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Biomedical subjects

R A Wright

Publications and source records attributed to R A Wright.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

The use of a dynamometer in nutritional assessment.

Standard anthropometric techniques may be unreliable in patients with subcutaneous edema or dehydration. In order to circumvent this dilemma, 98 male subjects were studied utilizing a hand-held dynamometer in conjunction with other nutritional assessment techniques. Following a nutritional assessment using anthropometric measurements, patients were characterized as being well-nourished or malnourished using three definitive measures: percentage of ideal body weight, triceps skinfold, and midarm muscle circumference. Once malnutrition was assessed, no attempt was made to distinguish between marasmus, hypoalbuminemia, or mixed marasmus types of malnutrition. A correlation matrix done between the two groups revealed no statistically significant correlation between any of the measured parameters. Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant correlations between patients in both groups (independent variables) with respect to midarm muscle circumference and dynamometer reading in the dominant arm (dependent variables). Further validation of this technique is required before it can become a standard component of nutritional assessment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1983

The effect of alcohol on the human alimentary tract: a review.

Ethanol has important effects on the alimentary tract. Nearly every study in the literature documents some aberration of absorption or metabolism of multiple vital nutrients. Malnutrition related to both poor dietary intake and malabsorption plays an important role in the clinical problems of chronic alcoholics. From a clinical viewpoint, the assessment of nutritional status by standard techniques, including serum assays for vitamins and trace elements may add to the ability to treat the alcoholic for potentially detrimental disorders. Malabsorption of ingested nutrients is common, despite the lack of salient physical findings. Therefore, parenteral administration of nutrients may be advisable, pending the reversal of the exocrine and intestinal mucosal defect. Increasing awareness of such deficiencies may lead to their earlier recognition, appropriate therapy, and prevention of further complications.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1983

Nonobstructive gastroparesis in amyloidosis improved with metoclopramide.

Patients with systemic amyloidosis often have symptoms related to impaired gastrointestinal motility. Delayed gastric emptying may result from autonomic nerve and/or smooth-muscle infiltration with amyloid. In two patients with gastroparesis secondary to amyloidosis, metoclopramide hydrochloride therapy quantitatively enhanced gastric emptying. We suggest that metoclopramide treatment may be useful in the supportive therapy of patients with delayed gastric emptying due to amyloidosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Gastric emptying and obesity.

Abnormal gastric emptying in the obese has been previously suggested. To explore this concept, we studied a group of 77 subjects composed of 46 obese and 31 age-, sex-, and race-matched nonobese individuals. All of the subjects underwent quantitative fluid/solid gastric emptying assays utilizing a dual radionuclide technique. For the solid phase, obese subjects were found to have a more rapid emptying rate than nonobese subjects (p less than 0.05). Obese men were found to empty much more rapidly than their nonobese counterparts (p less than 0.01). In 4 obese subjects whose weight loss was to within 10% of their ideal weight, repeat gastric emptying studies revealed no change in liquid or solid emptying rates. The elimination patterns of gastric emptying for liquids and solids were identical to those described previously, and did not differ between the obese and nonobese groups. No correlation between body surface area and gastric emptying rates of solids or liquids could be found. The rate of solid gastric emptying in the obese subjects is abnormally rapid. No clear-cut explanation for this finding yet exists.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Scleredema adultorum of Buschke with upper esophageal involvement.

A 55-yr-old white female with biopsy proven scleredema adultorum was evaluated for progressive dysphagia. Esophageal motility studies revealed persistently high upper esophageal pressures without response to deglutition, and minimal peristalsis in the upper body of the esophagus. A cine-esophagram revealed massive aspiration of barium into the nasopharynx and lungs, concommitant with stenosis in the upper esophagus. The patient died presumptively from aspiration. This patient exemplifies a potentially lethal complication of scleredema adultorum i.e., upper esophageal infiltration with resultant aspiration.

Deglutition Disorders↗
PubMed1982

The use of a single gamma camera in radionuclide assessment of gastric emptying.

The assessment of gastric emptying rates by radionuclide labeled test meals has been developing over the past decade. Some investigators have advocated the use of two gamma counters positioned anteriorly and posteriorly to the stomach to attain accurate measurements. Theoretical considerations and phantom studies presented herein demonstrate that a single gamma counter may be used with acceptable accuracy. Application of the technique described will allow for the clinical assessment of gastric emptying in virtually any nuclear medicine department.

Gastric Emptying↗
PubMed1981

Simultaneous markers for fluid and solid gastric emptying: new variations on an old theme: concise communication.

Radiotracer techniques for the assessment of gastric emptying have become popular in the past 6 yr. A new double-nuclide technique, for the simultaneous tagging of the solid and fluid phases, is described. Technetium-99m sulfur colloid (Tc-99m SC) is used in a manner similar to that described by Meyer and colleagues, but the new technique does not involve the use of live chickens, a significant advantage over the earlier procedures. Several fluid-phase radionuclides were tested to be used in conjunction with the Tc-99m SC. Indium-111 DTPA was found to be the only compatible fluid-phase agent. This new double-tracer technique promises to be safe, economical, simple, and physiologically sound.

Animals↗