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Biomedical subjects

R Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to R Thompson.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Rapid forgetting in aged rats.

The retention performance of young (3-6 months) and aged (24-26 months) Sprague-Dawley rats was evaluated on three separate experimental paradigms. The three paradigms were sequenced so that the first, spontaneous alternation, tested for retention performance of short-term memory; the second, step-down inhibitory (passive) avoidance, tested for long-term memory; while the third, a shock-motivated spatial reversal problem, tested for both short- and long-term memory. The results suggest that aged rats experience significantly more rapid forgetting in both short- and long-term memory systems.

Aging↗

Pittsburgh pneumonia agent: chest film manifestations.

Pittsburgh pneumonia agent, Legionella micdadei, is a Gram-negative, weakly acid-fast bacillus, recently recognized as a cause of pulmonary infection in the immunocompromised host. The chest radiographic findings in seven patients with this disease are reported. These consist of single or multiple nodules and segmental infiltrates involving part of all of one or more lobes. A striking feature in this series was the rapid growth of the pulmonary densities.

Adult↗

Erythrocytapheresis (red cell exchange).

Automated erythrocytapheresis (red cell exchange) was performed on two patients with sickle cell disease using the IBM 2997 Blood Cell Separator. Preoperative red cell exchange was performed on patient L.N. to prevent possible anterior ischemic syndrome during surgery. A red cell exchange procedure on patient A.Y. diminished her acute sickle crisis symptoms and resolved respiratory complications. For each patient, the instrument settings were varied in order to achieve the desired effect for the hematological needs of the individual patient.

Acute Disease↗

Rapid forgetting of a spatial habit in rats with hippocampal lesions.

Rats with lesions of the hippocampus or mammillary bodies were impaired in learning reversal problems in a T-maze. Test trials given after learning each reversal disclosed little forgetting in the mammillary body group but rapid forgetting in the hippocampal group. These findings resemble those recently reported in patients with amnestic syndromes.

Animals↗

The value of maintenance theophylline in steroid-dependent asthma.

We examined the value of maintenance theophylline at serum concentrations of 10 to 20 micrograms per milliliter in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial of 33 children with steroid-dependent chronic asthma. Patients were free of all symptoms 63 +/- 6 per cent of the days (mean +/- S.E.M.) when taking theophylline as compared with 42 +/- 6 per cent when taking placebo (P < 0.01). Inhaled metaproterenol was required twice as often with placebo (P < 0.01), and additional daily corticosteroids were needed more than three times as often with placebo (P = 0.02). Daily peak flow measurements improved with theophylline (P < 0.01) as did monthly spirometric measurements and residual volume measured by plethysmography. Theophylline was associated with a 50 per cent increase in the number of patients able to complete an exercise test (P = 0.01) and with a smaller decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second among patients completing the exercise (P < 0.02). We conclude that maintenance bronchodilator therapy with theophylline can provide clinically important benefit for patients with chronic steroid-dependent asthma.

Adolescent↗

Dacron vs vein for femoropopliteal arterial bypass. Should the saphenous vein be spared?

The increasing need for the saphenous vein to bypass lesions of the coronary and other small arteries prompts a reconsideration of its routine use for femoropopliteal bypass. Evaluation after five years in 124 consecutive patients (135 procedures) demonstrated no significant difference in overall definitive patency between venous grafts (63%) and Dacron prostheses (65%). Dacron prostheses were avoided when below-knee anastomoses were required, but when the distal anastomoses were made above the knee, the five-year patency for veins and Dacron was equal (67%). Although the quality of the distal runoff influenced the long-term patency, effects were similar for veins and for Dacron. The data support the use of Dacron prostheses for femoropopliteal bypass proximal to the knee joint, allowing preservation of the saphenous vein for possible use elsewhere.

Adult↗