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Biomedical subjects

M D Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to M D Thomas.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Nursing diagnosis of depression.

To summarize, based on a sample of six subjects who were depressed, 12 nursing diagnoses were identified. Five of the 12 diagnoses occurred in more than one subject. Criteria for making a diagnosis were specified, and the diagnoses and their defining characteristics were examined for principles of classification.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Selective surgical management of neural tube malformations.

The physical characteristics of 49 children with spina bifida cystica, survivors of a group subjected to selection for early surgery are compared with 39 children alive from an earlier unselected series, born in the 1960s, and reviewed retrospectively. Sixteen children were also studied in whom the initial decision not to operate had been followed by survival and subsequent treatment. Children selected for initial surgery have a significantly lower mortality than those not selected and their mobility at 5 to 7 years of age is better, although only marginally so compared with the unselected group. Selection does not decrease the need for shunt treatment of the associated hydrocephalus. None of those not initially selected for surgery have normal faecal or urinary continence, whereas 35% of the selected in group have normal continence and urinary tracts. Children treated immediately have significantly higher degrees of intelligence than both the unselectively treated and those whose treatment was delayed but a fifth of the latter group were intellectually normal. There were only small differences in intelligence between children given delayed treatment and those unselectively treated, suggesting that postponing surgery does not necessarily have a deleterious effect on ability.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed1984

Conjugal transfer of E. coli F'lac from Erwinia chrysanthemi to Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea and the apparent stable incorporation of the plasmid into the pv. glycinea chromosome.

The E. coli F'lac plasmid was transferred from an Erwinia chrysanthemi Hfr8 donor to a multiply-auxotrophic, rifampicin-resistant Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea recipient. Transfer occurred at a frequency of approximately 10(-5)/donor. Stable transconjugants which were able to utilize lactose as the sole carbon source after several transfers would not donate the F'lac plasmid in detectable frequency to other pv. glycinea or E. coli recipients. The plasmid DNA was shown to be integrated into the pv. glycinea chromosome (Fig. 1).

Conjugation, Genetic↗
PubMed1983

Inhibition of Glutamine Synthetase from Pea by Tabtoxinine-beta-lactam.

Tabtoxinine-beta-lactam, a hydrolytic product of tabtoxin produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, apparently inactivates pea seed glutamine synthetase. Inhibition of the enzyme's initial velocity is linear over a range of 0.5 to 5 millimolar tabtoxinine-beta-lactam in the presence of 10 millimolar glutamate. A method for the purification of glutamine synthetase from dried peas is presented which gives a 30% yield with a 2,000-fold increase in specific activity. A method for obtaining highly purified tabtoxinine-beta-lactam and tabtoxin in good yields is also presented. The authenticity and purity of tabtoxinine-beta-lactam and tabtoxin were verified by chromatography, biological activity, and (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Preoperative bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and amylase levels as predictors of common duct stones.

The predictive value of the preoperative level of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and amylase as indicators of choledocholithiasis was determined by prospectively evaluating 304 consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Elevated levels of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase are associated with an increased incidence of common duct stones, and the percentage incidence of stones increases with rising bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels. Alkaline phosphatase levels as great as 200 are associated with common duct stones in a low percentage of instances, being equivalent to that for unsuspected stones. Levels of 200 or greater are associated with a marked increase in the incidence of common duct stones. An elevated serum or urine amylase level, or both, is of little, if any, value as a predictor of common duct stones. Alkaline phosphatase appears to be a better indicator of common duct stones than does bilirubin, but neither bilirubin nor alkaline phosphatase in themselves are statistically significant indicators. Bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase in combination is a statistically significant predictor of common duct stones at all levels. The combination of a bilirubin level of greater than 3.0 and an alkaline phosphatase level of greater than 250 has a 76.2 per cent probability of an associated common duct stone. The quite important role of operative cholangiography in demonstrating unsuspected stones and in preventing unnecessary common duct explorations is reinforced.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Presence of chondroitin sulfate in the neuronal cytoplasm.

The distribution of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins has been studied in cytoplasmic and particulate fractions of neurons isolated in bulk from rat cerebrum. Lysis of the neurons in 25 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 7.5 released 20% of the protein and over 90% of the lactate dehydrogenase in a soluble form. Eighty-two percent of the chondroitin sulfate was also released, together with 55% of the heparan sulfate and 24-25% of the hyaluronic acid and glycoproteins. The chondroitin sulfate remaining in the membranes was completely depolymerized to disaccharides after treatment with chondroitinase ABC, and treatment of the neuronal membranes with 0.1% trypsin removed 55-63% of the chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate but only 25% of the sulfated glycoproteins. The results reported here support our previous conclusion that the soluble chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of brain is largely a cytoplasmic constitutent of neurons (and astrocytes) and is not primarily present in nervous tissue as an extracellular ground substance.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Judgments of educators and child-care personnel about appropriate treatment for mentally retarded or normal, overactive or withdrawn, boys.

Special educators and child-care personnel ranked the appropriateness of various psychological treatments for a boy described either as mentally retarded or of normal intelligence and whose behavior was described either as withdrawn or overactive. The predicted IQ level by behavior interaction was found only for drug treatment, which was ranked as relatively more appropriate for the retarded overactive child (p less than .05). Drug treatment and behavior modification were perceived as more appropriate for the overactive child (p less than .01, .05). Play therapy, family therapy, and no treatment were deemed more appropriate for the withdrawn child (p less than .05). Educators favored behavior modification and school consultation more than did child-care personnel (p less than .05).

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMed1976

Shunt blockage in hydrocephalic children: the use of the valvogram.

Shunt blockage in valve-dependent hydrocephalic children is not always recognised, as symptoms may be non-specific and signs inconclusive. Valvography is a simple, easily interpreted technique for the investigation of shunt patency in children with Spitz Holter values in the shunt system. The technique affords a simple, rapid method of demonstrating patency at the cardiac end of the shunt. Fifty-one valvograms have been performed in 36 children. In 25 obstruction of the lower end was demonstrated. The unreliability of some associated signs is demonstrated. No serious complications have been observed and the technique has proved an invaluable addition to the practical management of these children.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1976

The reliability of prediction of outcome in spina bifida.

The clinical findings in 85 neonates with spina bifida were given to two neurosurgeons and two paediatricians, who were asked to predict from them the length of survival and quality of survival with regard to intellect, locomotion and continence, without their knowing the actual outcome. All four clinicians correctly predicted the survival of infants with meningocele, closed myelocele and encephalocele. The paediatricians correctly predicted the survival of all infants with open myelocele who actually survived, but also included some who had died. The surgeons correctly predicted the deaths of all those with open myelocele who actually died, but expected a considerable number to die who in fact survived. All four clinicians were similar in their predictions of intellect: they underestimated the outcome in patients with successfully shunted hydrocephalus, they overestimated the intellect in patients who had developed intracranial infection and shunt blockage, and they largely underestimated the outcome in the patients who did not require shunts. They made correct predictions for limb and sphincter function in nearly all the survivors. This investigation underlines the problem of selection for treatment caused by the inability to predict the complications of hydrocephalus and infection. Reasons for the differences between the expectations of the paediatricians and surgeons, and the implications of the results of this study for selection for surgery are discussed. It is suggested that limb paralysis and incontinence ought not to be considered as factors excluding infants from treatment.

Child↗
PubMed1975

The use of the valvogram for the detection of shunt blockage in hydrocephalic children.

Valvography is a simple, safe, rapid, easily interpreted technique for the investigation of possible blockage of the distal end of the shunt system containing a Spitz-Holter valve. Details are presented of 64 investigations in 46 children, 30 of which demonstrated distal obstruction of the shunt system. The unreliability of some physical signs is discussed. No serious complications were encountered and the procedure has proved to be a valuable addition to the practical management of shunt-dependent children.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗