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Biomedical subjects

A Fraser

Publications and source records attributed to A Fraser.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Initial heat production in isometric from muscle at 15 degrees C.

An infrared radiation-detecting system was used to measure initial heat production in bull frog sartorius muscle at 15 degrees C. Numerous tests with the system showed that thermal artifacts were not noticeable. Many previous measurements with myothermic thermopiles were corroborated with this method. In addition, a cooling phase as large as 0.39 of peak exothermicity was found during and after relaxation. Cooling diminished with both increasing sarcomere length and increasing duration of mechanical activity. No large rapid increase in heat rate accompanied a 0.6 reactivation at the peak of twitch tension. Above rest length, initial heat rate and the heat produced up to the peak of tension decreased nearly proportionally with overlap of myofilaments, while the total twitch initial heat decreased slightly.

Animals↗

Electromagnetic emission at micron wavelengths from active nerves.

In recent years there has been experimental work and speculation bearing upon the significance in neural functioning of electromagnetic energy in the region of the spectrum between 0.3 and 10 mu. We demonstrate, in this experiment, micron wavelength electromagnetic emission from active live crab nerves as compared to inactive live and dead nerves. Further, the data indicate that the active nerve emission is caused by specific biophysical reactions rather than being simply black-body radiation.

Animals↗

Work problems after breast cancer: an exploratory qualitative study.

People treated for cancer have reported a variety of problems at work. However, there is little data on work experience after breast cancer, particularly for women treated in recent years. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted among 13 breast cancer survivors who had paid employment at diagnosis, returned to work afterwards, and mentioned work-related problems to a clinic nurse or physician. Unstructured, thematic interviews were undertaken. Qualitative thematic content analysis was conducted to identify and group themes which emerged from participants' discourse. Women in various types of jobs reported experiencing job loss, demotion, unwanted changes in tasks, problems with the employer and co-workers, personal changes in attitudes to work and diminished physical capacity. These work problems also preoccupied people treated for cancer more than two decades ago. New areas of concern also emerged: possible positive and negative effects of learning (implicitly or explicitly) about the diagnosis while at work and lack of discussion with health professionals about work and return-to-work issues, suggesting that health professionals' behaviour may influence women's work experience right from diagnosis. The identification of these new problems and confirmation of previously reported ones underlines the pertinence of determining how important and widespread these problems are in women now being treated for breast cancer.

Adult↗

Effects of selective spinal cord lesions on the spinal motor evoked potential (MEP) in the rat.

The effects of selective spinal cord lesions on the motor evoked potential (MEP) in 21 rats were investigated. No significant change in peak amplitude was observed following lesions of the pyramidal tract. There was a significant decrease in peaks 1 and 2 with ventral funiculi lesions. All 4 peaks of the MEP were significantly reduced following lesions of the lateral funiculus. The most marked decrease in peak amplitude followed lateral funiculi lesions that involved the lateral grey of the spinal cord. In one animal where the lesion was confined to the grey matter in the cord there was a marked decrease in all peaks of the MEP. In 3 additional animals interruption of the descending tracts of the spinal cord via bilateral hemisections of the spinal cord failed to completely abolish the MEP. Increases in peak latency were also noted following spinal lesions. In some animals the increase in latency occurred in the absence of significant peak amplitude changes. The findings in this study refute the previously held position that the MEP in the rat arises from pyramidal tract activation. The role of the reticulospinal and propriospinal tracts in the generation and propagation of the MEP are discussed.

Animals↗

Classification, follow-up and recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis using ultrasound images.

Ultrasound image and morphological structure of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE) were analysed in 277 human cases (385 hepatic hydatid cysts). These included 65 CE cases from community surveys carried out between 1995 and 2000 in 3 countries (China, Mongolia and Jordan) and 212 cases from a clinical hospital survey from Xinjiang, China. A new simplified WHO ultrasound classification for human CE was assessed, and considered useful. It is proposed that type, size and number in particular need to be included in the ultrasound classification of hepatic CE. For comparative purposes 6 categories of type were classified in the study as Type 0 to Type 5 (T0-T5): T0, univesicular without pathognomonic signs; T1, univesicular with pathognomonic signs; T2, cysts with sagging or floating laminated membrane; T3, cysts containing daughter cysts; T4, solid mass or mixed cysts; and T5, cysts with partial or full calcifications. This differs from the WHO classification wherein Type T3 cysts (daughter cysts present) are considered a pathological stage to occur in general prior to the sagging or floating membrane (T2) stage. Recurrent hydatid cysts in the liver were also studied based on morphological structures observed directly from surgical intervention. Case follow-up over 1-5 years since endocystectomy in the community surveys indicated 10% (2/10) recurrence of cysts in the residual surgical cavity. Recurrent CE included 2 (2/4) cases after percutaneous treatment.

China↗