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B Cunningham

Publications and source records attributed to B Cunningham.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The tranfer of Brucella abortus antibodies from dam to calf.

The higher sensitivity of the ABGT (Coombs Test) makes it the most useful test for comparison of total specific immunoglobulins for Brucella abortus in different secretions. Using it in the present study it was found that in 85 cows the mean selective concentration of immunoglobulins in colostrum was six to eight fold, whether the cows were infected or not. In the non-infected group calves acquired mean levels of immunoglobulins of about one third those in colostrum whereas in the infected group this ratio reduced to about one seventh. There were wide individual variations. However, mean values indicate that in both groups the calf acquires a level of antibodies up to twice the level of the dam's pre-partum serum, again with individual wide variations. Titres to the SAT and CFT are also given for all animals.

Agglutination Tests↗

A review of the literature on the etiology of capsular contracture and a pilot study to determine the outcome of capsular contracture interventions.

The etiology of capsular contracture is unclear and probably multifactorial. This review covers the literature on several proposed contracture factors, including filler material, implant placement, surface texture, and bacterial infection. The pilot study's goal was to test the feasibility of a data collection form, which could be used in a scaled-up study analyzing multiple surgeon's records. The goal of the expanded version of this study will be to determine the efficacy of available interventions for capsular contracture, including surveillance. The Breast Implant Public Health Project, LLC (BIPHP), piloted a retrospective review of outcomes in women who had interventions to relieve capsular contracture or had chosen a wait-and-watch approach. An evaluation of the efficacy of various treatments can help women decide if they want to pursue treatment at all and, if so, which treatment might offer them the best solution. BIPHP researchers (E.E.A., M.E.) developed a data collection form after reviewing records of three surgeons (B.C., W.P., V.L.Y.). During the data collection using the same records, we tested a randomization process to identify women with capsular contracture who underwent various interventions, including a wait-and-watch strategy, and those who had no mention of any intervention or waiting approach. Data were gathered on a total of 90 breasts with capsular contracture (scored Baker I-IV or qualitatively), of which 45 underwent a total of 102 interventions for capsular contracture. Interventions were classified as "closed capsulotomy," "surgical," or "watchful waiting." Closed capsulotomy was performed most often (47%), followed by surgery (29%) and watchful waiting (21%). Presurgical Baker scores averaged higher in breasts that underwent surgery (3.1) than for watchful waiting (2.5) or closed capsulotomy (2.3). Though closed capsulotomies had 100% of outcomes scoring "improved" or "same," 58% of the breasts underwent the procedure more than once, suggesting that the favorable outcome was short-lived. The wait-and-watch approach resulted in scores of either "same" or "worse"; surgery (open capsulotomy, repositioning, or capsulectomy) resulted in 79% improved, 16% same, and 5% worse outcomes in breasts with outcomes listed. In all intervention procedure categories, outcomes were frequently unavailable; they were noted only 60% of the time (52/87). The missing 40% may have resulted from the doctor's failure to note it in the chart, satisfied patients not returning for additional treatment, or dissatisfied patients seeking treatment elsewhere. Generally, the data collection forms and procedures were workable; however, we uncovered issues to address in the scale-up of this pilot study: (1) the outcome report rate was 60%; (2) though Baker scores are commonly used to evaluate the degree of capsular contracture, it seems that grade I may have different meanings for different surgeons, which would need to be clarified; (3) participating surgeons will need to divulge standard-of-care items that they may not have included in medical records, but routinely performed (e.g., patient massage, use of prophylactic antibiotics); and (4) records were initially separated by "implant," then researchers realized that a more useful collection would be by "breast." The latter approach captures the history of the breast in one record, which may be more important to contracture than the differences in implants. With the modifications discussed, the study can be scaled up to encompass as many records as necessary to achieve robust statistical power. These data will add to the existing literature regarding factors associated with capsular contracture and identify factors that affect the successful outcome of capsular contracture interventions.

Breast↗

Factors associated with breast implant rupture: pilot of a retrospective analysis.

This pilot study's goal was to test the feasibility of a data collection form which will be used in a scale-up study analyzing multiple surgeons' records. The goal of this expanded study will be to develop identifying factors for women who are at greater risk for having ruptured implants and, if necessary, target them for screening, surveillance, or intervention. In the pilot study, we compared factors associated with implant rupture in women with and without rupture. Similar studies have considered one or a few factors at a time and, generally, have given little attention to implant generation. We developed a data collection form after reviewing records of three surgeons. A total of 92 records was collected and analyzed. An important feature in the pilot was to compare the results of patients whose implants the surgeons had both implanted and explanted (n = 34) with those of patients whose implants the surgeons had only explanted (n = 55) (unknown = 3). This comparison could show if including all explantation patients in a surgeon's practice would bias the sample; however, based on this pilot data, concerns regarding this type of bias seem to be minimal. Similar amounts of data (e.g., implant information, history of capsular contracture, etc.) were collectable on patients whose surgeons both implanted and explanted them (87%) and who had different surgeons for implantation and explantation (84%). Though the data from this limited sample cannot offer firm conclusions on rupture associations, a few factors stood out: size of implants (38. 3% of ruptured versus 15.9% of intact implants were 100-200 cm3), history of mammography (46.8% of ruptured versus 24.4% of intact had mammograms, which is likely due to older women with older implants having more mammograms), and history of closed capsulotomy (85.1% of ruptured versus 68.9% of intact). Interestingly, additional procedures performed on the breast (e.g., scar revision, wound repair, etc.) did not affect rupture: both the ruptured and the intact groups had an average of 1.7 procedures performed. The data collection form tested very well in this pilot study. Also, including all patients in the study sample, instead of excluding those who received their implants elsewhere, did not change the results. Though there are not enough data to draw any firm conclusions regarding rupture factors, the collection instrument was rigorously tested and should perform well in an expanded study.

Breast Implantation↗

Protective effects of colostral antibodies to Br abortus on strain 19 vaccination and field injection.

Calves which have received no antibodies against Br abortus in their colostrum may respond to strain 19 vaccination even on the first day of life. However, calves with such antibodies may completely suppress any response to S19 vaccination. In calves which have received very high titres of passive antibodies from their dams complete suppresson of vaccinal response may be expected to occur up to about 153 days of age. Thus, if vaccination is restricted to between 90 and 180 days many calves in infected herds will not be protected by routine vaccination with S19. In calves born of and reared on infected dams the colostral antibodies also have a marked protective effect. In spite of heavy exposure to Br abortus at birth and later from infected milk only six out of 64 calves (9.4 per cent) developed persistent positive titres. The remaining calves reverted to zero titres within 12 months and an anamnestic test indicated that of these up to 15 per cent may have been latent carriers but even more remarkably, 85 per cent of such calves were not even "primed" by such heavy exposure.

Agglutination Tests↗