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Biomedical subjects

R M Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to R M Gordon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Magnetization transfer histograms in clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis.

In established multiple sclerosis, magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) histograms reveal abnormalities of normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and grey matter (NAGM). The aim of this study was to investigate for such abnormalities in a large cohort of patients presenting with clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Magnetization transfer imaging was performed on 100 patients (67 women, 33 men, median age 32 years) a mean of 19 weeks (SD 3.8, range 12-33 weeks) after symptom onset with a clinically isolated syndrome and in 50 healthy controls (34 women, 16 men, median age 32.5 years). SPM99 software was used to generate segmented NAWM and NAGM MTR maps. The volumes of T2 lesions, white matter and grey matter were calculated. Eighty-one patients were followed up clinically and with conventional MRI after 3 years (n = 61) or until they developed multiple sclerosis if this occurred sooner (n = 20). Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate differences between patients and controls with age, gender and volume measures as covariates to control for potential confounding effects. The MTR histograms for both NAWM and NAGM showed a reduction in the mean (NAWM, 38.14 versus 38.33, P = 0.001; NAGM 32.29 versus 32.50, P = 0.009; units in pu) and peak location, with a left shift in the histogram. Mean NAWM and NAGM MTR were also reduced in the patients who developed clinically definite multiple sclerosis and multiple sclerosis according to the McDonald criteria but not in the 24 patients with normal T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MTR abnormalities occur in the NAWM and NAGM at the earliest clinical stages of multiple sclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Elevated white matter myo-inositol in clinically isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis.

Normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in established multiple sclerosis has been shown to be abnormal using a variety of magnetic resonance (MR) techniques, including proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS), although the stage at which these changes first appear is less clear. Using a 1.5 T scanner and single-voxel (1)H-MRS [TR 3000 ms, TE 30 ms, point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) localization], we determined NAWM metabolite concentrations in 96 patients a mean of 19 weeks (range 12-28 weeks) after onset of a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis and in 44 healthy control subjects. Absolute concentrations of N-acetyl-aspartate, total creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), choline-containing compounds, glutamate plus glutamine, and myo-inositol (Ins) were estimated automatically using the LCModel. Compared with control subjects, the concentration of Ins was elevated in CIS NAWM (mean 3.31 mM, SD 0.86 versus mean 3.82 mM, SD 1.06; P = 0.001). The increase in Ins was also seen in the patient subgroup with abnormal T2-weighted MRI (mean 3.88 mM, SD 1.10; P = 0.001) and in those who satisfied the McDonald criteria for multiple sclerosis (mean 4.04 mM, SD 1.31; P = 0.001). An increase in Cr was also observed in CIS NAWM (P = 0.023), but other metabolites did not significantly differ between the whole CIS group and control subjects. There was no significant correlation between NAWM Ins and T2 lesion load. The early increase in Ins may reflect a process of pathogenic importance in multiple sclerosis NAWM. Follow-up studies will investigate whether the increase in NAWM Ins is of prognostic importance for future relapses and disability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Team approaches to treating children with disabilities: a comparison.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in team functioning between the multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary models when treating children with disabilities. DESIGN: A crossover trial. SETTING: An outpatient educational and rehabilitation program in a rehabilitation institute based at a university medical center. PARTICIPANTS: A population-based sample of 19 rehabilitation specialists and educators. INTERVENTION: Participants attended four team meetings using the multidisciplinary approach and then attended four team meetings using the transdisciplinary approach. OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavioral ratings of team participation (Transdisciplinary Team Rating Scale) and self-report instruments of team development (Team Assessment Questionnaire) and treatment planning and goal development (Staff Perception Questionnaire). RESULTS: Results of t tests confirmed the hypothesis that there was more team member participation during transdisciplinary meetings than during multidisciplinary meetings (p=.027). There were no differences in levels of team development (p=.329); however, staff members favored the transdisciplinary model for treatment planning and goal development (p < .001). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of the effectiveness of the transdisciplinary model. Further research is now needed to investigate outcome variables such as rate of success in attaining treatment goals when using this model.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Out to pasture: a case for the retirement of Canadian mental health legislation.

The emergence of new adult guardianship and related legislation and systems in British Columbia, Ontario, and other jurisdictions has generated questions about the utility of separate mental health legislation. Mental health statutes are the descendents of legislation that once created and regulated separate institutions and systems for the insane (later known as the mentally diseased and, more recently, the mentally ill). Such legislation is no longer consistent with the dominant community care and treatment strategies in the mental health field and the growing trend to recognize and respect consumer involvement in care and treatment decision making. Emerging legislation in the guardianship field makes provision for a range of options and mechanisms that can replace separate mental health statutes (e.g., general consent to health care legislation, and provision for enduring powers of attorney of the person and Ulysses agreements) and produce a new and more effective legal framework for the provision of mental health care and treatment.

Canada↗
PubMed1992

Stress, appraisal, and coping in mothers of disabled and nondisabled children.

The cognitive-behavioral model of stress and coping provided the framework for this study of mothers of physically disabled children (n = 69) and mothers of nondisabled children (n = 63). The first aim was to test for differences between groups in responses to stressful parenting events. As hypothesized, mothers of disabled children reported higher levels of depressive symptomatology. Differences in psychological distress and health status approached significance. The second aim was to explore the mediating influences of coping strategies and cognitive appraisals. As predicted, emotion-focused coping was related to increased psychological distress in mothers of disabled children whereas problem-focused coping was associated with decreased distress. Both relationships were significant even after controlling for differences in type of parenting stressor. Hierarchical regressions showed that 58 and 25% of the variance in psychological distress was explained by the independent variables; however, the predictors were different for the two groups of mothers. Factors that may explain the differential effectiveness of coping and appraisal, and clinical implications of this study are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1981

Cytotoxic activity, tumor accumulation, and tissue distribution of ruthenium-103-labeled bleomycin.

Bleomycin (BLM) was labeled with gamma-emitting 103Ru. Yields of 103Ru-labeled BLM as high as 50.6% were attained. 103Ru-labeled BLM was stable in vitro and the 103ru label was not displaced by large excesses of Cu (II) and Co (II) or Fe (III). Chromatography of the urine following 103Ru-labeled BLM injection indicated no in vivo decomposition. Pharmacokinetic studies in healthy inbred SD and tumor-bearing inbred BUF rats demonstrated tumor accumulations, tissue distributions, and clearance nearly identical with those reported for 3H-labeled BLM. Cytotoxicity studies on a WI-L2 human B-cell line showed that BLM labeled with nonradioactive Ru retained 100% of the activity demonstrated by native BLM. Thus BLM may be labeled with isotopes of Ru to form stable complexes by a simple, rapid reaction without loss of its chemotherapeutic properties or variations in its in vivo distribution. BLM labeled with the proper Ru isotope should prove useful as a gamma-emitting tracer for BLM or a beta-emitting compound capable of providing combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy of tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Prevalence of farmer's lung in Scotland: a pilot survey.

In a survey of the farming population of Orkney, Ayrshire, and East Lothian the prevalence of farmer's lung was estimated at 86 per 1,000 in both Orkney and Ayrshire and 23 per 1,000 in East Lothian. If cases with a negative farmer's lung hay (F.L.H.) precipitin test are excluded these figures are reduced to 43, 36, and nil respectively, but those for Orkney and Ayrshire are still about 20 times higher than any figure previously reported for the prevalence of farmer's lung in Britain.Regional variations in prevalence are probably related both to climatic conditions and to differences in agricultural methods, the latter often being dictated by economic circumstances. Nevertheless the prevalence of farmer's lung could be reduced considerably by the energetic application of preventive measures, backed by financial incentives. The most important of these are efficient drying of hay and cereals before storage, more extensive use of silage, better ventilation of farm buildings, and the introduction of mechanical feeding systems. Individual farmworkers could be taught how to recognize the early symptoms of the disease and encouraged to wear respirators when handling mouldy fodder.

Adult↗
PubMed1971

The corneomandibular reflex.

Seven patients are presented in whom a prominent corneomandibular reflex was observed. These patients all had severe cerebral and/or brain-stem disease with altered states of consciousness. Two additional patients with less prominent and inconsistent corneomandibular reflexes were seen; one had bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and one had no evidence of brain disease. The corneomandibular reflex, when found to be prominent, reflects an exaggeration of the normal. Therefore one may consider the corneomandibular hyper-reflexia as possibly due to disease of the corticobulbar system.

Adult↗
PubMed1968

Preparation and evaluation of standardized amoeba antigen from axenic cultures of Entamoeba histolytica.

The successful mass cultivation of Entamoeba histolytica strains in pure culture has made it possible to produce pure amoeba antigens, which should improve the prospects for immunodiagnostic research and simplify the interpretation of the results obtained in tests for amoeba antibodies.The authors have mass-produced immunodiagnostic antigens for amoebiasis serology from 2 axenic strains of E. histolytica and standardized them as dry powders, which upon reconstitution contained approximately 1.8 mg N/ml, or roughly the equivalent of 10 x 10(6) amoebae per ml.The antigens were evaluated with 121 sera from subjects in Costa Rica, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA, 49 of the sera being from cases of amoebic liver abscess, 41 from symptomatic intestinal amoebiasis, 19 from asymptomatic intestinal amoebiasis, and 12 from subjects presumed not to have amoebiasis.Positive results with the indirect haemagglutination test were obtained with 100% of amoebic liver abscess sera, 90.2% of those from symptomatic intestinal amoebiasis, 57.9% of those from asymptomatic intestinal amoebiasis, and 16.7% of the normal sera. Positive complement-fixation tests for the respective groups were obtained in 83.8%, 63.3%, 10.5% and 0%, and positive agar-gel diffusion in 79.6%, 53.7%, 0% and 0%.These results compare favourably with earlier reports of similar studies in which non-axenic cultures were used and agree well with those of investigators in different parts of the world to whom samples of the axenic antigens were sent.The authors conclude that the axenic antigens from either strain used, or from the 2 strains pooled, are of broad usefulness in the detection of amoebic antibodies, but point out that the limitations of the tests now used in amoeba serology are not yet clearly understood and that the pattern of antibody persistence after infection requires further study.

Antigens↗