Measurement of tau decays involving eta mesons.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
B Ong
Publications and source records attributed to B Ong.
Isospin mass splittings from precision measurements of D*-D mass differences.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Journal Article↗
The dropped big toe.
Surgical procedures for exposure of the upper third of the fibula have been known to cause weakness of the long extensor of the big toe post-operatively. The authors present three representative cases of surgically induced dropped big toe. From cadaveric dissection, an anatomic basis was found for this phenomenon. The tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles have their origin at the proximal end of the leg and receive their first motor innervation from a branch that arises from the common peroneal or deep peroneal nerve at about the level of the neck of the fibula. However, the extensor hallucis longus muscle originates in the middle one-third of the leg and the nerves innervating this muscle run a long course in close proximity to the fibula for up to ten centimeters from a level below the neck of the fibula before entering the muscle. Surgical intervention in the proximal one-third of the fibula just distal to the origin of the first motor branch to the tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles carries a risk of injury to the nerves innervating the extensor hallucis longus.
Adolescent↗
Critical role for the Val/Gly86 HLA-DR beta dimorphism in autoantigen presentation to human T cells.
Helper T lymphocytes recognize fragments of foreign (or self) antigens in the peptide-binding clefts of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules; their activation is a crucial step in the induction of many immune and autoimmune responses. While studying the latter, we raised a T-cell line from the thymus of a myasthenia gravis patient against recombinant alpha subunit of the human acetylcholine receptor, the target of this autoimmune disease. The line responds to the 144-156 region of the human sequence and not to the same region of the electric fish homolog, which differs by only three residues. These CD4+ T cells recognize this epitope only in the context of HLA-DR4 class II molecules, of which the variants with Gly86 are absolutely required. Thus the naturally occurring alternatives Dw14.2 (Gly86) and Dw14.1 (Val86)--which differ only at this one position in the entire antigen-binding region--show an all-or-nothing difference in presenting activity. This dimorphism at position 86 is widespread, occurring in subtypes of DR1, DR2, DR3, DR5, and DR6 alleles as well as DR4. Since other DR4 subtypes with substitutions at positions 70-74 also fail to present this peptide, and glycine residues can be uniquely flexible, we suggest that this replacement at position 86 acts locally or at a distance by altering the conformation of the peptide-binding cleft. Such profound functional consequences for T-cell recognition as we report here may explain this example of conserved major histocompatibility complex diversity.
Adolescent↗
Botulinum toxin in the treatment of facial dyskinesias.
Patients with hemifacial spasm (N = 25), blepharospasm (n = 8), and benign eyelid fasciculation (n = 2) were treated with botulinum toxin injections (PHLS, Porton Down, England). All patients reported substantial symptomatic relief. Marked improvement was seen in fifteen patients with hemifacial spasm and six patients with blepharospasm. Benign eyelid fasciculation was completely abolished. Beneficial effects was evident two to three days after injections, became maximum at one week, and remained effective for up to six months. Side effects were transitory and mild. They included periorbital edema, mild diplopia, ptosis and facial weakness. Only in two patients was ptosis unacceptable. Severity of side effects was dose-related. Reinjections had similar efficacy. Botulinum toxin therapy is a safe and effective treatment for these facial dyskinesias and should be considered a viable alternative to surgical procedures.
Adult↗
Progressive hemifacial atrophy--a report of 2 cases.
Idiopathic hemifacial atrophy (Parry-Romberg Syndrome) is characterised by progressive wasting or loss of subcutaneous tissue in half of the face, starting usually in childhood, and often associated with skin changes. Two adult onset cases are described. They did not demonstrate skin changes but one had complicated hemiplegic migraine with headaches always ipsilateral to the facial wasting.
Adult↗
Choreoacanthocytosis in a Chinese patient--a case report.
A 50-year old Chinese woman with the rare neurological disorder of Choreoacanthocytosis is described. Her illness is characterised by seizures, buccolingual dyskinesia, choreiform movements, arreflexia and mild sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Acanthocytes were present in her peripheral blood in large numbers but the serum lipid profile was normal. Her features are consistent with those so far described in Caucasian and Japanese patients. The disease differs from Huntington's chorea in that there are acanthocytes, peripheral neuropathy, and metal function remains relatively intact.
Acanthocytes↗
Obstetrical anaesthesia at Winnipeg Women's Hospital 1975-83: anaesthetic techniques and complications.
The obstetrical anaesthesia experience of the Winnipeg Women's Hospital from 1975 to 1983 was reviewed (n = 22,925 infants). Use of narcotics in labour for analgesia decreased from 38.7 to 18.3 per cent of the deliveries. For analgesia during spontaneous vaginal deliveries, epidural anaesthesia increased from 6.0 to 24.0 per cent, inhalational analgesia decreased from 53.7 to 3.2 per cent while "no anaesthetic intervention" rose from 40.3 to 72.8 per cent. Use of epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section increased from 58.7 to 82.6 per cent. The most common acute complications of anaesthesia were hypotension and inadvertent dural puncture during epidural catheterization. The incidence of hypotension decreased from 28.3 to 17.4 per cent during the nine-year period. Dural puncture decreased from 4.7 to 1.1 per cent of all epidural administrations. Postpartum complaints (that were thought to be related to anaesthesia) were mainly headache, back pain and sore throat. The incidence of these complaints also decreased over the study period.
Analgesics, Opioid↗
Mood state of heroin-dependent persons undergoing methadone detoxification.
A questionnaire (MSQ) was designed to evaluate subtle changes in subjective states accompanying methadone detoxification. A principal components analysis was applied to questionnaire data obtained from 29 male and female heroin-dependent persons at both moderate (42-22 mg) and low (21-1 mg) doses of methadone administration. Six factors were identified-a "schizophrenic" factor; general well-being; a mental outlook factor; a neurotic factor; a bipolar extroversion-introversion factor; a bipolar excitation versus euphoria-depression factor. A shift to a more negative mental attitude, and an increase in extroversion and excitability, was found with decrease in methadone dose.
Adult↗
Subarachnoid bupivacaine decreases spinal cord blood flow in dogs.
Eighteen mongrel dogs were randomized into two equal groups. Cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord and spinal dural blood flows were measured using the radioactive microsphere technique. Blood flow determinations were made prior to, and 20 and 40 minutes following lumbar subarachnoid injection of: (1) 0.4 per cent bupivacaine (20 mg), or (2) 0.4 per cent bupivacaine (20 mg) with 1/25,000 epinephrine (200 micrograms). In dogs given subarachnoid bupivacaine or bupivacaine with epinephrine, the maximum decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (33 per cent) occurred at 40 minutes post-injection. Cardiac index decreased in dogs given subarachnoid bupivacaine (197 +/- 11 ml X kg-1 X min-1 control vs. 141 +/- 19 ml X kg-1 X min-1 at 40 minutes), while it increased in dogs given bupivacaine with epinephrine (201 +/- 11 ml X kg-1 X min-1 - control vs. 252 +/- 15 ml X kg-1 X min-1 at 40 minutes). Dogs receiving subarachnoid bupivacaine demonstrated a significant decrease in spinal cord blood flow to all regions. Dogs receiving subarachnoid bupivacaine with epinephrine demonstrated a significant decrease in thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord blood flow; however, cervical cord blood flow remained unchanged. Thoracic and lumbosacral dural blood flows were significantly decreased in both groups following subarachnoid injection. Subarachnoid bupivacaine 0.4 per cent (20 mg) and 0.4 per cent with epinephrine 1/25,000 (200 micrograms) decrease spinal cord and spinal dural blood flow in dogs.
Anesthesia, Spinal↗
Insulin dependent diabetes and goitre in a case of hypomelanosis of Ito (Incontinentia Pigmenti Achromians).
Incontinentia Pigmenti Achromians (IPA) or, more aptly, Hypomelanosis of Ito is now largely accepted as a Neurocutaneous Disorder. Studies, so far, have focussed on the ultrastructural abnormalities and to our knowledge, there have been no attempts to ascertain if there is a particular HLA pattern. We describe an interesting case where IPA occurred in association with Insulin Dependent Diabetes as well as a goitre, suggesting that HLA studies may well be worthwhile. The literature is also reviewed.
Adult↗
Codeine cough mixture addiction mimicking thyrotoxicosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adult↗
Baroreflex control of heart rate in man awake and during enflurane and enflurane--nitrous oxide anesthesia.
Baroreflex control of heart rate was assessed by means of a pressor test in two groups of subjects while awake and at two levels of anesthesia with enflurane (Group I) and enflurane-nitrous oxide (Group II). In the awake control situation, calculated mean slopes (+/- SD) were 23 +/- 8 (Group I) and 25 +/- 11 (Group II). There was no significant difference between the groups. During enflurane anesthesia (Group I) mean slopes were significantly depressed to 5 +/- 5 at 1 MAC and 6 +/- 6 at 0.8 MAC. During enflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia (Group II), slopes were significantly depressed to 5 +/- 3 at 1 MAC and 6 +/- 4 at 0.9 MAC. There was no significant difference between the extents of depression in the two groups. It is concluded that both enflurane anesthesia and enflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia at 1 MAC produce significant depression of baroreflex control of heart rate in man.
Adolescent↗
Relative bioavailability of rectally administered phenobarbital sodium parenteral solution.
Rectal administration of antiepileptic drugs may be a useful alternative route when oral administration is not possible due to illness, surgery, or status epilepticus. Although parenteral administration often replaces oral administration in these circumstances, there is not always a desirable intravenous line available or repeated intramuscular injections may not be practical. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative bioavailability and time course of absorption of the commercially available parenteral phenobarbital sodium solution administered rectally in comparison with the same preparation given intramuscularly. Seven healthy adult volunteers were given phenobarbital 5 mg/kg intramuscularly and rectally five weeks apart. Eighteen blood samples were drawn over 288 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters following intramuscular versus rectal administration were the following: area under the curve 5916 vs. 5253 mumol.h/L; half-life 112 vs. 113 h; time to maximum concentration 2.1 vs. 4.4 h; and maximum serum concentration 36.2 vs. 31.4 mumol/L. Mean relative bioavailability for rectal phenobarbital was 90 percent. Therefore, the parenteral phenobarbital sodium solution given rectally is well absorbed and provides a useful alternative route of administration.
Administration, Rectal↗