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Biomedical subjects

T Kirkpatrick

Publications and source records attributed to T Kirkpatrick.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Routine screening for psychosocial distress following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer is often associated with high levels of psychosocial distress, yet exploration of these issues is rarely included in routine oncologic care. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of screening for psychosocial distress after autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. A total of 80 adults were enrolled in Boston, MA, USA. Subjects completed self-administered assessments prior to hospital admission, at their first clinic visit after hospital discharge, and at 100 days post transplant. Assessments included validated instruments assessing psychosocial distress and quality of life (QOL). Elevated levels of anxiety and/or depression were detected in 55% of those providing pre-transplant assessments and were associated with compromised QOL. Post transplant screening was successfully performed in 69% of subjects and identified that 44% had symptoms of depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder. Pre-transplant distress was associated with detection of distress after transplantation (81 vs 13%, P< 0.0001). In summary, we detected high levels of distress in transplant patients using self-administered tools. Pre-transplant distress appears to be highly predictive of distress post transplant and is a feasible marker to target screening and intervention programs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The acute and sub-chronic effects of levocetirizine, cetirizine, loratadine, promethazine and placebo on cognitive function, psychomotor performance, and weal and flare.

AIM: To compare the central and peripheral H1 inhibitory effects of acute and sub-chronic doses of levocetirizine (L-CTZ), cetirizine (CTZ), loratadine (LOR) and promethazine (PRM) versus placebo, using a battery of psychomotor and cognitive tests together with measures of the weal and flare reaction. PRM was included in the study as a positive internal control to validate the sensitivity of the psychometric test battery to the CNS effects of the various treatments. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers (18-50 years) received L-CTZ 5mg, CTZ 10 mg, LOR 10 mg, PRM 30 mg and placebo once daily for four days in a five-way, double-blind, crossover study. For each treatment condition, subjects were assessed using a psychometric test system and a pinprick weal and flare response to 100 mg/ml histamine solution at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 ,4, 6, 8, 10 and 122 hours post-dose on days 1 and 4. The psychometrics comprised critical flicker fusion (CFF), choice reaction time (CRT), a continuous tracking task (CTT) and subjective rating scales for sedation (LARS). On days 2 and 3, subjects took their medication at pre-designated times while out of the unit. RESULTS: The verum (PRM) established the sensitivity of the test battery: a significant overall reduction in CFF thresholds on both days 1 and 4 (p < 0.05); an overall significant increase (impairment) in recognition, motor and total reaction times on day 1 (p < 0.05); a significant impairment of both the tracking accuracy and reaction time aspects of the CTT task on day 1 (p < 0.005) and significantly higher ratings of subjective sedation on day 1 (p < 0.05). L-CTZ, CTZ and LOR were not distinguishable from placebo in any of the objective and subjective tests at any time point on either day 1 or day 4. With regards to the peripheral inhibitory effects, L-CTZ inhibited both the weal and flare reaction, with maximum inhibition (almost 100%) occurring within two hours of drug ingestion. CTZ also showed evidence of potent peripheral inhibition of histamine, whereas PRM, and especially LOR, showed only a weak weal and flare reaction which had completely attenuated at day 4. CONCLUSIONS: In a study where the psychometric assessments were shown to be sensitive to impairment, L-CTZ 5 mg was found following both initial and repeated doses, but also to be demonstrably free from disruptive and sedative effects on objective measures of psychomotor and cognitive function. Similarly, CTZ showed evidence of pronounced antihistaminic activity and significantly reduced weal and flare scores after both acute and repeated doses, again without evidence of cognitive or psychomotor impairment. LOR also was non-sedative but the antihistaminic reaction was demonstrably weak.

Adult↗

The career success of an adult with a learning disability: a psychosocial study of amnesic-semantic aphasia.

B.I. is a 39-year-old, intellectually gifted (IQ = 130) man with learning disabilities who, without known cause, demonstrated symptoms of amnesic-semantic aphasia at age 13. This led to placement in a public school class for students with mild mental retardation and to his dropping out of school after repeating Grade 9. His aphasia is associated with a severe deficit in speech comprehension, poor reading and writing, spatial confusion, and episodic memory loss. We studied the remarkable behavioral and cognitive adjustments that have enabled him to lead a fulfilling life and become a highly successful business executive. Implications are discussed in the context of patterns of successful functioning and current views of the neuropsychological and neurological bases of such disorders.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Pharmacokinetics of propofol (diprivan) in elderly patients.

The pharmacokinetics of propofol (2,6 diisopropylphenol) were compared in 12 patients aged 65-80 yr and 12 patients aged 18-35 yr. After premedication with papaveretum i.m., anaesthesia was induced with propofol 2.0 mg kg-1 in the elderly and 2.5 mg kg-1 in the younger patients. Alcuronium 12-20 mg was then given and the patient's lungs ventilated with halothane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. Blood was taken after various time intervals up to 24 h for the measurement of propofol concentrations by HPLC and for the estimation of propofol protein binding. The mean blood propofol concentration was generally higher in the elderly group, but this difference was only significant at 2 min after induction. The clearance of propofol was significantly lower in the elderly (1.44 +/- 0.10 (SE) litre min-1) than in the younger patients (1.79 +/- 0.12 litre min-1). The volume of the central compartment in the elderly patients was significantly smaller (19.6 +/- 5.2 litre) than that in the young (26.3 +/- 2.9 litre). There was no difference in the volume of distribution at equilibrium (1608 +/- 246 litre in the elderly and 1757 +/- 360 litre in the young), in the volume of distribution at steady state (691 +/- 139 litre in the elderly and 771 +/- 236 litre in the young) or in the half-lives of distribution and elimination. The plasma protein binding of propofol was similar in both groups and showed no trend with time after dose.

Adult↗

Plasma morphine concentrations after intramuscular injection into the deltoid or gluteal muscles.

The absorption of morphine 10 mg after intramuscular injection into the gluteal and deltoid muscles was investigated. Ten patients received the injection into the deltoid and 10 were given the injection into the upper outer quadrant of the buttock. Blood was taken at frequent intervals up to 2 hours after the injection for plasma morphine analysis by high performance liquid chromatography. Morphine concentrations were generally higher in the gluteal group although the mean peak concentrations (62.8 ng/ml in the gluteal group and 52.3 ng/ml in the deltoid group) were similar. Peak morphine concentrations varied from 22.5-99.3 ng/ml in the gluteal group and 26.5-84.5 ng/ml in the deltoid group. The area under the concentration-time curve was significantly greater in the gluteal group than in the deltoid group but this difference disappeared when allowance was made for differences in body weight of the two groups. We conclude that the absorption of morphine from the deltoid and gluteal sites is similar.

Adult↗