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Biomedical subjects

B Lask

Publications and source records attributed to B Lask.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Psychosocial morbidity in children, and their families, awaiting heart or heart-lung transplantation.

Awaiting heart or heart lung transplantation is a time of extreme stress for child and family, but there has been little evaluation of the psychosocial morbidity in this population. This preliminary study monitored changes in the mental health status of these children and their families. Fifty-one children considered suitable for transplantation and their families were assessed at the time of acceptance onto the waiting list and 6 months later. Twenty-five percent of the children had a psychiatric disorder, and 60% had a degree of impairment in psychosocial functioning. These high levels of morbidity indicate the need for a more comprehensive approach to treatment for this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Sleep disorders.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Paediatrics at the cutting edge: do we need clinical ethics committees?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the need for hospital clinical ethics committees by studying the frequency with which ethical dilemmas arose, the perceived adequacy of the process of their resolution, and the teaching and training of staff in medical ethics. DESIGN: Interviews with individuals and three multidisciplinary teams; questionnaire to randomly selected individuals. SETTING: Two major London children's hospitals. RESULTS: Ethical dilemmas arose frequently but were resolved in a relatively unstructured fashion. Ethical concerns included: the validity of consent for investigations and treatment; lack of children's involvement in consent; initiation of heroic or futile treatments; resource allocation. Staff expressed the need for a forum which would provide consultation on ethical issues, develop guidelines for good ethical practice, undertake teaching and training, and provide ethical reflection outside the acute clinical setting. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary, accountable and audited clinical ethics committees with predominantly advisory, practice development and educational roles could provide a valuable contribution to UK clinical practice and perhaps in other countries that have not developed hospital clinical ethics committees.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Eye movement abnormalities in a case of Tourette syndrome.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterised by the presence of multiple vocal, facial, and motor tics which change with time, and a number of other behavioural phenomena. Previous studies have not revealed any ocular-motor abnormalities. We report the eye movement studies of a patient with TS, using electrooculography and simultaneous video recording. Intrusive saccades occurred during smooth pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus. Reflexive and voluntary saccades were dysmetric and there was a complete failure of antisaccades. These abnormalities are characteristic of disease of the frontal lobes and basal ganglia. We review the literature with respect to the eye movement abnormalities associated with TS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Use of pelvic ultrasound to monitor ovarian and uterine maturity in childhood onset anorexia nervosa.

This study reports the use of pelvic ultrasound scanning in childhood onset anorexia nervosa. The aim was to determine the weight and weight for height ratio (wt/ht) that would correspond with ovarian and uterine maturity and therefore offer the optimal opportunity for the start or resumption of menstruation. On initial assessment, all children had mean weight, wt/ht, ovarian and uterine volumes significantly below expected. At follow up, half the children had started or resumed menstruation. When compared with those who had persisting amenorrhoea, the recovered children had a significantly higher mean weight (48.4 kg v 43.8 kg), mean wt/ht (96.5% v 87.5%), mean ovarian volume (6.2 ml v 4.9 ml), and mean uterine volume (14.6 ml v 10.8 ml). The study indicates that conventional target weight and wt/ht in anorexia nervosa may be too low to ensure ovarian and uterine maturity, and that pelvic ultrasound, which is well tolerated by this group of children, is a useful addition to their management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Zinc deficiency and childhood-onset anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: We studied the association of zinc deficiency and childhood-onset anorexia nervosa because the relationship is controversial. METHOD: Anorexia nervosa was diagnosed on the basis of determined food avoidance, weight loss, preoccupation with body weight and energy intake, distorted body image, fear of fatness, self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising, and laxative abuse. Twenty-six such children, admitted to a specialized eating disorders program within a children's hospital, formed the basis of the study. Zinc status was determined by measuring fasting plasma zinc levels and 24-hour urinary zinc excretion using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Nutritional status was determined by using weight-for-height ratios. A trial of zinc supplementation was attempted using a 12-week double-blind crossover design, with 6 weeks of placebo and 6 weeks of treatment with 50 mg daily of oral zinc sulphate. RESULTS: Zinc deficiency was found to be common, with a significant correlation between fasting plasma zinc levels and malnutrition (Pearson r = .586, p = .004). Introduction of a normal diet rapidly returned zinc levels and weight-for-height ratios to the normal range. Children entering the study with relatively normal zinc levels gained weight no faster than those with low plasma zinc levels. Of seven trials of zinc supplementation, only three were completed, as inadequate oral intake threatened the health of the remaining four. CONCLUSION: Low zinc levels are common in childhood-onset anorexia nervosa, appear to be secondary to self-starvation, and are rapidly reversible without zinc supplementation.

Administration, Oral↗