Biomedical subjects
N Gordon
Publications and source records attributed to N Gordon.
Community paediatrics: anxieties on future developments.
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Computed tomography in childhood epilepsy.
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An epidemiologic investigation of the relationship between DBCP contamination in drinking water and birth rates in Fresno County, California.
This report describes an epidemiologic investigation of the relationship between DBCP (dibromochloropropane) contamination in drinking water and birth rates between 1978 and 1982 in Fresno County, California. Census tracts in the county were categorized according to DBCP level in their drinking water. Standardized birth ratios and relative birth ratios (adjusted for age, race, per cent Hispanic, and parity) were calculated for these census tracts. No relation between birth ratios and DBCP contamination in drinking water was found.
Problems associated with collecting drinking water quality data for community studies: a case example, Fresno County, California.
This paper discusses methodology in developing exposure data for the water supply contaminant dibromochloropropane (DBCP) in Fresno County, California. There are 532 drinking water systems (49 large and 483 small) within Fresno County plus 14,000 private wells. We determined the number of wells per system, the output per well, and the population served by each system. The task of deriving water quality estimates for each census tract was complicated by the fact that a single census tract can be served by more than one system; each system usually has more than one well; and a single well can have several episodes of testing for various contaminants. We calculated a series of weighted averages for concentrations of DBCP, arsenic, and nitrates for each census tract, using water production figures for each well as the weighting factor. Water quality data were derived from a total of 14,861 laboratory reports, although the majority did not report on all contaminants. Mean DBCP levels ranged from 0.0041 ppb to 5.7543 ppb among the census tracts. We found no correlation between DBCP levels per census tract compared to either arsenic or nitrates. We believe that we made as complete an exposure assessment as practically feasible.
Peroxisomal disorders.
The different types of adrenoleukodystrophy are considered with their clinical and biochemical features, particularly the excess of very-long-chain fatty acids. Then other conditions which show this latter finding are described, including the Zellweger cerebrohepatorenal syndrome, hyperpipecolic acidemia and Refsum disease. The role of peroxisomes is discussed and the different ways in which their functions can be disordered. The possibilities of treating these diseases is at the moment limited but examples are given of research already carried out in this field.
Vitamin E deficiency and illness in childhood.
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Intermittent deafness and learning.
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Effect of physician dress style on patient-physician relationship.
This study evaluates the effect of physician dress and other variables (i.e., sex of physician and patient, age, and type and site of visit) on patient-physician rapport. Three hundred eighty-six teens filled out a questionnaire, at the end of an office visit, which evaluated their attitudes regarding their physician and their preference for physician dress. The physicians alternated between very informal, informal, formal-white coat, and formal-suit/dress styles. Dress style made no statistical difference in patients' attitudes toward their physician. When asked what they preferred their doctor to wear 43% responded "makes no difference," 26% said "white coat," 14% said "pants and shirt," 10% said "jeans and shirt," and 4% said "suit and tie." Female patients were significantly more comfortable (3.6 versus 3.3, p less than 0.01) with female physicians. Male patients did not show a preference for a same-sex physician.
Recovery from cortical blindness.
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Vertebro-basilar thrombosis and involuntary movements.
There are a number of causes of thrombosis in the vertebro-basilar system, and among these are trauma and abnormal movements. This is particularly likely to occur if there are anomalies or abnormalities of the spine or arteries. A case is reported which suggests that involuntary movements should be included in the possible aetiologies.
Medical contribution to the management of dyslexia.
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Kindling and the prognosis for epilepsy.
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Fluctuating dystonia and allied syndromes.
Dystonia musculorum deformans is a descriptive diagnosis. A number of other conditions such as Hallervorden-Spatz disease and juvenile paralysis agitans have to be excluded. Then the history of a child's illness may suggest a particular syndrome such as the progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuations. Two case reports are given of children who show fluctuation of symptoms but their histories varied from those previously described. Problems of treatment are discussed and it is suggested that fluctuation of symptoms may indicate a response to levadopa while those with a relentless progression of symptoms may respond to other drugs such as orphenadrine.