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Biomedical subjects

K A Griffiths

Publications and source records attributed to K A Griffiths.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Clinical sound speed measurement in liver and spleen in vivo.

The paper describes an implementation of clinical sound speed measurement using either a commercial water path scanner or a specially developed dual transducer real time scanner, each interfaced to a general purpose minicomputer for off-line analysis. It describes the examination technique to obtain suitable in vivo clinical data from the liver and the spleen. It develops signal processing methods to achieve clinical confidence in individual measurements. Forty-five liver patients and 46 spleen patients were examined. Sound speed was found to correlate closely with fibrosis content in both the liver and the spleen with an increase in fibrosis resulting in a decrease in sound speed. Sound speed in various pathological conditions are discussed. Clinical results of sequential examinations on patients under treatment are presented and successful monitoring of the disease status is demonstrated. The potential clinical role of sound speed measurement is suggested.

Acoustics↗

Evaluation of ultrasonic attenuation in diffuse diseases of spleen and liver.

Ultrasonic attenuation has been measured using frequency domain signal processing in clinical trials of patients with liver and spleen diseases. By comparing the variance encountered in local measurements and in measurements at a number of adjoining sites, the need for averaging over large volumes of tissue to avoid the effects of large fluctuations is established. In spleens of patients with myelofibrosis, no correlation between fibrosis and attenuation was found. However it was found that variations in splenic volume were accompanied by inverse changes in attenuation, most likely due to blood pooling. A correlation was found between splenic blood flow per unit organ volume and attenuation. In cirrhotic livers, attenuation was significantly increased with fatty infiltration, but only slightly increased in livers containing minimal fat. These findings tend to reduce the probability of finding successful clinical applications for attenuation slope measurements.

Fatty Liver↗

Housing for the aged: new roles for social work.

As the elderly population increases, social workers and planners of housing must coordinate efforts and combine resources as they explore new channels for meeting the housing needs of the aged. In evaluating new roles for social work in this field, three basic areas are discussed: 1) the nature of the housing problem, 2) the needs of the elderly, and 3) the role of social work in meeting these needs.

Aged↗

Percutaneous control of a portacaval H-graft: description of a new device and its initial clinical application.

A percutaneously-controlled inflatable cuff which can change the diameter of a portacaval H-graft has been developed and used in 10 patients. When inflated, the cuff narrows the H-graft to increase portal pressure and reduce shunting. Use of the cuff has been of clinical significance in 3 of 7 long-term surviving patients. Narrowing the shunt improved the clinical state in 2 patients with encephalopathy, and reopening a closed shunt improved ascites in the third patient. Duplex ultrasound and deep Doppler have demonstrated an alteration of hepatic portal blood flow following inflation of the cuff after 6 months. It is concluded that further development of this controlled portacaval H-graft is warranted.

Adult↗