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Biomedical subjects

A Leahy

Publications and source records attributed to A Leahy.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Three-dimensional morphological study of the pancreatic microvasculature in caerulein-induced experimental pancreatitis.

A morphological study of the pancreatic microvasculature in experimental pancreatitis was performed in dogs, using three-dimensional scanning electron microscopy vascular casting and transmission electron microscopy. Animals with pancreatitis were characterized by a marked reduction in the number of capillaries outlined by the cast and by distortion of those that were outlined, with irregularity of the capillary lumen, abruptly terminating capillary buds and leakage of the cast material through the capillary membrane. The study provides convincing morphological evidence that one of the earliest changes in acute pancreatitis is distortion of the capillary circulation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Parental psychiatric disorder: clinical prevalence and effects on default from treatment.

In a retrospective case note study, 36% of 253 consecutive cases seen and treated at a community child and adolescent clinic had at least one caretaker with a concurrent psychiatric disorder. The most common diagnosis in caretakers was depression (20% of the sample). Both, psychiatric disorder in general, and depression in particular, were significantly related to default from treatment. The relevance of these results to all aspects of child health care is discussed. It is concluded that more research into the impact of parental psychiatric disorder on the treatment of children across various clinical settings is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computerised biofeedback games: a new method for teaching stress management and its use in irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and test a computer biofeedback game designed to teach deep relaxation to patients with a stress related disorder and to assess whether relaxation can improve symptomatic episodes. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: An open, prospective, single centre study. Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Free Hospital, London. SUBJECTS: Forty patients with irritable bowel syndrome refractory to conventional medical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Development of a computer aided biofeedback apparatus directed at the gut for teaching relaxation to patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The patients' ability to complete a computer game involving biofeedback modulated by a physiological loop that related changes in stress (monitored by electrodermal activity) to animated computer graphics. The degree to which deep relaxation was achieved was measured numerically by a progressive reduction in the sensitivity level of the biofeedback loop. The success of relaxation in ameliorating physical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome was assessed by daily diaries in which global and weighted bowel symptom scores were entered. RESULTS: A computer biofeedback game based on animated gut imagery was successfully developed. Most patients learned to achieve progressively deeper levels of relaxation after four 30 minute biofeedback sessions (mean difference in sensitivity level 2.0 (95% confidence interval 0.96 to 2.93), p < 0.001). Use of 'dosed' relaxation when bowel symptoms were troublesome was helpful in 50% of patients. It reduced the global symptom score (mean difference 0.5 (0.02 to 0.32), p < 0.04) and the bowel symptom score (mean difference 0.8 (0.04 to 1.58), p < 0.04). At long term follow up, 64% of patients who had been helped by dosed relaxation continued to use the technique, although they had had no further contact with the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: This computer biofeedback game taught deep relaxation rapidly and effectively. Half the patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome found the technique helpful on most occasions on which it was used. Computer biofeedback games may offer a simple, inexpensive strategy for managing other stress related medical disorders.

Adult↗