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Biomedical subjects

D G Sims

Publications and source records attributed to D G Sims.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Visual evoked-response correlates of speechreading performance in normal-hearing adults: a replication and factor analytic extension.

The relationship between the latency of the negative peak occurring at approximately 130 msec in the visual evoked-response (VER) and speechreading scores was investigated. A significant product-moment correlation of -.58 was obtained between the two measures, which confirmed the fundamental effect but was significantly weaker than that previously reported in the literature (-.90). Principal components analysis of the visual evoked-response waveforms revealed a previously undiscovered early VER component, statistically independent of the latency measure, which in combination with two other components predicted speechreading with a multiple correlation coefficient of .84. The potential significance of this new component for the study of individual differences in speechreading ability is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Outcome for newborn babies declined admission to a regional neonatal intensive care unit.

Between July 1979 and June 1980 the regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, received 170 requests from maternity units for the transfer of ill newborn babies. Most of the babies were suffering from respiratory failure. The initial request was declined in 65 babies because of overcrowding or lack of facilities at the NICU (n = 59), or because transfer was not justified on medical grounds (n = 6). Forty-two of the 65 babies were compelled to remain in the maternity unit because they could not be accommodated at hospitals with facilities for ventilating newborn babies. The neonatal survival rate of babies with respiratory failure who were transferred to the NICU was 66% whereas the survival rate of similar babies who were declined transfer was 30%. Our findings support the efficacy of intensive care for ill babies with respiratory failure and suggest that such facilities need to be more widely developed.

England↗
PubMed1981

Atopy does not predispose to RSV bronchiolitis or postbronchiolitic wheezing.

Twenty-six 8-year-old children who had had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infancy and their paired controls underwent skin and blood tests to assess the role of immunodeficiency and atopy in the pathogenesis of RSV bronchiolitis and the wheezing that may follow it. There was no difference between patients and controls in prevalence of atopy; positive results of prick tests to common antigens; eosinophil counts; yeast opsonisation defect; C2 deficiency; IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE concentrations; or IgE antibody to dermatophagoides, timothy-grass pollen, and cat fur. Those of the children who had had RSV bronchiolitis and who continued to wheeze had a slightly higher mean eosinophil count and levels of IgE antibody to dermatophagoides than those who did not wheeze. Exercise-induced bronchial lability, though higher in patients than controls, did not correlate significantly with eosinophil counts or IgE concentrations. The genetic factors predisposing to RSV bronchiolitis and postbronchiolitic wheezing may differ from those predisposing to atopic asthma, though exclusive breast feeding may protect against both.

Bronchiolitis, Viral↗
PubMed1981

A two year prospective study of hospital-acquired respiratory virus infection on paediatric wards.

Over a 24 month period on six paediatric wards of different designs 169 cases of possible hospital-acquired respiratory virus infection were investigated. A variety of viruses was isolated from 82 cases, the most common being respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, parainfluenza, adenoviruses and rhinoviruses. A further 73 children developed respiratory symptoms between 3 and 300 days after administration but viruses were not demonstrable by the techniques used. These children were thought to have hospital-acquired infection nonetheless. Thirteen children were shown not to have acquired infection as the cause of their intercurrent illness. Most acquired infections occurred where toddlers were in cots in open wards. Children with trauma, including non-accidental injury, congenital malformations, mental retardation, failure to thrive or neoplasia were most likely to become infected. Almost 20% of children suffered from croup or lower respiratory tract illness as a result of their acquired infection. The figure was 41% if those less than 12 months old were considered alone. Most episodes settled quickly but in a few children investigations or surgery were delayed for a few days.

Child↗
PubMed1979

Viruses and acute abdominal pain in childhood.

Children aged at least 4 years admitted to hospital with acute abdominal pain, excluding appendicitis, were investigated for the presence of viruses. Out of 181 children 29 were found with viruses of whom 18 had nonspecific abdominal pain. Eight others were found to have virus-like particles on electron microscopical examination of their faeces. Virus infections contribute to a small extent to nonspecific abdominal pain in childhood, but in many cases the cause remains unknown.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1978

Study of 8-year-old children with a history of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infancy.

Thirty-five children known to have had respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infancy were examined at the age of 8 and their respiratory function tested. The results were compared with those in 35 controls matched for age, sex, and social class. Although 18 of the children who had had bronchiolitis in infancy had experienced subsequent episodes of wheezing, these were neither severe nor frequent in most cases and had apparently ceased by the age of 8. Nevertheless, the mean exercise bronchial lability of the children who had had bronchiolitis was significantly higher than that of the control children and the mean peak expiratory flow rate at rest significantly lower. Atopy, assessed by family and personal history alone, did not seem to be related to either bronchiolitis or wheezing episodes after bronchiolitis. The parents of the children who had had bronchiolitis smoked significantly more cigarettes during the infant's first year of life than those of the control children. The results suggest that bronchiolitis and childhood asthma are not closely related. Bronchial hyperreactivity might be inherited independently of atopy, but environmental factors seem the most likely link between severe respiratory infection in infancy and chronic or recurrent respiratory illness in adult life.

Asthma↗
PubMed1977

Histiocytosis X; follow-up of 43 cases.

Over a 29-year period, 43 cases of histiocytosis X presented in children under the age of 12 years. 29 patients (67%) have survived, and of these, 15 (52%) have a detectable disability. It was confirmed that young age at presentation and evidence of soft tissue involvement were associated with a worse prognosis. The majority of deaths were associated with pulmonary involvement. 14 patients developed diabetes insipidus. 5 of the surviving adults have heights below the 3rd centile. Puberty usually occurred at a normal age. Follow-up studies on 12 survivors showed no evidence of residual abnormality of haematology, deficient lymphocyte function, or yeast opsonization. HLA typing showed no unusual pattern. Mild carbon monoxide diffusion deffects were present in 4 patients and other abnormalities were detected on lung function tests.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Respiratory syncytial virus infection in north-east England.

During a period covering four winter epidemics 987 respiratory syncytial (RS) virus infections were identified in the children's wards that served a total population of about 875 000 in north-east England. The incidence of admission to hospital with RS virus infection tended to be twice as high among children in Tyneside as that among children from the rest of the catchment area. The risk of hospital admission with RS virus infection in the first year of life for city children was about 1 in 50. The risk tended to be increased when there was a high proportion of children in the population, overcrowded housing, and unemployment. There was no clear relation between climatic changes and the onset or progress of epidemics. Thirteen deaths associated with RS virus infection were identified, four of them sudden and unexpected at home, and nine of them in children with congenital or acquired abnormalities. Twelve children were admitted twice with distinct RS virus infections; the relative severity of their two illnesses depended on age. Hospital cross-infection accounted for 60 of the 987 illnesses. Large families and overcrowding among poorer families seem to lead to a higher incidence of RS virus infection, and measures to reduce overcrowding and improve housing should help to reduce the spread of infection. Breast-feeding also protects infants from infection, but further information is needed to pinpoint the infants at greater risk and how they may best be protected.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1976

Breast-feeding protects against respiratory syncytial virus infections.

Eight out of 115 infants admitted to hospital with respiratory syncytial (RS) virus infection had been breast-fed compared with 46 out of 167 controls; this difference was statistically significant. Twenty-one specimens of human colostrum were examined, and all contained RS virus neutralising activity. Specific IgA and IgG were detected in 18 specimens, whereas IgM was detected in none. The titre of IgA antibody was usually higher and correlated more closely to the titre of neutralising activity than that of IgG. Infants inhale milk feeds and regurgitate them through the nose, and the IgA collecting in the respiratory tract might protect against severe respiratory infection. Alternatively, if severe RS virus illness is a sign of hypersensitivity to the virus breast-feeding might protect the infant from an early sensitising infection.

Adult↗