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Biomedical subjects

M A Boyle

Publications and source records attributed to M A Boyle.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Environmental control unit utilization by high-level spinal cord injured patients.

The study was designed to evaluate the use of an environmental control unit (ECU) by high-level spinal cord injured patients. The technology is relatively new, and to the best of the authors' knowledge, no comprehensive study has been made of the utility of the ECU. Data were obtained from 29 high-level spinal cord injured persons who had been using ECUs for at least one year. The subjects had a mean age of 24.2 years; 89.7% were men; and 51.7% of the injuries resulted from vehicular accidents. Most (93%) of the subjects perceived the ECU as increasing their independence. Operation of the telephone was indicated as the most important function (61%); control of television sets were second (21%) in rank. Of the subjects who worked or went to school, only two used their ECUs for those purposes. Subjects felt comfortable for longer periods without attendant care when the ECU was available. Some of the subjects felt that they had received inadequate training (30%) and that their attendants lacked understanding of the ECU (36%). Steps should be taken to increase the employment potential of ECU users by providing units with additional features and by increasing the training of both users and their attendants. Design of units that are more "user friendly" is also needed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1987

Acute suppurative parotitis in outpatients: microbiologic and posttreatment sialographic findings.

The presenting clinical features of twenty-seven cases of acute suppurative parotitis seen in the Oral Medicine Unit, Glasgow Dental Hospital, between 1975 and 1985 are reviewed. The microbiologic findings plus the management and subsequent findings on sialography after recovery are summarized. Of the microorganisms isolated, alpha-hemolytic streptococci predominated, with many other bacteria similar in range to those reported in previous studies. Microbiologically, the drug of choice was erythromycin, closely followed by ampicillin. Sialography in the posttreatment phase demonstrated a local salivary gland abnormality in 70% of patients, and 22% of patients had a generalized salivary gland disorder. On the basis of these findings, a management regime for patients with acute suppurative parotitis is suggested.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Behavioral effects of large and small lesions of the rat medial frontal cortex.

Rats with either sham operations, small medial frontal cortex lesions (SMF), or large medial frontal cortex lesions (LMF) were tested in the open field, for spatial alternation and for 8-arm maze learning. The behaviors of sham-operated and SMF rats were similar on the spatial learning tasks, while the LMF group performed poorly in relation to these two groups. In contrast, the two lesion groups differed from the sham group, but not from each other, on locomotor activity in the open field. The differences in performance between the SMF and LMF groups on the spatial learning measures suggest that medial frontal cortex lesion size and locus may be important factors underlying the variable results of previous studies evaluating spatially-oriented behaviors of rats with varying degrees of medial frontal cortex damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Comparative efficacy of soluble aspirin and aspirin tablets in postoperative dental pain.

The efficacy of single doses (1.2 g) of soluble aspirin and aspirin tablets was determined in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study in 90 patients (45 females) with postoperative pain after removal of impacted lower third molars. Also investigated was the relationship between plasma aspirin esterase activity and overall pain scores after both aspirin preparations. Patients reported significantly less pain (p less than 0.001) after treatment with aspirin than after treatment with placebo. However, patients receiving soluble aspirin reported both an earlier onset and a longer duration of pain relief than those who received aspirin tablets. A significant correlation was observed between plasma aspirin esterase activity and overall pain scores after both soluble aspirin (r = 0.57, p less than 0.01) and aspirin tablets (r = 0.51, p less than 0.02). It is concluded that soluble aspirin is the preferred aspirin formulation for treating postoperative pain after third molar surgery and that plasma aspirin esterase activity is determinant of a patient's analgesic response to aspirin in postoperative dental pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the anxiolytic and amnestic effects of diazepam and midazolam for minor oral surgery.

Thirty three healthy patients (ASA 1) who required the removal of impacted third molars were included in a double-blind cross-over trial to compare the amnestic and anxiolytic efficacy of diazepam and midazolam. The anxiolytic properties of the two drugs were assessed objectively by the measurement of changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, plasma cortisol levels, and subjectively by a patient assessment using a visual analogue scale for anxiety. The amnestic properties were evaluated by patient's ability to recall two visual stimuli they were shown. The first drug given was titrated to clinical sedation and the second drug was given in an "equipotent" ratio of 1.0 midazolam to 2.86 diazepam. There was a statistically significant fall in anxiety and good levels of amnesia achieved using both drugs. No statistical differences were detected between the two drugs.

Adolescent↗