportion of patients. Patients treated with rifampin must be kept under close supervision because of the risk of side effects and, more important, because irregular treatment may lead to the development of rifampin-resistant organisms.

Adult