Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B E Storey

Publications and source records attributed to B E Storey.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Computerised method for acquisition and display of gastrointestinal motility data.

A computerised system is developed for the acquisition and display of gastrointestinal motility data which utilises a purpose developed software program called 'PC-motil', running on an IBM compatible microcomputer. 'PC-motil' displays data during collection, writes data to disk file and compresses all data at the end of a study on to a single monitor screen for convenient overview. Any area of interest, in single or multiple channels, may be selected and expanded for detailed examination. This system is tested by the recording of gastric and jejunal motility patterns of 11 healthy volunteers in fasting and fed states. All antral and jejunal migrating motor complexes (MMCs) in fasting studies, as well as all fed motility patterns were recognisable in both 'compressed' and 'expanded' form. The reproduction of motility patterns by the computer based system was indistinguishable from that of a conventional analogue chart recorder. This computerised system provides a convenient and cost-effective means of acquisition, storage and display of motility data in digital form.

Adult↗

Detection of clustered gastrointestinal contractions in partial intestinal obstruction by surface vibration analysis.

Gastrointestinal contraction "clusters" with alternating quiescence occur in partial intestinal obstruction and are conventionally detected by intraluminal manometry. Surface Vibration Analysis (SVA), which is a noninvasive test, was evaluated in this study in experimental and clinical situations. In the experimental situation, former SVA was assessed against simultaneous manometry in two volunteers, in whom partial obstruction had been induced by intrajejunal balloon distension. Manometry showed typical contraction "clusters" with alternating quiescence, each of two to four minutes duration, in obstructed jejunum proximal to the balloon. The distal jejunum was inhibited. SVA showed a pattern of hyperactivity and quiescence corresponding to proximal jejunal activity. In the clinical situation, SVA recordings taken after a standard meal in nine patients with suspected chronic obstruction adhesive obstruction, (subsequently proven in seven patients and disproved in two), and 36 volunteers were compared. All patients with proved obstruction showed an SVA pattern of alternating hyperactivity and quiescence. This pattern was not observed in volunteers or nonobstructed patients.

Abdomen↗

Surface vibration analysis (SVA): a new non-invasive monitor of gastrointestinal activity.

A computerised system for measurement of vibration at the abdominal surface was constructed which was addressed to the evaluation of gastrointestinal (GI) motor function. Preliminary studies revealed a dominant low frequency signal which was synchronous with the heartbeat and was considered representative of aortic pulsation. This was excluded by selective spectral filtration. The remaining signal was processed and measured by computer, with provision of quantitative energy values as well as of graphic display. The developed method, called surface vibration analysis (SVA) has been evaluated clinically; (a) against oral to caecal transit times (OCCT) of a standard solid meal, in five patients with severe postgastrectomy diarrhoea, seven patients with mild idiopathic diarrhoea and 22 healthy volunteers. (b) against prokinetic effects of a gastrointestinal stimulant (cisapride) in nine patients. In (a) postprandial SVA energy measurements were greater (SVA [*X (SEM)] = 406,933 (98,224] and oral to caecal transit of the solid meal was more rapid (OCTT = *90 (29) min) in the severe diarrhoea patients [postgastrectomy] than either the mild diarrhoea group (*SVA = 235,317 (50,780); *OCTT = *199 (42) min) or normal volunteers (*SVA = 212,062 (27,153); *OCTT = 242 (19) min) [p less than 0.01 for SVA and OCTT]. In the total group, an inverse correlation was observed between quantitative SVA energy values and oral to caecal transit times of solids (Spearman's rho = -0.486; p less than 0.01). In (b), drug stimulation of the GI tract caused an increase of fasting SVA measurements from *21,217 (5956) [before] to *41,937 (9606) [after] intravenous cisapride (p less than 0.05). This new technique may be useful for evaluation of gastrointestinal motor activity.

Adult↗

A simple computer program for calculating areas under concentration-time curves.

A simple program has been developed for calculating areas under concentration-time curves with a home computer. Although it was primarily produced in BBC BASIC for the BBC microcomputer, an adaptation has been made to allow its use with a limited subset of BASIC commands on other computers. After the time and concentration data have been entered, the computer produces a smooth curve running through all data points and employs a spline-fitting interpolation technique to produce equally spaced points, as required by Simpson's rule which is used as the numerical integration procedure. The areas of the vertical strips so formed are then calculated and added together, the integration times being selected by the investigator himself. Comparison with a traditional method showed a good correlation, as did comparison with a commercial NONLIN program. The simple program allows a large number of observations to be analysed quickly, and has proved very useful in calculating AUC values in individual patients in studies with various new antimicrobial agents.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

High TSH concentrations in "euthyroidism": explanation based on control-loop theory.

High concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the serum have often been reported in apparently euthyroid patients with damaged thyroids. We have confirmed this finding in 14 patients 18 months after subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves's disease (group 1) and in 14 patients with manic-depressive psychosis (group 2) receiving lithium carbonate, which reduces thyroid reserve. One factor common to groups 1 and 2 but not to the controls was reduced thyroid reserve or functioning capacity, and, using established physical principles of servo-control, we have tried to define the mechanism. A series of curves were projected to indicate how TSH might be expected to vary with functioning thyroid capacity.

Adult↗