Biomedical subjects

Craig H Ziegler

Publications and source records attributed to Craig H Ziegler.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Three-dimensional CT angiography: a new technique for imaging microvascular anatomy.

To date there has been no satisfactory research method for imaging microvascular anatomy in three dimensions (3D). In this article we present a new technique that allows both qualitative and quantitative examination of the microvasculature in 3D. In 10 fresh cadavers (7 females, 3 males, mean age 68 years), selected arteries supplying the abdominal wall and back were injected with a lead oxide/gelatin contrast mixture. From these regions, 30 specimens were dissected free and imaged with a 16-slice spiral computed tomographic (CT) scanner. Using three-dimensional CT (3D-CT) angiography, reconstructions of the microvasculature of each specimen were produced and examined for their qualitative content. Two calibration tools were constructed to determine (1) the accuracy of linear measurements made with CT software tools, and (2) the smallest caliber blood vessel that is reliably represented on 3D-CT reconstructions. Three-dimensional CT angiography produced versatile, high quality angiograms of the microvasculature. Correlation between measurements made with electronic calipers and CT software tools was very high (Lin's concordance coefficient, 0.99 (95% CI 0.99-0.99)). The finest caliber of vessel reliably represented on the 3D-CT reconstructions was 0.4 mm internal diameter. In summary, 3D-CT angiography is a simple, accurate, and reproducible method that imparts a much improved perception of anatomy when compared with existing research methods. Measurement tools provide accurate quantitative data to aid vessel mapping and preoperative planning. Further work will be needed to explore the full utility of 3D-CT angiography in a clinical setting.

Abdominal Wall↗

PubMed2006

Advantages of a targeted approach in minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: In a large series of patients, we associated the need for preoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels as a vital component in our approach to the radioguided minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIRP) procedure. Our objective was to determine whether these preoperative levels indeed complemented the procedure. Our study also included a postoperative assessment of excised gland volume and length of operation. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study. METHODS: : One hundred seventy-three patients with primary hyperparathyroidism enrolled in our radioguided MIRP protocol. Patients were divided into groups based on the results of sestamibi scans. Comparisons were made between these results and the assessed preoperative PTH and calcium levels and the postoperative excised gland volume and length of operation. RESULTS: PTH and calcium levels did not statistically relate with the likelihood of having a "positive," "equivocal," or "negative" sestamibi scan, but the volume of excised gland was significantly different among the three groups (P < .01). There was no significant difference between positive and equivocal scans (P = .40). Operative time was significantly different between positive and equivocal scans (P < .01), positive and negative scans (P < .01), and equivocal and negative scans (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Routine preoperative PTH and calcium levels are necessary for the biologic diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism, but they do not appear to relate to the outcome of a sestamibi scan and therefore do not complement the radioguided MIRP procedure. Because the size of the affected gland, however, did correlate with a positive sestamibi scan, we conclude that as the volume of the gland increases, so does the likelihood of a successfully chosen minimally invasive surgical approach.

Female↗

PubMed2005

Exercise slips in high-risk situations and activity patterns in long-term exercisers: an application of the relapse prevention model.

BACKGROUND: Key factors in successful long-term exercise maintenance are not well understood. The Relapse Prevention Model (RPM) may provide a framework for this process. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among characteristics of exercise high-risk situations, components of the RPM relevant to exercise slips, and follow-up exercise outcomes in long-term community exercisers. METHODS: We obtained long-term exercisers' (N=65) open-ended responses to high-risk situations and ratings of obstacle self-efficacy, guilt, and perceived control. High-risk situation characteristics, cognitive and behavioral coping strategies, and exercise outcomes were examined. RESULTS: High-risk situation characteristics included bad weather, inconvenient time of day, being alone, negative emotions, and fatigue. Being alone was associated with lower incidence of exercise slip. Positive cognitive coping strategies were most commonly employed and were associated with positive exercise outcome for both women and men. Guilt and perceived control regarding the high-risk situation were associated with exercise outcomes at follow-up, but only among the men (n=28). CONCLUSIONS: Findings confirm and extend previous work in the application of the RPM in examining exercise slips and relapse. Measurement issues and integration approaches from the study of relapse in addiction research are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

A clinical perspective on cochlear dead regions: intelligibility of speech and subjective hearing aid benefit.

Using the threshold equalizing noise (TEN) test, 49 subjects with at least two pure-tone thresholds per ear greater than 50 dB HL and none greater than 80 dB HL were evaluated for the presence or absence of dead regions. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the prevalence of cochlear dead regions in this clinical population, (2) measure whether listeners with dead regions performed differently than listeners without dead regions on a speech intelligibility in noise test, and (3) determine whether cochlear dead regions are associated with reduced subjective hearing aid performance. The results showed that (1) twenty-nine percent of the subjects tested positive for dead regions, (2) listeners with dead regions had poorer sentence understanding in noise than listeners without dead regions and (3) listeners with dead regions perceived poorer subjective hearing aid performance in listening environments with reverberation or background noise as compared to those without dead regions.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

What is Alcoholics Anonymous affiliation?

An increasing body of research evidence supports the use of 12-step program affiliation as an effective adjunct and aftercare for formal treatment. Recently, three brief (9- or 10-item) measures of affiliation have been developed. However, the brief scales are difficult to interpret, and the question of exactly what is affiliation (or disaffiliation) remains unclear. This analysis examines the question of what is the essence of affiliation vs. disaffiliation. Data from the Project MATCH 1-year posttreatment Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement (AAI) scale (N=1506) are used to identify the most salient items of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) affiliation predicting 1-year posttreatment drinking outcomes. Analysis using stepwise regression suggests that a three-item solution can explain a similar amount of variance in the proportion of days abstinent in months 9 through 12 posttreatment, as does using the nine items. These three "core items predicting recovery" include AA attendance, sum of steps completed, and identifying self as an AA member. As an affiliation composite scale, these three items are easier to interpret and administer than the full AAI scale, and when combined, possess adequate reliability (alpha=0.72).

Adult↗