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Biomedical subjects

Patrick Hardigan

Publications and source records attributed to Patrick Hardigan.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Maximum angle of ocular duction during visual fixation as a function of age.

PURPOSE: To measure and compare the maximum angle of ocular duction in healthy individuals as a function of age. METHODS: A calibrated arc perimeter was modified to display one of six randomly presented targets (high contrast Snellen equivalent letters), in both vertical (supra/infraduction) and horizontal (ab/adduction) gaze to the dominant eye of 204 healthy volunteers with best-corrected visual acuity. A bite-bar and headrest were employed to prevent head movement. Using a modified method of limits for discrimination threshold, a maximum mean angle of ocular duction was determined by stepping a target out in 5 degrees steps until an error was reported and thereafter bracketing around the limits of the target identification in 1 degrees steps. A mean threshold value was determined as the angle at which a subject obtained a correct response 75% of the time in two and as many as the trails in each of the four randomly presented directions of gaze (abduction, adduction, supraduction and infraduction). RESULTS: A decrease in mean maximum duction angle was found over all age groups in al four directions (p < 0.001), with a step decline beginning in the sixth decade and almost doubling in the oldest age group tested (80-95 years-olds). The percent change in mean maximum angle of duction due to age from the 14-19 to the 80-95 year-olds was: abduction 21%, adduction 24%, supraduction 35%, infraduction 26%. CONCLUSION: Baseline data are useful to differentiate normal changes occurring with age from early signs of disease. AdditIonally, disease progression and effects of treatment can be monitored.

Adolescent↗

A study of pre-school vision screening tests' testability, validity and duration: do group differences matter?

Vision screening was performed on 268 pre-school children: 170 from a private pre-school, 33 from a Caribbean-American parochial pre-school and 65 pre-school children from a clinic serving indigent Spanish farm-workers. Using a multi-station format, a stereoacuity test and two visual acuity tests were performed during a single screening session. The time it took to complete a test was recorded. To pass the screening, children were required to pass one visual acuity test and the stereoacuity test. Children who could not complete the protocol were retested at a later date. Children who failed the screening and every fourth child who passed the screening were referred for a full eye examination. The parents and teachers were masked to the results of the screening as well as the optometrists who performed the eye examination. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy scores were 100%, 79% and 80%, respectively. Three-year-old children completed the Lea Symbol Chart more often than the HOTV. No differences in time required to complete a visual acuity test were found. The Lea Symbol chart is more likely to be completed by young children. Testability changes significantly with age rather than with the instrument when socio-ethnic factors are held constant. Differences among groups and the sensitivity of the screening are discussed.

Child↗

An in vitro evaluation of the sealing ability of a new root-canal-obturation system.

In this study the sealing ability of a new urethane methacrylate resin-based sealer, EndoRez, was evaluated using a fluid-filtration model. Sixty-four single-rooted lower bicuspids were decoronated, instrumented, and divided into 3 groups of 20 each with 4 teeth used as controls. In group A, the roots were obturated with EndoRez and a single cone of gutta-percha, group B with AH Plus and a single cone of gutta-percha, and group C was obturated using gutta-percha with warm vertical compaction and AH Plus sealer. All specimens were allowed to set for 7 days in 100% humidity at 37 degrees C. The groups were compared for differences in the amount of leakage (mm/h) using a Chi-square test. The leakage of group A was significantly higher at p = 0.01 than the other two groups. There was no significant difference in leakage between groups B and C.

Bicuspid↗