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Biomedical subjects

D H James

Publications and source records attributed to D H James.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Antipsychotic medication, psychiatric diagnosis and children with intellectual disability: a 12-year follow-up study.

This study is a follow-up to an original survey carried out in the early 1980s of all children with an identified intellectual disability in Cornwall, England. The purpose of this second study was to review the use of antipsychotic medication in these children and to relate it to their various diagnoses. This is a relatively under-researched area, and the few comparable studies in children have not been designed to specify diagnoses, psychiatric or otherwise. A positive relationship between the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders in children and the use of antipsychotic medication was one of the important findings which emerged from the research. The possible reasons for this association are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Humor: a holistic nursing intervention.

The stressors of illness, together with the stressors of modern life, challenge the coping skills of all clients. Humor can be an important tool in a holistic approach to coping with illness. Despite this, the use of humor as a nursing intervention is not yet common. This article explores the physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual effects of humor and suggests situations for which humor may be helpful. The skills needed by the nurse to use humor are described. Methods for client assessment and ways to implement and evaluate humor are also discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Mineral spirits inhalation associated with hemolysis, pulmonary edema, and ventricular fibrillation.

A previously healthy 42-year-old woman developed severe dyspnea, chest discomfort, and malaise several hours after prolonged exposure to concentrated vapors from mineral spirits. On the way to the hospital, she sustained a cardiopulmonary arrest; on arrival several minutes later, she was found to be in ventricular fibrillation and was resuscitated. Her hospital course included slowly resolving cardiac abnormalities, amnesia, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, abrupt hemolytic anemia, sustained rhabdomyolysis, and other metabolic abnormalities. It is highly probable that this syndrome represented acute and near-lethal toxicity caused by the inhalational exposure to the petroleum distillate known as mineral spirits. It is important that physicians be aware of this syndrome in order to recognize it on presentation and to warn patients of the risk of such toxic exposure.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1987

Two-dimensional ultrasonic tissue characterization: backscatter power, endocardial wall motion, and their phase relationship for normal, ischemic, and infarcted myocardium.

To understand the possible differences in reflected ultrasonic energy from normal, ischemic, and infarcted myocardium, we studied 20 open-chest dogs with a commercially available two-dimensional ultrasonic scanner. Echocardiographic radiofrequency images of anterior myocardium were obtained serially during complete coronary occlusion for 2 hr (n = 15) or 5 hr (n = 10), or after temporary coronary clamping for 15 min with release for 1 hr (n = 5). We investigated two variables: the cyclic backscatter power and the phase difference among endocardial wall motion (EWM), cyclic backscatter power (BSP), and left ventricular pressure (LVP). The cyclic BSP decreased from a control (nonischemic) level of 5.1 +/- 0.8 to 2.3 +/- 0.7 dB during ischemia (up to 30 min after coronary ligation). The phase difference between the EWM and BSP progressed from a control (nonischemic) value of 38 +/- 20 to 115 +/- 23 degrees during ischemia. For the infarction period (2 to 5 hr after coronary ligation), the cyclic BSP progressively returned toward baseline control levels to 4.0 +/- 1.2 dB, but the phase had increased further to 170 +/- 28 degrees. The reperfusion study showed a similar decrease in cyclic BSP and an increase in phase after arterial clamping and both returned to near-normal nonischemic values upon arterial release. Simultaneous LVP recordings were performed to assess the phase contribution of endocardial dyskinesis to the total phase difference measurement. At 5 hr the dyskinesis had contributed 46% to the total phase difference, while the backscatter power contributed 54%. However, the EWM contribution occurred immediately while BSP contribution changed progressively during the 5 hr study period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Neuroleptics and epilepsy in mentally handicapped patients.

A retrospective investigation of mentally handicapped inpatients showed that neuroleptic treatment did not precipitate fits in patients without a past history of convulsions when low to moderate dosages were used. However, neuroleptic treatment did increase the number of fits in certain patients with a history of epilepsy who were receiving inadequate anticonvulsant medication or whose fits were poorly controlled despite adequate anticonvulsant levels. Guidelines for clinical practice drawn from these findings are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Two-dimensional ultrasonic variation in myocardium throughout the cardiac cycle.

This study was performed to investigate the two-dimensional unprocessed radiofrequency (rf) ultrasonic backscatter from myocardium throughout the cardiac cycle. Eleven mongrel dogs underwent left lateral thoracotomy and had two-dimensional echocardiographic studies performed using a 5 MHz transducer. Regions of interest, selected to encompass a portion of the myocardium, were transported at 33 ms intervals to a host computer and disc. Results show a reproducible cyclic variation in backscatter power throughout the cardiac cycle for the anterior wall. The backscatter power was highest during diastolic relaxation and lowest during systolic contraction. The average change was 4.5 dB.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Patterns of primary care that create dependency.

Significant moral tension exists between attempts to address the medical problems of children in the public primary care clinic and the impact of these efforts on the self-reliance of children and families in providing for their own health care needs. We describe and demonstrate dependency-inducing practices. We discuss the moral reasons why such practices should be strictly limited, as well as the exceptional circumstances in which they are appropriate. These moral concerns suggest changes in how we provide clinic services, which we demonstrate by reference to common practices, such as providing free services, following up on missed appointments, and making arrangements for families with outside agencies. We argue that the mistakes of colonialism may be repeated unless enhancing the self-reliance of families becomes a major goal in the clinic setting.

Attitude to Health↗