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Biomedical subjects

J Watts

Publications and source records attributed to J Watts.

156 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

A bone calcium index based on partial-body calcium measurements by in vivo activation analysis.

Measurements of partial-body calcium by in vivo neutron activation analysis have been carried out on normal and osteoporotic subjects. Based on measurements on 16 normal subjects (volunteers less than 55 years of age), a calcium index has been established that takes into account variation in skeletal frame size. On the basis of this index, all osteoporotic patients have bone mineral content less than any of the normal subjects. The normal calcium indices range from 0.9 to 1.2, and the osteoporotic indices ranged from 0.41 to 0.83. Thirteen of 22 volunteers over 55 years of age had calcium indices less than 0.9 in agreement with the expected loss of calcium with age. Measurements of total-body potassium were also made on these same subjects and the calcium/potassium ratios calculated. Although as groups the older volunteers and older osteoporotic subjects had mean calcium/potassium ratios similar to the mean for the normal subjects, the osteoporotic subjects under 55 years of age had a mean calcium/potassium ratio significantly lower, indicationg that for this latter group the loss in bone mineral was not associated with a corresponding loss in muscle mass.

Activation Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: central nervous system involvement treated successfully with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.

A case of disseminated Langerhans cell histiocytosis with resistant central nervous system (CNS) disease in an adolescent is described. The child presented with visible cranial lesions, emesis, headaches, and short-term memory loss. Diagnostic evaluation revealed multiple osseous lesions in the cranium, ribs, vertebral bodies, and pelvis. The clinical course with complications and response to each therapy are sequentially reviewed. Remission, as evidenced clinically and by magnetic resonance imaging, was ultimately accomplished with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CDA). The full course of 2-CDA was not tolerated due to bone marrow suppression. CNS histiocytosis is known to be resistant to therapy. Earlier introduction of 2-CDA for CNS disease might offer more successful treatment with less toxicity than seen in patient.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing an orientation program for assistive personnel in the ICU.

Assistive personnel are being used in intensive care unit (ICU) settings in response to the demand for more cost-effective nursing care. Nurse managers, educators, and advanced practice nurses must address the unique orientation needs of these workers. A comprehensive, competency-based orientation program for assistive personnel can help the ICU technician be successful. Despite the multitude of assistive personnel being used in the critical care settings, little information is available regarding the development of an orientation program for ICU technicians. This article discusses one ICU's experience in developing an orientation program for their ICU technicians.

Hospital Restructuring↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An outbreak of herpes simplex virus type 1 in an intensive care nursery.

Neonatal herpes simplex infection is not a common occurrence but one which warrants particular concern. An 1800-g premature infant who developed respiratory distress and died at 12 days unexpectedly yielded HSV from a culture of cerebrospinal fluid. There were no mucocutaneous lesions. Ten days later three other infants (ages 40, 69 and 11 days) developed vesicles which yielded herpes simplex. Health care staff cohorts were assigned to "clean" or "exposed" nursery areas. The three secondarily infected cases were treated with vidarabine and did not develop systemic symptoms. Typing of the isolates using immunofluorescence and monoclonal antibodies revealed all to be herpes simplex type 1. Restriction endonuclease cleavage of viral DNA determined that the isolates from the four infants were identical. The mothers of the infants denied any history of recent or recurrent herpes, and their cervical cultures were negative. The source of the outbreak has remained unknown. The possibility of manual transmission to the secondary cases remains likely despite standard infection control practices. Cohort isolation of all exposed patients prevented further spread.

Canada↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The natural history and treatment of delayed union stress fractures of the anterior cortex of the tibia.

This study presents eight patients with stress fracture of the anterolateral cortex of the midshaft of the tibia. All of the patients, ranging in age from 14 to 23 years, were competitive basketball players who experienced pain while running or jumping for an average of 4.4 months before the diagnosis was made. Eight patients were treated with rest and/or pulsing electromagnetic field therapy. Although one of the patients required bone grafting procedure, all eight of these patients showed complete healing and were able to return to full activity after an average of 8.7 months of treatment. They have remained asymptomatic for an average of 14.7 months. The overall time from initial symptoms to return to competition averaged 12.5 months in this group of athletes. The results presented in this paper suggest that rest and pulsing electromagnetic field therapy may result in healing in some patients with delayed union stress fractures of the anterolateral cortex of the midshaft of the tibia. Although this injury is associated with a prolonged healing period, seven of eight patients with adequate followup in our study were able to return to competition without complications following treatment. One patient was asymptomatic for 33 months before experiencing a reinjury. In conclusion, we feel that diagnosis of stress fracture should be primary consideration in basketball players presenting with a prolonged history of pain on the anterolateral aspect of the midthird of the tibia. Once the diagnosis is made we recommend initial treatment consist of rest and external electrical stimulation for a minimum time of 3 to 6 months prior to considering surgical intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Retinopathy of prematurity in infants less than 29 weeks' gestation: 3 1/2 years pre- and postsurfactant.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of surfactant on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). DESIGN: We compared infants for 3 1/2 years both before and after the introduction of surfactant in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using prospectively collected data. Exogenous surfactant (Exosurf) was introduced into our NICU on July 1, 1991. METHODS: We compared the incidence and severity of ROP in two groups of infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation who required cryo- or laser therapy. Premature infants born during the first 3 1/2 years following the introduction of surfactant were compared with those born during the 3 1/2-year period prior to its introduction. The infants were examined by one ophthalmologist (J.K.) and classified according to the International Classification of ROP. RESULTS: A total of 124 infants born presurfactant and 152 infants born postsurfactant were examined for the presence of ROP. No significant difference between the two groups regarding any stage of ROP or the necessity for treatment was found. In infants of less than 27 weeks' gestation, a significant reduction in the number requiring cryo- or laser therapy was noted (12 of 48 examined [25.0%] vs 6 of 62 examined [9.7%], respectively; P < 0.05). This decreased need for treatment, however, was found in infants without hyaline membrane disease who did not receive surfactant. CONCLUSION: Exosurf has had no significant impact on the incidence or severity of ROP. Due to its effect on improved survival rates, the surfactant produces a larger proportion of infants at risk of developing ROP. Other changes in NICU protocol may be causing a reduction in the incidence of severe ROP.

Cryosurgery↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Out on a limb.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical supervision: making it happen.

When owned and governed by those who implement it, clinical supervision can become a living, breathing part of professional working life, and not just another ritual. A multidisciplinary team from Southampton explains.

Aged↗