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Biomedical subjects

G O Littlejohn

Publications and source records attributed to G O Littlejohn.

82 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Radiographic features of the hand in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH): comparison with normal subjects and acromegalic patients.

Radiographs of the hands of 25 men and 9 women with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) were compared with age- and sex-matched controls and acromegalic patients. Characteristics of DISH included broadening and "arrowheading" of the distal phalangeal tufts, enlarged sesamoid bones, increased cortical width of tubular bones, prominent enthesopathy in the proximal phalanges, exostoses (particularly at the metacarpophalangeal heads), and new bone in the joint capsule. There was no consistent change in soft-tissue measurements or cartilage width between DISH and control patients. Acromegaly could be differentiated from DISH by the relative lack of enthesopathy, marked soft-tissue changes, and increased cartilage width. Any metabolic factor responsible for the changes in DISH apparently acts primarily on the enthesis and bone but has little effect on soft-tissue or cartilage growth.

Acromegaly↗

The effects of dietary fibre on glucose tolerance in healthy males.

Previous studies have shown that the addition of non-absorbable carbohydrate (NAC) to test meals decreases the glucose and and insulin response both in normal and diabetic subjects. However, these studies appear to have used brain in the basic test meal without a knowledge of the effect of bran itself or of the added NAC alone. In the present investigation bran alone, pectin alone, guar alone and pectin with guar have been studied. Guar alone added to the test meal significantly lowered blood glucose at 90 minutes. Pectin alone did not have a significant effect. Pectin and guar together resulted in a blood glucose lower at 30 minutes and greater at 120 minutes. No significant changes in insulin response were noted to our study. It appears that NAC alters the glucose response to a given meal, but the extent to which this occurred in the present study was less than in previous studies. The differences may reflect synergism between bran and other NAC's to lower blood glucose response after a meal.

Adult↗

Clinical evaluation of intra-articular injections for lumbar facet joint pain.

Lumbar facet joint (LFJ) pain is a common cause of low back pain. Thirty-four consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of LFJ pain received injections of a local anaesthetic agent and a long-acting corticosteroid agent under radiological control. Nineteen patients experienced immediate lessening of their pain after the injection of local anaesthetic agent, their response supporting the clinical diagnosis. Twelve of these 19 patients experienced clinically significant relief of pain for more than six months. LFJ injection offers improved diagnosis and treatment of LFJ pain.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

New bone formation in acromegaly: pathogenetic implications for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.

Radiographs of spinal and heel entheseal areas and the skull were examined for new bone formation in 30 acromegalic patients. Forty-seven percent satisfied accepted criteria for Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH), 67% had marked heel enthesopathic change and 87% had Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna (HFI). Such hyperostotic changes were indistinguishable from those seen in DISH and the extent and degree of such changes increased with duration of acromegaly. It is proposed that a common metabolic factor, e.g., hyperinsulinaemia, may be responsible for the hyperostotic changes seen in both DISH and acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

Eosinophilic fasciitis and aplastic anaemia.

Aplastic anemia developed in a 66-yr-old farmer with eosinophilic fasciitis. The concurrence of these 2 rare diseases is noteworthy. The case is presented and the relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Aged↗

Peripheral enthesopathy in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH): a radiologic study.

Radiographs of selected peripheral entheseal regions from 32 patients with axial diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) were examined for the presence of new bone formation. The prevalence of entheseal new bone in the various regions was as follows: 98% of tibial spines, 91% of posterior heel regions and about 80% of superior patella, olecranon and inferior heel regions. The new bone showed characteristic solid well defined cortical margins without features of inflammatory change. We suggest that further attention to these readily accessible and easily interpretable peripheral entheseal regions, particularly the posterior heel, may be useful to extend the diagnostic criteria of DISH.

Achilles Tendon↗

Marked hyperinsulinemia after glucose challenge in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.

The insulin response after a glucose challenge was studied in 11 male patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and in 8 age, sex and weight matched controls. There was significant hyperinsulinemia in the DISH group, most marked at 2 h after the glucose challenge. Growth hormone levels were found to be normal in each group. The marked hyperinsulinemia in patients with DISH may play a role in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Aged↗