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Biomedical subjects

J Sproule

Publications and source records attributed to J Sproule.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Paediatric spinal trauma and associated injuries.

Paediatric spinal injuries, although rare (1-2% of all paediatric fractures) are associated with the highest mortality rate of all orthopaedic injuries in children. The low incidence is due, not only to the plasticity of the paediatric spine, but also the difficulty of diagnosis and the usually severe if not fatal associated injuries. A 10-year (1995-2004) retrospective study was undertaken of all patients treated for a spinal injury at our institute, which functions as both an acute care centre and a tertiary referral centre for seriously injured children. The study was performed in order to highlight the unique features of spinal injuries in children, and to assess the incidence and pattern of associated injuries. A total of 40 patients had a documented diagnosis of spinal injury. The charts and radiographs of all patients were retrieved and reviewed. The median age was 10 years (range 2-15) and 25 were male. The causative factors were motor vehicle accidents in 16, falls in 14, sport injuries in 7 and assaults in 3. Over 65% of the children sustained one or more associated injuries, the mean injury severity score was 18.95. There were two deaths, both in patients with severe multiple trauma and associated spinal fracture. Treatment included closed reduction in two patients and posterior open reduction and stabilisation in two patients, with one of these also requiring decompression. Spinal injuries in children differ from adults due primarily to the biomechanical and anatomical features of the developing musculoskeletal system. When a spinal injury is identified on initial radiographic or clinical evaluation of an injured child, one should have a high index of suspicion that concurrent, potentially life-threatening injuries may be present.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2005

Effect of incremental exercise on initiation and movement times in a choice response, whole body psychomotor task.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how exercise at moderate and maximal intensities affects performance on a choice response time, whole body psychomotor task. METHODS: Subjects (n = 12) were tested on a three-choice response time task, after rest and after exercise at 70% and 100% maximum power output (W*max). The dependent variables were time to begin forward momentum (initiation time) and time to complete the movement (movement time). Stride time for the first and second strides and number of strides to cover first 1.1 m were also measured. Blood lactate concentrations and heart rate were recorded before and after completion of each psychomotor test. The subjects subjectively assessed the amount of effort that they used to complete the task. RESULTS: Repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant effect for initiation (F2,22 = 11.47, p < 0.001) and movement times (F2,22 = 14.61, p < 0.001). Post hoc least significant difference (LSD) tests showed that initiation time after exercise at 70% W*max was significantly faster than that in the other two conditions. Speed of initiation after rest was significantly quicker than that after exercise at W*max. For movement time, LSD tests showed that time after maximal exercise was significantly slower than that in the other two conditions. Stride time for the second stride showed a significant effect (F2,22 = 6.20, p < 0.01). LSD tests found that time after exercise at W*max was significantly slower in the other two conditions. Stepwise multiple regression analyses found that the increment of change, from rest, of lactate concentrations could significantly predict the increment of change in initiation (R2 = 0.40) and movement (R2 = 0.50) times. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise affects a whole body task differently from purely cognitive tasks. Central factors are probably more important than peripheral factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Supra-maximal effort and reaction and movement times in a non-compatible response time task.

AIM: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effect of attempting to exercise supra-maximally on reaction time and movement time in a non-compatible response time task. METHODS: Subjects (n=9) undertook a 4-choice non-compatible response time test at rest, while cycling at 70 rpm with a resistance of 35 W (low intensity exercise), cycling at 70% of their maximum power output (MPO), cycling at 100% MPO and attempting to cycle at 70 rpm, with a resistance that was 28 W greater than the resistance required to elicit MPO (supra-maximal effort). RESULTS: Reaction time, movement time, intra-individual variations in reaction time and movement time at each exercise intensity were compared by a series of repeated measures analyses of variance. A significant effect of exercise was shown for movement time, F(4,32)=6.05, p<0.001, eta2=0.44, Power=0.97 and intra-individual variation in reaction time, F(4,32)=4.98, p<0.005, eta2=0.38, Power=0.93. For movement time, Tukey post-hoc tests showed that performance at rest was significantly slower than that during exercise at 70%, 100% MPO and supra-maximal effort. Performance at low intensity exercise was significantly slower than that at MPO. For intra-individual variations in reaction time, Tukey tests found that variations under supra-maximal effort and MPO were significantly greater than those at low intensity and 70% MPO. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that exercise facilitates speed of movement when the limbs used for the motor task are not the ones that are being exercised. Reaction time during maximal and supra-maximal exercise demonstrates large intra-individual variations.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Acute compartment syndrome of the anterior thigh following quadriceps strain in a footballer.

A rare case is presented of acute anterior compartment syndrome in the thigh of a footballer caused by an acute quadriceps strain, exacerbated by poor first aid and alcohol ingestion. Decompressive fasciotomy with subsequent split skin grafting of the wound defect resulted in a satisfactory outcome. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion lest it be overlooked with inevitably disastrous consequences.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

The measurement of plasma catecholamine and lactate thresholds: a comparison of methods.

Plasma lactate and catecholamine thresholds were calculated using three different variations of linear regression, an algorithmic linear regression method, a log-log transformation method and a semi-log method. A group of 18 male sports science students undertook an incremental test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. A 5-ml blood sample was drawn at rest, after 4 min of exercise and every 2 min thereafter until the cessation of the test. Lactate, adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations were measured. Lactate threshold (Th1a), adrenaline threshold (ThA) and noradrenaline threshold (ThNA) were calculated using each of the three methods. The best fits of the methods were examined by comparing their standard error of estimates (SEEs). The algorithmic method demonstrated a higher SEE than the other two methods, but only for Th1a and ThNA. The power output for which each method calculated the thresholds demonstrated a main effect for method. Tukey post hoc tests showed that the algorithmic method produced significantly higher outputs than the other two methods, which did not differ significantly from one another. Comparison of these power outputs showed that Th1a and ThA differed significantly, regardless of method, there were no other significant differences. Plasma concentrations of lactate, adrenaline and noradrenaline showed that the values of Th1a and ThNA calculated by the algorithmic method were significantly higher than those calculated using the other two methods, which did not differ significantly from one another. The only significant difference for ThA was between the algorithmic and semi-log methods. Correlations between the power outputs at which each method calculated the thresholds varied greatly between methods, and were at best only moderate (r = 0.63). It was concluded that the algorithmic method was less powerful than the other two methods, and that Th1a, ThA and ThNA are not highly correlated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Performance of a psychomotor skill following rest, exercise at the plasma epinephrine threshold and maximal intensity exercise.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercising at the epinephrine threshold and at Maximum Power Output on the performance of a skill that requires both decision-making and motor performance. Participants (N=12) undertook an incremental test to exhaustion from which their epinephrine threshold and Maximum Power Output were calculated. They were then examined on a soccer skill test following rest and exercise that was previously determined to elicit their epi nephrine threshold and Maximum Power Output. The soccer test examined the participants' speed and accuracy of response. Speed of response was measured by voice reaction time and whole body reaction time. No significant effects of exercise were shown for any of the variables. The need for further research using more complex skill tests and the use of discontinuous exercise protocols, rather than continuous ones, is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Running economy deteriorates following 60 min of exercise at 80% VO2max.

Fifteen young adult Singaporean male physical education students maximum oxygen consumption [(VO2max) = 56 (4.7) ml x kg(-1) min(-1)] performed three prolonged runs in a counterbalanced design. The running bouts varied in time (40 vs 60 min) and intensity (70% vs 80% VO2max). Each prolonged run was separated by 7 days. The running economy (RE) at 10.8 km x h(-1) during 10-min running bouts was measured before (RE1) and after (RE2) each prolonged run. A control study involved monitoring RE at 10.8 km x h(-1) before and after 60 min rest. There were no differences between RE1 and RE2 values during the control run. However, there were differences between RE1 and RE2 values when separated by a prolonged run. For example, the mean (SD) changes in oxygen consumption (ml x kg(-1) x min[-1]) values were 38.2 (2.5) versus 40.1 (2.6) (40 min at 80% VO2max), 38.9 (2.8) versus 41.5 [2.6] (60 min at 70% VO2max), and 39.0 (3.1) versus 42.7 (2.9) (60 min at 80% V02max; P < 0.01). The results of this investigation support the hypothesis that RE deteriorates during prolonged running, and that the magnitude of the deterioration in RE increases with both increasing exercise intensity and duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The influence of either no fluid or carbohydrate-electrolyte fluid ingestion and the environment (thermoneutral versus hot and humid) on running economy after prolonged, high-intensity exercise.

This study investigated the effects on running economy (RE) of ingesting either no fluid or an electrolyte solution with or without 6% carbohydrate (counterbalanced design) during 60-min running bouts at 80% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Tests were undertaken in either a thermoneutral (22-23 degrees C; 56-62% relative humidity, RH) or a hot and humid natural environment (Singapore: 25-35 degrees C; 66-77% RH). The subjects were 15 young adult male Singaporeans [VO2max=55.5 (4.4 SD) ml kg(-1) min(-1)]. The RE was measured at 3 m s(-1) [65 (6)% VO2max] before (RE1) and after each prolonged run (RE2). Fluids were administered every 2 min, at an individual rate determined from prior tests, to maintain body mass (group mean=17.4 ml min(-1)). The VO2 during RE2 was higher (P < 0.05) than that during the RE1 test for all treatments, with no differences between treatments (ANOVA). The mean increase in VO2 from RE1 to RE2 ranged from 3.4 to 4.7 ml kg(-1) min(-1) across treatments. In conclusion, the deterioration in RE at 3 m s(-1) (65% VO2max) after 60 min of running at 80% VO2max appears to occur independently of whether fluid is ingested and regardless of whether the fluid contains carbohydrates or electrolytes, in both a thermoneutral and in a hot, humid environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Validity of 20-MST for predicting VO2max of adult Singaporean athletes.

This investigation compared the results of direct and indirect measurements of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) of an Asian population. Twenty subjects (16 male, 4 female), all of whom were physical education students, were assessed directly using laboratory treadmill running to determine VO2max. The indirect estimation of VO2max was obtained using a modified form of the Leger and Lambert 20-m multistage shuttle run test (20-MST). Heart rates were recorded throughout both tests. Pearson product moment correlations confirmed test-retest reliability for both direct and indirect measurements (r = 0.90 and r = 0.91 respectively). Differences for test-retest were found to be not significant. No differences were found between the maximal heart rate responses of the subjects for the direct and indirect tests. Of the subjects 75% had a lower predicted VO2max value (P < 0.01) compared with results gained by direct measurements when the Ramsbottom norms for the 20-MST were used. The reasons for this difference could be due to the different racial groups used as subjects, the climatic conditions in Singapore, or the small sample size. In order for the 20-MST test to be considered a valid measure of aerobic fitness in Singapore with an Asian population further study is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Autosomal dominant duplication of the renal collecting system, hearing loss, and external ear anomalies: a new syndrome?

We report two families in which propositi had severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a preauricular pit or tag, and duplication of the ureters or bifid renal pelvices. Other relatives had one or more of these anomalies in a pattern suggesting autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. We suggest the term "branchio-oto-ureteral syndrome" to designate this condition.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗