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Biomedical subjects

R Menzies

Publications and source records attributed to R Menzies.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Development of visual evoked potentials in neonates. A study using light emitting diode goggles.

We used a signal averager with light emitting diode goggles as the photostimulator to study the development of the visual evoked potentials in 40 normal neonates of between 23 and 42 weeks' gestation. All except two infants of less than 24 weeks' gestation had replicable visual evoked potentials. A negative peak of latency (mean (SD), 308 (21) msec) was present in all infants, but the development of the primary positive peak depended on maturity. Only infants of 37 weeks or more had a consistent positive peak of latency (mean (SD), 220 (22) msec). The practical simplicity and reliability of this technique has distinct advantages over previous conventional recording systems. Neonatal visual evoked potentials are shown to change with maturity.

Evoked Potentials, Visual↗

Use of personal effects in the Canary Island accident investigation.

Personal effects were used extensively to provide supportive evidence for identification and in seven cases it provided the main means of identification. Personal effects were received from the Canary Islands in numbered plastic bags, having been removed from each remains. In a few cases, personal effects must have been taken from locations near a remains because four bags were found to contain identifiable personal effects that did not match the remains with the same number. therefore, personal effects were utilized less frequently than might normally occur in the course of such investigations. Thorough searches of each remains, especially X-ray, yielded additional effects during the investigation at Dover. A small dedicated team was formed which was responsible for cleaning, cataloging, and requesting antemortem information necessary for the identification process. They made extensive use of color Polaroid photography.

Accidents, Aviation↗

Administrative organization and function during the identification process for mass disasters--Canary Islands crash.

The administrative functions associated with large-scale medical and identification efforts in accident investigations are substantial and contribute directly to the overall conduct of the operation. We envisioned the administrative role as one primarily responsible for integration of all antemortem and postmortem information. This required each individual involved to be thoroughly familiar with the data. This required constructions of numerous lists, charts, and records. Secondly, its role involved data storage to document the identifications made. Finally, its role required summary status reporting both during and after the main investigation. Fortunately, we haven't had many accidents the size of the one occuring in the Canary Islands. However, this leaves us with little corporate knowledge on handling administrative matters. This article is designed to explain the who, what, why, and how administration was handled in this accident, and the lessons we learned.

Accidents, Aviation↗

Endocarditis due to Citrobacter diversus developing resistance to cephalothin.

A 43-year-old man was admitted with acute bacterial endocarditis. Citrobacter diversus susceptible to cephalothin was isolated from blood cultures. Citrobacter diversus was later isolated from the aortic valve cusps at surgery, but this isolate was resistant to cephalothin. Laboratory testing showed that the Citrobacter diversus recovered from blood cultures was capable of producing mutants highly resistant to cephalothin.

Adult↗

In vitro resistance of haemophilus influenzae to co-trimoxazole and trimethoprim.

Over a period of five months Haemophilus influenzae isolated from 123 patients were tested for resistance to co-trimoxazole and trimethoprim by the disc method of sensitivity testing and isolates from four patients were found to be resistant. However, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim lactate were estimated for the isolates from these four patients only one was found to be resistant. This H. influenzae strain was from one of the two patients in the survey who had a history of repeated courses of co-trimoxazole therapy. The discrepancy between the results of the disc sensitivity tests and the minimum inhibitory concentration estimations of the resistance of H. influenzae to co-trimoxazole and trimethoprim. The appearance of co-trimoxazole and trimethoprim resistance in H. influenzae isolated from a patient who has had prolonged treatment with co-trimoxazole is in agreement with the findings of other authors.

Bronchi↗

Treatment of hypothyroidism: a reappraisal of thyroxine therapy.

Twenty-two subjects with hypothyroidism have been studied in detail before and during replacement therapy with L-thyroxine (T-4). All subjects were stabilized on the minimum dose of T-4 which was necessary to suppress their serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration to normal, and on this dose most subjects had a normal or impaired TSH response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH). The daily dose of T-4 required to suppress TSH was 0.1 mg (13 subjects), 0.15 mg (six subjects), and 0.2 mg (three subjects). It was shown that all subjects were euthyroid on these doses and, using a range of thyroid function tests, that they were normal in all respects when compared with a group of euthyroid controls, with the exception of a small group who had a marginally raised serum triiodo-L-thyronine (T-3) concentration. It has been shown that those subjects who required the larger doses of T-4 had a more advanced degree of thyroid failure than those who were stabilized on 0.1 mg T-4 daily. It is concluded that conventional doses of T-4 (0.2-0.4 mg daily) are often associated with subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Humans↗

Prognostic utility of visual evoked potentials in term asphyxiated neonates.

The prognosis for term infants with birth asphyxia is variable and does not correlate well with the acute clinical state. Diagnostic tools such as electroencephalography or imaging techniques have not been satisfactory predictors of outcome. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) have changed acutely in birth asphyxia and may provide information for long-term prognosis. We studied VEPs serially in 25 term infants with documented birth asphyxia. The VEPs were classified into three categories: normal, mildly abnormal, or severely abnormal, and then compared to each infant's acute clinical state and outcome at age six months. Eight of the nine infants with normal or mildly abnormal VEPs were normal when examined subsequently. All the patients with severely abnormal VEPs died, or suffered severe neurologic sequelae. The VEPs demonstrated good correlation with neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with birth asphyxia and may be useful prognostically.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Novel speech patterns and the treatment of stuttering.

Variants of rhythmic speech and legato speech have been used for centuries to treat stuttering. Despite considerable empirical and theoretical inquiry, the reason for the effectiveness of these novel speech patterns in suppressing stuttering is unknown. Recent acoustic research conducted at the University of Sydney suggests that a reduction in the variability of syllabic stress is a critical feature of these two speech patterns, and that this reduction suppresses stuttering by stabilizing the speech motor system. This paper reviews what is known about rhythmic speech and legato speech from this perspective, and the theoretical and clinical implications of reconceptualizing them in this way are discussed.

History, 18th Century↗