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Biomedical subjects

G Watkins

Publications and source records attributed to G Watkins.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The effect of written advice on preoperative cigarette consumption.

Two groups, each of 100 smokers, were compared in terms of reduction in cigarette consumption in the 5 days prior to elective surgery. One group was admitted to hospital in the routine way and information on preoperative cigarette consumption obtained by questioning each patient after recovery from anaesthesia. In the second group, a letter strongly advising the patient to stop smoking for 5 days preoperatively was enclosed with the admission letter. A proforma to record the daily cigarette consumption was also enclosed. By the day before surgery the mean cigarette consumption had fallen to 52% in Group I and 16% in Group II and 14 and 46 patients respectively had then stopped smoking completely. The differences were highly significant (P less than 0.001).

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A technique for cutting slices from femoral heads and other awkwardly shaped bones.

For cutting thin, parallel slices from round and other awkwardly shaped bones, we have developed an useful aid by modifying the Microslice II cutting saw primarily designed for geological or metallurgical purposes. To ensure a good grip of the bone, the specimen is embedded in a bolus of wax in a cylindrical container and is advanced along the container by a screw plunger toward the cutting blade of the machine. It is thus possible to cut even from awkwardly shaped bones 2-30 mm thick parallel slices suitable for decalcified or undecalcified histological sections and also for radiodensitometry or quantitative microradiography.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed1981

Objective pathological diagnosis of coal worker's pneumoconiosis.

Pertinent pathological features of lungs obtained at autopsies from 99 coal miners were compared with those observed in the lungs of 268 male town dwellers of comparable age who were not occupationally related to the coal mining or other industries at risk for development of pneumoconiosis. The degree of anthracotic pigment deposition and severity of type of pigmented lesion with its accompanying reticulum fiber formation and fibrosis were significantly greater in lungs of miners. There was a high degree of overlap in degree of pigment deposition, particularly those quantitated as grades 1 and 2 and in lesions regarded as types 1 and 2. The greatest divergence was observed for prevalence of nodular pulmonary lesions (type 4). There was also a considerable divergence in the type 3 alteration characterized by nonnodular aggregates of carbon-laden macrophages accompanied by minimal reactive fibrosis. It appears that an objective pathological diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) can be rendered only by the demonstration of type 4 lesions. Approximately 25% of coal miners exhibited unequivocal features of CWP. No significant differences concerning incidence or types of emphysema or frequency of chronic cor pulmonale were encountered between the two populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Aircraft noise and mental health: II. Use of medicines and health care services.

A domiciliary survey (sample size circa 6000) was conducted in areas of different aircraft noise exposure affected by London (Heathrow) Airport. Respondents were urban dwellers aged 16+. Their use of medicines, general practitioner services, hospital facilities and community services were investigated in relation both to the level of aircraft noise and to the degree of annoyance it causes. None of the indicators showed higher uptake in the high noise areas. The relationships between health indicators, noise and annoyance were not uniform. In areas exposed to high noise the use of non-prescribed drugs was significantly higher among 'very annoyed' than among 'less annoyed' respondents. The uptake of psychotropic drugs, and the use of general practice and out-patient services, tended to increase with increasing annoyance both in high- and low-noise areas, but the differences were not in all cases statistically significant. Parallels were drawn between these results and those of earlier analyses of the same survey related to the prevalence of acute and chronic symptoms. Suggestions for the analysis and interpretation of health effects of noise are put forward.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Bratton-Marshall and liquid-chromatographic methods compared for determination of sulfamethazine acetylator status.

Synthesis of acetylsulfamethazine has made possible an evaluation of the Bratton-Marshall assay for this compound. Hydrolysis is an essential step in the assay, which depends on color development with the sulfamethazine formed in the hydrolysis. Sulfamethazine decomposes under the conditions needed for hydrolysis of acetylsulfamethazine, and this leads to depressed values for acetylsulfamethazine and to low figures for clinical "percent acetylation." Because of this, a simple "high-pressure" liquid-chromatographic procedure was developed for the assay; it requires no hydrolysis, is rapid in application, and can be applied to as little as 10 microL of capillary blood obtained by finger-to-puncture. We found that the cutoff point between "slow" and "fast" acetylators, when this method was used on samples from 75 subjects collected about 6 h after dosage, was 40% "acetylation" in plasma.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Aircraft noise and mental health: I. Prevalence of individual symptoms.

A domiciliary survey (sample size circa 6000) was conducted in areas of different aircraft noise exposure affected by London (Heathrow) Airport. Respondents were urban dwellers age 16+. Since no differences were found in the prevalence of manifest psychiatric disorders, the frequency of 27 individual acute and chronic symptoms was investigated. Many acute symptoms showed an increase with noise, and this was particularly evident for waking at night, irritability, depression, difficulty in getting to sleep, swollen ankles, burns/cuts/minor accidents, and skin troubles. Two chronic symptoms, tinnitus and ear problems, showed evidence of an increase with noise, while most other chronic symptoms were more common in low noise conditions. Results are controlled for the effects of age, sex and other standard epidemiological variables. Irrespective of their association with noise, most symptoms, chronic and acute, were more frequent among those respondents who also reported high annoyance. Suggestions for the analysis of surveys of health effects by noise are put forward.

Accidents↗
PubMed1976

Changes in shape, ossification and quality of bones in children with spina bifida.

Changes in the cross-sectional shape, size, bone mass and amount of unmineralised osteoid tissue were studied in 17 dissected tibiae from spina-bifida babies who died with paralysis and foot deformities and in 14 tibiae from non-spina bifida controls of matching age. In addition, 12 tibiae from young experimental rats with myotomy of foot dorsiflexors and foot plantiflexors were double-labelled with bone-seeking markers and studied in order to find the role of experimental muscle imbalance in the dynamic remodelling of the developing long bones. It was found that in tibiae from spina-bifida children with paralysis the total area of cortical bone, its thickness, number of Haversian systems and number of large remodelling cavities are diminished. Significant changes in the cross-sectional shape of the midshaft of the tibia were found, ranging from the triangular shape seen in normal babies and in those with spina bifida and calcaneus-type foot deformity, to the circular shape of tibiae from babies with spina-bifida paralysis and no foot deformity or with spina bifida and equinovarus-type of deformity. Results of experimental myotomy on growing rats showed the direct influence of working muscles on the remodelling process of growing tibiae. On the side of myotomy the flat cortex resumed a bulging convex shape and the centre of gravity shifted towards the myotomised side. These principles cannot on their own explain the specific changes in the shape of human tibiae found during anatomical studies. There is, however, a common denominator in these apparently contradictory findings. This is the combined action of two factors previously reported: the combination of paralysis of the growing limb and mechanical intra-uterine pressure acting on it. The findings in the present study also indicate that they played a major role in the production of deformities. The total amount of osteoid tissue in spina-bifida paralysed bone is increased. This delay of mineralisation of newly laid-down bone matrix would lead to softening of the new bone matrix and osteoid-rich subepiphyseal and metaphyseal regions. This 'paralytic rickets', together with the diminished total bone mass found, could probably be the cause of the common spina-bifida fractures in these regions.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Horner's syndrome as a complication of lumbar epidural block.

Two cases of Horner's syndrome complicating lumbar epidural block in pregnant women in labour are described. The aetiology of the complication is discussed and it is suggested that epidural injections should not be made while the patient is in the lithotomy position.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The ten successful elements of an ambulatory care center.

Experts in healthcare predict that in the future, over 80% of all care will be provided either in the home or ambulatory care centers. How radiology facilities position themselves for this shifting market is critical to their long-term success, even though it appears there are endless opportunities for providing care in this atmosphere. The ten most critical elements that healthcare providers must address to ensure their preparedness are discussed. Location is critical, particularly since patients no longer want to travel to regional medical centers. The most aggressive providers are building local care centers to serve specific populations. Ambulatory care centers should project a high tech, high touch atmosphere. Patient comfort and the appeal of the overall environment must be considered. Centers need to focus on their customers' needs in multiple areas of care. A quick and easy registration process, providing dressing gowns in patient areas, clear billing functions--these are all important areas that centers should develop. Physicians practicing in the ambulatory care center are key to its overall success and can set the tone for all staff members. Staff members must be friendly and professional in their work with patients. The hours offered by the center must meet the needs of its client base, perhaps by offering evening and weekend appointments. Keeping appointments on schedule is critical if a center wants satisfied customers. It's important to identify the target before developing your marketing plan. Where do your referrals come from? Look to such sources as referring physicians, managed care plans and patients themselves. Careful billing is critical for survival in the ambulatory care world. Costs are important and systems that can track cost per exam are useful. Know your bottom line. Service remains the central focus of all successful ambulatory care center functions.

Accounting↗