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Biomedical subjects

M Wheeler

Publications and source records attributed to M Wheeler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The Effects of Daflon on Pelvic Pain in Women with Taylor Syndrome

The syndrome of chronic pelvic pain without an obvious pathology has been described as pelvic congestion (Taylor) syndrome. It is frequently associated with continuous bilateral lower abdominal pain and dyspareunia. Pelvic examination reveals tenderness without induration or masses. Although their importance in the pathophysiology of pain is uncertain, prominent enlarged broad ligament veins are observed at laparoscopy. We evaluated the effects of daflon, a venomimetic agent that regulates the circulatory tonus of the venous system, on pelvic pain and investigated the role of enlarged veins in the pathophysiology of Taylor syndrome. Ten women (age 28-35 yrs) with chronic pelvic pain were diagnosed with the syndrome at laparoscopy. They all had prominent broad ligament and ovarian veins without other pathologies such as endometriosis to explain the etiology of pelvic pain. Five women were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive daflon 500 mg twice/day for 4 months, and five a vitamin pill placebo; they were crossed over for another 4 months. They scored the frequency and severity of lower abdominal pain and dyspareunia on a scale from 0 to 6, and the results were compared with pretreatment values. At the end of the fourth month the frequency and severity of pelvic symptoms began to decrease with daflon compared with pretreatment and placebo. The mean scores were significantly less at the end of 4 months (9.3 &plusmn; 1.1 vs 4.2 &plusmn; 1.4, respectively, p <0.05). Based on our preliminary results, we conclude that venous dysfunction and stasis may be pathophysiologic components of pelvic pain in women with Taylor syndrome. Pharmacologic enhancement of venous tonus may restore pelvic circulation and relieve pelvic symptomatology.

Journal Article↗

Effect of recombinant human growth hormone treatment on insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) levels in insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

Basal and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH)-stimulated insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) levels were studied in 19 insulin-dependent diabetic patients and 4 healthy subjects. Diabetic patients were divided according to glucagon test result into CpN (10 patients without residual beta cell activity) and CpP (9 patients with preserved beta-cell activity) and CpP (9 patients with preserved beta-cell activity) groups, and according to age into three groups (A = 21-30 years; B = 31-40 years; C = 41-50 years). All control subjects belonged to group B. Blood glucose and growth hormone were measured at hourly intervals and IGF-I every 6 h during 24 h before and after 7 days treatment with 4 IU of rhGH given subcutaneously at 8 p.m. The age-related decrease in basal IGF-I levels was evident in both CpN and CpP groups of diabetic patients. IGF-I net increase with rhGH treatment was variable and insignificant in comparison with basal value without age-related differences in CpN diabetics. Progressively larger, age-related increases in IGF-I concentrations were observed in CpP diabetic patients. This study indicates impairment of hepatic IGF-I generation capacity in diabetic patients without residual beta-cell activity and the importance of simultaneous actions of portal insulin and GH on hepatic IGF-I production.

Adult↗

Comparison of a rigid laryngoscope with the ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in infants.

The flexible ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope allows placement of endotracheal tubes as small as 2.5 mm internal diameter. The purpose of this study was to document the safety and efficacy of intubation using an ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope. Proved safety and efficacy would justify the routine use of fibreoptic laryngoscopy in normal infants to maintain skills needed for management of the difficult infant airway. In this prospective study, 40 infants < 24 mo of age scheduled for elective surgery were randomly divided into two equal groups. After inhalation induction of anaesthesia, in 20 infants the trachea was intubated using direct rigid laryngoscopy, and in 20 using the ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope (size 1.8 mm OD) Olympus LFP. Time to successful intubation was recorded, as well as blood pressure, heart rate, end-tidal CO2 and oxygen saturation. Airway trauma in the operating room, the post-anaesthesia care unit, and on the first postoperative day was recorded. The intubation times using rigid laryngoscopy were less than those using fibreoptic laryngoscopy (13.6 +/- 0.9 sec (mean +/- SEM) vs 22.8 +/- 1.7 sec; P < 0.01). Oxygen saturation and end-tidal CO2 readings were not different between the two groups. After intubation, blood pressure and heart rate increased equally in both groups, returning to normal within one to two minutes. There was no difference in the airway trauma between groups. We conclude that the ultrathin fibreoptic laryngoscope is a safe and effective method for tracheal intubation in infants and may be used routinely in order to maintain fibreoptic airway skills.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

The effect of recombinant human growth hormone on regulation of growth hormone secretion and blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes.

GH hypersecretion in insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) is well documented. Although it has recently been shown that residual insulin secretion determines the magnitude of this GH hypersecretion, the underlying mechanisms of the disorder have not yet been clarified. The 24-h GH and blood glucose profiles, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations and GH responses to GRF were analyzed in 21 insulin-dependent diabetics and 4 healthy subjects before and after 7 days treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH) (4 IU given sc at 0800 h). According to C-peptide response to glucagon IDDM patients were subdivided into C-peptide negative (CpN, n = 12) patients without endogenous pancreatic beta-cell activity and C-peptide positive (CpP, (n = 9) patients with endogenous insulin secretion. No significant difference could be observed between the mean 24-h blood glucose profile before and after rhGH treatment in any treated group. Before and on rhGH treatment the highest 24-h GH values were observed in CpN patients when compared to CpP and controls. The rhGH treatment induced a similar increase in the mean 24-h GH concentrations in all groups studied which was statistically significant only in CpP diabetics. Mean pretreatment serum IGF-I concentrations were not significantly different between CpN, CpP patients and controls. The net increase in IGF-I concentrations after rhGH treatment was however, significantly lower in CpN patients than in CpP and control subjects. GRF-induced GH response before and after rhGH treatment was significantly greater in diabetics than in controls. The response of GH to GRF in CpN diabetics was however, almost unchanged after treatment whereas it became lower in CpP diabetics and controls. The dose of 4 IU of rhGH increased significantly GH levels in diabetics with preserved beta-cell function with consequent increase in IGF-I levels and attenuation of GRF induced GH response. In contrast, the same dose of rhGH failed to induce significant increase in GH levels in diabetics without residual beta-cell activity, most probably due to already high pretreatment levels. In addition, neither increase in IGF-I levels nor suppression of GH response to GRF on rhGH treatment was observed in CpN diabetics. The results are in keeping with an important role of portal insulin in GH-induced hepatic IGF-I secretion.

Adult↗

Career planning.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Career Choice↗

Genetic disorders of the skin and eye.

This article discusses some of the most uncommon diseases ever seen by the ophthalmologist or dermatologist. Some of these conditions can cause irreparable eye damage if not recognized and treated early after their inception.

Eye Diseases, Hereditary↗

45,X/47,XYY mosaicism: clinical discrepancy between prenatally and postnatally diagnosed cases.

45,X/47,XYY mosaicism is a rare chromosomal disorder with clinical information limited to 11 postnatal cases in the literature and with uncertainty regarding prenatal prediction of phenotype and prognosis. We report on 7 new cases of 45,X/47,XYY mosaicism, three detected prenatally and 4 diagnosed postnatally. A clinical comparison of the cases of 45,X/47,XYY mosaicism is presented together with a literature review.

Amniocentesis↗

Reduction in mammary tumorigenesis in the rat by cabbage and cabbage residue.

Mammary cancer was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats by a single injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and rats were randomized to control fat (5%) and high fat (24.6%) diets. In addition, dried cabbage (5 and 10%) and collards (5%) were included in the diets of some animals. No statistically significant differences were observed in food consumption, body wt gain and caloric intake between the MNU-treated and control groups in the rats fed the low-fat diet. However, the groups fed the high-fat diet consumed more than the rats maintained on the control diet. The rats on the control fat diet containing cabbage exhibited a significantly lower incidence of mammary cancer than rats that were fed the control-fat diet without cabbage. This effect was not observed in comparable rats on the high-fat diet. The inhibitory effect on mammary tumorigenesis was demonstrated using a residue obtained from cabbage by exhaustive extraction with methanol, methylene chloride and petroleum ether. These studies reinforce the efficacy of cabbage as a 'suppressor' of cancer in experimental model systems under control-fat dietary conditions.

Animals↗

Health manpower planning in Botswana.

Health manpower planning, launched in Botswana with external assistance, has resulted in a plan designed to meet national staffing needs up to the year 2002. The authors describe how the plan was developed, despite constraints such as the absence of a plan for the health sector as a whole, and explain why certain planning methods were chosen in preference to others.

Botswana↗

Hyposexuality and epilepsy: a community survey of hormonal and behavioural changes in male epileptics.

A survey of five group practices in South London identified 60 male patients currently undergoing treatment for epilepsy. Fifty-four agreed to participate in a detailed enquiry into aspects of their sexual activity and behaviour. Anterior pituitary and sex-hormone levels were measured. The epileptic patients were characterized by low levels of sexual activity and interest. Temporal-lobe and non-temporal-lobe epileptics were indistinguishable in these respects, but when the latter group was further subdivided into primary generalized epilepsy and focal non-temporal lobe epilepsy, the focal groups (both temporal lobe and non-temporal lobe) were more impaired. Hormonal analysis confirmed earlier hospital-clinic-based reports. In the epilepsy group, plasma free testosterone and percentage free testosterone values were decreased, sex hormone binding globulin, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were increased compared to values in a normal healthy population. As association between the behavioural and hormonal indices of hyposexuality was shown, particularly for LH, but this was less apparent than in previous work.

Adolescent↗

Hypogonadism and sexual dysfunction in hemochromatosis: the effects of cirrhosis and diabetes.

The contribution of diabetes and cirrhosis to sexual dysfunction and hypogonadism was evaluated by two-way analysis of variance in a group of 30 men with idiopathic hemochromatosis. The prevalence of severe sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in men with hemochromatosis than in a control group matched for prevalence of diabetes and age (P less than 0.001). In both controls and hemochromatosis patients the presence of diabetes was significantly associated with sexual dysfunction (P less than 0.005), but the more severe symptoms in the hemochromatosis patients were related to the additive effects of hypoandrogenism (P less than 0.01). Sexual dysfunction was a common early complaint in hemochromatosis patients, but these symptoms were frequently overlooked, leading to diagnostic delay. Mean testicular volume was a useful measure of gonadal status, being significantly correlated with indices of serum free testosterone (rs = 0.83; P less than 0.01) and LH (rs = 0.71; P less than 0.001). The presence of cirrhosis did not contribute significantly to symptomatology, but had an effect independent of and additive to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in reducing serum free testosterone (P less than 0.02) and estradiol (P less than 0.002), an effect apparently mediated through central rather than testicular mechanisms. Hypoandrogenism was associated with an increase in serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations (P less than 0.005), but cirrhosis also had an independent effect in raising SHBG (P less than 0.005), which could not be accounted for by changes in circulating sex hormone concentrations. Thus, the evaluation of sexual dysfunction or hypogonadism in men with hemochromatosis requires consideration of the effects of both diabetes and cirrhosis. Because of the greater variance in SHBG some estimate of free testosterone rather than total testosterone is preferable.

Adult↗

45,X/46,XY mosaicism: contrast of prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

The process of prenatal diagnosis is unique in that the diagnosis and prognosis are made without seeing the patient. 45,X/46,XY mosaicism presents a special problem in this regard. The phenotype of 45,X/46,XY postnatally diagnosed children (pediatric group) was compared to that of 6 fetuses who were diagnosed from 7,000 amniocenteses (prenatal group). These amniocenteses were performed primarily because of an increased risk of chromosome abnormality. The pediatric group (age birth-18 yr) were all phenotypically abnormal, although none were mentally retarded. Seven patients presented with ambiguous genitalia, while 2 had primary amenorrhea. Sexual assignment was changed in 2. Abnormalities included rudimentary phallus, urogenital sinus, hypospadias, undescended testes, and short stature. All 9 patients required at least one surgical procedure. In contrast, the prenatally diagnosed fetuses (ages 3 months to 3 1/2 yr) were all phenotypically normal males. Four were noted to have male genitalia on ultrasonography. Thus, the phenotype of 45,X/46,XY mosaicism in prenatally diagnosed fetuses can be markedly different from that of individuals diagnosed postnatally. This must be considered when counseling patients.

Amenorrhea↗

Thalamic pain--the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

An open study of the effect of a standard course of unilateral ECT applied to 4 patients with intractable thalamic pain. There was no significant change in pain, personality or affective profiles after treatment. Venous plasma endorphins were measured during the ECT course and there were no significant correlations with treatment.

Aged↗

Weight gain and reproductive function: ultrasonographic and endocrine features in anorexia nervosa.

Pelvic ultrasonographic measurements and reproductive hormone levels in 36 patients with anorexia nervosa were followed as they gained weight during inpatient treatment. In 24 patients who were severely malnourished (69% of premorbid weight) the ovaries were small and amorphous and the levels of LH, FSH and oestradiol were very low. Weight gain led to the appearance of multifollicular ovaries when levels of LH and oestradiol remained low but FSH levels had increased resulting in an LH:FSH ratio of less than 1. The emergence of a dominant follicle in 19 patients after weight gain (to 97% of premorbid weight) was accompanied by an increase in uterine area and associated with increased levels of LH and oestradiol and an LH:FSH ratio greater than 2. Among these patients with a dominant follicle at peak weight, 11 menstruated within a month of discharge. The weight at which normal ovarian morphology returned was related to premorbid weight (P less than 0.002) whereas body mass index (BMI) was poorly related. Our findings suggest that pelvic ultrasonography is probably the best indicator of the weight required for full endocrine recovery and offers advantages over sequential hormonal measurements, and is valuable in the management of patients with anorexia nervosa.

Adolescent↗