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Biomedical subjects

M Sheridan

Publications and source records attributed to M Sheridan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Enforcement of minor tobacco laws: Wisconsin, 1996.

The objective of this project was to profile the statewide enforcement of laws prohibiting sales of tobacco to minors and purchasing/possession of tobacco by minors in 1996. A sample of Wisconsin cities or villages (n = 86) were surveyed on adoption of pertinent state statutes as local ordinances and the number of recorded violations. About 70% of municipalities have passed illegal sales ordinances and about 80% have passed purchase/possession ordinances. Over 6,000 citations were issued to minors in 1996 for purchase/possession of tobacco and 67 citations were issued for illegal sales to minors. By extrapolation, we estimate that there is approximately one commercial selling citation issued for every 112,000 packs of cigarettes sold to minors. We discuss this disparity and submit that a shift in enforcement, to commercial sellers, is needed to help reduce the increasing use of tobacco by minors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Hydrocephalus and pseudotumour cerebri in the mucopolysaccharidoses.

This paper reports two cases of cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorder in children with mucopolysaccharidosis. One patient developed pseudotumour cerebri and the other communicating hydrocephalus. It is suggested that both have a similar underlying abnormality of cerebrospinal fluid absorption with different modes of presentation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Tobacco acquisition practices of adolescents in two Wisconsin communities.

More than 2,000 students in two Wisconsin communities were surveyed on their tobacco use and acquisition habits. The results indicate a defined pattern of acquisition across the three grade levels surveyed. Eighth grade tobacco users buy or "bum" tobacco from friends but also use a wide variety of methods and sources. Tenth and 12th grade tobacco users primarily purchase tobacco from businesses. About one third of 8th grade tobacco users regularly buy from vending machines and almost half of the 8th and 10th grade tobacco users in one of the communities have shoplifted tobacco during the past year, with 12% most often obtaining tobacco in this manner. These patterns of acquisition may have a contributory effect on the high prevalence of adolescent tobacco use reported in both communities. The results argue for meaningful enforcement of laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors and the elimination of self-service sales of tobacco products.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Stage II and III-A non-small cell cancer of the lung: results of surgical resection at Fairfax Hospital.

Carcinoma of the lung is the single leading cause of death in patients with cancer and is responsible for over a quarter of all such deaths. Encouraging survival rates have been demonstrated following surgical resection of local (Stage I) disease. This paper details the results achieved with surgical resection of 100 patients with more advanced local--regional non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (Stages II and III-A). Operative (30-day) mortalities were 2.4% for Stage II patients and 8.5% for Stage III-A patients. Respective, 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were 41% (+/- 10%) and 36% (+/- 7%) and included all deaths, cancer-related as well as unrelated. When patients were stratified by stage, neither gender, age, cell type, tumor size, nor extent of resection proved statistically significant relative to long-term survival. However, Stage III-A patients, classified T-3 with contiguous tumor involvement of mediastinum, suffered a higher operative mortality and a significantly lower probability of long-term survival (p = 0.04). Finally, the results and appropriateness of prospective, clinical trials utilizing adjuvant therapies in Stage II and III-A patients and neo-adjuvant therapies in Stage III-A patients are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Scaphoid fracture: a new method of assessment.

The value of colour flow Doppler ultrasound scanning in patients with suspected acute carpal scaphoid fracture has been examined. A prospective study of 78 patients with signs and symptoms of carpal scaphoid injury was undertaken over a period of 6 months. Both wrists of all patients were scanned within 12-72 h of injury. The radial artery and carpal scaphoid bone contours are visible using this type of imaging technique. The distance between the medial wall of the radial artery and the outer cortex of the scaphoid waist was measured. The scaphoid index is described and was calculated from this measurement. Patients were managed without knowledge of the ultrasound imaging result, using plain radiographs and clinical examination as the standard for determining the presence of a scaphoid fracture. All patients were followed to the resolution of symptoms. All 12 patients who were subsequently considered to have scaphoid fractures were identified using this imaging technique within 12-72 h after injury. We conclude that this imaging may be useful in the assessment of patients with carpal scaphoid fracture. It can be used early, as a supplementary investigation, in patients with suspected carpal scaphoid fracture in whom the initial plain radiographs are normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Effect of preanesthetic medication on ease of endoscopic intubation of the duodenum in anesthetized dogs.

The effects of preanesthetic medication on ease of duodenal endoscopic intubation in dogs was evaluated. One of 12 combinations of preanesthetic medications (using atropine, glycopyrrolate, morphine, meperidine, acepromazine, and 0.9% NaCl solution) was administered IM to each of 12 dogs in a trial. Twelve endoscopic trials were performed so that each dog received each treatment combination once. Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal administered IV and maintained with halothane vaporized in oxygen. Electrocardiographic recordings, indirect blood pressure measurements, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressures, and halothane concentrations were monitored during the anesthetic period. The ease with which the fiberoptic endoscope was passed into the proximal portion of the duodenum was qualitatively score on the basis of time and maneuvering effort. None of the preanesthetic combinations made intubation of the duodenum significantly easier than that with 0.9% NaCl solution (control). Only the combination of morphine and atropine induced gastro-pyloric conditions that resulted in significantly higher (more difficult) endoscopic scores than those after preanesthetic medication with 0.9% NaCl solution.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Availability of cigarettes to under-age youth in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Ninety-three percent of surveyed Fond du Lac School District students reported cigarettes as being "fairly easy" to "easy" to obtain. Easy access to cigarettes from retail outlets may be instrumental in the inordinately high local prevalence of under-age smoking. Fourteen-year-old youths were trained to attempt purchases of cigarettes from all cigarette outlets in the city of Fond du Lac. Information relating to the purchase attempts was recorded and analyzed. Our 60% purchase success rate stems from purchases at 77% of vending machines and 43% of over-the-counter outlets. Sales from taverns accounted for approximately 25% of the totals. Our results are consistent with other studies and argue for retailer education and systematic enforcement of policies that address underage purchase of cigarettes from licensed outlets including those that otherwise proscribe minors from entering.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The binding of the fluorescent ATP analogue 2'(3')-trinitrophenyladenosine-5'-triphosphate to rat liver fatty acid-binding protein.

The less polar fluorescent analogue of ATP, 2'(3')-trinitrophenyl-5'-triphosphate bound to rat liver fatty acid-binding protein with high affinity (Kd 6.3 x 10(-6) M) and 1:1 molar stoichiometry. This probe bound to the fatty acid binding site of the protein and was displaced by oleic acid and oleoyl CoA. High concentrations of ATP did not cause significant displacement of the fluorescent ATP analogue. Since the anionic part of this molecule is the triphosphate group it is difficult to envisage this group being accommodated at an anion binding site within the non-polar core of this protein as is the case with other fatty acid binding proteins. Therefore it is anticipated that the ligand must bind to liver fatty acid-binding protein with this triphosphate group surface exposed. Caution must be exercised when using the more hydrophobic fluorescent analogue of ATP to investigate the ATP binding properties of proteins.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Precipitants of violence in a psychiatric inpatient setting.

Data gathered from the medical record and in interviews with staff and patients in an inpatient psychiatric setting at a Veterans Affairs medical center were used to examine events preceding 73 episodes in which patients were placed in four-point restraints. The behaviors leading to restraint included physical aggression, verbal threats, and threats with an object as a weapon. These behaviors were more likely to relate to external situations than to the patient's internal psychiatric symptoms. Staff were most frequently the target of patients' aggression, and patients were more likely to view the events leading to restraint as conflict with staff. No differences in the subsequent number of restraint episodes or hours in restraints were found between patients with positive and negative responses to the index restraint episode.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The subjective assessment of cataract.

The medical treatment of cataract now appears to be a distinct possibility. A number of anti-cataract formulations are being clinically tested, and more clinical trials are being planned. To obtain a true assessment of a drug's efficacy, a battery of tests are needed which can accurately assess cataract progress. A clinical trial of the proposed anti-cataract drug Bendalina is being conducted. The six subjective methods used to assess cataract progression in the trial are presented. These are refractive error, LogMAR visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity, retinal visual acuity and displacement threshold hyperacuity. The reasons for using each technique and their method of measurement is explained.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Corneal asphericity and refractive error.

The relationship between corneal curvature measured by classical keratometry and refractive error raises the question of a possible systematic relationship between refractive error and the degree of corneal asphericity. A recomputation and analysis of previously published data leads to the conclusion that the different refractive groups have similar values of the parameter 'p' and differ only in the apical radius of the cornea.

Cornea↗
PubMed1989

The measurement of the corneal ellipse for the contact lens practitioner.

A keratometric instrument is described which can be used to measure the p-value of the corneal ellipse. The performance of the instrument is compared with that of the Guillbert Routit topographical keratometer and the Wesley Jessen P. E. K. The application of the p-value to contact lens fitting is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Nonrotation of the midgut presenting in the adolescent and adult.

The most common abnormality of midgut rotation and fixation is nonrotation of the midgut. This most commonly presents in the neonatal period with duodenal obstruction or midgut volvulus. However, this condition can present outside the neonatal period as chronic abdominal pain, or as an abdominal emergency. Two such cases are reported. Normal and abnormal embryology is described, and diagnosis and management are discussed.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1988

The use of accurate visual acuity measurements in clinical anti-cataract formulation trials.

A standardized visual acuity technique is presented for use in anti-cataract drug trials. Ferris Logmar charts were used in repeatability studies of vision, visual acuity and pinhole visual acuity measurements for twenty normal subjects (mean (+/- SD) age 64 +/- 6.3 years). Visual acuity measurements were shown to be the most repeatable and thought to be the most suitable for monitoring cataract progression. Repeated visual acuity measurements were made on 29 cataractous eyes of 15 subjects (mean (+/- SD) age 67.8 +/- 7.2 years). A Logmar score change of 0.1 (one line) was shown to be a statistically significant change. This value can be used in statistical analyses of drug efficacy. The normal data gives a mean Logmar visual acuity of 1.15 (Snellen equivalent 6/5). This indicates the inadequacy of using 6/6 as a norm value for visual acuity, even for older patients. As the possibility of reversal of cataract theoretically exists in the early stages of cortical and capsular cataracts, patients with small amounts of these types of cataract are ideal patients for anti-cataract formulation trials. The normal visual acuity results indicate that the inclusion criteria for clinical trials can include patients with cataracts with visual acuity as good as 6/6.

Aged↗