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Biomedical subjects

B Watson

Publications and source records attributed to B Watson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Physical, physiological and performance differences between Canadian national team and universiade volleyball players.

Volleyball has been described as an 'interval' sport with both anaerobic and aerobic components. At the higher skill levels, technical performance may be limited by physical characteristics as well as physical fitness, and performance characteristics such as speed and vertical jump. This investigation compared teams at the two uppermost levels of men's volleyball in Canada for differences in physical, physiological and performance characteristics. The subjects were members of the national (n = 15) and universiade teams (n = 24). The parameters examined included percent body fat, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), anaerobic power, bench press, 20-m sprint time and vertical jumping ability. The only significant difference in physical characteristics between the two teams was in age. Despite similarities in standing and reach height, the national team players had significantly higher block (3.27 vs 3.21 m) and spike (3.43 vs 3.39 m) jumps. An evaluation of anaerobic power measures produced similar power outputs during a modified Wingate test, yet the national team members had higher scores (P less than 0.05) for spike and block jump differences as well as 20-m sprint time. The large aerobic component of elite volleyball play was supported by the high VO2 max value recorded for the national team players (56.7 vs 50.3 ml kg-1 min-1). The results suggest that either years of specific physical conditioning and playing or the selection of individuals for the national team who possess more desirable characteristics as a consequence of genetic endowment, plays a significant role in the preparation of international calibre volleyball players.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1992

Safety and immunogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in 17- to 24-month-old children.

A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing 4 lots of acellular pertussis-diphtheria tetanus toxoids vaccine (APDT) to whole cell DTP vaccine in 397 children was conducted at 7 clinical centers. Children were immunized at 17 to 24 months of age and sera were obtained pre- and postimmunization. Sera were analyzed for antibody to pertussis antigens (pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, with a molecular weight of 69,000 (69k) outer membrane protein and agglutinogens) and to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Information concerning local reactions and systemic events was collected daily for 10 days postimmunization. The acellular vaccine produced significantly fewer local reactions than whole cell DTP. Parents reported that drowsiness or fretfulness occurred significantly less often in APDT vaccine recipients compared with whole cell DTP recipients. Fever greater than or equal to 38.3 degrees C occurred in 8% of APDT vaccine recipients and in 15% of whole cell DTP vaccine recipients (P = 0.06). The only significant difference in immune response to pertussis antigens between the two vaccines was for filamentous hemagglutinin (P less than 0.01) for which significantly higher antibody concentrations were found in the APDT vaccine group. We conclude that this APDT vaccine is safe and immunogenic when administered as a booster dose to 18-month-old children.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

Safety and immunogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccine, combined with diphtheria and tetanus as the Japanese commercial Takeda vaccine, compared with the Takeda acellular pertussis component combined with Lederle's diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in two-, four- and six-month-old infants.

A double blind, randomized, controlled trial compared the safety and immunogenicity of an acellular pertussis vaccine formulated at Lederle using the Takeda acellular pertussis component combined with Lederle diphtheria and tetanus toxoids vaccines (APDT), with the commercially available Japanese Takeda vaccine (APDT-T/J) as a three-dose series to 2-, 4-, and 6-month-old children. Sera were analyzed for antibody to pertussis antigens: lymphocytosis-promoting factor; filamentous hemagglutinin; 69-kDa outer membrane protein; pertussis agglutinogens; neutralizing antibodies to LPF; and to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Information concerning local reactions and systemic events were collected daily for 10 days postimmunization. The overall reaction rate was low for both groups. There were no reactions that contraindicated subsequent vaccine and no serious adverse events. For local reactions statistically significant differences between the groups were seen only for a greater incidence of induration in the APDT group at 2 months (12% vs. 0%, P < 0.01), and at 4 months (8% vs. 0%, P = 0.4) compared to the APDT-T/J group. Of the few systemic reactions the only statistically significant difference between the vaccine groups was a greater incidence of fretfulness in the APDT group after the initial immunization (12% vs. 2%, P = 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the immune response between the two vaccines at the 7-month visit. We conclude that APDT is equivalent to the commercially available Takeda vaccine (APDT-T/J).

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of acellular and whole-cell pertussis-component diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines in infants. The APDT Vaccine Study Group.

In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, longitudinal study, 252 children received licensed Lederle diphtheria-tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine adsorbed (DTP) at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, and 245 children received a DTP vaccine with the Lederle/Takeda acellular pertussis component (APDT) at the same ages. Both groups of children received APDT vaccine at 18 months of age. After each of the first three immunizations, APDT vaccine recipients had fewer local and systemic reactions than did DTP vaccinees. Reactions after the 18-month APDT vaccination were minimal in severity regardless of the vaccine previously received. Antibody responses to lymphocytosis-promoting factor and agglutinogens were more pronounced in DTP recipients; however, APDT recipients had a better serologic response to filamentous hemagglutinin, and responses to the 69K protein were equivalent. This APDT vaccine produces fewer reactions than the standard whole-cell DTP vaccine. The protective significance of the serologic responses to the APDT vaccine is unknown, but the greater response to filamentous hemagglutinin and equivalent response to the 69K protein compared with those to DTP vaccine seem promising.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1990

Cell-mediated immune responses after immunization of healthy seronegative children with varicella vaccine: kinetics and specificity.

Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were determined in seronegative children immunized with live attenuated Oka strain varicella vaccine. At 2 weeks after immunization, 80% of children had detectable lymphocyte proliferation to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigens, while only 40% had antibodies to VZV as detected by ELISA. By 6 weeks after immunization, 97% of children seroconverted, and 95% of these responded to VZV antigens in the proliferation assay. A high proportion of immunized children also responded in the proliferation assay to purified glycoproteins I, II, and III of VZV. These results indicate that most children develop a broad cell-mediated immune response to VZV antigens within weeks after immunization with varicella vaccine.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1990

Successful late treatment of venous air embolism with hyperbaric oxygen.

A case of haemodialysis-associated venous air embolism is described. The patient commenced hyperbaric oxygen therapy 21 hours after the event when, despite appearing decerebrate, he made a complete recovery. This case underlines the importance of all clinicians being aware of those centres with facilities for hyperbaric therapy and the need to refer all patients with cerebral air embolism even following a prolonged delay.

Embolism, Air↗
PubMed1990

Systems architecture for quantification of dynamic myoelectric and kinematic activity of the human vocal tract.

This paper describes a systems architecture useful for scientific investigations that require the acquisition and analysis of multiple, time-synchronous signals in large volume. The architecture has recently been developed by this group to enhance our capability to research and quantify central nervous system function in the production of normal and pathologic speech. The architecture utilizes modern advances in desktop microcomputers and has been designed so that vocal motor control laboratories (or similar settings) with modest funding can more fully participate in comprehensive investigations of speech production. Research experiments organized with this architecture may involve many more subjects and measures than previously possible without significant increases in time and personnel resources. This paper will demonstrate the technique and practicality of this architecture as it is being used to successfully guide research to map hierarchic central nervous system regions of involvement in two speech disorders: spasmodic dysphonia and stuttering. The architecture has broad usefulness to many areas of otolaryngology and health science.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A study of haemoglobin levels in women before and after childbirth.

This retrospective study addresses the question of the use of Syntometrine given routinely following delivery in women who have normal childbirth. From case records 50 primiparous and 50 multiparous women were studied, half of each group having Syntometrine and half no Syntometrine. The haemoglobin at booking and three days after delivery was recorded. There were no statistically significant findings between the four groups in terms of the differences in haemoglobin levels at the time of booking and after delivery.

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of delayed- and non-union of fractures using pulsed electromagnetic fields.

A prospective series of 32 consecutive patients, with 33 long-bone fractures suffering from delayed- or non-union were treated by pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) or by PEMF with surgery. The management regime for the PEMF treatment was simpler and less rigid than that reported by Bassett et al. and our stimulation waveform was also different. Nineteen fractures (100%) treated with surgery and PEMF united within nine months of the commencement of PEMF treatment. Fourteen fractures were treated with PEMF alone. Twelve (86%) united within ten months and two failed to unite. The results of this study suggest that the stimulating waveform is less critical than is claimed by Bassett et al. and that a simpler and easier management regime for PEMF treatment can be just as effective. Alternatively PEMF may have no effect on fracture healing.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Direct wet mounts versus concentration for routine parasitological examination: are both necessary?

The authors evaluated the usefulness of direct wet mount microscopic examination of stool samples for routine parasitologic diagnosis compared with formalin-ethyl acetate concentration detection. Over a three-year period, there were no instances in which an intestinal parasite was detected only by the direct wet mount examination. Elimination of routine direct wet mount examinations can reduce laboratory cost and save significant technologist time without decreasing the sensitivity of microscopic examinations for common parasitic agents.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1987

Anonymous reports of child physical abuse: are they as serious as reports from other sources?

Anonymous reports of child physical abuse were compared to reports made by professionals and by nonprofessionals on three characteristics: substantiation rate, seriousness of substantiated incidents, and severity of allegations. Data pertinent to the characteristics were abstracted from 1,207 reports made to the Baltimore City Department of Social Services during 1983. Results suggest that reports made by anonymous sources are more likely to be unfounded than reports made by the other two sources. However, despite the lower substantiation rate, those few anonymous reports (15.5%) that do get substantiated seem to represent equally as serious incidents of physical abuse as founded reports from the other two sources. An attempt to explain the lower substantiation rate of anonymous reports in terms of seriousness of allegations reveals that professional but not nonprofessional reporters make more serious allegations than anonymous reporters. Discussion focuses on drawing conclusions about anonymous reports from existing knowledge and recommendations for future research.

Child↗
PubMed1986

A comparison of the clinico-pathological features with stool pathogens in patients hospitalised with the symptom of diarrhoea.

The clinico-pathological features of 515 adult patients admitted to a major Regional Infectious Diseases Unit in United Kingdom with the symptom complex of diarrhoea were compared to the pathogens detected in their stool specimens. Routine clinical examination supported by basic pathological and laboratory investigations identified 138 (28%) in whom the cause of diarrhoea was extragastrointestinal or non-infectious gastrointestinal. Of the 351 patients (72%) with infectious gastroenteritis 72 (21%) had campylobacter, 59 (17%) had salmonella (22% bacteraemic) and 16 (5%) shigella. Clostridium difficile toxin accounted for a further 15 (4%)--antibiotics had been the antecedent cause in only one half of these. Routine microscopical examination of the faeces for red and white cells distinguished many with "culture positive" diarrhoea from those with "culture negative" infectious diarrhoea. Although there are no clinico-pathological features which are unique to a particular pathogen and unequivocally suggest a particular pathogen, certain features did tend to present more often in association with particular microorganisms, and this knowledge may suggest a bacterial diagnosis whilst awaiting the definitive results of stool microbiology. These features include prior antimicrobial therapy with positive sigmoidoscopical/histological features: Cl. difficile; protracted diarrhoea in elderly severely dehydrated patients: salmonellosis; foreign travel in males with bloody diarrhoea: shigellosis; abdominal pain in younger patients with a small degree of vomiting: campylobacteriosis. Early diagnosis may then prove useful in rationalizing initial therapy, particularly the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Contemporary gastroenteritis of infancy: clinical features and prehospital management.

In a prospective survey carried out over 12 months 447 children aged under 2 years were admitted to the Manchester Regional Infectious Diseases Unit for treatment of gastroenteritis. Comparison of the children with those in a survey 15 years previously in the same unit showed that the illness was milder than in the earlier series, with no deaths and with lower incidences of hypernatraemia (1%), uraemia (8%), and dehydration (14%). These improved findings occurred despite several deficiencies of care in the prehospital phase of the illness, particularly poor compliance with the widely recommended guidelines for fluid and dietary management in infantile gastroenteritis.

Child, Preschool↗