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Biomedical subjects

J A Goodwin

Publications and source records attributed to J A Goodwin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A further study of the anaerobic biotreatment of malt whisky distillery pot ale using an UASB system.

Pot ale from a pilot-scale malt whisky distillery was treated using a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) digester. Stable operation was observed at organic loading rates (OLRs) of 5.46 kg COD/m3 day or less when the pot ale was diluted with tap water. Digester failure occurred when undiluted pot ale was used, even though OLR was less than 5 kg COD/m3 day. Overall performance was worse than that observed previously when UASB digesters were used to treat pot ale from a different source supplemented with trace elements. A substantial proportion of effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD) was present as volatile fatty acids (VFA), particularly during periods of reactor stress, indicating that overall performance was limited by the rate of VFA conversion. Wastewater alkalinity rose during digestion. The sludge which developed in the reactor was flocculent but did not form compact granules.

Alcoholic Beverages↗

Ultrasonication as a pre-treatment method for the enhancement of the psychrophilic anaerobic digestion of aquaculture effluents.

The effectiveness of ultrasonication as a pre-treatment method for the psychrophilic anaerobic treatment of aquaculture effluents was assessed using a 4 l solids digester. Ultrasonication of aquaculture wastewater was found to enhance the removal of chemical oxygen demand by anaerobic digestion by almost 10%. There was also a concurrent increase in total biogas production from 0.29 l day(-1) to 0.45 l day(-1) with a corresponding 10% increase in methane concentration. Furthermore, there was an increase of 60% in effluent total ammonia nitrogen concentration as a result of sonication in comparison with a 45% increase for untreated digester waste.

Aquaculture↗

Biodegradation of propanol and isopropanol by a mixed microbial consortium.

The aerobic biodegradation of high concentrations of 1-propanol and 2-propanol (IPA) by a mixed microbial consortium was investigated. Solvent concentrations were one order of magnitude greater than any previously reported in the literature. The consortium utilized these solvents as their sole carbon source to a maximum cell density of 2.4 x 10(9) cells ml(-1). Enrichment experiments with propanol or IPA as carbon sources were carried out in batch culture and maximum specific growth rates (mumax) calculated. At 20 degrees C, mumax values were calculated to be 0.0305 h(-1) and 0.1093 h(-1) on 1% (v/v) IPA and 1-propanol, respectively. Growth on propanol and IPA was carried out between temperatures of 10 degrees C and 45 degrees C. Temperature shock responses by the microbial consortium at temperatures above 45 degrees C were demonstrated by considerable cell flocculation. An increase in propanol substrate concentration from 1% (v/v) to 2% (v/v) decreased the mumax from 0.1093 h(-1) to 0.0715 h(-1). Maximum achievable biodegradation rates of propanol and IPA were 6.11 x 10(-3)% (v/v) h(-1) and 2.72 x 10(-3)% (v/v) h(-1), respectively. Generation of acetone during IPA biodegradation commenced at 264 h and reached a maximum concentration of 0.4% (v/v). The results demonstrate the potential of mixed microbial consortia in the bioremediation of solvent-containing waste streams.

1-Propanol↗

Pneumosinus dilatans of the sphenoid sinus presenting with visual loss.

OBJECTIVE: To report 3 cases of pneumosinus dilatans of the sphenoid sinus associated with visual loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series describing history of visual loss, visual examination, visual field deficits, and radiologic imaging. RESULTS: Three patients developed visual loss associated with pneumosinus dilatans of the sphenoid sinus. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumosinus dilatans of the sphenoid sinus is a rare disorder that should be considered in patients presenting with unexplained visual loss.

Adult↗

Orbital and optic pathway sarcoidosis: MR findings.

PURPOSE: To identify and characterize the MR findings of sarcoidosis when it involves the orbit and visual pathways. METHODS: The MR scans of 15 patients, 3 with presumed and 12 with proved orbital or optic pathway sarcoidosis were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Eight patients had MR evidence of optic nerve involvement by sarcoid granuloma. Perineural enhancement was seen in four cases, optic atrophy in one. Three who had had unenhanced scans showed optic nerve enlargement. Nine patients had optic chiasmal involvement. One patient had increased T2 signal in the optic radiations. Three patients had orbital masses that had MR signal characteristics similar to pseudotumor. Five patients had periventricular white matter abnormalities closely resembling multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of optic nerve or nerve sheath enhancement on MR. Orbital sarcoidosis has MR characteristics very similar to pseudotumor.

Adolescent↗

Anterior granulomatous uveitis in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Granulomatous uveitis has infrequently been described as a manifestation of the autoimmune phenomena of multiple sclerosis (MS). The authors describe six cases of anterior granulomatous uveitis in patients with MS. All six patients had features of iridocyclitis and three patients had features of periphlebitis, which were suggestive of granulomatous disease. However, each patient had neurologic symptoms and signs consistent with MS and a negative laboratory workup for sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and syphilis. Testing for MS in a subgroup of patients with granulomatous uveitis of unknown etiology and neurologic symptoms may result in a diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Orbital and sinus inflammation with secondary optic neuropathy.

Optic neuropathy with simultaneous orbital and sinus inflammation is a diagnostic dilemma. Although sinus inflammation was described previously as causative in some cases of optic neuritis, the relatively high rate of asymptomatic sinus opacification in radiologic studies of the general population (as high as 13%) makes this a diagnosis of exclusion. We describe a patient who had optic neuropathy associated with simultaneous orbital and sinus inflammation. Although definitive determination of etiology may not be made without tissue biopsy, cases suspected of having a bacterial etiology may benefit from an initial 48-hour trial of intravenous antibiotics before initiation of systemic corticosteroids.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Blunt popliteal artery trauma: one hundred consecutive injuries.

An institutional experience with 100 consecutive blunt popliteal artery injuries over a 20-year period was reviewed. The overall amputation rate was 15%; however, during the past 7 years this has declined from 23% to 6%. Minimizing delay in the revascularization of ischemic limbs, routine systemic heparinization, primary arterial repair when possible, repair of popliteal venous injuries, aggressive wound debridement, and early soft tissue coverage have contributed to improved limb salvage during the 1980s.

Adolescent↗

Saccadic latency as a measure of afferent visual conduction.

Latency to initiate a saccadic eye movement to a visual target, and visual evoked potential, were measured in seven patients with resolved unilateral optic neuritis. Saccades were delayed when the target was presented to the clinically involved eye, but were normal when the contralateral eye was tested. With binocular target presentation, saccades were symmetric between eyes and normal in latency. In two patients with pituitary adenoma and low-grade bitemporal field defects, saccades were delayed when targets were presented in the temporal field, but were within normal limits when presented in the nasal field. These results cannot be attributed to lesions in the motor pathways. It is concluded that saccadic latency to visual targets is a valid measure of afferent conduction. If the robust delays found in this study prove to have test-retest reliability, saccadic latency may provide a measure of afferent function which is sensitive to the demyelination that preceeds neuronal degeneration and sensitivity loss in patients suspected of having optic neuropathy.

Adenoma↗

Antiphospholipid antibodies associated with retinal vascular disease.

Two patients with retinal vascular disease also had antiphospholipid antibodies, defined by the presence of the circulating lupus anticoagulant (LAC), anticardiolipin antibodies, or both. One had retinal arterial occlusions and the other had a nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion. The association of thrombotic vascular disease, including both retinal and cerebral vessels, with the presence of these antibodies should be investigated in otherwise normal individuals or in patients presenting with a lupuslike syndrome and retinal vascular occlusive disease. Low-dose aspirin administration could be of therapeutic value in managing thrombotic events in this group of patients.

Adult↗

Symptoms of amaurosis fugax in atherosclerotic carotid artery disease.

Amaurosis fugax is a term used to describe transient monocular visual loss due to atherosclerosis of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. It is differentiated from other causes of transient monocular blindness, especially retinal migraine. It is said that amaurosis fugax episodes are short in duration and only occasionally include "positive" visual phenomena such as scintillations. Monocular migraine is more prolonged and often accompanied by scintillations. We studied 37 patients with amaurosis fugax and angiographic evidence of carotid atherosclerosis ipsilateral to the symptomatic eye. Nearly one-third of the patients had long attacks or positive visual phenomena. In many patients, transient monocular visual loss due to carotid atherosclerosis cannot be differentiated from retinal migraine based on clinical symptoms alone.

Adult↗

Dural sinus thrombosis: a mechanism for pseudotumor cerebri in systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by pseudotumor cerebri which resolved with high dosage corticosteroid therapy. The cause of the raised intracranial pressure proved to be thrombosis of the torcular herophili and lateral sinuses. Despite laboratory evidence of a hypercoagulable state, the presence of a lupus anticoagulant could not be shown.

Adult↗

Hypometric saccades and low-gain pursuit resulting from a thalamic hemorrhage.

Saccadic and pursuit eye movements were measured in a patient with a right thalamic hemorrhage using an infrared reflection technique. Saccades were hypometric when directed away from the side of the lesion, and pursuit was low in gain, with many interposed saccades, when directed toward the side of the lesion. This eye movement pattern is similar to that observed in hemidecorticate patients. We postulate that the ocular abnormalities observed in our patients were secondary to an interruption of the efferent pathways from the right cerebral areas mediating saccadic and smooth-pursuit eye movements.

Eye Movements↗

Eye movements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by degeneration of the upper motor neurons in the frontal cortex and the motor neurons of the brain stem and spinal cord. Cranial nerve nuclei III, IV, VI are usually normal histopathologically, as are the eye movements clinically. Using electro-oculography, we found decreased saccadic or smooth pursuit velocities in four of ten patients unidirectional saccadic pursuit in one of these four, and progressively decreasing saccadic velocities in another. We believe the defect is supranuclear and that the ocular motor system is more often abnormal in patients with ALS than previously recognized.

Adult↗

Lateral tegmental brainstem hemorrhages.

Hypertension intracerebral hemorrhages are caused by leakage from small penetrating branches of larger cerebral vessels. In the brainstem, these vessels penetrate in a median, paramedian, and more lateral orientation. As illustrated by three patients reported here, hemorrhage from the lateral vessels may be limited to the lateral tegmentum, or spread to the dorsal basis pontis. The syndrome is relatively consistent and includes (1) ipsilateral conjugate gaze palsy, (2) ipsilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia, (3) small reactive pupils with a smaller pupil ipsilateral to the lesion, (4) limb ataxia of the cerebellar type (often greater ipsilaterally), (5) contralateral hemiplegia, and (6) contralateral severe hemisensory loss. Patients frequently survive after lateral tegmental hemorrhages, which can be diagnosed by CT.

Aged↗