Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L Barton.
A series of dynamic changes underway in Washington could transform the manner in which physicians learn of new pharmaceutical therapies. The potential impact of these changes is likely to significantly affect the manner in which physicians learn about and prescribe medications for years to come; the ultimate effect on patient care has yet to be measured, however.
AIDS is a contemporary phenomena that has been extensively covered by the media but its impact on the employers of the sufferers is only now being measured and assessed. This article describes the personnel policies that have been developed by one particular organization to deal with the problem. Educational and training programmes have been initiated and management given clear directives to ensure that high morale and productivity are maintained during potentially adverse situations.
One hundred forty-seven cases of congenital skull depression are analyzed, including two presented by the authors, and a review of the literature follows. A management plan emphasizing a conservative approach is outlined.
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The purpose of the study was to determine the preferences in color of children ages 7-12 who were physically well and those in varying states of ill health. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 72 subjects. Children were asked to name their favorite color, and then select the color they preferred from a set of color squares and the picture they preferred from two sets of colored pictures. General information about the child's diagnosis, number of days hospitalized, and number of siblings was also obtained along with other projective information. Data were analyzed using chi-square to test the hypotheses. Logistic regression models were used to examine the independent variables sex, age group, and health state in a multivariate manner by fitting the models with the choices of red, blue, or green as the first or second color on the Luscher Color Test as the dependent variable. This analysis was repeated with the Picture Test as the dependent variable. The only regressor for these models that was significant was health state. Significant differences were found (p less than 0.05 level) in color preferences of physically well children and those who were ill; in acutely ill and chronically ill children; in physically disabled and acutely ill children; and in children ages 7-9 and 10-12.
This paper examines two years (1982-1983) of publications appearing in four occupational therapy journals in order to determine the type and proportion of articles which are descriptive, survey, correlational, case studies (including single subject design), quasi-experimental, or practical. In addition, a detailed analysis of articles using single subject methodology in occupational therapy is reported. The appropriateness of several single subject research designs in occupational therapy is discussed.
Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) (N:9, aged 24 mo) were trained using a positive reinforcement paradigm to respond to an assigned "standard" frequency of either 1.0 or 3.5 kc/s by pressing a response key. Each S was trained in 2 phases to respond to its assigned frequency rather than to alternately presented tones of a different frequency. In every test each S discriminated its assigned frequency at greater than chance levels. Discrimination ability was poorest when delta F was at the minimum tested (0.25 kc/s). Birds whose standard frequency was 1.0 kc/s were better at the task than those trained to a 3.5-kc/s standard, especially when finer discriminations were required (Phase II). This superiority at 1.0 kc/s confirmed what was seen previously (Barton et al, J. Aud. Res., 1984, 24, 87-97) in the Bobwhite's audibility curve; it was hypothesized that the correspondence may have to do with the need for adult birds to recognize frequency variations near 1.0 kc/s that are uniquely made by immediate conspecifics rather than other members of the species. As such it may well represent a "fine tuning" of the bird's acoustic abilities.
The clinical significance of Proteus penneri, a newly described species, is unknown. A case report is presented, which is to the best of our knowledge the first description of this organism causing a urinary tract infection and bladder calculi.
Male Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) (N:5) were initially handled, then trained upon hearing a 1.5-kc/s tone of 3-sec duration to approach a feeder-loudspeaker system and peck a response key for food reinforcement. Threshold testing in subsequent sessions using a method of limits established the species' audibility curve over 11 frequencies from .25-8 kc/s and at stimulus durations of 3 sec and for some at 200, 100, and 50 msec. A W-shaped audibility curve was obtained for the group with points of greatest sensitivity at 1 and 3.5 kc/s which were about 25 db more sensitive than the endpoints at .25 and 8 kc/s. These points of least and greatest sensitivity were not altered until the stimulus durations were shortened to 100 and 50 msec, respectively. To compare with regions of greatest sensitivity, sonographic representations of two major Bobwhite calls were drawn. There was a coincidence between the peak sensitivity at 1 kc/s and the major frequency in the adult "separation" call, and between the peak sensitivity at 3.5 kc/s and the chick "lost" call. Together, the audibility and sonographic data provided an interpretative base from which to suggest possible functional analysis of calls.
The TMELT-8 Hematology Analyzer is a fully automated cell counter which utilizes laser light scattering and hydrodynamic focusing to provide an 8 parameter whole blood count. The instrument consists of a sample handler with ticket printer, and a data handler with visual display unit, It accepts 100 microliter samples of venous or capillary blood and prints the values for WCC, RCC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC and platelet count on to a standard result card. All operational and quality control functions, including graphic display of relative cell size distribution, can be obtained from the visual display unit and can also be printed as a permanent record if required. In a limited evaluation of the ELT-8, precision, linearity, accuracy, lack of sample carry-over and user acceptance were excellent. Reproducible values were obtained for all parameters after overnight storage of samples. Reagent usage and running costs were lower than for the Coulter S and the Coulter S Plus. The ease of processing capillary samples was considered to be a major advantage. The histograms served to alert the operator to a number of abnormalities, some of which were clinically significant.
A method of clinical staging for infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is proposed. On the basis of assigned stage at the time of diagnosis, 48 infants were treated with graded intervention. For Stage I infants, vigorous diagnostic and supportive measures are appropriate. Stage II infants are treated medically, including parenteral and gavage aminoglycoside antibiotic, and Stage III patients require operation. All Stage I patients survived, and 32 of 38 Stage II and III patients (85%) survived the acute episode of NEC. Bacteriologic evaluation of the gastrointestinal microflora in these neonates has revealed a wide range of enteric organisms including anaerobes. Enteric organisms were cultured from the blood of four infants dying of NEC. Sequential cultures of enteric organisms reveal an alteration of flora during gavage antibiotic therapy. These studies support the use of combination antimicrobial therapy in the treatment of infants with NEC.
Haematological and biochemical parameters were monitored in six patients during Intralipid hyperalimentation. A mild anaemia was consistently observed, accompanied by morphological changes in red cells, granulocytes, and platelets. All patients demonstrated an abnormally high percentage of plasma cholesterol in the unesterified form and altered plasma cholesterol esterification, but red cells were not uniformly enriched in cholesterol. These findings stress the need for careful monitoring during Intralipid therapy.
Maternal-fetal transfer of cefazolin was investigated with use of a single 14-mg/kg intramuscular dose administered to 40 gravidas before elective hysterectomy. The half-life of cefazolin in maternal serum was 1.5 hr with mean concentrations at 2 and 4 hr of 39 and 16 microgram/ml, respectively. By microbiological assay, cefazolin was not detected in brain, cerebrospinal fluid, lung, liver, or kidney of the fetus but was present in concentrations of 1-11 microgram/ml in 12 of 27 individual samples of fetal serum from 0.75 to 10.66 hr. Cefazolin appeared in fetal urine from 2.17 to 19.5 hr at levels of less than 5 microgram/ml with a half-life of 5.4 hr. Cefazolin was present in the amniotic fluid of fetuses older than 14 weeks in concentrations of less than 1 microgram/ml from 9 to 21.75 hr. After administration of a single dose to the mother early in pregnancy, the fetal distribution of cefazolin is limited to the body fluids.
Prospective and retrospective data were collected from 394 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examinations performed in premature and full term infants in a neonatal intensive care unit from October, 1969, to April, 1973.Premature infants had an average of 6 WBCs/mn and 180 mg/100 ml protein in their CSF in the first week, and 3 WBCs/mm and 117 mg/100 ml protein in the fourth week of life. Full term infants had an average of 5 WBCs/mm and 117 mg/100 ml protein in the CSF during their first week, and 5 WVCs/mm and 74 mg/100ml protein in their fourth week of life. Thus, increasing age at the time of lumbar puncture was associated with decreased cell number and lower protein in the CSF. Infants with bacterial meningitis, intracranical hemorrhage and those born of diabetic mothers had the highest values of CSF protein and WBCs. The highest number of RBCs in the CSF was seen in infants with intracranial hemorrhage and infants born of diabetic mothers. Fifteen (4%) of the 394 CSFs examined yielded a virus or bacteria: 5 E. coli, 6 group B beta hemolytic streptococci, and 1 each a pneumococcus, cytomegalo-virus, Coxsackie, and ECHO virus. The CSF findings in the population of infants afflicted with the variety of illnesses studied are not strikingly different from published "normals". Thus, some degree of patient heterogeneity must have been present in previous series.
Animal slurries and effluents are commonly applied to soil as a source of organic N fertilizer. By increasing inorganic N, applying animal effluents may also increase soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Our objectives were to (i) determine if dairy farm effluent (DFE) irrigation increased short-term N2O emissions from a surface-drained peat soil and a freely drained mineral soil and (ii) see if this increase could be attributed to increased N availability, increased soil water content, or a combination of both factors. We measured short-term N2O emissions following DFE irrigation in spring and autumn, using closed chambers. Nitrous oxide emissions from DFE-irrigated soils (50 kg N ha(-1), 20-mm hydraulic loading) were compared with soils receiving inorganic nitrogen and water (50 kg N ha(-1), 20 mm), inorganic N only (50 kg N ha(-1)), water only (20 mm), and no treatment. Nitrous oxide emissions increased immediately following DFE irrigation to both soils, and were generally greater than emissions following the application of inorganic fertilizer with water. Increased N20 emissions following DFE irrigation coincided with increased soil water contents and mineral N and CO2 emissions. We suggest that DFE application increased N2O emissions more than inorganic N fertilizer by enhancing denitrification either by increasing C availability and/ or decreasing soil aeration following increased respiration. These findings suggest that the proportion of N applied to the soil and emitted as N2O may at times be greater for organic N fertilizers than inorganic N fertilizers, particularly if the organic N fertilizer contains sufficient available C to enhance denitrification.
Land application has become a widely applied method for treating wastewater. However, it is not always clear which soil-plant systems should be used, or why. The objectives of our study were to determine if four contrasting soils, from which the pasture is regularly cut and removed, varied in their ability to assimilate nutrients from secondary-treated domestic effluent under high hydraulic loadings, in comparison with unirrigated, fertilized pasture. Grassed intact soil cores (500 mm in diameter by 700 mm in depth) were irrigated (50 mm wk(-1)) with secondary-treated domestic effluent for two years. Soils included a well-drained Allophanic Soil (Typic Hapludand), a poorly drained Gley Soil (Typic Endoaquept), a well-drained Pumice Soil formed from rhyolitic tephra (Typic Udivitrand), and a well-drained Recent Soil formed in a sand dune (Typic Udipsamment). Effluent-irrigated soils received between 746 and 815 kg N ha(-1) and 283 and 331 kg P ha(-1) over two years of irrigation, and unirrigated treatments received 200 kg N ha(-1) and 100 kg P ha(-1) of dissolved inorganic fertilizer over the same period. Applying effluent significantly increased plant uptake of N and P from all soil types. For the effluent-irrigated soils plant N uptake ranged from 186 to 437 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1), while plant P uptake ranged from 40 to 88 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1) for the effluent-irrigated soils. Applying effluent significantly increased N leaching losses from Gley and Recent Soils, and after two years ranged from 17 to 184 kg N ha(-1) depending on soil type. Effluent irrigation only increased P leaching from the Gley Soil. All P leaching losses were less than 49 kg P ha(-1) after two years. The N and P leached from effluent treatments were mainly in organic form (69-87% organic N and 35-65% unreactive P). Greater N and P leaching losses from the irrigated Gley Soil were attributed to preferential flow that reduced contact between the effluent and the soil matrix. Increased N leaching from the Recent Soil was the result of increased leaching of native soil organic N due to the higher hydraulic loading from the effluent irrigation.
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