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Biomedical subjects

S K Yarnell

Publications and source records attributed to S K Yarnell.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Late effects of poliomyelitis--an update on fatigue and weakness.

The Council on Scientific Affairs of the California Medical Association presents the following inventory of items of progress in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Each item, in the judgment of a panel of knowledgeable physicians, has recently become reasonably firmly established, both as to scientific fact and important clinical significance. The items are presented in simple epitome, and an authoritative reference, both to the item itself and to the subject as a whole, is generally given for those who may be unfamiliar with a particular item. The purpose is to assist busy practitioners, students, researchers, and scholars to stay abreast of these items of progress in physical medicine and rehabilitation that have recently achieved a substantial degree of authoritative acceptance, whether in their own field of special interest or another. The items of progress listed below were selected by the Advisory Panel to the Section on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the California Medical Association, and the summaries were prepared under its direction.

Fatigue↗

Blood levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities and erythrocyte and plasma glutathione peroxidase activities have been determined in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, genetic carriers, and normal controls. A 19% decrease in red cell superoxide dismutase activity was observed in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Genetic carriers showed a level between that of the dystrophy patients and the normal controls. No abnormality was seen in the red cell or plasma activities of glutathione peroxidase.

Adolescent↗

Intermittent catheterization: long-term follow-up.

Intermittent catheterization for bladder retraining after spinal cord injury has been in common use in the United States for only the last 10 years. It was initiated at the Ohio State University Hospitals in 1972. In a retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness of intermittent catheterization in 100 spinal cord injured patients, 94 were found to have been discharged catheter-free, ie, without a catheter and off intermittent catheterization. After 3 to 4 years of follow-up, 63 patients were found to have remained catheter-free, 15 were no longer catheter-free and 16 had been lost to follow-up. From an analysis of the data from the study (reasons for failure, complications, etc) and comparison with those from other studies, it is suggested that a prospective study be devised to evaluate intermittent catheterization more effectively.

Adolescent↗

Acupuncture effect on neurosensory deafness.

Bilateral neurosensory deafness offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of acupuncture objectively. By treating only one ear, and using audiometric evaluation techniques instead of subjective evaluations of hearing, an analysis of any achieved improvement seemed feasible. Only patients with well documented bilateral nerve deafness were accepted into the program. A baseline audiogram with speech discrimination and puretone air and bone conduction thresholds was obtained prior to treatment. Thirty-eight patients underwent ten consecutive acupuncture treatments on one ear only, with the other ear serving as a control. After the course of acupuncture, the audiometrics were repeated by the same audiologist. There was no significant increase in hearing after acupuncture therapy.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

Hand dominance and scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Twenty-three patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and scoliosis were studied. In all but one patient the major convexity was to the side of the dominant hand. The unsupported growing spine is easily unbalanced by asymmetrical forces imposed on it. From our observations we believe major use of a single upper extremity will result in scoliosis with the major convexity toward the side of the dominant hand. Management should include counterbalancing the postural abnormality imposed by hand dominance as well as unloading the spine frequently during the patient's waking hours.

Adolescent↗