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Biomedical subjects

K Farrell

Publications and source records attributed to K Farrell.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Permanent visual loss after shunt malfunction.

Fourteen (1.8%) of more than 800 children evaluated in a Visually Impaired Program over 10 years became permanently blind during an episode of raised intracranial pressure secondary to shunt malfunction. Visual symptoms and papilledema were recognized in only three children at the onset of blindness. Clinical and radiologic findings suggested that the loss of sight was caused by a lesion in the pregeniculate pathway in nine patients, probably due to ischemia; five children in the postgeniculate group sustained infarcts of the occipital lobes. These cases highlight the importance of parent education and prompt treatment of raised intracranial pressure due to shunt malfunction.

Blindness↗
PubMed1984

Computed tomography in Alexander's disease.

Computed tomography demonstrated contrast-enhancing lesions in the periventricular frontal regions, caudate nuclei, and thalami in an infant with Alexander's disease. The distribution of the enhancing lesions corresponded to the areas in which Rosenthal fibers were most prominent. These radiological findings have not been described in other white matter diseases; thus, they may help to distinguish Alexander's disease from Canavan's disease and decrease the necessity for diagnostic brain biopsy.

Brain↗
PubMed1984

Lesions of the putamen and dystonia: CT and magnetic resonance imaging.

We studied posthemiplegic hemidystonia in an adult, and generalized dystonia in two children. CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in the adult revealed infarction of the contralateral putamen and, to a much lesser extent, the head of the caudate nucleus. Both children had subacute encephalopathies (possible Leigh's disease), and CT revealed bilateral putamen lesions when generalized dystonia was the predominant clinical disorder. These cases and other reports of symptomatic dystonia suggest that lesions of the putamen correlate with dystonia.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1983

Analysis of the interrelationships of non-nutrient blood flow, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, and the ratio of oxygen delivery/oxygen consumption based on a mathematical model of non-nutrient blood flow.

A mathematical model for total body non-nutrient blood flow has been presented. This is a gross model that will show effective non-nutrient blood flow. It shows how NNBF can occur in the setting of decreased oxygen delivery. The implications of this model on the interrelationships of oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, the ratio of oxygen delivery/oxygen consumption, and NNBF are discussed.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1983

The effects of peritoneal dialysis on the single dose and steady state pharmacokinetics of valproic acid in a uremic epileptic child.

The pharmacokinetics of valproic acid (VPA) have been studied during peritoneal dialysis in a uremic male epileptic child following a single 500 mg dose and after multiple doses over 5 months (700 mg daily) of valproic acid as the syrup. Serum level decline was biphasic in both instances with a terminal half-life of 27.2 after the single dose and 10.2 h at steady-state. Total serum clearance was 0.0236 l/h/kg after the single dose and increased to 0.0408 l/h/kg after 5 months. Free (intrinsic) serum clearances were 0.1489 and 0.1518 l/h/kg and serum free fractions were 0.224 and 0.272 respectively for the single dose and steady-state studies. Peritoneal dialysis for periods of 12 or 24 h removed an average of 4.5% of the VPA dose.

Child↗
PubMed1983

Serum and plasma for total and free anticonvulsant drug analyses: effects on EMIT assays and ultrafiltration devices.

The suitability of serum and plasma anticoagulated with heparin, EDTA, citrate, or oxalate was assessed for analysis of free and total phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproic acid. The free fraction was isolated by ultrafiltration through FreeLevel devices (Syva, Palo Alto, CA). Serum, heparin, and EDTA plasma were satisfactory for both free and total phenytoin and carbamazepine. EDTA could not be used for EMIT (Syva) analysis of valproate. Citrate and, to a lesser degree, oxalate cause a significant negative interference in the concentration of these three drugs as measured both by EMIT and gas-liquid chromatography.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1983

Arthrogryposis following maternal hypotension.

A case of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is described, in which the pregnancy had been complicated by a prolonged hypotensive period on the 86th day of gestation. The similarity in pathological findings between ischaemic myelopathy and arthrogryposis suggest that maternal hypotension was an aetiological factor in this infant's arthrogryposis.

Arthrogryposis↗
PubMed1982

Interaction between valproic acid and aspirin in epileptic children: serum protein binding and metabolic effects.

In five of six epileptic children who were taking 18 to 49 mg/kg/day valproic acid (VPA), the steady-state serum free fractions of VPA rose from 12% to 43% when antipyretic doses of aspirin were also taken. Mean total VPA half-life (t1/2) rose from 10.4 +/- 2.7 to 12.9 +/- 1.8 hr and mean free VPA t1/2 rose from 6.7 +/- to 2.1 to 8.9 +2- 3.0 hr when salicylate was present in the serum. The in vitro albumin binding association constant (ka) for VPA was decreased by salicylate, but the in vivo ka value was not affected. The 12-hr (trough) concentrations of both free and total VPA were higher in the presence of serum salicylate in five of six patients. Renal excretion of unchanged VPA decreased in five of six patients, but the VPA carboxyl conjugate metabolite-excretion patterns were not consistently affected. Salicylate appeared to displace VPA from serum albumin in vivo, but the increased VPA t1/2 and changes in VPA elimination patterns suggest that serum salicylate also altered VPA metabolism.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1979

Women physicians in medical academia. A national statistical survey.

We determined the representation of women physicians on US medical school faculties by enumeration from school catalogues according to professorial rank, title series, and department affilitation. We also compiled similar data for top-level administrative posts, using periodic chronological comparisons from 1955 through 1977 and 1978. Despite a burgeoning population of women medical students, we found a pattern of underuse of women physicians characterized by limited upward mobility on the faculty (professor: median, 3.0%; range, 0% to 18.2%; assistant professor; median, 7.3%; range, 0% to 28.7%). There were no women in chief executive positions.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1979

Tinidazole in the prevention of wound infection after elective colorectal surgery.

During the first six months of 1978, 71 patients were the subject of a controlled trial of the use of tinidazole for the prevention of wound infection after elective colonic surgery. The trial design was prospective, randomized and double-blind with tinidazole or placebo given at the last oral intake before operation. The objective endpoint of the trial was the presence or absence of wound infection manifested by pus. All patients underwent a standard preoperative preparation of bowel washouts, and a standardized surgical technique included, in all cases, the use of wound drainage. At the end of the trial there were three wound infections in 40 patients who were given tinidazole, and eleven wound infections in 31 patients who were given placebo. The difference in wound infection rate between these two groups is significant (x2 with Yates correction = 7.3; P less than 0.01).

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1979

Chromobacterium violaceum infections. Report of a fatal case.

A case of systemic Chromobacterium violaceum infection, believed to be the first reported in a Papua New Guinean, is described. Autopsy disclosed multiple liver abscesses and the diagnosis was made by recovery of the organism from one of the abscesses. Aspects of management of this uncommon infection are discussed.

Adult↗