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Biomedical subjects

R Coates

Publications and source records attributed to R Coates.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Intrathecal metrizamide enhancement of the optic nerve sheath.

The subarachnoid space continues into the orbit as part of the optic nerve sheath. This space varies in size but is usually tiny. Occasionally, prominent (one case in our experience) enhancement of the optic nerve as part of metrizamide computed tomography (CT) cisternography is seen on transverse and coronal scans presumably because of a patulous optic subarachnoid space. In five cases, we have appreciated minimal enhancement of optic nerves with metrizamide only by close comparison of CT numbers with base-line scans. One of these patients had a tiny meningioma removed successfully from the optic sheath, with return to normal vision of a previously blind eye.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intradural spinal hematoma in an infant with cystic fibrosis.

An 8-month-old male infant with cystic fibrosis developed quadriplegia secondary to spinal cord compression. Surgery revealed an extensive intradural hematoma from C3 to T9. An underlying structural source of bleeding was not identified and the patient did not have a coagulopathy. Repeated chest physiotherapy was the only known trauma that the infant had sustained. Spinal subarachnoid and subdural bleeding is a rare form of cord compression that apparently has not been described previously in association with cystic fibrosis. The current vigorous physiotherapeutic approach to cystic fibrosis necessitates awareness of the possible complications of this therapy.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased density of the thalamus on CT scans in patients with GM2 gangliosidoses.

In 13 patients, the GM2 gangliosidoses, Sandhoff disease and Tay-Sachs disease, were found to be constantly associated with homogeneously and symmetrically increased CT attenuation within the thalami. In the only patient examined with MR imaging, a T2-weighted sequence showed hypointense thalami. It is suggested that this finding is caused by an accumulation of calcium, associated with the intracellular storage of GM2 ganglioside. The finding of dense thalami may be useful as a specific diagnostic criterion for GM2 gangliosidoses. In a few patients with blocks in adjacent steps in the sphingolipid metabolism, this finding was not present.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Maple syrup urine disease: findings on CT and MR scans of the brain in 10 infants.

Ten infants with classical maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) and two with variant MSUD had a total of 26 CT scans and 13 MR examinations of the brain during different stages of their disease. We found that inter- and intrapatient analyses of CT and MR findings at times ranging from 3 days to 7 months were typical enough to suggest the MSUD diagnosis. Imaging studies showed the natural course of the disease and, in a few cases, illustrated the effects of therapy. CT scans typically are negative during the first few days of life, then a marked, generalized, diffuse edema appears. In addition, a localized, more severe edema (the MSUD edema) is seen, which involves the deep cerebellar white matter, the dorsal part of the brainstem, the cerebral peduncles, and the dorsal limb of the internal capsule. Both the generalized and the MSUD edema subside during the second month of life, then may disappear totally or leave a well-defined, low-density zone around the lateral ventricles and small, low-attenuation lesions within the brainstem, respectively. With the disappearance of the edema, some loss of brain substance becomes obvious.

Brain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in injection drug users attending a Toronto treatment facility.

Ninety injection drug users (61 males, 29 females) attending the Addiction Research Foundation Clinical Institute completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire about their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Sixty-two percent had used drugs for more than five years; 61% used primarily heroin, 20% cocaine. Needle sharing was common: 76% within 5 years, 37% within the preceding month, although 87% named needle sharing as a risk factor for HIV infection. Current needle sharers could not be distinguished from former sharers on selected demographic, attitudinal or knowledge variables. Twenty percent of respondents had been HIV tested (all negative); 88% reported willingness to be tested. Thirteen percent would consider suicide or resume heavy drug use in response to a positive test; 19% were uncertain about their response. There may be a risk of serious harm to IDUs who are tested in the absence of excellent counselling and support services.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and associated risk behaviour in injection drug users in Toronto.

During 1989-90, interviews were conducted with 582 current injection drug users in the City of Toronto, 535 of whom also provided blood and/or saliva for anonymous unlinked HIV antibody testing. The rate of seropositivity identified was 4.3% (95% CI 3-6). The subjects were predominantly male, with a mean age of 28.3. The commonest drug of choice was cocaine (70%). Forty-six percent of the subjects reported using someone else's needle in the preceding six months, 60% of these indicating that they always cleaned it first. Eighty-one percent of those interviewed had been in jail at some time since they began injecting; 25% of these had injected while in custody, and of these 61% had shared injection equipment. Eighty-two percent of the men and 85.4% of the women reported opposite sex partners in the previous six months. Only about 20% of men reported consistent condom use, while 22% of females reported condom use at least 75% of the time.

Adolescent↗