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Biomedical subjects

J W Richardson

Publications and source records attributed to J W Richardson.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Sleep and breathing in patients with the Prader-Willi syndrome.

The Prader-Willi syndrome is characterized by infantile hypotonia, early childhood obesity, mental deficiency, short stature, small hands and feet, and hypogonadism. Many patients also have hypersomnolence, experience daytime hypoventilation, and subsequently die prematurely of cardiorespiratory failure. Hypersomnolence and daytime hypoventilation are also common occurrences in the sleep apnea syndrome. For a better understanding of the relationship of sleep to the features of the Prader-Willi syndrome, we retrospectively reviewed five patients (two adults, one adolescent, and two children) with this syndrome who underwent polysomnography. All patients were obese; they had hypersomnolence and daytime hypoxemia, and they nored. In all patients, the apnea plus hypopnea index was less than 10 episodes per hour of sleep. During rapid eye movement sleep, nonapneic reductions in oxyhemoglobin saturation were detected in one adult and in one child. Despite the presence of morbid obesity and a history of snoring, patients with Prader-Willi syndrome seem to have only mild sleep-disordered breathing.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed1990

Sleep disorders in psychiatric practice.

Sleep disorders medicine and psychiatry interface in numerous ways. Most psychiatric patients have a complaint about sleep, and regardless of the theoretical orientation of a psychiatrist, understanding of a patient's sleep function is an important part of assessment. The success or failure of treatment will be strongly influenced by the effect of that treatment on the patient's sleep disorder. The psychiatrist can provide expertise in treating patients with primary sleep disorders, offering pharmacologic consultations, and recommending psychotherapy or behavioral management. Conversely, a knowledge of primary sleep disorders should make the psychiatrist a more effective practitioner.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Narcolepsy update.

Narcolepsy, a disorder of excessive daytime sleepiness that affects more than 125,000 people in the United States, is technically defined as a daytime mean sleep latency (time elapsed before falling asleep) of less than 5 minutes in conjunction with verification of rapid eye movement sleep in at least two of five daytime nap periods. Cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis are frequently associated with narcolepsy. Currently, overnight polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing in a sleep disorders laboratory are used to diagnose narcolepsy. Standard pharmacologic therapy consists of the judicious use of stimulants to improve alertness and the administration of tricyclic and other antidepressant drugs to suppress cataplexy. In addition, good sleep hygiene (a regular sleep-wake schedule, an adequate amount of sleep at night, and scheduled daytime naps) is essential for optimal management of this disorder. Patient and family education about narcolepsy and its treatment is also important. Even with use of the best available treatment regimens, many patients with narcolepsy have substantial vocational and social impairments.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Types of affective response to stroke.

Most studies of depression after stroke have included heterogeneous samples of patients. These studies have generally not qualified patients as to age, absence of neurologic, psychiatric, and substance abuse histories, and other complicating factors. Of 155 inpatient rehabilitation admissions after acute unilateral cerebrovascular accident, only 26 met the following strict criteria for inclusion: age older than 55 years, no history of or concomitant brain disease or injury, and no history of major affective, thought, or substance abuse disorder. Two examiners independently administered the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a mood adjective checklist, and a modified Mini-Mental State Examination to 20 subjects who agreed to participate. They also rated subjects on research diagnostic criteria for depression and obtained a dexamethasone suppression test for each subject. Eighteen subjects completed neuropsychologic evaluation. All evaluations were completed within six weeks of the patient's stroke. Subjects fell into four distinct clinical groups based on averaged data: (1) no affective symptoms, (2) verbal distress only, (3) vegetative symptoms only, and (4) a combined disorder with both distress and vegetative symptoms. The presence of verbal reports of distress, vegetative signs, or both were associated with longer hospital stays and greater neuropsychologic impairment.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1989

Retroperitoneal lymphocele after abdominal aortic surgery.

Lymphoceles may occur as a result of lymphatic injury during abdominal aortic surgery. These lymphatic collections may occur as a retroperitoneal mass or as groin lymphoceles. Four cases are presented in which persistent retroperitoneal lymphoceles were discovered 2 to 8 years after surgery. Reexploration of the groin and repeated aspirations of lymphatic fluid failed to control the drainage. Reexploration of the retroperitoneum documented lymphatic injury, which was controlled by ligation of the lymphatics with suture. A review of the literature discloses five similar reported cases of retroperitoneal lymphocele and 12 cases of chylous ascites after abdominal aortic surgery. Clearly, avoiding lymphatic injury or immediate repair of any lymphatic injuries will prevent this problem. Once a persistent lymphocele has developed, aspiration will establish the diagnosis. Our experience would suggest that reexploration of the retroperitoneum is required to control the drainage and to prevent possible graft infection.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Natural history and management of iliac aneurysms.

Fifty-five patients with 72 aneurysms of the iliac vessels were evaluated retrospectively during a 12-year period (1972 to 1985). Atherosclerotic vascular disease was found in all aneurysms. Marked male predominance (5:1) and advanced age (mean 74.6 years) characterized this population group. Two thirds of them harbored multiple aneurysms and isolated aneurysms were found primarily to involve the internal iliac artery (12 of 18 patients). Although symptomatic presentation varied with anatomic location and presence of rupture, most patients were either asymptomatic (45%) or had such nonspecific complaints (11%) that diagnosis was often delayed or erroneous. A mass detected during abdominal, rectal, or vaginal examination was found in 39 patients (70%). Aneurysm size ranged from 2.5 to 18 cm (mean 5.5 cm) for the entire group. Internal iliac aneurysms tended to be larger (7.7 cm) yet demonstrated no increased risk of rupture, which was encountered in 33% of patients. Elective operative management was undertaken in 26 patients with a mortality rate of 11%. When repair had to be performed as an emergency procedure mortality increased to 33%. Aneurysm ligation, resection, or endoaneurysmorrhaphy coupled with graft interposition when necessary did not seem to influence patient survival. Eleven patients treated nonoperatively demonstrated enlargement in three, rupture in one, and progressive ureteral obstruction in one patient. Iliac aneurysms demonstrate expansile growth with eruptive and erosive complications and therefore should be managed aggressively under elective circumstances.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Antipsychotic agents: a clinical update.

Antipsychotic agents have many indications and are frequently used. All physicians, regardless of their subspecialty, will most likely treat patients who receive these drugs. This article is designed to help nonpsychiatric physicians use antipsychotics appropriately. The indications, recommended dosages, side effects, and drug interactions of antipsychotic medications are reviewed. Receptor binding data are used to help predict the side-effect profile of these agents. Knowledge of these side effects and of the patient's medical condition helps the physician select a drug that the patient can tolerate. Management of overdose situations is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Disulfiram hepatotoxicity: case report.

Disulfiram has been widely used as an adjunct in the treatment of alcoholism and has relatively few side effects. An alcoholic patient who developed hepatotoxic reaction while on disulfiram therapy is described. Although such reactions may occur, the dangers of continued drinking outweigh the dangers of taking disulfiram for the alcoholic.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Rest and exercise hemodynamic studies in patients with isolated aortic stenosis.

Hemodynamic data obtained during rest and exercise in 22 patients with aortic stenosis were analyzed. Mean aortic valve gradient for the group did not change significantly during exercise but there was large individual variability. Aortic valve flow increased during exercise in all but 2 patients. There was no correlation between change in gradient and change in flow during exercise. Although the mean calculated aortic valve area for the group did not change significantly during exercise, the calculated area was larger during exercise in most patients. Change in the calculated valve area correlated best with changes in aortic valve flow, left ventricular stroke work index, and the product of left ventricular systolic pressure and stroke volume. This suggests that in some patients there may be a dynamic component to aortic valve obstruction that may vary with changing hemodynamics.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

BASICS.

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Emergency Medical Services↗