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Biomedical subjects

R Freeman

Publications and source records attributed to R Freeman.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Candida endocarditis: report of four cases.

Four patients who developed left-sided endocarditis due to infection with Candida species are reported. Three of them had had previous prosthetic valve replacement, and the fourth one developed endocarditis on a normal valve following pancreaticoduodenectomy. The difficulties presented in diagnosis and management are discussed.

Adolescent

Examination of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains for an adenylcyclase stimulating factor.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains are a common cause of infantile diarrhoea but do not produce recognised enterotoxins. Three strains of proven virulence were examined for toxins which may be missed in conventional tests. Cell lysates and concentrated culture supernates of organisms grown in five different media gave negative results when examined for adenylcyclase stimulating activity. The additions of zinc ions or lincomycin to these media or the use of iron-depleted media also gave negative results. The significance of these findings and the possible role of other toxins in diarrhoea due to enteropathogenic E. coli are discussed.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Quantitative analysis of cerebral asymmetries. Fronto-occipital correlation, sexual dimorphism and association with handedness.

To investigate the biological and functional significance of cerebral asymmetries, we measured lateral differences of the frontal and occipital poles on computed tomographic scans of 66 adult outpatients with no diagnosed abnormalities. In addition to confirming the greater average sizes of the right frontal and left occipital poles, we found a significant linear correlation relating anterior and posterior difference measures. Men showed greater degrees of frontal and occipital asymmetries than women; reversals of the typical asymmetries were more common among women. Reduction or reversal of the usual left occipital predominance in the presence of typical right frontal predominance was associated with non-right-handedness. These findings clarify and extend prior qualitative observations and relate to the possible role of testosterone in modulation of cortical asymmetries. Reduced structural asymmetries among women and non-right-handers may provide an anatomical basis for clinical and laboratory findings of lessened functional lateralization in these groups.

Adult

Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis: an analysis based on 25 proven cases.

Twenty-five consecutive unequivocal cases of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in a single centre over 5 years were reviewed. Despite an unusually high proportion of prosthetic infections an early mortality of only 16% was observed. Analysis reveals that early diagnosis and prompt effective antibiotic chemotherapy were important factors in achieving this low mortality. Monotherapy with an isoxazolyl penicillin (flucloxacillin) was shown to be as effective as combination therapies, and there was a significant association between the use of aminoglycosides and subsequent renal damage.

Adolescent

The high morbidity of CAPD fungal peritonitis--description of 10 cases and review of treatment strategies.

Fungal infection is an uncommon cause of peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This report describes the clinical and microbiological features of 10 cases of fungal peritonitis. Although all patients survived, morbidity was high. Abscess and adhesion formation were particular problems. Only two patients were able to return to CAPD after microbiological cure. Currently available treatment strategies for fungal peritonitis are reviewed.

Adult

Incidence of thyroid dysfunction in an unselected postpartum population.

We screened 212 patients four to 12 weeks post partum for thyroid function: four patients (1.9%) had evidence of thyroid dysfunction; six patients (2.8%) had elevated antimicrosomal antibody titers. These incidences are significantly lower than those previously reported. We also determined normal data for thyroid function for patients four to eight weeks post partum. While serum thyroxine-binding capacity appeared to have returned to the normal range by four to eight weeks post partum, it was still higher than in normal controls.

Adolescent

Mood and food: an analysis of bulimic episodes.

The present study examined those factors which differentially lead to normal eating and binge eating. Twenty-one bulimic subjects and comparison subjects monitored their mood, hunger, and food intake hourly over a number of days. The bulimic sample ate fewer meals and had lower overall mood. Positive mood, food abstinence combined with intensified hunger, and being in the company of another person preceded normal eating (i.e. retained meal). Negative mood, recent consumption of food, and being alone preceded bulimic episodes.

Adult

Respiratory complications following cardiac surgery. The role of microbiology in its evaluation.

Sputum specimens were received for microbiological examination from 110 patients following open heart surgery. The isolation of Haemophilus influenzae occurred significantly more often in those patients who had pre-existing chest disease, but was not associated with postoperative chest problems. There was a significant association between pre-operative heart failure and subsequent severe pulmonary complications.

Adult

Prevention of fever and gram negative infection after open heart surgery by antiendotoxin.

Naturally occurring preoperative antibody to enteric Gram negative bacilli (Escherichia coli agglutinins or antiendotoxin, or both) in 30 patients who had had open heart surgery was associated with a significantly lower incidence of early postoperative fever and postoperative Gram negative infection than occurred in 56 patients without preoperative antibodies. The protective effect was shown to be associated with antiendotoxin rather than antibody to the somatic antigen of the bacteria. Active or passive immunisation of patients having open heart surgery against endotoxin is likely to decrease significantly the morbidity after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Antibodies, Bacterial