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Marianne Meyer

Publications and source records attributed to Marianne Meyer.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Continuing the search for dyslexia genes on 6p.

This study is a continuation and extension of the work with Orton Developmental Dyslexia (DD) pedigrees [Grigorenko et al., 1997; 2000, Grigorenko et al., 2001]. This study utilized an extended sample (N = 176) and a well-saturated map of chromosome 6p (30 markers). Six phenotypes were constructed to span a range of dyslexia-related cognitive processes. These phenotypes were: (1) Phonemic Awareness (of spoken words); (2) Phonological Decoding (of printed nonwords); (3) Rapid Automatized Naming (of colored squares or object drawings); (4) Single Word Reading (orally, of printed real words); (5) Phonemic Awareness/Decoding/Single-Word Reading pathway; and (6) Phonemic Awareness/Rapid Naming/Single-Word Reading pathway. The study resulted in two major findings. First, considering the distributions of the genetic linkage indicators across all phenotypes examined, there appear to be three regions of interest (around markers D6S109, D6S1261, and in the D6S105-D6S265 region). Any of these regions could serve as a starting point in the search for specific gene candidates contributing to the manifestation of DD, yet they all might be echo peaks of a single peak, the boundary of which is difficult to establish due to the limited power of this sample. Second, the DD-related linkage in 6p21.3 appears to be most closely related to the manifestations of DD through phonemic awareness and single-word reading deficits.

Adolescent↗

Utility of the lateral chest radiograph in the evaluation of patients with a positive tuberculin skin test result.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In the United States, chest radiographs are performed on patients with positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results. It is not known whether, in addition to a single posteroanterior radiograph, a lateral chest radiograph is clinically indicated or cost-effective. We sought to determine the utility of the lateral chest radiograph in evaluating TST-positive adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary-care hospital. PATIENTS: Adults with positive TST results. MEASUREMENTS: Findings on posteroanterior radiographs alone were compared to posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs. RESULTS: In 2 of 535 cases (0.4%), lateral chest radiographs revealed a calcified granuloma not visible on posteroanterior radiographs. This finding did not alter patient management. In all other cases, lateral radiographs only confirmed findings seen on posteroanterior chest radiographs. CONCLUSION: Treatment altering findings were always visible on posteroanterior radiographs alone. These results suggest that lateral chest radiographs are not useful in evaluating adults with positive TST results.

Adult↗

Repeat bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy is a safe procedure.

OBJECTIVE: Previous tracheostomy has been considered a relative contraindication for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in critically ill patients with a history of previous tracheostomy. DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center case series of all consecutive patients requiring repeat tracheostomy for continued mechanical ventilatory support. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a tertiary-care referral center. SUBJECTS: Fourteen patients (eight female, six male) with a median age of 70 yrs (range, 33-94). All patients had previously undergone tracheostomy. INTERVENTION: Bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Subjects' previous tracheostomies dated back between 10 days and 8 yrs. Present intubation time before percutaneous dilational tracheostomy varied between 4 and 30 days. Bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy was performed successfully in all 14 patients by trained pulmonologists and surgeons. Eleven patients received an 8-mm and three received a 7-mm tracheostomy tube. There were no significant periprocedural complications, and no patient required surgical revision. The only postprocedural complication was accidental decannulation in one patient, which was managed with repeat percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Trained physicians can safely perform bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy after previous tracheostomy. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy offers an alternative to surgical tracheostomy in this particular patient population and should not be considered contraindicated.

Adult↗