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Biomedical subjects

S Ferry

Publications and source records attributed to S Ferry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ganciclovir in plasma.

A rapid, selective and sensitive isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ganciclovir in plasma samples was developed. This method, which was applied to the analysis of plasma ganciclovir from heart transplant patients under ganciclovir therapy for cytomegalovirus infections, represents a suitable analytical tool for drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic investigations.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1991

Pharmacokinetics of methohexital during cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

The pharmacokinetics of methohexital after intravenous bolus administration was studied during cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The effect of body temperature (normothermia and hypothermia) during cardiopulmonary bypass on methohexital pharmacokinetics was investigated. The pharmacokinetic data obtained were compared with those from vascular surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass. A marked decrease in plasma methohexital concentrations and therefore in area under curve and a significant increase in clearance and in volume of distribution were observed in the cardiopulmonary bypass groups compared to the vascular surgery group without cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the elimination half-life and the mean residence time were similar in the 2 groups. Furthermore, the study shows that body temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass does not influence methohexital pharmacokinetics.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Optimized urinary microscopy for assessment of bacteriuria in primary care.

Microscopy of wet-stained urinary sediment as an indicator of bacteriuria was evaluated in 418 consecutive primary care visits in a small community. Delivery of morning urine was encouraged and contributed to bladder incubation times of 4 or more hours in 79% of the visits; the overall culture positivity was about 80%. Bacteria or leukocytes alone or together as minimal requirements were suboptimal microscopy criteria for bacteriuria, whereas a minimum of moderate amounts of bacteria or 5 leukocytes per high-power field (x400) as a cutoff point yielded the best diagnostic accuracy. Optimization of urinary sediment microscopy in this way resulted in a desirable high sensitivity (97%) and efficacy (86%) in acutely symptomatic patients, as well as reasonably high efficacy (79%) in other patients, independent of sex or bladder incubation time. The method's simplicity and speed recommend it for use in primary care, particularly in patients with acute symptoms of urinary tract infection.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1989

A controlled study of Dextran 40: effect on cerebral blood flow and metabolic rates in acute head trauma.

A controlled double-blind evaluation of the effects of Dextran 40 at different concentrations on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2) and cerebral lactate production (CMRLact) was carried out. We studied 40 patients in coma due to recent head injury. Concentrations of Dextran solution were not significantly related to variations in CBF and metabolic rate over the period of infusion. The lack of effect of the Dextran infusion may be explained by the absence of global brain ischemia in these patients at the time of the study. The very low initial CBF values were a consequence of brain metabolic depression and not a sign of global ischaemia. The rheological benefits of treatment with Dextran 40 in head injured patients should preferably be investigated using techniques which permit detection of local changes in CBF and metabolism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Uricult and Sensicult dipslides for diagnosis of bacteriuria and prediction of drug resistance in primary health care.

Uricult dipslide as an indicator of bacteriuria yielded acceptable results in primary health care (PHC), and readings by local staffs were similar to those by laboratory technicians. Sensicult dipslide detected somewhat fewer bacteriurias and predicted bacterial drug sensitivity better than resistance (predictive values 93% and 50%, respectively). The mean risk of bacterial drug resistance against seven common urinary tract infection (UTI) antibiotics in PHC was 17%. The use of Sensicult for targeting UTI therapy resulted in an average risk of 7% for prescribing drugs to which the organism was resistant. The corresponding risk with Uricult for classification of UTI bacteria by Gram grouping, lactose and catalase reactions, and local guidelines for therapy of different bacterial groups, was also 7%. The latter method is simple, offers qualitative, and thus prognostic information, but can be further improved.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed1988

A comparative evaluation of the effects of propafenone and lidocaine on early ventricular arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing the antiarrhythmic effects of lidocaine (given intravenously as a bolus injection of 100 mg followed by an infusion of 2 mg min-1) and propafenone (given as a bolus of 105 mg followed by 300 mg orally every 8 h) was conducted in the first 24 h following acute myocardial infarction. Analysis of ventricular arrhythmias was carried out by Holter recordings. The three treatment groups, propafenone (36 patients), lidocaine (28 patients), and placebo (25 patients), did not differ with respect to age, gender, prevalence of previous infarction, delay from the onset of pain to hospitalization, clinical features on entry (the patients with heart failure or malignant arrhythmias were excluded), site of acute myocardial infarction, or CPK peak. A decrease in the number of ventricular premature beats was noted with lidocaine, but was not statistically significant. The analysis of the first 8 h showed trends suggesting that only lidocaine could suppress complex arrhythmias, couplets and ventricular tachycardia. The drugs were well tolerated. Mean plasma concentrations of propafenone and lidocaine were 517 +/- 464 ng ml-1 and 3.84 +/- 1.10 mg l-1, respectively. In conclusion, this study does not favour the use of propafenone as an alternative to lidocaine therapy during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed1988

Clinical and bacteriological effects of therapy of urinary tract infection in primary health care: relation to in vitro sensitivity testing.

17 primary health care (PHC) centres participated in a 1-month evaluation of a county urinary tract infection (UTI) management program. A total of 302 patients contributing 355 episodes, dominated by female (93%), lower symptomatic (75%) and Escherichia coli (74%) episodes were studied. In therapeutic failure gram-negative bacteria other than E. coli showed an increased prevalence whereas Staphylococcus saprophyticus was not found. The general pattern of drug resistance was little influenced by UTI history and the mean pretherapy prevalence of resistance to the 7 antibacterial agents studied was low (7%). Drug resistance was increased in failure (mean 24%) also for agents not used for therapy (sulphonamides and nitrofurantoin) but not in early or repeated recurrence. UTI symptoms were eradicated in only two-thirds of bacteriologically cured episodes but in one-third of the failures at the posttreatment control. On average, therapy resulted in 8% bacteriological failure and 12% early recurrence. The bacteriological cure rate was the same irrespective of whether the infecting bacteria were classified as sensitive or resistant in vitro to the drug given. Thus, sensitivity testing of isolates is rarely needed in sporadic or recurrent UTI in PHC but may be relevant in failure. In order to be of prognostic value in uncomplicated UTI high-level breakpoints focusing more on peak urinary drug concentrations need to be studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Short-term nalidixic acid plus sodium citrate in acute lower urinary tract infection.

Low-dose nalidixic acid (0.66 g) in combination with 4 g of sodium citrate (NAC) was evaluated in acute lower UTI. In college-age females (n = 24) given NAC every 8 h for 3 days the nalidixic acid (NA) susceptible infecting strain was eradicated in 100% of the patients and recurrence during the 1 month follow-up period occurred in 1 case (5%) classified as relapse. In a following study the corresponding rates in general practice (GP) patients (n = 71) were 90% and 17%, respectively, irrespective of treatment with NAC every 12 h for 3 days or 5 days. The failures observed in GP were due to persistence of (or immediate reinfection by) the original infecting strain (4%) or its NA resistant mutant (6%). Emergence of NA resistance was associated with high age of the patient and a high incidence of NA resistant mutants in the infecting Escherichia coli strain. NA susceptible failure and recurrence during follow-up occurred primarily in younger GP patients. The recurrences were equally often classified as relapse (6 cases) as reinfection (5 cases). About 20% of the patients reported rather innocuous transient side effects of NAC and interruption of medication occurred in 1 case (0.6%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Urinary tract infection in primary health care in northern Sweden. I. Epidemiology.

During a 12-month study at the primary health care (PHC) centre in Vännäs (population 8,000) 632 encounters by 265 individuals because of suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) or control after treatment resulted in 279 episodes of bacteriuria in 185 patients. Nine per cent of the episodes concerned patients with indwelling catheter or incontinence requiring other aids. Symptoms of lower and higher UTI were recorded in 56 and 12%, respectively, whereas one third of the episodes were associated with vague or no symptoms and discovered mainly at planned treatment controls. The annual incidence of bacteriuria recorded increased from 0.5% in the first decade of life to more than 10% in the age group 90-100 years. Male UTI comprised 13% of the episodes, increased after middle age and contributed 40% at greater than or equal to 80 years of age. The risk of recurrence (on average 50% during the year studied) was relatively independent of sex and age. No seasonal variation of UTI was observed except for a peak in late summer due to Staphylococcus saprophyticus confined to females aged 15-64 years and causing 28% of the episodes in August. Although UTI in PHC appears to be similar globally it represents a far more complex patient group than indicated by the UTI drug trials frequently published.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Urinary tract infection in primary health care in northern Sweden. II. Clinical presentation.

In a multipractice prevalence study of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in primary health care (PHC), with 355 episodes in 302 individuals during one month, 93% of the episodes occurred in females and Escherichia coli was the dominating causative organism (77%). Most episodes of UTI (84%) were acute and associated with lower (75%), upper (5%) or uncharacteristic symptoms (4%) whereas 16% represented bacteriuria discovered by posttreatment controls. Urgency (77%) and dysuria (70%) were the most common symptoms. Loin pain was highly associated with upper UTI (88%) but was reported also in 23% of episodes of lower UTI. Patient's delay differed between PHC centres and patient categories and was surprisingly long, four weeks in nine per cent and on average 8.4 days.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Urinary tract infection in primary health care in northern Sweden. III. Bacteriology in relation to clinical and epidemiological factors.

The spectrum of bacteria causing urinary tract infection (UTI) and their patterns of drug resistance were found to be more associated with the process of selecting the patients and their sex and age than with the symptoms of the patient (lower, upper or asymptomatic UTI). UTI caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus was seen mainly in female patients in primary health care (PHC), showed a peak in August and was rarely complicated by therapeutic failures or recurrences. The average risk of resistance of the infecting strain to the seven drugs tested increased from eight per cent for the uncomplicated and 17% for the average PHC patient to 36% among PHC patients with indwelling catheter or urinary incontinence, whereas recurrences of UTI were associated with a surprisingly small increase of drug resistance. In all UTI patient groups studied, the lowest incidences of bacterial resistance were recorded for trimethoprim and co-trimoxazole (0-17%). Thus, rational selection of UTI therapy in PHC requires knowledge of the influence of clinical factors on the expected bacteriology including the local pattern of drug resistance.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1987

Initiating change in primary care, the Vännäs Project. Its realization and evaluation.

It is expected that the development of primary care shall add qualities such as accessibility, continuity and cooperation to the health care system. In Sweden the health care system is mainly based on hospital care, but projects organized outside hospital settings have been tested, the Primary Health Care Center of Vännäs being one of many. This article reports on the aims of the Vännäs Project and the means used to accomplish postulated goals. In a study conducted between 1976 and 1980, we analyzed the interaction of the aims, means and evaluation of the project. The need for a functioning interplay among the three components was emphasized in order to promote sound planning and knowledgeable decisions. A model for development work in primary care is proposed to give stability and structure to thoughts and ideas when changes are being considered. To further primary care, it is necessary to proceed with a clear structure in order to prevent chance and fashion from running the development.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMed1987

Waiting room time in the assessment of an appointment system in primary care.

Excessive time spent waiting in health care facilities is a nuisance to patients as well as to physicians who then have to see these dissatisfied patients. Most efforts to enhance surgery efficiency have been to optimize physician working hours and patient waiting time has been a minor concern, in particular in countries with a shortage of physicians. At the Vännäs Primary Health Care Centre in northern Sweden, efforts were made to reduce waiting time by making changes in office routines and by introducing a new appointment system. All visits to physicians during two four-week periods (March 1977 and March 1979) were analyzed, with the changes being introduced in the interim. The total time spent waiting by patients, and the patient waiting time in relation to the time scheduled were reduced. A slight increase in physician idle time was also noted. The measures taken to reduce waiting time were effective and contributed to the fulfillment of a postulated aim.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed1986

Systolic time intervals in evaluation of the negative inotropic effect after single oral doses of mexiletine and disopyramide.

A placebo-controlled, single blind, crossover study was done to evaluate the inotropic effects of single oral doses of mexiletine and disopyramide assessed by the measurement of Systolic Time Intervals (STI). Each of 8 healthy volunteers received five treatments in random order: 200 and 400 mg mexiletine, 100 and 200 mg disopyramide, and placebo. There was a significant increase in cumulated PEP after 400 mg mexiletine and 200 mg disopyramide. There was no significant change in LVET and QS2. Peak plasma levels were in the lower range of the reputed antiarrythmic levels. Plasma concentration-effect relationships are discussed. Although the study revealed large inter- and intrasubject variability in the measured STIs, it is concluded that a negative inotropic effect was detected despite the low plasma levels of the minor negative inotropic drugs.

Adult↗