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Biomedical subjects

R Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to R Gordon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Patients achieve accurate home blood pressure measurement following instruction.

This study evaluates the effects of an instruction program conducted by registered nurses on subjects' ability to achieve three blood pressure measurements that were within 2 mmHg of simultaneous readings taken by an instructor listening through a dual headed stethoscope. The sample comprised 30 subjects aged between 22 and 76 years who were referred to a Hypertension Unit over a two month period for home blood pressure instruction. After approximately 45 minutes of individual instruction and practice in the use of an aneroid home blood pressure machine, subjects' ability to measure their blood pressure was assessed by the accuracy of their readings, their responses to a multiple choice knowledge questionnaire, their self-reported confidence in their ability to measure their blood pressure at home and an instructor's evaluation of their technique. Twenty seven percent of subjects achieved three measurements that were the same as those of their instructor, 57% and 17% obtained readings that were within 2 mmHg and 4 mmHg of an instructor respectively. Ninety percent of subjects obtained perfect scores in the knowledge questionnaire, 93% obtained perfect scores in the technique competency checklist and 100% of subjects either strongly agreed or agreed with the statement 'I feel confident enough to measure my blood pressure at home'. The study demonstrates that patients can be taught to accurately measure their blood pressure at home and, herefore, to provide reliable data to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and hypotension.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The healing event in Graeco-Roman folk-medicine.

The inexplicit character of Graeco-Roman folk-medicine, together with the distorted and haphazard nature of our evidence, has led to easy denigration of its aims and methods. Analysis of the structure of the healing event, especially its spoken component, the charm, provides some insight into tacit beliefs about illness, and into the skills through which folk-practitioners won reputations for competence. Just as in school medicine, the basic aim is acquisition of the authority to intervene: correct diagnosis, drawing upon folk-categories, is followed by the reassertion of order through setting the present contingency into the context of a natural law or regularity, drawing upon the stock of shared knowledge.

Greece, Ancient↗
PubMed1994

Furrowing surface contraction wave coincident with primary neural induction in amphibian embryos.

We predicted, and have now observed, a surface contraction wave in axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) embryos that appears to coincide temporally and spatially with primary neural induction and homoiogenetic induction, and with involution of the chordomesoderm. The wave starts from a focus anterior to the dorsal lip of the blastopore and spreads as an ellipse, until part of it encounters the rim of the blastopore and vanishes there. The remaining arc then continues over the dorsal hemisphere until it reforms an ellipse that decreases in size. About 9 to 12 hours after it begins, the wave vanishes at a focus diametrically opposite its point of origin. The wave involves both local contraction and furrowing in the monolayer ectoderm. To a good approximation, the hemispherical portion of the ectoderm traversed by the wave becomes neuroepithelium, while the ectoderm not traversed by the wave becomes epidermis. The wave might provide a mechanism to determine the time and location at which neuroepithelial differentiation occurs.

Ambystoma mexicanum↗
PubMed1994

Distribution of catecholamine(s) in the nervous system of a mermithid nematode, Romanomermis culicivorax.

The nervous system of the mermithid nematode Romanomermis culicivorax was investigated at different developmental stages for the distribution of catecholamine(s). The catecholaminergic nervous system increased in complexity during development. In the adult nematode, catecholamine(s) occurred in the nerve ring and associated ganglia, cephalic nerves, ventral and dorsal nerve cords and mid-body region ganglia. The distribution of catecholaminergic ganglia in the tail region was different for each sex. The tail region of males contained 16-20 catecholaminergic ganglia, whereas the tail of females contained only 2 ganglia. The catecholamine widely distributed throughout the nervous system of R. culicivorax is not dopamine, since immunoreactivity to dopamine was observed only in the amphids. The results suggest that the catecholamine(s) is widely distributed within the nervous system of R. culicivorax and might function as a neurohormone or neurotransmitter in controlling physiological and developmental processes.

Aedes↗
PubMed1994

Distribution of FMRF-amide-like peptide in the nervous system of a mermithid nematode, Romanomermis culicivorax.

The nervous system of the mermithid nematode Romanomermis culicivorax was investigated at different developmental stages for the distribution of the neuropeptide FMRF-amide. An FMRF-amide-like peptide was detected by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. The peptidergic nervous system increased in complexity during development. In adults, FMRF-amide-like peptide was present in the nerve ring, cephalic papillary ganglia, cephalic nerves, amphids, ganglia posterior to the nerve ring, longitudinal nerve cords and several mid-body region ganglia. The distribution of peptidergic ganglia in the tail region was different for each sex. Four clusters of ganglia were present in the tail of females, whereas such ganglia were absent in the tail of males. The results suggest that FMRF-amide-like peptide is widely distributed within the nervous system of R. culicivorax and might function as a neurohormone or neurotransmitter in controlling physiological and developmental processes.

Aedes↗
PubMed1994

L-745,337: a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 elicits antinociception but not gastric ulceration in rats.

L-745,337 [5-methanesulphonamido-6-(2,4-difluorothiophenyl)-1-indan one] a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor reversed hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan in rats without causing gastric ulceration at doses 100 times those causing antinociception. In contrast, piroxicam and indomethacin produced ulcerations at antinociceptive doses. These findings demonstrate that L-745,337 possesses antinociceptive activity but has a reduced liability for gastric ulceration.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1994

Evolution escapes rugged fitness landscapes by gene or genome doubling: the blessing of higher dimensionality.

Evolution on rugged landscapes ceases when a local maximum is attained. This poses the problem of how evolution could approach or attain a global maximum, especially for large genomes for which quasispecies are ineffective. I show how increasing the dimensionality of the landscape, which occurs every time there is a gene or higher order duplication (up to polyploidy), may solve this problem. Epistasis or complementarity between the duplicated genes provides an all uphill pathway towards the global maximum. The evolution of hemoglobin and other dimeric and tetrameric proteins provides a testable case, since fitness is readily defined.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Liver transplantation for neonatal hepatitis as compared to the other two leading indications for liver transplantation in children.

Neonatal hepatitis is a syndrome of unknown etiology occurring in children with viral liver disease, as well as children with unidentified disorders of bile salt synthesis and other poorly understood metabolic diseases. It is characterized by jaundice, giant cell hepatitis and rare liver failure necessitating liver transplantation. In the present investigation, the outcome of liver transplantation performed in 16 children with neonatal hepatitis at the investigators' institution was determined from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1991. The results were compared to those obtained in 288 children transplanted for biliary atresia and 66 children transplanted for recognized metabolic liver disease. The children transplanted for neonatal hepatitis (4.1 +/- 1.3 years) and metabolic liver disease (5.8 +/- 0.6 years) were older than those transplanted for biliary atresia (3.3 +/- 0.2 years) (p < 0.01), but did not differ in terms of sex, ABO type, UNOS status or year in which the transplant procedure was performed. Interestingly, first allograft survival was equal in the children with neonatal hepatitis (74%) and those with metabolic liver disease (74%), but was greater than that for children transplanted for biliary atresia (68%) (p < 0.01). Despite this significant difference in first graft survival, no differences in 5-year survival were seen for the three groups (81% for neonatal hepatitis, 68% for biliary atresia and 79% for metabolic liver disease).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Signal-detection analysis of the Müller-Lyer and the Horizontal-Vertical illusions.

Perceptual error in the Müller-Lyer and the Horizontal-Vertical illusions was quantified using nonparametric signal-detection measures of sensitivity and response bias. Sensitivity scores were positively related to signal strength with the greatest values observed for the strongest signals. Sensitivity at each signal strength did not differ between the two illusions. Response-bias scores were inversely related to signal strength, with the most conservative biases observed for the strongest signals. Response biases for each signal strength were significantly more conservative for the Horizontal-Vertical than for the Müller-Lyer illusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Burnout and career-choice regret among family practice physicians in early practice.

OBJECTIVE: Burnout and career-choice regret among physicians in early practice may contribute to physician impairment and attrition as well as patient dissatisfaction. METHOD: Fifty residency-trained family physicians in early practice completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a questionnaire on career-choice, demographics, and practice characteristics. RESULTS: The sample showed moderate burnout related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization of patients but low burnout related to lack of personal accomplishment. Although only 52% reported that they would definitely choose a medical career again, 70% reported that they would definitely choose the specialty of family practice again. At the 0.01 level of significance, those who worked more hours were more emotionally exhausted, and those with children and those with more children under the age of 5 reported less depersonalization. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of physicians in early practice reported slightly less burnout and less specialty-choice regret than a comparable sample of family practice residents, suggesting possible attenuation of burnout with the transition from training to practice. Nonetheless, the importance of overwhelming time demands as a precipitant of exhaustion and potential physician impairment is noted.

Burnout, Professional↗
PubMed1993

Lack of association between HLA antigen DR3 and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in liver transplant recipients.

The relationship between alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (alpha 1-ATD) and the HLA antigen system was studied in 32 liver transplant recipients. Despite previous reports of an association of HLA antigen DR3 with homozygosity for alpha 1-AT ZZ, no such association was seen in this population of alpha 1-ATD homozygous ZZ patients with advanced hepatic disease. Thus, the reported association of HLA class II antigens and homozygosity for the Z allele for alpha 1-AT may be an artifact of either a small study population or geographic inbreeding and a coincidental association of certain HLA antigens with the presence of homozygosity for the Z allele of alpha 1-AT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Measurement of wrist, metacarpophalangeal joint, and thumb extension strength in a normal population.

An objective method of measuring isometric wrist, finger (metacarpophalangeal joints) and thumb extension strength was developed, and values for a normal population were defined. Disability due to extensor dysfunction was not assessed in this study. The testing technique involved the use of a load cell myometer held in a specially constructed jig. A total of 2232 measurements in 372 persons were made. Mean values for the strength of extension were as follows: men--wrist, 13 kg; metacarpophalangeal joint, 6 kg; thumb, 3 kg; women--wrist, 7 kg; metacarpophalangeal joint, 4 kg; thumb, 2 kg. Strength was greatest in the third decade and decreased in each subsequent age group. Wrist extension strength was 10% greater in the dominant hand. Interrater and test-retest reliability were assessed and found to be satisfactory. The method is proposed primarily as a clinical research tool, providing the clinician with an objective means of assessing wrist, metacarpophalangeal joint, and thumb extensor function. Potential applications include measurements of recovery after radial nerve injury or grafting and after other reconstructive procedures to restore extensor function.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Detection of renin mRNA in aldosterone-producing adenomas by polymerase chain reaction.

1. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from two normal human adrenal cortices and from five aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA). 2. The five APA could be categorized, on the basis of in vivo aldosterone responsiveness to angiotensin infusion and upright posture, into two APA responsive to both stimuli, two responsive only to angiotensin infusion, and one unresponsive to either stimulus. 3. RNA was reverse transcribed and coamplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with an internal standard of renin complementary DNA (cDNA) containing a 60 base pair insertion. Renin mRNA in the APA was compared with normal adrenals. 4. Renin mRNA was greater than normal in the two APA responsive to both stimuli and less than, or similar to normal, in the two APA responsive only to angiotensin infusion. Renin mRNA was also less than, or similar to normal, in the APA unresponsive to either stimulus. 5. These findings support a possible role for adrenal renin in the development and biochemical behaviour of angiotensin-responsive APA.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1993

Use of capnography for assessment of the adequacy of alveolar ventilation during weaning from mechanical ventilation.

A prospective study was conducted to determine the reliability of noninvasive end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) monitoring as a reflection of arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) during weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV). Simultaneous PaCO2 and PETCO2 determinations were compared during MV and again during a spontaneous breathing trial just before returning the patient to MV. Three groups of patients recovering from acute respiratory failure were evaluated. Group 1 consisted of 16 patients (28 observations) without parenchymal lung disease. Group 2 consisted of 22 patients (31 observations) with alveolar filling diseases. Group 3 was composed of 13 patients (22 observations) with emphysema. Significant Pearson correlation coefficients were demonstrated between PaCO2 and PETCO2 during both MV and spontaneous breathing in all three groups. Significant correlation was also demonstrated between the change in PaCO2 and the change in PETCO2 associated with weaning for each group; however, the degree of correlation varied between groups. Our data suggest that capnography offers a reasonable estimate of PaCO2 and changes in PaCO2 during weaning in patients without parenchymal lung disease. However, PETCO2 is less sensitive to changes in PaCO2 for patients with parenchymal lung disease, particularly patients with emphysema. Interpretation of capnographic data requires a full understanding of its limitations. An approach to capnographic monitoring during weaning is discussed.

Aged↗