Women's health: mental health needs.
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Female↗
Biomedical subjects
L Hunt
Publications and source records attributed to L Hunt.
Attentional deficits in stroke patients: a visual dual task experiment.
OBJECTIVE: (1) To compare the performance of subjects who have suffered a single lateralized cortical, ischemic stroke versus controls on measures of attention including a computerized dual visual attentional task to determine if this task is more sensitive for detecting the presence of subtle hemi-inattention compared to traditional attention tasks; (2) to determine if there is evidence of hemi-inattention in persons who completed spontaneous neurological recovery after a cortical, ischemic stroke compared to controls. SUBJECTS: Thirty-six patients (N = 20 Right Hemisphere and N = 16 Left Hemisphere) who had previously undergone stroke rehabilitation and who were at least 1 year poststroke. All patients were currently living in the community. A control group of 20 subjects was recruited from the community. RESULTS: There was no difference in performance between the three groups on gross clinical testing for hemi-inattention, or on the traditional letter-cancellation tasks. All subjects also participated in two computer generated tasks: (1) tracking a moving stimulus and (2) detecting briefly appearing targets. On the single task performance the control group performed significantly better than both cerebrovascular accident (CVA) groups (p < .004), but with no trend for hemi-inattention in any individual group. When the two computer tasks were combined, there was a significant difference in performance between the control group and all stroke subjects (p < .02) for target detection. A fatiguing effect over time was also found in the right CVA group on the dual task. Stroke subjects driving at the time of data collection performed better on the dual attentional task compared to stroke subjects not driving (p = .05). CONCLUSIONS: On single and dual dynamic computerized visual attentional tasks, individuals who have suffered a cortical stroke more than 1 year before testing have significantly impaired attention compared to controls.
Aged↗
Visual field screening for glaucoma.
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Glaucoma↗
The effects of housing on the health of preterm infants.
Using a prospective study based on cases and controls selected from a geographical population, we have investigated the effects of housing on the health of very preterm infants (< or = 32 weeks' gestation) during the first year of life. Information on health morbidity of the 117 preterm and 226 term babies was collected using a parent-held record, and housing data by a validated self-completion questionnaire. The most common health problems in the first year-upper (UR) and lower (LR) respiratory tract infection, otitis media (OM) and diarrhoea and vomiting (DV)-were all more frequent in the preterm group, There were no significant differences in the housing conditions to which preterm and control infants were exposed. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with each housing factor were calculated for preterm and control infants separately. Significant (P < 0.05) interaction effects were found for overcrowding and gas cooking. Overcrowding was associated with an increased incidence of LR [RR = 1.53; CI 0.96-2.42] and DV [RR = 1.57; CI 0.92-2.67] in the preterm, but with a decreased incidence of LR [RR = 0.28; CI 0.04-1.86] and DV [RR = 0.85; CI 0.30-2.38] in the term controls. The use of gas ovens was found to be associated in preterm infants with an increase in LR [RR = 1.48; CI 0.96-2.28] and DV [RR = 2.24; CI 1.28-3.93] but the controls did not show this effect for LR [RR = 0.67; CI 0.40-1.09] or DV [RR = 0.93; CI 0.56-1.56]. These associations are robust-even after allowing for confounding social factors-but causality has not been proved. This work suggests that preterm infants may be vulnerable to specific adverse housing factors, and further studies are now indicated to clarify potential mechanisms and interactive effects behind these associations.
Case-Control Studies↗
The role of selective attention in driving and dementia of the Alzheimer type.
This paper examines the relationship between cognitive processes and driving in aging and dementia of the Alzheimer type. Several studies that have explored the relationship between neuropsychological test performance and various indicators of driving safety are reviewed. It is argued that deficits in selective attention are specific to impaired driving performance in dementia of the Alzheimer type. Results from a recent study supporting this notion are presented. It is suggested that screening measures that emphasize the ability to selectively attend to relevant information and inhibit irrelevant information should be used to identify mildly demented individuals who are at risk for unsafe driving.
Alzheimer Disease↗
Gallstones in a community free of obesity but prone to slow intestinal transit.
OBJECTIVES: To verify anecdotal reports that gallstones were frequent in a remote community where obesity is rare and to look for possible explanations of their occurrence, including slow intestinal transit. DESIGN: Population survey of gallbladder status and stool form. SETTING: Two villages in Ladakh, a mountainous region of northern India; for comparison, a stratified random sample from general practitioners' lists in East Bristol. SUBJECTS: Women aged 25-59 years, 437 in Ladakh and 974 in Bristol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of gallstones on ultrasonography and response to questionnaires about parity, the intake of dried legume seeds (pulses) and bowel function including the form or appearance of the stools on a seven-point, transit-sensitive scale. Weight, height and waist circumference were also recorded. RESULTS: Gallstone disease was at least as frequent in Ladakh as in Bristol although Ladakhi women were uniformly slim and their weight, waist size and body mass index failed to rise with age. After adjustment for age, gallstone disease was associated with higher body mass index and waist size in Bristol but not in Ladakh. It was associated with increased parity in Bristol, but not significantly so after adjusting for age and not at all in Ladakh. Gallstone disease was not directly associated with bowel function but Ladakhis often reported their stools to be lumpy (42.4 vs. 26.5% of Bristol women) and seldom as soft or loose (6.4 vs. 42.5%), implying that their intestinal transit tends to be slow. CONCLUSION: Gallstones can be common in a population free of obesity but prone to intestinal stasis.
Adult↗
Does the supine sleeping position have any adverse effects on the child? I. Health in the first six months. The ALSPAC Study Team.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the recommendations that infants sleep supine could have adverse health consequences. DESIGN: A prospective study of infants, delivered before, during, and after the Back to Sleep Campaign in the United Kingdom (UK), followed to 6 months of age. The children were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC). Subjects. Singletons born to mothers resident in the three former Bristol-based health districts of Avon in the period June 1991 to December 1992, and for whom questionnaires were completed on sleeping position at 4 to 6 weeks of age (n = 9777); for these infants 8524 questionnaires were also completed at 6 to 8 months of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjective measures of health, the presence of specific signs and symptoms, duration of sleep at night, and calling the family doctor to the home. RESULTS: Of 43 outcomes considered, after adjustment for 12 factors using logistic regression only 2 were associated with raised risk among infants put to sleep on their back (diaper rash and cradle cap). Infants put to sleep prone had increased risk of a number of health outcomes, including cough and possibly pyrexia. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that putting infants to sleep in the supine position results in increased morbidity, although changes in prevalence of rare disorders would not have been identified.
Adult↗
The impact of T-cell depletion on the effects of HLA DR beta 1 and DQ beta allele matching in HLA serologically identical unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation.
Unrelated donor bone marrow transplants have been associated with relatively high rates of acute graft-vs.-host disease and treatment-related mortality. These complications reflect histo-incompatibility between donor and recipient. Molecular technology has recently been applied to HLA typing to identify alleles not distinguishable with serologic typing techniques. We report results in 92 unrelated marrow transplant recipients who were HLA seroidentical with donor HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigens and assess the effect of DR beta 1 and DQ beta compatibility using sequence specific oligonucleotide primers. Forty-eight patients received T-cell depleted marrow grafts, and 44 received unmodified grafts. Among recipients of unmodified marrow grafts, matching for both DR beta 1 and DQ beta reduced the rate of grade 3-4 acute graft-vs.-host disease to 38 +/- 20% vs. 73 +/- 20% among recipients mismatched for either allele (p = 0.02). This difference was not observed in recipients of T-cell depleted marrow grafts. Multivariate analysis confirmed matching for both DR beta 1 and DQ beta loci (p = 0.015), and receiving a T-cell depleted graft (p = 0.008) independently predicted for reduced risk of grade 3-4 acute graft-vs.-host disease. In conclusion, both DR beta 1 and DQ beta appear biologically important for development of acute graft-vs.-host disease in patients receiving unmanipulated marrow grafts for unrelated donor transplant.
Adult↗
BMJ's embargo should not be broken.
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Communication↗
Penetrating ocular trauma and visual outcome.
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Eye Injuries, Penetrating↗
Streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelids and orbit.
Streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis in previously healthy persons can develop quickly and may be difficult to diagnose. In a number of cases, this potentially fatal condition has been seen originally in the eyelid and orbit. Intensive antibiotic therapy and prompt debridement are the usual course of treatment.
Adult↗
Ocular lyme disease.
Lyme disease is reported from all over the United States. Transmitted by deer ticks, mosquitoes, and deer flies, it affects numerous organ systems. All age groups are vulnerable to this disease and must be educated about early signs and symptoms to speed diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Child↗
Insulin dependent diabetes in children under 5: incidence and ascertainment validation for 1992.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence of insulin dependent diabetes diagnosed in children under 5 years of age in the British Isles during 1992, comparing the national and regional results with those of our 1988 national study, and estimating the 1992 study's level of case ascertainment. DESIGN: Active monthly reporting of cases by consultant paediatricians through the framework of the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit, with additional reports from specialist diabetes nurses and regional health authorities. SUBJECTS: All children diagnosed under the age of 5 years with primary insulin dependent diabetes from 1 January to 31 December 1992 (inclusive) and resident in the British Isles at diagnosis. RESULTS: 387 children (208 boys and 179 girls) were confirmed to have insulin dependent diabetes, giving a national incidence of 9.3/100,000/year. This is similar to the 9.9/100,000/year found in 1988. Three sample capture-recapture analysis, which could only be applied across the 12 (out of 18) regions supplying regional information to the study, suggested ascertainment rates of 78% for the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit, 67% for specialist nurses, 69% for regional health authorities, and 99% for the aggregated registry. CONCLUSIONS: The national incidence of diabetes in the under 5s in the British Isles did not differ between 1988 and 1992. Nearly complete (99%) ascertainment of cases was possible only for regions for which three data sources were available. Capture-recapture analysis highlighted both the need for more than one data source and for each data source to be complete for the whole study area.
Age Factors↗
Neonatal vitamin K administration and in vivo somatic mutation.
The glycophorin A (GPA) mutation assay was used to examine the risk of in vivo somatic mutation in infants following neonatal administration of vitamin K. The assay assesses damage to erythroid stem cells by measuring the frequency of NO and NN variant red cells of MN blood group heterozygotes using FACS analysis. Blood samples were obtained from 178 infants aged between 10 and 183 days. Twenty-six children were excluded from study having received a blood transfusion. Sixty-four of the remaining 152 infants were of the MN phenotype, samples from whom were analysed using the assay system, providing the first data of NO and NN variant frequencies (vfs) in children aged less than 1 year. Twenty of these 64 infants received vitamin K orally (group A), 17 intramuscularly (group B) and 25 intravenously (group C). Results were compared with those from a reference population of children aged 1-15 years. There were no significant differences in NO, NN and total vf between any of groups A, B and C. For all groups both NO and total vf were significantly lower than those for the control population. This result is of some interest and clearly warrants further investigation. NN and total vfs were greater than the 95th percentile for the pooled data from groups A, B and C in three instances, one in each group. It was thus not possible to demonstrate an association between the route of vitamin K administration and an increase in mutation at the GPA locus.
Administration, Oral↗
Interobserver variation in the chest radiograph component of the lung injury score.
The lung injury score is a semi-quantitative system used in the definition and grading of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. It is composed of two, three or four equally weighted components. One component is derived from the chest radiograph, which may contribute up to 50% of the total score. A score of 1 is awarded for each quadrant on the chest radiograph which contains alveolar consolidation. We examined the interobserver variation between two anaesthetists, two radiologists and two critical care physicians who scored blindly 100 chest radiographs from patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. There was very good agreement between the two radiologists in the total scores (kappa 0.97) and in individual scores in each of the 4 quadrants (kappa 0.97-1.0). The agreement between anaesthetists and radiologists was only fair for the total score (kappa 0.37-0.42), but moderate to good for individual quadrant scores (kappa 0.43-0.73). The agreement between the two anaesthetists was moderate for individual quadrant scores (kappa 0.44-0.60), but only fair for total score (kappa 0.34). There was poor agreement between the two critical care physicians for total score (kappa 0.05) and for individual quadrant scores (kappa 0.04-0.20). Agreement between the physicians and other observers was poor to fair for the total score (kappa 0.12-0.32) and poor to moderate for the individual quadrant scores (kappa 0.15-0.63). Both anaesthetists and physician 2 underestimated the overall chest scores (median scores 2, 3 and 1 respectively) in comparison to the radiologists (median scores 3.5). Physician 1 significantly overscored (median score 4). The chest radiograph component of the lung injury score can be consistently assessed by radiologists, but significant variations may be introduced when assessed by other clinicians. This has significant implications for the use of the lung injury score in studies of adult respiratory distress syndrome and other studies which incorporate radiographic appearances in the definition.
Acute Disease↗
Ocular cat scratch disease.
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is infectious and can cause a multitude of systemic diseases in addition to ocular CSD. Rochalimaea henselae has been identified as the causative agent for ophthalmic manifestations of cat scratch disease. A noninvasive method of making a positive diagnosis of ocular CSD was recently developed.
Bartonella henselae↗
Disaster nursing in the Oklahoma City bombing.
The Oklahoma City Federal Building disaster quickly changed a routine day of eye surgical procedures into a chaotic trauma center for the victims with not only eye injuries, but multiple deep lacerations and other injuries. The devastating and disruptive effect of the bombing was stressful for the nursing staff who became disaster survivors of the emotional trauma involved.
Blast Injuries↗