Average Total Loss Research Articles

Evaluation of Optic Nerve Sheath Fenestration in Pseudotumor Cerebri Using Automated Perimetry

Evaluation of the efficacy of optic nerve sheath fenestration in pseudotumor Cerebri has been hindered by a lack of quantitative indicators of visual function before and after treatment. Nine patients (14 eyes) were treated who had pseudotumor with optic nerve sheath fenestration, in whom automated perimetry was used as a major parameter in the decision to undertake surgery and in evaluating the results. Visual field results demonstrated significant improvement in this group of patients. Seven of 8 eyes with total loss less than 1500 dB had improvement or no further deterioration. Using results of the last preoperative examination as baseline, it was found that six of the eight had improvement over 150 dB. In one patient, a slight deterioration occurred postoperatively. Those eyes with total loss above 1500 dB demonstrated stabilization of fields postoperatively. Statistical analysis of total loss preoperatively and postoperatively for this group of patients demonstrated significant improvement for five of the six comparisons investigated. Average preoperative total loss and average postoperative total loss were not significantly different. Comparisons of results of the last preoperative examination to those of the first postoperative and most recent follow-up examinations, and evaluation of average total loss postoperatively showed significant improvement had occurred. Results of the first postoperative examination and those of the most recent follow-up examination showed significant improvement from the average preoperative total loss.

Use of autologous blood in total hip replacement. A comprehensive program.

We evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive program for the use of autologous blood in reduction of the need for transfusion of homologous blood in total hip replacement in a prospective study of a consecutive series of patients. Transfusion of homologous blood was minimized through transfusion of preoperatively deposited autologous blood, intraoperative and postoperative salvage of washed red blood cells, and use of the clinical condition of the patient as the sole criterion for transfusion of non-autologous blood, regardless of the hematocrit. The cases of 143 patients who had had 154 primary total hip replacements were studied. One hundred and forty-three procedures were done on patients who had not been prevented from donating blood for medical reasons, and 93 per cent of these 143 procedures were performed with the availability of one to five units of preoperatively deposited autologous blood. The patients predeposited an average of 2.6 units of blood for each procedure. Ninety-two per cent of the procedures for which autologous blood had been predeposited were performed without transfusion of homologous blood. In the entire group of patients, almost 90 per cent of the transfused blood was autologous blood. Intraoperative salvage of red blood cells was successful in 148 procedures, and salvage was continued in the recovery room for all of these patients. An average of 408 milliliters of red blood cells was saved and reinfused, and this was 28 per cent of the average total loss of blood (1435 milliliters) for this series of procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Weight loss in 108 obese women on a diet supplying 800 kcal/d for 21 d

A series of 108 obese women were studied for 21 d in a metabolic ward on a diet supplying 800 kcal/d (3.4 MJ/d), with 4.5 g protein nitrogen, 40% energy from fat, and 46% from carbohydrate. The average total weight loss was 5.0 kg. During the second and third week on the diet the rate of weight loss was 211 +/- 77 g/d (mean +/- SD) and individual values were well predicted by admission resting metabolic rate (RMR) (r = 0.66, p less than 0.0001). The calculated energy density of the weight lost in this phase was 7000 kcal/kg (29.3 MJ/kg). However, the weight loss in the first week had a labile component of 815 +/- 1202 g, which was not well predicted by RMR (r = 0.20, p less than 0.05). The effect of this labile component was to obscure the overall rate of weight loss so some of the patients did not show net weight loss until day 13 of the diet, although they were in negative energy balance.

Medical malpractice litigation in cataract surgery.

The percentage of physicians sued in a given year for alleged medical malpractice has increased nearly 300% since 1980, 1 thus creating an increase in expenses for insurers. The average total loss per claim (patient indemnification, in-house clerical expenses, and legal defense costs) increased 63.5% from 1976 to 1981. 2 Malpractice awards rose at an average annual rate of 24.7% from 1979 to 1983. 3 This explosive increase in medical malpractice litigation has resulted in higher premiums for physicians. In 1984 premiums averaged $8400, which represented 4% of the gross revenues of the average self-employed physician 1 and reached a total of $3 billion. In response to the increased risk of litigation, physicians have made changes in their practices that include increasing time spent with patients, more detailed record keeping, and prescribing of additional tests and treatment procedures. 1 Thus, the increasing threat of malpractice litigation contributes heavily to increases

Transfusion of previously deposited autologous blood for patients undergoing hip-replacement surgery

The efficacy of a program of transfusion of previously deposited autologous blood for patients undergoing total hip-replacement surgery was studied by comparing five different parameters for a group of fifty consecutive patients who deposited blood for autologous transfusion and a randomly chosen, closely matched control group of fifty patients who received only homologous blood. Sixty-two per cent of the patients in the group that deposited autologous blood did not receive additional homologous blood while in the hospital. The patients who deposited autologous blood had a mean preoperative hematocrit of 36 per cent, compared with 39 per cent for the control group, but the average postoperative hematocrits of the two groups did not differ (33 per cent). There was no significant difference in the average total loss of blood or need for replacement of blood between the groups. Transfusion-related complications developed in two patients in the control group. We concluded that previous deposit of autologous blood for transfusion is an effective method for reducing the need for transfusion of homologous blood and for avoiding the attendant complications of transfusion of homologous blood. This method of the replacement of blood should be considered for patients who are to undergo a major orthopaedic procedure on the hip.

Whole abdominal irradiation in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. I. Tolerance and outcome.

Thirty patients, over a 16-year period, treated with whole abdominal irradiation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reviewed. Therapy tolerance, acute toxicity, and long-term outcome were determined. When adequate protection of vital intraabdominal organs was instituted properly, patient tolerance required only conservative medical management. Peripheral hematologic values exhibited mild depressions to nadir values near completion (3,500-4,000 rad) of treatment. Blood count recovery and general functional normalization occurred within the first post-treatment month. Average total weight loss was only 3.5 pounds with a similar pattern of recovery following therapy completion. Sixteen patients with average follow-up of 6 years still survive. Comparative studies involving total abdominal irradiation for human malignancies are also discussed.

Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Windblown Sediment II. Chemical Characteristics and Total Soil and Nutrient Discharge

ABSTRACT THE erosion of soil particles by wind produced dust with an enrichment ratio varying from 1 to 3 for Na, K, Ca, Mg, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter. While the annual average total loss was less than total nutrient content of the soil surface, the cumulative loss of these essential nutrients will tend to degrade the soil over a period of several years. The quantity of soil carried by wind decreased with height above the soil surface, but the concentration of Na, K, Ca, Mg, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter increased with height. Although the total amount of soil eroded increased with storm intensity, the relation between storm intensity and nutrient content was not well defined

Changes in Fitness Components After a Four-Week Bicycle Tour.

In brief Three men and four women, ages 19 to 60, were measured on a battery of laboratory tests before and after a four-week bicycle tour to determine the effects of long-distance bicycling on physical fitness. There was no significant body weight change, although the average total fat weight loss was 1.4 kg. Total skinfold measures showed a significant reduction, and the waist girth reduced 2%. Trunk flexion showed significant improvement, and trunk extension and ankle flexibility showed a slight reduction. Maximal oxygen intake increased significantly (11%). The greatest improvement was the mean bicycle ergometer riding time and resistance to higher work loads (17%).

The use of shortened periods of rigid postoperative immobilization in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.

Seventy-eight consecutive patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated by Harrington instrumentation and spine fusion were allowed to walk shortly after operation, first in an underarm plaster cast for ten weeks and then in a canvas-front, hard-back Rohadur or Lexan brace until all external support was discontinued six months after operation. Sixty-four patients were followed for two years or more. Single thoracic curves, comprising almost half of the series, had an average final correction of 48 per cent, while all curves had an average final correction of 44 per cent. The average total loss of correction was 8 degrees, with approximately equal amounts lost in the first and second three months after operation. The incidence of pseudarthrosis was 1.5 per cent and the complications were minor. This series demonstrated that, for cooperative patients with idiopathic scoliosis of less than 90 degrees, the operative procedure and postoperative immobilization described can be expected to result in solid fusion without excessive loss of initial correction, pleasing cosmetic results, and less inconvenience to the patient because of decreased time in a plaster cast and early ambulation.

Energy exchanges of veal calves in relation to body weight, food intake and air temperature

SUMMARY1. Two series of energy balance trials were conducted with British Friesian veal calves. In the first, calves were given a milk replacer diet at three different planes of nutrition. In the second, calves were raised from about 80 to 180 kg at four air temperatures, 5°, 10°, 15° and 20°.2. The net efficiency of utilization of the milk replacer diet for growth was 0·72. The effect of body size on heat production in growing calves was best expressed by an exponent of body weight slightly but not significantly below W0·75.3. Measurements of heat production estimated from respiratory exchange and heat loss measured by direct calorimetry agreed exactly at all planes of nutrition. Heat production at zero energy retention was 675 kJ/kg W0·75 per 24 hr.4. Average daily live-weight gain and total heat loss were the same at all air temperatures. Changes during growth in the partition of heat loss into its sensible and evaporative components indicated that calves acclimated progressively to the air temperatures to which they were exposed.

Sea-to-air heat fluxes in the southwest Indian Ocean in summer

Simple bulk transfer formulas and marine meteorological data (1956–1962) from the Japanese Antarctic Expedition ship Sōya were used to examine the latent and sensible heat loss by the ocean between southern Africa and Enderby Land, Antarctica, in the summer. For a limited ocean region centered near 67°S, 41°E average January values of the oceanic latent and sensible heat loss were found to be 27.5 and 11.5 cal cm−2 day−1, respectively. The magnitude of the heat fluxes near the antarctic coast varied markedly with prevailing wind direction ranging from an average daily total oceanic heat loss of 70 cal cm−2 with prolonged southwesterly winds to a heat gain of 35 cal cm−2 with winds persisting between north and east. Examination of the diurnal variation of both latent and sensible heat fluxes in antarctic coastal waters near 41°E revealed a maximum oceanic heat loss approximately nine hours before local midday and a minimum in the late afternoon. The twelve traverses (six south-bound, six northbound) between Cape Town and Antarctica were used to construct average meridional profiles of the heat fluxes.

On the energy loss and specific ionization of a retativistic particle in a polarizable medium — I

The average total energy loss of a particle on passing through a polarizable medium has been calculated by introducing into the theory of Fermi an expression for the dielectric constant which is apt to represent both the dispersive and absorptive properties of the medium. The average total energy may then be divided into the average energy lost as excitation, cerenkov radiation and primary ionization of the atoms of the medium. The effect has been calculated of the polarizability of the medium on the number of ions generated by the ionizing particle per unit length and on the number of events in which an atomic electron has been emitted with energy greater than a certain threshold energy. These numbers show a logarithmic increase at relativistic energies and a subsequent saturation caused by the polarizability of the medium, both dependent on the threshold energy.

Casual Comments upon Particular Average and Constructive Total Loss

Casual Comments upon Particular Average and Constructive Total Loss