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Biomedical subjects

K M Tan

Publications and source records attributed to K M Tan.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Lateral mass fusion for lower back pain.

Forty patients who underwent Wiltse's lateral mass fusion by two different surgeons for spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease have been independently reviewed. It was found at follow-up (mean 22 months +/- S.D. 14 months) that factors that affected the final result were the age of the patient, the presence of preoperative nerve root symptoms, previous disc surgery, and incomplete fusion. The duration of symptoms, length of follow-up, preoperative spondylolysis, and the extent of the fusion did not appear to affect the result. This series confirms the previous reports that Wiltse's mass fusion is a good technique for relieving pain in the majority of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Tendon reflex variability and method of stimulation.

Human tendon reflexes show large fluctuations, even when accurate mechanical instruments are used for stimulation. To examine the contribution of stimulus factors to reflex variability two methods of stimulation were compared in healthy subjects. One method consisted of a normal hand-held reflex hammer, with a transducer to measure stimulus intensity. The results with this hammer, both after maximal stimuli and after stimuli over a wide range of intensities, showed a similar variability of reflexes as with a more accurate instrumental stimulator. In previous studies in human subjects an equal or larger variability of reflexes was found. It is concluded that for many applications a simple hand-held reflex hammer gives equally reliable results as more complicated instrumental stimulators.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Plasma concentrations of sodium cromoglycate given by nebulisation and metered dose inhalers in patients with exercise-induced asthma: relationship to protective effect.

Plasma sodium cromoglycate (SCG) concentrations were measured in 11 patients at regular intervals before and after exercise in a double-blind study to assess the protective effect in exercise-induced asthma (EIA) of 2, 10 and 20 mg SCG aerosol and placebo, and (on an open basis) nebulised SCG (10 g l-1). There was a dose related increase in plasma concentration and AUC (0-1 h) with the aerosol formulations; values with nebulised SCG were significantly higher than with any aerosol dose. Protection from EIA increased to a maximum of 66% at plasma concentrations of 4 ng ml-1 and above. Thus measurement of plasma concentration can allow a comparison to be made between the protective effects of SCG following different methods of inhalation. It is important to note, however, that plasma concentration per se is almost certainly not related directly to protective effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Dose-response effect of sodium cromoglycate pressurised aerosol in exercise induced asthma.

The effects of 2, 10, and 20 mg of sodium cromoglycate delivered by aerosol were compared with those of placebo in a double blind study in 11 patients with extrinsic and exercise induced asthma. The effect of nebulised sodium cromoglycate delivered through a Wright nebuliser (estimated dose 12 mg) was also studied. Patients exercised on a treadmill for six to eight minutes at submaximal work loads on five days, 30 minutes after inhaling placebo or sodium cromoglycate. The FEV1 was recorded before treatment, before exercise, and up to 30 minutes after exercise. Mean baseline values of FEV1 before and after placebo or sodium cromoglycate did not differ significantly on the five days. After exercise the mean (SEM) maximal percentage fall in FEV1 after placebo; 12 mg sodium cromoglycate nebuliser solution; and 2, 10, and 20 mg sodium cromoglycate aerosol were 31.1 (3.8); 9.4 (2.1); and 19.4 (4.6), 13.7 (3.5), and 9.4 (1.9). Sodium cromoglycate inhibited exercise induced asthma at all doses used; the protective effect of the aerosol increased from 2 to 20 mg. The protective effect of 20 mg sodium cromoglycate aerosol was similar to that seen with 12 mg nebulised solution. Our results suggest that the effect of sodium cromoglycate aerosol in exercise induced asthma is dose related.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Foreign medical graduate performance--a review.

Numerous factors have adversely influenced appraisals of the competence of foreign medical graduates. The statistical design of some comparative studies has been weak. Language and cultural backgrounds of foreign graduates have varied. Foreign physicians who have complete school at various times in the past have been graded according to a test designed to be taken during the fourth year of American medical schools. Licensing examinations and grading have varied from state to state. To reach reliable conclusions, matched samples of adequate size must be studied under controlled conditions.

Clinical Competence↗