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Biomedical subjects

R Richmond

Publications and source records attributed to R Richmond.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Evaluation of general practitioners' use of a smoking intervention programme.

A study was made of a smoking cessation programme in a four-man general practice to determine the efficacy of general practitioner counselling and follow-up. In the treatment group 33% of patients became abstainers at six months compared with 3% in the control group. Self-reports of smoking status were verified by blood tests. Patients were more successful if they attended the first three visits compared with those who did not fully attend (48%: 6%). Continuing smokers had significantly higher blood concentrations of cotinine, thiocyanate and carboxyhaemoglobin per cigarette smoked at six months than at entry, despite a 30% decrease in stated cigarette consumption. This suggests that when smokers reduce the number of cigarettes smoked they compensate by increased inhalation. If general practitioners in Australia widely used the intervention programme with similar success this could have a major impact on the smoking habits of the three million smokers in Australia between 16 and 65 years of age. The total cost of the visits is a fraction of the medical treatment for a cigarette-related disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Synthesis of leukotriene B4, and prostanoids by human alveolar macrophages: analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Human alveolar macrophages, obtained during diagnostic bronchoscopy, were maintained in monolayer culture. Challenge of these cells (greater than 95% purity) with 1.2 mg/ml zymosan A particles (opsonized with human serum) was followed by a rapid release of leukotriene B4 into the medium, 7.28 +/- 5.99 ng/mg cell protein at 2 h (mean +/- S.D.4, n = 4). Leukotriene B4 was identified and measured by a novel technique employing capillary column gas chromatography coupled to negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The release of thromboxane B2, prostaglandins D2, E2, F2 alpha and the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was also measured. Thromboxane B2 was the most abundant metabolite of arachidonic acid released into the culture medium (65.2 +/- 14.8 ng/mg cell protein 2 h after the addition of zymosan A, n = 4), and the synthesis of thromboxane B2 was inhibited by greater than 90% in 1 microM Na flurbiprofen. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity was accompanied by a 2-fold increase in leukotriene B4 synthesis.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed1984

Carboxyhemoglobin, cotinine, and thiocyanate assay compared for distinguishing smokers from non-smokers.

We compared cotinine, carboxyhemoglobin, and thiocyanate concentrations in blood sampled from 187 cigarette smokers and 181 non-smokers. All three differed significantly between smokers and non-smokers. Cotinine performed best as a test for assessing smoking status, with a sensitivity of 98% as compared with 94% for carboxyhemoglobin and 80% for thiocyanate, all at a specificity of 95%. These differences were statistically significant. Results by none of these three methods correlated well with number of cigarettes smoked per day.

Carboxyhemoglobin↗
PubMed1982

Formation of hydroxyl radicals from the paraquat radical cation, demonstrated by a highly specific gas chromatographic technique. the role of superoxide radical anion, hydrogen peroxide, and glutathione reductase.

Yeast glutathione reductase catalyzes an NADPH-dependent reduction of the herbicide paraquat in vitro. The single-electron reduced paraquat radical reacts with O2 to generate the superoxide radical, O2.-. Hydroxyl radicals (OH.) can also be detected in this assay system by their reaction with phenol to form diphenols, as assayed quantitatively by a highly specific and sensitive method employing gas-liquid chromatography. Formation of hydroxyl radicals can be virtually completely suppressed by catalase and partially suppressed by superoxide dismutase. The role of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide in paraquat toxicity in vivo is discussed.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1981

The role of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in the degradation of hyaluronic acid induced by metal ions and by ascorbic acid.

Purified commercial hyaluronic acid contains significant amounts of iron. Addition of Fe2+ to solutions of it causes depolymerization, which is inhibited by catalase and scavengers of the hydroxyl radical (. OH) but not by superoxide dismutase. Fe3+ is ineffective. Ascorbic acid also depolymerizes hyaluronic acid, apparently because it can reduce Fe3+ in the reaction mixtures to Fe2+. Ascorbate-induced depolymerization is inhibited by the specific iron chelator desferrioxamine, by catalase, and by scavengers of the hydroxyl radical. The relevance of these observations to rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory joint diseases is discussed.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1980

Correlation of contrast angiography and histologic pattern with gallium uptake in primary liver-cell carcinoma: noncorrelation with alpha-feto protein. Concise communication.

Seventeen patients with histologically proven primary liver-cell carcinoma were evaluated by a technetium-99m sulfur colloid liver scan as well as with gallium-67 citrate. Twelve of the 17 patients (71%) showed gallium uptake in the tumor. Eleven of the 12 patients (92%) with a moderately or well-differentiated tumor showed increased gallium activity in the abnormality seen on the sulfur colloid scan. The exception in this group was a tumor with a large central area of necrosis. Four of five patients with a poorly differentiated or atypical carcinoma showed absence of gallium activity. Only six of 11 patients with a hypervascular tumor showed a marked increase in gallium uptake. Correlation of gallium with alpha-feto-protein, and with hepatitis antigen A, was poor. We conclude that gallium uptake in primary liver-cell carcinoma will be significant when the tumor shows a moderately to well-differentiated histologic pattern, unless significant necrosis is present. If the blood supply is markedly impaired, gallium uptake is reduced. However, a hypervascular blood supply does not necessarily ensure increased gallium avidity.

Angiography↗
PubMed1979

Inhibition of the iron-catalysed formation of hydroxyl radicals from superoxide and of lipid peroxidation by desferrioxamine.

The peroxidation of membrane phospholipids induced in vitro by ascorbic acid or by dialuric acid (hydroxybarbituric acid) does not occur in the absence of traces of metal ions. Peroxidation induced by adding iron salts to phospholipids can either be promoted or inhibited by the chelators EDTA, diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid and bathophenanthrolinesulphonate, depending on the ratio [chelator]/[iron salt]. The iron chelator desferrioxamine inhibits peroxidation at all concentrations tested, and it also inhibits the iron-catalysed formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH.) from superoxide (O2-.). Since desferrioxamine is approved for clinical use, it might prove a valuable tool in the treatment of inflammation, poisoning by autoxidizable molecules and radiation damage.

Chelating Agents↗
PubMed1970

Enzyme variability in the Drosophila willistoni group. I. Genetic differentiation among sibling species.

We have studied by gel electrophoresis the variability of 14 structural genes in four sibling species, Drosophila willistoni, D. paulistorum, D. equinoxialis, and D. tropicalis. Samples of about 30 populations from different parts of the distribution areas of each species were examined. Genetic variants are found at every locus; 67% of the loci are polymorphic, having two or more alleles, the rarer of which has a frequency of 5% or higher. The gene frequencies are fairly uniform over the distribution area of each species, but considerably different in different species. It is estimated that individuals which belong to the different species differ on the average in somewhat more than one half of their gene loci. The morphological similarity of the four sibling species contrasts with the extensive diversity in their genetic materials.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Family physicians' utilization of a brief smoking cessation program following reinforcement contact after training: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have examined methods of delivery of brief interventions and reinforcement contact and their effects on physicians' utilization of smoking cessation interventions. In this study the objectives were: (1) to determine the ongoing utilization by family physicians of a brief smoking cessation intervention 6 months after a training workshop and (2) to examine the effect of reinforcement contact on physician utilization. A supplementary aim was to assess point prevalence abstinence among patients identified as ready to quit smoking. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial of family physicians (98 in the Contact and 100 in the Noncontact group). Training was conducted in a 2-hr workshop. Doctors in the Contact group received three brief telephone calls at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months after training. Main outcome measures were: (1) utilization, determined by responses to a mailed questionnaire about use of the program, and (2) the number of booklets distributed by full-time doctors, collected by practice secretaries or research assistant. RESULTS: At 6 months 88% of physicians (93% of the Contact group and 84% of the Noncontact group, P = 0.06) were current users of the smoking cessation intervention. Full-time physicians in the Contact group distributed significantly more booklets (40.1) over 6 months than those in the Noncontact group (32.8) (P < 0.05). Twenty-one percent of patients reported not smoking at follow-up at an average of 9.9 months after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Most doctors continued to use the program 6 months after training and reinforcement contact encouraged greater recruitment of patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Controlled drinking as a treatment goal in Australian alcohol treatment agencies.

Under the broad umbrella of harm minimisation, the Australian National Drug Strategy has emphasised the development of services aimed at reducing hazardous alcohol consumption in problem drinkers thereby shifting the focus of treatment from abstinence to moderation goals. The objective of the present study was to determine the extent to which alcohol treatment agencies offered advice and treatment aimed at moderation of alcohol consumption (i.e., controlled drinking). Of the 179 agencies (40% of identified treatment agencies across Australia) approached, 66% (115) reported giving advice about controlled drinking as a treatment goal. The reported therapeutic strategies used to assist in the attainment of a controlled drinking goal are empirically supported. Thus, controlled drinking as a treatment goal is widely offered by Australian treatment agencies, by workers who appear well versed in validated strategies and techniques used to obtain such a goal. This finding is discussed in relation to comparison studies conducted in the UK and the USA.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of a clinical care map for the management of congestive heart failure in a community hospital.

BACKGROUND. Managed care rewards those individuals and institutions capable of achieving superior patient outcomes while making wise use of limited resources. However, studies of patient outcomes under these circumstances are lacking. We sought to investigate whether decreasing length of stay and limiting resource utilization had a negative effect on objective measurements of patient outcome for patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS. Guided by studies of evidence-based medicine, a multidisciplinary team developed and implemented a clinical care multidisciplinary action plan for the inpatient management of congestive heart failure. This provided practitioners with a target length of hospital stay, projections for daily improvements based on intervention, guidelines for diagnostic studies and medical therapy, early identification of patients with special discharge needs, and intensive patient education. RESULTS. Shorter lengths of stay for patients with congestive heart failure were achieved without negatively impacting on mortality or readmission rates. The study found a trend in favor of greater utilization of appropriate medical therapy despite shorter hospitalization. CONCLUSION. The use of a clinical care map for management of complex medical illnesses can be associated with shorter hospital stay without sacrificing patient outcomes. (c)2001 by CHF, Inc.

Journal Article↗