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Biomedical subjects

W M Castleden

Publications and source records attributed to W M Castleden.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

The effect of cessation of smoking on the accumulative survival rates of patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease.

A study of the accumulative survival rates of 133 patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease was carried out comparing the survival rates of tobacco smokers and non-smokers. Within the smoking group, those who continued to smoke after the surgery were compared to those who ceased smoking. Of these patients with peripheral vascular disease, 86% were, or had been, smokers. Their survival rates were less than for those who had never been smokers. Of the smoking group, those who claimed to have ceased smoking had almost twice the chance of surviving five years than those who continued to smoke. From these data, we conclude that it is never too late to stop the smoking habit.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1982

Beta-adrenergic blockade and peripheral vascular disease.

Hypertension and ischaemic heart disease are common accompaniments of peripheral vascular disease, and are often treated with beta-blocking drugs. Previous reports, however, have suggested that these drugs may aggravate peripheral vascular disease. A study was designed to investigate this problem with claudication-distance and skin and muscle blood-flow studies (as determined by 133Xe clearance) as indices for assessment. In all 11 patients who presented with features of peripheral vascular disease and were found to be taking beta-blocking drugs, administration of the drug was stopped, blood pressure was controlled by other means, and the situation was reassessed four weeks later. There was a significant improvement in claudication distance and in resting and post-exercise muscle blood flow after withdrawal of the drug. This held for both cardioselective and nonselective beta-blockers. It is recommended that this group of drugs be avoided in the treatment of patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1981

Final examinations in surgery: support for the retention of the clinical examination.

Students' results in the final M.B., B.S. (W.A.) examination in surgery between 1976 and 1979 inclusive (375 students) were analysed. Marks in all parts of the examination, namely clinical, multiple choice, essays, pathology, and fifth year multiple choice, were correlated with each other and the total mark in surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that the marks in the clinical examination accounted for most of the variation in a student's total mark, and this was only in part due to its heavy weighting in Western Australia. The authors of this paper strongly support the retention of the clinical examination in surgery and consider that the loading placed on this part of the final examination in Western Australia is justified.

Australia↗
PubMed1981

Haemoglobin, smoking and peripheral vascular disease.

One hundred and four patients with peripheral vascular disease requiring operation were reviewed retrospectively with respect to age, sex, preoperative haemoglobin, smoking habits and diabetic status. The preoperative haemoglobin levels and smoking status in 63 non-diabetic male patients with peripheral vascular disease were compared with a matched group of individuals treated for inguinal hernia. For all patients there was a significant correlation between smoking habits, preoperative haemoglobin level and the presence of peripheral vascular disease. The mechanisms by which smoking may damage the vascular tree are reviewed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

The effect of dietary lactulose on experimental large bowel cancer.

The hypothesis that feeding of lactulose might reduce large bowel tumour development was tested in an animal model. One hundred rats were divided into groups fed either a standard rat diet with water 'ad libitum', or the same diet but with 3.3% lactulose added to the drinking water. Large bowel tumours were induced by weekly injections of 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH). There was no significant difference between the number of tumours found in the standard diet or the lactulose-treated groups. This result does not seem to support the colonic flora - bile salt theory of large bowel carcinogenesis.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗
PubMed1979

Diet, liver function and dimethylhydrazine-induced gastrointestinal tumours in male Wistar rats.

Male Wistar rats fed a normal laboratory pelleted diet, when treated s.c. with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) 10 mg/kg/wk survived the 24-week experiment, showed no signs of chemical toxicity or macroscopic liver damage, and developed mainly large-bowel tumours. Conversely, male Wistar rats treated with 20 mg/kg/wk DMH did not survive the full term of the experiment and developed ascites, pleural effusions and nodular livers. They also developed more small-bowel tumours than large-bowel tumours. The relationship between the predominant site of tumour development and dosage of DMH was highly significant.Male Wistar rats fed with an all-liquid diet (Vivonex) and treated with 20 mg/kg/wk DMH behaved quite differently both in terms of survival and site of tumour development. These rats survived the full term of the experiment, showed no signs of chemical toxicity, experienced minimal liver damage and developed predominantly large-bowel tumours. The protection afforded by the all-liquid diet against DMH toxicity and small-bowel tumour induction was statistically highly significant.A series of blood tests with special reference to liver function confirmed the highly significant degree of protection against liver damage afforded by the all-liquid diet.Sections of liver from treated rats were examined, and a simple pathological scoring system was devised which showed a highly significant difference in liver histology between standard diet and liquid-diet rats treated with 20 mg/kg/wk DMH.The results strongly suggest an association between severity of liver damage from DMH and the subsequent development of small-bowel tumours. The all-liquid diet protected rats from liver damage and these rats developed significantly fewer small-bowel tumours.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1979

Diverticular disease of the colon and gallstones in New Zealand and England.

The clinical presentation and subsequent treatment of 160 consecutive patients with proven diverticular disease of the colon from the Auckland Hospital, New Zealand were compared with 182 consecutive patients admitted to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. There were significant differences in sex incidence, in the ages of the male patients at presentation, patient symptoms, extent of disease and methods of surgical treatment. These probably reflect differences in the types of National Health Services of the two countries, rather than differences in the natural history of diverticular disease of the colon. Overall, the 342 patients studied show a very good correlation with other large series published over the last 10 years. This study confirms the previously reported association between diverticular disease of the colon and gallstones. It confirms that gallstones are more common in female patients with or without diverticular disease. It suggests that Auckland patients with gallstones are more likely to have had a cholecystectomy than London patients. The possible role of dietary fiber in the aetiology of both gallstones and diverticular disease of the colon is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Retained common bile duct calculi.

A method of elimination of gallstones remaining in the common bile duct after exploration of the duct is described. The retained stone is flushed through the common duct sphincter into the duodenum using rapid infusion of normal saline via a T tube. The method is quick and simple and is recommended as the first step to take in the management of this discomforting group of patients. The method is not without potential morbidity and should only be carried out under carefully controlled conditions.

Adult↗