PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

T Hopkins

Publications and source records attributed to T Hopkins.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Skin infections in Tanna, Vanuatu in 1989.

Skin infections are an important health problem in Vanuatu and other Pacific island countries. In this study, 18,223 people, representing 90% of the population of the southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu, were examined. Scabies was found in 16% of those screened, with 24% of children under 10 years affected. Other skin infections were predominantly furuncles, abscesses, impetigo and cellulitis and were found in 12% overall and in 16% of children under 10 years of age. These infections were found to be more common in larger households and in the vicinity of the volcano Yasur. Strategies for prevention and management of skin infections in Vanuatu are discussed.

Adolescent

Yaws infection in Tanna, Vanuatu 1989.

Yaws has been resurgent in the island of Tanna in southern Vanatu in the 1980's. Screening, conducted in 1988 and in 1989 during a mass treatment program identified a total of 464 clinical cases from the population of 20,200, a rate of 23 per thousand. Most of these (82%) were under 15 years of age. Serology was performed on 286 of which 23% were VDRL positive. Primary care services had been hampered in controlling yaws by difficulties with transport, isolation, community resistance and the lack of skilled personel to diagnose yaws and arrange prophylactic treatment. A mass screening and treatment program was implemented in 1989 with 91.8% coverage. This program was designed to work in the context of primary health care and thus has enhanced the relationship between the health services and local villagers. The program was successfully integrated with other health activities including health education, treatment of other diseases and vector control.

Age Factors

Potentiation of aminoglycoside inhibition and reduction of capsular polysaccharide production in Klebsiella pneumoniae by sodium salicylate.

This study determined the effects of sodium salicylate combined with several aminoglycoside antibiotics on the growth and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) production of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Salicylate significantly enhanced in inhibitory effect of all aminoglycoside antibiotics against all bacterial strains tested. The production of CPS was decreased by 62-86% when 2.5 mM salicylate was used. Amikacin combined with salicylate reduced CPS only slightly more than salicylate alone. The chelating agents, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid and ethylene bis tetraacetic acid, which have similar CPS-reducing properties, did not enhance the inhibitory effect of amikacin. Noncapsular variants of strains of K. pneumoniae were as susceptible to amikacin as the fully encapsulated strains, with or without salicylate present. Therefore, the combination of salicylate and the aminoglycosides acted synergistically to inhibit K. pneumoniae growth, but the increase in antibiotic sensitivity with salicylate was not a result of a reduction in CPS production. The use of salicylate in maximum therapeutic doses may enhance the activity of aminoglycosides sufficiently to allow the dose of aminoglycoside to be reduced when infections due to K. pneumoniae are treated.

Aminoglycosides

The effect of sodium salicylate on antibiotic susceptibility and synergy in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Sodium salicylate was combined with the antibiotics amikacin, aztreonam, cefazolin, cefonicid, cefoperazone, ceftizoxime, norfloxacin, doxycycline, clindamycin, imipenem, mezlocillin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. The activity of the combinations was tested against encapsulated strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which differed markedly in their antibiotic susceptibility. The addition of salicylate (from 2 to 350 mg/l) to cultures increased the MIC of most antimicrobial agents from two- to four-fold, with the exception of imipenem and amikacin. Inhibition by imipenem was largely unchanged, and that of amikacin was increased in the presence of salicylate. The synergy of the combination of cefazolin and amikacin was abolished by salicylate, while the synergistic activity of imipenem and amikacin was significantly increased by salicylate. Doxycycline activity was most severely affected by salicylate as antimicrobial activity was significantly diminished at salicylate levels as low as 5 mg/l. In contrast, significant loss of inhibitory activity with other antimicrobials required at least 100 mg/l of salicylate. The clinical implications of salicylate on the sensitivity of K. pneumoniae to antimicrobials are discussed.

4-Quinolones

The role of angiotensin in the canine renal vascular response to barbiturate anesthesia.

The influence of barbiturate anesthesia on renal blood flow was assessed by the xenon washout method in trained dogs with catheters chronically implanted in the renal artery. Anesthesia induced with either thiopental sodium or pentobarbital sodium resulted in a striking reduction in renal blood flow (4.1 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.2 ml/g per min; P less than 0.001) without a change in arterial pressure. The reduction in blood flow was prevented by a high salt intake and partially reversed by agents which interrupt the renin-angiotensin system (BPF 9a; 1-Sar,8-Ala-angiotensin II; propranolol) but not by alpha-adrenergic blocking agents (phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine). Anesthesia blunted the renal vascular response to angiotensin II (P less than 0.0005) whereas responsiveness to norepinephrine was increased (P less than 0.05). We conclude that barbiturate anesthesia induces a major, angiotensin-mediated renal vascular response which must be considered in the interpretation of experiments performed under these conditions.

Anesthesia, Intravenous

Measuring the kidneys-practical applications using a growth and hypertrophy chart.

A graphic and practical method for displaying renal growth utilizes a growth-hypertrophy chart. It is best suited for following renal growth on sequential intravenous urograms in patients with urinary tract infection, reflux and problems in which renal growth reflects the efficacy of therapy. The chart uses established standards for normal kidney length, and rates of growth and hypertrophy, and enables one to tell at a glance whether the renal growth is normal. Pitfalls both in the method of measuring the renal lengths and in the interpretation of the measurements are discussed.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Crazy words.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude of Health Personnel