Showing papers by "Alan H. Morris published in 1986"

Determination of lung water content and distribution by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: NMR imaging techniques are applicable to the assessment of lung water content and distribution because the NMR signal is, under certain conditions, proportional to tissue proton density. NMR imaging is noninvasive, easily repeatable, free from ionizing radiation, and particularly suitable for the assessment of spatial lung water distribution. Lung water content and distribution have been estimated in excised animal lungs and in intact dead or living animals, under normal conditions and in various types of experimental pulmonary edema. Excised human lungs and human subjects have also been studied. Published data indicate that measurements of lung water content by NMR imaging techniques are feasible. These techniques estimate lung water spatial distribution with satisfactory accuracy and excellent resolving power. The application of NMR imaging techniques poses several problems and limitations, but available data suggest that most of the problems can be solved. NMR imaging has the potential to become a powerful tool for lung water research. Prospects of clinical application are also encouraging; numerous applications can be foreseen, although lack of mobility of NMR imaging systems may be a significant limitation in critical care medicine.

Corticotropin Deficiency in Russell-Silver Syndrome

Abstract: Sir .—Cassidy et al 1 described a 7-year-old girl with Russell-Silver syndrome and deficiencies of growth hormone, corticotropin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. nosis of corticotropin deficiency was based on an inadequate 11-desoxycortisol response (3.3 μg/dL [0.096 μmol/L]) to metyrapone. However, a simultaneous serum cortisol level was not reported and such a determination is necessary to properly interpret a low 11-desoxycortisol response. 2 The serum cortisol level should be less than 5 μg/dL (140 nmol/L) to ensure that the metyrapone was indeed taken, absorbed, and able to suppress cortisol production by inhibiting 11B-hydroxylase. The normal increments of cortisol following a fast suggest normal hypothalamic-corticotropin-adrenal function in this patient. Cassidy et al also reported that the patient required twice the recommended dose of human growth hormone to achieve normal growth for age and they suggested that perhaps other patients with Russell-Silver syndrome and growth hormone deficiency might require increased amounts of growth hormone