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Biomedical subjects

M Purcell

Publications and source records attributed to M Purcell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Biofeedback treatments of generalized anxiety disorder: preliminary results.

Forty-five individuals with generalized anxiety (38 with GAD as defined by DSM-III) were randomized to 4 treatment conditions or a waiting list control. Patients received 8 sessions of either frontal EMG biofeedback, biofeedback to increase EEG alpha, biofeedback to decrease EEG alpha, or a pseudomeditation control condition. All treated subjects showed significant reductions in STAI-Trait Anxiety and psychophysiologic symptoms on the Psychosomatic Symptom Checklist. Only alpha-increase biofeedback subjects showed significant reductions in heart rate reactivity to stressors at a separate psychophysiological testing session. Decreased self-report of anxiety was maintained at 6 weeks posttreatment.

Adult↗

Biosynthesis of glyantrypine by Aspergillus clavatus.

The biosynthesis of glyantrypine from radiolabelled amino acid precursors has been shown experimentally to involve anthranilic acid, tryptophan and glycine. Low values for percentage incorporation of radiolabel into glyantrypine were partly influenced by a complex array of other novel alkaloids shown by the radiolabelling experiments to be related to glyantrypine. Interpretation of radiolabel incorporation from [14C-carboxyl]-anthranilic acid into microbial metabolites seen to contain an anthranilyl moiety in various biosynthetic arrangements is discussed. The possibility of diversion of anthranilic acid from the kynurenine pathway to glyantrypine biosynthesis is recognised.

Alkaloids↗

Malunion of a femoral fracture mimicking osteomyelitis in three phase bone imaging.

A case of greatly increased blood flow in the region of a fracture with malunion of the left femur, both in the flow and immediate blood pool studies during three phase bone imaging, is presented. The sluggish left femoral artery flow resulted from the greatly increased regional perfusion and is similar to the findings in acute osteomyelitis. The sluggish left femoral artery flow and greatly increased regional perfusion of the site is probably best explained as a regional "neurovascular flush" resulting from the pain caused by the malunion of the fracture and/or hyperemia in the area of the malunion responding to inflammation.

Aged↗

Ring-like uptake pattern of a skeletal imaging agent in a huge renal cell carcinoma.

A case of huge renal cell carcinoma with localization of a skeletal imaging agent is presented. Two unusual scintigraphic findings of bone agent localization in the tumor were observed: a ring-like configuration, and low-intensity uptake. The large ring-like appearance of the extraosseous radioactivity may reflect a bulky tumor with central necrosis and a less active calcification process.

Aged↗

Incidental vertebral lesions identified during technetium-99m sulfur colloid liver-spleen imaging.

Three vertebral lesions, two compression fractures, and one metastasis in two patients, were incidentally demonstrated during Tc-99m sulfur colloid liver-spleen studies. Although the scintigraphic photon-deficient area could not be differentiated due to the metastasis and the compression fracture, the abnormal radiocolloid findings of vertebrae may lead to further studies using Tc-99m diphosphonate, Ga-67, radiographic studies, and/or biopsy.

Aged↗

Biofeedback for the treatment of anal incontinence in a child with ureterosigmoidostomy.

The case of a 7-year-old boy born with exstrophy of the bladder is presented. Biofeedback and behavioral therapy were employed in the treatment of anal incontinence, which occurred following ureterosigmoidostomy diversion. After 19 treatment and follow-up sessions over a period of 12 months, there was significant decrease in fecal/urinary incontinence. The patient was soiled 29% of waking hours over the first 4 weeks of treatment. This figure dropped to 9.7% over the last three sessions. Subjective satisfaction of parent, child, and teachers was high. These gains were maintained over a 12-month follow-up period. Given the design of the present study, it is not possible to determine whether the biofeedback per se had a specific treatment effect. The case demonstrates the usefulness of a broad-based behavior therapy in the management of fecal/urine soiling, which is a frequent, refractory complication of ureterosigmoidostomy.

Behavior Therapy↗

Simultaneous demonstration of pleural effusion and ascites by technetium-99m sulfur colloid liver-spleen scintigraphy.

Scintigraphic evidence of ascites has been observed in Tc-99m sulfur colloid studies of the liver and spleen, in Tc-99m HIDA hepatobiliary scans, in Ga-67 citrate scans, and in Tc-99m phosphonate bone images. Pleural effusion has been demonstrated in Tc-99m phosphonate bone scintigraphy. The case of a 48-year-old man whose Tc-99m sulfur colloid liver-spleen scintigram simultaneously demonstrated a right pleural effusion and ascites is presented.

Ascites↗

Adult polycystic disease of kidneys: a potential cause of false-positive 67Ga images.

A 56-year-old man with adult polycystic disease of the kidneys complicated by renal failure, hypertension, and bacteremia underwent bilateral nephrectomy because the enlarged kidneys compromised his gastrointestinal function and respiratory capacity. A scan using 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate demonstrated nonfunctioning kidneys, bilaterally. An unusual radioactivity pattern in the bowel in 67Ga scintigraphy was due to extreme renal enlargement and should be kept in mind to avoid misinterpretation.

Abscess↗

Pyogenic liver abscess presenting as a "warm" lesion in Ga-67 scintigram. A potential pitfall in interpretation.

In the Ga-67 scintigram, most pyogenic liver abscesses appear to be areas of high radiotracer concentration; rarely photon-deficient lesions may also occur. We present a 58-year-old man with sepsis and hepatic abscess, demonstrated by a Tc-99m BIDA study and a computerized tomogram of the body, showing homogenous radiogallium uptake throughout the liver in the Ga-67 images. To avoid missing such a "warm" lesion, it is emphasized that abdominal Ga-67 scintigrams for localization of a focal inflammatory lesion should be done along with Tc-99m sulfur colloid or Tc-99m BIDA scintigraphy.

Gallium Radioisotopes↗