PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Benn

Publications and source records attributed to R Benn.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Cortisol binding in uremic plasma. II. Decreased cortisol binding to albumin.

We measured cortisol binding to albumin in uremic plasma during a study to see if increased morning plasma free cortisol values, reported previously in chronic renal failure patients, could be explained by binding abnormalities of plasma proteins. Cortisol binding was measured in plasma from chronic renal failure patients and compared to values in normal controls. The unbound and albumin-bound fractions of plasma cortisol were determined using an isocolloidosmolar equilibrium dialysis method and heat inactivation of corticosteroid-binding globulin. A lower ratio of albumin-bound cortisol to unbound cortisol was seen in uremic than in nonuremic plasma (p less than 0.05). This difference was eliminated when uremic plasma was treated with dextran-activated charcoal. These studies suggest that cortisol binding to albumin is decreased in uremic plasma because of a heat-stable substance which is removed from plasma by charcoal treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed1982

Pituitary-adrenocortical function in chronic renal failure: blunted suppression and early escape of plasma cortisol levels after intravenous dexamethasone.

The response to iv dexamehasone was studied in patients with chronic renal failure in whom resistance to suppression of plasma cortisol levels after oral steroid had been reported previously. One milligram of dexamethasone was given iv at 2300 h, and plasma cortisol levels were measured every 20 min between 0500-1000h in patients with renal failure, normal controls, and patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Normal subjects showed a decrease in mean plasma cortisol levels to less than 3 micrograms/dl; patients with Cushing's syndrome showed no suppression of cortisol secretory activity during the sampling period. In renal failure patients, morning cortisol levels fell to values lower than those achieved when the 1-mg dose was given orally or when the steroid was not given, but did not suppress to the levels seen in normals. Early resumption of cortisol secretion occurred in four of five renal failure patients during the 6-11 h after dexamethasone administration. These studies show that iv dexamethasone is more effective than the oral steroid in suppressing pituitary-adrenocortical activity in renal failure patients. However, the incomplete suppression and early resumption of cortisol secretion which are present in chronic renal failure patients even after iv dexamethasone support the suggestion that they have disordered feedback control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

Modulation of pituitary-adrenocortical function: decreased secretory episodes and blunted circadian rhythmicity in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Twenty-four-hour episodic secretion of cortisol was studied in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease in order to define how and if feedback inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis had occurred. The patients had prolonged disappearance rates of endogenous cortisol and corticosteroid-binding globulin-binding capacity was low. Multiple sampling (every 20 min) for levels of free and total plasma cortisol was carried out. Mean 24-h total and free plasma cortisol levels were not significantly different from normal, although the mean percentage of free cortisol was high. Cortisol secretion was decreased, as judged by urinary free cortisol values and the percentage of time that secretory activity occurred. Circadian rhythmicity of plasma cortisol levels appeared to be normal, but the amplitude of rhythmicity was decreased. Modulation of cortisol secretion in liver disease patients was shown by fewer secretory peaks and decreased secretory time during 24-hr studies. In the subjects studied, the numbers of secretory episodes and the duration of secretory time correlated positively with levels of corticosteroid-binding globulin and negatively with the half-time of cortisol in plasma. These studies suggest that feed-back inhibition modifies bot the frequency and the amplitude of cortisol secretion in patients with liver disease while the underlying circadian rhythm is preserved.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1981

Sensitivity of Bacteroides fragilis to seven antimicrobial agents.

The sensitivity of 100 isolates of Bacteroides fragilis 7 antimicrobial agents was determined using Wilkens-Chalgren agar, the results of minimal inhibitory concentrations being compared with a disc diffusion technique. There was reasonable correlation between the 2 methods, both of which revealed that 4 strains were highly resistant to clindamycin. In those hospitals where clindamycin is frequently used for the treatment of serious anaerobic infections, antimicrobial sensitivity testing of B. fragilis may be worthwhile.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1979

Assessing the need for follow-up: the relationship of prognosis to posthospitalization adjustment.

Parents of children (N-64) hospitalized at a psychiatric hospital between the years 1971 and 1976 rated their child's adjustment in a number of behavioral areas. Problems in school, making friends, acting age-appropriately, and handling aggression were reported to be the major sources of difficulty for 40% of the former patients. No statistical relationship was found between clinicians' prognosis at discharge and children's post-hospitalization adjustment. The authors discuss some of the variables that mitigate against accurate outcome prediction and argue for the integration of an organized follow-up program into their treatment program.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Complications of intravenous therapy.

A survey of 130 patients receiving intravenous therapy was undertaken. There were no instances of speticaemia over this period, despite a positive bacterial culture rate for cannulae of 48%. The incidence of phlebitis was 31%, and was associated with usual physicochemical factors. These included a cannulation time of greater than two days, an intravenous potassium supplement and antibiotics. Normal saline solutions given alone were associated with a lower incidence of phlebitis and continuous intravenous heparin administration may prolong the period of cannulation before phlebitis occurs. The institution of intravenous therapy teams should help to minimize the complications.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1976

Hyperactives as young adults: preliminary report.

Thirty-five individuals aged 17 to 24 in whom severe chronic hyperactivity had been diagnosed 10 years before were studied together with 25 matched controls. There were no significant differences in mean height or weight or in electroencephalographic findings, but the mean pulse rate was significantly higher in the hyperactive group. Cognitive style tests indicated continued difficulty in reflection (resulting in more errors) but less impulsivity (longer reaction time) in the hyperactive individuals. Compared with controls, hyperactive subjects were continuing to have more scholastic difficulty, although this difference seemed to be less pronounced than 5 years before. Their adjustment in work situations and living arrangements did not differ significantly from that of the controls. Restlessness, both reported and observed, continued to be a problem for the hyperactive individuals, and socialization skills and sense of well-being continued to be poorer than in the controls. The hyperactive individuals did not show significantly more antisocial behaviour, nonmedical use of drugs or serious psychiatric disturbances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Erysipelothrix endocarditis.

This communication describes the second reported Australian case of erysipelothrix endocarditis; after treatment with penicillin, the patient survived. It also gives up-to-date summary and brief discussion of the literature.

Abattoirs↗