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Biomedical subjects

R Wittman

Publications and source records attributed to R Wittman.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Medical personnel's knowledge of and ability to use inhaling devices. Metered-dose inhalers, spacing chambers, and breath-actuated dry powder inhalers.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment strategies for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) emphasize the inhalation route, yet patients often misuse metered-dose inhalers (MDI). To address this problem, patient education by medical personnel has been recommended and a variety of alternate inhaler devices have been developed. METHODS: We surveyed medical personnel to assess their knowledge of and ability to use three widely used inhaler devices; MDI, MDI with a spacing chamber (Aerochamber, Trudell Medical, Canada), and a breath-actuated multidose dry powder inhaler (Turbuhaler, Astra Pharmacy, Inc., Conada). Thirty respiratory therapists (RT), 30 registered nurses (RN), and 30 medical house staff physicians (MD) were asked to demonstrate the use of each device using placebo inhalers and to answer 11 clinically relevant questions related to the use and maintenance of the tested devices. RESULTS: The RT's percent mean knowledge score (67 +/- 5 percent) was significantly higher than those achieved by either the RNs (39 +/- 7 percent) or the MDs (48 +/- 7 percent) (for all p < 0.0001). Similarly, percent mean demonstration scores for each device were significantly higher for RTs than either RN or MD groups; for MDI, 97 +/- 3 percent versus 82 +/- 13 percent and 69 +/- 24 percent, respectively (p < 0.0001); for the Aerochamber, 98 +/- 2 percent versus 78 +/- 20 percent and 57 +/- 31 percent (p < 0.0001); and for the Turbuhaler, 60 +/- 30 percent versus 12 +/- 23 percent and 21 +/- 30 percent (p < 0.0001). Knowledge of and practical skills with the devices were roughly proportional to the length of time the device had been in clinical use, Turbuhaler demonstration scores being lower than either MDI or Aerochamber scores (p = 0.05 and p = 0.09, respectively). More RTs (77 percent) had received formal instruction on the use of devices at school than either RNs (30 percent) or MDS (43 percent) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that (1) many medical personnel responsible for monitoring and instructing patients in optimal inhaler use lack rudimentary skills with these devices, (2) nurses and physicians seldom receive formal training in the use of inhaling devices, and (3) newer inhaling devices designed to obviate problems of technique are at present less likely to be used well by medical personnel soon after their introduction.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1988

The Northwestern University Twin Study. V: Twin deliveries at Prentice Women's Hospital and Maternity Center, 1978-83.

Two hundred fifty-one twin deliveries between January 1, 1978 and June 30, 1983 at Prentice Women's Hospital and Maternity Center were reviewed. Cases were excluded if birth weight was less than 500 g, if gestational age was less than 26 weeks or if an antenatal fetal demise had occurred. Maternal demographic characteristics, delivery data and infant characteristics are described. The effect of providing care to a high-risk population of mothers in whom approximately 60% either deliver their infants preterm or with a birth weight of less than 2,500 g is discussed in terms of costs of care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effect of low-dose phenobarbital on hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity.

To determine whether hepatic microsomal enzyme induction occurs in rats following administration of phenobarbital at doses similar to those used in humans (0.5 to 7.5 mg/kg), UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) and cytochrome P-450 activities were measured in liver homogenate and microsomal preparations from control rats and rats treated for 6 days with phenobarbital at 1 and 3 mg per kg per day. While no significant increases in liver weight and protein content of homogenate and microsomal preparations were observed with either dose of the drug, both UDPGT and P-450 activities were enhanced significantly following administration of phenobarbital at 3 mg per kg per day. The activity of P-450 was increased by approximately 30% and that of UDPGT by 15-24 and 45-66%, respectively, employing bilirubin and p-nitrophenol as the acceptor substrate. The extent of induction of bilirubin or p-nitrophenol UDPGT was similar when measured with "native" enzyme or with enzyme activated by UDP-N-acetyl glucosamine, digitonin or deoxycholate. These data suggest that the discordant effects of phenobarbital on UDPGT and cytochrome P-450 previously reported in humans and rats may not be attributable solely to differences in the drug doses employed.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of different activators and diazotization procedures in the assay of bilirubin-UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity in rat liver.

The activity of bilirubin-UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) in rat liver microsomes was assayed in standardized incubation mixtures employing two different procedures to quantitate formation of conjugated bilirubin: solvent extraction and diazotization with sulfanilic acid, or selective coupling with diazotized ethyl anthranilate at pH 2.7. Both of these procedures yielded equivalent UDPGT activities with several different microsomal preparations, averaging, respectively, 385 and 372 microU protein with untreated microsomes, 646 and 608 microU protein following activation with UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (3.07 mmol/l), and 1370 and 1478 microU protein after treatment with digitonin (0.65%). In rats pretreated with phenobarbital (75 mg/kg per 6 days), a 70-90% increase in UDPGT activity was observed with either diazotization procedure, irrespective of whether 'native', UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-or digitonin-activated enzyme was employed. These studies indicate that, when other conditions are standardized, equivalent information about UDPGT can be obtained with either of two widely employed diazotization reactions and a variety of enzyme activation procedures.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Trisomy 13 in bone marrow cells in acute myelocytic leukemia and myelofibrosis.

We have identified trisomy 13 in two additional patients with hematologic malignancies involving the hematopoietic stem cell: a 75-year-old female with acute myelocytic leukemia and a 64-year-old female with agnogenic myelofibrosis and myeloid metaplasia. Chromosome analysis of the direct bone-marrow preparation showed 100% of cells with trisomy 13 in the first and 10% of cells in the second. We also previously reported a patient with Ph1 negative chronic myelogenous leukemia in whom 100% of the marrow cells showed an identical trisomy. The probability of finding three such patients in our case material was calculated to be 0.05--0.08, implying that trisomy 13 may be another nonrandom chromosomal aberration associated with malignancies of hematopoietic pluri-potent stem cell.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 1 in myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.

We have identified partial trisomy 1q in 2 patients with different hematologic disorders. The first patient was a 55-year-old female with myelosclerosis and myeloid metaplasia diagnosed at age 38 years presenting with anemia, fatigue, bruising, fever, and splenomegaly. At age 56, she had 50--95% myeloblast cells and 95--100 nucleated RBC precursors per 100 WBC. Chromosome analysis of unstimulated leukocytes with Q, G, and C banding showed 46,XX,-6,+t(1;6) (q25;p22) in all metaphase cells. In vitro incorporation of Fe55 was demonstrated 90% of metaphases by autoradiography. The second patient, a 49-year-old male, was diagnosed as having polycythemia vera at age 30 during a regular checkup. He since developed hepatosplenomegaly. Chromosome analysis from a direct bone marrow preparation at age 44 and 45 showed grossly normal karyotypes. At age 49, his marrow by Q and G banding showed almost 100% of cells with 46,XY,-13,+t(1;13) (q12;p12). Eleven cases of trisomy of 1q have been reported in various hematologic disorders. It is apparent that partial trisomy 1q represents another nonrandom chromosomal abnormality, in addition to the most common nonrandom chromosomal aberrations, such as the Philadelphia chromosome, trisomy 8, trisomy 9, and monosomy 7 in hematologic disorders.

Chromosomes, Human, 1-3↗