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Biomedical subjects

J R Steel

Publications and source records attributed to J R Steel.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

X-ray dose training: are we exposed to enough?

AIM: To study knowledge of radiation exposure among doctors of various grades and specialties in a large district general hospital. METHODS: A multiple-choice format questionnaire with a total of 11 questions was distributed amongst doctors at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK. Doctors of various grades and specialties completed 240 questionnaires which tested knowledge of terrestrial and medical radiation exposure. RESULTS: With a pass mark of only 45% and a generous marking scheme, only 66 (27.5%) doctors passed. Only 15.4-25.8% of doctors knew the doses relative to a chest radiograph of various more complex procedures involving ionizing radiation and only 12.5% of doctors were aware of the one in 2000 risk of induction of fatal carcinoma from CT of the abdomen. Only 56.7% of practitioners who, under Ionizing Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2000, have responsibility for justifying procedures, passed the test. The proportion of practitioners correctly identifying the relative dose of a test to a chest radiograph varied from 30 to 56.7%, depending on the exam type. Only 20% in this group were aware of the risk of inducing a fatal cancer from a CT of the abdomen. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated an urgent need to improve knowledge of radiation exposure amongst doctors in clinical practice.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1997

Static versus dynamic prosthetic weight bearing in elderly trans-tibial amputees.

The purpose of this study was to compare prosthetic weight-bearing tolerance in the standing position to the dynamic vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF) experienced during walking in elderly dysvascular trans-tibial amputees. Ten unilateral trans-tibial amputees attending an amputee clinic (mean age = 67 +/- 6.5 years) were selected as subjects. Selection criteria were the level of amputation, age, medical fitness to participate and informed consent. Each participant completed five trials of standing (static) weight bearing measurement followed by 10 walking (dynamic) trials on a 10m level walkway, five trials for each limb, Static weight bearing (SWB) was measured using standard bathroom scales. Dynamic weight bearing (DWB) was measured during gait using a Kistler multichannel force platform. T-tests for dependent means indicated that the forces borne in prosthetic single limb stance (mean = 0.97 +/- 0.03 times body weight (BW)) were significantly lower than the forces borne by the prosthetic limb during the first peak (weight acceptance) VGRF (mean = 1.08 +/- 0.08 BW; t = -4.999; p = 0.001) and significantly higher than the midstance VGRF (mean = 0.82 +/- 0.07 BW; t = 5.401; p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between SWB and the second peak (push-off) VGRF generated by the prosthetic limb during walking (mean = 0.96 +/- 0.03 BW). It was concluded that clinical gait training may utilise SWB as a guide to an amputees' prosthetic weight bearing tolerance and requirements during walking.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Blind drunk: alcoholic pancreatitis and loss of vision.

Acute loss of vision and alcoholic intoxication suggests the possibility of methanol poisoning. In this report we describe an alcoholic patient who complained of blindness after recovering from alcoholic pancreatitis and delirium tremens. Visual acuity was severely impaired and fundoscopy revealed florid bilateral cotton wool spots and a cherry red spot at the right macula. Such appearances have previously been reported in cases of post-traumatic visual loss, and may share a common aetiology of fat embolization. The association between alcoholic pancreatitis and visual loss is rare, and fundal examination should be performed on all patients with pancreatitis, especially those who complain of visual disturbance.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Projective determinacy.

It is shown that projective determinacy follows from large cardinal axioms weaker than the assertion that supercompact cardinals exist.

Journal Article↗