bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is the Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Myocardial Infarction Decreasing?
Authors: Pitney W. R. , Hickey A. , Gopinath A. , Dean S. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Is the incidence of deep vein thrombosis following myocardial infarction decreasing? W. R. Pitney, A. Hickey, A. Gopinath and S. Dean, Aust. N.Z. J. Med., 1980, 10, pp. 167–171.A trial was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of the antiplatelet drug, flurbiprofen, and subcutaneous heparin in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis following acute myocardial infarction. The original aim of the study could not be fulfilled as the incidence of isotopically‐determined venous thrombosis in the group of control patients was only 9.5%. The incidence in all three groups was too low to assess the effectiveness of flurbiprofen prophylaxis. It is suggested that the low incidence may be related to the recent practice of early physiotherapy and ambulation in coronary care units. The patients who developed venous thrombosis were, on average, a little older than those who did not. No differences were observed in blood viscosity, plasma antithrombin III concentration or mean coronary prognostic index. The low incidence of venous thrombosis following acute myocardial infarction suggests a need to reassess the practice of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy in this condition
Shortened Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Three Year Experience
Authors: Jelinek V. M. , Ziffer R. W. , McDonald I. G. , Hale G. S. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Shortened cardiac rehabilitation: A three year experience. V. M Jelinek, R. W. Ziffer, I. G. McDonald and G S. Hale, Aust N.Z.J. Med., 1980, 10, pp. 171–175.One‐hundred‐and‐twenty‐four (19%) of patients with acute myocardial infarction seen in a three year period from 1975 to 1978 were considered low risk patients suitable for rapid mobilisation, early discharge, and early exercise testing. Their mean long term Norris Prognostic Index was 3.2; the mean date of discharge was 9.6 days, and the mean date of exercise testing was 10.5 days. There were seven deaths and nine non‐fatal recurrenf myocardial infarctions in a mean follow up time of 14.2 months. These events were best predicted by a history of angina prior to myocardial infarction or radiological cardiomegaly detected in the CCU. Altogether 98 (80%) of the patients returned to work at a median time of six weeks after their infarct. The nett effect of the team activity has been to reduce the need for referral to the National Heart Foundation Assessment Centre from an average of 15 patients per year to an average of two per year
Dual Presentation of Polycythaemia Vera and Lymphatic Leukaemia
Authors: Januszewicz E. , Firkin F. C. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Dual presentation of polycythaemia Vera and lymphatic leukaemia. E. Januszewicz and F. C. Firkin, Aust. N.Z. J. Med., 1980, 10, pp. 209–211.A case is described in which polycythaemia Vera was found to co‐exist with chronic lymphatic leukaemia at the time of presentation. This case can be added to five other reported cases of an association between polycythaemia Vera and well‐differentiated lymphocytic neoplasia, and adds further emphasis to the tendency for dual presentation, which has now occurred in all but one of these cases. One explanation is that the association is due to chance, but the tendency for dual presentation raises the possibility that the overall picture reflects neoplastic involvement of stem cells with capacity to differentiate into the lymphoid as well as the erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocytic series
Current Trends in the Management of Myasthenia Gravis: Plasmapheresis and Immunosuppressive Therapy
Authors: Pollard J. D. , Basten A. , Hassall J. E. , Kronenberg H. , Cobcroft R. , Dawkins R. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Current trends in the management of myasthenia gravis: Plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive therapy. J. D. Pollard, A. Basten, J. E. Hassall, H. Kronenberg, R. Cobcroftand R. Dawkins, Aust. N.Z. J. Med., 1980, 10, pp. 212–217.In recent years a considerable body of evidence has accumulated to demonstrate autoimmune mechanisms in myasthenia gravis. This evidence has important implications for the aetiology, diagnosis and management of the diseaseThe primary abnormality in myasthenia gravis is related to the presence of antibody which reacts with the acetylcholine receptor. Measurement of this IgG antibody in the serum has become the most reliable diagnostic adjunct to the edrophonium test, and in an individual patient, the level of the serum antibody relates closely to the clinical indices. In cases of myasthenia where control with anticholinesterase drugs is unsatisfactory, methods to lower the antiacetylcholine receptor antibody are indicated: these may include thymectomy, immunosuppressive therapy or plasmapheresisTwo patients with very severe disease are described in whom all types of therapy were used and in whom survival depended ultimately on the use of plasmapheresis. These patients illustrate the importance of receptor antibody in the clinical manifestations of myasthenia gravis and in its management
Sudden Death in Young Females with Floppy Mitral Valve Syndrome
Authors: Mair W. J. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Sudden death in young females with floppy mitral valve syndrome. W. J. Mair, Aust. N.Z. J. Med., 1980, 10, pp. 221–223.Three cases of sudden death in young females with clinical and pathological features of the floppy mitral valve syndrome are presented. Two patients had a history of syncopal attacks and were found to have intermittent cardiac arrhythmias, in addition to auscultatory findings consistent with mitral valve prolapse. The third patient had complained of attacks of giddiness associated with tachycardia. Sudden, unexpected death in all three cases resulted in coronial autopsies being performed. The clinical and autopsy findings are presented and discussed.
The Importance of Suspecting Sleep Apnoea as a Common Cause of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: Further Experience from the Diagnosis and Management of 19 Patients
Authors: Coverdale S. G. M. , Read D. J. C. , Woolcock A. J. , Schoeffel R. E. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Over an 18 month period, 19 patients were referred for assessment of excessive daytime sleepiness and/or loud snoring. Respiratory studies during sleep were performed in 14 of these patients with additional features such as disturbed sleep, observed apnoea during sleep, morning headache, mental and personality changes, hypertension and cardiac failure.Nocturnal respiratory studies undertaken for periods of 4–8 hours confirmed a diagnosis of the Sleep Apnoea Syndrome in eight patients. In these patients apnoeas, lasting from 30–144 seconds, occurred frequently during sleep (from 35–291 episodes per patient).In one severely affected patient, tracheostomy abolished all symptoms. The use of conservative therapy such as weight loss, protriptyline or a neck collar, highlighted the inadequacies of current medical treatment. Awareness of the symptom complex and potential complications of the Sleep Apnoea Syndrome is important because the diagnosis may easily be missed if the patient presents with one or two isolated complaints.
The Effect of a Selective Beta Adrenergic Blocking Agent on Ventricular Arrhythmias in the First Year Following Myocardial Infarction*
Authors: Federman J. , Whitford J. A. , Anderson S. T. , Pitt A. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Fifty‐five patients with recent acute myocardial infarction entered a single‐blind cross‐over trial to assess the effect of oral practolol 200 mg twice daily on the incidence and nature of ventricular arrhythmias in the first year following myocardial infarction. Patients had 24‐hour Hotter electrocardiogram tape monitoring at two weeks following infarction and at three‐monthly intervals for one year.Twenty‐six patients completed the full year of the trial with 12% of tape recordings technically unsatisfactory. A total of 46 periods of comparison of the action of practolol versus placebo therapy were available in thirty patients.Whilst receiving the selective beta adrenergic blocking agent, practolol, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of studied hours during which salvos of ventricular premature beats occurred (P < 0·025), however the percentage of patients in whom salvos were recorded was unchanged. The incidence of all other ventricular arrhythmias was not reduced in the practolol group. When the effect of practolol was related to the site of infarction, anterior or inferior, there was no significant reduction in the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias.
Hydrothorax with Peritoneal Dialysis: Radionuclide Detection of a Pleuro‐peritoneal Connection
Authors: Adam W. R. , Arkles L. B. , Gill G. , Meagher E. J. , Thomas G. W. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Unilateral hydrothorax occurring during peritoneal dialysis is well described and has been presumed to be secondary to a pleuro‐peritoneal communication. Diagnosis of these communications usually requires invasive procedures. A non‐invasive method of confirmation of abnormal pleuro‐peritoneal communication using radionuclide scanning is outlined.The occurrence of this complication has usually meant cessation of this type of dialysis. However, this patient illustrates that continuation of peritoneal dialysis is possible.
Coma and Hypothermia in Wernicke's Encephalopathy
Authors: Donnan G. A. , Seeman E. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: Two patients who developed Wernicke's Encephalopathy with subsequent hypothermia are described. Both patients responded rapidly to thiamine administration and one later had hypothalamic‐pituitary function tests performed. This patient demonstrated depressed TSH response to TRH and a sluggish early Cortisol response to adequate hypoglycaemia compared to 17 control subjects.These findings may suggest that previously described hypothalamic‐pituitary abnormalities in chronic alcoholics may be mediated via thiamine deficiency and may also reflect hypothalamic damage contributing to the hypothermic state.The importance of intravenous thiamine administration in cases of coma of unknown aetiology is emphasised.
Erythrocyte Phosphoglycerate Kinase Deficiency: Enzymatic and Oxygen Binding Studies
Authors: Dodgsor S. J. , Lee C. S. , Holland R. A. B. , O'Sullivan W. J. , Vowels M. R. 
Published: March 2008

Summary Enzyme and oxygen transport studies have been made on seven members of a kindred with red cell deficiency of phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), an enzyme known to be linked to the X‐chromosome. The two affected males were children, had little detectable PGK activity and had severe neurological damage. Both had moderate haemolytic anaemia complicated by the occurrence of haemolytic crises. Red cell ATP levels were substantially decreased in both subjects. However, they had more than double the normal level of 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate (2,3‐DPG) in their ted cells, associated with a rightward shift in their oxygen‐haemoglobin equilibrium curves. This shift in the curve was sufficient to permit oxygen delivery to most body tissues, including the brain, at better tensions than normal, except during a haemolytic crisis.Two of the three known heterozygotes were aged over 70. They had moderate haemolytic anaemia, considerable reduction of red cell PGK activity (19% and 35% of normal, respectively), and considerable increase in red cell 2,3‐DPG with rightward shifting of the oxygen‐haemoglobin equilibrium curve. The other known heterozygote was aged 22 and showed little abnormality in her blood oxygen transport.
Variant Angina—Correlation of Clinical, Electrocardiographic and Angiographic Features: Results of Medical and Surgical Management
Authors: Saltups A. 
Published: March 2008

Summary Angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) was correlated with clinical features, electrocardiographic (ECG) findings and the results of medical management or aortocoronary bypass in 42 patients with angina at rest associated with transient ST segment elevation (variant angina).Patients were divided into three sub‐sets based on the coronary arteriographic findings. On the basis of > 75% luminal diameter narrowing, 28 patients had multiple vessel, ten had single vessel and four had minimal (< 50% narrowing) CAD. The angiographic sub‐sets did not differ significantly in age, sex, coronary risk factors, time from onset of rest pain to coronary angiography, or in the presence of arrhythmias during ischaemic episodes. Patients with multiple vessel CAD more commonly had prior coronary events (P < 0·01), an abnormal baseline ECG (P < 0·05) or both (P < 0·001). These features did not distinguish patients with single vessel from those with minimal CAD. ST elevation in the inferior leads during episodes of myocardial ischaemia was more common (P < 0·005) in patients with minimal CAD.Twenty‐four patients with multiple vessel and six with single vessel CAD underwent aortocoronary by‐pass surgery and relief of variant angina was achieved in all 25 long‐term survivors during an average follow‐up period of 36 months. Twelve patients (four of each subset) were treated medically. Among those with multiple vessel CAD, the small medically treated numbers precluded valid comparison of medical and surgical results. Patients with single vessel CAD followed for an average period of 17 months compared unfavourably with the operated group. Calcium antagonists or nitrates controlled variant angina in patients with minimal CAD followed for an average of 27 months.
Rifampicin Associated Renal Dysfunction During Antituberculous Therapy
Authors: Need A. G. , Phillips P. J. , Chiu F. T. S. , Clarkson A. R. 
Published: March 2008

Summary Intermittent rifampicin therapy has been reported to commonly cause a flu‐like illness with chills and fever sometimes associated with acute renal failure.This report describes a fourth case of partially reversible insidious renal damage associated with continuous rifampicin therapy and provides evidence that it is not the result of light chain proteinuria as previously suggested. A retrospective review of data relating to renal function in 89 tuberculous patients indicated that increased plasma urate concentration was commonly associated with ethambutol therapy.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Involvement in Patients with Adult Acute Leukaemia and Non‐Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Authors: Gordon S. , Raik E. , Hewitt B. , Moore P. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: One hundred and thirty‐four cases of adult acute leukaemia and 212 cases of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma treated by the Combined Haematology Division of Sydney Hospital over a four year period were reviewed to establish the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. The sole diagnostic criterion considered was positive cerebro‐spinal fluid (CSF) cytology. The detected incidences of 21% and 5.2% respectively in long term surviving adults with leukaemia and those with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma are similar to other series.Unusual findings were the relatively low incidence of involvement in acute myelo‐monocytic leukaemia and unexpectedly high incidence in diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma.Cytocentrifugation using the Cytospin has proved to be a useful technique in detecting small numbers of abnormal cells in the CSF.
The Radionuclide Assessment of Left Ventricular Function Using Graded Exercise in Normal Subjects*
Authors: Kalff V. , Kelly M. J. , Jennings G. L. , Lirn Y. L. , Anderson S. T. , Korner P. I. , Harper R. W. , Pitt A. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: In 20 normal volunteers, two minute equilibrium gated blood pool scanning (GBPS) was used to assess left ventricular function during rest and three stages of graded supine exercise on a bicycle ergometer. The three work loads were individualised for each subject from a previously performed exercise test and corresponded to mild, moderate and severe stress. The short imaging time was validated against standard GBPS.With exercise all subjects increased their left ventricular ejection fraction and in the majority, most of this rise occurred with the lowest work load. This change was predominantly due to a marked fall in end‐systolic volume. The end‐diastolic volume initially fell, then at peak exercise returned to baseline values. The major change in stroke volume occurred at peak exercise.
Multiple Myeloma Presenting as Recurrent Obstructive Uropathy
Authors: Waugh D. A. , Ibels L. S. 
Published: March 2008

Summary: A 51‐year‐old patient who presented with a four‐day history of abdominal pain was found to have unilateral ureteral obstruction and an intracalyceal radiolucent filling defect on radiological studies. Further investigation of this was refused by the patient but ten days later a repeat intravenous pyelogram showed persistence of the initial intracalyceal filling defect and ureteral obstruction in the contra‐lateral kidney along with multiple intracalyceal radiolucent filling defects. Subsequent investigation led to a diagnosis of kappa light chain myeloma.The diagnosis of multiple myeloma should be considered in patients presenting with unexplained radiolucent filling defects.
Use of Captopril in the Diagnosis of Renal Hypertension
Authors: McGrath B. P. , Matthewst P. G. , Johnston C. I. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: 1. The effects of a single 25 mg oral dose of captopril on blood pressure, heart rate and circulating renin, angiotensin I, angiotensin II, bradykinin and catecholamine levels were examined in untreated patients with essential (n = 10, Group I), accelerated (n = 6, Group II) and renal hypertension (n = 8, Group III) studied on a normal sodium diet.2. Mean blood pressure fell only slightly in Group I patients, (113 ± 3 to 109 ± 3 mmHg at 60 minutes) but a greater fall was observed in Group II (153 ± 8 to 135 ± 11 mmHg) and a marked fall in Group III, (136 ± 3 to 114 ± 5 mmHg). There were no significant changes in heart rate in any group.3. Plasma angiotensin II levels were significantly reduced 30 minutes after captopril in all three groups and returned toward resting values after four hours. The falls in plasma angiotensin II levels were accompanied by reciprocal increases in blood angiotensin I and plasma renin, but blood bradykinin and plasma catecholamine concentrations remained unchanged.4. Resting plasma renin levels showed considerable overlap in the three groups and the mean renin values were not significantly different in the three groups. After captopril a marked rise in plasma renin concentration (>2.5 ng/ml/hr) was observed in seven patients in Group III, including all six patients with renovascular disease. In contrast, none of the patients with essential hypertension and only one patient with accelerated hypertension had such an increase. Determination of the acute renin and blood pressure responses to converting enzyme inhibition with a single oral dose of captopril appears to be useful in identifying patients with renovascular hypertension.
Pneumonia with Bacteraemia Due to Escherichia Coli
Authors: Packham D. R. , Sorrell T. C. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: Pneumonia due to Escherichia coli (E. coli) has a reported mortality of up to 70 per cent. Most infections are associated with underlying disease, and follow bacteraemia from a genitourinary or gastrointestinal source. This report describes two patients with bacteraemic E. coli pneumonia, presumed secondary to aspiration of E. coli from the oropharynx. Both patients presented a rapidly progressive illness with hypotension. Response of the pneumonia to early, appropriate antimicrobial therapy, was complete. Our cases are discussed with particular reference to clinical features of the infection and choice of antimicrobial therapy.
Significance, Mechanisms and Control of Renal Ammoniagenesis
Authors: Adam W. R. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: Ammonia is quantitatively the major buffer for hydrogen ion in the urine. Further, the excretion of ammonia can be varied by acid base status and is therefore of homeostatic importance. Acid base status exerts its effect on ammonia excretion both directly and also via an effect on renal ammonia production from glutamine. The mechanism of the effect of acid base status on glutamine deamidation and deamination is uncertain. Apart from its homeostatic role in health and disease alterations in renal ammonia production may assume pathological importance in potassium depletion and uric acid urolithiasis.
Vasoactive Peptides and Hypertension: Role of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme
Authors: Johnston C. I. , Iansek R. , Millari J. A. , McGrath B. P. , Matthews P. G. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: Angiotensin converting enzyme plays a key role in the hormonal regulation of blood pressure. It is responsible for the production of the vasconstrictor hormonal peptide angiotensin II as well as the destruction of the vasodilator peptide bradykinin. Recently, orally active specific inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme have become available. Captopril (SQ14225) blocks angiotensin I and potentiates bradykinin effects in vitro and in vivo. In man it leads to a fall in endogenous plasma angiotensin II, a rise in blood angiotensin I and renin, but no change in blood bradykinin can be detected. In sodium deplete normal subjects it lowers the blood pressure, but in sodium replete subjects it is without effect. Similarly, it will acutely lower blood pressure in renovascular and accelerated hypertension but not in essential hypertension. The acute hypotensive effect of captopril may therefore be due to inhibition of the renin‐angiotensin system.However, in the long term, it is effective in lowering the blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension, especially when combined with a diuretic. This suggests that the long‐term hypotensive effect differs from the short term effect, and involves mechanisms other than inhibition of the renin‐angiotensin
Antibodies Against Double‐stranded RNA in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthrosis and Paget's Disease of Bone
Authors: Kalmakoff J. , Maskill W. J. , Thongkrajai P. , Palmer D. G. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: Using a liquid phctse radioimmunoassay to detect antibodies to 3H‐labelled double‐stranded RNA the premise that rheumatoid arthritis and Paget's disease of the bone may be associated with a chronic virus disease was examined. About 33% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis had antibody levels above the normal range and 11%had antibody levels below the normal range of controls (blood bank donors). The low binding activities wereattributed to the action of a nuclease that degraded the dsRNA. Some patients with Paget's disease of bone had higher binding activities than the normal range and similar binding activity was also found in patients with osteoarthrosis. The increase in antibodies to double‐stranded RNA did not correlate with increasing age.