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Biomedical subjects

A Robbins

Publications and source records attributed to A Robbins.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Contrast venography of the leg: diagnostic efficacy, tolerance, and complication rates with ionic and nonionic contrast media.

A prospective, three-center study of two contrast agents for leg venography was performed to evaluate both the relative frequency of adverse effects and whether low-osmolality agents provided significant advantages for this procedure. Fifty-four patients were studied with the standard preparation (iothalamate meglumine) and 57 with a nonionic agent (iopamidol). Both were used at an iodine concentration of 200 mg/mL, and there were no differences in volume of contrast material, duration of infusion, percentage of positive studies, or overall diagnostic adequacy. Patient discomfort was less with iopamidol than with iothalamate (18% vs. 44%), although discomfort was generally mild in both groups. By objective follow-up studies, the frequency of postvenographic thrombosis was not significantly different in the two groups (8% vs. 9%). Contrast venography, then, had a low frequency of complications when either a dilute conventional or a low-osmolality agent was employed. Although the frequency of postvenographic thrombosis was low with both agents, patient discomfort was less with the low-osmolality formulation.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Sociodemographic and premedical school factors related to postgraduate physicians' humanistic performance.

In an extensive survey of postgraduate physicians in two teaching hospitals (N = 141) for their humanistic attitudes, values and behavior, all ratings of physicians' humanistic performance, including physicians' own scores on self-report measures, supervising faculty, nurses and patient ratings, were modestly but significantly correlated with each other. Sex, ethnic or racial background, year of training, marital status, number of children, Alpha-Omega-Alpha membership or number of articles published were unrelated to physicians' humanistic behavior. Several measures of humanism were positively correlated with having taken more courses in the social sciences and humanities, having had more early person-centered work experience and reporting that before medical school others had confided in them or sought their advice more frequently.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Affinity-purified antibody as a probe of RNA polymerase II subunit structure.

Antibodies reactive against mammalian RNA polymerase II were isolated by affinity chromatography. Serum from a goat immunized with Drosophila RNA polymerase II was passed over a column containing covalently coupled calf thymus RNA polymerase II, and reactive antibodies were eluted at low pH. The affinity-purified antibody was reactive against two large subunits (Mr = 140,000-220,000) and four small subunits (Mr = 16,000-35,000) of RNA polymerase II purified from calf, human, chicken, and Drosophila, as well as two large subunits of wheat germ RNA polymerase II. These findings confirm that RNA polymerase II subunits share conserved antigenic determinants over wide evolutionary distances. The affinity-purified antibody was also used to investigate the presence and structure of RNA polymerase II in human cell extracts capable of carrying out promoter-selective transcription in vitro. The subunit structure of RNA polymerase in the extract appears to be the same as that of purified human RNA polymerase II. In both cases, the human enzyme differs from the calf thymus enzyme in that it contains a large (Mr = 220,000) form of the largest subunit.

Animals↗

Neurologic symptoms associated with nonobstructive plaque at carotid bifurcation. Analysis by real-time B-mode ultrasonography.

Real-time B-mode ultrasonography was employed to image nonobstructive atherosclerotic plaque formation in the carotid artery bifurcation. Hemodynamic factors were assessed by pneumo-oculoplethsymography and Doppler flow study. Hemodynamically obstructive lesions were associated with a significantly higher incidence of cerebral ischemic symptoms than were nonobstructive plaques. Two types of nonobstructive plaques were delineated: isolated nodular plaques and mural plaques along the wall of the carotid sinus. Nodular plaques were associated with significantly fewer ischemic symptoms and strokes than were obstructive lesions. Mural plaques also had a lower incidence of symptoms than obstructive lesions, but the difference was not significant. Noninvasive determination of the morphologic and physiologic characteristics of atherosclerotic lesions at the carotid bifurcation can be of considerable value in the management of patients with transient ischemic attacks.

Adult↗

Transient ischemic attacks with external carotid artery stenosis and a normal internal carotid artery.

Transient ischemic attacks have been attributed to emboli from the external carotid artery in patients with complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery. We report a patient with an external carotid stenosis and normal internal carotid who developed ipsilateral transient ischemic attacks. Real time B-mode ultrasonography demonstrated that the plaque obstructing the external carotid artery extended into the carotid sinus. This may have served as a source of emboli into the internal carotid circulation.

Aged↗

Maxillary sinusitis as a cause of cheek swelling. A rare occurrence.

Inflammatory swelling of the cheek is an extremely rare complication of antral sinusitis. When such swelling occurs, diagnostic search for a specific coexisting condition must be made. The differential diagnosis includes a postsurgical or posttraumatic defect in the anterior antral wall; an unusual fungal, granulomatous, or neoplastic disease of the maxillary sinus; dental infection; or dacryocystitis.

Adult↗

Status of geriatric medicine in the United States.

Geriatrics has experienced a gradual and cyclical evolution in the United States. A considerable amount of attention has recently been focused on the status of geriatric medicine and the issue of specialty recognition. Numerous organizations within established medicine have developed position documents and are in the process of re-examining their status. In the United Kingdom, physicians can now be designated as having a special interest in geriatric medicine, and Canada is proceeding with the development of a certificate of special competence in geriatric medicine under the auspices of the Division of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. This paper presents hypotheses to account for the lack of organization status in geriatrics, and arguments are examined regarding the need for specialty recognition. There is general consensus that geriatrics has an identifiable body of knowledge and skills and that there is need for a cadre of academic geriatricians and educators in geriatrics for students and residents. However, specialty recognition introduces conflict within established specialties that consider care of the elderly crucial to their existence. The options for special recognition, including a certificate of special competence, are described with their advantages and disadvantages. Substantial arguments favor some form of specialty recognition.

Aged↗

Bleeding esophageal varices: treatment by embolization and shunting.

An assessment was made of the treatment of 120 consecutive, alcoholic, cirrhotic patients with bleeding esophageal varices. Percutaneous, transhepatic embolization of the esophagaogastric varices resulted in control of the hemorrhage and this approach was more effective than were the non-surgical methods used. Management of acute variceal bleeding by conservative non-surgical means, including embolization, appears preferable to emergency portal-systemic shunts. The combination of non-surgical control of the acute variceal hemorrhage plus subsequent selective distal splenorenal shunting resulted in minimal encephalopathy and the most effective treatment.

Embolization, Therapeutic↗