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Biomedical subjects

C Christenson

Publications and source records attributed to C Christenson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia patients, bipolar patients, and their siblings.

Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are believed to reflect abnormalities in fetal neurodevelopment. Several studies have shown that schizophrenia patients have more MPAs than normal controls, but little is known about the meaning of this increased rate of MPAs. The current study first attempted to determine whether the increased MPAs are associated with schizophrenia in particular or with psychosis in general. Second, the study tested whether the patients' siblings also show an increased rate of MPAs by assessing MPAs in schizophrenia patients, bipolar manic patients, the siblings from each group of patients, and normal controls. The schizophrenia patients had significantly more MPAs than normal controls and bipolar patients. The rate of MPAs in bipolar patients did not differ from normal controls. This pattern suggests that MPAs have some degree of specificity to schizophrenia. Both sibling groups had fewer MPAs than the patients, and this difference was significant for the comparison between schizophrenia patients and their siblings. When viewed within a vulnerability-stress model, the results are consistent with the theory that MPAs may reflect early, largely extra-genetic, stressful events.

Adult

The interpretation of office radiographs by family physicians.

This study prospectively compared the interpretations of family practice residents and faculty with those of radiologists on 532 office radiographs using a uniform protocol. A total of 136 family practice residents (44 first-year, 40 second-year, 52 third-year) and 42 full-time and part-time faculty participated in the study along with 30 radiologists. The mix of radiographs evaluated was as follows: 44 percent chest, 20 percent lower extremity, 6 percent head, 4 percent lumbosacral spine, 3 percent cervical-thoracic spine, and 3 percent abdomen-pelvis. Interpretation concordance rates between family physicians and radiologists, by level of training, were as follows: first-year residents 83.0 percent, second-year residents 84.4 percent, third-year residents 86.0 percent, and faculty 88.6 percent. Concordance after the resident and faculty preceptor discussed the film and provided a collaborative interpretation was 92.1 percent. This finding compares with previously reported error rates of 10 to 40 percent between experienced radiologists. Only 10.3 percent of the discordant readings (0.8 percent of all radiographs) contained significant discordancies that may have affected patient management or outcome. Had the family physicians been given the option to refer an x-ray film to the radiologist, all x-ray films containing significant discordancies would have been referred.

Adult

Frostbite.

Frostbite can cause loss of life and limbs. Proper treatment and follow-up care are essential in reducing morbidity and mortality. Management of the frostbite patient consists of three stages. Initial care includes protection of the extremity from trauma or partial thawing. The second stage consists of rapid rewarming in a whirlpool bath containing hot water, with continued protection of the tissues. The third stage is long-term care of the affected body parts.

Adolescent

Comparison of oblique closing base wedge osteotomies of the first metatarsal: stripping versus nonstripping of the periosteum.

The authors present a study comparing two methods of performing the oblique closing base wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal for correction of hallux abducto valgus deformity. In one group, the periosteum was stripped from the metatarsal prior to performing the osteotomy, and in the other group, the osteotomy was performed through the periosteum. Sixty-five osteotomies are included in the study. This article discusses the closing base wedge osteotomy, fracture healing and the role of the periosteum, the blood supply to the first metatarsal, and the effects of periosteal stripping. Also included is a presentation of the surgical technique used, a statistical review of the procedures performed, a critical discussion summarizing the results, and a discussion of the postoperative complications encountered.

Female