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R A Foster

Publications and source records attributed to R A Foster.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A strategy for screening memory functions in individuals with mental retardation.

In an attempt to develop a protocol for evaluating mentally retarded clients from a neurobehavioral perspective, a strategy for screening complex verbal, simple verbal, simple visual, and spatial working memory was developed. This strategy results in numeric values on each of the aspects of memory, and it can contribute to a "global index" of memory function. The strategy is described so that it might be adopted by other practitioners interested in screening their client's ability to store and retrieve newly acquired information. Descriptive data for 125 persons carrying diagnoses of mild, moderate, and severe mental retardation are presented. The procedure was found to discriminate well between the various levels of mental retardation, correlate reasonably well with IQ, and possess relatively good test-retest reliability.

Adolescent↗

Use of an endoscopic suturing device for laparoscopic resection of the apex of the bladder and umbilical structures in normal neonatal calves.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a laparoscopic technique using an endoscopic suturing device for the resection of the apex of the bladder and the umbilical structures in large-animal neonates. Study Design-Experimental study. Animals or Sample Population-Seven healthy male Holstein calves. METHODS: A laparoscopic technique for resection of the apex of the bladder was developed on 2 calf cadavers, then evaluated on 5 anesthetized calves. The calves were positioned in dorsal recumbency, and 4 ventral abdominal portals were used. The umbilical vessels were double-ligated using an endoscopic suturing device and subsequently transected. The apex of the bladder was transected between a row of laparoscopic clips applied near the apex and atraumatic laparoscopic forceps applied distally; then, the edges were apposed using an endoscopic suturing device. The dissected umbilical remnants were removed from the abdomen through a small incision centered at the umbilicus. One month later, the calves were euthanatized and a second-look laparoscopy performed; then, bladders were collected for gross and histologic examination. RESULTS: No major complications occurred during or after surgery. The endoscopic suturing device permitted both effective ligation of the umbilical vessels and closure of the bladder. During second-look laparoscopy, healing of the peritoneal surface of the bladder and umbilical vessels was assessed to be excellent in 4 calves. A focal adhesion of omentum to the bladder suture line was observed in 1 calf. Focal adhesions of the omentum to the umbilical incision site occurred in 2 calves. The bladder mucosa was completely healed at the surgical sites. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Resection of the apex of the bladder and umbilical vessels in calves can be accomplished laparoscopically using an endoscopic suturing device.

Animals↗

Morphologic characteristics of endometriosis in the mouse model: application to toxicology.

Surgically induced endometriosis in the mouse has been described as a model to investigate the effect of environmental pollutants on the growth of endometriotic implants. The objectives of this study were to evaluate a modified surgical procedure to induce endometriosis and validate the model by comparing the effects of estrogen, 4-chlorodiphenyl ether (4-CDE) as a possible estrogenic contaminant, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a contaminant with predominantly anti-estrogenic activities, on the growth of endometrial implants. Uterine strips (1.0 x 4.0 mm2) were autotransplanted to multiple sites in the abdomen of sexually mature female B6C3F1 mice (n = 33), which were randomly assigned to the following groups: intact control (n = 4); ovariectomized (OVX, n = 9); OVX and treated with 4-CDE (n = 6); OVX and treated with 17 beta-estradiol (E2, n = 9); and OVX and treated with E2 plus TCDD (n = 5). Endometrial implants survived warm ischemia regardless of implant site and appeared as small clear spherical or ovoid fluid-filled cysts. The diameter of the endometrial cysts in the OVX animals was significantly (p < 0.0001) smaller compared with the intact animals and OVX animals replaced with E2 or 4-CDE. In contrast, TCDD treatment inhibited the growth of endometrial cysts in the presence of estrogen. We conclude that autotransplantation of uterine slices to multiple abdominal sites results in formation of endometriotic cysts that are responsive to estrogen, and that environmental contaminants possess the potential to affect the survival and growth of endometrial cysts. Therefore, we concluded that the mouse endometriosis model described in this paper has applications to investigate the possible role of environmental pollutants in the development of endometriosis.

Animals↗