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Biomedical subjects

C Eaton

Publications and source records attributed to C Eaton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Optic neuritis with transient total blindness during lactation(1).

BACKGROUND: Lactation-induced blindness is a rare but devastating puerperal complication. There are few reported cases and no consistent associated disease processes historically identified. This case illustrates lactation-associated optic neuritis as an early identifier of multiple sclerosis. CASE: A nulliparous woman underwent a term vaginal delivery complicated only by chorioamnionitis. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics, which included spontaneous bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. Her postpartum course was uncomplicated, and she was discharged on postpartum day 2 with her infant. She was readmitted on postpartum day 16 completely blind. Evaluation revealed bilateral optic neuritis. Symptoms were initiated and exacerbated during nursing. Transitory waxing and waning of her visual deficits were noted after aggressive steroid therapy and discontinuing nursing. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis of relapsing-remitting type. CONCLUSION: Multiple sclerosis must be considered as an etiology for acute puerperal lactation-associated blindness when there is no clear anatomic or infectious cause.

Blindness↗

Ring avulsion injuries: a biomechanical study.

The biomechanics of ring avulsion injuries was studied in a cadaveric simulation model. Custom-fitted metal rings attached to a rigid frame were placed over the proximal phalanx of fresh or thawed fresh-frozen specimens. Ring avulsion injuries in 44 fingers were produced with a standardized force applied to the proximal ulna. The progress of injury was evaluated with simultaneous high-speed cinematography and continuous force measurements. The injured digits were x-rayed and categorized according to Urbaniak's classification. Continuous force measurements produced similar curves for all classes of injuries. The average maximum force resulting in class I injuries was 80 N. The average maximum force producing amputation in class III injuries was 154 N, a force much lower than expected. Force measurements for class II injuries were nearly identical to those of class III. This surprisingly minimal force resulting in digit amputation was explained by high-speed cinematography, which showed that the rings tilt on the digits concentrating disruption forces as a result of ring angulation on the finger. Incomplete amputations were due to loss of ring purchase by skin flap eversion. Finally, comparison of high-speed cinematography with force curves suggests that skin rupture rather than skeletal or tendon disruption accounted for the maximum force during ring avulsion injury.

Amputation, Traumatic↗

The Mailbase hand surgery electronic mailing list.

Hand - an Internet based electronic mailing list - enables surgeons with a common interest in hand surgery to share experiences and engage in worldwide electronic scholarly discussion. This paper examines the thinking behind the setting up of this list and gives examples of how the list is being used.

General Surgery↗

Physicians counseling smokers. A population-based survey of patients' perceptions of health care provider-delivered smoking cessation interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between sociodemographic and psychological characteristics of smokers and delivery of 5 types of smoking cessation counseling interventions by physicians and office staff. METHODS: We used a telephone survey of a population-based sample of adult cigarette smokers (N = 3037) who saw a physician in the last year. Primary outcomes included patients' report of whether a physician or other health care provider (1) talked about smoking, (2) advised them to quit, (3) offered help to quit, (4) arranged a follow-up contact, and (5) prescribed nicotine gum or other medication. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of smokers were talked to about their smoking; 45.5% were advised to quit; 14.9% were offered help; 3% had a follow-up appointment arranged; and 8.5% were prescribed medication. In multivariate analyses, the most consistent predictors of receipt of almost all counseling behaviors were medical setting (private physician's office only > care in other settings), health status (fair or poor > good, very good, or excellent), more years of education, greater number of cigarettes smoked per day, stage of readiness to quit smoking (preparation > precontemplation), and greater reported benefits of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and other health care providers are not meeting the standards of smoking intervention outlined by the National Cancer Institute and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Health care providers who intervene only with those patients who are ready to quit smoking are missing opportunities to provide effective smoking interventions to the majority of their patients. Interventions are also less likely to be provided to healthier and lighter smokers.

Adult↗

Relationship between foscarnet exposure, baseline cytomegalovirus (CMV) blood culture and the time to progression of CMV retinitis in HIV-positive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine some of the factors influencing the time to progression of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis among HIV-infected patients being treated with foscarnet. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of two open-label Phase I/II studies in multiple university hospitals. Patients were studied in both inpatient and outpatient settings. PATIENTS: Of the patients in the databases examined, 31 had adequate pharmacokinetic information and 29 had information on outcome and the other patient covariates. INTERVENTION: After induction therapy with foscarnet at a dose of 60 mg/kg three times daily was completed, patients had maintenance therapy with 60-120 mg/kg foscarnet once daily. Doses were subsequently adjusted for changed estimated creatinine clearance. MEASUREMENTS: The measured endpoint was time to progression of CMV retinitis. The independent variables examined to determine influence on time to progression included mean peak foscarnet concentration, mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for foscarnet, the positive or negative outcome of a baseline blood culture for CMV, the initial CD4 cell count for a patient and the peak CD4 cell count observed during maintenance therapy. RESULTS: A wide range (-10-fold) of foscarnet AUC was observed, even though only a fourfold dose range was employed, and doses were altered for changing estimated creatinine clearance. In a multivariate Cox model, only AUC and the status of the baseline CMV blood culture significantly affected the time to progression of the retinitis. CONCLUSION: The AUC produced by a dose of foscarnet has a wide interindividual range. The AUC of foscarnet significantly altered time to progression of the retinitis. However, patients with positive baseline CMV blood cultures had a significantly more shallow dose-response curve. This indicates that the added risk of nephrotoxicity which is present with aggressive foscarnet dosing might be best borne by the subgroup of patients with a positive CMV blood culture at baseline.

Analysis of Variance↗

Further characterization of the plasma lipoprotein(a) distribution.

The plasma lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] distribution in caucasians is heavily skewed to the right, with evidence of bimodality. As there is a well-described inverse relationship between apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] size and Lp(a) concentration, it is likely that the presence of multiple apo(a) isoforms of differing frequency has a significant impact on the final distribution of Lp(a) concentrations. We have previously described an immunoblot method for examining the relationship between apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] size and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] mass among samples heterozygous for apo(a) size, thus eliminating confounding by null or undetected apo(a) isoforms. In the present study, this method has been applied to examine the plasma Lp(a) distribution, independent of the effects of apo(a) isoform size and frequency. Seventy subjects heterozygous for apo(a) size were studied. To take into account the inverse relationship (P < 0.001) between apo(a) isoform size and Lp(a) concentration, Lp(a) data associated with each apo(a) isoform were normalized as multiples of the median Lp(a) concentration for that isoform. These apo(a) isoform-independent Lp(a) data demonstrated a strikingly multimodal distribution, with five major peaks. The relative frequencies of Lp(a) peaks 1-5 were 17.1%, 15.0%, 35.7%, 23.6%, and 8.6%, and associated median Lp(a) concentrations were 1.0, 6.2, 15.0, 21.8, and 39.6 mg/dL, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that apo(a) isoform size accounted for 23% and isoform-independent Lp(a) peaks for 59.5% of the variation in Lp(a) concentration. Further investigation of the characteristics of the apo(a) isoform-independent Lp(a) distribution is warranted.

Adult↗

Microvascular application of the nonreversed vein graft.

To determine the applicability of the nonreversed vein graft technique to 1-mm-diameter vessels, 24 New Zealand White rabbits underwent bilateral replacement of 2-cm defects in the femoral artery with vein graft conduits. On one side a standard reversed vein graft (RVG) was employed, and on the other side a nonreversed vein graft (NRVG) was placed after valve disruption with a Hall valvulotome. Patency rates were not statistically different (RVG 87 percent, NRVG 96 percent, p > 0.1). Electron and light microscopy revealed similar endothelial damage and time to endothelial recovery between the two techniques. There was no difference in flow volume between the two techniques. We conclude that the NRVG technique has acceptable patency rates in 1-mm-diameter vessels within the parameters of this study but that further research is required to determine clinical applicability.

Animals↗

Application of OpSite film: a new and effective treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of application of OpSite dressings on the pain and quality of life in 33 patients with chronic diabetic neuropathy. The effect of OpSite was compared with no treatment. After a run-in period of 2 weeks, OpSite was applied to one of the painful legs for 4 weeks. This was followed by another period of 4 weeks when OpSite was switched to the opposite leg. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale and the primary analysis variable was within patient difference in pain between OpSite leg and no treatment leg at week 4 corrected for baseline. Secondary variables were paracetamol pill ingestion and the quality of life dimensions, sleep, mobility, contact discomfort, appetite, and mood. Changes in these variables from baseline to weeks 4 and 8 were analysed. There was a significantly greater reduction in pain in the OpSite treated limbs than the control limbs (p < 0.001). By week 4 paracetamol intake also declined significantly (p = 0.034) and patients experienced a significant improvement in contact discomfort, sleep, mood, appetite, and mobility (p < 0.002 for all 5 variables). OpSite appeared to alleviate the pain associated with diabetic painful neuropathy and thus improved patients' quality of life.

Adult↗

The effect of indomethacin on the secretion of human salivary epidermal growth factor.

Ulceration associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use is a common problem in elderly patients. The postulated cause of NSAID ulceration is multifactorial but is probably related to the inhibition of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway and a subsequent decrease in mucosal prostaglandin levels. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), on the other hand, has been shown to be gastroprotective, stimulating DNA synthesis, and preventing ASA-induced gastric ulceration. Since EGF is important in gastric mucosal protection, we questioned whether the potential ulcerogenic properties of indomethacin were related in part to decreasing salivary EGF. Twenty healthy male volunteers with no gastrointestinal complaints received indomethacin 50 mg P.O. t.i.d. for 3 consecutive days. Saliva and serum were collected before indomethacin treatment and repeated 2 h after the last indomethacin dose. Stimulated salivary samples were collected for 15 min in fasted subjects and assayed for EGF, whereas serum indomethacin levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. EGF levels significantly decreased by 33% after indomethacin (p < 0.03), and this decrement was linearly related to serum indomethacin concentrations (r = 0.58; p < 0.048). Salivary output did not change after indomethacin treatment. Based on this data, we concluded that indomethacin's ulcerogenic properties may be related to its prostaglandin inhibitory properties as well as its ability to decrease salivary EGF output.

Adult↗

Soft-tissue infection in lower-extremity trauma.

Soft-tissue infection after lower-extremity trauma has not been studied in detail in light of recent data on the biology of infection. This article examines specific problems in lower-extremity trauma that allow the wound to become susceptible to wound infection. It also illustrates the various principles of wound management in lower-extremity trauma that serve to prevent infection. Two case examples are used to illustrate principles of management. Other wound problems in lower-extremity trauma are also discussed, such as rabies, necrotizing soft-tissue infection, tetanus, and diabetic foot infections.

Adult↗

Crouzon's syndrome associated with acanthosis nigricans: ramifications for the craniofacial surgeon.

Crouzon's syndrome is one of many disorders that have been associated with acanthosis nigricans. Previously reported cases documenting this association have been reviewed, and additional cases that have been treated at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at New York University Medical Center have been added. Recommendations for the surgical management of this unique group of patients are presented.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗

Soft-tissue infection in lower extremity trauma.

Soft-tissue infection following lower extremity trauma has not been studied in detail in light of recent data on biology of infection. This article examines specific problems in lower extremity trauma that allow the wound to become susceptible to wound infection. It also illustrates the various principles of wound management in lower extremity trauma that serve to prevent infection. Two case examples are used to illustrate principles of management. Other wound problems in lower extremity trauma are also discussed, such as rabies, necrotizing soft-tissue infection, tetanus, and diabetic foot infections.

Adult↗