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Biomedical subjects

C J Moran

Publications and source records attributed to C J Moran.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Rheumatoid synovial cells from intact joints. Morphology, growth, and polykaryocytosis.

Synovial cell lines were isolated by instillation of trypsin or chymotrypsin into intact knee joints of patients with persistent rheumatoid effusions resistant to conventional therapy. Morphology and growth in the primary phase were compared with rheumatoid cells isolated from excised synovium and nonrheumatoid synovial cells obtained from intact joints of cadavers or amputated limbs. Cell populations from all sources included varying proportions of macrophage-like and fibroblast-like cells, with only 1-3% multinucleated cells. In medium supplemented with calf serum alone, rheumatoid cells from intact joints showed negligible changes in morphology. However, in the presence of nonrheumatoid, autologous rheumatoid or homologous rheumatoid serum a rapid increase occurred in size of the macrophage-like cells and numbers of polykaryocytes, including some giant syncytial cells. These effects were directly proportional to serum concentration and were identical in fresh or heat-inactivated serum. In most of these rheumatoid cell lines no multiplication occurred, regardless of serum type or concentration. In rheumatoid synovial cells from excised synovium, human serum induced both polykaryocytosis and rapid growth of fibroblasts. Nonrheumatoid synovial cells grew rapidly but few polykaryocytes developed, mostly with less than 6 nuclei. Evidence of viral infection in rheumatoid synovial cells was sought by electron microscopy after stimulation of polykaryocytosis by human serum. In one of the cultures many cells were found with intranuclear particles possessing characteristics of the adenovirus group.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1975

Transfer factor in Hodgkin's disease.

In a controlled studiy, six patients with stage-IV Hodgkin's disease were given transfer factor (T.F.) prepared from patients with Hodgkin's disease in long remission. There was an apparent increase in cell-mediated immune responses as evidenced by a significant increase in the recipients' lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin stimulation. Three out of six patients converted to positive delayed-hypersensitivity tests. These three all had the nodular sclerosing type of Hodgkin's disease. These results warrant the further investigation of the use of Hodgkin's disease-specific T.F. as a therapeutic agent in this condition.

Hodgkin Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MRI of esthesioneuroblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: Esthesioneuroblastomas are uncommon tumors originating in the olfactory epithelium of the superior nasal cavity. Accurate staging appropriately guides therapy and predicts survival. The MR appearance and pattern of contrast enhancement in these tumors have not been well described. The goals of this article were to analyze the MRI characteristics of esthesioneuroblastoma, including extent of tumor, differentiation from obstructive sinus disease, MR signal, and pattern of contrast enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MR examinations of six patients with proven advanced esthesioneuroblastoma were reviewed. Standard SE T1- and T2-weighted axial images were obtained [550-600/15-25 and 2,000-2,760/80-90 (TR/TE), respectively], followed by postcontrast axial and coronal T1-weighted sequences in all patients. RESULTS: Five of the six tumors were centered in the superior nasal cavity and one was centered in the lateral ethmoid air cells. Five tumors extended intracranially. Postobstructive sinus disease was always encountered. As compared to gray matter, the signal on T1-weighted images was either hypo- or isointense. On T2-weighted images, the signal varied from iso- to hyperintensity. Contrast enhancement was intense and of variable uniformity. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance signal characteristics helped to distinguish obstructive sinus disease from tumor. The MR signal characteristics and pattern of contrast enhancement were nonspecific for esthesioneuroblastoma. Enhanced images, particularly in the coronal plane, were very helpful in identifying intracranial extension.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computerized detection of pulmonary nodules on CT scans.

Helical computed tomography (CT) is the most sensitive imaging modality for detection of pulmonary nodules. However, a single CT examination produces a large quantity of image data. Therefore, a computerized scheme has been developed to automatically detect pulmonary nodules on CT images. This scheme includes both two- and three-dimensional analyses. Within each section, gray-level thresholding methods are used to segment the thorax from the background and then the lungs from the thorax. A rolling ball algorithm is applied to the lung segmentation contours to avoid the loss of juxtapleural nodules. Multiple gray-level thresholds are applied to the volumetric lung regions to identify nodule candidates. These candidates represent both nodules and normal pulmonary structures. For each candidate, two- and three-dimensional geometric and gray-level features are computed. These features are merged with linear discriminant analysis to reduce the number of candidates that correspond to normal structures. This method was applied to a 17-case database. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the automated classifier. Results yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.93 in the task of classifying candidates detected during thresholding as nodules or nonnodules.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy and precision of computer-simulated tissue temperatures in individual human intracranial tumours treated with interstitial hyperthermia.

Accurate knowledge of tissue temperature is necessary for effective delivery of clinical hyperthermia in the treatment of malignant tumours. This report compares computer-predicted versus measured intratumoral temperatures in 11 human subjects with intracranial tumours, treated with a conceptually simple 'conductive' interstitial hyperthermia system. Interstitial hyperthermia was achieved by the use of parallel arrays of implanted, electrically heated catheters. The tissue was warmed by thermal conduction and blood convection. Simulation of intratumoral temperatures was achieved by solving a modified bioheat transfer equation on a digital computer using a finite difference method. Comparison of intratumoral temperatures from simulations and measured values differed by about +/- 0.75 degrees C. Further analysis of computed temperature distributions between catheters revealed a rapidly computable relationship between the local minimum tumour temperature and nearby catheter power and temperature that accounts for effects of varying blood flow. These findings suggest that 'on-line' prediction and control of local minimum tumour temperatures are feasible with the conductive interstitial technique.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effective estimation and computer control of minimum tumour temperature during conductive interstitial hyperthermia.

The goal of heat therapy in the treatment of malignant disease is to raise the temperature of all neoplastic tissue to a cytotoxic temperature for a predetermined period of time. This seemingly simple task has proved difficult in vivo in part because of non-uniform power absorption and in part because of non-homogeneous and time-varying tumour blood flow. We have addressed this difficulty first by utilizing the conceptually simple technique of conductive interstitial hyperthermia, in which the tumour is warmed by multiple, electrically heated catheters, and second by implementing on-line control of minimum tumour temperatures near each catheter, estimated on the basis of the steady-state ratio of catheter power to catheter temperature rise. This report presents an analysis of the accuracy, precision, and stability of the on-line minimum temperature estimation/control technique for 22 patients who received 31 separate courses of conductive interstitial hyperthermia for the treatment of malignant brain tumours, and in whom temperature was monitored independently by 12-16 independent sensors per patient. In all patients the technique was found to accurately and precisely estimate and control the local minimum temperatures. Comparison of measured and estimated temperatures revealed a mean difference of 0.0 +/- 0.4 degrees C for those sensors within 1.0 mm of the expected location for minimum temperatures. This technique therefore offers an attractive method for controlling hyperthermia therapy-even in the presence of time varying local blood flow.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Importance of bidirectional arterial flow in dialysis fistula construction.

The normal direction of blood flow in end of cephalic vein to side of radial artery arteriovenous dialysis fistulas in the wrist was antegrade in the proximal arterial limb and retrograde through the distal arterial limb. There were no instances of arterial insufficiency in the hand due to a steal phenomenon. These findings support the surgical construction of end of vein to side of artery fistulas.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polyvinyl alcohol particle size and suspension characteristics.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the size and shape of commercially available polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles and to determine whether they change in size when suspended in nonionic contrast and in a solution of nonionic contrast and absolute alcohol. METHODS: The two-dimensional area and the long and short axis of PVA particles from several different vendors were measured using a light microscope attached to a video system and an image-processing software program. Particles were measured as packaged (dry or suspended in saline), suspended in ioversol, and suspended in ioversol containing 30% alcohol. RESULTS: All brands of dry particles had similar microscopic appearances. The saline-suspended particles had fewer and finer perforations. After suspension in contrast, all sizes and brands of dry particles significantly increased in size. The particles packaged in saline did not expand. The addition of alcohol to the contrast did not consistently change particle size. Particle aggregation was similar in both contrast suspensions for all groups of particles. Particles less than 50 microns in size were rarely observed in any PVA preparation after suspension. CONCLUSIONS: The three dry PVA preparations seem to be similar. All increase significantly in size when suspended in nonionic contrast or contrast-alcohol solutions. The saline-packaged PVA particles were different from the dry variety and did not enlarge in contrast or contrast-alcohol solutions. Alcohol did not change the size or suspension characteristics of PVA particles. Particles less than 50 microns in size were rarely identified.

Contrast Media↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chondrosarcoma of the larynx: CT features.

PURPOSE: To define the typical CT features of chondrosarcoma of the larynx. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Results of CT studies, performed on 10 patients with pathologically proved chondrosarcoma of the larynx, were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with clinical presentation. RESULTS: In all patients, the mass was detected on CT. The most frequent site of origin of the tumor was the cricoid cartilage (nine cases) followed by the thyroid cartilage (one case). Coarse or stippled calcification within the tumor was the most helpful radiologic finding and was seen in every case. In eight patients, the tumor had both an endolaryngeal and an extralaryngeal growth pattern, whereas in two patients the tumor was entirely endolaryngeal. Hoarseness, dyspnea, and dysphagia were the most common symptoms. In all patients presenting with dyspnea, the tumor exhibited endolaryngeal components. In patients presenting with hoarseness, three tumors had endolaryngeal and extralaryngeal components and two tumors were entirely endolaryngeal. CONCLUSION: Cross-sectional imaging afforded excellent evaluation of the airway as well as the extralaryngeal component of the tumor.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of intraarterial papaverine on cerebral circulation time.

PURPOSE: To measure the mean cerebral circulation time (CCT) in patients with symptomatic vasospasm stemming from subarachnoid hemorrhage and to determine any change after papaverine treatment. METHODS: We studied 27 patients who received intraarterial papaverine from November 1992 to August 1995 to determine the CCT in 59 carotid territories. CCT was measured from the first image in which contrast was seen above the supraclinoid internal carotid artery to the peak filling of parietal cortical veins. Angiograms at the time of presentation were examined in 19 of the 27 patients. A control population of 19 patients (30 carotid territories) was also studied. RESULTS: The mean CCT on presentation was 6.8 seconds +/- 1.1. The prepapaverine mean CCT was 6.1 seconds +/- 1.2. The immediate postpapaverine mean CCT was 3.8 seconds +/- 0.8. CCT decreased in 58 of 59 territories treated with papaverine; the mean change was -35.7%. In eight of these patients, CCT rose on the following day to 6.1 seconds +/- 1.1. In the control group, mean CCT was 5.9 seconds +/- 0.8. The mean CCT in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage was slightly prolonged on presentation relative to that in control subjects. CONCLUSION: Intraarterial papaverine produces a consistent decrease in CCT in patients with vasospasm.

Adult↗