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Biomedical subjects

C Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to C Gordon.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Posttraumatic syringomyelia associated with heavy weightlifting exercises: case report.

Posttraumatic syringomyelia is a well-recognized late sequel to spinal trauma occurring in 1% to 3.2% of spinal cord injured patients. Its clinical presentation is usually marked by pain, ascending sensory loss, increased muscle weakness, and depressed deep tendon reflexes. The case of a 25-year-old man with C8 complete quadriplegia, who developed a syrinx five years after his initial injury, is presented. This patient kept a log of his daily physical workout which consisted of lifting weights of 50 to 60 pounds with his neck extensors and biceps. The diagnosis was made clinically and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Repeated valsalva maneuvers from daily heavy weightlifting exercises most likely predisposed this patient to the development and extension of his syringomyelia. Dramatic improvement followed surgical placement of a subarachnoid shunt.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

An unusual presentation of gluteal hematoma during anticoagulation therapy for deep venous thrombosis in spinal cord injury.

Soft tissue bleeding can be manifested clinically by swelling, skin discoloration, pain and tenderness. Early recognition can be difficult in the spinal cord-injured population in whom sensation is impaired. We are presenting a case of occult bleeding into the gluteal region during anticoagulation therapy in a paraplegic patient that presented as migrating pain and tenderness in the hip and pelvic area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Wrist ratio correlation with carpal tunnel syndrome in industry.

Employees from a large midwestern automobile manufacturing plant completed a preemployment evaluation which included a personal and family history, physical examination, and wrist ratio determinations obtained by dividing the anteroposterior diameter by the mediolateral diameter of the wrist. Over a 3-year period, 80 of these employees who developed symptoms compatible with carpal tunnel syndrome within 4-12 months of employment were entered into the study and were evaluated with standard electrodiagnostic techniques. The symptoms included nocturnal hand pain, paresthesia and weak grasp. Thirty-nine of the 80 employees had wrist ratios equal to or greater than 0.70. Twenty-four percent of the employees with wrist ratios less than 0.70 had abnormal electrodiagnostic studies compared with 74% of employees with wrist ratios greater than or equal to 0.70. Regression analysis performed on the data revealed a significant positive correlation between distal median motor latency and wrist ratio (P = 0.001). The study suggests the practical value of wrist ratio determination in job placement.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ground reaction forces, center of pressure, and duration of stance with and without an ankle-foot orthosis.

We analyzed the effects of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) on the ground reaction forces, the position of the center of pressure, and the timing of stance phase events during walking in 18 healthy volunteers between the ages of 19 and 38 years. The magnitude and direction of the ground reaction forces and the locus of the center of pressure were recorded every one-sixtieth of a second during free-speed ambulation. The horizontal force components of the ground reaction force were plotted vectorially, and the vertical force component was displayed by its magnitude expressed in percentage body weight. All this information was superimposed on the subject's footprint and statistically analyzed, comparing right to left, narrow to wide, and ipsilateral to contralateral use of an AFO. The results showed a significant reduction in the mean duration of the stance phase of 4.83% (p less than 0.05) with the AFO. This reduction was due primarily to the significant reduction during midstance of 7% (p less than 0.025), which was more pronounced with the use of the wide AFO. Using an AFO also resulted in a mean increase of 20% (p less than 0.05) in the vertical force magnitude at the end of push-off. With the use of an AFO, there was a shift of the point of impact at heel strike to a more posterior location and a shift of the trajectory of the center of pressure to a more lateral position throughout the stance phase. These changes should be kept in mind when prescribing an ankle-foot orthosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Dysphagia in acute stroke.

A prospective study was undertaken to define the incidence, duration, and consequences of dysphagia in an unselected group of 91 consecutive patients who had suffered acute stroke. The site of the present lesion and of any previous stroke was determined clinically and was confirmed by computed tomography of the brain or necropsy in 40 cases. Of 41 patients who had dysphagia on admission, 37 had had a stroke in one cerebral hemisphere. Only seven patients showed evidence of lesions in both hemispheres. Nineteen of 22 patients who survived a stroke in a hemisphere regained their ability to swallow within 14 days. Dysphagia in patients who had had a stroke in a cerebral hemisphere was associated in this study with a higher incidence of chest infections, dehydration, and death.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Role of immediate versus delayed nephrectomy for failed renal transplants.

The role of timing of transplant nephrectomy after renal transplantation has not been well defined. This report compares the morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs of 37 patients undergoing transplant nephrectomy within 14 days after graft failure and return to dialysis, with 31 patients undergoing delayed transplant nephrectomy (less than 14 days after graft failure and return to dialysis). This analysis revealed that there were no significant (P greater than .05) differences in patient morbidity and mortality between these groups. There was, however, a substantial increase (P less than .05) in the cost of hospitalization in the delayed nephrectomy group. For this reason, we recommend early nephrectomy after renal transplant failure in order to minimize the cost of health care for these patients undergoing failed cadaver donor transplant nephrectomy.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1987

Evidence for a direct action of exogenous insulin on the pancreatic islets of diabetic mice: II. Prolonged insulin therapy before islet isolation and perifusion.

24 week old diabetic mice of the C57Bl/Ks (db/db) strain were treated with subcutaneous injections of Ultratard M.C. insulin at a dose of 40 mU/animal rising to 100 mU/animal after 12 weeks. The mean plasma insulin value was 146 +/- 20 microU/ml (n = 6). During this time, the mean body weight of the animals rose significantly (p less than 0.05) and the mean blood glucose concentration fell significantly (p less than 0.005) until a value 2-3 times normal was reached, the insulin dose was then adjusted empirically to maintain hyperglycaemia at this level. Pancreatic islets from these animals, untreated diabetic mice and normal (+/+) mice were isolated by collagenase digest and perifused with a modified Krebs-Ringer medium containing either 3 mmol/L or 15 mmol/L glucose. During glucose challenge, normal islets demonstrated the usual biphasic insulin response, but high glucose levels elicited no response from islets of untreated diabetic mice. Previous treatment of diabetic mice with insulin led to a restoration of the first phase of glucose mediated insulin secretion on perifusion and a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in the second phase. Such an improvement in beta-cell function in the face of prevailing hyperglycaemia, even allowing for the possible mediating effect of a 30% fall in blood glucose, was taken as further evidence for a direct action of exogenous insulin on the islets of diabetic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome after resection of an arteriovenous malformation in the cervical cord.

Any disease process decreasing the angle between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta can result in the external compression of the duodenum and subsequent intestinal obstruction. This unusual type of intestinal obstruction known as superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a well-recognized clinical entity. It is diagnosed radiologically by an abrupt, vertical cutoff of barium flow in the third portion of the duodenum. The management is primarily medical but occasionally surgical correction is required. Herein, the diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome was made in an incomplete quadriplegic woman who had recently undergone surgical resection of an arteriovenous malformation in the cervical cord. This case was managed successfully with gastrointestinal decompression, proper positioning in the side-lying position, and adequate nutrition.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Electrodiagnostic characteristics of acute carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) exemplifies a cumulative trauma disorder which may occur in industrial settings. Occasionally, industrial workers develop CTS acutely over the course of a few days to a few weeks. We recently performed electrodiagnostic studies on 22 workers at a midwestern automobile manufacturing plant who developed symptoms compatible with CTS. All tests were within eight weeks of symptom onset; 70% were within four weeks. The acute syndrome was manifested by a conduction block of sensory, motor, or both fiber types beneath the carpal ligament. All patients received sensory studies; nine had motor studies as well. Sensory nerve latencies were not prolonged in proportion to the symptoms, which were short in comparison to the low amplitude sensory nerve action potential evoked proximal to the carpal ligament. Sensory nerve action potential amplitude at midpalm averaged 200% of the value obtained proximally. Because of short distance and residual latency, comparison of motor latencies proximal and distal to the carpal ligament was less helpful than the difference in amplitude of the evoked potentials. Amplitude of the distal response increased an average of 32%. Prompt identification of acute CTS was followed by a recommendation for job change which, along with conservative therapy, led to resolution of symptoms in 77% of patients. The diagnosis of acute CTS leading to avoidance of inciting activities is beneficial in the industrial setting.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1987

Efficacy of transdermal scopolamine against seasickness: a 3-day study at sea.

Transdermal scopolamine has been reported to provide protection against motion sickness, both while sailing at sea (7-8 h) and under experimental conditions. In this study, we tested the efficacy of transdermal scopolamine and evaluated its side effects during a 72-h cruise at sea. We tested 38 male volunteers, 20-25 years old, who were located on a 3000-ton vessel. The presence of seasickness, defined by Graybiel's diagnostic criteria, was used to calculate percent protection. When sickness was considered as malaise II or more, the drug provided 74, 73, and 39% protection during the three sailing days, respectively. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the side effects reported by experimental and placebo groups. We conclude that transdermal scopolamine's efficacy against seasickness during a 3-day cruise was not associated with significant side effects and, therefore, we find the drug suitable for long-term use by sailing crews.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1986

The purification of mouse monoclonal antibodies from ascitic fluid.

A method is described for the purification of monoclonal antibody from mouse ascitic fluid. The fluid is clarified and the lipid removed using silicon dioxide powder, before the immunoglobulin is precipitated using polyethylene glycol. The method provides IgM antibody in high yield and good purity. In the case of IgG antibodies the purity is 30-40% after PEG precipitation and the yield is high. The enriched IgG is adequate for many purposes and is suitable for further purification on an ion exchange column.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Yeast DNA replication.

We have explored various strategies for exploiting the yeast genetic and biochemical system for understanding DNA replication. Because of the long time that has intervened between the isolation of random replication mutants of yeast and the identification of the gene products affected, an alternative approach to elucidating the molecular basis of replication has been needed. One such alternative involves purifying replication proteins, isolating the genes encoding them, and constructing the appropriate mutant from the cloned gene. We have applied this "reverse genetics" strategy to three different replication activities: DNA polymerases, single-stranded DNA binding proteins, and proteins that bind to autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) elements.

DNA Polymerase I↗
PubMed1986

The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of ultradian rhythms in urine excretions.

The effects of alpha and beta adrenoreceptors blockade and surgical kidney denervation on ultradian rhythmicity in urine excretion were investigated in four dogs. Pharmacological treatments and surgical denervation of the kidneys suppressed the ultradian rhythmicity in urine flow but did not completely eliminate the ultradian rhythms in urinary osmolality and in electrolyte concentrations. These findings suggest that the autonomic nervous system plays a major role in the regulation of the ultradian rhythms in water excretion in dogs. The partial persistence of ultradian rhythms in urine osmolality and electrolyte concentrations after autonomic denervation supports the assertion that the ultradian rhythms in solute concentrations are regulated by different mechanisms to those of water excretion, suggesting the possible involvement of a multioscillatory system.

Activity Cycles↗
PubMed1986

Transdermal scopolamine: human performance and side effects.

The effect of transdermal scopolamine on performance was tested on 23 naval volunteers. Performance was evaluated by using a battery of professional (naval-related) and cognitive tests. For all tests performed there were no significant differences between the scores obtained in placebo and transdermal scopolamine conditions. These results were in close agreement with subjective estimations of performance. Transdermal scopolamine significantly reduced salivary flow, whereas mood state, visual acuity, and eye accommodation for near vision were not affected. We conclude that transdermal scopolamine administration is not accompanied by decrement in performance abilities and can safely be used by naval crews.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1985

Effect of transdermal scopolamine on salivation.

The effect of transdermal scopolamine on salivary flow and composition was analyzed in 21 healthy volunteers. The flow rate of whole saliva was significantly lowered by transdermal scopolamine. Significant positive correlations were found between the placebo rate of flow and both the quantity and percentage decreases in response to transdermal scopolamine. The magnesium concentration was significantly increased during transdermal scopolamine administration, whereas the sodium, potassium, and calcium concentrations were not consistently altered. Accordingly, the magnesium secretion rate was unaltered, whereas sodium, potassium, and calcium secretion rates were significantly lowered by transdermal scopolamine administration.

Administration, Topical↗