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Biomedical subjects

J Whyte

Publications and source records attributed to J Whyte.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Peculiarities of the thyroid gland structure (with special reference to the presence of ganglion cells).

We have performed a study on the comparative structure of the thyroid gland in several species of mammals (rat, cat, dog, lamb, pig, cow, and man). We have described the structural differences among them, paying special attention to the distribution of connective tissue, the intrafollicular and parafollicular cells. In the thyroid gland, we can confirm the existence of nerve cells, either isolated or forming vegetative ganglions in the interfollicular spaces, in some of the species studied, especially in the rat and the dog.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Quantification of attention-related behaviors in individuals with traumatic brain injury. A pilot study.

Clinical disorders of attention are common after traumatic brain injury but objective measures of their nature and severity are lacking. We developed a standardized independent work task to be performed by patients in a controlled, distracting environment. Videotaped records of patient behavior were made and coded in 15-s intervals for on-task behavior, presence of distractors and presence of extraneous motor behavior. Interrater reliability was good to excellent across eleven testing sessions involving four patients. This evaluation system revealed clinically important differences in on-task behavior among the four patients, as well as different levels of distraction in response to external stimuli. It also showed effects of different tasks and repeated sessions. These data indicate that this evaluation system and accompanying coding process are reliable and provide preliminary evidence that they produce clinically valid results.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Defective thermoregulation after traumatic brain injury. A single subject evaluation.

Central fever is a known complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly in association with brain stem involvement. Chronic deficits in thermoregulation after TBI have not been reported. We describe a patient who had central fevers acutely after injury, but developed intermittent temperature elevations during thermal stress in the post-acute phase. A prospective evaluation of the patient's temperature control was conducted. The patient stayed in the laboratory for two half-day evaluation sessions. On the first day, the room temperature was raised by 10 degrees F each hour and rectal temperature was recorded hourly. On the second day, the room temperature was lowered by 10 degrees each hour in a similar fashion. The patient's core temperature rose above normal in the warm environment but did not drop in the cold environment. This suggests that the patient had a chronic deficit in either sensing temperature elevations or activating heat dissipation mechanisms under thermal stress.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Connective tissue disease and autoantibodies in the kindreds of 63 patients with systemic sclerosis. The United Kingdom Systemic Sclerosis Study Group.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) tends to occur in a sporadic fashion and familial occurrence of the disease is unusual. Nevertheless, reports of related connective tissue diseases (CTD), autoantibodies, or both in family members together with associations of certain HLA class II phenotypes with SSc suggest that genetic factors might play a part in susceptibility to the disease. Because of the relative rarity of SSc only a small number of family pedigrees have been studied previously. This report represents the largest study to date, to our knowledge, of family members of patients with scleroderma, and provides the opportunity to investigate the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors operating in the disease. The family pedigrees of 63 patients with systemic sclerosis were examined with respect to clinical, serologic, and immunogenetic features. Multiple cases of SSc were seen only in 1 family, in which the disease affected a father and daughter. Disease expression in these 2 individuals was very similar both clinically and serologically; relatives with other connective tissue diseases were found in 9 families, and nonspecific features of CTD such as Raynaud phenomenon, and arthralgia or arthritis, occurred commonly, especially in female relatives. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were also detected more frequently in relatives than in controls. However, antibodies previously demonstrated to have a high degree of specificity for SSc were confined to patients with this disease. Probands had an increase in the frequency of HLA-DR3, DR5, and C4AQO. Patients with diffuse scleroderma had an increased frequency of HLA-DR3, while those with the limited form of the disease had an increased frequency of HLA-DR5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Functional structure of human auditory ossicles.

In a series of 52 auditory ossicles, their structure and functional significance were studied, with special reference to the patterns of force transmission. The significance of the different degrees of cavitation in the ossicles as well as their eventual pathological significance are also discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Neurologic disorders of attention and arousal: assessment and treatment.

Disorders of attention are common after a variety of insults to the central nervous system. Clinically observable disorders of attention have complex relationships to the hypothesized underlying core deficits that were reviewed in a previous article. Thus, the process of evaluating such deficits is equally complex. Treatments may be directed along a continuum from cellular chemistry and physiology to environmental modification. At present, there is little consensus about appropriate evaluation or treatment for attentional disorders.

Arousal↗
PubMed1992

Attention and arousal: basic science aspects.

Disorders of attention are common after a variety of insults to the central nervous system. At present, treatment of these disorders is rarely based on a theoretical understanding of the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, psychology, or psychopharmacology of attention. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the mechanisms of attentional function and dysfunction, attempting to integrate findings across different types of research. In a subsequent article, the implications of these findings for clinical practice will be discussed.

Arousal↗
PubMed1992

Methylphenidate and seizure frequency in brain injured patients with seizure disorders.

BACKGROUND: Psychostimulant drugs such as methylphenidate are increasingly being used in patients with traumatic brain injury or other brain injuries for a variety of cognitive and behavioral problems. However, there is some reluctance among clinicians and family members to use methylphenidate in brain injured patients because of warnings of seizure occurrence, which are prominently reported by the product labeling included in the Physicians' Desk Reference. METHOD: We retrospectively studied the use of methylphenidate in 30 consecutive patients with active seizure disorders. We compared the seizure frequency in the 3 months before and after methylphenidate with the seizure frequency during methylphenidate treatment, using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Overall, the findings demonstrated a trend toward a lesser incidence of seizures in patients during methylphenidate treatment. Only 4 patients had greater seizure frequency during methylphenidate treatment, and 3 of these 4 were receiving tricyclic antidepressants. CONCLUSION: Methylphenidate can be safely used in brain injured patients, even those at high risk for seizures, as it was associated with a trend toward reduction (rather than increase) in seizure frequency in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Barley and wheat foods: influence on plasma cholesterol concentrations in hypercholesterolemic men.

Twenty-one mildly hypercholesterolemic men aged 30-59 y were provided with comparable barley and wheat foods for each of 4 wk in a crossover-designed experiment. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of two sources of dietary fiber (nonstarch polysaccharides, NSP) on blood lipids and glucose concentrations. Barley contains beta-glucan as a source of soluble dietary fiber (DF) whereas wheat contains the largely insoluble cellulose and hemicellulose fiber. Total dietary fiber increased from a previous intake of 21-38 g/d during the period of study for the two groups. Consumption of barley relative to wheat foods was associated with a significant fall in both plasma total cholesterol (6%, P less than 0.05) and in low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (7%, P less than 0.02) whereas triglyceride and glucose concentrations did not change significantly. It is concluded that barley dietary fiber is more effective than wheat dietary fiber at lowering blood cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic men.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1990

The incidence of seizures during tricyclic antidepressant drug treatment in a brain-injured population.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have been associated with the occurrence of seizures both with overdoses and with therapeutic doses. Seizures with therapeutic doses of TCA have been reported in patients both with and without previous histories of seizures. The incidence of seizures possibly precipitated by TCAs was examined retrospectively in a population of 68 severely brain-injured patients, all of whom were at high risk for the development of seizures. Seizure histories, anticonvulsant use, comedication use, and other pertinent data were recorded before, during, and after TCA use. We conclude that 14 patients (19%) developed seizures largely caused by TCAs. Other possible contributing factors, clinical outcomes, and some recommendations are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Somnambulism in adults.

We evaluated with clinical interviews and polysomnographic examinations 10 adults with the complaint of sleepwalking, often accompanied by violent behavior or self-injury. During the polysomnographic studies, 8 patients had 47 distinct somnambulistic episodes. All episodes occurred in non-REM sleep, with 91% occurring in slow-wave sleep. Contrary to previous reports, episodes were not confined to the 1st 3rd of the night. Clinical EEGs were normal in 5 of 6 patients. In the 7 patients tried on 1 or more treatment regimens, clonazepam effectively suppressed the somnambulism in 5 of 6 patients in whom it was tried, carbamazepine in 1 of 3, flurazepam in 2 of 2, and a combination of clonazepam and phenytoin in one.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Postsurgical evaluation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: two case reports.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) has become a widely practiced procedure for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Surgical outcome with UPPP has heretofore been assessed by investigators using the number of apneas per hour of sleep (apnea index) as the sole or primary criterion. We present two cases in which UPPP outcome was inadequately represented by the apnea index. It is suggested that the apnea/hypopnea index, extent of oxygen desaturations, degree of sleep fragmentation, level of daytime somnolence, interaction between respiratory function and sleep position and stages, and degree of respiratory strain be considered in the postsurgical evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Lithium carbonate for aggressive behavior or affective instability in ten brain-injured patients.

Lithium carbonate (LiCO3) was used to treat 10 brain-injured patients with severe, unremitting, aggressive, combative, or self destructive behavior or severe affective instability. Five patients had a dramatic response that resulted in significant improvement in their participation in a rehabilitative program. One other patient had a moderate response. A seventh patient improved dramatically, but regressed after 7 wk. Three other patients had neurotoxic side effects that precluded continued use of the medication. Two of them were simultaneously taking neuroleptic agents. These case reports provide further evidence that LiCO3 can be a useful medication in the treatment of aggressive behavior and affective instability after brain injury, but that it has significant potential for neurotoxicity in this population, particularly when used in conjunction with neuroleptic agents.

Adult↗