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Biomedical subjects

M D Fox

Publications and source records attributed to M D Fox.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Noninvasive optical polarimetric glucose sensing using a true phase measurement technique.

The focus of this paper was to describe the development and testing of a noninvasive true phase optical polarimetry sensing system to monitor in vivo glucose concentrations. To demonstrate the applicability of this optical sensor for glucose measurement, we first calibrated the system and then tested it in vitro using both a glass test cell filled with glucose solution in the physiologic range, with a path length of 0.9 cm to approximate one centimeter path length present in the anterior chamber of the eye, and then on an excised human eye. Our technique used helium neon laser light which was coupled through a rotating linear polarizer along with two stationary linear polarizers and two detectors to produce reference and signal outputs whose amplitudes varied sinusoidally with a frequency of twice the angular velocity of the rotating polarizer, and whose phase was proportional to the rotation of the linear polarization vector passing through the glucose solution.

Blood Glucose

Scabies.

Scabies is highly contagious and is usually transmitted by direct personal contact. It typically presents as an intensely pruritic eruption. Atypical presentations are common in Norwegian scabies and in childhood scabies. Infestation is documented by visualizing the mite, its eggs or scybala on low-power microscopy. The treatment of choice is 5 percent permethrin cream, used in a single application at bedtime and removed the next morning.

Diagnosis, Differential

Erythema nodosum.

Erythema nodosum represents an inflammatory process in the septa between the subcutaneous fat lobules. The hallmark lesions are exquisitely tender, erythematous nodules that are distributed symmetrically on the extensor surfaces of the lower extremities. Erythema nodosum is considered an immunologic response, and a wide variety of clinically important antigens have been implicated. It may serve as a cutaneous marker for systemic diseases, such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma. The disease is diagnosed by deep elliptical biopsy and pathologic evaluation. The natural history is resolution with treatment of the underlying disorder or spontaneous regression of idiopathic disease.

Diagnosis, Differential

The effects of prone and supine positioning on arterial oxygen pressure.

An experimental study was conducted on 25 ventilated premature infants with RDS comparing PaO2 in the supine and prone positions. Analysis of the mean PaO2 showed significantly higher values in the prone position (p = .005). It is important for nurses to be aware of the implications of positioning on respiratory functioning and to integrate this knowledge in their practice.

Blood Gas Analysis

Color-flow US imaging through the analysis of speckle motion.

Reflections obtained from moving red blood cells on an ultrasound (US) scan of the abdominal aorta were enhanced with real-time Boolean operations on sequential frames of the image, as well as with frame subtraction and motion-detection processing. The Boolean operations used were the logical AND, OR, and Exclusive OR (XOR). Through the manipulation of output color lookup tables, the pixels within the flow field were given color representations. The resulting color-flow information can then be superimposed over the gray-scale image from the US imager to create color-flow imaging without the use of traditional Doppler US technology.

Adult

Application of expert systems to mammographic image analysis.

A prototype expert system was designed for differentiation of 16 circumscribed breast abnormalities utilizing findings identified by a human observer from X-ray mammograms, clinical data, and patient history. An off-the-shelf expert system shell served as the foundation for the rule base. The system runs on standard microcomputer hardware. Preliminary results suggest the expert system may be valuable in improving the ability of relatively unskilled observers to screen X-ray mammograms. Overall, radiology residents with limited experience in mammographic image analysis obtained a diagnostic accuracy level of 40% on their own, whereas they attained 73% accuracy level when using the expert system. A group of biomedical engineering students with no prior experience in mammographic image analysis obtained on the average an 80% diagnostic accuracy level utilizing the expert system in comparison with the 70% average accuracy level obtained by practicing radiologists without use of the system.

Expert Systems

Analysis of medical images with microcomputers.

A microcomputer-based digital data acquisition and image processing system with associated software was evaluated with respect to its suitability for use in imaging applications. Digital image files were obtained from a number of different radiographic modalities including plain films, an analog videofluoroscopic unit, and a digital subtraction angiography unit in our department. Considerations involved in configuring such a system and operating it in the clinical setting are discussed, and solutions to several practical problems are suggested. Overall, the results suggest that microcomputer-based image analysis units can provide an economical approach to digital image processing, analysis, and storage while utilizing the existing equipment base.

Computers

Leptospirosis: a common-source outbreak due to leptospires of the grippotyphosa serogroup.

In the period August 1-10, 1975, seven cases of leptospirosis occurred in residents of Stewart County, Tennessee. Based on serologic evidence, the infection was caused by leptospires of the Grippotyphosa serogroup. Epidemiologic study showed that the patients apparently acquired their infection while swimming in Cub Creek, a small local stream. Stagnation of the stream resulting from subnormal rainfall may have contributed to the timing of the outbreak. The source of leptospiral contamination for the stream could not be determined.

Adolescent

An epizootiologic study of anthrax in Falls County, Texas.

In June and July, 1974, an anthrax epizootic in Falls County, Texas, resulted in the death of 236 animals (228 cattle, 5 horses, 2 mules, and 1 pig) on 48 premises. Death rates were highest for horses (18.2%) and bulls (16.8%). The epizootic was apparently precipitated by drought, and infection appeared to be the result of ingesting intrinsically contaminated soil and grass. Human illness was not associated with the epizootic.

Animals