ABSTRACT
COBRA is a 0.5 Omega pulse generator driving loads of order 10 nH inductance to >1 MA current. The design is based on independently timed, laser-triggered switching of four water pulse-forming lines whose outputs are added in parallel to drive the load current pulse. The detailed design and operation of the switching to give a wide variety of current pulse shapes and rise times from 95 to 230 ns is described. The design and operation of a simple inductive load voltage monitor are described which allows good accounting of load impedance and energy dissipation. A method of eliminating gas bubbles on the underside of nearly horizontal insulator surfaces in water was required for reliable operation of COBRA; a novel and effective solution to this problem is described.
ABSTRACT
The elderly tolerate smaller doses of most drugs, largely because changes in body fat content, water content, and muscle mass often lead to higher blood levels than in a young person of the same weight. Moreover, diminished renal blood flow and creatinine clearance decrease excretion of agents cleared by the kidney. This leads to an increased number of drug reactions and interactions and consequent hospital admissions.
ABSTRACT
Recent data suggest that intracavernous injections of phenoxybenzamine in saline, and/or papaverine with phentolamine mesylate in saline, result in erection in otherwise impotent men. A double-blind study using normal saline and normal saline mixed with phenoxybenzamine or papaverine-phenotolamine mesylate showed that none of 11 subjects with organic erection dysfunction responded with appreciable penile swelling to saline injection, but all responded with some degree of penile swelling to the other solutions. The mechanism of penile erection in response to intracavernous injections is still unclear, but it is thought to be related to the alpha-adrenergic blocking and/or smooth muscle relaxant actions of these drugs; the volume of the injection or the normal saline content of the solution are not factors in causing penile tumescence.
Subject(s)
Papaverine/pharmacology , Penile Erection/drug effects , Phenoxybenzamine/pharmacology , Phentolamine/pharmacology , Adult , Double-Blind Method , Drug Combinations , Erectile Dysfunction/drug therapy , Humans , Injections , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A case of chlorambucil overdose is presented. The clinical manifestations were acute renal failure and seizures. We are not aware of this combination of clinical features being previously reported with chlorambucil overdose.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced , Chlorambucil/poisoning , Seizures/chemically induced , Acute Kidney Injury/physiopathology , Adult , Chlorambucil/blood , Creatinine/blood , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
A patient poisoned with ethylene glycol exhibited the symptoms of (1) hysteria, (2) metabolic acidosis with both a large anion gap and osmolal gap, and (3) crystalluria. However, the shape of the urinary crystals was prismatic and resembled hippurate rather than the expected dipyramidal calcium oxalate dihydrate. X-ray crystallography positively identified them as calcium oxalate monohydrate.
Subject(s)
Calcium Oxalate/urine , Ethylene Glycols/poisoning , Adolescent , Chromatography, Gas , Crystallography , Ethylene Glycols/blood , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Two hundred and forty-four surgical patients who received no anticholinergic premedication were compared with 160 patients who had received atropine or scopolamine before the induction of anaesthesia. Infants and patients undergoing heart surgery were excluded. Eleven anaesthetists participated in the study. They were asked to report problems with oropharyngeal and tracheobronchial secretions. Two per cent of unpremedicated patients experienced problems with secretions of a degree sufficient to require treatment. This small percentage appears insufficient to warrant routine preoperative anticholinergic medication.
Subject(s)
Atropine/administration & dosage , Preanesthetic Medication , Scopolamine/administration & dosage , Bronchi/drug effects , Bronchi/metabolism , Female , Humans , Male , Mouth Mucosa/drug effects , Mouth Mucosa/metabolism , Secretory Rate/drug effects , Trachea/drug effects , Trachea/metabolismABSTRACT
We performed a double-blind study on the effect of oral administration of 10 mg of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on specific airway conductance (Gaw/VL) and the maximal expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (Vmax 50%) in six control and six asthmatic subjects. In control subjects, there was a slight but statistically significant increase in Gaw/VL after oral administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however, there was no significant increase in Vmax 50%. One of the asthmatic patients developed severe bronchoconstriction following administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol; among the remaining five patients, there were variable changes in Gaw/VL and Vmax 50% after oral administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, but mean changes were not significant. Mild effects on the central nervous system (CNS) were observed in three subjects; six subjects, three of whom had unpleasant mood changes, had more prominent CNS effects. We concluded that oral administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol is unlikely to be of therepeutic value in asthma, since its bronchodilator action was mild and inconstant and was associated with significant CNS effects. Moreover, one asthmatic patient developed severe bronchoconstriction following oral administration of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
