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Biomedical subjects

J M Berry

Publications and source records attributed to J M Berry.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Flow in the aorta and patent ductus arteriosus in infants with aortic atresia or aortic stenosis: a pulsed Doppler ultrasound study.

We used pulsed Doppler ultrasound to determine the flow dynamics of the aorta and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in 21 infants (ages 1 to 16 days) with PDA and aortic atresia (n = 15) or aortic stenosis (n = 6). The flow within the PDA was recorded in 19, and was right-to-left during systole in all. There was a diastolic left-to-right PDA shunt in 11 patients with aortic atresia and in three with aortic stenosis, and the shunt was associated with large (3 to 11 mm in diameter) interatrial communications. In two patients with aortic atresia and three with aortic stenosis, however, the diastolic PDA shunt was from right to left, and the interatrial communications were small (0 to 2 mm in diameter). The right-to-left diastolic PDA shunting may be best explained by the relative pulmonary (high with left-sided inflow obstruction and a small interatrial communication) and systemic resistances. All patients with aortic atresia and three with aortic stenosis had retrograde systolic flow in the transverse aortic arch, probably resulting from inadequate left ventricular output. Antegrade diastolic flow in the transverse aortic arch toward the PDA was observed in all infants with aortic atresia and a left-to-right PDA shunt. Ascending aortic flow was recorded in 11 patients with aortic atresia, and was retrograde during diastole in each, the result of coronary perfusion. Application of pulsed Doppler ultrasound can lead to a better understanding of the hemodynamics and physiology of patients with congenital cardiovascular disease.

Aorta↗

Type A behavior, age, and psychological well-being.

We investigated psychological well-being among Type A and B individuals across the age span. We hypothesized that the hard-driving, achievement-oriented lifestyle exhibited by Type As would be adaptive in younger age groups, but would lead to lower well-being in later life because of increased limitations on the range and level of one's activities. By contrast, the more relaxed, easygoing style of the Type B matches better the slower pace of old age, but is not as conducive to success in younger age groups. Thus we expected older Type Bs more than younger Type Bs to exhibit greater well-being. Results confirmed these hypotheses, but indicated that psychological differences may be mediated in part by differences in physical well-being. Furthermore, experience with life events, and the structure and function of social networks, may contribute to the differences in well-being.

Adolescent↗

Relinquishment of control and the type A behavior pattern: the role of performance evaluation.

We investigated the role of information processing in the control relinquishment decisions of Type As and Bs. Pairs of subjects worked independently on a task and received feedback indicating that their partner had performed at a comparable or superior level. On a second task, subjects combined their efforts and made decisions concerning who would work on different parts of that task. One third of the subjects made this decision before completing an evaluation of the initial performances. Another third completed the evaluation without knowing that they would subsequently make a control decision. The final third of the subjects completed their evaluations knowing that a control decision would follow. Results indicated that when the evaluations were completed last, or when the evaluations were completed first but without knowledge of the impending decision, Type As relinquished less control to a superior partner than did Type Bs. When the evaluations were completed with knowledge of an impending control decision, Type As and Bs did not differ in their decisions. These results suggest that under certain conditions, Type As use an automatic or mindless decision style with potentially maladaptive consequences.

Achievement↗

The urgent diagnosis of gallstones in acute pancreatitis: a prospective study of three methods.

Ultrasonography (US), radionuclide biliary scanning (RBS), and biochemical tests were performed within 72 h of admission in 83 patients with acute pancreatitis in an attempt to define those with gallstones as an aetiological factor. US was 92 per cent accurate in the 80 per cent of patients in whom the gallbladder was demonstrated. There were no false positives. Sixty-seven per cent of patients with gallstones were diagnosed although this improved to 78 per cent when US was repeated following the patients' clinical improvement. The pattern of RBS was completely normal in 46.5 per cent of patients with biliary pancreatitis and 64 per cent of patients with non-biliary pancreatitis. Biochemical tests completely separated 47 per cent of patients with gallstones from those without. Used in combination with US these two methods accurately identified 81 per cent of patients in the biliary group. In conclusion US was found to be a rapid and accurate method of gallstone detection but used alone it has limited usefulness. RBS can be time consuming and was found to be of doubtful value. Biochemical tests were helpful in indicating a proportion of patients who had gallstones which were not detected by US, and therefore have a practical application. Current methods of gallstone detection in patients with acute pancreatitis are far from ideal and further studies are indicated.

Acute Disease↗

Age and sex differences in somatic complaints associated with depression.

Following the procedure used by Zemore and Eames (1979) with the Beck Depression Inventory, the 20 items of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale were categorized as either somatic or psychological symptoms of depression. Scores of 179 college students and 462 community-dwelling older adults revealed significant, though small, age differences in somatic complaints. Somatic complaints were especially prominent in older women. Age differences in psychological symptoms of depression were not significant. Diagnosis of depression in later life, especially in women, may be confounded by the use of physical symptoms of depression that are comparable to physical changes that accompany the aging process.

Adolescent↗

The impact of newspaper advertising on a regional antenatal health campaign.

In 1981 the West Midlands Health services undertook a publicity campaign aimed at helping women to understand more about keeping healthy during pregnancy and encouraging them to seek early ante-natal care. A series of full page advertisements on ante-natal care were placed in local newspapers in the Region. Set out here are the findings of two studies of the impact of the publicity campaign. The first shows how far people's knowledge of what to do during pregnancy was altered by the publicity, and the second shows what people thought of the advertisements themselves and the further information sent to them on request.

Advertising↗

A prospective study of radionuclide biliary scanning in acute pancreatitis.

Early surgery for biliary pancreatitis has resulted in a need for an accurate method of gallstone detection in acute pancreatitis. Fifty patients with acute pancreatitis were studied prospectively to assess the diagnostic value of Radionuclide Biliary Scanning (RBS) performed within 72 hours of an attack. To assess the general accuracy of RBS a further 154 patients with suspected acute cholecystitis or biliary colic were similarly studied. There were 34 patients with biliary pancreatitis and 18 (53%) had a positive scan (no gallbladder seen). There were 16 patients with non-biliary pancreatitis and 5 (31%) had a positive scan. All 51 patients with acute cholecystitis had a positive scan, as did 82% of the 51 patients with biliary colic. There were 52 patients with no biliary or pancreatic disease and none of these had a positive scan. RBS is highly accurate in confirming a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis or biliary colic. However, it cannot be relied on to differentiate between biliary and non-biliary pancreatitis and should certainly not be used as the basis for biliary surgery in these patients.

Acute Disease↗

Oral mebeverine in barium enema preparation.

A double blind controlled trial to determine the effect of mebeverine (Colofac) pre-medication on the incidence of spasm, pain and discomfort during examination of the colon by double contrast barium enema was carried out. There was a significant reduction in spasm on fluoroscopy and reported pain and discomfort in the mebeverine group. The number of segments of spasm on the radiographs was not significantly reduced.

Barium Sulfate↗

Culture aeration in a polythermostat.

A system for the aeration of cultures growing in a polythermostat temperature-gradient block was developed. This system provided both aeration and agitation of the cultures, while allowing the growth to be followed spectrophotometrically. The necessity for aeration of cultures growing in a polythermostat was experimentally shown.

Bacteriological Techniques↗