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Biomedical subjects

L Riddell

Publications and source records attributed to L Riddell.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Results of a 10 week community based strength and balance training programme to reduce fall risk factors: a randomised controlled trial in 65-75 year old women with osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of a community based 10 week exercise intervention to reduce fall risk factors in women with osteoporosis. METHODS: Static balance was measured by computerised dynamic posturography (Equitest), dynamic balance by timed figure of eight run, and knee extension strength by dynamometry. Subjects were randomised to exercise intervention (twice weekly Osteofit classes for 10 weeks) or control groups. RESULTS: The outcome in 79 participants (39 exercise, 40 control) who were available for measurement 10 weeks after baseline measurement is reported. After confounding factors had been controlled for, the exercise group did not make significant gains compared with their control counterparts, although there were consistent trends toward greater improvement in all three primary outcome measures. Relative to the change in control subjects, the exercise group improved by 2.3% in static balance, 1.9% in dynamic balance, and 13.9% in knee extension strength. CONCLUSIONS: A 10 week community based physical activity intervention did not significantly reduce fall risk factors in women with osteoporosis. However, trends toward improvement in key independent risk factors for falling suggest that a study with greater power may show that these variables can be improved to a level that reaches statistical significance.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2000

Clinical features of lichen sclerosus in men attending a department of genitourinary medicine.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise the clinical presentation and response to treatment of lichen sclerosus (LS) in men attending a department of genitourinary medicine. METHODS: A case note review of all men attending a GUM department over a 32 month period, who had been diagnosed as having LS. RESULTS: 66 men were seen with genital LS. The mean age at diagnosis was 36.5 years but symptoms had been present for up to 10 years before the diagnosis was made. 55 men underwent biopsy and the diagnosis was made histologically in 47 of these men. At the time of presentation 30% of men had no symptoms relating to their LS. All were treated with potent topical steroids and surgery was avoided in nearly all of them. CONCLUSIONS: LS is not uncommon in men presenting to a GUM department, and is often asymptomatic. The disease responds well to potent topical steroids allowing the normal anatomy to be preserved in most individuals.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1996

High resolution computed tomography in HIV patients with suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and a normal chest radiograph.

AIM: To correlate the appearances of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) with the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings in HIV positive patients in whom there is a strong clinical suspicion of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) but a normal chest radiograph. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 13 patients available for analysis fulfilled the following criteria: HIV positive, CD4 count less than 200 cells per mm3, non-productive cough or non-purulent sputum daily, documented fever above 37.5 degrees C for more than a week, dyspnoea or decreased exercise tolerance and normal chest X-ray. HRCT of the lungs was performed within 24 h of the chest radiograph, using 1 mm slice at 2 cm intervals, reconstructed using a high resolution algorithm. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples were taken for cytological examination, microscopy, culture and sensitivity. The HCRT findings were correlated with the results of BAL and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients studied, four had patchy ground-glass opacities and one also had interstitial thickening. All four proved to have PCP on BAL. None of the nine patients who were negative for PCP on BAL had ground-glass opacity or abnormalities attributable to PCP. CONCLUSION: In this study HRCT showed abnormalities consistent with PCP in all four patients who had PCP on BAL before there were chest radiograph abnormalities. The use of HRCT may help avoid unnecessary delay, allow early medical intervention and, if our results are confirmed by larger series, may reduce the need for bronchoscopy.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗