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Biomedical subjects

J S Simpson

Publications and source records attributed to J S Simpson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The value of circular myotomy for esophageal atresia.

The joining of widely separated proximal and distal esophageal segments in esophageal atresia remains a challenging problem. Livaditis introduced the operation of circular myotomy as an effective means of bridging such a wide gap. Three babies with esophageal atresia were successfully treated in this manner at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, during the 1st 6 mo of 1976. No alterations in blood supply of the upper esophageal pouch were observed, and elongations of at least 1 cm per myotomy were obtained. No unusual postoperative radiographic observations were noted. Our small clinical experience suggests that circular myotomies aid in reducing long esophageal gaps in some infants with esophageal atresia, thus permitting primary esophageal anastomosis.

Esophageal Atresia↗

Trichobezoar: an uncommon pediatric problem.

Trichobezoar, the "hair-ball" occasionally found in the stomach of emotionally disturbed adults, particularly women, is an uncommon finding in the pediatric age group. The diagnosis often rests on the suspicion of the alert physician since most patients will not volunteer information about swallowing hair. The presence of a palpable upper abdominal mass associated with progressive intolerance to food, with weight loss and with weakness, and the roentgenographic appearance of a mass after a barium meal confirms suspicion. Treatment consists of laparotomy and gastrotomy to permit removal of the foreign material. Psychiatric assistance should be sought.

Adolescent↗

Prostaglandins and breast cancer.

Malignant human breast tumours produced more prostaglandin-like material during homogenisation than did benign tumours or normal breast tissue. Greatest synthesis in vitro occurred with tumours associated with bone metastases, and the highest "basal" amounts tended to occur in tumours showing spread histologically. It is suggested that prostaglandins may play a part in tumour spread and growth in bone and that drugs which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis may be valuable therapeutic agents in cancer.

Adolescent↗

The morbidity and mortality of splenectomy in childhood.

One hundred and eighty-two patients undergoing splenectomy in infancy and childhood were followed for periods of 2 to 15 years. Serious infections occurred in 11 patients (6%) with death in 6 (3.3%). In 10 patients the infection was sepsis, and in all but one patient the infection occurred within 2 years of splenectomy. Among children over 2 years of age the risk of infection was still appreciable except when the spleen was removed incidentally or for traumatic rupture. Splenectomy for thalassemia and portal hypertension resulted in an increased risk of serious infections when compared with removal of the spleen for hereditary spherocytosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, trauma, or for technical reasons in the course of another operation. Post-splenectomy infections tended to follow a characteristic pattern. The infecting organism was predominantly pneumococcus, the course was fulminating and the mortality high.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of early cancer of the breast: Histological staging and role of radiotherapy.

The clinical progress of 350 patients with early cancer of the breast was reviewed. In a five-year follow-up after simple mastectomy routine postoperative radiotherapy conferred no demonstrable benefit on those with histologically negative lymph-nodes. When the regional nodes were involved in the malignant process, radiotherapy led to an increased mortality in the early stages, but did reduce the incidence of local recurrence.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Retention of learned temperature changes during problem solving.

In 2 studies (ns = 10, 9) college students were trained using biofeedback to lower or to raise finger temperature. Successful subjects were then asked to do distracting intellectual tasks, while simultaneously retaining the learned temperature changes. Results indicated that these changes could be maintained without detectable decreases in problem-solving efficiency in terms of either time or number of errors. These findings suggested that it might be possible for subjects to function efficiently outside the laboratory in their everyday activities while simultaneously exercising voluntary control over some autonomic processes.

Adult↗

Breast cancer, prostaglandins, and bone metastases.

Human malignant breast tumours from 23 patients contained and synthesised more prostaglandin-like material than normal breast tissue from the same patients or benign neoplasms (5 patients). Bone metastases were associated with tumours having high levels of P.G.-like material, which usually resembled P.G.F compounds, and this may be important since some P.G.S are potent bone-resorbing substances.

Adult↗