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Biomedical subjects

J Gay

Publications and source records attributed to J Gay.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Cerebral SPECT in adult epileptics with neuronal migration disorders].

The neuronal migration disorders are a rare group of congenital malformations of the brain that may present with epilepsy resistant to medical treatment. We studied with brain interictal SPECT 8 epileptic adult patients (3 man and 5 women) who wore affected by different neuronal migration disorders (pachygyria, megaloencephaly, squizencephaly and neuronal heterotopias), diagnosed by cranial MRI. SPECT was pathologic in six patients (75%), showing more sensibility than CT in the diagnosis of heterotopias.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Complete axonotmesis of the axillary nerve in relation to microtrauma].

INTRODUCTION: The axillary nerve is injured in many clinical situations, mainly in major surgical or traumatic lesions of the shoulder. Equally, it may be found in the context of microtraumatisms or compressive mechanisms. Amyotrophic neuralgia is a clinical entity with pain and later atrophy of the muscle which affects various nerves and nerve groups, as shown by neurophysiological studies. CASE REPORT: We present a lesion with complete axonotmesis of the axillary nerve with a time-relationship to microtraumatism. Initially the patient complained of some pain in the shoulder. During follow-up striking atrophy of the deltoid muscle was seen. CONCLUSIONS: We have reviewed the mechanisms described for lesions of the axillary nerve, which do not include the one we found. We discuss the possibility of our case being included in the clinical group described as having amyotrophic neuralgia, although there are some neurophysiological findings which are not typical of this condition. We suggest a review of the many possible trigger factors described in the genesis of amyotrophic neuralgia. Possibly some cases with atypical histories of trauma, and lesions shown by neurophysiological studies to be particularly severe, may be separated from this group.

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗
PubMed1996

A survey of health agencies' responses to non-English-speaking women's health needs in south Australia.

Evidence from the literature points to the disadvantages encountered by migrant women from non-English-speaking backgrounds in obtaining access to health services. In May 1994, a survey of 31 health units in the metropolitan area and two country areas was conducted in South Australia. The study investigated the services available to women of non-English-speaking background, their level of usage, the factors that affected the use of health services by the women, and the strategies developed by the service providers to overcome the barriers. The study found sexual and reproductive health to be the most important, and occupational health and safety the least important issue for women of non-English-speaking background attending the state's health units. The main problems were English language deficiencies, lack of culturally appropriate services and inadequate knowledge and awareness of the existing services. From the service providers' point of view, language (79 per cent), culture (87 per cent), and information or awareness about health units (78 per cent) were the most important factors affecting the use of health services by women of non-English-speaking background. Women of non-English-speaking background have different linguistic and cultural needs from English-speaking women, and as a result, require specifically designed services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Analysis of the block design test in a geriatric sample group].

We have carried out a study to determine the normal values of the 'block design test' in a sample group of 58 healthy elderly persons, a test which is usually used in the clinical evaluation of constructive apraxia. We therefore describe a grading scale which has not been previously published, in order to check the possible usefulness of this drawing as a rapid test of cognitive evaluation. A study was made of the possible interaction of the test with sample parameters, age, sex, educational level and also the inter-examiner reliability. We have observed a significant interaction between the variables of sex and educational level. Also the inter-examiner reliability is not very good. In view of our results, we consider that the 'block design test' is not very useful in the evaluation of constructive praxis in healthy elderly persons, and therefore it does not seem to us to be a good test for the rapid evaluation of cognitive function in this group.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[The 'clock drawing test' in healthy elderly people].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: In this paper we aim to determine the normal values of the clock drawing test in a sample group of 58 healthy elderly persons as a neuropsychological parameter for the evaluation of certain cognitive functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this we have used our own adaptation of the quantitative parameters of the clock drawing test in the evaluation 'on command' and 'on copying'. We have also evaluated the possible interaction of the test with the following sample parameters: sex, age, and educational level and we have calculated the inter-examiner reliability of the test. RESULTS: The average scores obtained were: 8.04 'on-command' (SD 1.60) and 9.20 (SD 0.93) 'on-copying'. CONCLUSIONS: On analysis of our results we have not observed interaction of the parameters used (age, sex and educational level) with the scores obtained in the test, while there was a high level of inter-examiner reliability.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Dietary factors in epidemic neuropathy on the Isle of Youth, Cuba.

An epidemic neuropathy that broke out in Cuba in late 1991 has exhibited clinical manifestations similar to those of other polyneuropathies of nutritional origin. To investigate its possible association with diet, a study was conducted on the Isle of Youth in 1993, at the start of an outbreak there. Thirty-four subjects with cases and 65 controls were interviewed regarding their diets, measured anthropometrically, and evaluated. As a whole, the subjects with cases demonstrated greater weight loss before the onset of disease, lower body mass indexes (BMI), lower percentages of body fat, and more deficient diets than the control subjects. Analysis of individual variables found associations between occurrence of the disease and the following: weight loss, low BMI, a broad range of specific dietary deficiencies, a sugar intake exceeding 15% of total caloric intake, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Also, protective associations were found between absence of the disease and regular consumption of certain foods at or above specified levels. Multivariate analysis indicated that while smoking and alcohol consumption reinforced the effects of the dietary deficiencies, they did not account for occurrence of the disease by themselves. Overall, the results indicate that diets which are deficient in caloric energy, protein, fat, and the micronutrients included in the study, and which reflect an imbalance resulting from a relative excess of sugar, with consequent effects on body weight, are strongly associated with, and causally related to, the occurrence of epidemic neuropathy in Cuba.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Dietetic factors in epidemic neuropathy on Isla de la Juventud, Cuba].

The epidemic of neuropathy that arose in Cuba in late 1991 has clinical manifestations similar to those of other neuropathies that are nutritional in origin. In an effort to identify its possible association with the diet, a case-control study was conducted at the beginning of the epidemic in Isla de la Juventud. Dietary intake was assessed through a semi-quantitative survey of consumption frequency obtained by direct personal interviews, and measurements were taken of the weight, height and skin fold thickness of 34 cases and 65 controls. As compared to controls, cases showed more pronounced weight loss prior to becoming ill, a lower body mass index (BMI), a lower percentage of body fat, and a poorer diet. According to odds ratios (OR) resulting from the separate analysis of each variable, factors associated with illness were weight loss, low BMI, low weight for height, a lower consumption of bread and rice, a less balanced diet, lack of milk intake, an intake of sugar greater than 15% of total energy consumed, consumption of alcohol, and smoking. The association was protective in the case of beans, tubercles, starchy roots, oil, and meat substitutes made from soy. Multifactorial analysis revealed higher OR values, adjusted for smoking and alcohol consumption, for intakes of less than 50% of the recommended daily allowance of protein, pyridoxine, thiamine, energy, vitamin E, niacin, folic acid, fat, riboflavin, and vitamin A. The results of this analysis show that tobacco and alcohol promote the effects of a deficient diet, but do not in and of themselves explain the association. A global analysis of these results leads to the conclusion that a diet poor in energy, calories, fats, and those micronutrients that have come under study, and that is unbalanced because of a relative excess of sugars, with its resulting effect on body weight, is strongly associated with and causally related to epidemic neuropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effects of short-term inhaled budesonide and beclomethasone dipropionate on serum osteocalcin in premenopausal women.

Serum osteocalcin, a marker of bone osteoblast function, has been shown to be sensitive to even low doses of oral glucocorticoids. The effect of 1 wk of inhaled glucocorticoid therapy with budesonide (200 micrograms/puff), beclomethasone dipropionate (250 micrograms/puff), and placebo at two puffs b.i.d. and four puffs b.i.d. on 0900 serum osteocalcin were compared in a double-blind randomized fashion. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no main effect of drug or dosage but a significant drug-dose interaction (p = 0.023). Post hoc investigation of this interaction demonstrated that the serum osteocalcin level while taking four puffs b.i.d. (2,000 micrograms) of beclomethasone dipropionate was significantly lower than that of placebo or budesonide at four puffs b.i.d. (1,600 micrograms). These results suggest that at lower doses no acute measurable effect of inhaled glucocorticoids on serum osteocalcin can be appreciated but that at higher doses inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate has a depressant effect on bone osteoblast function.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1991

Rural Youth Disability Prevention Project Survey: results from 169 Iowa farm families.

Agriculture is now the most hazardous occupation in the United States and it is the only one in which children not only comprise a significant part of the work force, but also live and play at the work site. Annually, 23,500 pediatric agricultural injuries are reported, with nearly 300 fatalities (Rivara, 1985). The Rural Youth Disability Prevention Project was designed to use innovative, community-oriented methods to address the unique problems of child safety in agriculture. Toward this end, a survey instrument was designed to gather data both to assist in program development and to serve as a pretest for the subsequent evaluation. Analysis of these data indicated several issues to target for intervention efforts. One is lack of supervision--more than 40 percent of children who operate equipment do so unsupervised. Approximately 30 percent of children more than 3 years old play alone in work areas, and 80 percent of these children play near machinery in operation. Another issue is operation of farm machinery by very young children--respondents' children began operating equipment at an average age of 12 years. Coupling this with the finding that the parents believe their children are not capable of operating equipment until age 15 exemplifies the most important issue, the disparity between parents' levels of safety knowledge and safety behavior. Using the survey data to increase local involvement, efforts are being directed toward facilitating an ongoing, community-sponsored intervention program to empower farm families to effect their own solutions.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1990

Iowa Agricultural Health and Safety Service Project.

A model community-based comprehensive agricultural occupational health and safety service program has been implemented in Iowa. The functional center of coordination is based in the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. The community-based hub of the service is the community hospital, where the majority of the direct client services originate. The University provides training of hospital staff, programming, direction, consultation, and referral. The services offered include primary care, health surveillance, industrial hygiene and safety, and education. Through a detailed evaluation of the project's objectives we will be able to evaluate, modify, and disseminate a model agricultural health and safety services delivery program. This model should be effective in changing the farming population's health and safety attitudes and behaviors through a community-based program.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

Relationship of lung function to severity of osteoporosis in women.

To determine if the severity of osteoporosis and its resultant hyperkyphosis cause measurable impairment of lung function, 74 women referred for osteoporosis evaluation underwent pulmonary function testing. Women with thoracic wedge compression fractures secondary to osteoporosis had significantly lower percent predicted FVC than did those without fractures. In hierarchical regression analysis, after controlling for age and arm span, there was a significant effect on FVC of the degree of hyperkyphosis as measured by Cobb's angle (increment in R2 = 0.14, p less than 0.001). The addition of the number of vertebral fractures to the model was also significant (increment in R2 = 0.06, p less than 0.002), but cortical bone volume, bone mineral density, and smoking status did not significantly improve the model. From one half of subjects tested, a regression equation was generated relating %FVC and the number of thoracic fractures: %FVC = 103.4 - 9.4 x number of fractures. When used to predict lung function impairment in the second half of study subjects, the correlation between measured and %FVC was r = 0.59 (p less than 0.002). Kyphosis and thoracic compression fractures caused by osteoporosis produce modest but predictable declines in vital capacity in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Progression from hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy to dilated cardiomyopathy. Apropos of 4 cases].

Four cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy diagnosed on clinical, phonomechanographic, echocardiographic and haemodynamic criteria progressing to dilated cardiomyopathy are reported. This evolution was observed over a number of years (up to 20 years) and was accompanied by a clinical aggravation in all cases with 2 deaths and atrial fibrillation in 3 of the 4 cases. The signs of intraventricular obstruction [systolic murmur, bulge on the carotid pulse tracing, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM) and intraventricular pressure gradient] disappeared as the left heart chambers dilated with a reduction in ventricular wall motion and parietal thinning but no change in myocardial mass.

Adult↗