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Biomedical subjects

J Murray

Publications and source records attributed to J Murray.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Chemical colitis due to endoscope cleaning solutions: a mimic of pseudomembranous colitis.

A unique form of colitis was observed during endoscopy of the lower gastrointestinal tract in 21 patients. The patients were prepared using either tap-water enemas or standard lavage solutions. Patients were found to have discrete or confluent white plaques adherent to the colonic mucosa, mild to severe erythema of the surrounding mucosa, and variable amounts of foamy liquid upon withdrawal of the endoscope. Stool assays for Clostridium difficile toxin and bacterial cultures were negative. Mucosal biopsies revealed vacuolar changes in the lamina propria, with slight to moderate vascular congestion and foci of intramucosal hemorrhage. Five patients developed rectal bleeding, tenesmus, and increased frequency of stools, lasting up to 12 days. We believe these cases were due to contamination of the endoscope's air-water channel with solutions used during endoscope cleaning. Recognition of this entity is important, as it is preventable and may mimic pseudomembranous colitis.

Colitis↗
PubMed1988

Expectancy effects: cost-benefit analysis of monaurally and dichotically presented speech.

In three experiments, cost-benefit analysis was used to determine the role of attention in the processing of auditory information. In two experiments consonant-vowel syllables were presented monaurally, while in the third the mode of presentation was dichotic. For all three experiments the ability to detect a target stimulus under conditions in which precued location information was valid or invalid was contrasted with detection in a neutral condition where no location information was provided. The results indicated that attention can be effectively deployed under monaural conditions when either a simple detection or a discriminative response is required. Similar conclusions cannot be reached when considering the effectiveness of attention under conditions of dichotic listening. These results are discussed in relation to accounts which argue that dichotic listening performance is critically dependent upon auditory disembedding and where attention is viewed as a late process involving response selection.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Hemispheric asymmetry in the identification of four-letter names traced in the right and left palms.

Forty right-handed males were asked to identify four-letter names traced in either the right or left palms while their eyes were closed. The name stimuli were traced in a right-side-up or upside-down orientation (i.e., vertical or rotated 180 degrees). Mean percentage of errors served as the dependent variable. On the first block of 40 trials, the left palm/right hemisphere (LP/RH) was significantly more accurate than the right palm/left hemisphere (RP/LH) at identifying these names. This advantage, however, was only manifest when the name stimuli were traced in the upside-down orientation. On the second block of 40 trials, as the name stimuli became more familiar and the subjects became more practiced, a similar LP/RH advantage was observed; however, the impact of the rotation variable was no longer in evidence (i.e., the LP/RH was slightly more accurate on both upright and inverted names). These results are interpreted in light of a process-oriented tactile asymmetry as proposed by M. W. O'Boyle, F. Van Wyhe-Lawler, and D. A. Miller (1987, Brain and Cognition, 6, 474-494).

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Ovarian carcinoma: abdominopelvic irradiation following reexploration.

Twenty patients with ovarian cancer, who following reexploration were left with residual disease nodules of less than 2 cm diameter, received abdominopelvic irradiation. Of these patients 18 had previous chemotherapy. Fifteen patients completed treatment, 13 of whom had prior chemotherapy. Six of the 18 patients with invasive tumors were alive and disease free 18-53 months postradiotherapy, while only 4 patients had died at the time of follow-up. No patient with residual nodules greater than 1 cm remained disease free. There was no difference in outcome between patients with microscopic or macroscopic less than 1 cm residuum. Complications were acceptable with 3/20 (15%) developing treatment-related intestinal obstruction.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Context effects in two-month-old infants' perception of labiodental/interdental fricative contrasts.

We investigated 2-month-old infants' perception of a subset of highly confusable English fricatives. In Experiment 1, infants discriminated modified natural tokens of the voiceless fricative pair [fa]/[oa] but only when the syllables included their frication noises. They also discriminated the voiced pair [va]/[oa] both with and without fricative noises. These results parallel those found with adults by Carden, Levitt, Jusczyk, and Walley (1981). In Experiment 2 [f] and [o] noises were appended to [a], and the same [f] noise was appended to the previously indiscriminable fricationless versions of [fa] and [oa]. Infants discriminated both pairs of stimuli, indicating that (a) the frication is a sufficient cue for [fa]/[oa] discrimination and that (b) it provides a context for discriminating the [f] and [o] formant transitions. We conclude that infants' perception of labiodental/interdental fricative contrasts show evidence of context effects similar to those observed with adults.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Predicting adjustment to perinatal death.

One hundred and thirty parents who had experienced a perinatal death completed a self-administered questionnaire that examined the demographic characteristics of parents, factors associated with the loss, and their levels of satisfaction with the amount of support they received. In addition, they completed scales measuring current levels of depression, self-esteem and psychological well-being. Comparisons with available norms revealed that, while parents were more depressed than general members of the community, they showed fewer symptoms of depression than did depressed patients. In addition, results revealed that less depressed parents were more satisfied with the level of support and comfort they received from doctors and nurses after the loss of their infant. Greater satisfaction with the support from hospital staff also predicted higher levels of self-esteem, as did being satisfied with opportunities to be with the baby. Being more pleased with support from hospital staff and partners also predicted higher levels of psychological well-being. Parents who reported higher well-being were more likely to have experienced a neonatal death, and were satisfied with the opportunities they had had to create special memories of their baby. In the case of happier parents more time had elapsed since the loss of the child.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Biochemical and serological characteristics of children with membranous nephropathy due to hepatitis B virus infection: correlation with hepatitis B e antigen, hepatitis B DNA and hepatitis D.

Fourteen children with biopsy-proven membranous nephropathy associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV-MN) were evaluated biochemically and serologically and compared to 45 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). The mean ages of the two groups were similar (4.9 +/- 1.6 vs. 4.6 +/- 2.6 years). Serum albumin levels were similar in both groups, but serum cholesterol was significantly reduced in children with HBV-MN compared to INS. Serum C3 was also significantly depressed in children with HBV-MN compared to INS, but no differences in C4 levels were noted. Serum alanine transaminase as well as aspartate transaminase concentrations were significantly elevated in children with HBV-MN compared to those with INS, suggesting the presence of chronic hepatitis in children with HBV-MN. Hepatitis B surface and e antigens were present in serum of all children with HBV-MN, but only 54% had circulating HBV-DNA particles demonstrable in their serum. Serum C3 levels were higher in children with HBV-MN and circulating HBV-DNA, compared to those without circulating HBV-DNA. No other serological or biochemical differences occurred between these two groups. Glomerular deposition of IgG and C3 occurred in 91% of children with HBV-MN; but IgM deposition appeared to occur more frequently and with greater intensity in those children positive for circulating HBV-DNA. Antibody to delta antigen was negative in all children with HBV-MN. We conclude that biochemical and serological differences can be identified between HBV-MN and INS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1988

Lectin binding in human breast cancer: clinical and pathologic correlations with fluorescein-conjugated peanut, wheat germ and concanavalin A binding.

Cell surface glycoconjugates of human breast cancer tissue were investigated using FITC peanut (PNA), wheat germ (WGA) and jackbean (concanavalin A; Con A) agglutinins. Although PNA and WGA binding patterns differed when normal and malignant breast tissues were compared, the specificity of this finding was poor and neither PNA nor WGA binding correlated with oestrogen receptor status or clinical outcome. Con A binding on the other hand was not seen in normal breast tissue. The percentage of Con-A-positive (Con A+) tumours increased progressively with advancing stage (16% Con A+ in stage I, 40% Con A+ in stage III) and there was a trend towards longer disease-free survival of patients with Con A- as compared to those with Con A+ tumours. However, in a multivariate analysis it was found that these differences were explained by the association with the stage of the disease.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Alternative or additional medicine? A new dilemma for the doctor.

The growth of alternative medicine poses particular problems for general practitioners working in the National Health Service. This paper reviews the subject and presents preliminary results of a two-stage study of the prevalence of use of alternative medicine in a south London practice. Extended interviews with users explored motivations for choice of treatment and attitudes towards orthodox and alternative health care. The study suggests that many patients are making use of alternative medicine in addition to their NHS consultations without the knowledge of their general practitioners. The clinical and ethical implications of this pattern of illness behaviour are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Esophageal dilation as an outpatient procedure.

This report describes a ten year experience with esophageal dilation done on an outpatient basis for a variety of esophageal strictures. An account is given of the two main types of dilators used, showing no particular advantage of one type compared with the other for long term results. All types of strictures have been found to be suitable for this form of therapy. The low morbidity rate and lack of general anesthesia make these interventions ideal for outpatient procedures. Attention is drawn to the possibility that malignant disease may supervene in benign strictures or be missed initially, and frequent biopsies are advocated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma. A case report.

This is the 15th fully documented case of retroperitoneal malignant schwannoma in the English-language literature. The histogenesis and morphological features are described. Apart from recommending radical surgical resection with adequate tumour margins, the literature provides very little guidance on management. Our patient received adriamycin and dacarbazine as adjuvant therapy and is clinically without evidence of disease 6 months after definitive surgery.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Academic, community and state mental health program collaboration: the Oregon experience.

The authors review the relationship that has evolved over the years between the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health Sciences University and Oregon's community and state mental health programs. They describe the compatibility that exists between the basic requirements of academic psychiatry departments and public mental health programs and demonstrate how these organizations have been able to fulfill one another's needs in Oregon. Specific examples of successful collaborations in the areas of education, administration, research, and service are presented to illustrate how relationships that have been designed to meet specific requirements of one organization can fulfill many requirements of both. Suggestions are provided for those organizations contemplating similar collaborative endeavors.

Community Mental Health Centers↗