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Biomedical subjects

R C Smith

Publications and source records attributed to R C Smith.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Low dose steroids and clinical relapse in Crohn's disease: a controlled trial.

The long-term effect of prednisone in Crohn's disease has been examined in a double-blind controlled trial. Clinical relapse, recurrence, and extension of the disease were examined in 64 patients followed-up for up to three years. Fourteen patients were withdrawn because of severe symptoms (eight on prednisone and six controls); the withdrawal rate in both groups was 30% at three years. Nine other patients had radiological recurrence or extension of disease (five prednisone and four controls). Prednisone did not improve the relapse rate, nor did it affect recurrence or extension of disease.

Adolescent↗

Tensing and stiffening of skin grafts.

Many surgeons have difficulty in cutting small split thickness skin grafts of consistent thickness and width. We demonstrate techniques using equipment and supplies almost always available for expeditious cutting and handling of small split thickness skin grafts. The methods suggested should allow surgeons to eliminate some of the problems that they have had with this basic technique of reconstruction.

Humans↗

Tardive dyskinesia: characterization and prevalence in a statewide system.

The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia in a state-wide mental hospital system was assessed using a new quantitative rating scale and related to demographic, medication, and medical history variables. Twenty-six percent of patients had definite signs of tardive dyskinesia, about 12% moderately severe dyskinesia, and 40% exhibited at least some minimal symptoms. Tardive dyskinesia significantly increased with age, and females had a slightly but significantly greater prevalence rate than males. There was no difference in dyskinesia prevalence between patients on or off neuroleptics at time of rating, but patients on multiple neuroleptic drugs had higher prevalence of moderately severe dyskinesia.

Adult↗

Effects of ground trainer use on the anxiety of students in private pilot training.

The self-reported anxiety levels of student pilot instruction entirely in an aircraft were compared to the anxiety levels of students who received a portion of their training in a ground trainer. It was found that experience in the trainer had little effect on student pilot anxiety. It was determined, however, that reported anxiety levels did vary as a function of the type of flight (solo, dual, or evaluation) undertaken.

Aerospace Medicine↗

Treatment of "trap door deformity.".

We have shown the use of two techniques for preventing or treating undesirable sequelae noted so often following the closure of gouging or beveled U- or V-shaped flaps. These simple expedients have prevented "trap door deformities" in many hundreds of repairs carried out over the the years. Other modalities and precautions are mentioned.

Cicatrix↗

Stress in air traffic personnel: low-density towers and flight service stations.

Stress and anxiety levels were measured in 10 air traffic control specialists (ATCS) at two low traffic-density towers in Fayetteville (FYV), Ar, and Roswell (ROW), NM, and in 24 flight service (FS) specialists at those airports and at Okalhoma City (OKC), Ok. Physiological measurements consisted of heart rate and urine biochemical analysis for 17-ketogenic steroids, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. On-duty arousal in ATCSs and FS specialists was evident both physiologically and psychologically; such arousal was within psychologically normal limits and was generally low physiologically compared to other air traffic control (ATC) facilities studied in the past. Physiological stress levels at these low-density towers and flight service stations were also low compared to other ATC facilities studied previously. Therefore, it is inappropriate to describe all air traffic control work, as is commonly done in the popular press, as unusually stressful. Such accounts in the popular press tend to deal with the exceptional, rather than with the typical, controller or facility.

Adult↗

Sclerosing peritonitis after practolol administration.

We have recently managed two patients with sclerosing peritonitis who had undergone a course of practolol but had ceased taking it some months prior to presentation. Publication of these cases will help to assess the extent of this complication and will increase awareness amongst surgeons who may be called upon to treat such cases.

Aged↗

Comparative effects of d-amphetamine, l-amphetamine, and methylphenidate on mood in man.

The comparative effects of d-amphetamine, l-amphetamine, and methylphenidate were assessed in 16 normal subjects, using a double-blind, crossover placebo-controlled design. Within the dose range tested, the efficacy ratio of d-amphetamine:l-amphetamine was about 2:1, and graphic presentation of dose response scores indicated a relatively small difference in potency between the amphetamine isomers. Methylphenidate was intermediate in efficacy between d-amphetamine and l-amphetamine. The efficacy ratios for d-amphetamine:l-amphetamine on increasing euphoric mood in man were similar to the previously reported ratios of there two isomers in inducing or exacerbating psychosis in humans. These findings do not support the suggestion, made by Snyder and others, that the differential effects of d-amphetamine vs. l-amphetamine on a specific type of behavior in man could be utilized to infer the predominance of noradrenergic vs. dopaminergic mediation of amphetamine's effects on this behavior.

Adult↗

Curved lateral osteotomy for airway protection in rhinoplasty.

Lateral osteotomies performed posteriorly enough to avoid step-like prominences at the sides of the nose may allow medial displacement of bone to impinge on the airways. This obstruction near the floor of the nasal passageway is prevented by leaving a triangular piece of bone at the pyriform aperture intact just superior to the level of the inferior turbinate. A curved lateral osteotomy, as described here, cuts bone posteriorly only where aesthetic narrowing is required in rhinoplasty. Techniques providing the recommended curved or angulated lateral osteotomies with osteotomes are demonstrated in the cadaver and in patients.

Airway Obstruction↗

A neuroendocrine study of supersensitivity in tardive dyskinesia.

A study of the tuberoinfundibular dopamine tract was undertaken in chronic schizophrenic patients with and without tardive dyskinesia. Biochemical evidence of the purported dopamine receptor supersensitivity in tardive dyskinesia was sought by demonstrating a hyperresponse of growth hormone and prolactin to dopamine agonists. Contrary to this prediction, no endocrine supersensitivity occurred in the tardive dyskinesia patients. Rather, a significantly decreased response to dopaminergic stimulation was demonstrated in the total chronic schizophrenic group.

Adult↗

Effect of apomorphine on schizophrenic symptoms.

The effects of apomorphine on psychotic symptoms were evaluated in chronic schizophrenic patients using double-blind placebo controlled procedures. Although on the basis of dopamine theory of schizophrenia, apomorphine was expected to increase schizophrenic symptoms, in this study apomorphine substantially reduced psychotic symptoms in some chronic schizophrenic patients. No patient showed the substantial increase in psychotic symptoms previously demonstrated after the administration of IV methylphenidate. These clinical effects of apomorphine in schizophrenia may be relevant to recent pharmacological research which has indicated that apomorphine also has potent effect on presynaptic dopamine neurons, in addition to its previously described postsynaptic receptor stimulation.

Apomorphine↗

Degradation of the nucleic acids in mixed rumen bacteria on incubation with different media.

1. Mixed rumen bacteria were grown in vitro in a medium containing [U-14C]adenine. Radioactivity was incorporated into the purine bases of the nucleic acids. 2. Labelled bacteria were incubated with a nitrogen-deficient cell-free medium (medium A), a protozoa-free supernatant suspension from a slow-speed centrifuging of a steer's rumen contents (medium B) and whole rumen contents of a steer (medium C). Mean (six experiments) proportional rates of release of radioactivity (/h) were significantly greater for medium A (0-140) than for media B or C (0-055 and 0-43 respectively). Some of the radioactivity accumulated in the cell-free media; some was lost, partially as carbon dioxide. 3. Calculation from this and other information indicated that about 30% of bacterial nucleic acids may turn over in the rumen even in the absence of protozoa.

Adenine↗

Influence of the root tip and the duration of washing on k retention by excised apical root segments of corn.

Excised apical segments of corn root (Zea mays) (5-15 mm from the root cap), some with and some without the root tips (0-5 mm) attached, were washed for varying time periods up to 4 hours in 0.5 mm CaSO(4). After washing, tips were removed from those segments washed with tips attached, and then all segments and tips were analyzed for K(+) content. The root tips (0-5 mm) initially contained about twice the K(+) of the apical segments (5-15 mm). The loss of K(+) did not exceed 15% in the tips or 20% in the apical segments. Loss of K(+) was most pronounced during the 1st hour of washing. There was little difference in K(+) content of apical segments washed with tips attached compared with those washed tipless. Thus, the presence of the intact root tip had no consistent influence on the ability of the older root tissue to retain K(+).

Journal Article↗