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Biomedical subjects

E Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to E Gordon.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

An investigation of patients presenting with multiple physical complaints using the illness behaviour questionnaire.

The Illness Behaviour Questionnaire was used to determine whether three groups of patients who had presented with multiple symptoms in different treatment settings (Briquet's syndrome, post-viral fatigue syndrome, and a heterogeneous general practice group) could be differentiated from one another and from a mixed group of psychiatric patients on the basis of their abnormal illness behaviour. All groups completed a version of the Perley and Guze diagnostic criteria for Briquet's syndrome. The three groups presenting with multiple symptoms were more similar to each other than to the psychiatric patients. The results suggest that patients presenting with multiple symptoms include similar populations of patients who are poorly distinguished using current schemes of classification.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Evoked response potentials and regional cerebral blood flow in somatization disorder.

Somatization disorder (SMD) is a chronic condition characterized by multiple complaints which are not due to any apparent organic illness but frequently involve pain. This study employs computer-aided imaging technologies to examine brain function in thousandths of a second (event-related brain potentials) and over a number of minutes (regional cerebral blood flow). Fourteen patients with SMD and 14 normal controls were investigated. Results from both studies suggest that patients with SMD have a dysfunction in the processes of attention, compared to normal controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Information search activities among elderly prescription drug users.

A national telephone survey was conducted to compare prescription drug information seeking by younger and elderly patients. Though the elderly were less likely to receive counseling from health professionals, they were more likely to consult mass media sources. Path analyses indicated that collateral variables (such as patient's condition and pharmacy type) moderated information-seeking patterns.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Magnetoencephalography: locating the source of P300 via magnetic field recording.

A description is given of the theory and instrumentation involved in measuring magnetic fields of the brain. The magnetic counterpart of event-related potentials are capable of locating more accurately the generators of these electrical signals. Preliminary results of the first application of magnetoencephalography in Australia are presented. These localize the generator of the auditory P300 event-related potential component to the temporal cortex.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Clinical experience with adenosine for controlled hypotension during cerebral aneurysm surgery.

The cardiovascular effects of adenosine-induced hypotension were studied in 47 patients undergoing intracranial vascular surgery under neurolept anesthesia. Adenosine infusion (214 +/- 18 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1) decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 42 +/- 1% from 80 +/- 1 to 46 +/- 1 mm Hg for an average of 29 +/- 5 min of hypotension. Hypotension was associated with a minor increase in heart rate (13 +/- 2%) and with prolongation of the PR interval (9 +/- 2%). ST-T depression did not occur except in one patient with a previous history of myocardial infarction. The adenosine-induced increase in cardiac index (42 +/- 9%, n = 7) was associated with a 63 +/- 10% decrease in systemic vascular resistance index (n = 7) while the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure remained unchanged. Adenosine metabolism was limited and there was no accumulation of the end metabolite, uric acid. Serum creatinine levels were normal in all patients postoperatively. We conclude that adenosine rapidly induces a stable and easily controlled hypotension in man without tachyphylaxis or rebound hypertension. There were no signs of renal or myocardial dysfunction except for dysrhythmias that occurred in two patients with a history of myocardial infarction.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1986

Care at accident site and during transport.

The immediately performed measures at the site of accident including adequate ventilation of an unconscious person with head injuries may be lifesaving. As a matter of fact, these measures are far more important than a rapid transport to the nearest hospital.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1986

The differential diagnosis of dementia using P300 latency.

The P300 component was elicited by an auditory oddball paradigm in 55 normal adults from a wide age range: 19 patients with dementia, 17 patients with depression, and 15 patients with schizophrenia. Normal P300 latency at a given age was predicted by using an age regression equation that had been calculated on the basis of the entire normal sample. Using this procedure, an abnormal delay in latency (greater than 2 SD) was found in approximately 80% of the dementia patients. However, when normal latency was predicted with a slightly greater degree of reliability according to separate equations for adults younger and older than 63 years, an abnormal delay in P300 was found to be less sensitive and specific to dementia. Suggestions for enhancing the diagnostic utility of the P300 component are proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Some structural, biochemical and biophysical characteristics of L-929 cells growing in the presence of hyperosmotic sorbitol concentrations.

Mouse L-929 cells (a fibroblast-like line) were transferred from normal growth medium to one supplemented with 0.3 M sorbitol, doubling the normal external osmotic pressure. After a short lag phase and minimal cell death, the cells began to grow, and the growth rate reached that of controls after about one week. These chronically grown cells (S) have been compared to those of control cultures (C) with regard to general morphology, ability to reverse when returned to normal condition, water content, volume and selected metabolic parameters. S-cell cultures exhibited considerable heterogeneity but most contained vesicle-like cytoplasmic structures, sometimes in abundance. These structures do not appear to be completely bounded by membranes, but that is uncertain. S cells become larger and contain more water than C cells; however, the ratio of total water to total dry mass is indistinguishable from controls suggesting regulation at that level. S and C cells were found to be remarkably similar, on a per cell basis, with regard to their rate of respiration and the incorporation of glucose into metabolites and macromolecules. These results are interpreted in terms of current views on the composition and organization of the aqueous compartments of animal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Auditory evoked response potentials in somatization disorder.

Event related potentials to frequently and infrequently occurring tones were recorded from 15 patients with somatization disorder, 10 patients with anxiety disorders and 15 normals. P3 component responses were of normal latency and amplitude in the somatizers, which suggests they had no apparent difficulty with certain aspects of processing novel, task-relevant stimuli. However, their N1 component responses to the frequent tones, which subjects had been instructed to ignore, were enhanced relative to each of the other groups. Moreover, there was no difference in N1 amplitude to the two types of tones among the somatizers, whereas each of the other groups had significantly larger N1 amplitudes to the infrequent tones. These preliminary results may suggest that somatization disorder is associated with an impaired ability to filter out and not respond to relatively meaningless afferent stimuli.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The prediction of normal P3 latency and the diagnosis of dementia.

The relationship between age and the latency of the P3 (auditory evoked response potential) component was best described in 55 normals aged 15-89 by separate linear regression equations for those younger and those older than 63. Twelve out of 19 patients with dementia had P3 latencies at FZ and CZ which were delayed by more than two standard errors from the normal latency for their age predicted using the above equations, and were thus correctly identified. However, an equation calculated across the entire adult age range provided a better patient identification rate. The potential usefulness of P3 measures in clarifying the nature of cognitive impairment in dementia is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

P300 and the effects of aging: relevance to the diagnosis of dementia.

A tone discrimination task was used to elicit the P300 component of event related potentials in 55 normal subjects aged between 15 and 89 years. The age/latency relationship in the total sample was significant, but contrary to the reports of some others was statistically better described at CZ by a linear and not a curvilinear age regression function. Adults over 45 had steeper age regression slopes and larger age/latency correlations frontally and centrally than younger adults, but there was no difference in amplitude between these groups. The effect of age on latency seemed slightly more pronounced frontally in older adults, and there was significantly more latency variability in this group. Overall, the age/latency relationship in adults was statistically best described by separate linear age regression functions for adults less than or equal to 45 and greater than 45. It is suggested that latency variability may account for some of the discrepancy in the age/P300 literature, and the clinical implications of this are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Psychometrics and event-related potentials in the diagnosis of dementia.

This study attempted to increase the reliability of predicting the normal latency of the P3 component in elderly adults. It was hypothesized this would allow a more accurate distinction to be made between normal adults (n = 20) and patients with dementia (n = 19) on the basis of observed P3 latencies. Two models for predicting latency were assessed. The first, which used age alone as a predictor, explained 18% of the normal variation in latency and misclassified 40% of the patients. The second model, which incorporated scores on psychometric tests, explained 74% of latency variation and misclassified 20% of the patients. Scores on the Similarities subtest of the WAIS and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, however, correctly identified 92% of the patients. This finding casts doubt on the justification of the P3 latency measures to diagnose dementia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Images of the brain in psychiatry.

In psychiatry, the use of computer-based techniques for constructing images of the brain is relatively recent. Nevertheless, findings that have resulted from their use thus far might provide us with a new perspective in the understanding of mental illness. They raise the possibility that many of the disorders, previously understood primarily in terms of psychosocial factors, are associated with specific abnormalities of brain structure and/or function. Although terms such as NMR, BEAM, RCBF, SPECT and PET are increasingly found in medical and psychiatric journals, few people understand in simple terms the principles on which these techniques are based. In this article the techniques used for constructing images of brain structure and function are explained, and an overview of the findings in psychiatric disorders is presented.

Brain↗
PubMed1985

Abnormal polyunsaturated fatty acid patterns of serum lipids in alcoholism and cirrhosis: arachidonic acid deficiency in cirrhosis.

Patterns of polyunsaturated fatty acids of serum phospholipids were measured for groups of alcoholics without cirrhosis, alcoholics with cirrhosis, cirrhotics without alcoholism, and a control population. Alcoholics without cirrhosis showed increased polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from linoleic and linolenic acids, but in cirrhotics these products were decreased. Alcoholism accentuated the abnormal polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern of cirrhosis. In alcohol abuse without cirrhosis, the level of 20:3 omega 9 (20 acyl carbon atoms:3 double bonds, omega, 9 carbon atoms beyond last double bond) was significantly increased, despite adequate levels of linoleic and arachidonic acids. Liver involvement appears necessary for development of deficiencies of polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum phospholipids, of which arachidonic acid deficiency is of the largest magnitude.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Whose hysteria: Briquet's, Janet's or Freud's?

Somatisation disorder (Briquet's syndrome) is a recent addition to psychiatric nosology. It represents an attempt to describe a syndrome of 'hysteria', the term initially applied to this polysymptomatic disorder by Guze and his colleagues. The manner of identification of this syndrome, however, has been the subject of criticism. This brief review suggests that the ideas of Janet, who worked at Salpetriere 30 to 40 years after Briquet, may provide a more precise approach to diagnosis. Furthermore, his hypotheses about predisposition to this disorder are seen to offer a preliminary way towards its understanding. Recent experimental evidence lends some support to Janet's hypotheses.

Conversion Disorder↗