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Biomedical subjects

D Bishop

Publications and source records attributed to D Bishop.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Perception and awareness of phonemes in phonologically impaired children.

Fourteen phonologically impaired children and 14 normally speaking controls were given tests of speech discrimination, in which they had to distinguish between similar phonemes, and tasks of rhyme judgement and matching words on the basis of their initial phoneme, which require the child to identify the same sounds across differing word contexts. Compared to the control group, children with phonological impairment were poor on the phoneme discrimination tasks, but there was wide variation in performance and seven of these children scored near ceiling levels. All children showed some ability to discriminate contrasts they could not produce. Substantial deficits were found in the ability of phonologically impaired children to identify phoneme constancy across differing word contexts. It is difficult to explain such findings in terms of impaired auditory discrimination. Results are discussed in relation to normal phonological development, and it is suggested that phonologically impaired children do not progress to the stage of analysing words at the level of the phoneme.

Adolescent

The relationship between the perception of social support and post-stroke depression in hospitalized patients.

In our study we examined the relationship between the perceived adequacy of social support and post-stroke depression in 76 hospitalized Australian patients. Social support or the perception of its lack, particularly from a spouse care-giver, was associated significantly with both the presence and severity of depressive disorder. Furthermore, depressed patients who perceived their support to be inadequate had a longer duration of depressive illness than depressed patients who perceived their support in a more favorable light. We conclude that following stroke, perception of social support from key relationships may mediate the emotional response to this life crisis. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological

The impact of diabetes in Minnesota--1988.

To assess the impact of diabetes and its complications, state statistics and rates adjusted to Minnesota's population were reported for 1988. We estimate that there were 87,110 persons with diagnosed diabetes and an additional 82,920 with undiagnosed diabetes. There were 556 deaths for which diabetes was reported as the underlying cause. Although diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in Minnesota, its full impact is not measured by mortality alone, but in combination with the morbidity and disability that it causes. Several statistics and estimates help portray the full impact of the disease and its complications.

Cause of Death

Torsades de Pointes.

Torsades de Pointes (T.D.P.) is a ventricular dysrhythmia that is a commonly undiagnosed condition seen within Critical Care areas of most Major Metropolitan Hospitals. It is a condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Experience has shown a lack of understanding of the clinical features and the treatment of this particular life threatening dysrhythmia. This paper was compiled to increase the awareness of the health professional of Torsades de Pointes, covering areas of physiologic mechanisms, clinical features, causes of the dysrhythmia and most importantly treatment, whether it be mechanical, drug therapy or a combination of both. Controversial issues have been raised and are discussed in this paper including the use of Magnesium Sulphate as first line treatment.

Electrocardiography

Interdisciplinary perspectives on mechanisms and management of low back pain.

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the most pervasive and costly problems facing medicine today. In addition to personal suffering, CLBP accounts for a greatly disproportionate amount of consumer health care over-utilization, employee absenteeism, lowered work productivity, disability and compensation payments. Recent research in the area has called attention to the complex nature of the problem and the need for an interdisciplinary approach to identification and management. Toward this end, a panel of health care professionals with skill in the assessment and treatment of chronic pain was convened on November 17, 1988. Sponsored by the Institute for Behavioral Medicine in Providence and with funding from the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Stroke and Trauma Program, the purpose of the panel discussion was to bring together clinicians and researchers from distinctly different specialties but who all work with CLBP patients. Topics of discussion included etiology, current status of medical diagnostics and treatments for chronic pain, conceptual and systems issues, and directions for future research.

Back Pain

Alpha-amanitin resistant transcription of protein coding genes in insect and bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei.

The variant cell surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene expression sites of the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei are transcribed by an unusual alpha-amanitin resistant RNA polymerase. All other protein coding genes of T.brucei examined to date are transcribed by an alpha-amanitin sensitive RNA polymerase, presumably RNA polymerase II. We now show that transcription of protein coding genes by alpha-amanitin resistant RNA polymerases is not unique to the bloodstream form expressed VSG gene expression sites, but also occurs in insect form trypanosomes, which do not express VSG genes. In insect form trypanosomes transcription of the procyclin or PARP genes is resistant to alpha-amanitin to a degree comparable with that of VSG and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Comparison of the alpha-amanitin resistantly transcribed PARP and VSG gene families shows that they both produce one of the most abundant mRNAs [1-3% of poly(A)+] and they both encode the major cell surface proteins of their respective life cycle stages. Transcription of a subset of functionally comparable protein coding genes is thus mediated by an RNA polymerase which differs from the regular RNA polymerase II.

Amanitins

Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in human renal carcinoma demonstrated by immunohistochemistry.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) in man comprise at least four gene families. Three of these families give rise to cytosolic isoenzymes (alpha, mu and pi classes), whilst the remainder is membrane bound and has been called microsomal GST. These enzymes are implicated in tumourogenesis and both pi class GST and alpha class GST have been described in four cases of human renal cell carcinoma. Using specific polyclonal rabbit antisera we have demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that all 12 renal carcinomas studied contained GST pi. Most tumours also contained GST alpha, GST mu and microsomal GST isoenzymes but their distribution was heterogeneous and sometimes very focal. This heterogeneity of GST isoenzyme distribution within tumours has not been well documented previously, but is relevant to our understanding of the functions of GST, and to the interpretation of biochemical quantification experiments using tissue extracts.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell

DSM-III and clinically identified problems as a guide to treatment.

Problems, DSM-III diagnoses, and treatment interventions were coded from the problem-oriented medical records of an acute psychiatric hospital. Problems and diagnoses were entered into separate stepwise multiple regression analyses to test their ability to predict 24 treatment interventions. Significant predictors were then included in a combined analysis. Both DSM-III diagnoses and problems were robust and significant indicators of medication treatments. Both were better predictors of medication than were problems and DSM-II diagnoses in an earlier study. With regard to psychosocial interventions, problems were better indicators than were DSM-III diagnoses, although neither was robust. Both were less useful as predictors of psychosocial interventions than in the earlier study. Overall, the combination of problems and diagnoses was generally superior in predictive power to either alone. These results suggest that problem nomenclature should include DSM-III diagnoses. Alternatively, DSM-III should be revised to accommodate some of the greater specificity and range of a problem nomenclature.

Hospitalization

Diabetes mellitus and neuropathy following Vacor ingestion in man.

Two patients ingested Vacor, a rodenticide containing the active ingredient N-3 pyridylmethyl-N'-p-nitrophenyl urea. Both patients developed ketosis-prone diabetes mellitus and severe autonomic neuropathy. Niacinamide therapy given nine hours after Vacor ingestion in one patient and 14 hours after ingestion in the other was not successful in preventing these sequelae. Physicians need to be aware of the toxicity of Vacor, and the potential therapeutic benefit of early niacinamide therapy.

Adult

A study of transrectal aspiration biopsies of the prostate, with particular regard to prognostic evaluation.

We studied 182 transrectal aspiration biopsies of the prostate primarily to evaluate the reliability of cytologic grading as a method to determine the biological malignancy of prostatic cancer. The technique and cytologic grading are described in detail. All patients with clinical cancer of the prostate were assessed as to whether the disease was stable or progressive. A comparison was made between the clinical assessment and the cytologic grading of the prostatic material. The results show that the patients whose disease was assessed as stable tended to have a high cytologic grade and those assessed as progressive had a low cytologic grade. The importance of this method as a possible prognostic indicator is emphasized.

Adenocarcinoma

On the uses of diversity.

An examination is made of the uses of diversity in medical library activities and personnel. This concept is extended also to the broader field of librarianship and to some forecasts of future directions for medical libraries.

Computers