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Biomedical subjects

W J Watts

Publications and source records attributed to W J Watts.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

Respiratory dysfunction in patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia.

Patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (CVH) are susceptible to recurrent respiratory infections. We studied the prevalence and severity of respiratory dysfunction in 32 patients with CVH by measuring routine pulmonary function tests (PFT) and interpreting chest radiographs using a quantitative score system. Pulmonary symptoms were determined by patient interview and standard questionnaire. The mean age of 29 living patients was 28 +/- 2.2 yr; there were 22 males and 10 females. The mean age at diagnosis was 17.3 +/- 2.4 yr. Sinopulmonary symptoms were present in all 32 patients and included chronic sinusitis, otitis, bronchitis, recurrent pneumonia, and bronchiectasis. Complete PFT in 25 patients revealed restrictive, obstructive, and normal patterns in 10, 6, and 9 patients, respectively. Nine patients had dyspnea on exertion. Recent chest radiographs in 32 patients showed evidence of recurrent pulmonary infection, including air trapping, linear markings, and pleural abnormalities. Panlobular emphysema, documented in one case at autopsy, was suggested in 5 other patients by the presence of lower lobe bullous lesions and marked lower lobe hyperlucency on chest radiographs. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) had remained stable in 19 adults (18 receiving adequate immunoglobulin replacement therapy) for 6.9 +/- 0.7 yr. The expected increase of the FEV1 and FVC with growth was normal in 6 of 8 children (all 8 receiving adequate therapy). Chest radiograph scores deteriorated only slightly from 20.3 +/- 0.6 to 18.4 +/- 0.8 (25 = normal) during the 6.9 +/- 0.7 yr in 30 patients (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Resistance exercise and plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotrophin immunoreactivity.

Serum cortisol and plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotrophin hormone (LPH) immunoreactivity were measured in five males before and after endurance exercise (treadmill) and burst activity resistance exercise (weight lifting). Mean beta-endorphin/beta-LPH immunoactivity increased significantly following treadmill testing (p less than .05) and weight training (p less than .06). Post-exercise hormonal values were similar for the two activities. The hormonal changes previously reported with endurance activities also occur with burst activity exercise.

Endorphins↗
PubMed1983

Constipation. Mechanisms and management of a common clinical problem.

Many persons, including physicians, regard a "normal" bowel habit as being at least one bowel movement per day. In truth, the spectrum of normal covers anywhere from three movements per day to three or even less per week. This article outlines aspects of the history that will be most helpful in determining if constipation is indeed present. It also provides very useful information on the mechanisms of laxative action.

Antacids↗
PubMed1983

Management of suspected temporal arteritis. A decision analysis.

Management strategies for suspected temporal arteritis range from bilateral temporal artery biopsy to empiric corticosteroid therapy. A decision analysis of the clinical situation was constructed, and a sensitivity analysis for varying prevalences of temporal arteritis was used to calculate costs for different management strategies. Conclusions suggested by the analysis include the following: (1) due to the high cost of blindness, suspicion of disease must be low (less than 1.4%) not to biopsy; (2) at high suspicion of disease (greater than 30%), empiric steroids are the cheapest management; (3) when diagnostic procedures are indicated, bilateral biopsy is the cheapest initial diagnostic procedure; and (4) if unilateral biopsy is negative, a second biopsy is always cost effective.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1977

The rehabilitation of adults with acquired hearing loss.

The problems of adults with acquired hearing loss, together with aspects in the development of the rehabilitative skills of speechreading and auditory training are considered. An investigation carried out over a period of two years demonstrated how these skills may be acquired using single sensory and bisensory modes of instruction. The combined modes of speechreading and auditory training was found to produce the most effective communication. It was concluded that the combination of visual and auditory channels reduced sensory confusions.

Adult↗