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Biomedical subjects

R Arnott

Publications and source records attributed to R Arnott.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Minoan and Mycenaean medicine and its Near Eastern contacts.

Few scholars of ancient medicine have considered that Hippocratic practice may be based in part upon the experience and tradition, handed-down from generation to generation, starting before the end of the Bronze Age in 1100 BC. This paper examines the evidence for medical practitioners in the Aegean in the second millennium BC, and of medical contacts between the Aegean and contemporary bronze age societies of Egypt and the Near East at this time, and suggests that some of these contacts may have been the start of Near Eastern influence on Greek medicine.

Egypt, Ancient↗
PubMed1999

Coronal suture response to distraction osteogenesis in rabbits with delayed-onset craniosynostosis.

Recent studies have identified a subpopulation of persons with craniosynostosis who exhibit progressive or delayed-onset synostosis and mild cranial vault deformities. These persons may be good candidates for nonextirpation distraction osteogenesis. The present studies were designed to determine force-displacement parameters and assess the effects of distraction osteogenesis on coronal suture growth and morphologic characteristics in a rabbit model with congenital, delayed-onset craniosynostosis. Data were collected from a total of 178 rabbits: 71 normal controls; 16 normal controls with distraction; 72 with delayed-onset coronal suture synostosis; and 19 with delayed-onset coronal suture synostosis and distraction. At 10 days of age, all rabbits had amalgam markers placed on both sides of the coronal suture. In the force-displacement study, force-displacement distractors were placed across the coronal suture and distracted acutely for 1.0 mm at 42 days of age. Force-displacement curves for the coronal suture were best described by a third-order polynomial regression equation for both normal and synostosed groups. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in the mean force necessary to distract a normal suture 1 mm in distance (13.72 kg) compared with a suture with delayed-onset synostosis (48.39 kg). A significant (P < 0.05) relationship was also found between the extent of synostosis and the distractive force in rabbits with delayed-onset synostosis. In the distraction study, internal distractors were fixed across the coronal suture at 25 days of age and percutaneously and intermittently activated at an average of 0.11 mm/day for 42 days (4.54 mm total). Serial radiographs were taken at 10, 25, 42, and 84 days of age. Results revealed that rabbits with delayed-onset synostosis and distraction had significantly (P < 0.01) more coronal suture growth rates compared with rabbits with delayed-onset synostosis and no distraction. Coronal sutures were harvested at 84 days of age for qualitative histologic examination. Normal, distracted coronal sutures showed widened sutural ligaments and thin, active osteogenic fronts. In contrast, distracted coronal sutures from rabbits with delayed-onset synostosis showed narrowed sutural ligaments, thickened and blunt osteogenic fronts, and increased collagen and bony matrix deposition compared with controls. Results suggest that distraction osteogenesis without corticotomy may be a treatment alternative in persons with progressive, delayed-onset synostosis. However, these preliminary data also suggest that distractive forces may accelerate or stimulate osteogenesis differentially in persons with craniosynostosis, possibly through an underlying genetic disorder of bone and cytokine regulation. These differential osteogenic responses to distraction, if validated clinically, will need to be taken into account when planning distraction rate and rhythm protocols for patients with craniosynostosis.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1996

Healing and medicine in the Aegean Bronze Age.

Since the discovery of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations of Crete and Greek mainland, a systematic understanding has been gained of their material culture and social structures. Nevertheless, because of the absence of textual and pictorial evidence of medicine of the kind which exists in the contemporary societies of Egypt and the Near East, little work has been produced on the subject of disease and the practice of medicine in the period. However, new pathological evidence throws much light on this hitherto largely unknown aspect of their civilization.

Drug Therapy↗
PubMed1996

Substance use among rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe: patterns and prevalence.

OBJECTIVE: To survey drug use among rural secondary school students. DESIGN: Self reported questionnaires developed by the World Health Organisation and translated into Shona were distributed to randomly selected students from 36 schools. SETTING: Nyanga District secondary schools, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS: 1,000 secondary school students, males and females, forms one to six. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic variables, prevalence rates, frequency of drug use, first time usage, breakdown by age, sex and school type. RESULTS: Alcohol was the commonest "ever taken" substance (34.9pc), followed by tobacco (18.5pc), solvents (6.9pc) and cannabis (34.9pc). Frequency of use was low and use of other categories of drugs was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate educational programmes need to be formulated and tailored to meet the needs of rural adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

An overview of bilateral synchronous inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BSIPSS) in the pre-operative assessment of Cushing's disease.

This study examines the role of bilateral synchronous inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BSIPSS) in resolving two major issues in the pre-operative assessment of Cushing's disease, namely proof of pituitary dependent disease and accurate lateralisation of tumour within the pituitary. BSIPSS was technically successful in 16 of 20 patients. The central to peripheral ACTH gradients, supporting the diagnosis of pituitary dependent disease, was greater than 2.0 (2.0-27.2) in all patients with histologically proven ACTH-secreting pituitary tumours and in those who remained in remission following pituitary surgery. In addition, BSIPSS accurately localised the site of the tumour within the pituitary in 13 of the 16 technically satisfactory studies and thus contributed to the outcome of surgical treatment. In contrast CT scan demonstrated a definite tumour in only two patients.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1977

Clinical, biochemical and histological observations on the effect of porcine calcitonin in Paget's disease of bone.

The response to porcine calcitonin has been assessed in 38 patients with Paget's disease, observed during 44 treatment periods of from three to 42 months. In 36 of the treatment courses significant relief of pain was achieved but the contribution of placebo effect could not be determined. Serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline levels reached normal in a few patients, but the grouped data indicated a plateau effect above the range of normal. The acute hypocalcaemic response to calcitonin was lost only in those patients whose bone turnover was restored to normal. Quantitative histology on iliac crest bone biopsy samples showed no statisically significant lowering of osteoclast counts. No antibody-based clinical resistance occurred and the incidence of side effects was low. The results indicate that porcine calcitonin is a useful treatment of Paget's disease, and the experience of the study helps in arriving at patient selection and treatment schedules. Treatment is recommended for bone pain and for active disease in the relatively young, using intermittent therapy with course of at least six months duration. Resumption of therapy is based on clinical and biochemical indications.

Adult↗