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Mark Holland

Publications and source records attributed to Mark Holland.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

New findings in pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis.

There has been a profusion of studies related to the pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated small vessel vasculitis. Further definition of epitopes on the major antigens, proteinase-3 and myeloperoxidase, has been sought, and intracellular signal transduction pathways after antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-neutrophil interactions are beginning to be explored. Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody stimulation of neutrophils has highlighted the functional importance of the accelerated death that follows the initial activation. The consequences of neutrophil and monocyte activation for endothelium and tissue damage continue to point toward an inflammatory process that has become dysregulated. Factors that initiate vasculitis are being identified slowly. The most secure identifiable environmental trigger is the antithyroid drug propylthiouracil. It is likely that environmental factors operate against a background genetic susceptibility, and polymorphisms in genes for proteins associated with inflammation are being tested for possible links with small vessel vasculitides.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗

The prescription of dexamphetamine to patients with schizophrenia and amphetamine dependence.

Patients with a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia have significant rates of concurrent amphetamine use. Such dual diagnosis patients have been shown to have poorer treatment outcomes. Often, they do not comply with treatment plans and have frequent episodes of hospitalization. There is growing evidence for the role of prescribed dexamphetamine in the treatment of amphetamine dependence. The prescription of dexamphetamine to patients with schizophrenia and amphetamine dependence has not been previously reported. Eight schizophrenic patients are described to whom dexamphetamine has been prescribed, with information being extracted retrospectively from case notes. In four out of eight cases, the prescription of dexamphetamine led to apparently good progress both in terms of substance misuse and psychiatric health. In two cases, progress was more equivocal, but appeared to produce some benefit. Two cases could be judged as treatment failures, but the condition and situation of the patients were not worse at the end of treatment than at the beginning. Compliance with neuroleptics increased in most cases. No patients exhibited exacerbation of psychosis as a result of treatment. The rate of outcome success is satisfactory when consideration is given to the difficult nature of this patient group, and their previous failure to respond to intensive treatment. It is argued that benefits may be gained from increased compliance with psychiatric treatment in patients prescribed amphetamine, and that this may outweigh possible risks. However, any conclusions are tentative in view of the nature of this study. A small open-label prospective study is recommended.

Adult↗