PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Dick

Publications and source records attributed to J Dick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

One-stage versus two-stage anterior and posterior spinal reconstruction in adults. Comparison of outcomes including nutritional status, complications rates, hospital costs, and other factors.

Twenty-four patients undergoing anterior and posterior spinal fusion were preoperatively assessed and at weekly intervals during their hospitalization for the following: serum albumin, transferrin, total lymphocyte count, skin anergy and anthropometric measurements. Eleven patients underwent staged anterior and posterior spinal reconstruction and 13 patients underwent similar procedures in a combined fashion. The groups were similar in age, sex, diagnosis, and number of levels fused. Results of these tests were kept as well as operative time, blood loss, transfusion requirements, wound healing problems, infection, length of hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and total cost. All 24 patients had normal preoperative nutritional parameters. Seven patients in the staged group and ten in the combined group became malnourished after surgery. No patient in the combined group developed infection or a wound healing problem. Wound infections developed in two of the seven patients in the staged group after their second procedure. The average number of units of blood transfused and the operating time were similar for both groups. The average length of hospital stay for the staged group was 20 days compared to 13 days for the combined group. Total hospital bills averaged 30% less in the combined group. All patients stated that they preferred to have the procedures done under the same anesthetic. The authors conclude that protein and calorie malnutrition develops to an appreciable extent in adults undergoing anterior and posterior spinal reconstructive procedures. It therefore increases the postoperative morbidity if staged surgical procedures are performed too close together as is currently done by many spine surgeons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Grouping of some clinically relevant gram-positive rods by automated fatty acid analysis. Diagnostic implications.

One hundred and ninety-four strains of aerobically growing Gram-positive rods of the genera Corynebacterium, Actinomyces, Arcanobacterium, Erysipelothrix, Listeria, Oerskovia, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and of unnamed Center for Disease Control (CDC) groups were checked for cellular fatty acid profiles with the microbial Identification System (Microbial ID, Newark, Del., USA). In order to obtain unified data usable for the clinical laboratory, 24 or 48 h sheep blood agar cultures were used. It was thought that grouping and perhaps identification could be aided by this approach. With the aid of numerical analysis, four groups (two consisting of two subgroups each) were established. The discriminatory ability of the scheme, however, was only 77.2%, indicating that grouping of an unknown isolate could be done with some accuracy, but that speciation would still require biochemical testing.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of cyclosporin versus azathioprine treatment in renal transplants in Edinburgh.

Three year graft survival rates were calculated for 66 patients on cyclosporin and prednisolone immuno-suppression and compared to survival rates for 73 patients on azathioprine and prednisolone. There was a temporary early advantage for the cyclosporin treatment group up to four months post transplant. There was no further significant difference between the two treatment groups with graft survival rate of 81.4% in cyclosporin and 76.7% in azathioprine group at three years post transplant. Fewer of the patients on cyclosporin had acute episodes of rejection. There was no significant difference in serum creatinine or urea at one year, but the haemoglobin level was higher in cyclosporin treated patients. Cyclosporin does not appear to have increased the survival rate significantly in our centre where there is already a high graft survival with azathioprine.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed1988

Biosynthesis, import and processing of precursor polypeptides of mammalian mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

An immunological analysis has been conducted of early events in the biosynthesis, import and assembly of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). For this purpose, monospecific polyclonal antisera were produced against the intact assembly from ox heart, Mr 8.5 x 10(6), and each of its component polypeptides, E1 alpha, E1 beta, E2, E3 and protein X. Optimal detergent-based incubation mixtures were developed for obtaining clean immunoprecipitation of PDC polypeptides and their precursors from [35S]methionine-labelled extracts of PK-15 (pig kidney), NBL-1 (bovine kidney) and BRL (Buffalo Rat liver) cells. In PK-15 cells, independent higher Mr species, corresponding to precursors of the E2, E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of PDC, could be detected by immune precipitation and fluorography after incubation of intact cells for 4 h with [35S]methionine and 1-2 mM-2,4-dinitrophenol or 10-15 microM-carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Similar precursor states could be observed in uncoupler-treated BRL or NBL-1 cells. Pre-E1 alpha, pre-E1 beta and also pre-E3, have signal sequences in the Mr range 1500-3000 while pre-E2 contains a long additional segment of Mr 7000-9000. All of these forms exhibit similar kinetics of processing to the mature subunits with a transit time of 10-12 min. In NBL-1 cells, E3 is present in the immune complexes formed with anti-PDC serum whereas this is not the case in PK-15 cells. Thus, there are significant variations in the affinity of lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) for the E2 core structure in different species. Pre-E1 alpha accumulates only poorly in PK-15 cells and is aberrantly processed on removal of uncoupler. This precursor is markedly more stable in NBL-1 and BRL cells. The lack of detection of a precursor form of component X is also discussed.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗
PubMed1988

An unusual interpodocyte cell junction and its appearance in a transplant graft kidney.

In a case of focal and segmental glomerulonephritis unusual cell junctions were discovered between podocytes. These most closely resembled lesions described in aminonucleoside induced nephrosis in rats and were unlike anything previously seen in our experience. Shortly after renal transplantation nephrotic syndrome recurred and biopsy specimens showed recurrent focal and segmental glomerulonephritis, with the appearance of these unusual interpodocyte junctions in the graft kidney. This may be related to circulating factors in the blood of the patient.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Unaltered platelet [3H]-imipramine binding in dementia of the Alzheimer type.

High-affinity [3H]-imipramine binding to platelets was evaluated in 11 patients suffering from dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) in comparison to 12 normal controls. The [3H]-imipramine binding values (Bmax and Kd) did not differ between the DAT patients and the controls. Previous studies have demonstrated hypofunction of central serotonergic system in this disease, including reduced imipramine binding to brain. Thus, it seems that the low imipramine binding in DAT is confined to the brain tissue and not reflected in the platelets.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

"Patient focused charting".

A study of charting in the Nursing Division at St. Boniface General Hospital identified problems with the narrative style of charting. This project was designed to develop and evaluate a practical, easy to use documentation system, with a structure for recording care as decisions were made. Integration of the care plan and nurse's notes was achieved, making documentation individualized to the patient and reflective of nursing practice. The charting system was tested on a 30-bed surgical unit with 25 nursing staff and evaluated through a chart audit, charting opinionnaire and time survey. Four evaluations were done, one prior to change and at 3, 8 and 12 months after implementation. Chart audit scores increased significantly from a mean of 9.05 to 12.75. Mean scores on the charting opinionnaire increased significantly from 47.59 to 55.62. Mean time spent charting per patient in 24 hours decreased from 22.73 to 18.27 minutes. These results indicate that integration of the careplan and nurse's notes is possible with improvement in charting quality.

Holistic Health↗
PubMed1988

Ethics in practice.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMed1987

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: first 1000 cases at the London Stone Clinic.

One thousand patients underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for renal and ureteric calculi at this clinic. An overall success rate of 91.8% was achieved (stone free or less than 2 mm fragments at three months) and for stones measuring 1 cm 96.3%. Lithotripsy produced extremely low morbidity, and no deaths have occurred at the clinic. Patients who had lithotripsy alone had a mean hospital stay of three days and in most instances were able to perform their full range of activities on discharge. Planned combination of lithotripsy with minimally invasive endourological procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureterorenoscopy has allowed us to extend the range of treatable cases to include large stones. Prophylactic use of Double-J ureteric stents in selected cases has reduced the incidence of obstruction by stone fragments after lithotripsy, thereby decreasing morbidity and hospital stay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Effects of acute and chronic methylphenidate administration on beta-endorphin, growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol in children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.

The effect of 5 mg/p.o. methylphenidate (MPH) challenge on beta-endorphin (beta-EP), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (Prl) and cortisol was investigated in 16 children suffering from attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) before and after 4 weeks MPH treatment. The study population consisted of 13 males and 3 females aged 6-11 years. All patients were drug free for at least 3 months prior to investigation. The severity of ADDH symptomatology and response to MPH chronic treatment was assessed using parent/teacher abbreviated Conners rating scale. Blood samples for beta-EP, cortisol, Prl and GH were drawn before initiation of treatment (basal pre-treatment level), 2 hours after MPH challenge, 4 weeks after MPH treatment (basal post-treatment level) and 2 hours after re-challenge with MPH. Chronic MPH treatment resulted in a decrease in basal Prl levels (5.5 +/- 2.8 vs 3.7 +/- 1.9 ng/ml; p less than 0.05). Pre-treatment challenge stimulates significantly both beta-EP (15.0 +/- 7.5 vs 12.5 +/- 5.3 pmol/l; p less than 0.05) and cortisol secretion (20.6 +/- 6.6 vs 12.6 +/- 5.8 micrograms/dl; p less than 0.05), and suppressed Prl secretion (4.0 +/- 1.5 vs 5.5 +/- 2.8 ng/ml; p less than 0.05). Re-challenge with MPH enhanced beta-EP levels (14.9 +/- 8.6 vs 10.6 +/- 5.0 pmol/l; p less than 0.05) but failed to affect cortisol, Prl and GH secretion. The acute and chronic neuroendocrine effects of MPH administration might be related to its dopaminergic and adrenergic agonistic activity. It might be that the stimulatory effect of single and repeated acute MPH administration on beta-EP release contributes to the beneficial effect of MPH treatment in ADDH children.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗