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Biomedical subjects

S Carruthers

Publications and source records attributed to S Carruthers.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Induced sputum: time from expectoration to processing.

One of the limitations in the use of induced sputum to measure indices of airway inflammation is the perceived need to process the sample within 2 h. Therefore, the authors investigated whether the processing of induced sputum could be delayed. Induced sputum samples obtained from asthmatic subjects (n=30) were examined. Each sample was stored at 4 degrees C. A portion was selected and processed within 2 h and the remaining expectorate (sputum plus saliva) was refrigerated. Later an equal amount was selected and processed at either 9 (n=15) or 18 (n=15) h. The sputum was examined for cell counts and viability, fluid-phase eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and fibrinogen. Repeatability of measurements was assessed by the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Measurements obtained at 9 h did not differ from those made at 2 h and the repeatability was excellent (ICC 0.88-0.99). However, by 18 h the median cell viability was reduced from 65.0% to 43.0% and the ICC was generally lower: 0.10 for total cell count, 0.24 for viability, 0.60 for neutrophils, 0.90 for eosinophils, 0.56 for macrophages, 0.76 for ECP, 0.82 for IL-8 and 0.84 for fibrinogen. The results indicate that when induced sputum from subjects with asthma is kept at 4 degrees C, examination of cell counts can be delayed for < or = 9 h and for the fluid-phase indices measured for < or = 18 h. Further investigation of this issue is required for spontaneous sputum, other airway diseases and other inflammatory markers.

Asthma↗
PubMed2001

Australian high-dose-rate brachytherapy protocols for gynaecological malignancy.

There is no consensus over the optimal dose fractionation schedules for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy used for gynaecological malignancy. In Australian public hospital departments of radiation oncology, HDR brachytherapy for gynaecological cancer is being more commonly used. A survey of public departments that are using this technology, or that plan to introduce this technology, was performed. Their current protocols are presented. In general, protocols are similar biologically; however, the practical aspects such as the number of fractions given do vary and may reflect resource restrictions or, alternatively, differences in interpretations of the literature and of the best protocols by clinicians.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

Increased detection of interleukin-5 in sputum by addition of protease inhibitors.

The measurement of interleukin (IL)-5 in sputum is problematic, with interfering factors affecting immunoassay. The authors investigated whether sputum proteases could be acting as interfering factors by studying the effect of protease inhibitors (PI) on sputum IL-5 measurement. Induced sputa from 20 subjects with asthma were divided into aliquots, processed with and without protease inhibitors (in low and high concentrations) and the levels of IL-5 (spiked and endogenous) measured by enzyme immunoassay were compared. The concentration of sputum IL-5 was significantly increased by PI, with median (interquartile range) levels processed with no, low and high PI concentrations being 0 (0), 41.8 (75.6) and 66.1 (124.4) pg x mL(-1), respectively. There was also a significant increase in percentage recovery of spiked IL-5. Although high concentrations of PI reduced cell viability, there was no effect on total or differential cell counts and low concentrations of PI had no effect on cell counts or viability. Levels of endogenous interleukin-5 in sputum of asthmatic subjects can be significantly increased by the addition of protease inhibitors, and samples which would be regarded as negative for interleukin-5 without protease inhibitors may instead have considerable amounts of interleukin-5 detected.

Asthma↗
PubMed1995

Hepatitis C and young drug users: are they about to join the epidemic?

This study investigated what some high-risk youth in Perth knew about, believed about and did about hepatitis C, and the extent to which they had been exposed to the virus, by surveying 234 12-to-20-year-old users of injectable drugs. About half of the respondents (108) gave a blood sample for anonymous hepatitis C virus antibody testing. All respondents had used at least one illicit drug other than marijuana in the previous 12 months and most (75 per cent) reported injecting drugs at least once in the past 12 months. The study group was obtained through drug treatment agencies and interviewer networks. Although more than 80 per cent of the study group had heard of hepatitis C, only 50 per cent considered the infection to be a serious problem. Eighty per cent of respondents were at risk of infection from unsafe injecting practices, and their relevant knowledge of hepatitis C was at best, barely adequate. Of those tested, 5.5 per cent were seropositive. A pool of infection, albeit small, already exists among this group of users of illicit drugs. Given the low average duration of illicit drug use among this group (less than 2 years) and the fact that many of the users are part of a hidden population that will probably never be in treatment, that there is any infection present is of concern. Appropriate, well-aimed education and peer outreach programs are desperately needed if the transmission of hepatitis C among young users of injectable drugs is to be kept to a minimum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of the West Australian School Development in Health Education Project.

In December 1990, the National Centre for Research into the Prevention of Drug Abuse was invited to evaluate the School Development in Health Education Project (SDHE), a national program tested in Western Australia (WA) in 1991. A formative evaluation indicated the project was moderately successful in achieving the objectives in the operational plan. Schools involved reported the project was successful, and they agreed to continue health planning meetings during 1992. The evaluation also indicated that while most schools achieved macro-level change, they achieved little at the micro level. A significant outcome for SDHE WA was the successful application for three-year funding to continue and expand the project as the West Australian School Health program (WASH). Recommendations generated from the SDHE evaluation produced a shift in emphasis for the WASH program from the "action research" orientation of the national program to more content-based professional development. This study highlights the important role formative evaluation can play in developing and refining health education programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Carbon monoxide poisoning and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

This article describes the treatment of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Carbon monoxide poisoning is the commonest cause of fatal poisoning in the UK. Despite this, HBO is an underused treatment modality. Current criteria for hyperbaric treatment include any patient with neurological deficit and any episode of depressed consciousness, cardiovascular disturbance, patients initially treated with surface oxygen and who developed recurrent symptomatology and minor symptoms unresponsive to oxygen. During a 5-year period 82 patients have been treated from a wide geographical area. Of these patients 57% suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of self-poisoning. Other causes of poisoning were: house fire; faulty gas appliances; industrial furnaces; and petrol generators. Of the 82 patients treated, 13 required mechanical ventilation and full haemodynamic monitoring, while the remainder were able to walk in and a few patients received intravenous sedation. In recent years the trend has been to re-treat patients more than once in the first 24 hours to increase efficacy and hopefully decrease the serious sequelae that can occur following CO poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning↗