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Biomedical subjects

D Appleby

Publications and source records attributed to D Appleby.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

The outcome of referral with postcoital bleeding (PCB).

We reviewed 284 women with postcoital bleeding (PCB) seen in colposcopy and gynaecology clinics over eight years. 166 women were referred with PCB alone (group 1) and 118 with PCB and abnormal cervical cytology (group 2). The aim was to assess the validity of the Department of Health (DoH) referral guidelines for suspected cancer in women with PCB, to measure the frequency of abnormal findings in these women, and to review the management of PCB with the aim of identifying and addressing deficiencies. No pathology was identified in half of women in group one and in 17% of group two. The rate of cervical cancer was 3.6% in group one and 5% in group two. The equivalent figures for CIN were 9% and 66.1% respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of cervical cancer or CIN between women >?35 years and the rest of women in group one. The management of PCB was inconsistent. Neither age nor duration of PCB was a reliable indicator for cervical cancer. A normal smear record must not be regarded as reassuring in a woman with PCB.

Adult↗

Displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly: outcomes and cost effectiveness.

The optimal treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients is a matter of controversy. Four surgical options are well supported in the orthopaedic literature: reduction with internal fixation, unipolar hemiarthroplasty, bipolar hemiarthroplasty, and total hip arthroplasty. Based on a review of the outcomes literature regarding treatment of femoral neck fractures and a cost-effectiveness analysis, an algorithm for surgical treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients is presented. Cost-effectiveness analysis of these four surgical treatment options shows that arthroplasty is the most cost-effective treatment when complication rate, mortality, reoperation rate, and function are evaluated during a 2-year postoperative period. These data were strongly supported by a two-way sensitivity analysis that varied the effectiveness of the interventions and the costs. Literature derived outcome studies show that elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures achieve the best functional results with a well healed femoral neck without osteonecrosis after reduction and internal fixation. Achieving this result may be difficult, and it is not as cost effective as arthroplasty.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

Treatment of separation anxiety in dogs with clomipramine: results from a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter clinical trial.

The efficacy and tolerability of clomipramine in the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs was tested in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, international multicenter clinical trial. For a diagnosis of separation anxiety, dogs had to exhibit at least one of the following signs in the absence of their owner: destruction, defecation, urination and/or vocalization, as well as the behaviour suggestive of "hyper-attachment" to their owner. A total of 95 dogs were randomized to receive one of the three treatments for 2-3 months: "standard-dose" clomipramine (1 to <2 mg/kg, PO, q. 12 h); "low-dose" clomipramine (0.5 to <1 mg/kg, PO, q. 12 h); and placebo (PO, q. 12 h). All dogs received behavioural therapy. Dogs were examined at four time points (days 0, 28, 56 and 84) after the initiation of therapy. Improvement in each dog's behaviour at days 28, 56 and 84 was evaluated in comparison to its behaviour at day 0.The results showed that, compared to placebo, dogs receiving standard-dose clomipramine were rated improved at least three times faster for the signs destruction, defecation and urination. At most time points, more dogs in the standard-dose clomipramine group were rated improved for the signs destruction, defecation and urination, and in an owner's global assessment of the dog's overall behaviour (p<0.05 at certain time points). However, there were no statistically significant differences at any time point between the standard dose and the placebo groups in the sign vocalization. The low-dose clomipramine group produced no statistically significant effect when compared with placebo. Mild and transient vomiting was noted as a side effect of clomipramine in a small number of dogs.It is concluded that addition of standard-dose (1 to <2 mg/kg, PO, q. 12 h) clomipramine to conventional behavioural therapy for 2-3 months ameliorated the signs of separation anxiety in dogs.

Journal Article↗

The association of excessive warfarin anticoagulation and postoperative ileus after total joint replacement surgery.

Patients undergoing joint replacement who show signs of ileus in the postoperative period that require insertion of a nasogastric tube (NGT) must be monitored closely to avoid bleeding complications. The diagnosis of postoperative ileus was documented in 40 of 2,526 (1.6%) consecutive joint replacement operations between January 1, 1990, and March 1, 1998, at 1 hospital. Of the 40 patients with postoperative ileus, 34 received warfarin postoperatively. Of these 34 patients, 19 required a NGT for >48 hours, and 15 patients required a NGT for <48 hours or did not require a NGT. Of the 19 patients who required a NGT for >48 hours and who received warfarin anticoagulation, 17 had a prothrombin time of >20 seconds or an international normalized ratio (INR) of >2.0. None of the 15 patients who required a NGT for <48 hours and who received warfarin anticoagulation had a prothrombin time of >20 seconds or an INR of >2.0. This difference was highly statistically significant (P < .001).

Anticoagulants↗

The role of bladder catheterization in total knee arthroplasty.

The use of a urinary bladder catheter in the perioperative period for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty is controversial. In the current study, two bladder management protocols were studied. One group of patients had an indwelling catheter inserted into the bladder before total knee arthroplasty. The other group of patients was observed and treated for urinary retention as necessary. From 1993 to 1998, 652 patients undergoing primary, unilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomized by surgeon into two groups: one group underwent preoperative insertion of an indwelling bladder catheter (306 patients), and one group (346 patients) had a catheter inserted postoperatively as necessary. Sixty-six percent (229 of 346) of these patients required catheterization (203 had indwelling catheters and 26 had intermittent straight catheters). A urinary tract infection developed in five patients (1.6%) in whom a catheter was inserted preoperatively. A urinary tract infection developed in six patients (1.7%) in whom a catheter was inserted if necessary. Five of these urinary tract infections developed in patients with delayed indwelling bladder catheters. A urinary tract infection did not develop in any patient in whom a straight catheter was inserted. There was no significant difference in the length of stay in the hospital between the two groups. The group in whom a catheter always was inserted generated $491 greater cost for total knee arthroplasty than patients in whom a catheter was inserted if necessary.

Adult↗

Impact of a clinical pathway and implant standardization on total hip arthroplasty: a clinical and economic study of short-term patient outcome.

This study evaluates the impact of a clinical pathway (CP) and a hip implant standardization program (HISP) on the quality and cost of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Two hundred six unilateral THA operations for osteoarthritis were evaluated: 89 operations were performed in 1991 without a CP or HISP (4-year follow-up period); 117 operations were performed in 1993 with a CP and HISP (2-year follow-up period). All patients had good clinical results and excellent outcomes with short-term follow-up evaluation. No differences were seen between groups in terms of patient ratings of outcome and satisfaction or in terms of complication rates in the hospital. Implementation of a CP and HISP did not adversely affect the short-term outcome of THA but did reduce hospital length of stay and hospital cost for THA.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Teicoplanin in the treatment of bone and joint infections. Teicoplanin Bone and Joint Cooperative Study Group, USA.

Teicoplanin is a new glycopeptide antibiotic with activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant organisms. Teicoplanin is administered once daily, either intravenously or intramuscularly. Teicoplanin was given once daily, intravenously or intramuscularly, in the treatment of hospitalized or ambulatory patients with Gram-positive bone or joint infections. A total of 90/98 patients were evaluated for efficacy; 41 had acute osteomyelitis, 41 had chronic osteomyelitis, and 8 had septic arthritis. At the end of therapy, 37 acute osteomyelitis patients were cured/improved with a 90% cure rate at 6-month follow-up; 2 relapsed and 1 failed. At the end of therapy 30 chronic osteomyelitis patients were cured/improved with an 88% cure rate at 6-month follow-up; 2 relapsed and 1 failed. 100% of the septic arthritis patients were cured at the end of therapy and at 1-month follow-up. The most common bacterial isolates cultured from bone were S. aureus (39 isolates), S. epidermidis (11 isolates), other coagulase-negative staphylococci (20 isolates), enterococci (6 isolates), and other streptococcal species (20 isolates). The most common bacterial isolates cultured from joint fluid were S. aureus (6 isolates) and S. epidermidis (2 isolates). All patients tolerated the intramuscular or intravenous routes of administration well. Adverse reactions were mild and most cases did not require discontinuation of therapy. The majority of therapy was administered on an outpatient basis. Teicoplanin was safe, effective, convenient and relatively well tolerated in patients with acute or chronic osteomyelitis or septic arthritis.

Acute Disease↗

Isolated contracture of the abductor digiti minimi.

A case of isolated contracture of an intrinsic hand muscle, the abductor digiti minimi, after the use of an upper extremity tourniquet is reported. Six cadaver specimens were studied after latex arterial injection. We present an anatomic study and pathomechanical analysis, along with a review of the literature on tourniquet-associated injuries.

Contracture↗

Life-threatening clavicular osteomyelitis in two debilitated patients.

Two cases are presented of immunologically compromised patients who developed acute pyogenic clavicular osteomyelitis from direct spread of a contiguous focus. Each patient's condition declined despite antibiotic therapy drainage procedures until survival was in doubt. Both showed striking reversal of their conditions and recovery when an aggressive surgical debridement (total claviculectomy) was performed. Acute pyogenic osteomyelitis of the clavicle is uncommon and rarely reported. The special implications in our patients of this disease of the adapted therapy are discussed.

Aged↗

Anisakiasis: nematode infestation producing small-bowel obstruction.

A case of small-bowel obstruction occurred secondary to an uncommon parasitic disease, anisakiasis. Intestinal obstruction is a rare manifestation of this disease. Anisakiasis may be seen initially with nausea and vomiting or may mimic acute appendicitis or Crohn's disease. The predisposing factor in all cases is the ingestion of raw fish, and the disease is preventable by cooking fish at greater than 60 degrees C for a short time or by freezing at less than -20 degrees C for more than 24 hours. Anisakiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of small-bowel obstruction in patients whose diet includes raw fish.

Adult↗

Globin mRNA precursor. Cross-linking in situ of double-stranded segments with aminomethyltrioxalen.

The globin mRNA sequences present in duck erythroblast nuclei appear under non-denaturing conditions to be associated with heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) molecules of various sizes. Under denaturing conditions, however, the bulk of the globin mRNA sequences associated with hnRNA are released as molecules of size close to that of the active globin mRNA. To find out whether hydrogen-bonded structures occur in situ or arise after RNA extraction, nuclei were treated with aminomethyltrioxalen and exposed to ultraviolet light. This treatment generates covalent links between opposite strands of double-stranded nuclei acids, which were visualised by electron microscopy. It appears that, after cross-linking, a fraction of the globin mRNA sequences present in nuclei is associated with high-molecular-weight hnRNA molecules by a link found associated with a band of 0.9 x 10(6) molecular weight approximately. It is suggested that within the erythroblast nucleus, globin mRNA sequences are associated by hydrogen bonds with RNA of high molecular weight. These structures may represent intermediate steps in globin mRNA processing.

Animals↗

The measurement of transplacental magnesium fluxes in the sheep.

Bi-directional transport rates of magnesium across the placenta of the ewe have been measured towards the end of pregnancy. The results indicated that approximately 0.042 and Mg/h/kg fetal body weight passed from ewe to fetus and that about 0.012 mg Mg/h/kg fetal body weight was transported back to the ewe. There was a significant, although small, positive gradient in plasma magnesium concentration from ewe to fetus.

Animals↗

Colonic neoplasms: tissue estrogen receptor and carcinoembryonic antigen.

Estrogen receptor protein was found in 24% of colonic neoplasms. Presence of estrogen receptor activity was independent of age or sex of the patient, state of differentiation or spread of the tumor, and concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen in the tumor. Estrogen receptor activity in colon tumors probably reflects novel protein synthesis resulting from dedifferentiation. Measurement of tumor estrogen receptor protein and carcinoembryonic antigen may have discriminatory value in the patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma and an unknown primary neoplasm.

Adenocarcinoma↗