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Biomedical subjects

R Klein

Publications and source records attributed to R Klein.

At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

Vasectomy and the incidence of hospitalized illness.

To determine the long-term effects of vasectomy on health we studied the incidence of hospitalized illness in 4,385 vasectomized and 13,155 age and race-matched nonvasectomized men. In none of the 16 disease groupings we examined was the incidence of hospitalized illness in the vasectomized men significantly different from that in the nonvasectomized men, considering men with all durations of vasectomy. Neither the incidence of acute myocardial infarction, other ischemic heart disease nor that of all atherosclerotic diseases considered as a group was significantly different between the vasectomized and nonvasectomized men, even in those whose duration of vasectomy was 10 years or more. These data are reassuring, providing no evidence for an adverse health effect of vasectomy in men.

Hospitalization↗

Inter-observer variation in refraction and visual acuity measurement using a standardized protocol.

Reproducible measures of refraction and visual acuity are necessary in clinical and population studies of eye diseases. Inter-observer differences in measurements of these parameters were evaluated using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol. No clinically significant interobserver variation was found for refraction or visual acuity measurements between three observers. This study confirms that when standardized measurement procedures are used, observer differences as a source of variability in the data can be minimized.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Mitigating the imitation of aggressive behaviors by changing children's attitudes about media violence.

A sample of 169 first- and third-grade children, selected because of their high exposure to television violence, was randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. Over the course of 2 years, the experimental subjects were exposed to two treatments designed to reduce the likelihood of their imitating the aggressive behaviors they observed on TV. The control group received comparable neutral treatments. By the end of the second year, the experimental subjects were rated as significantly less aggressive by their peers, and the relation between violence viewing and aggressiveness was diminished in the experimental group.

Aggression↗

Nonhierarchical control of rapid movement sequences: a comment on Rosenbaum, Kenny, and Derr.

In a recent article, Rosenbaum, Kenny, and Derr (1983) described a hierarchical storage and execution model for a class of repetitive, discrete response sequences. With a few modifications, this model can match the performance of subjects performing sequences from this class. The authors claimed that this provides an "existence proof" for hierarchical control during movement execution, at least for these sequences. My purpose is to show by counterexample that this claim is too strong. I present a logogen activation model for the rapid execution of stored motor sequences which assumes that (a) logogens corresponding to responses are activated via association and repetition; (b) activation decays; and (c) interresponse time is inversely related to activation of the correct response at each position in the sequence. This model can also fit the results of Rosenbaum et al. A much richer data base, designed to discriminate between competing formulations, will be needed to prove the existence of the hierarchical, tree-traversal control process proposed by Rosenbaum et al.

Humans↗

Is cigarette smoking associated with diabetic retinopathy?

The relationship between cigarette smoking and diabetic retinopathy is examined in this report. All participants were examined between September 1980 and July 1981 as part of a population-based study in southwestern Wisconsin. Exposure data on cigarette smoking at the time of examination were derived from a set of questions about present or past smoking history, duration of smoking, and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Retinopathy status was determined according to the modified Airlie House classification. The rate of diabetic retinopathy varied from 21% in those who had diabetes for 0-4.9 years to 97% in those who had diabetes for 15 or more years, for persons diagnosed before 30 years of age, and from 28% to 78% for comparable durations in those diagnosed at 30 years or older. There was no association between smoking history and duration of diabetes. In participants diagnosed before age 30, the relative risk for the presence of retinopathy in smokers compared with those who had never smoked was 1.06 (95% confidence limits (CL) 0.97-1.18); in participants diagnosed at 30 years or older it was 0.89 (95% CL 0.75-1.06). There was no relationship between the risk or severity of retinopathy and number of cigarettes smoked daily, or the number of pack-years smoked while diabetic. These data suggest that there is no excess risk of retinopathy in smokers or ex-smokers when contrasted with those who never smoked.

Adolescent↗

Factors affecting pain in burned patients--a preliminary report.

Twenty-six patients in a burn unit were given the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Illness Behaviour Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Zung self-rating depression questionnaire and visual graphic rating scales of pain, depression and helplessness. Preliminary results indicate significant pain and anxiety related to procedures such as debridement, physiotherapy and skin-grafting. Depression occurred in one third of patients and was associated with prolonged stay in hospital and complicated surgical course. The instruments used in this study are suitable for assessing pain and factors affecting it.

Adolescent↗

Management of eye disease in the insulin-dependent diabetic patient.

Causes of visual loss, indications for ophthalmologic consultation, and current medical and surgical management of eye disease in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes are highlighted. Regular eye examinations are a must for diabetic patients, as threats to visual loss may go unnoticed until serious hemorrhage into the vitreous occurs.

Adolescent↗

ATPase-associated antigen (M2): marker antigen for serological diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Serum samples from 94 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 17 patients with chronic cholestatic hepatitis (CCH) were tested in the fluorometric immunoassay (FIAX) against the nonorgan-specific ATPase-associated antigen (M2) and against submitochondrial from beef heart and rat liver, to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the M2 antigen for the diagnosis of PBC. As controls serum samples from 42 patients with other antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) specificity (against M1, M3, M5, and M6) as well as samples from 417 patients with various other hepatic and non-hepatic disorders were used. Serum samples from 91 of the 94 PBC patients (97%) and all 17 with CCH reacted with the M2 antigen. However, when SMP from rat liver and beef heart were tested in parallel in the FIAX, AMA could be detected in all PBC serum samples. None of the 42 patients with different types of AMA had reactions with the M2 antigen but all had reactions with SMP from rat-liver or beef-heart mitochondria or both. Among the other 417 patients with hepatic and non-hepatic disorders only 4(1%), all with collagen diseases, had anti-M2 antibodies.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Non-immunological hydrops fetalis: report of 6 cases and a review.

Six consecutive cases of non-immunological hydrops fetalis (NIHF) seen by the authors over a 3-year period are presented. Two cases were due to haematological causes and 3 to cardiac anomalies; in 1 case trisomy-21 with a possible associated cardiac anomaly was present. No infant survived. On the basis of this experience and a review of the literature the associated conditions, diagnosis and management of NIHF are discussed.

Adult↗

Occurrence of anti-retinal ganglion cell antibodies in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung.

This report describes a patient with small-cell carcinoma of the lung associated with blindness. The serum of this patient was tested for immunoreactivity with retinal sections because there was no evidence of tumor metastasis to the central nervous system and because neuroendocrine cells of the lung share common antigens with retinal neurons. The immunoglobulins in the sera from this patient, from two other patients with small-cell carcinoma, from two patients with multiple sclerosis and from three controls were reacted with 8 micrometers thick sections of retina. Dog, cat and human retinal sections were used. Antihuman immunoglobulins that were conjugated to horseradish peroxidase were used as the second antibody to identify the cells which bound the patients' immunoglobulins. A high titer (1:500) antibody level against retinal ganglion cells was found in the patient with small-cell carcinoma and blindness; the antibody reaction was similar with retina from the three species. The large ganglion cells bound the immunoglobulins of the patients with small-cell carcinoma and blindness while the immunoglobulins from the control and multiple sclerosis subjects did not bind these cells selectively at high dilutions. It remains to be shown whether these antibodies have an etiologic significance in the development of blindness.

Aged↗

Auditing the NHS.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Management Audit↗

Cataracts and macular degeneration in older Americans.

Cataracts and macular degeneration compromise visual function in older persons. In the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the incidence of cataracts for persons aged 45 to 64 years was as follows: white men, 5.6%; white women, 2.1%; black men, 8.3%; and black women, 8.5%. For persons aged 65 to 75 years, the rates were as follows: white men, 21.6%; white women, 26.8%; black men, 38.3%; and black women, 39.1%. For macular degeneration the rates in persons aged 45 to 64 years were as follows: white men, 2.3%; white women, 2.3%; black men, 3.8%; and black women, 2.4%. For the older age group, the rates were as follows: white men, 9.6%; white women, 6.9%; black men, 9.3%; and black women, 11.4%. Mean systolic blood pressure tended to be slightly higher in persons with either cataracts or macular degeneration than in persons without these conditions.

Adolescent↗

Clostridium difficile and cytotoxin in feces of patients with antimicrobial agent-associated pseudomembranous colitis.

Thirty patients with antimicrobial agent-associated pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) were studied for the presence of Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin in feces. Either colonoscopy or barium enema radiography was required in three patients for the diagnosis of PMC because of nondiagnostic findings at sigmoidoscopy. Both the organism and cytotoxin were detected in 27 of the 30 patients; Staphylococcus aureus was excluded as the cause of PMC in two of the remaining patients. Eighteen of 19 patients with C. difficile-induced PMC who were treated with oral vancomycin had a salutary response; seven patients, however, had a relapse of colitis following the discontinuation of vancomycin. In general, relapses of colitis responded to retreatment with vancomycin. The implication of C. difficile as a cause of diarrhea is best achieved by the demonstration of colonic mucosal plaques or of a pseudomembrane. The value of fecal culture for C. difficile and cytotoxin assay is limited by the existence of asymptomatic carriers.

Adult↗

Evaluation and social policy. Some reflections on ideas and institutions.

This paper discusses the relationship between evaluation as a meta- and as a technical activity in the field of social policy, with special reference to the British experience. Evaluation as a meta-activity is defined to be the analysis of the values and criteria to be used: a process which assumes that the definition of problems is itself problematic. Evaluation as a technical activity is defined to be the application of agreed criteria to agreed policy problems. From this distinction, it is argued, some important implications flow for the role of the universities and the funding of research.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Nitrosation of sarcosine, proline and 4-hydroxyproline by exposure to nitrogen oxides.

The nitrosation of amino acids (sarcosine, proline and 4-hydroxyproline) was investigated in model experiments. The compounds were exposed in crystalline form and as aqueous solutions to defined concentrations of nitrogen oxides (in the range of 1-100 ppm) in the atmosphere of a reaction chamber. Nitrosated amino acids were analysed by GC/TEA after silylation. Generally the extent of nitrosation increased with NOx concentration, reaction time and air humidity. Nitrosation of aqueous amino acid solutions decreased markedly with increasing pH.

Amino Acids↗

Genotoxicity of 5-methoxypsoralen and near ultraviolet light in repair-deficient strains of Escherichia coli WP2.

5-Methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) is used in cosmetic suntan preparations to stimulate the production of skin pigments. Although its isomer 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) has been shown to be genotoxic in numerous biological systems, 5-MOP has not been so extremely investigated, but it has recently been reported to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. We have studied the lethal effects of 5-MOP and near ultraviolet light (NUV) on repair-deficient Escherichia coli strains. After treatment with 5-MOP at concentrations above 2 microgram/ml in combination with UV light survival of the repair-deficient strains was considerably reduced and strain WP100 UVRA- recA- was more sensitive than strain WP2 UVRA-. The effect was dependent on the time of irradiation and on the presence or absence of S-9 mix which inhibited the lethal activity of 5-MOP/NUV particularly when the NADP-generating system was included. These results support other indications that the use of 5-MOP in cosmetic preparations should be controlled.

5-Methoxypsoralen↗

Effects of conventional and high frequency jet ventilation on lung parenchyma.

Despite the increasing acceptance of high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), very little work has been done to determine if lung damage results from its use. We performed an experimental study to compare the effects of conventional ventilation with those of HFJV on the lung parenchyma of anesthetized dogs. Thirteen animals were studied for periods ranging from 2-24 h. Using a double-lumen Carlen's endotracheal tube, each animals's lungs were ventilated simultaneously but independently, one with conventional ventilation, the other with HFJV. No gross or microscopic evidence of atelectasis or barotrauma was noted in either group. Less hyperaeration was seen in the majority of jet ventilated lungs compared to the conventionally ventilated. In no case did the jet ventilated side show more damage than the control. We concluded that it is possible to use HFJV for 24 h without apparent parenchymal lung damage. Reduced hyperaeration is identified as a possible advantage of HFJV over conventional methods.

Animals↗