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Biomedical subjects

A H Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to A H Roberts.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

An alternative perspective on biofeedback efficacy studies: a reply to Steiner and Dince.

Clinical applications of biofeedback have proliferated and considerable lore surrounding the application of these techniques has evolved. Many assertions about the effectiveness of biofeedback training are based on findings of the least well-controlled studies, while many of the better controlled studies have failed to show that biofeedback directly mediates target symptoms or is superior to other treatments. Steiner and Dince (1981) suggest that the failure of these controlled studies is primarily attributable to methodological deficiencies. We believe that the question of whether or not there is a specific effect of biofeedback training is still frequently confused with the question of whether or not the treatment package as a whole has therapeutic value. Biofeedback is often therapeutic; however, evidence is often lacking that its effectiveness is due to biofeedback-trained changes in a target physiological process.

Autonomic Nervous System↗
PubMed1983

The preservation of hair in burns of the scalp.

It is possible to preserve the ability to grow hair in deep dermal and some full-thickness burns of the scalp by tangential excision and split-skin grafting. The operation should be carried out within a few days of the injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Skin temperature biofeedback for Raynaud's disease: a double-blind study.

The lack of control procedures inherent in most of the experiments conducted to assess the effectiveness of skin temperature biofeedback in the treatment of Raynaud's disease renders the results inconclusive. In this study, control groups and a double-blind approach are adopted. Thirty-six patients, carefully screened for a diagnosis of primary Raynaud's disease, were assigned to a skin temperature increase group (N = 12), to an EMG relaxation control group (N = 12), or to a notreatment control group (N = 12). All patients kept records of their symptoms for the duration of the study. Each subject in the two training groups received 20 sessions, the last 2 conducted under cold stress. data analysis according to original group assignment, as well as following regrouping of subjects according to several learning criteria, showed that while all patients reported a marked decrease in the number of vasospastic attacks, no significant differences were found among the three groups on the clinical measures used to assess symptomatic relief. The general improvement reported must therefore be attributed to nonspecific factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A new operation for the repair of hypospadias fistulae.

An operation is described using a flap of local skin. No overlying suture lines are used and urinary drainage or diversion is unnecessary. It has been successful in 19 out of 20 successive cases, three of which were penile reconstructions. An added advantage is the short stay in hospital, approximately four days.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Long-term outcome after severe head injury.

From a consecutive series of 7000 patients with head injuries admitted to the regional accident service, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford between 10 and 24 years earlier, every patient was taken who had been amnesic or unconscious for one week or longer. Of these 479 patients, all but ten were traced, and either the cause of death was established or the survivors examined. Ten years after injury 4% were totally disabled, and 14% severely disabled to a degree precluding normal occupational or social life. Of the remainder, 49% had recovered, and the rest were dead. Additionally, a selected series of 64 patients whose unconsciousness had been prolonged for a month or more were studied. Forty of these had survived between three and 25 years after injury and were re-examined. On the basis of age at injury, the worst state of neurological responsiveness, and the duration of posttraumatic amnesia, the outcome of head injury can be predicted reliably in most cases. Patients and relatives need more reassurance and simple psychotherapeutic support, especially in the first few months after injury. Extrapolation from our figures suggests that each year in England and Wales 210 patients survive totally disabled and another 1500 are severely disabled.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Activity of antibiotics in contaminated wounds containing clay soil.

Most traumatic wounds are contaminated to some degree by soil and run a high risk of infection. The presence of soil in wounds interferes with natural tissue defenses, which include phagocytosis and serum bactericidal capacity. The experimental studies reported herein clearly demonstrate that soil also limits the antibacterial effects of specific antibiotics. This inactivation appears to be the result of a chemical reaction between the charged antibiotics and the soil particles.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Psychosurgery and the Porteus Maze Tests: review and reanalysis of data.

Because of current interest in assessing psychosurgery outcome, a reanalysis of Porteus maze test findings was done. The maze tests are generally considered to measure foresight and judgment. Review of the literature relating to the effects of practice on the test shows average gains of 1.25 years on the second application of the test and an additional gain of 0.70 years on the third application. Much of the early psychosurgery research did not take practice effects into account. Reanalysis of data shows that the magnitude of changes in maze performance depends on the site of surgery and length of time between surgery and testing. The more posterior the frontal lobe surgery, the shorter the postoperative interval, the greater the loss in maze test ability. Losses following relatively posterior frontal lobe surgery are probably permanent.

Frontal Lobe↗
PubMed1978

Perceived Somatic Response Inventory: three scales developed by factor analysis.

Studies of autonomic reactivity and of voluntary control of autonomic responses have suggested the importance of individual differences. An inventory of scales was developed to improve the assessment of different dimensions of somatic functioning. In order to enhance their specificity and incremental validity, the scales were constructed to be relatively independent of already known general personality variables such as Stress Reaction (neuroticism), Locus of Control, Hypochondriasis, and Absorption. Three scales, derived from orthogonal factor analyses, were developed and cross-validated: (1) Autonomic Response Frequency, assessing spontaneous fluctuations in autonomic responding; (2) Autonomic Response to Stress, assessing the amount of autonomic arousal perceived by a subject in stress situations; and (3) Somatic Response Control, a self-report measure of capacity to control both autonomic and fine muscle responses. The hypothesis that sympathetic and parasympathetic awareness might define two distinct dimensions was not supported by the data. The new scales will be useful in testing hypotheses of possible relationships among the factors measured and behavioral and psychophysiological indicators of the response to stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

A prospective trial of prophylactic antibiotics in hand lacerations.

A series of 368 patients with hand lacerations which required suturing were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups. The incidence of infected and of imperfectly healed wounds was noted 7 days after suturing. As well as the influence of antibiotics on healing, sixteen other factors which it was considered might affect healing were analysed. The overall infection rate was 9-8 per cent, and there was no significant difference between the three groups. The imperfect healing rate (which includes the infected cases) was 24-6 per cent. There was a lower rate (P less than 0-05) of imperfect healing in the Triplopen group (15 per cent) than in either the flucloxacillin group (29-5 per cent) or the group who received no antibiotics (29-0 per cent). Other factors associated with imperfect healing found to be significant at the 1 per cent level, were wound contamination, pain and the presence of a wet or changed dressing at the second examination.

Adolescent↗