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Biomedical subjects

A E Walker

Publications and source records attributed to A E Walker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Keratitis, ichthyosis, and deafness (KID) syndrome: management with chronic oral ketoconazole therapy.

Extensive cutaneous mycoses have been described in patients with the keratitis, ichthyosis, and deafness (KID) syndrome. We present a case occurring in a 48-year-old woman where improvement in the ichthyosiform dermatosis, stabilization of her ocular disease, and apparent partial prevention of further cutaneous malignancies occurred in association with ketoconazole therapy.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Long-term effects of severe penetrating head injury on psychosocial adjustment.

The long-term effects of severe penetrating head injury on adjustment levels were studied. Forty-one World War II veterans who suffered penetrating injury to the brain were interviewed 40 years after their initial injury using the Washington Psycho-Social Seizure Inventory (WPSI). The results support a comparable behavioral impact of right and left hemispheric lesions. Similarly, no significant relations were found between anterior and posterior locus of damage and psychosocial difficulties, although the results pertaining to the right-anterior group could be interpreted as suggestive of much greater maladjustment in all life dimensions assessed by the WPSI. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical positions on hemispheric specialization and long-term expectancies that hold implications for planning rehabilitation programs for such patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Ca2+ transients are not required as signals for long-term neurite outgrowth from cultured sympathetic neurons.

A method for clamping cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in cultures of rat sympathetic neurons at or below resting levels for several days was devised to determine whether Ca2+ signals are required for neurite outgrowth from neurons that depend on Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) for their growth and survival. To control [Ca2+]i, normal Ca2+ influx was eliminated by titration of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA and reinstated through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. The rate of neurite outgrowth and the number of neurites thus became dependent on the extent of depolarization by KCl, and withdrawal of KCl caused an immediate cessation of growth. Neurite outgrowth was completely blocked by the L type Ca2+ channel antagonists nifedipine, nitrendipine, D600, or diltiazem at sub- or micromolar concentrations. Measurement of [Ca2+]i in cell bodies using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2 established that optimal growth, similar to that seen in normal medium, was obtained when [Ca2+]i was clamped at resting levels. These levels of [Ca2+]i were set by serum, which elevated [Ca2+]i by integral of 30 nM, whereas the addition of NGF had no effect on [Ca2+]i. The reduction of [Ca2+]o prevented neurite fasciculation but this had no effect on the rate of neurite elongation or on the number of extending neurites. These results show that neurite outgrowth from NGF-dependent neurons occurs over long periods in the complete absence of Ca2+ signals, suggesting that Ca2+ signals are not necessary for operating the basic machinery of neurite outgrowth.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The fate of World War II veterans with posttraumatic seizures.

Of 244 men who, as the result of a brain wound sustained in World War II, had had one or more convulsive seizures, 101 have died. Except for men who succumbed in the first decade of complications of the wounding--infection, systemic or mental disease, status epilepticus, etc--the cause of death was similar to that of men of similar age in the general population. Of the men whose status is known, 74% have had no unconscious attacks in the past ten years or in the ten years before their death. The absence of seizures is not related to the continued ingestion of anticonvulsant medication. Approximately 25% of the men have had varying degrees of mental deterioration. The death rate of men with posttraumatic epilepsy is higher than that of normal men. Wounds of the right cerebral hemisphere seem to shorten the life span more than similar injuries of the left hemisphere.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

The evolution of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

To summarize this report, it seems that the neurosurgical family has grown up. The children have gone their several ways to elaborate upon the teachings of their mentors and the old folks are being put on the shelf out of the way of the hustling young nut crackers anxious to get to the operating room. If you doubt this conclusion, note that at the Toronto Congress, only 4 of the 37 officers--the old guard--were listed to present papers on the scientific program. One wonders if the experience and wisdom of the older members is not being lost. Is there not a place on the broadening program for invited presentations by senior members? Finally to those who have so unselfishly given of their services to lighten my task in the past dozen years, I extend my thanks and gratitude. To those members, credit is due for any service which the historian may have been able to render to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.

Congresses as Topic↗
PubMed1988

As I saw it.

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History, 20th Century↗
PubMed1985

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis: appearance associated with photochemotherapy for psoriasis.

A patient with chronic psoriasis treated with psoralens plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) developed characteristic lesions of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP). Since other processes associated with ultraviolet irradiation, including epidermal dysplasia, actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinomas, and keratoacanthomas, have been reported to result from PUVA, it is possible that her DSAP lesions were induced by this therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Epidemiology of brain tumors: the national survey of intracranial neoplasms.

A national survey, based on a probability sample of patients admitted to short-term hospitals in the United States during 1973 to 1974 with a discharge diagnosis of an intracranial neoplasm, was conducted in 157 hospitals. The annual incidence was estimated at 17,000 for primary intracranial neoplasms and 17,400 for secondary intracranial neoplasms--8.2 and 8.3 per 100,000 US population, respectively. Rates of primary intracranial neoplasms increased steadily with advancing age. The age-adjusted rates were higher among men than among women (8.5 versus 7.9 per 100,000). However, although men were more susceptible to gliomas and neuronomas, incidence rates for meningiomas and pituitary adenomas were higher among women.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1984

The electroencephalographic characteristics of the rhombencephalectomized cat.

The electroencephalographic responses in the rhombencephalectomized cat after the application of photic and epileptogenic agents resemble those phenomena in the normal animal. The spontaneous EEG of the motor region had fewer beta waves, a slower alpha but more delta components than the presection record. The response to photic stimulation in the occipital cortex was similar before and after the rhombencephalectomy, although the initial waves were slightly delayed. Epileptic activity upon topical application or intravenous administration of epileptogenic agents was demonstrated in the sensorimotor cortex.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Dead or alive.

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Brain Death↗
PubMed1984

Generalized histiocytosis X in the elderly: a light and electron microscope and monoclonal antibody study.

Two elderly female patients are described with generalized histiocytosis X (Letterer-Siwe disease). In each case, a definitive diagnosis was not established until ultrastructural and immunoperoxidase investigations had been performed. The histopathological findings in skin biopsies from each patient were similar. Light microscopy demonstrated a bandlike epidermotrophic cellular infiltrate which included large atypical cells (histiocytosis X cells). Electron microscopy showed that these cells contained Birbeck granules. Monoclonal antibody studies demonstrated the presence of T6, T4 and HLA-DR surface antigens. Lysozyme and alpha-I-antitrypsin were absent from the cells. The associated cellular infiltrate included T4 and T8 positive lymphocytes. It is possible that more cases of generalized histiocytosis X in adults will be identified with the increasing use of specialized histopathological techniques and that the disease is more common than currently believed.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Genetic susceptibility to scleroderma-like syndrome induced by vinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride (VC) monomer can induce a scleroderma-like syndrome in a proportion of workers exposed to it during production of polyvinyl chloride. As part of a 5-year follow-up study HLA A, B, and DR antigens and anti-centromere and anti-scleroderma-70 antibodies were determined in 44 such workers. 21 of these had severe and 23 mild forms of vinyl-chloride disease. 50 patients with "classical" scleroderma and 148 healthy hospital workers acted as controls. 11 of the 21 patients classified as having severe VC disease were DR3 positive, and 8 of these had both B8 and DR3 antigens. None of the 23 patients with mild disease carried either antigen. The HLA-antigen frequencies in VC disease mirrored those found in scleroderma (raised DR5 frequency and increased linkage disequilibrium between B8 and DR3). There were, however, significant differences in the frequency of autoantibodies in the two conditions.

Autoantibodies↗