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Biomedical subjects

S Simon

Publications and source records attributed to S Simon.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Statistical analysis of gait patterns of persons with cerebral palsy.

Patients at Boston's Children's Hospital diagnosed as having cerebral palsy were filmed walking. These films were digitized and translated into measurements associated with leg motion. In this paper we use the gait measurements of 128 such patients to illustrate the the kth nearest neighbour clustering procedure results in a gait typology for patients with cerebral palsy. The procedure identifies four subpopulations from the sample data; the membership of a patient within this typology is mostly determined by the patient's motor control. The developed typology differs from the present diagnostic system which classifies a cerebral palsy patient as either quadriplegic, diaplegic or hemiplegic.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acetylcholinesterase: C-terminal domains, molecular forms and functional localization.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) possesses short C-terminal peptides that are not necessary for catalytic activity. These peptides belong to different classes (R, H, T, S) and define the post-translational processing and targeting of the enzyme. In vertebrates, subunits of type H (AChEH) and of type T (AChET) are the most important: AChEH subunits produce glycolipid (GPI)-anchored dimers and AChET subunits produce hetero-oligomeric forms such as membrane-bound tetramers in the mammalian brain (containing a 20 kDa hydrophobic protein) and asymmetric collagen-tailed forms in neuromuscular junctions (containing a specific collagen, ColQ). The T peptide allows the formation of tetrameric assemblies with a proline-rich attachment domain (PRAD) of collagen ColQ. These complex molecular structures condition the functional localization of the enzyme in the supramolecular architecture of cholinergic synapses.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Readmission of breastfed infants in the first 2 weeks of life.

OBJECTIVE: Readmission of breastfeeding infants for hyperbilirubinemia and/or dehydration has been increasing in recent years. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the indications for the condition of these infants at readmission, and to determine factors present prior to initial hospital discharge which might have identified them to be at risk. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 125 breastfeeding infants who were admitted to Children's Mercy Hospital from 1995 to 1997 in the first 2 weeks of life with diagnoses of hyperbilirubinemia, dehydration, or feeding problems were reviewed. Infants with hemolytic disease, infection, or other underlying causes were excluded. At readmission, 80 infants had total bilirubin levels > 342 mumol/l (20 mg/dl) and gestational age > or = 38 weeks or total bilirubin levels > 308 mumol/l (18 mg/dl) and gestational age < 38 weeks. Forty-nine infants had a weight loss > or = 12% from birth weight or a serum sodium concentration > or = 145 mmol/l. Twenty-six infants had both hyperbilirubinemia and excessive weight loss or hypernatremia. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of all infants was 38.6 weeks, 95% CI, 38.3 to 38.9 weeks. Mean length of initial hospital stay was 1.8 days (SD 1.03) for vaginally delivered infants compared with 3.4 days (SD 2.1) for those delivered by C-section (p = 0.003). The Cesarean birth rate (9%) was disproportionally low in infants readmitted compared with overall C-section rate in Kansas City, MO (17%) (p = 0.03). There was a significantly lower rate of readmission for infants whose initial hospital stay was > or = 3 days (p = < 0.002), but not for infants whose initial stay was > or = 2 days (p = 0.1). Infants admitted for hyperbilirubinemia only were at 38.3 +/- 1.6 weeks gestation compared with infants admitted for excessive weight loss or hypernatremia, 39.2 +/- 1.3 (p = 0.06), and 1 days older, 5.4 +/- 1.9 days vs. 4.4 +/- 2.5 days (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that prematurity and short hospital stays are risk factors for readmission of breastfeeding infants with hyperbilirubinemia and/or excessive weight loss and hypernatremia. An initial hospital stay > or = 3 days was associated with a reduced risk for readmission of these infants.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Minimal invasive pediatric surgery: development and progress by innovative technology].

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive pediatric surgery (MIPS) has a solid tradition in which technique and technology have made key contributions to an already broad range of indications. This surgical method still has a deficiency with regard to tissue management of large-area defects, however. Sealing techniques can further expand the range of application. METHOD: Technological evaluation provided outstanding data of fleece-bound collagen- and fibrinogen-based sealing systems (TachoComb) on biodegradability, adhesive strength and practicability. A relevant instrument was developed for MIS application and was introduced as the ATCS (AMISA-TachoComb-System). PATIENTS: From 1993-2000, ATCS sealing was carried out in the scope of thoracoscopy (105 procedures) and laparoscopy (53 procedures) and specifically for recurring pneumothorax, traumatic chylothorax and splenic trauma. RESULTS: Pneumothorax: 59 ACTS procedures in 49 patients (mean age: 11.4 yrs) with 6 reoperations (10.2%) and one recurrence (1.7%). The drainage dwell time was reduced (p < 0.05) using a conventional comparison (31.9 hours vs. 17 days) and further relevant parameters were also reduced. Chylothorax: 3 ATCS procedures in 3 patients (mean age: 6.3 years) with reduction in the drainage dwell time (p < 0.05) based on a conventional comparison (35 hours vs. 18 days). Splenic trauma: 17 ATCS procedures in 16 patients (mean age: 8.9 years) with one re-operation (5.9%) for associated liver trauma, organ conservation in each case and no significant drainage volumes. CONCLUSION: The ATCS is an innovative instrument for MIPS and ca be employed for efficient and socio-economic (e.g. DRGs) closure of large-area defects.

Abdominal Injuries↗