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Biomedical subjects

M McCue

Publications and source records attributed to M McCue.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Benefits of oral supplementation with and without synbiotics in young children with acute bacterial infections.

Acutely ill children (n = 129) aged 1-6 years receiving antibiotic therapy were randomized to receive a nutritional supplement with (PS) or without (P) synbiotics or a fruit-flavored drink (D) with their medications. Group PS had significantly greater weight gains (versus D) following antibiotic therapy. The percentages of subjects without bacterial illnesses 14 days following antibiotic therapy were as follows: 94.3% (PS), 87.8% (D), and 80.6% (P). PS (vs D) significantly increased fecal Lactobacillus in a subset of subjects. Oral supplements increase energy intake and promote weight gain in acutely ill children receiving antibiotics; synbiotics may confer additional benefits by increasing bifidobacteria levels.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Changes in electroencephalogram and autonomic cardiovascular activity during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane compared with halothane in children.

BACKGROUND: This study was design to assess clinical agitation, electroencephalogram (EEG) and autonomic cardiovascular activity changes in children during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane compared with halothane using noninvasive recording of EEG, heart rate, and finger blood pressure. METHODS: Children aged 2-12 yr premedicated with midazolam were randomly assigned to one of three induction techniques: 7% sevoflurane in 100% O2 (group SevoRAPID); 2%, 4%, 6%, and 7% sevoflurane in 100% O2 (group SevoINCR); or 1%, 2%, 3%, and 3.5% halothane in 50% N2O-50% O2 (group HaloN2O). An additional group of children who received 7% sevoflurane in 50% N2O-50% O2 (group SevoN2O) was enrolled after completion of the study. Induction was videotaped. EEG, heart rate, and finger blood pressure were continuously recorded during induction until 5 min after tracheal intubation and analyzed in frequency domain using spectral analysis. RESULTS: Agitation was more frequent when anesthesia was induced with 100% O2 compared to the mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide. No seizures were recorded in any group. In the four groups, induction of anesthesia was associated with an increase in EEG total spectral power and a shift toward the low-frequency bands. Sharp slow waves were present on EEG tracings of the three sevoflurane groups, whereas slow waves and fast rhythms (spindles) were observed in the halothane group. Sevoflurane induced a greater withdrawal of parasympathetic activity than halothane and a transient relative increase in sympathetic vascular tone at loss of eyelash reflex. CONCLUSIONS: Agitation observed during sevoflurane induction was not associated with seizures. Sevoflurane induction induced a marked inhibition of parasympathetic control of heart rate.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1998

Investigation of intraoperative brain deformation using a 1.5-T interventional MR system: preliminary results.

All image-guided neurosurgical systems that we are aware of assume that the head and its contents behave as a rigid body. It is important to measure intraoperative brain deformation (brain shift) to provide some indication of the application accuracy of image-guided surgical systems, and also to provide data to develop and validate nonrigid registration algorithms to correct for such deformation. We are collecting data from patients undergoing neurosurgery in a high-field (1.5 T) interventional magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. High-contrast and high-resolution gradient-echo MR image volumes are collected immediately prior to surgery, during surgery, and at the end of surgery, with the patient intubated and lying on the operating table in the operative position. In this paper we report initial results from six patients: one freehand biopsy, one stereotactic functional procedure, and four resections. We investigate intraoperative brain deformation by examining threshold boundary overlays and difference images and by measuring ventricular volume. We also present preliminary results obtained using a nonrigid registration algorithm to quantify deformation. We found that some cases had much greater deformation than others, and also that, regardless of the procedure, there was very little deformation of the midline, the tentorium, the hemisphere contralateral to the procedure, and ipsilateral structures except those that are within 1 cm of the lesion or are gravitationally above the surgical site.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Using peer helpers for tuberculosis prevention.

The authors report on a novel and effective peer helper program initiated by the University of Iowa Student Health Service (SHS) in fall 1992 to help prevent the development of active tuberculosis among foreign nationals attending the university. Before instituting the peer program, compliance with tuberculosis-prevention efforts for those students eligible for treatment was less than 5%. Since the peer program was initiated, compliance has risen to 50%.

Africa↗
PubMed1994

Stability and change in functional assessment of patients with geropsychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVES: Functional assessments of patients with geropsychiatric disorders accomplished by self-rating, informant rating, and performance test were compared. METHOD: Fifty-eight inpatients with major depression or progressive dementia were evaluated on three occasions over 6 months with informant and patient versions of the Activities of Daily Living Scale of the Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment (OARS-ADL) and with the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS). RESULTS: Patients' scores became significantly worse (p < .01) on the informant version of the OARS-ADL and the PASS. Self-ratings with the OARS-ADL did not worsen significantly (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Agreement between informant rating and performance test concerning functional status of patients with dementia was good. Elderly patients with depression may experience subtle deterioration that only becomes apparent on performance tests.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

Psychiatric and neuropsychological response to propranolol in Graves' disease.

We describe the endocrine, psychiatric, and neuropsychological assessments of 10 untreated, newly diagnosed Graves' disease subjects who were studied longitudinally at three stages: hyperthyroid (stage 1), after 2 weeks of propranolol treatment (stage 2), and after 6 months of antithyroid treatment (stage 3). Major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypomania were diagnosed at stage 1. Elevations on psychiatric symptom rating scales and in motor activity monitoring at stage 1 were significantly decreased at stage 2 and again at stage 3. Psychiatric improvements paralleled improvements in endocrine symptoms. Neuropsychological improvements were noted on the more challenging memory and attention tasks at stage 3, whereas propranolol treatment was not associated with changes on attention tests. Results are discussed in relation to catecholamine-thyroid hormone interactions, in particular, the beta-adrenergic system.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A psychiatric and neuropsychological study of patients with untreated Graves' disease.

We studied 13 untreated Graves' disease subjects in a clinical research unit using endocrine, psychiatric, and neuropsychological assessments. We used SADS interviews, RDC, standardized symptom rating scales, and motor activity monitoring to update earlier studies and quantified psychiatric symptoms to elucidate any correlations between endocrine and psychiatric status. Nine of 13 subjects had major depression, 8/13 had generalized anxiety disorder, and 3/13 were hypomanic. Anxiety levels were much higher than in other hospitalized medical patients. Using a broad battery of neuropsychological testing, we found mild deficits in attention, memory, and complex problem solving that were consistent with previous studies of hyperthyroid patients. The severity of psychiatric symptoms could easily result in an inappropriate referral to a psychiatrist prior to the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. The relationship between psychiatric symptoms and possible CNS effects of excess levels of thyroid hormone is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of laughter and relaxation on discomfort thresholds.

Two experiments were conducted to test the proposal that laughter is a pain antagonist. In Experiment I, thresholds for pressure-induced discomfort of 20 male and 20 female subjects were measured after each subject listened to a 20-min-long laughter-inducing, relaxation-inducing, or dull-narrative audio tape or no tape. Discomfort thresholds were higher for subjects in the laughter- and the relaxation-inducing conditions. In Experiment II, 40 female subjects were matched for pressure-induced discomfort thresholds. Their discomfort thresholds were measured after they listened to a laughter-inducing, interesting narrative, or uninteresting narrative audio tape, completed a multiplication task, or experienced no intervention. Discomfort thresholds increased for subjects in the laughter-inducing condition. Laughter, and not simply distraction, reduces discomfort sensitivity, suggesting that laughter has potential as an intervention strategy for the reduction of clinical discomfort.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of amantadine and trihexyphenidyl on memory in elderly normal volunteers.

Anticholinergic drugs impair one's ability to learn new material, even at routine clinically used doses. During the trihexyphenidyl phase of this double-blind crossover trial, elderly normal subjects complained of confusion and memory impairment and demonstrated a pattern of deficits in memory function compatible with that previously reported to result from anticholinergic drugs. The subjects neither complained of nor demonstrated memory impairment while taking amantadine, which is believed to exert its pharmacological effects upon extrapyramidal disorders via dopaminergic mechanisms and does not appear to be associated with memory impairment. Anticholinergic drugs should be avoided whenever possible in the elderly and especially in those suffering dementia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Classification with the Luria-Nebraska neuropsychological battery: an application of cluster and ipsative profile analysis.

A sample of 114 subjects, 23 with predominantly left hemisphere brain damage, 25 with predominantly right hemisphere brain damage, 26 with diffuse brain damage, and 40 with adult learning disability were administered the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB). The clinical scale data were cluster analyzed and subjected to an ipsative analysis of the cluster profiles. A four cluster solution was utilized. It was found that while stable clusters were produced, they were relatively unrelated to actual diagnoses. The first cluster had a normal mean profile, the second reflected specific language impairment, the third, nonverbal skill, memory, and intellectual impairment and the fourth, generalized impairment. The results were discussed in terms of the capacity of the LNNB to generate meaningful neuropsychological profiles.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Replacement of chronically administered anticholinergic drugs by amantadine in outpatient management of chronic schizophrenia.

Anticholinergic drugs have been shown to impair new memory acquisition. In a double-blind study, 22 chronically schizophrenic patients had the anticholinergic drugs that they had been taking to control the extrapyramidal side effects (EPSE) of neuroleptic drugs discontinued and were randomly assigned to treatment either with benztropine (an anticholinergic) or with amantadine (which has little or no anticholinergic effect). The EPSE of five of the ten patients assigned to amantadine could not be adequately controlled with that drug alone, and these patients were withdrawn from the study prematurely. The five patients who completed the six-week trial on amantadine showed improved performance on tests of memory acquisition in comparison with patients treated with benztropine. Global inspection of the results showed that only 36% of the patients taking benztropine showed improvement in memory acquisition at the four- and six-week assessments, whereas 80% of the amantadine users showed improvement at the four-week assessment. Analysis of covariance, however, revealed that the performance of the latter group decreased almost to baseline at six weeks, as an additional two of the remaining patients developed distressing EPSE.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The application of prolonged electroencephalographic monitoring and video recording to the diagnosis of epilepsy.

This study reports the results of the application of intensive monitoring by electroencephalogram (EEG) combined with video recording as an aid to the diagnosis of epilepsy. A group of 622 patients was investigated; useful information was obtained in approximately 50% of these patients. Ten per cent of the patients with suspected epilepsy had a seizure during the period of recording. The combined analysis of the video recording and the EEG provided valuable evidence in the analysis of complex partial seizures and highlights the high prevalence of pseudoseizures in patients who are suspected of having epilepsy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Cognitive profiles of some subtypes of learning disabled adults.

Test profiles of 100 learning disabled adults were analyzed in an attempt to determine if patterns of learning disability subtypes which have been identified in children also persist into adulthood. On the basis of Wide Range Achievement Test reading and arithmetic grade level scores, subjects were classified into one of three subgroups. The classification resulted in finding 32 subjects who were substantially better at reading than arithmetic, 17 who were better at arithmetic than reading, and the remaining 51 with less than a 1.5-year grade level discrepancy between reading and arithmetic. Subgroup membership was used as the independent variable in a series of one-way analyses of variance which tested for differences in performance patterns on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and components of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. While results support the view that most learning disabled individuals do not have specific disabilities, results suggest that it is possible to identify relatively small specific subtypes similar to those previously identified in learning disabled children, with some doing well at reading but poorly at arithmetic, and others doing very poorly at reading but relatively better, but not normally, at arithmetic. Cognitive testing of the first of these two specific subtypes revealed particular deficits in visual-spatial, nonverbal problem solving and complex psychomotor tasks. The second subtype did better on tasks of that type, but poorly on linguistic tasks.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Pharmacokinetics of aztreonam in rabbit eyes.

Subconjunctival injection of 100 mg of aztreonam in rabbits with Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis produced transiently high antibiotic concentrations in most intraocular sites. Concentrations of approximately 2.5 micrograms/ml were achieved in the vitreous humor 15 min after injection and persisted for 6 h. Repeated intramuscular injections in dosages of 25 mg/kg every 4 h resulted in drug concentrations in the vitreous humor of 2.4 micrograms/ml in infected eyes. These levels might be adequate for the treatment of intraocular infections caused by highly susceptible organisms. Direct intravitreal injection of 100 micrograms of aztreonam in normal rabbit eyes produced an estimated peak concentration in the vitreous humor of 62 micrograms/ml, with a half-life of 7.5 h, which declined to 6 micrograms/ml by 48 h. The pharmacokinetic indices suggest that, like other beta-lactam antibiotics, aztreonam is eliminated from the vitreous humor by the retinal route. This novel antibiotic warrants further study of its efficacy and toxicity to determine whether it may be a useful alternative to the aminoglycosides for selected cases of ocular infection.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MR staging of primary colorectal carcinoma: comparison with surgical and histopathologic findings.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in staging colorectal cancer and assessing local tumor extent, nodal involvement, and distant abdominal and pelvic metastases. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with primary colorectal carcinoma were referred for presurgical abdominal and pelvic MR imaging. MR imaging included T1-weighted, fat-suppressed T2-weighted, and fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced spin gradient-echo imaging. The prospective interpretations of the MR examinations were reviewed. MR depiction of local tumor extent, nodal involvement, and distant metastases at 18 anatomic locations was noted and compared with subsequent surgical and histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Overall TNM MR staging agreed with surgical and pathologic staging in 41 (85%) of 48 patients, including 21 (78%) of 27 colon cancers and 20 (95%) of 21 rectal cancers. For depth of tumor penetration, which was evaluable in 44 patients, MR imaging agreed with pathologic results in 38 (86%) of 44 patients, including 22 (88%) of 25 colon cancers and 16 (84%) of 19 rectal cancers. In 42 (95%) of 44 patients, MR images correctly distinguished tumor confined to the bowel wall (T0, T1, and T2) from tumor with transmural tumor extension (T3 and T4). Regional nodal metastases were depicted in 15 of 22 patients (sensitivity, 68%; accuracy, 83%). Nodal metastases were better depicted for rectal cancer in eight of nine patients, compared with colon cancer in seven of 13 patients. Distant metastases were correctly depicted on MR imaging in 13 of 14 patients (sensitivity, 93%; accuracy, 98%). In the site-by-site analysis, MR imaging prospectively depicted 66 of 77 sites of surgically confirmed metastatic tumor in the abdomen and pelvis (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 99%; accuracy, 98%). CONCLUSION: MR imaging using currently available techniques can effectively image local tumor extent and distant metastases in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Especially for colon cancer, incomplete depiction of nodal metastases in normal-size lymph nodes remains a limitation of cross-sectional imaging studies.

Aged↗