Biomedical subjects
P G Perkins
Publications and source records attributed to P G Perkins.
Learning styles of gifted adolescents with in-school versus out-of-school accomplishments in literature.
The learning styles of two groups of adolescents gifted in literature, one composed of subjects with high grade point averages in school in literature (n = 232) and one of subjects who had high scores on talented out-of-school accomplishments in literature (n = 192), were compared. Six of the 22 elements measured by the Learning Styles Inventory distinguished between the two groups. The out-of-school gifted group preferred to work with peers and felt comfortable learning in a variety of different ways. They tended to be less visual and more auditory learners and expressed a greater preference to learn by experiential or hands-on activities than the in-school gifted group. The implications for teaching and counseling gifted learners, differently defined, are discussed.
Cervical myelopathy secondary to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in a Caucasian patient.
Cervical myelopathy consequent on ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is very rare in Caucasians. A 65-year-old Anglo-Saxon woman developed progressive gait disturbance, paresthesia in both legs and urinary urge incontinence. Radiological examination showed OPLL from fifth to seventh cervical vertebral level; the dense OPLL was graphically displayed by three-dimensional computerized tomography. Medial corpectomy, C5 to C7, and removal of OPLL, with subsequent fusion C4 to T1 using a free fibula graft resulted in clinical improvement. Three dimensional computerized tomographic imaging is a valuable diagnostic procedure in OPLL.
Long-term follow-up of six patients with acute spinal injury following dural decompression.
We report six cases of spinal injury in which there was bony encroachment on the spinal cord. At the time of decompression the dura was noted to be tense and non-pulsatile. This method of anterior decompression of burst fractures of the spine suggests that bony decompression of the spinal canal associated with durotomy released the spinal epidural veins which had become congested and had inhibited the free flow of CSF, and we believe also had decreased arteriolar inflow to the cord. Full neurological recovery occurred in three of the six neurologically impaired patients and partial recovery in the remaining three. We believe that a dural decompression may be of some use in preventing a 'compartment syndrome' of the spinal cord. Further animal studies are recommended before the procedure is used routinely.
Fusidic acid-induced hyperbilirubinemia.
A 72-year old man developed jaundice while on fusidic acid therapy for suspected osteomyelitis. Hyperbilirubinemia was predominantly of the conjugated variety and elevation in liver enzymes was mild and transient. Although serum bilirubin fell rapidly after fusidic acid was stopped, complete resolution of the hyperbilirubinemia took nearly a month. Other possible causes of jaundice were excluded. Light microscopy of a needle liver biopsy showed focal hepatocyte feathery degeneration, intracellular bile retention, and canalicular bile plugging, most prominent in perivenous regions. Electron microscopy revealed varying degrees of canalicular dilatation, loss of microvilli, and disruption of the canalicular membrane with vesicular bleb formation as well as canalicular bile plugs. Widening of the pericanalicular ectoplasmic zone with accumulation of cytoskeletal filaments was also noted. These findings are similar to those reported in experimental cholestasis induced by bile acids. Possible mechanisms of jaundice caused by fusidic acid are discussed.