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Biomedical subjects

R L Watson

Publications and source records attributed to R L Watson.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Laser endarterectomy: a comparison of thrombotic potential following CO2 laser vs surgical endarterectomy.

Although laser endarterectomy has recently been suggested as useful in the treatment of arteriosclerotic obstructions, the "in vivo" clotting effects have not been well delineated. In this study, the common carotid and femoral arteries of ten mongrel dogs were exposed, and alternating 1 cm segments of each artery were treated with surgical endarterectomy and low-powered CO2 laser endarterectomy. Segments were then harvested, and subjected to histologic examination and vascular prostacyclin synthesis determinations, as measured by 6-keto PFG1a radioimmunoassay. Gross examination and light and scanning electron microscopy showed increased platelet aggregation and more extensive damaging of the underlying media of the laser compared to the surgical segments. Six-keto PFG1a levels were significantly lower (p = 0.001) in the laser compared to surgical sites (mean 232 +/- 72 pg/mg vs 515 +/- 144 pg/mg), or controls (895 +/- 337 pg/mg). These findings suggest that laser endothelial evaporation leads to increased thrombotic potential in the early post-operative period in comparison to surgical endarterectomy.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alleged inner ear trauma: compensation pending.

The English literature on the incidence of nystagmus in normal subjects and in patients with head and/or neck injuries is reviewed. The authors present a series of 202 patients with alleged vestibular trauma. The incidence of spontaneous and positional nystagmus would seem to be no greater in patients with alleged vestibular trauma than that found in the normal subjects, suggesting that these patients do not have objective evidence of vestibular trauma. Objective criteria for diagnosing vestibular abnormalities by electronystagmography are presented. At least 22% of a series of 2408 patients were found to have a functional hearing loss. The importance of looking for functional overlay in patients involved in litigation cases is stressed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Urinary electrolytes, body weight, and blood pressure. Pooled cross-sectional results among four groups of adolescent females.

Results of blood pressures (BP) and urinary electrolyte excretion studies are reported among several groups of adolescent and young adult females, both black and white, who were initially examined in high school and restudied at home 3--4 years later. Pooling of the data from the several cross-sectional studies (n = 662) revealed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the urinary sodium (Na) excretion rate. Three of four correlations between SBP and potassium (K) were of an inverse nature. Although not statistically significant in their own right, when coupled with the Na/K excretion ratio, which was significantly associated with SBP, a moderating role for K is suggested. The urinary Na, K, and creatinine (Cr) excretion rates were highly intercorrelated and were correlated with weight. As measured by R2 in a stepwise regression analysis, weight contributed approximately 3% to the BP variance, and the urinary electrolytes accounted for approximately 2% of the SBP variance. Statistically significant partial correlation coefficients between SBP and Na, and Na/K, remained after adjusting for body weight.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prepregnant blood pressure, hypertension during pregnancy, and later blood pressure of mothers and offspring.

In a community-based prospective study of black women, blood pressure (BP) before the onset of the first pregnancy was significantly higher in participants who were eventually diagnosed as having pre-eclampsia than those not so diagnosed. The diagnosis of "pre-eclampsia" appeared to be based entirely on BP; "hypertension associated with pregnancy" is probably a more accurate term. The BP of the pre-eclamptic group was consistently higher before admission to h ospital, during hospitalization, and at 6 weeks and 9 years after delivery. Daughters of pre-eclamptic mothers had higher BP than those of non-pre-eclamptic mothers; this difference was not apparent in boys. The data are compatible with a sex-limited subset of essential hypertension. It is perhaps estrogen-dependent, manifesting itself as mild "pre-eclampsia" in the mother and mild BP elevation in female offspring.

Black People↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Massive myoglobinuria precipitated by halothane and succinylcholine in a member of a family with elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase.

Massive myoglobinuria developed in a patient given halothane and IV succinylcholine, Marked elevations of serum CPK were found in the patient and several family members. Myopathic changes in electromyogram and lack of neuromuscular symptoms and physical findings prompted the diagnosis of familial nonprogessive muscular dystrophy. Other hereditary muscular diseases were eliminated by medical workup. It is recommended that patients with known myopathy or unexplained elevations of serum CPK not receive the combination of halothane and succinylcholine.

Adolescent↗