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Biomedical subjects

S Smith

Publications and source records attributed to S Smith.

At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Stroop interference based on the multimodal correlates of haptic size and auditory pitch.

In a preliminary experiment subjects were asked to explore three wooden knobs of different sizes and to rate each one on a series of 7-point scales. The results confirmed that an object may possess a number of multimodal qualities that are contingent on its haptic size. The pattern of intercorrelations between the qualities was consistent with the pattern that is observed when subjects respond to pure auditory tones varying in pitch. For example, small (high-pitched) sounds, like small objects, are judged to be sharp, thin, light, weak, fast, tense, and bright. The main experiments used a paradigm based on the Stroop interference effect. Subjects were required to press one of two keys as quickly as possible depending on which of four possible words appeared in the centre of the screen. A 50 Hz or a 5500 Hz tone accompanied each test word, and subjects responded on two keys that differed in size. Subjects were found to respond more slowly when either the pitch of the incidental sound or the size of the key on which they responded was incongruent with the multimodal features represented by the test word. The results confirm that people are automatically and immediately sensitive to the multimodal features of a stimulus when direct sensory evidence for the features is absent.

Form Perception↗
PubMed1985

Prolonged follicular phase and depressed gonadotrophins following hysterectomy and corpus lute-ectomy in women with premenstrual tension syndrome.

In an attempt to obtain further information on the aetiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the endocrine changes following enucleation of the corpus luteum in the mid-luteal phase of the cycle were studied in seven patients with PMS, and the results compared to details of seven control patients undergoing hysterectomy for menstrual problems. In the luteal phase, before surgery, the concentration of progesterone and FSH was lower, while that of oestradiol was slightly higher, in women with PMS. Following enucleation of the corpus luteum, follicular development and ovulation recommenced more slowly in women with PMS compared to controls (time to ovulation: 21 (range 18-24, vs 19(14-20) d, P less than 0.01). During the follicular phase there was no difference between the two groups in the concentration of oestradiol. The rise in concentration of FSH following enucleation was delayed in patients with PMS, and the serum FSH concentration was significantly lower during the late follicular phase of the cycle, but not during the mid follicular phase. The results suggest that these women with PMS have a more sensitive 'feed-back' than the controls, resulting in a lower preovulatory FSH level even though the oestradiol levels were not different. The results also suggest that the abnormalities described during the preoperative luteal phase are associated with the delay in the initial FSH rise.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Two regimens of sultamicillin in treating uncomplicated gonorrhoea.

Sultamicillin is a covalent union of ampicillin and the beta lactamase inhibitor, sulbactam (CP-45,899). Two studies were conducted to assess its efficacy in treating uncomplicated gonorrhoea. In the first study treatment comprised sultamicillin 1.5 g and probenecid 1 g; 124 (89.2%) of 139 patients responded including seven of 11 patients harbouring beta lactamase (penicillinase) producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG). In the second study sultamicillin 2.25 g and probenecid 1 g were given; 122 (93.8%) of 130 patients responded. Only two of seven pharyngeal infections resolved, and if pharyngeal infections are excluded the overall cure rate rose to 95.3%. Thirteen of 14 patients infected with PPNG strains were cured by the larger dose. Side effects were mild and transitory. It may be concluded that sultamicillin 2.25 g plus probenecid 1 g is an effective regimen to treat uncomplicated rectal and genital gonorrhoea and is useful for treating infections with PPNG strains. Most beta lactamase resistant antimicrobials must be given parenterally; sultamicillin is given by mouth.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1985

Biosynthesis of fatty acids by lactating human breast epithelial cells: an evaluation of the contribution to the overall composition of human milk fat.

The objective of this study was to characterize the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway of the lactating human breast. Mixed cell populations, obtained by centrifugation of human milk, were enriched in breast epithelial cells by a selective adsorption procedure. Confirmation of the identity of the breast epithelial cells was obtained immunohistochemically. These viable breast epithelial cells incorporated radioactively labeled acetate predominantly into fatty acids with less than 16C atoms. The presence of the two key enzymes characteristic of the medium-chain fatty acid biosynthetic pathway of nonruminants, fatty acid synthetase, and thioesterase II, was demonstrated both qualitatively, by immunohistochemistry, and quantitatively, by enzyme assay. The results indicate that the lipogenic system of the human breast is qualitatively very similar to that of rats, mice, and rabbits, which also secrete milk fats containing medium-chain fatty acids. Quantitatively, however, the mammary fatty acid biosynthetic pathway appears to be less active in humans than in these other species.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The significance of hypoalbuminemia following injury and infection.

Serum albumin and absolute hepatic albumin synthetic rates were measured in ten seriously ill injured and septic patients using the (14C) carbonate technique. Although it is commonly believed that serum albumin levels (SAL) reflect hepatic function and visceral protein status in hospitalized patients, no relationship was found between these two measured parameters in this patient population. A depressed mean serum albumin level of 1.98 +/- 0.50 gm/dl (range: 1.25-2.69 gm/dl) was associated with a supranormal mean albumin synthetic rate of 215 +/- 121 mg/kg/day (range: 21-447 mg/kg/d). No significant mean SAL and albumin synthetic rate differences were noted between injured nonseptic and septic patient populations. Since albumin synthesis was elevated in most of these stressed patients these findings support the view that extravascular protein redistribution and/or increased peripheral catabolism are the major factors responsible for hypoalbuminemia in critically ill patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Medical school forensic psychiatry units in health care delivery facilities rather than criminal justice institutions: an alternative model.

We have presented a model for developing forensic psychiatric treatment and teaching services of a medical school Department of Psychiatry, but where these services are the basic comprehensive health care delivery system for the entire community. These offer consultative and treatment services for adult and family court clinic, psychiatric forensic services, of forensic psychiatry open bed and medium security-type bed, as well as day hospital and outpatient services. All of these are sited in the normal health care delivery system of the university teaching hospitals and its patient treatment, teaching, and research facilities. Consultative services are offered on request to the criminal justice system, but the basic health care delivery system is controlled administratively by the ordinary university teaching hospital authorities and exists as a one of a kind unit at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. The Royal Ottawa Hospital is a private nonprofit hospital, with its own Board of Trustees, and is affiliated with the medical school, as part of a major university network. We believe it important to present this model for an overall forensic psychiatric service, in contradistinction to the more commonly established forensic psychiatric facilities in state mental hospitals, in a special facility for the criminally insane, or in a criminal justice system institution such as a penitentiary. We believe that our model for forensic psychiatric facilities has great advantages for the patient. Here the patient is treated in a specialized facility (as all psychiatric patients with specialized problems should be); but one which is a specialized forensic facility, within the range of specialized psychiatric facilities that are needed by an urban community.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Criminal Law↗
PubMed1984

Spleen size in chronic renal failure.

To investigate the cause of clinically detectable splenomegaly, which is common in patients receiving regular haemodialysis, splenic volume was assessed by isotopic scanning using intravenously injected technetium-99m microspheres in 34 controls and 149 patients with chronic renal failure. Of the patients, 16 had never received dialysis, 10 were undergoing continuous peritoneal dialysis, 94 were undergoing regular haemodialysis, and 29 had undergone successful renal transplantation more than nine months previously. Mean splenic volume was increased only in the patients who were receiving haemodialysis. Splenic enlargement was probably not due to iron overload as it occurred in all patients who had received haemodialysis, 14 of whom had not received intravenous iron. No patient had had hepatitis. Splenic enlargement was probably related to the process of haemodialysis itself and may have been due either to red cell damage produced by haemodialysis or to an immunological reaction induced by a component of haemodialysis, possibly ethylene oxide.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Use of a biothesiometer to measure individual vibration thresholds and their variation in 519 non-diabetic subjects.

A series of 519 non-diabetic subjects had vibration thresholds at three points measured using a biothesiometer. Thresholds appeared to be log normally distributed and increased with age. Centile charts of this relation were derived from the data giving a range for normal thresholds. The biothesiometer provides a quick and reliable assessment of vibration thresholds, which when related to the centile charts gives an objective measure of the progress of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Water purification and the incidence of fractures in patients receiving home haemodialysis supervised by a single centre: evidence for "safe" upper limit of aluminium in water.

Between 1968 and 1980 fractures occurred in 56 of 284 patients treated by home haemodialysis in the Sheffield area for longer than one year. Patients sustained four times as many fractures while using dialysate prepared with water containing more than 1.0 mumol aluminium per 1 (2.7 micrograms/100 ml) than while using water containing a smaller concentration. When aluminium was removed from water by deionisation the incidence of fractures diminished during the next year and no patient developed dialysis encephalopathy. These findings show that 1.0 mumol/l is a safe maximum concentration of aluminium in water for use in home haemodialysis. It can be detected by the colorimetric aluminium analyses used by many water authorities. When financial resources are limited it is expedient to reserve aluminium analyses by electrothermal atomic absorption for plasma from patients receiving regular haemodialysis. Ingestion of aluminium hydroxide contributes significantly to the increased plasma aluminium concentration of these patients.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1984

Effect of peripheral hearing loss on the masking level difference.

The effects of both symmetric and asymmetric peripheral hearing loss on the masking level difference (MLD) at 500 Hz were studied in 651 subjects with conductive or sensorineural hearing loss and 270 normal controls. The data supported the hypothesis that the modification in MLD due to peripheral hearing loss results from deterioration in threshold in the antiphasic condition. These results provide correction factors for the normal MLD range as functions of boundary frequency of sensorineural loss above 500 Hz and degree of both symmetric and asymmetric sensitivity loss at 500 Hz in both subjects with conductive hearing loss and those with sensorineural hearing loss.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

An unusual oral complication of herpes zoster infection.

This paper describes a complication of herpes zoster infection of the orofacial region involving a 15-year-old girl who, following herpes zoster of the right mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve at the age of 7 years, suffered abnormal development of the permanent teeth in this quadrant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Contralateral renal and ureteral displacement following flank incisional hernia.

A case is reported of contralateral displacement of the kidney and ureter due to a left flank incisional hernia following a simple nephrectomy for a staghorn calculus in a massively obese female. Two previously reported cases of pseudocrossed renal ectopia due to renal displacement from incisional hernias in obese females are reviewed.

Female↗