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Biomedical subjects

R Freeman

Publications and source records attributed to R Freeman.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

The high morbidity of CAPD fungal peritonitis--description of 10 cases and review of treatment strategies.

Fungal infection is an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This report describes the clinical and microbiological features of 10 cases of fungal peritonitis. Although all patients survived, morbidity was high. Abscess and adhesion formation were particular problems. Only two patients were able to return to CAPD after microbiological cure. Currently available treatment strategies for fungal peritonitis are reviewed.

Adult↗

Incidence of thyroid dysfunction in an unselected postpartum population.

We screened 212 patients four to 12 weeks post partum for thyroid function: four patients (1.9%) had evidence of thyroid dysfunction; six patients (2.8%) had elevated antimicrosomal antibody titers. These incidences are significantly lower than those previously reported. We also determined normal data for thyroid function for patients four to eight weeks post partum. While serum thyroxine-binding capacity appeared to have returned to the normal range by four to eight weeks post partum, it was still higher than in normal controls.

Adolescent↗

Mood and food: an analysis of bulimic episodes.

The present study examined those factors which differentially lead to normal eating and binge eating. Twenty-one bulimic subjects and comparison subjects monitored their mood, hunger, and food intake hourly over a number of days. The bulimic sample ate fewer meals and had lower overall mood. Positive mood, food abstinence combined with intensified hunger, and being in the company of another person preceded normal eating (i.e. retained meal). Negative mood, recent consumption of food, and being alone preceded bulimic episodes.

Adult↗

Respiratory complications following cardiac surgery. The role of microbiology in its evaluation.

Sputum specimens were received for microbiological examination from 110 patients following open heart surgery. The isolation of Haemophilus influenzae occurred significantly more often in those patients who had pre-existing chest disease, but was not associated with postoperative chest problems. There was a significant association between pre-operative heart failure and subsequent severe pulmonary complications.

Adult↗

Prevention of fever and gram negative infection after open heart surgery by antiendotoxin.

Naturally occurring preoperative antibody to enteric Gram negative bacilli (Escherichia coli agglutinins or antiendotoxin, or both) in 30 patients who had had open heart surgery was associated with a significantly lower incidence of early postoperative fever and postoperative Gram negative infection than occurred in 56 patients without preoperative antibodies. The protective effect was shown to be associated with antiendotoxin rather than antibody to the somatic antigen of the bacteria. Active or passive immunisation of patients having open heart surgery against endotoxin is likely to decrease significantly the morbidity after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Rises in antibody to enteric gram negative bacilli after open heart surgery: a possible mechanism for postoperative pyrexia.

Paired sera, taken before operation and 10-14 days after operation from 64 patients having open heart surgery and 10 having closed heart surgery, were examined for agglutinins to seven common serotypes of Escherichia coli. The results showed that, while 20% of both groups of patients had detectable agglutinins before operation, new antibodies appeared after operation in 69% of patients having open heart surgery compared with only 10% of those having closed heart surgery, a significant difference. Thirty six pairs of sera were also examined for the preoperative presence and postoperative development of antiendotoxin. Of 22 open heart patients shown not to possess antiendotoxin before operation, 18 showed the antibody after operation, whereas none of the eight seronegative patients acquired the antibody after closed heart surgery-again a highly significant difference. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that endotoxin and other products of enteric Gram negative bacilli circulate shortly after cardiopulmonary bypass, possibly arising directly from the gut and perhaps explaining the pyrexia seen commonly at this time.

Agglutination Tests↗

Methods for specimen thickness determination in electron microscopy.

A new method is described for specimen thickness determination in transmission electron microscopy. This is carried out by marking specimens with gold particles and analysing the images of a tilt series by computer. The method makes it possible to distinguish populations of particles on different planes and calculate the distance between the planes with statistical variation. We have applied it to carbon films as test objects and compared the results with those obtained by transverse sectioning, STEM mass measurement, optical density and frequency change of a quartz crystal oscillator. We have then used the method for thickness measurement of multilayered protein crystals and thin sectioned cells.

Animals↗

Utilization and referral patterns for home health services: a data base for needs determination.

This paper presents and discusses utilization and referral patterns for home health services in Mississippi. The universe of agencies delivering services in an eleven (11) county sample area is surveyed for patient demographic characteristics, modes of referral to home care and diagnostic characteristics. Comparisons are made of diagnoses of the 65 and over population utilizing home health services and a sample of hospital discharges in that same age group. A home health diagnostic index is derived and used in a home health "needs" determination formula.

Aged↗

Maternal plasma and amniotic fluid levels of estradiol, estrone, progesterone, and prolactin in early pregnancy.

During the 16th to 20th weeks of gestation, maternal plasma (mean) level of estradiol is 5.2 ng/mL; estrone, 3.0 ng/mL; estriol, 2.1 ng/mL; progesterone, 4235 ng/dL; and prolactin, 74 ng/mL. Amniotic fluid levels are: estradiol, 446.8 pg/mL; estrone, 234.1 pg/mL; progesterone, 5200 ng/dL; and prolactin, 2633.5 ng/mL. Maternal prolactin concentrations correlate with plasma estradiol. Amniotic fluid prolactin levels correlate significantly with maternal plasma concentrations of estradiol and estrone. The mechanisms for the possible relationship between maternal estradiol and pituitary and decidual tissue production of prolactin are discussed.

Amniotic Fluid↗

A chronobiologic abnormality in luteinizing hormone secretion in teenage girls with the polycystic-ovary syndrome.

We investigated possible abnormalities of central-nervous-system regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion in the polycystic-ovary syndrome by determining the plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone over a 24-hour period in five teenage girls with the syndrome; profiles of prolactin and cortisol were also obtained. Four of the five patients had strikingly abnormal plasma luteinizing hormone profiles: whereas normal pubertal girls have a daily surge in secretion of luteinizing hormone that is coterminous with their nocturnal sleep period, our patients had surges that were grossly desynchronized from their sleep period, occurring seven to eight hours later in the daytime than normal. The chronobiologic disturbance involved only luteinizing hormone; the profiles of cortisol and prolactin were normal. This finding points to the central nervous system as the probable locus of the initiating pathophysiology of polycystic-ovary syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Norepinephrine level in the hypothalamus of the genetically hypertensive mouse.

The norepinephrine content of the hypothalamus of young mice with high blood pressure was statistically lower than that of mice with low blood pressure. The difference was not evident in older mice from these same strains. No differences in dopamine content were found suggesting a genetic difference in the activity of the converting enzyme.

Aging↗