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Biomedical subjects

S Hepburn

Publications and source records attributed to S Hepburn.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Conducting clinical research in the new NHS: the model of cancer. United Kingdom Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research.

The United Kingdom Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research represents the major organizations funding cancer research in the United Kingdom. The deliberations of a working party convened by the committee to evaluate recently expressed concerns that the changes in the NHS threaten research, especially clinical trials to evaluate new treatments, are reported. A survey of contributors to trials coordinated by the committee showed that half are now experiencing difficulties in continuing to participate in clinical trials. The two major problems identified were lack of time and of staff, especially for NHS staff in non-teaching hospitals. Recent changes in junior doctors' hours and proposed reductions in the length of time for training will exacerbate this. It is possible to identify the direct and indirect excess costs of conducting research in the NHS, but currently the mechanism does not exist to designate funds specifically for this purpose. Consultation with the regional directors of research and development confirmed that the service increment for teaching and research is not the solution for this. Proposals are made to secure future clinical research in the NHS, including finance, indemnity, the licensing of new drugs, the greater use of nurse counsellors, and the value of cancer registries.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1993

Orgaran (Org 10172) or heparin for preventing venous thrombosis after elective surgery for malignant disease? A double-blind, randomised, multicentre comparison. ANZ-Organon Investigators' Group.

This double-blind, randomised, multicentre trial in 513 patients having elective surgery for intra-abdominal or intrathoracic malignancy compared the efficacy and safety of venous thrombosis (VT) prophylaxis using 750 anti-factor Xa units of Orgaran (a mixture of low molecular weight heparinoids) given subcutaneously (sc) twice-daily with that of twice-daily injections of 5,000 units standard heparin. The main study endpoints were the development of postoperative VT detected by 125I-fibrinogen leg scanning, and the onset of clinically significant venous thromboembolism or bleeding. "Intent to treat" analysis showed a statistically non-significant trend towards less VT during Orgaran prophylaxis (10.4%) than after heparin (14.9%) and there was no difference in bleeding complications between the two study groups. Results remained similar if only patients who completed the intended course of therapy ("compliant patients") were analysed. Other trials have shown that Orgaran prevents VT after hip surgery and stroke. We now show it is also safe and effective in patients having major surgery for cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Advanced glycosylation end products in the mesenteric artery.

We measured advanced glycosylation end products in the mesenteric artery of 37 patients (ages 29-82 years), 34 of whom were nondiabetic. Samples of arterial tissue were obtained during bowel resectioning. Advanced glycosylation end products were measured as collagen-linked fluorescence (excitation wavelength 370 nm, emission wavelength 440 nm) after collagenase digestion of tissue samples. Mean fluorescence of the arterial samples was 15 U/mg (range 5.3-27). Collagen fluorescence correlated with patients' age (r = 0.57; P less than 0.001). No difference in the collagen-linked fluorescence was observed between men and women (P = 0.63), hypertensive and normotensive patients (P = 0.44), smokers and nonsmokers (P = -0.52), and patients with and without symptomatic coronary heart disease (P = 0.7). This study demonstrates, for the first time, the relationship between collagen-linked fluorescence and patients' age in human arterial tissue ex vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The effectiveness of barrier methods of contraception with and without spermicide.

This paper reviews trials of the effectiveness of barrier contraception with and without spermicide, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using spermicides with barriers. There is very little evidence to allow comparison of the effectiveness of barriers with and without spermicide. Little or no evidence could be found to support many of the instructions given to users of barrier contraception. The lack of scientific data on this subject has prompted us to recommend research in specific areas. Until the findings of such research are available, the information which has emerged from this review suggests that the recommendations issued to users of barrier contraception should be brought up-to-date.

Contraceptive Devices, Female↗
PubMed1979

Adolescent pregnancy in Australia. A hazard of early sexual intercourse.

The incidence in Australia of pregnancy in women under the age of twenty years is increasing, and constitutes a major medical and social problem. The outcome of these pregnancies has changed greatly during the past decade: more unmarried teenaged mothers are keeping their babies, fewer young women are marrying because of pregnancy, and the number of adolescents undergoing induced abortion continues to rise. Some suggestions for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy are discussed in this paper.

Abortion, Induced↗