Biomedical subjects

N Dickson

Publications and source records attributed to N Dickson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Iron deficiency in infants of Cambodian refugees.

A community study was designed to establish the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in the infants of Cambodian refugees in Dunedin. Nineteen infants between the ages of three and 19 months were identified belonging to this population and 18 had a full blood count and/or serum ferritin estimation performed. Iron deficiency (serum ferritin less than 10 micrograms/L) was found in 65% (11/17) of those tested, and anaemia (haemoglobin less than 110 g/L) with iron deficiency in 37% (6/16). While primary prevention of this problem should continue by promoting a weaning diet with adequate available iron, and perhaps by ensuring adequate maternal iron stores, screening all Cambodian infants for iron deficiency and anaemia is presently indicated.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗

PubMed1992

Midazolam versus fentanyl as premedication for painful procedures in children with cancer.

Premedication for painful procedures in children with cancer is not routinely used. Many medications used are only intermittently effective or require special equipment or anesthesia support. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, the safety and efficacy of midazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine, were compared with the safety and efficacy of fentanyl, a short-acting narcotic analgesic. In 25 children studied, 100% of children and their parents preferred study drugs to any previous premedication. Seventy-two percent preferred midazolam to fentanyl. Preprocedural anxiety, adverse behavioral symptoms, and visual analog scales all improved and side effects were minimal. It is concluded that premedication for painful procedures should be used routinely in children with cancer. With proper monitoring, fentanyl and midazolam can be used safely in the outpatient clinic setting. Midazolam was found to be the drug of preference for the majority of patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Etoposide, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and doxorubicin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.

The authors evaluated the combination of etoposide/cyclophosphamide (VP/CY) as initial, presurgical therapy for patients with osteosarcoma and found an 88% response rate for the primary tumor and any metastases. After definitive, limb-salvage surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with etoposide, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and doxorubicin, patients without metastases at diagnosis whose cases were followed for a median of 2 years from diagnosis achieved a relapse-free survival (RFS) probability of 78% +/- 9%. This result is equivalent to the best adjuvant chemotherapy results reported to date. Patients without metastases at diagnosis had significantly better RFS probability (78% +/- 9%) than those with metastases at diagnosis (0%). Transient, severe myelosuppression has been the only major toxicity of the VP/CY courses. No irreversible organ damage or toxic deaths have been seen in patients enrolled in this study. The authors conclude that the combination of VP/CY is effective treatment for osteosarcoma, and when combined with cisplatin/doxorubicin (CIS/DOX), is as effective as any previously reported chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Intravenous midazolam versus fentanyl as premedication for painful procedures in pediatric oncology patients.

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Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Hot water temperature in Dunedin homes with preschool children.

The mean temperature of the hot water supply of 62 randomly selected Dunedin homes with preschool children was 67.8 degrees C. More than 95% of the households visited had temperatures above the recommended temperature of 55 degrees C. The temperature was related to the socioeconomic status of the major earner of the household, the thermostat setting, the age of the water cylinder and its size. Accessible thermostats were of the water cylinder and its size. Accessible thermostats were only reliable in cylinders under 20 years old.

Burns↗

PubMed1990

Response of osteogenic sarcoma to the combination of etoposide and cyclophosphamide as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

A Phase II study of the combination of etoposide (VP-16) and cyclophosphamide (CPM) was conducted in an attempt to identify active and potentially less toxic agents for treating patients with osteogenic sarcoma (OS). VP-16 was given as a 72-hour infusion for a total dose of 600 mg/m2. CPM was given as six pulses of 300 mg/m2 every 12 hours for a total dose of 1800 mg/m2. Seventeen newly diagnosed patients, including five (29%) with metastatic disease, were evaluated before and after two courses of VP-16 and CPM for clinical, radiologic, and biochemical (serum alkaline phosphatase [SAP]) responses of the primary tumor and metastases. Fifteen (88%) patients achieved complete or partial clinical responses. Fourteen (82%) patients achieved radiologic responses. Thirteen (87%) of 15 patients with higher than normal SAP levels for their age showed partial or complete responses. Three (60%) of the five patients with metastatic disease achieved complete or partial responses. The only major toxicity was myelosuppression, which led to 21 (62%) brief admissions after 34 courses of chemotherapy for intravenous antibiotic therapy for fever and neutropenia, without associated mortality. It was concluded that the combination of VP-16 and CPM is effective chemotherapy for both primary and metastatic OS. Although myelosuppression is inevitable, it is rapidly reversible in the drug dosages used. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of these drugs in combination with established agents in improving the disease-free survival of patients with OS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Perinatal mortality.

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Birth Weight↗

PubMed1989

High isolation rates of group A streptococci in pharyngeal cultures from a group of Dunedin schoolchildren: what does this signify?

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Child↗

PubMed1989

A child with Refsum's disease: successful treatment with diet and plasma exchange.

A child with Refsum's disease presented with cardiac failure, marked muscle wasting, weakness and inco-ordination. Management with multiple plasma exchanges and dietary restriction of phytanic acid intake has reversed the disabling features of the disease, although levels still remain higher than target values. Low phytanic acid intake is being achieved by restriction of total fat to 10 to 12 g/day, while allowing free amounts of fruit and green vegetables.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied