PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

C L Holmes

Publications and source records attributed to C L Holmes.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Color Doppler imaging of portosystemic shunts.

This study was designed to investigate the utility of color Doppler sonography in the evaluation of portosystemic shunts. Thirty-one patients with a total of 32 shunts were imaged. The types of shunts examined included portacaval, five; mesocaval, eight; distal splenorenal (Warren), 14; and mesoatrial, five. Sonography was performed without knowledge of the status of the shunt, although the type of shunt was known before beginning the study. The sonographic studies were evaluated to determine their sensitivity and specificity on the basis of a prospective comparison with angiography or MR imaging (22 cases). The possible advantages of color Doppler over duplex Doppler sonography in evaluating portosystemic shunts were also investigated, as was the ability of color Doppler sonography to image specifically the shunt anastomoses. Color Doppler sonography successfully inferred shunt patency (17 cases) or thrombosis (five cases) in all 22 shunts for which correlative imaging was available (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 100%). In comparing duplex with color Doppler sonography in all 32 shunts, the two techniques were almost equally effective in establishing patency in portacaval, mesocaval, and mesoatrial shunts. Duplex Doppler sonography, however, provided useful diagnostic information in only four of 14 splenorenal shunts. Color Doppler correctly inferred patency or thrombosis in all 14. Among all 32 shunts, the anastomosis was shown clearly by color Doppler in 23, probably in four, and not all in five. Our results suggest that color Doppler sonography is an excellent method for the evaluation of all varieties of surgically created portosystemic shunts. In particular, color Doppler sonography appears to be superior to duplex Doppler sonography in imaging splenorenal communications.

Adolescent

Comparative ratings of printed nutrition materials developed by industry and government producers.

The question of the appropriateness of using materials developed by industry in the nation's classrooms has been raised by educators for many years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of supplemental, printed nutrition materials developed by the food industry, food industry associations, and government agencies for the classroom. The quality of the materials was rated by three rater types: (1) classroom teachers; (2) curriculum specialists; and (3) nutrition specialists. Because the ratings were so varied, it was not possible to make a recommendation as to the overall appropriateness of using sponsored materials in the classroom. Some materials were rated very high; others were not so well reviewed. Educators need to review each item for its quality and appropriateness.

Curriculum

Venezuelan equine encephalitis vaccination survey in Arizona and New Mexico, 1972.

Field studies were conducted in 1972 to determine the immunization status of equines along the Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico borders. Interviews with horse owners were conducted along roads selected at random in the counties of Santa Cruz and Yuma, Ariz., and in Dona Ana County, N. Mex. At least 450 horse owners in each county were asked about the vaccination status of their animals, and information was taken on 1,260 animals. Blood specimens were obtained from every third equine, regardless of stated vaccination status, and tested for the presence of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), and eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) neutralization antibodies. Serum samples were collected from 446 equines in the 3-county area; only 227 (50.7 percent) had both a history of VEE vaccination in 1971 (including 20 vaccinated in 1972) and serum neutralization antibody against VEE. Of the remaining 220 with no detectable neutralization antibody to VEE, 197 (89.5 percent) had a history of VEE vaccination in 1971 (including 5 revaccinated in 1972), 14 (6.4 percent) had no history of vaccination, and 9 (4.1 percent) had an unknown vaccination status. Eighty-two percent (160 of 1971) of the equines with a history of VEE vaccination and presence of dectectable WEE or EEE antibodies, or both, had no detectable levels of VEE antibody. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the presence of WEE or EEE antibodies, or both, may suppress the development of dectable vaccine-induced VEE antibody response in the equine. As a result of this investigation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as an added precaution, recommended the revaccination of equines in areas of the United States bordering Mexico.

Animals