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Biomedical subjects

A Joob

Publications and source records attributed to A Joob.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Esophageal leiomyomatosis in a woman with a history of vulvar leiomyoma and Barrett's esophagus: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis and treatment of esophageal pathology remains a challenge despite advances in preoperative endoscopy, radiographic staging, and perioperative care. CASE REPORT: In this article, we present an interesting case of esophageal leiomyomatosis in a woman with a history of vulvar leiomyoma and Barrett's esophagus. This paper represents the first reported simultaneous occurrence of these three pathologic entities in the English literature. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation and characteristic pathologic findings in patients with esophageal leiomyomatosis are reviewed. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to esophageal masses are discussed including the indications for esophageal resection.

Adult↗

Ectopic pregnancy causing hemothorax managed by thoracoscopy and actinomycin D.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with extratubal ectopic pregnancies present with vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. We report a case of an extratubal ectopic pregnancy with extra-abdominal manifestations. CASE: An ectopic pregnancy implanted on the diaphragm resulted in spontaneous hemothorax due to trophoblastic invasion into the pleura. Thoracoscopic excision followed by actinomycin D chemotherapy provided successful resolution of the ectopic pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Abdominal pregnancies may have bizarre clinical presentations.

Adult↗

Recombinant aprotinin in coronary artery bypass graft operations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of recombinant bovine aprotinin in reducing blood loss in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. DESIGN: An open-label, randomized, controlled study evaluating two dosage levels of recombinant aprotinin. SETTING: Two acute care hospitals (Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill., and the Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Temple, Texas). PATIENTS: Patients undergoing primary and reoperation coronary artery bypass grafting were assigned to groups by means of a computer-generated table of random numbers. Treated (n = 48) and control (n = 36) patients did not differ significantly in age, sex, weight, number of grafts, or preoperative hemoglobin level. INTERVENTIONS: Recombinant aprotinin was given at two dosages. Dosage level 1 consisted of a bolus of 2 mg/kg intravenously immediately after the induction of anesthesia, 1 mg/kg added to each liter of the oxygenator prime, and 0.5 mg.kg-1.hr-1 infused continuously during operation. At dosage level 2, doses were doubled. Intraoperative monitoring of anti-factor Xa activity was performed, and additional doses of heparin were given on the basis of anti-factor Xa results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels, amounts of autotransfusion device and chest tube drainage blood, and transfusions of allogeneic red blood cells. Adverse clinical events (alterations in renal function, graft thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and death) were recorded. RESULTS: Additional heparin was given to 48% patients in the aprotinin group and to 44% of control patients. Overall red blood cell loss (in milliliters, mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) was decreased with aprotinin at dosage level 1 for reoperations (1040 +/- 162 vs 1544 +/- 198, p < 0.01), and at dosage level 2 for all operations (primary operations, 886 +/- 362 vs 1333 +/- 618, p = 0.02; reoperations, 1191 +/- 560 vs 1815 +/- 1116, p = 0.2). Fewer patients in the aprotinin than in the control group had transfusions of donated blood (6/48 vs 12/36, p = 0.02) or reinfusion of chest tube drainage blood (12/48 vs 20/36, p < 0.01). Among patients receiving dosage level 1, there were no myocardial infarctions or deaths. At dosage level 2, one patient had profound bradycardia and died on day 12 and two patients had late graft closures. Two control patients had hypotension after bypass necessitating intraaortic balloon pumps, and one of these patients died. Postoperative increases in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were small in both aprotinin and control groups. No hypersensitivity or other allergic reactions occurred. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, at the dosages given, recombinant bovine aprotinin decreases surgical blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, but its use requires appropriate monitoring of heparin use during bypass. Whether higher dosages of aprotinin increase the risk of graft thrombosis must be further assessed with a larger patient sample.

Aged↗

In vivo assessment of nonlinear myocardial deformation using finite element analysis and three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction.

In vitro data have shown that the myocardium exhibits nonlinear passive stress-strain relationship and a non-linear pressure-volume relationship. A finite element (FE) analysis and optimization algorithm was used on three-dimensional reconstructed left ventricular (LV) geometry using echocardiographic images, along with hemodynamic measurements, in seven closed-chest dogs to show a nonlinear stress-strain relationship in vivo. Our analysis included the computation of Poisson's ratio from the measured volumetric strain of the myocardium and a simulated pericardial pressure load ("equivalent pericardial pressure") applied to the epicardial surface of the reconstructed LV. LV geometry was reconstructed in three or four incremental time steps in diastasis and the myocardium was assumed to be homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic during these short intervals in this initial study. Simultaneous LV chamber pressure and equivalent pericardial pressure were incorporated into the algorithm to predict actual LV expansion. Computations were performed iteratively at each interval to compute the optimized elastic modulus. By performing the FE analysis and optimization at each interval (a step-wise linear analysis approach), a linear relationship between the myocardial elastic modulus and LV chamber pressure was derived (r = .87 to .98). Such a linear relationship is equivalent to an exponential myocardial stress-strain relationship in vivo. Detailed measurement of nonhomogeneous regional deformation are becoming possible with the advent of sophisticated imaging techniques. The methodology described in this study, with appropriate modifications in the FE analysis and optimization algorithms, can be applied to assess the complex three-dimensional pressure-deformation characteristics in vivo.

Algorithms↗

Phase II study of all-trans-retinoic acid and alpha-interferon in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Between April 1993 and June 1994, 29 patients (pts) with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of p.o. trans-retinoic acid (TRA), 150 mg/m2/day, in three divided doses and s.c. IFN-alpha, 3 x 10(6) units/day. The age range was 41-80 years (median, 63 years). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0-1 (24 pts) and 2 (5 pts). Pts had advanced disease, refractory to conventional therapy (5 stage IIIB and 24 stage IV). Twenty-one pts had adenocarcinoma, six had squamous cell carcinoma, and two had large cell carcinoma. Only 3 pts completed 8 weeks of treatment, requiring neither interruption nor dose modification. Fatigue occurred in 88% of pts. A syndrome complex consisting of dry oral and nasal mucosa, recurrent sinus infections, and epistaxis occurred in 64% of pts. Grade II/III dermatitis was seen in 52%. Severe scrotal dermatitis was seen in 7 pts (47% of 15 males). Hypertriglyceridemia was moderate/severe in 11 pts, and 3 pts required gemfibrozil for levels up to 1660 mg/dl. Hematological toxicity was not encountered, and none of the pts had leukocytosis. One pt died with complications of myocardial infarction while on TRA/IFN-alpha. Twenty-five pts had more than 2 weeks of treatment and are evaluable for response; two pts died early with complications of cancer, and two pts declined to continue after only 3 and 5 days of treatment. Final assessment of response was by accepted clinical and radiological criteria at 8 weeks. There have been four objective responses: complete response, 2 (18+ and 17 months) and partial response, 2 (7 and 14 months). Responses were observed in all histologies. Combined differentiation treatment with TRA/IFN-alpha has modest but objective activity in non-small cell lung cancer. Toxicity is considerable. Additional studies to elucidate the biological basis of TRA/IFN-alpha and to define prognostic parameters predicting response are needed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Partial splenectomy for Gaucher's disease.

Gaucher's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of beta glucocerebrosidase, resulting in an accumulation of glucocerebroside in the reticuloendothelial system. These patients have massive splenomegaly and bone pain, but may have normal life expectancy. Traditionally, splenectomy has been used to treat hypersplenism, but may be associated with a high incidence of postsplenectomy sepsis and accelerated hepatic and bone lipid deposition. Two children are reported who had partial splenectomy for symptoms of Gaucher's disease. Both patients had laboratory evidence of hypersplenism. A 90% splenectomy was performed, and the residual splenic fragment was wrapped in Vicryl mesh. Both patients are currently asymptomatic with normal hematologic parameters. Postoperative radionuclide scans demonstrate increase in the size of the residual splenic fragment. Partial splenectomy may benefit patients with Gaucher's disease, but long-term follow-up care is necessary.

Child↗

Computerized axial tomography of the esophagus to determine the suitability for blunt esophagectomy.

Computerized axial tomographic (CT) scans were performed on 16 patients over an 18-month period to determine which patients were candidates for removal of their esophageal tumors by blunt esophagectomy. Blunt esophagectomy was offered only to those patients whose tumors were confined to the esophageal wall on CT scan. Thirteen patients were able to undergo blunt esophagectomy, with only one complication, a tracheal injury, which was repaired. Three patients had extensive mediastinal invasion requiring standard thoracotomy to perform a palliative resection. The operative blood loss in the group of patients with blunt esophagectomy was 500 ml, and there was only one operative death related to chronic aspiration. The CT scan is a valuable adjunct in determining which patients are candidates for esophagectomy without thoractomy.

Aged↗