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Biomedical subjects

M Westcott

Publications and source records attributed to M Westcott.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

A comparison of 1% ropivacaine with a mixture of 0.75% bupivacaine and 2% lignocaine for peribulbar anaesthesia.

In a single centre, randomised, double-blind study, 54 patients underwent intraocular surgery under peribulbar anaesthesia with either ropivacaine 1% or a mixture of bupivacaine 0.75% and lignocaine 2%, both with hyaluronidase 7.5 iu.ml-1. There were no significant differences in volume of anaesthetic required, time to onset of block, peri-operative pain scores or frequency of adverse events between the ropivacaine group and the lignocaine and bupivacaine group.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Who should see eye casualties?: a comparison of eye care in an accident and emergency department with a dedicated eye casualty.

Emergency care for eye complaints is provided both by accident and emergency (A&E) departments as well as by dedicated eye casualty departments. This study examines the role of each type of department and the quality of eye care provided. Significant differences were found between the accident and emergency department and the eye casualty department in the history, examination and management of eye patients. Most notably, there were significant differences in the quality of the assessment in the two institutions. Overall 19% (19/100) of A&E records had an inadequate history, compared with 2% (1/50) for eye casualty records. Fifty-nine per cent (59/100) of A&E records contained a significant examination omission, compared with only 8% (4/50) of eye casualty records. Most of the omissions related to a failure to perform an adequate, yet simple, ocular examination including failure to record visual acuity. In 44% (44-100) of A&E cases visual acuity was not recorded or recorded incorrectly. In comparison acuity omissions in eye casualty were present in only 4% (2/50) of cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Does topical flurbiprofen affect the pupillary response to acetylcholine?

Pre-operative topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to be effective in maintaining pupillary dilation during cataract surgery. However, previous studies have suggested that pre-treatment with these agents interferes with the miosis produced by intraoperative acetylcholine injection. This study was designed to determine whether the pupillary response to acetylcholine injection is reduced following pre-operative topical flurbiprofen 0.03%. Pupil diameters were measured with a millimetre rule, and the measurements verified using computerised image analysis of digitised video images. Eyes treated with flurbiprofen were compared with controls. There was no significant difference in pupillary diameter before corneal incision, but following aspiration of soft lens matter and insertion of intraocular lens the pupil was significantly larger in the flurbiprofen group (p = 0.002). At 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 minutes following injection of acetylcholine no significant difference in the degree of miosis was detected. This study confirms that topical flurbiprofen maintains dilation during cataract surgery, and does not find any evidence to suggest that intra-operative response to acetylcholine is reduced.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1990

A prospective study to assess the efficacy of ketoconazole in the treatment of recurrent vaginal candidiasis.

A prospective study of oral ketoconazole therapy was undertaken in 40 women who suffered from recurrent thrush. Symptoms were relieved within three days for half the women, and two-thirds of the women maintained an absence of symptoms for a period of at least a month. Over 80% of the patients assessed the treatment as being effective, with 90% preferring oral to topical therapy.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Depo Provera: a profile of current users.

This retrospective study reviewed the current users of Depo-Medroxy-Progesterone-Acetate (Depo-Provera) from April to June, 1987, within the Family Planning Association of Victoria's Richmond Clinic. The profile that emerged from the study showed the clients were of average intelligence, well informed, had tried other methods of contraception, had a high number of unplanned pregnancies and chose to use Depo-Provera as other methods of contraception were unsuitable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A prospective single-blind trial of minocycline and doxycycline in the treatment of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women.

A total of 2124 women who attended the Richmond Family Planning Association Clinic in Melbourne consecutively were screened for the presence or absence of Chlamydia trachomatis. One hundred and three women were found to have Chl. trachomatis infection of the cervix and were invited to participate in a clinical trial of minocycline and doxycycline for the treatment of chlamydial infection. A 10-day course of either drug resulted in a negative result of a chlamydial culture for all patients at the follow-up assessment, which occurred between 11 days to 12 weeks after the therapy. Minocycline and doxycycline showed equal effectiveness in the eradication of mycoplasmas in over 80% of the treated patients. Minocycline appeared to have a slight advantage with respect to the resolution of the gynaecological symptoms that were associated with the chlamydial infection. The number of adverse events that were recorded during the trial was similar for both treatment regimens. Gynaecological symptoms were associated with chlamydial infection in approximately 50% of the women in the study. The lack of association between chlamydial infection and gynaecological symptoms has led to the instigation of routine testing for the presence of Chlamydia spp. in young women who have more than one sexual partner.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Microbiological profile of the cervix in 1,000 sexually active women.

One thousand consecutive women who attended the Richmond Family Planning Association Clinic and who were to undergo a vaginal examination were asked to participate in a large prospective microbiological study. Participants were questioned about their sexual activity during the previous 12 months and any apparent signs of sexually transmitted disease. On examination the cervix was inspected for evidence of inflammation, ectopy or discharge and cervical swabs were taken microbiological assessment. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated in 5.1% of women tested while Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were found in 48.8% and 16.4% of women respectively. Significant associations were found between the number of sexual partners during the previous 12 months and the incidence of all 3 organisms. The carriage rate of the genital mycoplasmas was significantly affected by the type of contraception. In addition the association between the presence of the genital mycoplasmas and pelvic and cervical abnormalities was determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The contraceptive diaphragm. Is it an acceptable method in the 1980s?

A prospective study of diaphragm users at the Family Planning Association of Victoria was undertaken. Despite the women being well motivated and instructed the pregnancy rate was high (24 per 100 woman years) and the continuation rate was only 35% at 12 months. Three-quarters of the women who became pregnant admitted that they did not use a diaphragm on every occasion. Therefore emphasis must be placed on the committed use of the diaphragm every time coitus occurs. Even so, the diaphragm does not appear to be a very safe method of contraception, and may be better suited to family spacing rather than as a method when high efficacy is required.

Contraception Behavior↗
PubMed1985

Trabecular meshwork glycosaminoglycans in human and cynomolgus monkey eye.

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) extractable from the trabecular meshworks (TM) of human and non-human primate eye have been analyzed by sequential enzymatic degradation and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. For comparison, similar extracts of the cornea, sclera, iris, and ciliary body have also been analyzed. The distribution of glycosaminoglycans in human and in cynomolgus monkey TMs are similar, although not identical. The human TM contains hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin-4-sulfate and/or 6-sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), keratan sulfate (KS), heparan sulfate (HS), and an unidentified band of Alcian Blue staining material, which is resistant to the enzymes that we used. Based upon quantitation of the Alcian Blue staining intensities of extracted GAGs, which have been corrected by a relative dye-binding factor, the GAGs of the human TM include: 29.0% HA, 14.1% CS, 21.5% DS, 20.3% KS, and 15.0% HS. The cynomolgus monkey trabecular GAGs include: 12.8% HA, 14.3% CS, 15.2% DS, 42.1% KS, and 15.6% HS.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Postcoital intervention. A family-planning-clinic experience of 213 cases.

A retrospective study of the outcome of postcoital intervention for the prevention of pregnancy in 201 women who attended the Victorian Family Planning Clinic from January 1982 to September 1983 is presented. Four pregnancies resulted from a total of 213 treatments performed. As a follow-up assessment could only be carried out in 107 cases, the rate of failure of postcoital treatment according to the recommended regimen was estimated as 4%. The reasons for attendance and the methods of contraception involved are considered in general, and the four cases in which the treatment failed are described in more detail. Recommendations are made with regard to subsequent contraception.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in a young, sexually-active population.

A prospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among 1000 sexually-active women at the Family Planning Association Clinic in Melbourne. This organism was isolated from the cervices of 5.1% of screened women. The women were surveyed about their sexual and gynaecological history, and symptoms of discharge or pain. It was found that women who gave positive results for the presence of Chlamydia were younger, and had commenced intercourse at an earlier age. Risk factors of multiple sexual partners, cervical ectopy and symptoms of urethritis were identified. We recommend that women who have more than one sexual partner should ask their partners to use condoms or, failing this, undergo annual screening for Chlamydia by immunofluorescent staining.

Adult↗