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Biomedical subjects

S M Humphries

Publications and source records attributed to S M Humphries.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of Super Stuff and paraffin wax bolus in radiation therapy of irregular surfaces.

Irregular facial contours can make radiation therapy of head and neck tumors difficult. Isodose lines become skewed, making treatment planning complex. A traditional solution to this problem is the paraffin wax box bolus. Such a bolus is made to fit the irregular surface compensating for the topology and creating an even surface. The fabrication of a wax bolus can be a difficult and time-consuming process. A method that is simple and efficient has been devised. Super Stuff bolus can be easily molded and has approximately the same effect as a similar paraffin wax bolus. This was verified by irradiating a Rando head phantom with both a paraffin wax bolus and a Super Stuff bolus. Doses to various points of interest were measured with thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) chips (LiF). The particular case addressed is malignant melanoma of the nasal septum, but the technique described can be useful in the treatment of other sites as well.

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium↗
PubMed1990

Markers of serious illness in infants under 6 months old presenting to a children's hospital.

Six hundred and eighty two assessments were performed on 641 babies under 6 months of age who presented to the emergency department of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, to try and determine the best markers of serious illness in young infants. Detailed, specific questions that quantified a baby's functional response to illness gave the most useful information. As a group, the six most common predictive symptoms of serious illness were: taking less than half the normal amount of feed over the preceding 24 hours, breathing difficulty, having less than four wet nappies in the preceding 24 hours, decreased activity, drowsiness, and a history of being both pale and hot. The presence of the corresponding sign on examination increased the predictive value of the symptom by 10-20%. Specific, highly predictive (though less common) signs included moderate to severe chest wall recession, respiratory grunt, cold calves, and a tender abdomen. A list of low, medium, and high risk symptoms has been constructed and the five measurements that were most useful in predicting serious illness in young infants have been detailed.

Causality↗