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Biomedical subjects

R McAuley

Publications and source records attributed to R McAuley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Bromine-82 contamination in fission product 99mTc-generator eluate.

Following receipt of fission product 99mTc-generators, results of radionuclide purity analysis, performed within 30 min after the first elution, demonstrated detectable levels of a contaminate radionuclide not previously reported. Gamma spectroscopy and half-life determinations confirmed the presence of 82Br. Bromine-82 activity, in eluates from the first elution of 30 generators, received weekly during a 7-month period, ranged from 0.22 microCi (8.235 kBq) to 0.67 microCi (24.68 kBq) per eluate. The ratio of 99Mo to 99mTc ranged from 0.13 nCi to 0.39 nCi per mCi 99mTc. The presence of 82Br in 99mTc-generator eluate resulted in falsely elevated 99Mo assay determinations using whole vial 99Mo assay procedures. For every 0.1 microCi 82Br present in 99mTc eluate the 99Mo assay results were elevated by 1 microCi. Gamma spectroscopy of eluates from additional elutions of these generators failed to detect the presence of 82Br demonstrating the displacement of monovalent bromine anions from the alumina column during the first elution.

Bromine↗
PubMed1981

The antidepressant efficacy of zimelidine and maprotiline.

In a double-blind group comparison study of 39 patients with primary depressive illness zimelidine in a dose of 200 mg at night demonstrated the same order of antidepressant efficacy as maprotiline in a dose of 150 mg at night after either two or four weeks treatment measured by the amelioration or final score on the Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS) and on the Montgomery & Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Both zimelidine and maprotiline demonstrated significant antidepressant activity at 2 weeks compared with 2 weeks prior treatment with placebo measured by amelioration on HRS (paired t 4.1 P less than 0.001, t 2.7 P less than 0.02) or MADRS (paired t 3.5 P less than 0.005, t 5.1 P less than 0.001). An item analysis of the MADRS showed significantly better sleep and appetite in the maprotiline-treated group compared with the zimelidine-treated group which is in accord with the pharmacology of the two compounds.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

A double blind comparison of zimelidine and amitriptyline in endogenous depression.

In a randomized double-blind group comparison study of 40 patients with endogenous depression zimelidine appeared to be as effective an antidepressant as amitriptyline at 4 and 6 weeks using the Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS) and the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). At 2 weeks there was a significantly better response (P less than 0.05) on zimelidine compared to amitriptyline on the clinician's global scale and 4 out of 10 items on the MADRS suggesting an early onset of action. A significant better response to zimelidine was seen on the item somatic anxiety (HRS) while the effect on sleep and appetite was better in the amitriptyline group. There were significantly more side effects, raw and corrected, in the amitriptyline-treated group. High steady state plasma concentrations of norzimelidine (greater than 800 nmol/l) which were significantly correlated with age (r = 0.8) were associated with a significantly poorer response suggesting that a lower dose than 200 mg in older patients may be appropriate.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

The prediction of tricyclic antidepressant plasma concentrations.

It is possible to predict steady-state plasma nortriptyline concentrations from pharmacokinetic data obtained after giving a single oral dose. The best pharmacokinetic predictor was found to be intrinsic clearance, although simpler kinetic criteria such as the 24, 48, or 72 hour plasma concentration were almost equally valuable. Use of such a tolerance test is a simple yet powerful way of obtaining advance information on individual differences in drug disposition. From such kowledge it should be possible to individualize drug dosage regimes so as to maximize antidepressant action, while at the same time minimizing the risk of toxicity. This test could be applied routinely in the psychiatric care of both inpatients and outpatients.

Depression↗
PubMed1980

Single oral dose pharmacokinetics of clomipramine in depressed patients.

The pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of clomipramine were examined in a group of depressed patients, 8 female and 2 male with a mean age of 51 years (range 21-78). Their mean clomipramine half-life was 36 hours and mean plasma clomipramine clearance 73 litres per hour, with a wide range in each case. These results differ from those previously reported in volunteer subjects, who had shorter clomipramine half-lives. Pharmacokinetic studies should therefore be performed in patients undergoing treatment, rather than healthy volunteers.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1980

Plasma concentration of clomipramine and desmethylclomipramine and clinical response in depressed patients.

In the treatment of endogenous depression with tricyclic antidepressants, poor response has been reported to be associated with both high and low plasma levels of drug. To clarify any such relationship, plasma levels of clomipramine and its metabolite desmethylclomipramine have been compared with clinical response in endogenously depressed patients treated with 150 mg clomipramine nightly for up to six weeks. Although individuals varied considerably in the plasma drug levels attained, steady state was generally reached after two weeks, while desmethylclomipramine usually continued to accumulate in the plasma to higher levels than the parent compound. As measured by Hamilton rating scores, clinical response showed no correlation with plasma clomipramine concentrations, although poor response tended to be associated with low levels of drug and high levels of metabolite. The latter might explain why mean severity of depression and side effects appeared to increase between three and six weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Epidermoid carcinoma of the breast.

Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the breast are described. In one patient the lesion represented a primary breast tumor; in the second, a metastases from primary bonchogenic carcinoma. Neither lesion possessed estrogen receptor protein. This report emphasizes the rarity of epidermoid lesions of the breast and the importance of identifying an extramammary primary source of metastases to the breast.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

High plasma nortriptyline levels in the treatment of depression. I.

Following a 3-day single-dose kinetic study, 21 moderate to severely depressed inpatients were treated with 100 mg of nortriptyline nightly. Eighteen patients completed the 4-wk trial. The severity of depression was measured by weekly Hamilton Rating Scale and global rating. Blood for plasma nortriptyline estimation was taken at weekly intervals 12 h following the nighttime dose. There was a 6-fold variation in mean plasma nortriptyline levels, ranging from 120 microgram/L to 681 microgram/L. Patients with high plasma levels (greater than 200 microgram/L) showed significantly poorer clinical responses than those with levels in routine treatment, high plasma nortriptyline levels are significantly less effective than intermediate levels. Single-dose pharmacokinetic data obtained on the same patients showed a highly significant correlation with mean steady-state plasma levels obtained, which themselves correlated with clinical response. The value of predicting high plasma nortriptyline levels which are associated with poor response is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Reliability of the CPRS between the disciplines of psychiatry, general practice, nursing and psychology in depressed patients.

To test the reliability and robustness of the CPRS in use by different disciplines we obtained 49 pairs of ratings on depressed patients in England and Sweden during treatment. Each rater pair consisted of a psychiatrist trained as a rater plus either a psychologist, a general practitioner, or a nurse, who had not been trained as a rater. The 17 most commonly rated items in depressive illness showed good inter-rater reliability for all groups and demonstrated the robustness of the scale even in training sessions. The implications of this for future interdisciplinary research are discussed along with suggestions for the use of the CPRS for teaching purposes.

Depression↗
PubMed1978

Relationship between mianserin plasma levels and antidepressant effect in a double-blind trial comparing a single night-time and divided daily dose regimens.

1. Twenty-six in-patients and 24 out-patients suffering from moderate or severe primary depressive illness were randomly allocated to either a single night-time dose of mianserin 60 mg or a three times daily regimen in a double-blind controlled trial. 2. There was no significant difference in antidepressant effect between the two dosage regimens in either patient group measured using Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS), the Beck Self-Rating Inventory (BSRI) and the new Montgomery and Asberg Depression Scale (MADS). 3. A significant negative correlation (-0.36 P less than 0.05) was found between plasma levels and clinical response using the MADS. A trend for patients with low levels to do worse was also observed suggesting a curvilinear relationship. A highly significant poorer clinical response in patients with levels above 70 microgram/1 was observed using the MADS (t = 3.33, P less than 0.005). This was also seen with the HRS (t = 2.42, P less than 0.02). 4. A significant correlation (r = 0.29, P less than 0.05) with age is reported, and a highly significant increased variability (F = 7.07, P less than 0.001) of mianserin plasma levels in patients over 55 was demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Long-term assessment of children exposed in utero to carbimazole.

Twenty-five children aged 3 to 13 years who had been exposed in utero to carbimazole were assessed physically and psychologically to evaluate the long-term effects of the drug on growth and development. 2 children had congenital malformations but all had normal pituitary-thyroid function and appeared to have grown and developed normally.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗