Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L A Watson.
A case of inner ear barotrauma (IEBT) due to an hypobaric chamber experience is presented. IEBT is an exceedingly rare condition in aviation. In the case described, the diagnosis was initially unsuspected due to accompanying middle ear barotrauma. The underlying etiology, the diagnosis, and management of IEBT are discussed.
Static acoustic impedance tympanometry was used to examine 80 subjects prior to and after exposure to decreased ambient pressure in a hypobaric chamber. The predictive value of tympanometry in detecting those individuals likely to suffer from otitic barotrauma (aerotitis media) was evaluated. The results suggest that testing prior to altitude exposure is of no value in identifying those individuals who will suffer from otitic barotrauma during flight. Tympanometry however proved a useful tool in confirming the presence of barotrauma following flight, but it was no more useful than taking a history and performing an ear examination.
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Flunarizine is a calcium antagonist which has proved clinically useful in controlling chronic vertigo. In a double blind crossover trial 10 subjects were used to compare the electronystagmic responses to motion in patients taking flunarizine, prochlorperazine maleate, or placebo. Flunarizine is shown to be a powerful peripherally acting labyrinthine suppressant, with application in the prevention of motion sickness. Flunarizine produces none of the central depressive side effects characteristic of antihistamines and anticholinergics, which are the conventional anti-motion sickness drugs.
Plasmids consisting of mini-F inserted into multicopy vectors were constructed. Derivatives of these hybrid replicons were isolated which contained the transposon Tn5. The polypeptides encoded by these plasmids were identified by Escherichia coli minicell analysis. We show that a previously unidentified polypeptide of 29000 Mr is encoded by the mini-F gene E between 45.1 and 46.2 F kb on the mini-F plasmid map, and that this coding sequence (E gene) is transcribed rightward. Hybrid plasmids carrying Tn5 inserted into the E gene are unable to replicate in a polA- strain. Hence the E protein is essential for mini-F replication. Mutations in the A and B genes of mini-F affect E gene expression, and the results suggest that E protein synthesis is stimulated by A protein.
A three-month survey was undertaken to determine the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni and Yersinia enterocolitica in diarrhoeal disease and acute abdominal disease in Palmerston North. C. jejuni was isolated from five domiciliary patients and one hospitalised patient with acute diarrhoea but there were no isolations from patients suffering from acute abdominal disease. The isolation rates for C. jejuni in domiciliary and hospitalised patients with acute diarrhoea were 7.8 percent and 1.7 percent respectively. Y. enterocolitica was not isolated.
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Twenty pregnant patients needing nutritional support for various indications received hypercaloric, hyperosmotic, "3 in 1," peripheral parenteral nutrition as a bridge to enteral therapy. This system, named total peripheral parenteral nutrition, was evaluated as to tolerance and efficacy in pregnant patients. Patients were in various stages of pregnancy and had an average weight loss of 10.4 pounds prior to admission. Patients were maintained on total peripheral parenteral nutrition for an average of 5 days and gained an average of 4.1 pounds. Good tolerance with minimal side effects of the treatment was noted. Intravenous sites were changed an average of 1.1 times per patient during the course of therapy and only one serious complication was noted in 20 patients. Patients were followed through delivery and this information is presented. Total peripheral parenteral nutrition appears to be an acceptable alternative to conventional total parenteral nutrition to pregnant patients needing nutritional support. These hypertonic solutions can supply total caloric/metabolic needs without unacceptable side effects.