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Biomedical subjects

R Erickson

Publications and source records attributed to R Erickson.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Study of the major phenotype of large granular T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

Six cases of large granular T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with a selected immunophenotype (CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, CD16+) were studied to characterize a homogeneous group of patients. It was found that most of these patients did not exhibit the clinical features frequently described in large granular T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder--recurrent infection, rheumatoid arthritis, and splenomegaly. The laboratory tests usually positive in large granular T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, including rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies, also were frequently negative. The pathognomonic features were found to be neutropenia and large granular lymphocytosis with positive killer cell markers. All six cases showed T-cell receptor gene rearrangement that indicated a monoclonal proliferation of lymphoid cells, which were natural killer-like T cells by immunophenotyping. B cells were essentially absent in all cases. It should be emphasized that bone marrow aspirates are as informative as peripheral blood samples for the diagnosis of large granular T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder; indeed, phenotypes of blood and marrow in one case were identical in terms of percentages of markers. In this selected group of patients, the clinical courses were indolent with uncomplicated outcomes. In three patients, chemotherapy did not induce an obvious clinical response, but all patients' conditions remained stable with only supportive care.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of concurrent chest pain assessment on retrospective reports by cardiac patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a concurrent record of chest pain episodes on later completeness and accuracy of verbal recall. Patients included 23 men and eight women, ages 43 to 76 years from a private cardiology practice who were randomized into experimental (n = 16) and control (n = 15) groups. Following an initial interview, experimental patients were instructed in using a Chest Discomfort Diary in the home setting to record eight categories of information about each episode of chest pain experienced during the next 7 to 10 days. At the end of that time, both groups were interviewed about a specific typical episode of chest pain that had occurred; patients who did not have chest pain during the study period described an episode experienced prior to the initial interview. Experimental patients recalled their chest pain more completely than controls (P = 0.007), whether it had occurred during or prior to the study period. Experimental patients who had pain (n = 11), and thus actually used the diary, accurately recalled the duration, intensity, description, and treatment of the typical episode but were often inaccurate regarding their mood and the total number of episodes they had experienced. The findings suggest that a concurrent diary offers one method of teaching patients how to report their chest pain symptoms and may improve the completeness and accuracy of those reports.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Functional projections from striate cortex and superior temporal sulcus to the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract (DTN) of macaque monkeys.

The nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and the dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract (DTN) have been recognized to be relevant structures for optokinetic and vestibuloocular reflexes. NOT-DTN neurons relay visual information to the vestibular nuclei via the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi and to the flocculus via the dorsal cap of the inferior olive. It has been previously shown that in carnivores the NOT-DTN receives information from primary visual cortical areas in addition to the direct retinal input. In this study we demonstrate the presence and some functional characteristics such as latency and evicacy of considerable cortical projections to the NOT-DTN in macaque monkeys. In anaesthetized and paralyzed monkeys NOT-DTN neurons were identified physiologically and tested for cortical input by electrical stimulation in various cortical areas. Successful sites of stimulation to activate NOT-DTN neurons orthodromically lie in the primary visual cortex (V1) and in the motion-processing areas in the superior temporal sulcus (STS). In contrast, electrical stimulation in area V4 and in parietal areas in most cases did not yield orthodromic responses. Overall latencies of action potentials elicited by stimulation in V1 were 0.5 ms longer than those elicited from STS. These short latency differences between V1 and STS stimulation suggest a direct projection from both V1 and STS to the NOT-DTN. The physiological results were supported by the results of anatomical experiments by using horseradish peroxidase as anterograde tracer. Both injections into V1 and into the lower bank of STS resulted in anterogradely labelled fibers and terminals around the recording sites of direction-specific NOT-DTN neurons. This paper is a first step in clarifying the significance of corticofugal projections from individual areas involved in the analysis of visual motion for the optokinetic reflex.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Measurement of dentin permeability and wetness by use of the Periotron device.

The ability of the Periotron device to measure changes in dentin permeability and wetness was evaluated by use of extracted human teeth in vitro. Pulpal pressures were varied from zero to 40 cm H2O for simulation of different pulpal tissue pressures. Non-physiologic pulpal pressures of 703 cm H2O were used for comparison of dentin permeability measurements made with the Periotron device with those made using micropipettes. Measurements made with the Periotron device correlated well with methods used previously for measurement of dentin permeability. The shear bond strength of Scotchbond 2/Silux was measured 24 h after being bonded to dentin held at zero pulpal pressure. There was an inverse correlation between the shear bond strengths of Scotchbond 2/Silux and Periotron values, suggesting that increased wetness decreases the bond strength of that system. The Periotron device offers a new, simple, convenient measure of dentin surface wetness which may be useful in dentin bonding studies.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed1991

Factors related to accuracy in office cholesterol testing. Iowa Academy of Family Physicians Research Network.

BACKGROUND: There has been growing interest in the performance of diagnostic testing in physician office laboratories (POLs). Since the measurement of cholesterol is a well-defined and standardized laboratory test, it was selected to assess factors related to test accuracy in POLs. METHODS: One hundred thirty-one family practice offices were eligible to participate in the survey. Each was mailed a cholesterol specimen with a standardized value in October 1988. The laboratory characteristics of those POLs with results that were within 10% of the true specimen value were compared with those with results that were greater than 10% in error. RESULTS: Of the 131 POLs, 122 returned an answer for the unknown specimen. Ninety-eight (80%) were within 10% of the true value, and 114 (93%) were within 15%. Factors that were related to lower error rates (more likely to be within 10% total error) were whether the laboratory performed more than 25 laboratory tests per day, participated in a proficiency testing program, and ran daily quality controls, as well as the type of instrument the laboratory used. CONCLUSIONS: Overall performance of the POLs compared favorably with reference laboratories; however, running controls and participating in a proficiency testing program may further improve POL test accuracy.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1979

Predicting minority student performance in the first medical school year.

Impressions and anecdotal evidence have raised concerns that traditional cognitive measures of past performance may not be predictive of the performance among minority students in medical school. This study assessed the relationship between nine objective measures and actual first year academic performance for cohorts of minority students enrolled in a single medical school between 1973 and 1976.The findings support previous impressions that objective measures together explain less than half of the variance in academic performance. Furthermore, the cumulative undergraduate college average and the competitiveness of the undergraduate college are consistently the strongest predictors of academic performance among this group.

Boston↗
PubMed1978

The presence of serum creatine kinase 2 (MB) in acromegalic myopathy.

Increase in size of bone is characteristic of acromegaly. In addition, hypertrophy of other tissues including skeletal muscle and associated myopathy may occur. We recently found 10 U/1 of isoenzyme creatine kinase 2 (MB) or 10.9% of total creatine kinase in a patient with acromegaly who did not show clinical or laboratory evidence of acute myocardial necrosis. The myopathy associated with acromegaly is thus another cause for the presence of serum CK 2 (MB), and CK 2 (MB) is not a specific isoenzyme for myocardial damage since it may be identified in the serum of patients with skeletal muscle conditions.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1977

The assessment man.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed1976

Well-child care by pediatric nurse practitioners in a large group practice. A controlled study in 1,152 preschool children.

A controlled two-year study of the effectiveness of well-child care by pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) of 1,152 children, newborns through age 22 months, was made at the Kaiser-Peranente Medical Centers in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. In this setting of a large, prepaid, group practice health care plan, the PNPs were found to be entirely competent in maintaining the health of their patients, and were generally accepted by the parents. Effects on utilization of medical care facilities were minimal. Costs of well-child care were reduced.

California↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification and certification of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation specialists in the United States.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a highly specialized technique widely practiced in many hospitals. Despite the proliferation of ECMO, little information has been generated relating to ECMO specialists, a new professional group responsible for managing the extracorporeal life support (ELS) system. A telephone survey of ECMO centers in the United States was conducted to determine the number of ECMO specialists, team composition by profession, and clinical components of ECMO specialist certification. Data were obtained in May 1991 from all 63 (100%) active ELS centers. The survey found that the average ECMO program performs 3,770 +/- 1,019 clinical hours of ELS per year with a team of 23 +/- 11 specialists. There are 1,431 practicing ECMO specialists in the United States: 73% registered nurses, 22% respiratory therapists, and 5% others. Most ECMO specialist teams (56%) are comprised of a single profession, with 44% of programs using a mixture of professions. The average ECMO specialist manages the ELS system 171 +/- 91 hr/yr. Thirty-six (57%) programs have a mean yearly clinical requirement of 77 +/- 23 ELS hours per specialist. These results represent the first complete report identifying the number of ECMO specialists in the United States. In addition, program demographics demonstrate variability in ECMO experience and certification requirements.

Adult↗