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Biomedical subjects

P Nash

Publications and source records attributed to P Nash.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin plus intravesical interferon alpha-2b in patients with superficial bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha 2b) have been used individually for the treatment of bladder cancer. We used a low dose of BCG combined with IFN alpha 2b to determine the safety and to assess the efficacy of this combination therapy. METHODS: A study of 12 patients with superficial bladder cancer evaluated the safety and efficacy of a combination of low-dose BCG and IFN alpha 2b, given weekly for 6 weeks. Three patients were assigned to each of four groups in which 60 mg of BCG was combined with 10, 30, 60, or 100 x 10(6) IU of IFN alpha 2b. RESULTS: The combination BCG/IFN alpha 2b therapy was well tolerated, with adverse effects being mild to moderate and resolved at the end of treatment. At 12 months post-treatment there has been no tumor progression. Two patients with previous multifocal transitional cell carcinoma have had solitary recurrences. One patient has had recurrent carcinoma in situ. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study found combination BCG/IFN alpha 2b induction therapy to be safe and well tolerated. These early results show a high response rate, but efficacy can only be determined with Phase II and III studies.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1996

Neonatal pain: from concept to research questions and a role for the advanced practice nurse.

The assessment and treatment of neonatal pain remain inconsistent in spite of scientific evidence and agreement among practitioners that neonates do experience pain. In fact, pain forms the basis for many subsequent maturational events and may mediate future responses to pain. The article outlines the concept of pain in the neonate, provides suggestions for future research, and discusses the instrumental role of the advanced practice nurse in the recognition and treatment of neonatal pain.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Amelioration of antigen induced arthritis in rabbits treated with a secreted viral serine proteinase inhibitor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intraarticular administration of SERP-1 protein, a myxoma virus derived antiinflammatory serine protease inhibitor, in an antigen induced arthritis (AIA) model of chronic inflammation. METHODS: AIA was induced in a single joint of 15 rabbits after intraarticular (i.a.) injection of ovalbumin in animals previously immunized to the same agent administered in complete Freund's adjuvant. A 2nd i.a. injection of ovalbumin was given 2 weeks later preceded by 2 daily injections of human transforming growth factor-beta 2. SERP-1 was given by i.a. injection at 2 and 4 weeks after the last i.a. injection of ovalbumin. Three synovial specimens per joint were obtained for synovial histology. Patellar articular cartilage was assessed for collagen integrity and proteoglycan staining. RESULTS: Synovial histology revealed significant diminution in synovial lining cellular hyperplasia, chronic inflammatory infiltration, and cartilage erosion in treated animals, particularly in those receiving 2 i.a. injections of 1 ng of SERP-1. Preservation of articular cartilage was concomitantly noted in treated animals. A dose-response influence on histopathologic change was discernible. CONCLUSION: A viral derived antiinflammatory protein, SERP-1, demonstrates considerable potency in ameliorating chronic inflammation in the AIA model and warrants further investigation as a potential anti-arthritic agent.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Interruption of cytokine networks by poxviruses: lessons from myxoma virus.

Myxoma virus is an infectious poxvirus pathogen that induces a virulent systemic disease called myxomatosis in European rabbits. The disease is rapidly and uniformly fatal to susceptible rabbits and is characterized by generalized dysfunction of cellular immunity and multiple interruptions of the host cytokine network. A number of virus genes are classified as virulence factors because virus constructs bearing targeted gene disruptions induce attenuated disease symptoms. Many of these genes encode proteins that interact directly with effector elements of the host immune system. Included among these immunosubversive viral proteins are secreted mimics of host ligands or regulators (virokines) and homologues of cellular cytokine receptors (viroceptors). Five examples of these immune modulator proteins encoded by myxoma virus are reviewed: (1) myxoma growth factor, a member of the epidermal growth factor ligand superfamily; (2) SERP-1, a secreted serine proteinase inhibitor; (3) M11L, a receptor-like surface protein; (4) T2, a tumor necrosis factor receptor homologue; and (5) T7, an interferon-gamma receptor homologue. The origin of viral strategies designed to subvert immune regulation by host cytokines is considered in the context of the biology of myxoma virus within immunocompetent hosts.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cross-reactivity of human Toxoplasma-specific T cells: implications for development of a potential immunotherapeutic or vaccine.

Previous reports from this laboratory have demonstrated that human CD4+ Toxoplasma-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones generated by stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Toxoplasma RH strain antigens also recognized target cells expressing C strain antigens. To extend these observations, additional Toxoplasma isolates were studied. A simple system for assessment of cytotoxicity using T cell lines rather than cloned CTL was used. Stimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Toxoplasma RH strain antigens elicited cytotoxic T cell lines specific for target cells expressing antigens derived from many other Toxoplasma strains. Cell lines produced by stimulation with antigens derived from the related, nonpathogenic coccidian Besnoitia jellesoni were also cytotoxic for target cells expressing Toxoplasma antigens. Proliferative responses to many Toxoplasma isolates and to the Toxoplasma p30 protein were also noted.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The effects of elemental diet and subsequent food reintroduction on rheumatoid arthritis.

The role of diet in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial and there have been no controlled studies on the use of elemental diet in the treatment of RA. Elemental diet is an hypoallergenic protein-free artificial diet consisting of essential amino acids, glucose, trace elements and vitamins. This study was carried out to assess the role of elemental diet and subsequent food reintroduction in RA. Elemental diet (E028) (and a small number of foods) was given to 24 patients with definite RA in order to induce a remission and then foods were gradually introduced. Where a food was suspected of causing symptoms it was removed from the diet. Twenty-three control patients supplemented their usual diet with E028. After the elemental diet there was a statistically significant improvement in the diet group in grip strength (P = 0.008) and Ritchie score (P = 0.006) but not in ESR, CRP, thermographic joint score or functional score. The diet group lost more weight than the control group and this correlated with the improvement in grip strength. This improvement was not present following food reintroduction. As the improvements took place in more subjective disease parameters and because of the difficulties in adequately blinding studies of diet in arthritis, a placebo effect must be considered. There was a high default rate, only 38% of those patients originally enrolled completed the study. In conclusion, this study shows that elemental diet can cause an improvement in a number of disease parameters in RA but this is not sustained by an individualized diet. It also illustrates some of the difficulties involved in the study of diet in arthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Doctors and nurses once more--an alternative to May.

It is argued that promissory obligation arising from the contract of employment offers a simpler and less contentious explanation and justification of the doctor-nurse relationship at work, than does May's proposal of second-order reasons. The second-order reason position is rejected as the norm for that relationship, and in the exceptional case, where it is admitted, shared employee status is identified as primary validator of a doctor as locus of rational authority. Finally, a brief case is made for a more precise vocabulary to describe the doctor-nurse relationship, as a contribution to more collegial relations.

Contracts↗
PubMed1991

Acute Barmah Forest polyarthritis.

More than 60 arboviruses have been isolated in Australia with the human pathogenicity of the majority yet to be determined. Recent reports outline extensive clinical and sub-clinical infection occurring in Eastern Australia by such agents as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses. We describe the clinical features of two patients with an acute polyarthritis associated with serological evidence of acute Barmah Forest virus infection to alert physicians to this form of viral polyarthritis and highlight the need to consider this agent when confronted with patients with an acute 'viral-type' polyarthritis in whom serology for Ross River virus is negative.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

A prospective double blind dummy placebo controlled study comparing triamcinolone hexacetonide injection with oral diclofenac 50 mg TDS in patients with rotator cuff tendinitis.

A prospective double blind placebo controlled study was carried out to compare the effects of subacromial injection of triamcinolone and oral diclofenac in patients with rotator cuff tendinitis over a 4-week period. Both forms of treatment were superior to placebo in reducing pain, improving active abduction and reducing functional limitation. Triamcinolone showed the greatest effect in these respects, and was significantly superior to diclofenac when patients showing improvements in all 3 variables together (responders) were considered.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Frozen shoulder.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Arthrography↗
PubMed1989

Chronic coxsackie B infection mimicking primary fibromyalgia.

We describe a patient with primary fibromyalgia according to Smythe's criteria who had evidence of chronic infection with Coxsackie virus over a 4-year period. We discuss the association of Coxsackie infection and myalgic syndromes and review the literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The disposition of biphenylacetic acid following topical application.

Plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of biphenylacetic acid were determined following application of 3 g of 3% biphenylacetic acid gel to one knee of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The mean peak plasma concentration was 34 ng/ml. Synovial fluid concentrations tended to follow plasma concentrations but at a somewhat lower level, the mean peak synovial fluid concentration was 21 ng/ml. The average ratio of synovial fluid AUC (0-24 h) to plasma AUC (0-24 h) was 0.58, r = 0.97. Where patients had bilateral effusions, the concentration in the ipsilateral knee at each time point examined was not significantly different to that in the contralateral knee, suggesting that absorption was initially into the plasma and subsequently into the synovium.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1988

Trochanteric bursitis: bone scan appearance.

Trochanteric bursitis is one of the most common soft tissue abnormalities in the hip region, yet it is frequently underdiagnosed. There is a characteristic pattern of uptake seen on the bone scan in patients with this condition. Its recognition is important to avoid misinterpretation of increased trochanteric uptake, particularly in patients with malignant disease, and to aid in the diagnosis and effective management of this treatable condition.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Vasculitis presenting as chronic unilateral painful leg swelling.

We describe 2 patients who presented with chronic painful indurated swelling of one lower limb, thought at the time of referral to be due to chronic venous insufficiency. Reassessment because of marked periostitis of the tibia and fibula as well as laboratory indices consistent with an inflammatory process revealed acute necrotizing arteritis in one patient and granulomatous arteritis in the other. Clinicians should be aware of this unusual presentation of treatable vasculitic diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Interstitial lung disease as the presentation of anti-Jo-1 positive polymyositis.

A patient presenting with interstitial lung disease was predicted to have underlying polymyositis when found to be anti-Jo-1 antibody positive. When myopathy developed later with elevated serum creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin levels, the electromyogram was nonmyopathic, and polymyositis was confirmed by muscle biopsy. The case illustrates the value of anti-Jo-1 as a 'marker' autoantibody for polymyositis, and the need for thorough investigation of patients with interstitial lung disease of uncertain etiology. This should include indirect immunofluorescence using a dividing cell substrate and tests for antibodies to extractable tissue antigens. The need to completely evaluate patients with dermatopolymyositis is also emphasised.

Aged↗