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Biomedical subjects

L Fisher

Publications and source records attributed to L Fisher.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Child competence and psychiatric risk. III. Comparisons based on diagnosis of hospitalized parent.

The school competence of children whose parents were previously hospitalized for psychiatric disorder was studied. These children, at risk themselves for behavioral disorder, were compared to classmates as well as to each other based upon the diagnosis of the hospitalized parent. Four diagnostic groups were employed: narrowly defined schizophrenic, broadly defined schizophrenic, affective psychotic, and hospitalized nonpsychotic patients. Significant differences between the risk sample and classmates are reported along with differences among the diagnostic groups. Sons of nonpsychotic hospitalized patients were functioning most poorly and were in marked defiance of peer and adult norms. Parental and child IQ were found to have had little impact upon the data and were not considered major interactive variables. Issues concerning systems of diagnoses and the developmental implications of the findings are presented.

Achievement↗
PubMed1979

Relationship of cardiothoracic ratio and plain film heart volume to late survival.

We assessed the prognostic value of cardiothoracic ratio and plain film heart volume in relation to other clinical, exercise, hemodynamic and quantitative angiographic variables. Both cardiothoracic ratio and plain film heart volume are highly sensitive, but nonspecific, indicators of abnormal left ventricular end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction. Both variables are univariately important predictors of survival in cohorts of medically and surgically treated heart disease patients. Plain film heart volume significantly adds to the multivariate prediction of prognosis obtained from groups of clinical, exercise, hemodynamic and quantitative angiographic variables. These measurements from the routine chest roentgenogram are sensitive detectors of abnormal left ventricular function or volume and important predictors of long-term survival. The fact that they contribute prognostic information in addition to left ventricular volume and ejection fraction suggests that other cardiac chamber volumes are of prognostic importance.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

A special kind of nurse.

Pat Johnson is a special kind of nurse. She has helped develop a team of nurse practitioners to function much like the traditional pediatric intern in the newborn intensive care unit of St. Paul's Children's Hospital. She is able to do physical examinations, interprets test results, and then determines a baby's problems and needs from an insight that is a combination of nursing and medicine.

Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299↗
PubMed1979

Screening and genetic counseling for beta-thalassemia trait in a population unselected for interest: effects on knowledge and mood.

To evaluate the effects of genetic screening and counseling in a population unselected for interest, adults in a health maintenance organization (HMO) were screened for beta-thalassemia trait as part of health care or multiphasic screening. Counseling was provided by either a trained physician or a videotape containing the same information, followed by an opportunity to question a trained physician. Knowledge of thalassemia, knowledge of genetics, and mood were assessed by standardized questionnaires and by interview immediately before and after counseling. Compared to controls, trait subjects demonstrated significant learning about thalassemia (P less than .001) and about genetics (P less than .001) and recorded significant mood changes, namely, surprise (startle) (P less than .05), increased alertness (decreased deactivation) (P less than .05), and decreased skepticism (P less than .01). Screening and genetic counseling for beta-thalassemia trait conducted as part of multiphasic screening of the population of a HMO, essentially and unselected population, can result in significant overall learning with acceptable effects on mood.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Planning for the next generation of risk studies.

Seventy longitudinal studies of social competence in children conducted over the past 3 decades are critically reviewed in an effort to pinpoint current and potential problems in conducting longitudinal research with samples of children at elevated risk for developing severe forms of psychopathology. The review outlines chronic problems in accurately specifying objectives, choosing adequate and appropriate samples, and selecting maximally useful predictor and outcome measures in this reseach area. A variety of institutional and organizational problems that make risk research difficult to undertake and to carry to completion are also described. A federation of risk projects, which could seek unified funding and coordinate institutional support, is suggested. In addition, new grant review procedures that embody coordination of management efforts between funding and research agencies are recommended as one possible alternative to present practices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Prediction of late survival in patients with mitral valve disease from clinical, hemodynamic, and quantitative angiographic variables.

Late follow-up (average = 7.2 years) has been obtained in 249 patients with mitral valve disease who had quantitative angiographic assessment of left ventricular function at thetime of initial catheterization in the 1960s. Surgically treated patients with mitral valve disease had significantly improved survival as compared to medically treated patients with mitral disease. The subgroup with mixed mitral stenosis and regurgitation and the subgroup with moderate impairment of ejection fraction account for this improved survival in surgically treated patients, which occurred despite greater functional and hemodynamic impairment in the surgical cohorts. Using univariate life table survival analysis, ten variables were found to be predictive of survival in the medical cohort, and three in the surgical cohort. With multivariate Cox's regression analysis, end-diastolic volume and arteriovenous oxygen difference were significantly predictive of survival in the medical cohort; age was predictive of survival in the surgical cohort.

Hemodynamics↗
PubMed1977

Comparative studies on EBV antigens by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques.

Three groups of EBV antigens, VCA, MA and EA, were compared by the techniques of electron microscopic immunoperoxidase (IP) and immunofluorescence (IF). P3HR-1 and EBV superinfected Raji cells served as targets for labelled sera from patients with BL, NPC and IM or from healthy donors. 125I peroxidase-labelled antibodies were also prepared to determine, autoradiographically, the penetration of the complex into the cell system, and to monitor the incubation and washing procedures. The development of a gentle sedimentation technique proved critical in handling the fragile target cells. VCA and MA were readily identified and localized by both procedures without significant modification of the basic techniques. Indentification of early antigens by IP required modification of the fixation method to include a brief treatment in acetone. The diffuse early antigen (EAD) was found to be associated with cellular ribosomes.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1977

On the classification of families. A progress report.

A review of the literature over the last 20 years on family classification is presented with an aim toward integration of existing approaches. Family schemas are organized into the following groups: (1) style of adaptation, (2) developmental family stage, (3) initial problem or diagnosis of the identified patient, (4) family theme or dimension, and (5) types of marital relationship. Six family types are presented based on a descriptive comparison of the schemas as grouped above, and implications for clinical course and prognosis are summarized. A multidimensional as opposed to a typological model for family classification is suggested.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1977

Correlation between chest film and angiographic assessment of left ventricular size.

In 76 adult males quantitative angiographic measurements of left ventricular size were compared to 12 plain chest film measurements of heart size and shape. Of the 18 normal cases, only Rigler's B measurement correlated with left ventricular volume (r = .64). However, this correlation was not statistically significant. Of the 58 patients with isolated aortic valve disease, 19 had increased left ventricular mass (hypertrophy) and 39 had both increased left ventricular end-diastolic volume and mass (hypertrophy and dilatation). In the hypertrophy group, plain film heart volume was the most sensitive detector of an enlarged left ventricle (21% false negative rate) and correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r = .62). Using stepwise discriminant analysis, the combination of heart volume, leftness of the heart, apex position, and roundness of the left ventricle decreased the false negative rate to 5%. In the hypertrophy and dilatation group, plain film heart volume had the highest correlation with left ventricular volume and mass (r = .66) and a false negative rate of 8%. No single variable or combination of variables could usefully discriminate between the hypertrophy and hypertrophy and dilatation groups. These data support the conclusion that plain film heart volume is the best single measurement for detecting left ventricular enlargement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Visual assessment of total heart volume and specific chamber size from standard chest radiographs.

Ten radiologists at three levels of training visually assessed total heart and individual chamber size in 95 adults of both sexes with well defined cardiac diagnoses. Overall accuracy was highest for total heart size (82.2% correct), followed by left ventricular size, left atrial size and right heart size 79.6%, 75.0%, and 72.8%, respectively. Right heart and left atrial enlargement had a statistically significant negative effect on visual assessment of other chambers (P less than .05). Attempts to subclassify left ventricular enlargement into hypertrophy and hypertrophy and dilatation groups proved unsuccessful. While 63% of the hypertrophy group was detected as abnormal, only 24.3% were correctly subclassified as hypertrophy. For the hypertrophy and dilatation group, the corresponding values were 82% and 70%, respectively. Oblique views were useful in assessing left ventricular size only when inexperienced observers were included in the group of evaluators (P less than .05). A statistically significant improvement in assessment of normal left ventricular size and overall left atrial size was noted with experience (P less than .01 and P less than .05, respectively).

Adult↗