Biomedical subjects
D Wilkins
Publications and source records attributed to D Wilkins.
Primary writing tremor and myoclonic writer's cramp.
Four patients with primary writing tremor had a focal, task-specific tremor that responded to anticholinergic drugs. Physiologic features included EMG activity alternating in antagonist muscles, 5- to 20-microV cerebral potentials evoked by stretch of pronator teres, and no C-reflexes. Another patient had myoclonic jerks of the forearm on attempts to write ("myoclonic writer's cramp") that also responded to anticholinergic drugs; EMG activity appeared synchronously or alternating in antagonist muscles. These disorders have features of dystonia and enlarge the spectrum of writer's cramp.
Breakdown of mucin and plant polysaccharides in the human colon.
To obtain an estimate of the extent to which complex carbohydrates are degraded by bacteria in the human colon, aqueous extracts of colon contents from four human subjects were separated into high and low molecular weight fractions by chromatography on a Sephadex G-100 column. The composition of these fractions was compared with the composition of similar fractions from ileal contents, i.e., from material entering the colon. In all four subjects, high molecular weight carbohydrate concentrations were lower in the colon than in the ileum, indicating that breakdown of complex carbohydrate occurs in the colon. The high molecular weight carbohydrate fraction contained sugars characteristic of plant polysaccharides (arabinose, xylose, mannose, rhamnose) as well as sugars characteristic of mucin (fucose, hexosamines, sialic acids). Concentrations of most of these sugars were uniformly lower in the colon than in the ileum. Since high molecular weight protein concentrations were lower in the colon than in the ileum of two of the four subjects tested, some degradation of protein may also occur in the colon.
Qualitative and quantitative histochemical changes in the caecum and liver of turkeys infected with Histomonas meleagridis.
Changes in the amount and distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase, glycogen, lipid and acid mucopolysaccharide in the caecal wall and liver of turkey poults infected with Histomonas meleagridis have been studied histochemically. A microdensitometer was used to measure changes in activity and distribution of acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase in the caecal mucosa. During the course of the infection there is a marked reduction in activity and distribution of acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase but little change in the amounts and distribution of alkaline phosphatase, glycogen, lipid and acid mucopolysaccharide in the wall of the main part of the caecum. Similar, but smaller, changes occurred in the wall of the neck region of the caecum. In the liver most changes occurred in the immediate vicinity of the parasites. Initially, there was a reduction in the amount of glycogen in the parasitic lesions but later in the infection there was a marked loss of glycogen in all regions of the liver. Changes in the caecum are apparently brought about by the parasite prior to and after invasion of the caecal tissues; changes in the liver occur after it has been invaded.
Scanning electron microscopy of the caecal mucosa of turkeys infected with Histomonas meleagridis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
General practice records.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Consultation/liaison psychiatry utilization patterns in different cultural groups.
This study examined the effect of cross-cultural factors on psychiatric consultations in a general hospital. Using a retrospective case review, 476 patients receiving a psychiatric consultation were contrasted with 14,620 who did not receive a psychiatric consultation. The rate of psychiatric referral was lower for Hispanics compared with Anglos, blacks, and Asians (p less than 0.001). The reason for requesting psychiatric consultation was also different across the ethnic groups. There were more requests for evaluation of depression and suicide in Hispanics and fewer such requests in blacks. More requests for evaluation of grossly abnormal mental status were found in blacks. The different cultural groups also had differences in psychiatric diagnosis. Hispanics were more frequently diagnosed with an adjustment disorder; blacks were more frequently diagnosed with a primary thought disorder and delirium; and Anglos were more frequently diagnosed with dementia.