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Biomedical subjects

W Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to W Phillips.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The association of assimilation and an increase in visibility in perceptual grouping.

Subjects performed a series of forced-choice discriminations to determine whether both group-assimilation and group-visibility associations could be obtained from nearly identical strong and weak group patterns. The discrimination between the context+target square and the context [symbol: see text] was better than between the target- and background, as was the case for --, whose context and target components were its left and right halves, but not for [symbol: see text]. Square and -- produced a better performance when their lines (halves) were the same in color, and a poorer performance when their lines were different in color, but [symbol: see text] produced the reverse. Likewise, only square and -- produced a better performance when closed, and a poorer performance when open. These context+target etc., same-different, and closure results argue that square and -- produced a greater increase in visibility of their component --, more assimilation among their parts, and a stronger group than did [symbol: see text]. This evidence of a group-assimilation-visibility association cannot be attributed to the fortuitous occurrence of an increase in visibility with one object, assimilation with a second, and closure with a third, unlike previous evidence. This association cannot be explained by feature-based theories. Therefore, a superordinate unit is the cause of this association.

Choice Behavior↗
PubMed1995

Relative changes in blood flow with functional electrical stimulation during exercise of the paralyzed lower limbs.

Eight spinal cord injured (SCI) patients performed three sets of exercise with two conditions, 60% and 80% of VO2peak, with an arm crank ergometer. Functional neuromuscular stimulation was used to induce static leg contractions in two of the above sets of exercise. The three exercise sets were performed with no functional neuromuscular stimulation (NOS); with functional neuromuscular stimulation at 40 milliamperes; and with functional neuromuscular stimulation at 80 milliamperes (HIS). The lower limb blood flow was estimated by a photoelectric plethysmograph. Results showed that the lower limb blood flow was consistently reduced across both functional neuromuscular stimulation levels (17.4% from NOS to LOS; 13.8% from LOS to HIS; and 28.8% from NOS to HIS), and work loads (15.3% from rest to 60% VO2peak; 38.0% from 60% VO2peak to 80% VO2peak; and 47.5% from rest to 80% VO2peak). Rate-pressure product was decreased by 8.3% between NOS and HIS at 60% VO2peak (15.7 +/- 3.4 to 14.4 +/- 3.8), by 6.8% between NOS and HIS at 80% VO2peak (18.9 +/- 53 to 17.6 +/- 4.8), and by 12.4% between LOS and HIS at 80% VO2peak (20.1 +/- 6.7 to 17.6 +/- 4.8). These data indicate that in SCI (a) functional neuromuscular stimulation-induced contractions of the lower limb muscles can increase blood flow and thus reduce venous blood pooling in the paralyzed muscles, and (b) such improvements are associated with a reduced rate pressure product.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Treating people as objects, agents, or "subjects": how young children with and without autism make requests.

A procedure previously used to investigate imperative communication in non-human primates was applied to young children, some of whom had autism. The goal was to examine closely how requests are made in a problem-solving situation. Each child's spontaneous strategies to obtain an out-of-reach object were analyzed in terms of the ways in which he or she used the adult who was present. Results showed that fewer children with autism used a strategy of treating the person as a "subject", and that more children with autism used object-centred strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Arm crank exercise with static leg FNS in persons with spinal cord injury.

Persons with spinal cord injury experience considerable difficulty, during aerobic exercise, in achieving even moderate levels of oxygen uptake. Therefore, the effect of static functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) on this parameter during arm crank exercise (ACE) was investigated. Eight subjects with spinal cord injury, lesion levels range C6-T12, performed ACE at 60% and 80% of VO2peak, both with and without concurrent FNS of the lower limbs. ACE was performed with no FNS, with FNS at 40 milliamperes (mA), and with FNS at 80 mA. Significant differences in oxygen uptake were found between ACE without FNS and ACE with FNS-80 mA at 60% VO2peak (10% increase, 12.5 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 13.7 ml.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.05), and between ACE without FNS and ACE with FNS-80 mA at 80% VO2peak (16%, increase, 14.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 17.2 ml.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.01). A 10% difference between ACE without FNS and ACE with FNS-40 mA, did not reach significance. These data indicate that, in this population of subjects with spinal cord injury, (a) FNS can increase submaximal ACE oxygen uptake, and (b) that such increases are enhanced both at higher levels of FNS and of work load. Implications for wellness are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Psychometric properties of the children's atypical development scale.

The Children's Atypical Development Scale (CADS) is a 53-item rating scale designed to measure unusual behaviors in children. Principal-factor analysis on a clinic-referred and pediatric sample of 474 children resulted in a four-factor solution: Communication Deficits, Lability, Social Relatedness Deficits, and Preoccupation. The CADS is internally consistent and has adequate temporal stability. CADS factor scores were differentially associated with parent and teacher rating scales, IQ, and Continuous Performance Test errors. The scale shows promise as a clinical and research tool for assessing atypical behaviors associated with pervasive developmental disorder and other neurobehavioral disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Low intelligence but not attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is associated with resistance to thyroid hormone caused by mutation R316H in the thyroid hormone receptor beta gene.

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a syndrome of reduced responsiveness of tissues to thyroid hormone. The clinical manifestations are variable and 46-50% of children with RTH have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD). We present a new family with RTH (F120) found to have a mutation R316H in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR beta) gene identical for that reported in an unrelated family. Assignment of the mutant allele and haplotyping based on CA repeat polymorphism were done on 16 family members. Semistructured diagnostic interviews and psychometric testing were used to determine the psychiatric diagnosis of 12 family members by examiners blinded to the genotype. Three subjects were identified to have the R316H allele as well as mildly elevated free T4 index (168 +/- 12; normal range 77-135) and nonsuppressed TSH (4.1 +/- 1.7 mU/L). Only 2 of the subjects with RTH were found to have ADD, while one family member homozygous for the wild type TR beta and normal thyroid function tests also had ADD. Unaffected family members had higher full scale intelligence quotients (IQ) (93 +/- 7) than any of the 3 family members with RTH (77 +/- 5, p = 0.006). These data do not support the genetic linkage of ADD and RTH, but do suggest that RTH is associated with lower IQ scores that may confer a high likelihood of exhibiting ADD symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effect of sympathetic block demonstrated by triple-phase bone scan.

The triple-phase bone scan is frequently used in the diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy although the etiology of the abnormal findings is not well established. This study evaluated the effect of increased blood flow secondary to sympathetic block on the triple-phase bone scan. In 15 reflex sympathetic dystrophy patients, all of whom had significant relief with sympathetic block, baseline and postsympathetic block bone scans were analyzed. There was a significant linear relationship between change in counts from baseline to postsympathetic block on the blood pool image and bone uptake image. As the blood pool and bone uptake counts increased, the likelihood of typical reflex sympathetic dystrophy findings on visual inspection also increased. These results strongly support the concept of increased vascular flow as the cause of increased periarticular uptake.

Autonomic Nerve Block↗
PubMed1988

Reproducibility of the measurement of plasma noradrenergic and dopaminergic metabolites in normal subjects.

The object of this study was to determine the reproducibility of the measurement of plasma catecholamine metabolites in normal control subjects and to assess the influence of factors such as time of day, diet, activity, blood pressure, and mood on the variance of these measures. Plasma free homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) were simultaneously measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Samples were collected from 15 doctors and nurses at 8 a.m. and at noon on 2 separate days. After the fasting 8 a.m. sample, the subjects ate a regular hospital breakfast. Activity in their usual tasks on an inpatient psychiatric unit was monitored electronically by an activity meter. Levels of each metabolite were not significantly different between days at the respective assay times and were highly correlated for individuals. MHPG showed a significant increase from morning to noon, while HVA showed a significant decrease. Activity, dietary intake of tyrosine and tyramine, blood pressure, pulse, scores on the Profile of Mood States, age, and sex were not related to plasma levels. The results demonstrate that measures of dopamine and norepinephrine metabolites have significant reliability in normal subjects in a setting used for research studies with psychiatric patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The epidemiology of childhood scalds in Brisbane.

Scald injuries in Brisbane have shown a stable pattern over the past 5 years which is similar to that of other Australian cities. The great majority of scald accidents occur to children between 1 and 2 years of age, between the hours of 1600 and 1900, in the home of the average Australian family while both parents are in attendance. The kitchen and bathroom are the sites of most scalds, with the hot cup of tea the greatest offender.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1984

Turner's syndrome: assessment and treatment for adult psychiatric patients.

Turner's Syndrome and its associated problems are discussed. The developmental/adaptational difficulties surrounding Turner's Syndrome necessitate a comprehensive treatment approach, with a special emphasis on psychological assessment of "space-form blindness." A case history of assessment and treatment is presented to illustrate this approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effects of metabolic inhibitors on spontaneous and interferon-boosted human natural killer cell activity.

Human natural killer (NK) cell activity can be augmented by pretreatment with partially purified preparations of human interferon (IF). Studies have now been performed to determine the metabolic processes required for and involved in spontaneous NK activity and augmentation of cytotoxicity. A 4-hr 51Cr release cellular cytotoxicity assay was used to measure the NK activity, and peripheral blood leukocyte cells (PBL) were treated with: a) x-ray or mitomycin C; b) actinomycin D; or c) emetine, cycloheximide, pactamyhcin, or puromycin to assess the roles of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, respectively, in spontaneous NK activity and in boosting by IF. Prolonged incubation (18 hr) of PBL after blockage of synthesis of DNA almost completely abrogated NK activity; however, NK activity could be partially or totally restored to these populations by incubation of the effector cells for 1 hr at 37 degrees C with IF. Blockage of DNA synthesis for 1 hr had no effect on spontaneous NK activity or on boosting by IF. Inhibition of RNA synthesis also had no effect on spontaneous NK activity. Treatment of PBL with actinomycin before exposure to IF prevented boosting, but treatment with the RNA synthesis inhibitor after boosting with IF for 5 to 6 hr no longer had an appreciable effect on cytotoxicity. The effect of protein synthesis inhibitors on spontaneous NK activity was dependent on the inhibitor selected. Emetine and puromycin totally abrogated spontaneous NK activity at concentrations of inhibitor that blocked 3H-leucine incorporation 90% or more. In contrast, cycloheximide and pactamycin had only minimal effects on spontaneous NK activity but totally abrogated the boosting of IF.

Cycloheximide↗