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Biomedical subjects

R Goulding

Publications and source records attributed to R Goulding.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Poisons information services: a look ahead.

1. Following the establishment, in the USA, of the first poisons information centre, in 1953, the movement has grown globally. Originally, such a service was intended to meet an emergency need. Its efficacy has still not been objectively audited. 2. The suggestion now is that clinical toxicology has become such a diverse subject within the community that simply answering emergency calls over the telephone is not enough. Instead, expertly staffed clinical toxicology units should be set up to cater for much wider problems.

Humans

The logistics of drug monitoring.

Although opinions differ to some extent there is increasing belief in the value of monitoring plasma levels for effective therapy with neuropsychiatric drugs, especially with anticonvulsants. Monitoring should not be on a comprehensive and routine basis, but should be selective and discriminating. In these circumstances the expenditure incurred on the laboratory operations involved might work out for Britain at about pounds 5 million per year. This figure should be compared to a total annual expenditure from the prescribing of neuropsychiatric medication amounting to an estimated pounds 40 million per year. The benefits thus achieved in patient care, together with the possible economies in prescribing, could well merit this monitoring exercise. In terms of personnel and administration, the laboratory facilities could be organized on a regional, or on a district general hospital, basis.

Costs and Cost Analysis

Adsorptive capacities of hemoperfusion devices in clinical use.

Five different hemoperfusion devices have been used in the treatment of patients, intoxicated with barbiturates. The changes in drug clearance values which occurred during hemoperfusion varied according to the device used. Even after very long periods of hemoperfusion, however, drug clearance values never fell to zero. Using data collected from comparable cases, it has been shown that the rate of uptake of drug from the blood is independent of the amount of adsorbent in the columns, those containing 100 gm charcoal having the same efficiency as the conventional 300 gm. The prime factor which determines the rate of drug uptake has been shown to be the arterial plasma drug concentrations. Other factors, such as the deposition of cellular debris and proteins as hemoperfusion progresses, are also thought to influence the efficiency of drug removal.

Adsorption

Early prediction of the outcome of a paracetamol overdose based on an analysis of 163 patients.

Clinical and biochemical data obtained from 163 patients who had taken an overdose of paracetamol were examined to determine which factors or measurements were of value in predicting the severity of ensuing liver damage early after ingestion of tablets. Although the overall severity of hepatic necrosis was found to increase with the dose of paracetamol ingested, correlation was not sufficiently close to provide an accurate prognostic index in individuals. Severe hepatic damage was less likely if the patient had vomited or had a stomach wash-out within 6 hr of overdose. The plasma concentrations of paracetamol, measured at known times after overdose, distinguished those who developed hepatic dysfunction from those who did not, but there was a poor correlation, particularly in the first 6 hr after ingestion of tablets, between these values and the severity of ensuing liver damage. Estimates of early plasma paracetamol half-lives from three or more samples taken within 4 hr of admission showed that all patients developing moderate or severe liver damage had half-lives greater than 4 hr, but this was also the case in nearly one-third of those with minimal liver lesions only. It is concluded that there is no completely reliable early prognostic test for individual patients with paracetamol overdose. If each patient is selected for treatment with cysteamine (mercaptamine) or other agents on the basis of plasma paracetamol levels, up to 30% may receive this agent who are at risk from trivial hepatic damage only.

Acetaminophen