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Biomedical subjects

A J Walker

Publications and source records attributed to A J Walker.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

A prospective study of infrared coagulation, injection and rubber band ligation in the treatment of haemorrhoids.

One hundred patients with non-prolapsing and one hundred with prolapsing haemorrhoids were allocated to receive conventional treatment (CT) by injection sclerotherapy or rubber band ligation, or infrared photocoagulation (IRC). Significantly more patients with nonprolapsing haemorrhoids were symptom free after IRC (81%) than CT (59%) at three months. (Chi2 = 4.4, p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in the outcome at 1 or 4 years. Likewise for prolapsing haemorrhoids, there was no significant difference in the outcome of IRC or CT at 3 months, one or 4 years. However, recurrence of prolapse was more common after IRC (54%) than rubber band ligation (RBL) (27%) at 1 year (Chi2 = 3.46, p less than 0.1). IRC was significantly less painful than CT (p less than 0.001). IRC is a safe, rapid, non-invasive alternative to CT, which is acceptable to the patient and give similar results, though RBL provides more rapid and longer lasting relief from prolapse.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Obesity in black women in Soweto, South Africa: minimal effects on hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia.

Studies were made on 50 South African urban black obese women aged 25-40 years, with Body Mass Index (BMI) (Kg/m2) of 29.5 or more, and on 50 non-obese women with BMI of 25 or less. In the two groups, mean triceps skinfolds were 25.5mm and 17.8mm, respectively. Hypertension (greater than or equal to 160/95mm Hg) was present in 6 and 4 women (12% and 8%), hypercholesterolaemia (greater than or equal to 5.2mmol/l) in 5 and 3 women (10% and 6%), hypertriglyceridaemia (greater than or equal to 1.8mmol/l) in 5 and 3 (10% and 6%), and hyperglycaemia (greater than or equal to 7.8mmol/l) in 2 and 1 women (4% and 2%). One or more adverse sequelae were present in 11 (22%) obese and in 9 (18%) of non-obese women, proportions not significantly different. Dietarily, mean daily intakes were--Kcals 2273 and 2240, protein 73g and 70g (12.9% and 12.5% energy), fat 65g and 67g (25.7% and 26.9% energy), carbohydrate 349g and 330g (61.4% and 60.5% energy), and dietary fibre, 12g and 13g. In this low socioeconomic and low fat dietary context, obesity in the black women studied was not specifically evocative of deleterious sequelae of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Perforation of the colon after barium meal examination.

Retention of barium in the caecum (Dixon et al., 1967; Gupta and Fraser, 1985), appendix (Maglinte et al, 1981) and colonic diverticula (Burrows, 1962) has been reported after barium meal as has colonic perforation during barium enema examination (Ott and Gelfand, 1983). One case of colonic perforation after a barium meal has been reported in association with adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon (Violon et al., 1980).

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Autonomy and decision making between single older women and their caregiving daughters.

We examined perceptions of decisional autonomy and decision-making processes among 64 elderly, single mothers and their caregiving daughters. Mothers were highly involved in decisions affecting their lives, ranging from daily care to major health decisions; daughters were particularly influential over major health, financial and housing decisions. Mothers' level of personal care dependency was negatively associated with both mothers' and daughters' confidence in the mothers' decision-making abilities.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence of gallstones in elderly black women in Soweto, Johannesburg, as assessed by ultrasound.

In Western populations, about a third of elderly women have gallstones, as assessed from ultrasonography. In South Africa, cholelithiasis is reported to be increasing in urban blacks. Their recent dietary changes include a rise in fat and a fall in dietary fiber intake. To assess the current situation, we have carried out ultrasonography studies on 100 urban black women, 55-85 yr old, with no clinical evidence of gastrointestinal disease, especially with reference to the biliary system. Ten patients (10%) were positive. There was no association with parity. Their body mass index (27.8 +/- 6.9) was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than those who were negative (25.7 +/- 6.1). From dietary intake assessments, there were no significant differences between those positive and negative with respect to mean intakes of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber or sugar (p greater than 0.05). Continuing exposure to a western lifestyle would be expected to increase prevalences of gallstones.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1989

Low frequency of adverse sequelae of obesity in South African rural black women.

In a series of 210 black women aged 25-45 years in a village in Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, 40 (19.0%) were obese, having a Body Mass Index (kg/m2) of 30 or more. Mean triceps skinfold was 23.5 mm; in 10 (25%) it was 25 mm or more) Hypertension (greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg) was present in 3 women (7.5%), hyperglycaemia (greater than or equal to 7.8 mmol/l) in 1 (2.5%), hypercholesterolaemia (greater than or equal to 5.2 mmol/l) in 3 (7.5%), and hypertriglyceridaemia (greater than or equal to 1.8 mmol/l) in 3 (7.5%). Dietarily, mean intake of energy was 2260 kcals, protein 73 g (12.9% energy), fat 55 g (20.8% energy), and carbohydrate 369 g (65.3%). In this context, of low fat, low animal food intakes, together with high physical activity, one or more of the adverse sequelae enumerated were present in 5 women (12.5%). Accordingly, in 35 women (87.5%), their obesity could be regarded as "healthy" obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A multicentre study to compare piperacillin with the combination of netilmicin and metronidazole for prophylaxis in elective colorectal surgery undertaken in district general hospitals.

We have conducted a multicentre randomized study to compare piperacillin with the combination of netilmicin and metronidazole in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. There was no significant difference in the incidence of operation-related infection, chest or urinary tract infection. Major life-threatening sepsis occurred in 6% and the overall incidence of operation-related infection was 24%. Organisms which normally inhabit the bowel lumen were cultured from most of the postoperative infections; however, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated as a causative organism in nine patients in the piperacillin group compared with none in the netilmicin and metronidazole group. We are concerned at the high incidence of infection in both groups, and we believe that other factors in addition to prophylactic antibiotics need to be evaluated if the incidence of infection is to be reduced further.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Faecal pH, dietary fibre intake, and proneness to colon cancer in four South African populations.

In a series of South African populations, mean faecal pH values were found to be: rural and urban blacks, 6.12 and 6.15; Indians 6.21; coloureds (Eur-African-Malay), 6.29; these are significantly lower (p less than 0.01) than that of whites, 6.88. Apart from that of the coloureds, mean values for series of children and adults did not differ significantly. In the populations mentioned, corresponding mean dietary fibre intakes of children's mothers (or associates of mothers) were all relatively low, namely, roughly 25 g, 18 g, 20 g, 21 g, 23 g, respectively. Frequency of colon cancer (also other non-infective bowel diseases, e.g. appendicitis) is very low in rural and urban blacks, is low in Indians and coloureds, yet much higher in whites. Thus, in these different ethnic populations, rarity or low frequency of colon cancer is associated more with low faecal pH than with level of dietary fibre intake, suggesting that components additional to fibre have a role in determining the milieu intérieur of the bowel and its proneness to disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The impact of automatic digit naming ability on a clinical test of eye movement functioning.

One of the primary reasons for the clinical measurement of eye movements in children is probing the relationship of oculomotor functioning with reading. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between a subjective clinical test of lateral eye movements (KD Saccade Test) using a visual-verbal response format with the ability to name numbers automatically in the absence of eye movements in a first and second grade population. The results support the hypothesis that the eye movement skills measured with subjective visual-verbal formats as described in this study are deficits in automaticity of number knowledge ability and not oculomotor dysfunctions in some children.

Child↗