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Biomedical subjects

R Boyer

Publications and source records attributed to R Boyer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Predicting changes in perceived health status.

Panel data from the Los Angeles Health Survey (N = 903) were used to examine variables associated with changes in perceived health status over a one-year period. Our findings replicate previous research showing that perceived health status is associated with variations in chronic illness, disability, and the utilization of health services. However, we found that neither positive nor negative changes in perceived health status were related to any indicator of health beliefs or practices or physical health status. The data suggest that single item measures of perceived health status may reflect the individual's sense of long-standing chronic illness.

Adult↗

[Attitude of the chronically ill towards psychiatric hospitals].

Three hundred chronic mental patients participated in a survey to evaluate their attitudes towards the 2,000 beds hospital where they were staying. The mean duration of the actual hospitalization was 12.1 years and most patients (77.9%) suffered from schizophrenia or other psychoses. On the whole, results show a relatively high level of patients' satisfaction. Single, non psychotic and self-sufficient patients who have not been hospitalized many times and do not want to leave the institution are more inclined to be positive towards the psychiatric milieu. The authors report that participation of chronic mental patients in a survey can be reliable and give helpful suggestions in relation with the evaluation of psychiatric care and the improvement of the quality of life in state hospitals. They conclude that it will always be difficult to discharge satisfied patients without offering the same support and community services that they find in a state hospital.

Attitude↗

Anti-tetanus toxoid antibody synthesis after booster immunization in systemic lupus erythematosus. Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo responses.

The in vivo and in vitro synthesis of anti-tetanus toxoid antibody (anti-tet) was measured after booster immunization with tetanus toxoid in 9 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 9 controls. In vitro culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from both patients and controls showed maximal anti-tet synthesis 7 days after booster immunization, and maximal serum titers occurred by day 14. The initial in vitro burst of anti-tet synthesis was not dependent upon pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation, whereas later synthesis was PWM dependent. Two differences between patients and controls were observed: 1) patients with SLE had a lower mean pre-boost serum titer of anti-tet, and 2) one-third of the patients showed a blunted serum anti-tet response. To study whether these abnormalities were a result of altered immune regulation, anti-tet synthesis was measured by the coculture of separated SLE-B or control-B cells and separated SLE-T or control-T cell populations (+/- irradiation to remove suppressor T cell activity). These coculture studies showed that both abnormalities were due to a lack of SLE-B cell response, not to abnormalities of SLE-helper T or SLE-suppressor T cell function.

Adult↗

Human gas exchange during water immersion.

We measured lung volumes, closing volume (CV), alveolo-arterial oxygen difference (P(A-a)O2) and steady-state diffusing lung capacity per liter ventilation (DLCO/V) in 18 men immersed up to the neck in water. The subjects were divided into 3 groups, according to relative changes in P(A-a)O2 and DLCO/V. In group 1 (n = 6), P(A-a)O2 decreased and DLCO/V increased, probably because of the hemodynamic changes induced by immersion. Their end expiratory level was above closing volume in water. In group 3 (n = 6), P(A-a)O2 increased and DLCO/V decreased, probably as a result of a decrease in ventilation in the dependent parts of the lung, considering that breathing range (ERV + VT) was less than closing volume. In group 2 (n = 6), P(A-a)O2 increased significantly and DLCO/V, only slightly. Tidal volume was only partially included in closing volume. The increase in exchange surface area was probably unable to compensate for the arterial hypoxia brought on by the decrease in ventilation in the dependent parts of the lung. The relationship between end expiratory level and closing volume, which seemed to explain the results observed during immersion, was itself a consequence of the subjects' age and body build.

Adult↗

[The processes of osteotomy in ocular surgery. Introduction of a new type of oscillating osteotome (author's transl)].

The authors recall the different technics of bone approach in the dacryocystorhinostomy, the orbital osteosynthesis, the resilient buckling of the lids, the restoration of the medial palpebral ligament and the orbitotomies by temporal way. The processes that utilize a circular oscillating trephine or a saw with oscillatory motion seem to be suitable to most of these operations. A new type of oscillating osteotome is offered.

Eyelids↗