Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R S Francis

Publications and source records attributed to R S Francis.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Scoliosis screening of 3,000 college-aged women. The Utah Study--phase 2.

The purpose of this phase of the Utah study was to determine the prevalence of scoliosis in college-aged women over a three-year period. The subjects were 3,210 female college students (mean age = 19.7 +/- 2.1 years) from 34 states and 5 foreign countries. The majority (98.2%) of the students were Caucasian. Nearly 12% of the study sample (n = 380) demonstrated a visually assessed lateral deviation of the spine. This finding demonstrates a higher prevalence of scoliosis among an age group that has reached an age of growth cessation than the literature on scoliosis screening indicates. The college-aged students in this study demonstrated a higher prevalence of scoliosis than the national norm for a younger (10-15 years of age) group. This result suggests that scoliosis may develop later in life than has previously been reported and that physical therapists must become more proficient in conducting scoliosis screening programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Screening for musculoskeletal deviations--a challenge for the physical therapist. The Utah Study.

We conducted an on-site examination in selected middle and junior high schools in Utah to determine the incidence of selected musculoskeletal deviations. During a regular school year, we screened 4,670 children. The students we examined represented a random sample of students in the sixth through the ninth grades from a population of 81,047 students. Among the 2,192 boys and 2,478 girls examined, we noted a total of 10,551 postural deviations. Eighteen categories of deviations of the musculoskeletal system were examined visually. Lordosis was the most common postural deviation seen (45%), and torticollis was noted least commonly (0%). Scoliosis was noted in 7% of the total population, with a girl-boy ratio of 2:1. Both the lack of body postural awareness we observed among the children and the significant findings of this study should warrant initiation of more responsible educational programs in the public schools. An apparent need for a uniform statewide screening program was demonstrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Small-animal traumatizer.

Clinical research, particularly among traumatized musculoskeletal patients, has been greatly inhibited by a lack of uniformity in the intensity of the injury. That is, few patients present identical injuries with respect to intensity and degree of soft tissue damage. Hence, researchers have gone to the experimental animal to achieve uniformity to the wound. Few studies, however, have reported effective methods of uniform traumatization. A small-animal traumatizer was developed at Brigham Young University that has proved reliable in producing a uniform contusion of 177 mm2 on the lateral thigh of the anesthetized experimental animal. If the investigator seeks an experimentally induced hematoma that approximates contusions seen clinically, one that is unvarying in every sample, something not available in traumatized patients, the small-animal traumatizer may be an important addition to your laboratory.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Ethambutol in pregnancy--foetal exposure.

We report a case of miliary tuberculosis in a pregnant Jamaican woman in whom foetal exposure to ethambutol has been assessed. The mother received 15 mg/kg ethambutol as part of her antituberculosis therapy. Immediately after delivery, amniotic fluid, maternal, placental, and cord blood specimens were obtained and analysed for ethambutol concentrations. The levels were within the therapeutic range in all 4 samples. The concentrations indicate that the placenta is not a significant physiological barrier to the transfer of ethambutol to the foetus.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Tracheal bronchus.

Congenital tracheal bronchus is an uncommon condition that may occur together with other, sometimes clinically significant anomalies of the tracheobronchial tree. Two such patients are reported. Both presented with respiratory distress, and one was initially diagnosed as having a pulmonary cyst. Radiographic demonstration of an upper-lobe cyst, particularly on the right, should suggest a tracheal bronchus.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1976

Long-term beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol therapy in juvenile asthma.

Following a short-term clinical trial reported elsewhere, beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol has been given to 15 children with asthma for between 2 1/2 and 3 years except for a short placebo period after the first year. Month-by-month records of wheezing, peak flow rate, and other treatments used are presented for the first 17 months, adrenocortical function tests are reported for the first 2 years, and growth is recorded for 2 1/2-3 years. The short-term clinical benefits of the treatment are confirmed in the longer term, adrenocortical function appears to be unchanged, and growth proceeds along expected lines. The main disadvantage seems to be worsening of eczema and allergic rhinitis in those children who have ceased using corticotrophin or oral steroids for the control of asthma. It is concluded that in the long term beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol provides safe and effective day-to-day control of asthma in children, although occasional recourse to systemic steroid therapy cannot be avoided. Oral candidasis has not been a clinical problem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Renal abnormalities in agnogenic myeloid metaplasia.

Abnormal excretory urograms of 5 patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia and extramedullary hematopoiesis are presented, with radiological/pathological correlation where possible. Findings include renal enlargement with distortion of calyces and renal peripelvic masses.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Ataxia-telangiectasia.

The clinical and radiographic features of twenty-two cases of ataxia-telangiectasia are reviewed. Severity of pulmonary manifestations tended to correlate closely with severity of immunodeficiency. Observations are made upon the problem of intercurrent malignancy in ataxia-telangiectasia. The radiographic studies of patients seen at the National Institutes of Health with A-T were reviewed retrospectively and correlated with degrees of immunodeficiency determined clinically. Three fairly distinct groups with high, intermediate and low incidence of sinopulmonary disease were found. Comment is made on the problem of increased malignancy in A-T and possible clues in the detection by the radiologist.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Lipoid proteinosis. A case report.

Lipoid proteinosis caused specific changes in the brain, larynx, and cervical esophagus of a young adult man. Laryngography clearly depicts the distribution and degree of pharyngeal and laryngeal pathology. Florid calcification, conforming to the classical temporal lobe distribution, is documented by plain films and tomography. The clinical picture and the pertinent literature are reviewed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Topically applied dimethyl sulfoxide. Its effects on inflammation and healing of a contusion.

This study investigated the effects of topically applied dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to traumatized muscle of adult male rats. Eighty rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups and subsequently traumatized, treated, and sacrificed. One group was used to examine inflammation; the other, healing. Each group was further divided into an experimental group (70% DMSO and 30% distilled water) and a control group (100% distilled water); each group had five sacrifice times. Each treatment consisted of painting 1 ml of either the treatment or control solution on the contused tissue. The inflammation group received 15 additional treatments, 3 per day for the next 5 days. A three-phased, single blind, histologic examination was performed. The principle findings were: significantly fewer healing cells were present in the experimental group than in the control group during the period inflammation was examined, and no significant difference existed between the experimental and control groups during the period healing was examined.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of local steroid injections on traumatized tendon properties. A biomechanical and histological study.

We investigated the effects of peritendon injections of hydrocortisone acetate on the separation force required to completely avulse a posttraumatized Achilles tendon of the adult male rat. One hundred thirty-five rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups and subsequently traumatized, treated, and sacrificed. One group was used to examine the effect of trauma; the second to examine effects of trauma and injections of hydrocortisone acetate on the tension to failure strength of tendons; the third group was the control group. Injected animals received one, three, or five injections of 0.10 cc (125 mg/ml) hydrocortisone acetate and were sacrificed 3, 6, or 9 weeks following initial injection. Experimental animals (anesthetized) were traumatized by dropping a weight onto the Achilles tendon. The tendon was tested in tension to failure employing a soft tissue linear disseminator. Histologic analysis using light microscopy was performed. We concluded that hydrocortisone acetate has no deleterious effect on the rat Achilles tendon as measured biomechanically or histologically.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Parameters and comparisons of the quadriceps angle of college-aged men and women in the supine and standing positions.

The purpose of this study was to determine normal, mean quadriceps angles (Q angles) for college-aged men and women, and to compare Q angles measured in the supine and the standing positions. The Q angles of 269 men and 257 women were measured in both positions by use of a specially modified goniometer. The mean Q angle for men was 12.7 degrees in the supine position and 13.6 degrees in the standing position; for women the mean Q angle was 15.8 degrees in the supine position and 17.0 degrees in the standing position. All of these differences were statistically significant. We calculated the incidence of an abnormally high Q angle, and will discuss the implications of our findings.

Adolescent↗