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Biomedical subjects

J Rockey

Publications and source records attributed to J Rockey.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Does cognitive function influence alaryngeal speech rehabilitation?

BACKGROUND: We sought to define the cognitive domains that influence valved speech rehabilitation. METHODS: Sixteen laryngectomees with primary tracheoesophageal punctures were randomly recruited from one head and neck unit. They were assessed by a consultant neuropsychologist and a speech therapist. Speech therapy time was determined from speech therapy notes. RESULTS: The Digit Symbol Substitution Test, assessing learning speed and processing speed, correlated significantly with speech therapy time in the first (p = .002) and third (p = .014) postoperative years, respectively. Categorical fluency assessment correlated positively with speech therapy time in the first year (p = .009). Learning speed (p = .007) and categorical fluency (p = .041) correlated positively with the fall in speech therapy input between the first and third year after laryngectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Learning speed, processing speed, and categorical fluency strongly influence alaryngeal speech rehabilitation. This study highlights the potential for pre-laryngectomy cognitive assessment to help plan alaryngeal speech rehabilitation. This has significant resource implications.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Contemporary surgical treatment of epistaxis. What is the evidence for sphenopalatine artery ligation?

The optimal surgical management for failed conservative measures in epistaxis remains unclear. Given the growing enthusiasm for endoscopic transnasal sphenopalatine artery ligation, it is prudent and timely to evaluate the evidence base for this technique. This study aims to analyse the current evidence for transnasal endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation by reviewing the literature and also by comparing the results with other approaches to the management of epistaxis. A detailed literature search identified 11 publications relating to endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation. The total number of patients in the pooled series was 127, of which 98% had control of epistaxis following surgery. These results compared favourably to the results of most other techniques used in the modern treatment of epistaxis. Nonetheless, the total number of patients in the 11 case series is small. It is therefore recommended that all units using this technique audit their results to see if the high success rates achieved in the literature are reproducible. If this is the case, then endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation may indeed be the surgical answer to intractable posterior epistaxis.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1995

Novel bioemulsifiers from microorganisms for use in foods.

The main objective of this study was to test the range of microorganisms for production of extracellular, high molecular weight emulsifiers for potential use in foods. A standard emulsification assay developed specifically for assessing food emulsifiers was used to examine 24 extracellular microbial products from bacteria, yeasts and algae. Of the 24 products tested, nine had emulsification ability that was as good as and eight had emulsifying properties that were better than those of the commonly used food emulsifiers gum arabic and carboxymethylcellulose. The eight good producer organisms included the yeasts Candida utilis, Candida valida, Hansenula anomala, Rhodospiridium diobovatum and Rhodotorula graminis, the red alga Porphiridium cruentum, and the bacteria Klebsiella spp. and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Of these, C. utilis was selected for further study due to the excellent emulsification properties of its extracellular products and food-grade status of the organism. Crude preparations of the bioemulsifier from C. utilis exhibited low viscosity and had a carbohydrate content of over 80%. Preliminary trials showed that the bioemulsifier from this organism had potential for use in salad cream.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus↗