Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Gibbons

Publications and source records attributed to J Gibbons.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Young children's recall and reconstruction of audio and audiovisual narratives.

It has been claimed that the visual component of audiovisual media dominates young children's cognitive processing. This experiment examines the effects of input modality while controlling the complexity of the visual and auditory content and while varying the comprehension task (recall vs. reconstruction). 4- and 7-year-olds were presented brief stories through either audio or audiovisual media. The audio version consisted of narrated character actions and character utterances. The narrated actions were matched to the utterances on the basis of length and propositional complexity. The audiovisual version depicted the actions visually by means of stop animation instead of by auditory narrative statements. The character utterances were the same in both versions. Audiovisual input produced superior performance on explicit information in the 4-year-olds and produced more inferences at both ages. Because performance on utterances was superior in the audiovisual condition as compared to the audio condition, there was no evidence that visual input inhibits processing of auditory information. Actions were more likely to be produced by the younger children than utterances, regardless of input medium, indicating that prior findings of visual dominance may have been due to the salience of narrative action. Reconstruction, as compared to recall, produced superior depiction of actions at both ages as well as more constrained relevant inferences and narrative conventions.

Child↗

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic assessment of the pulmonary venous pathway after the Mustard or Senning procedure for transposition of the great arteries.

Pulsed Doppler evaluation of pulmonary venous flow was performed in three groups of patients who had undergone either a Mustard or Senning procedure. Group I consisted of 43 patients in sinus rhythm who had undergone the Mustard procedure 9 months or more before the Doppler examination and 16 who were evaluated immediately after surgery. Group II consisted of 12 patients in sinus rhythm who had undergone the Senning procedure 9 months or more before the Doppler evaluation. Group III consisted of eight patients with mid baffle obstruction of the pulmonary venous atrium and seven with isolated stenosis of the pulmonary vein of which all but one had previously had associated mid baffle obstruction. In those without obstruction, the pulmonary venous flow pattern mirrored the left atrial pressure trace, with peak forward flow occurring during the x and y descent. Obstruction produced a specific high-velocity turbulent pattern, whether at the mid baffle or pulmonary venous level. This technique provides reliable noninvasive information about pulmonary venous flow after the Mustard or Senning procedure.

Child↗

Infectious antecedent of immunoblastic lymphoma. Progressive immunosuppression in a patient with lymphogranuloma venereum.

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy is a nonmalignant disease of unknown etiology often progressing to immunoblastic lymphoma. Immunologic deficiency is evident in these patients as well as in those with various infections found in association with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This report describes a previously healthy young woman in whom angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy developed in association with lymphogranuloma venereum, with progressive loss of immunologic competence. This deterioration paralleled the evolution of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy into a rapidly fatal immunoblastic lymphoma.

Adult↗

Production of auto-anti-idiotype antibody during the normal immune response. X. Response to TNP-Ficoll in the chicken.

The spontaneous production of auto-anti-idiotype (Id) was demonstrated after injection of chickens with trinitrophenylated Ficoll (TNP-F) by: (a) the presence of hapten-augmentable plaque-forming cells (PFC), (b) the ability of serum and of hapten eluates from immune spleen cells to cause hapten-reversible inhibition of anti-TNP plaque formation, and (c) an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Tests for anti-Id using the ELISA and hapten-reversible inhibition of PFC correlated very well. As in the mouse, the incidence of hapten-augmentable PFC was reduced by thymectomy and increased by the transfer of TNP-F-immune spleen cells. Hapten-augmentable PFC were also observed during the immune response of chickens to p-azobenzene arsonate-conjugated Brucella abortus.

Animals↗

High-frequency jet ventilation for tracheal surgery.

The anaesthetic requirements for tracheal resection include a clear airway, adequate ventilation and good surgical access. Many techniques have been described, none of which is entirely satisfactory. This case reports on the use of high-frequency jet ventilation with 10Fg catheter combined with muscle relaxants and intravenous anaesthesia in a patient with tracheal stenosis.

Aged↗

Treatment of chronic renal failure with dietary fiber.

We have tested the hypothesis that dietary fiber, by inhibiting colonic bacterial ammonia generation and increasing fecal nitrogen excretion, might decrease hepatic urea synthesis and thereby reduce plasma urea in patients with chronic renal failure. Six and 8 week courses of two different hemicelluloses, arabinogalactan and ispaghula, reduced mean plasma urea in uremic subjects by 11% and 19% respectively. Ispaghula also reduced the rate of rise of plasma creatinine to zero and, in one formal balance study, increased fecal nitrogen excretion by 39%. Experiments in vitro showed that ispaghula depressed anaerobic fecal bacterial net ammonia generation by 30%, and adsorbed neither urea nor ammonia. The reduction in plasma urea caused by dietary fiber is likely to be due to inhibition of colonic bacterial production of ammonia; such therapy could conceivably alleviate some of the symptoms of uremia and postpone dialysis in patients with endstage renal disease.

Adolescent↗

Surgery for benign esophageal stricture.

The long-term results of five different operations for benign lower esophageal reflux stricture, carried out over the 5 year period 1973 to 1977, are presented and evaluated. The 94 patients, 51 women and 43 men (mean age 61 years), underwent one of the following procedures: I, transthoracic Nissen fundoplication (26 patients); II, Bingham gastroplasty (20 patients); III, colon interposition (17 patients); IV, jejunal interposition (10 patients); and V, jejunal bypass (21 patients). Residual dysphagia (mean follow-up period 62 months) was significantly less in groups III, IV, and V (p less than 0.05), the more radical procedures, 87% of the patients having no dysphagic symptoms. This observation was corroborated by the greatly reduced (one sixth) number of postoperative dilatations required and also by the reduced need for reoperation. Only the colon interposition group, however, had an acceptable operative mortality (0%). The Bingham gastroplasty group also had a 0% operative mortality but achieved less good functional results, only 55% of patients having no dysphagic symptoms. Further analysis of functional results showed groups III, IV, and V to be superior regardless of the preoperative grade of stricture. The pros and cons of surgical antireflux procedures coupled with dilatation versus radical procedures to excise the stricture are presented. We conclude that, for an established benign stricture of the lower esophagus, colon interposition may offer the best long-term relief from dysphagia, with very low operative mortality.

Adult↗

T lymphocyte abnormalities in disseminated histoplasmosis.

Disseminated histoplasmosis is associated with depression of T cell-mediated immunity and in some cases anergy. In this report, two patients with disseminated disease are described. Both had a depression of T cell-mediated immunity as well as other abnormalities of immune response. In one, a patient with relapse, a marked depression in the ratio of T helper to T suppressor cells was noted. Neither patient had any predisposing condition known to be associated with disseminated disease.

Adult↗

n-Type silicon photoelectrochemistry in methanol: Design of a 10.1% efficient semiconductor/liquid junction solar cell.

n-Type Si electrodes in MeOH solvent with 0.2 M (1-hydroxyethyl)ferrocene, 0.5 mM (1-hydroxyethyl)ferricenium, and 1.0 M LiClO(4) exhibit air mass 2 conversion efficiencies of 10.1% for optical energy into electricity. We observe open-circuit voltages of 0.53 V and short-circuit quantum efficiencies for electron flow of nearly unity. The fill factor of the cell does not decline significantly with increases in light intensity, indicating substantial reduction in efficiency losses in MeOH solvent compared to previous nonaqueous n-Si systems. Matte etch texturing of the Si surface decreases surface reflectivity and increases photocurrent by 50% compared to shiny, polished Si samples. The high values of the open-circuit voltage observed are consistent with the presence of a thin oxide layer, as in a Schottky metal-insulator-semiconductor device, which yields decreased surface recombination and increased values of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. The n-Si system was shown to provide sustained photocurrent at air mass 2 levels (20 mA/cm(2)) for charge through the interface of >2,000 C/cm(2). The n-Si/MeOH system represents a liquid junction cell that has exceeded the 10% barrier for conversion of optical energy into electricity.

Journal Article↗

Six unusual cases of drug overdose.

Six patients out of a total of 1,137 adults treated for drug overdose died during the period May, 1968 to June, 1973. Their case histories are summarized, and the conclusion drawn that, whilst death from drug overdose is unusual, increased vigilance particularly for the unsuspected secondary diagnosis or complication, is needed if there is to be any further reduction in the already small mortality rate.

Adult↗

Phase II trial of 150-minute weekly infusion of gemcitabine in advanced colorectal cancer: minimal activity in colorectal cancer.

Metastatic colorectal cancer is very common in the Western hemisphere and current treatment modalities are not effective. In this study a prolonged (150-minute) infusion of gemcitabine at a constant dose rate of 10 mg/m2/min administered weekly for 3 consecutive weeks repeated every 4 weeks revealed a response rate of 4% (90% CI < 1%-18%). There were no complete responses. Treatment with gemcitabine produced moderate to severe toxicity as grade 3-4 neutropenia requiring dose modification was seen in 40% of patients treated. When used in this dose and schedule, gemcitabine does not appear to be effective for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Adult↗

Comparison of pain control medication in three age groups of elderly patients.

There are no published reports of burn pain management in the elderly population. To assess the range of requirement and use of opioids among elderly patients with burns of different age categories, a retrospective review of 89 consecutive admissions of patients over 55 years of age (January 1995 through July 1996) was conducted. Complete data were available on 44 patients with a burn mean total body surface area of 17.2%. Patient ages ranged from 55 to 92 years. Individuals were divided into three age categories: Group I (55 to 65) n = 20; Group II (66 to 75) n = 14; and Group III (76 to 92) n = 10. Use of commonly prescribed opioids for procedural pain and breakthrough pain were evaluated. We compared the opioid equivalents of medications prescribed versus the actual amount administered. Paired t tests comparing minimum amount of medication ordered with that given revealed Group I patients received significantly more procedural medication than the minimum prescribed (t = 3.88, p = 0.001), and that Group III patients were given significantly less as needed medication than the minimum prescribed (t = 2.58, p < 0.05).

Adult↗

Opiate-induced respiratory depression in young pediatric burn patients.

Three children younger than 5 with minor burns (< 5% total body surface area) experienced opiate-induced respiratory depression early in hospitalization. This prompted a decrease in the recommended opiate analgesic-dose ranges on our pediatric worksheet. In reviewing 57 admissions, 31 pre- and 26 post-dose change, the amount of opioid equivalents/kg received on admission day did not differ significantly. However, the incidence of respiratory depressive events decreased. Lower opiate-dose guidelines might improve the safe administration of these medications to young children. Other factors- such as concomitant sedative medications, previously administered opiate analgesics, and underlying medical conditions-also must be considered when giving initial doses of opiate analgesics in the burn center.

Burns↗

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in elderly patients.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe exfoliative disease of the skin and mucous membranes that results in high mortality. As the elderly population increases, the number of elderly patients with TEN can also be expected to increase. Elderly patients with comparably sized burn wounds usually have a poor prognosis. Our purpose was to determine whether elderly TEN patients exhibit similarly high mortality. A retrospective review was conducted of 52 patients treated for TEN from October 1991 through September 1998. Eleven patients were older than 65 years. All patients were treated according to our TEN protocol. Eight of 11 patients recovered, and 3 died. The mean total body surface area (TBSA) involvement for the patients who recovered was 24%, compared with 66% for the nonsurvivors. The survival rate for elderly patients (73%) compares well with that for those younger than 65 years (89%). Therefore, we propose that we should be aggressive in treating elderly patients with TEN.

Aged↗