Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Lawton

Publications and source records attributed to J Lawton.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Autoimmunity in ocular and generalised myasthenia gravis.

Restricted ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) and generalised myasthenia gravis (GMG) have been shown to differ in a number of respects. In OMG, antiacetylcholine receptor, antistriational and antinuclear antibodies were rare relative to their frequency in GMG. In contrast, antithyroid antibodies and a history of thyroid disease were much more prevalent in OMG than in GMG, OMG was not associated with the female predominance seen in GMG and appeared to be relatively common in some races rather than others. It is suggested that different pathogenetic mechanisms are responsible for these two forms of MG.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

The assessment of protein-calorie malnutrition in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Daily protein and calorie intake, three plasma protein estimations, two upper limb anthropometric measurements, and estimated weight loss were all determined in 31 patients attending a surgical oncology outpatient department. The patients, who had had prior resection of a gastrointestinal cancer, could be divided into three groups depending on (i) the absence of clinically detectable tumour; (ii) the presence of clinically detectable tumour with survival over the ensuing four-month period; and (iii) clinically detectable tumour without survival over the ensuing four-month period. The variables least able to discriminate between these groups, and to interrelate to the other variable in a cross-correlation matrix, were the dietary intake data and the estimated weight loss. It is concluded that protein-calorie malnutrition can be adequately assessed in patients with advanced cancer from studies of the plasma albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, arm fat area, and arm muscle area.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Post-perfusion syndrome due to Epstein-Barr virus. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

The post-perfusion syndrome is rarely due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), because most adult patients already carry protective neutralizing antibodies in their sera. Data are presented from two patients in whom heterophil-antibody-positive infectious mononucleosis developed 35 and 48 days after open-heart surgery. The diagnoses of their predominantly febrile illnesses were delayed because of late appearance of atypical lymphocytes and heterophil antibodies. EBV-specific antibody responses were also delayed, with peak titers appearing several weeks or months after onset. The differences in evolution of the present cases, compared to those of classic infectious mononucleosis, were presumably due to different portals of entry (blood stream versus oropharynx).

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacological management of alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol withdrawal is a common disorder, yet its pharmacological management varies widely. This article outlines the clinical features and complications encountered during alcohol withdrawal. It discusses when and where treatment should be initiated and suggests therapeutic recommendations for pharmacological management.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vector magnitude using orthogonal ECG leads during ventricular fibrillation is associated with defibrillation outcome.

Random fluctuations of ventricular fibrillation (VF) affect defibrillation; in addition, the heart is more susceptible to defibrillation at a higher absolute VF voltage (AVFV). Shocks delivered at higher AVFV waveforms from a single lead of the electrocardiogram (ECG) are more effective than conventional shocks. The authors investigated a new sensing method using multiple leads for better representation of the depolarization state of the heart. In this non-thoracotomy defibrillation study, a vector waveform derived from three orthogonal surface leads X, Y, and Z was analyzed in real time using two distinct defibrillation lead configurations, P1: RV-coil electrode (-) <--> (SVC-coil electrode + SCP) (+); and P2: RV-coil electrode (+) <--> (SVC-coil electrode + SCP) (-), where (-) represents cathode and (+) anode for the first phase of biphasic shock (RV = right ventricle, SVC = superior vena cava, SCP = subcutaneous patch). A PC-based closed-loop waveform-processing system, the peak-shock method (PSM), was developed to analyze the vector waveforms and trigger a biphasic shock at an AVFV peak. In using this defibrillation technique, an empirical threshold was applied to a weight function consisting of short-term and long-term moving averages of the vector VF waveform. A total of 340 shock trials in nine canine studies resulted in a significantly higher defibrillation success rate for the PSM compared with the conventional random-shock method (RSM), which involved shocking after a fixed VF time (54% for the PSM versus 42% for the RSM, p < 0.03). This further confirms that a susceptible period for defibrillation occurs during VF. The hardware/software design satisfied the requirements for processing the VF vector waveform in real time, and with the help of signal-processing techniques the high VF voltage could be detected at it occurred in real time. In addition, the P2 defibrillation lead configuration was significantly better than the P1 (p < 0.006).

Algorithms↗