Biomedical subjects

Anna Brown

Publications and source records attributed to Anna Brown.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Preliminary results after rotator cuff reconstruction augmented with an autologous periosteal flap.

Periosteal augmentation of tendons in the course of refixation to bone has been shown to be a suitable method for early primarily stable osteofibroblastic integration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of open rotator cuff reconstruction using an autologous periosteal flap augmentation technique. The research was performed as a prospective cohort study. Twenty-three prospective patients (average age 59.7 years) with degenerative rotator cuff tears were operated on with an open technique and a subtendinous periosteal flap augmentation using bioabsorbable suture anchors and a modified Mason-Allen technique. Clinical evaluation consisted of the Constant-Score and the Simple Shoulder test. Radiological evaluation included standard radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty patients were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 14.4 months. The average Constant Score increased significantly from 51.7 to 80.9 points (p<0.05) with 12 excellent, seven good and one satisfactory result. The Simple Shoulder test showed a significant increase of an average of 4.8-10.7 questions answered with yes (p<0.05). Four patients (20%) demonstrated a retear of the tendon on postoperative MRI. Ectopic ossifications in the supraspinatus tendon were found in four patients (20%) but these had no impact on the final clinical results. Open rotator cuff repair augmented with an autologous periosteal flap shows high patient satisfaction level with low rerupture rates. Mid- and long-term results remain to be seen. The potential benefits compared with conventional open or arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery must be examined in prospective randomized studies.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

Collateral sprouting of human epidermal nerve fibers following intracutaneous axotomy.

Despite the clinical need, there are no therapeutic compounds available to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. In part, this may be due to a lack of sensitive measures of nerve growth. Here, we describe a novel approach of measuring collateral sprouting of epidermal nerve fibers (ENF) in human subjects and describe the effect of the neuroimmunophilin ligand timcodar dimesylate on collateral nerve sprouting. The objective of this study was to describe a model of intracutaneous axotomy and evaluate the ability of timcodar dimesylate to accelerate human cutaneous nerve regeneration through collateral sprouting. Subjects were randomized to receive placebo, 12.5 or 50 mg/day timcodar dimesylate in a prospective, two-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A 3-mm distal thigh punch skin biopsy was performed at baseline, and a 4-mm overlapping concentric biopsy was taken after 56 days of treatment. Biopsies were processed to visualize ENF, and the collateral sprouting distance (CSD) was measured. Sixty-two subjects completed the trial, and the CSD was measurable in 52. The CSD (mean +/- SEM) was 474.5 microm +/- 38.3, 473.4 microm +/- 28.4, and 450.8 microm +/- 26.5 for the placebo, low and high dose groups, respectively (p = 0.84). The baseline ENF density was associated with the CSD (p = 0.02). Collateral sprouting was efficiently measured using an intracutaneous axotomy model and suggests a collateral sprouting rate of 8.5 microm/day in healthy subjects. The model was consistent across treatment groups and had a low coefficient of variation. Timcodar dimesylate treatment was safe over an 8-week period but did not improve collateral sprouting among healthy subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The agreement between self-reported cervical smear abnormalities and screening programme records.

SETTING: The Million Women Study is a cohort study of women aged 50-64 years in England and Scotland. As a component of the follow-up questionnaire, participants were asked to indicate if they had an abnormal cervical smear in the previous five years. This study compared self-reported cervical abnormalities with screening records obtained from the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme. METHODS: For 1944 randomly selected Million Women Study participants in Oxfordshire, screening records were assessed over a six-year period prior to the date of self-reporting. The six-year period was chosen to allow for errors in the recall of timing of abnormal smears. RESULTS: A total of 68 women (3.5%) had a record of at least one equivocal or abnormal smear within the last six years, whereas 49 women (2.5%) self-reported an abnormality. There was a strong trend for an increased probability of self-reporting a history of an abnormal smear as the severity of the recorded abnormality increased (P <0.001). For women with an NHS record of borderline dyskaryosis, mild dyskaryosis, or moderate dyskaryosis/severe dyskaryosis/invasive cancer, the proportions reporting an abnormality were 40%, 58% and 77%, respectively. For women with negative and inadequate smears, the proportion self-reporting an abnormality were 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that among women whose screening programme records show an abnormal smear, the proportion self-reporting an abnormality increases with the severity of the recorded lesion. Almost all women with a record of negative or inadequate smear(s) correctly interpret the result and do not self-report an abnormality.

Cohort Studies↗