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Biomedical subjects

J Duffy

Publications and source records attributed to J Duffy.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is a complex multisystem disorder recognized on three continents, which is epidemic in some regions during spring, summer, and fall seasons. It primarily affects skin, nervous system, heart, and joints. It is an infectious disease caused by a spirochete Borellia burgdorferi, which is transmitted chiefly by Ixodes dammini and pacificus ticks in the United States and Ixodes ricinus in Europe. Diagnosis is based on patient contact with an endemic area, one or more characteristic clinical features, particularly erythema migrans rash, and a positive serologic test for B. burgdorferi infection in the majority of cases. Although infection is the primary cause of the disease, immune mechanisms may play a synergistic role in some manifestations. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important for full recovery. Treatment with oral tetracycline or penicillin is effective in the earliest stages but late complications require high doses of intravenous penicillin and sometimes corticosteroids. Some late complications are refractory to antibiotic therapy. Antibody appears to be protective in human and experimental studies.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Effect of fenprostalene, a PGF(2)alpha analogue, on plasma levels of estradiol-17beta and progesterone in cyclic heifers.

Following a 40-day acclimatization period, 12 cyclic beef heifers entered a 95- to 101-day test period. Prior to fenprostalene treatment, all animals were studied through two normal estrous cycles. Plasma samples were obtained daily from all animals during the course of the study and were assayed for estradiol-17beta and progesterone. Group 1 heifers (n=6) were then treated with fenprostalene at mid-cycle during two subsequent cycles. This treatment was accomplished by treating the animals 11 days after the first clinically observed signs of estrus following Study Day 21 and treating them again 11 days later. Each treatment consisted of a subcutaneous injection of 1.0 mg fenprostalene. The animals were studied through two or three estrous cycles following the second injection. The Group 2 animals (n=6) were maintained as untreated controls through a corresponding period. Fenprostalene induced estrus in five of six treated heifers within 5 d following the first injection and in five of six heifers within 3 d following the second injection. The mean time to estrus was 3.4 d (+/- 1.1 d SD) following the first injection and 2.2 d (+/-0.8 days SD) following the second injection. No significant differences were found in the plasma levels of estradiol-17beta and progesterone when comparing fenprostalene-induced cycles to those that occurred naturally. The fenprostalene injection reset the estrous cycle without changing the nature of the cycle. The time of clinically detected estrus usually coincided with a sharp peak in estradiol-17beta concentration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Breast cancer and breast self-examination: what do Scottish women know?

To aid the design of a health education campaign centred around a breast screening programme, a survey of knowledge about breast cancer and breast self-examination was carried out in 810 women selected randomly from the electoral registers in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. On the whole, the level of knowledge was poor, but was strongly related to age, social class, previous experience of breast problems and preventive health behaviour. Very few women knew of signs to look for other than a lump or of any treatments other than mastectomy or radiotherapy. Although 57% had tried or were practising self-examination, only a small minority knew of the correct technique and when to do it. There may be several reasons for our findings, including previous lack of appropriate information from professional sources, avoidance due to fear and anxiety about breast cancer or lack of motivation because this disease is not seen as an important single threat. These results will be compared with a later survey as part of the evaluation of our health education campaign.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: factors affecting shear forces on the epiphyseal plate.

Very little is known regarding the magnitude of physiological shear forces in the normal capital femoral epiphyseal plate. Changes in these forces related to deformities in the proximal femur have been postulated to increase significantly the shear forces and predispose to slipped epiphysis. By force analysis techniques, a three-dimensional model has been developed to study the change in shear forces that might be expected from abnormal angulation in the frontal and sagittal planes. This study suggests that within the range of normal activity, shear forces on the epiphyseal plate are well below the critical values required to cause a slip. Angular deformities of up to 30 degrees in either the frontal or sagittal planes, by themselves, are unlikely to raise these forces to a critical value.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1984

Histoplasmosis presenting as erythema multiforme and polyarthritis.

Erythema multiforme and polyarthritis occurred in association with serologic evidence of primary histoplasmosis. Although such occurrences have been noted in epidemics, recognition of this triad outside of the epidemic setting has been described only once before.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

Clinical responses during gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Changes in synovitis, radiologically detectable erosive lesions, serum proteins, and serologic abnormalities.

Gold therapy given to 73 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was associated with remission of synovitis for 3 months or longer in 27 patients and 50% or greater improvement in 20 patients. New joint deformities did not develop in patients who experienced remission, and progression of radiologically detectable erosive changes was prevented. Serum protein and serologic abnormalities were improved in all groups, but patients who had a good response experienced the greatest improvement. No single clinical or laboratory feature in the pretreatment assessment predicted response, but, as a group, the patients with the best response also ranked best for most prognostic indicators.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗