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Biomedical subjects

B Smith

Publications and source records attributed to B Smith.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of severe mental handicap.

Parents of 212 severely educationally handicapped children ESN(S) were asked about the circumstances of the identification of their child's handicap. Findings for the group as a whole were similar to those quoted in other studies but varied significantly according to the clinical group of the child. The 'no specific pathology' group gives cause for most concern: identification of these children occurs later, and is further delayed from the time that parents become anxious, than it is for children in other groups. Since 'no specific pathology' children may benefit as much or perhaps more from early intervention as do children in the more easily identifiable groups, attention should be paid to means of recognition and of giving appropriate help and support to their parents.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Severe mental retardation in children from socially disadvantaged families.

Children receiving ESN(S) education, attending special day schools, and living at home, were categorized into those whose handicap had been medically recognized in infancy and those of unknown aetiology, 'non-specific'. Information obtained from interviews with their families was used to identify a subgroup of those who were relatively socially disadvantaged. Both factors, medical and social, are shown to have a significant effect on early provisions for special needs. The non-specific cases from disadvantaged families tended to have been recognized at a later age than the rest; their parents had less information, less access to services, and less contact with others who could provide aid and support. It is argued that the theoretical model which distinguishes pathogenic and subcultural aetiologies of severe mental subnormality is inappropriate. It may be wrongly applied by fieldworkers, especially those serving families with a developmentally backward preschool child. The result may discriminate against socially disadvantaged families with a child whose handicap is not medically diagnosed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early detection of childhood autism: a review of screening instruments and rating scales.

The detection and diagnosis of autism may be delayed until middle childhood, 3-4 years after its onset. This is more likely in high-functioning autism and in cases of co-morbidity with mental retardation. Such delays have serious effects on children and their families as well as on the provision of clinical and educational resources. In addition to greater awareness among professionals and to the development of comprehensive services, early detection could be facilitated by screening for early signs and symptoms of autism. The instruments that have been developed to rate autistic behaviours, particularly in pre-school children, are reviewed in this paper. Although the majority of these observational or informant-based measures were not initially designed for screening purposes, previous research findings from their application could be useful in the future development of such a screening instrument. Relevant research findings are discussed and suggestions are made for further evaluation in appropriate populations.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paranasal sinusitis complicated by inspissated exudate in the ventral conchal sinus.

Primary paranasal sinusitis complicated by inspissated exudate within the ventral conchal sinus was diagnosed in five horses. Clinical signs included a unilateral, foul-smelling, mucopurulent nasal exudate of 2 to 7 months' duration. Two of the horses had partial nasal obstruction from distortion of the ventral concha. Radiographs of the skull showed a mass of soft tissue density dorsal to the roots of the superior third and fourth or fourth and fifth cheek teeth. Treatment included bone flap maxillary sinusotomy with exposure of the ventral nasal concha and removal of inspissated exudate. Resolution of the sinusitis occurred in all five horses.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacology and biological efficacy of a recombinant, humanized, single-chain antibody C5 complement inhibitor in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response that causes substantial clinical morbidity. Activation of complement during CPB contributes significantly to this inflammatory process. We examined the capability of a novel therapeutic complement inhibitor to prevent pathological complement activation and tissue injury in patients undergoing CPB. METHODS AND RESULTS: A humanized, recombinant, single-chain antibody specific for human C5, h5G1.1-scFv, was intravenously administered in 1 of 4 doses ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 mg/kg before CPB. h5G1.1-scFv was found to be safe and well tolerated. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a sustained half-life from 7.0 to 14.5 hours. Pharmacodynamic analysis demonstrated significant dose-dependent inhibition of complement hemolytic activity for up to 14 hours at 2 mg/kg. The generation of proinflammatory complement byproducts (sC5b-9) was effectively inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion. Leukocyte activation, as measured by surface expression of CD11b, was reduced (P<0.05) in patients who received 1 and 2 mg/kg. There was a 40% reduction in myocardial injury (creatine kinase-MB release, P=0.05) in patients who received 2 mg/kg. Sequential Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSE) demonstrated an 80% reduction in new cognitive deficits (P<0.05) in patients treated with 2 mg/kg. Finally, there was a 1-U reduction in postoperative blood loss (P<0. 05) in patients who received 1 or 2 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: A single-chain antibody specific for human C5 is a safe and effective inhibitor of pathological complement activation in patients undergoing CPB. In addition to significantly reducing sC5b-9 formation and leukocyte CD11b expression, C5 inhibition significantly attenuates postoperative myocardial injury, cognitive deficits, and blood loss. These data suggest that C5 inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing complement-mediated inflammation and tissue injury.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidermoid carcinoma of the floor of the mouth: surgical therapy vs combined therapy vs radiation therapy.

A retrospective analysis of 103 selected patients with floor-of-mouth epidermoid carcinoma compared the effectiveness of surgical therapy alone vs planned preoperative radiation combined therapy vs irradiation therapy. All three treatment methods appeared equally effective in irradicating stage I and II disease. Stage III floor-of-mouth epidermoid carcinoma was similarly controlled by either surgical therapy or combined therapy. Irradiation therapy alone was markedly inferior in treatment of stage III disease. Stage IV disease was poorly handled by any of the treatment methods. Histologic factors, tumor characteristics, tumor spread, nodal status, and staging did not appear in the majority of cases to significantly influence treatment selection or survival or both.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chicken infectious anemia virus infection in Israeli commercial flocks: virus amplification, clinical signs, performance, and antibody status.

The impact of chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) infection on commercial chicken flocks in Israel was examined by analyzing flocks with or without typical CIAV signs, signs of other diseases, or apparently healthy flocks. In 23 flocks (broilers and layers) of ages up to 8 wk, typical signs of CIAV infection (stunting, gangrenous dermatitis, and secondary bacterial infections) were recorded. When permitted by flock owners, in several cases among these 23 flocks the morbidity, mortality, and performance parameters were recorded; the presence of CIAV was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and the antibody status of parents and broilers was measured. In addition, total mortality, number of birds sold, total kilograms of meat sold, density (kg/m2), mean age at slaughter, daily growth rate in grams, total kilogram of food consumed, food conversion rate, and the European Index were calculated. We also surveyed flocks affected by other diseases, such as tumors, respiratory diseases, or coccidiosis, and flocks with no apparent clinical signs. The latter flocks were negative by CIAV-PCR, indicating that typical CIAV clinical signs are associated with one-step PCR-CIAV amplification. However, a small amount of CIAV might still be present in these flocks, acting to induce the subclinical effects of CIAV infection. These data indicate a link between the presence of virus sequences and typical CIAV signs and strengthen the concept that CIAV infection has a negative economic impact on the chicken industry.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pyovagina and stump pyometra in a neutered XX sex-reversed beagle: a case report.

An 18-month-old, neutered male beagle presented with acute abdominal signs and a suppurative infection of the urogenital tract. Chromosomal sex was female (78, XX), gonadal sex was male (testicles), and phenotypic sex was ambiguous, with evidence of both male and female duct systems. The internal and external genitalia consisted of epididymides, an underdeveloped uterus with an immature spermatic cord, communication between the uterus or cranial vagina and the membranous urethra, a urethrographically male urethra, a hypoplastic os penis, and a hypoplastic penis with hypospadia. Based on these findings and the familial history of a similarly affected litter mate, the dog was diagnosed as having the XX male syndrome with pyovagina and uterine stump pyometra. Radiographic and ultrasonographic investigations are described, and abnormalities of chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, and phenotypic sex are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reduction of nasal orbital fractures and simultaneous dacryocystorhinostomy.

A technique for restoration of structure and function in naso-orbital fractures has been described. Three case reports demonstrate a few of the final results. The case reports also indicate that many of these fractures require late definitive surgery in spite of optimal surgical treatment immediately subsequent to injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Peripheral blood progenitor cell cycle kinetics following priming with pIXY321 in patients treated with the "ICE" regimen.

PURPOSE: Treatment with hematopoietic growth factors increases the percentage of hematopoietic progenitor cells in cell cycle. Following withdrawal of certain growth factors, preclinical data suggest that there is a transient fall in the percentage of progenitor cells in cycle below the baseline, thus providing a window to administer chemotherapy with reduced risk of myelotoxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed, previously untreated neoplasia, were treated with pIXY321 by subcutaneous injection at a dose of 375 microg/m2 twice daily (total dose 750 microg/m2/day) for seven days (days -8 to -2), followed by a two-day rest (days -1 to 0). Patients received ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide) on days 1 to 3. On day 4, pIXY321 was resumed until hematologic recovery. Peripheral blood was collected on days -8, -2, -1, 1, and cell cycle distribution was determined using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Twenty patients were treated in this study and received a total of 54 cycles. Partial responses were observed in three of 13 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (23 percent) and two of five patients with small cell lung cancer (40 percent). Six of 15 patients had an increased number of cells in S+G2/M on day 1 of ICE following seven days of pIXY321 and two days off (days -1 to 0). The average increase was 63 percent (range 6-253). Seven patients had a decreased number of cells in S+G2/M. The average decrease was 55 percent (range 6.3-78). There were no significant differences among the fifteen patients with regards to the observed toxicity of the chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: pIXY321 in this schedule did not consistently decrease the percentage of cycling progenitor cells in the peripheral blood. Future studies should define whether other growth factors and/or schedules can synchronize progenitor cell cycling and protect the marrow compartment from cycle specific chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A difference in perspective--the North American and European interpretations of tooth wear.

PURPOSE: There is considerable interest in the European dental research literature about the problem of tooth wear and specifically about dental erosion, but this interest does not appear to be matched in North America based on the volume of the literature there. The purpose of this article is to consider the possible explanations for this difference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article examines the reasons for this disparity and attempts to explain the difference by reviewing the North American and European literature on the etiology, pathogenesis, and prevalence of tooth wear. RESULTS: It would appear from the literature that the reason for the difference in interest between the 2 continents is a reflection of how the appearance, etiology, and terminology are interpreted and used to define tooth wear, attrition, and erosion. CONCLUSION: Attrition is the wear of teeth against teeth; therefore, by definition any worn surface that does not contact the opposing tooth must have another etiology. An appropriate descriptive term is "tooth wear" when the etiology is multifactorial or cannot be determined. A search of the literature shows more studies in the European literature of the etiology and prevalence of tooth wear than in the North American literature. The thrust of the European studies supports the view that erosion is more important than attrition in the etiology of tooth wear.

Bruxism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer incidence in Alaska Natives thirty-year report 1969-1998.

The Alaska Native Tumor Registry includes data from 1969 to the present. This report provides incidence rates over the thirty year period, 1969 through 1998, and compares trends over time for Alaska Natives (AN) with those of US Whites and Blacks. To examine current rates, average annual age-adjusted incidence rates for AN for 1984-98 are compared with US Whites. Data from the registry document numerous differences in rates of occurrence of specific cancers compared to US Whites and Blacks. Studies of these differences may provide clues to the causes and risk factors for the cancers. Most importantly, these data show that although cancer was considered a rare disease in the Alaska Native population as recently as the mid-twentieth century, the incidence rate for all cancers combined among Alaska Natives is now as high as that of US Whites, and even higher in women. On the other hand, despite relative differences in rates, the most frequently diagnosed cancers among Alaska Natives are the same as US Whites. Cancers of the lung, colon/rectum, breast, and prostate are most frequently diagnosed among Alaska Natives and in the U.S. These four cancers comprise over 50% of all diagnosed invasive cancers. Cancer of the lung is almost entirely preventable by eradication of tobacco use. Screening and early detection have been proven to reduce mortality for cancers of the colon/rectum and breast. Primary and secondary prevention of these cancers could markedly improve morbidity and mortality.

Black or African American↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pediatric nutrition surveillance.

This article illustrates trends observed in recent data from the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) and provides recommendations for nutrition intervention, nutrition monitoring, health advances as well as health concerns in the PedNSS population.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The value of saline salpingosonography as a surrogate test of tubal patency in low-resource settings.

BACKGROUND: Tubal factor, which accounts for 15-30% of infertility in all women, is common in developing countries with high rates of pelvic inflammatory disease but limited resources. It is possible to outline the fallopian tubes by injecting isotonic saline transcervically during transvaginal ultrasound scanning of the pelvis, and both color flow Doppler and 3-dimensional scanning modes have been employed to improve visualization of the tubes, with varying success. METHOD: We investigated the value of saline salpingosonography (SSG), using 2-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound scanning, as a screening test of tubal patency in 113 women by comparing SSG findings to those at HSG or laparoscopy. RESULTS: The findings at SSG correlated well with the results of HSG or laparoscopy, with an overall concordance of 82.5%. SSG was more accurate at diagnosing patent tubes than blocked tubes and was well tolerated. The results are, however, unreliable when it is difficult to inject the saline and when the patient experiences severe pain during the procedure. CONCLUSION: SSG is a useful screening tool for investigating infertility, particularly in low-resource settings.

Adult↗