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Biomedical subjects

D Crowley

Publications and source records attributed to D Crowley.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for treatment of congenital pulmonary valvular stenosis in children.

Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed in seven children with moderate to severe valvular pulmonary stenosis (right ventricular to pulmonary artery pressure gradient greater than 50 mm Hg). All patients experienced a decrease in right ventricular peak systolic pressure from 108 +/- 30 to 60 +/- 5.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), decrease in right ventricular to pulmonary artery gradient from 90.1 +/- 30 to 38.8 +/- 5 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and increase in pulmonary valve area from 0.33 +/- 0.06 to 0.55 +/- 0.15 cm2/m2 (p less than 0.001). In the two patients who underwent supine bicycle exercise before and after valvuloplasty, a significant decrease in both the maximal right ventricular peak systolic pressure (212 to 140 and 175 to 125 mm Hg, respectively) and in right ventricular to pulmonary artery peak pressure gradient (185 to 110 and 151 to 85 mm Hg, respectively) occurred. All patients tolerated the procedure well and no serious complications were observed. It is concluded that percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is a safe and effective method for relief of right ventricular obstruction due to moderate or severe valvular pulmonary stenosis. However, long-term results remain unknown.

Angiography↗

Echocardiographic measures in 6 to 7 year old children after an 8 month exercise program.

The influence of an exercise intervention program on cardiac dimensions was studied in 79 normal children (aged 6 to 7 years) in an experimental (n = 38) and control (n = 41) group. The experimental group participated in an aerobic exercise session that met four days/week for 8 months. Anthropometric measurements and M mode echocardiograms were obtained before and after the intervention program. Comparison of the data between groups revealed no significant (probability [p] greater than 0.05) differences in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, shortening fraction or resting heart rate. Left ventricular posterior wall thickness exhibited a significant increase (p less than 0.0256) from 3.9 to 4.7 mm in the experimental group compared with an increase from 4.3 to 4.6 mm in the control group after correcting for preintervention differences with an analysis of covariance. Likewise, left ventricular mass increased significantly (p less than 0.0004) from 21.2 to 27.4 g in the experimental group compared with 23.4 to 25.8 g in the control group. These findings indicate that when compared with control subjects, young children involved in an aerobic exercise program showed progressive increases in left ventricular posterior wall thickness and left ventricular mass and no change in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, shortening fraction or resting heart rate.

Body Height↗

Quantitative morphometric analysis of the pulmonary arteries in two patients with D-transposition of the great arteries and persistence of the fetal circulation.

Quantitative morphometric studies were performed on the pulmonary arteries of two newborns who died at 1 and 3 days of age with both transposition of the great arteries and persistence of the fetal circulation. Similar studies were performed on two normal control subjects (age 2 and 6 days), one newborn infant (age 1 day) with secondary persistence of the fetal circulation, and one newborn infant (age 2 days) with isolated D-transposition of the great arteries, as compared to those without it. When wall thickness was related to external diameter of the vessel, the greatest difference in thickness was observed in the smallest vessels (less than 150 mu in diameter). Extension of smooth muscle peripherally and to the smallest vessels (less than 50 mu) was similarly most marked in those infants with persistence of the fetal circulation may coexist but at the same time be unrelated in a single patient. Furthermore when such coexistence is unrecognized, pharmacologic manipulation of the ductus arteriosus may be hazardous.

Female↗

Hepatitis C among drug users: consensus guidelines on management in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C (HCV) is a common cause of morbidity among patients who attend general practitioners (GPs) in Ireland for methadone maintenance treatment. AIMS: To describe the development and content of guidelines for the management of HCV among current or former opiate users in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area attending GPs for methadone treatment. METHODS: The guidelines were produced in five stages: identification of key stakeholders; development of evidence-based draft guidelines; discussion of content; determination of 'Delphi'-facilitated consensus and review by a sample of GPs for whom the guidelines would be intended. RESULTS: The guidelines contain advice for GPs on all aspects of care of patients at risk of HCV, including general and preventative care, care of other bloodborne and hepatotoxic viruses, and the factors to be considered and appropriate evaluation prior to referring a patient for assessment at a hepatology unit. CONCLUSIONS: GPs have an important role to play in the care of patients at risk of, or infected with, HCV.

Adolescent↗

Successful treatment of infantile hemangiomas with interferon-alpha-2b.

PURPOSE: Hemangiomas are benign tumors occurring in 10% of infants. A small percentage are complicated by blockage of vital structures, consumptive coagulopathy, or heart failure, resulting in a mortality of -20% of patients with complications. Here, we describe four infants with complicated hemangiomas responding to interferon-alpha-2b therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four children with hemangiomas were treated with interferon-alpha-2b for complicating heart failure (1), visual impairment (2), or coagulopathy (1). Patients received interferon-alpha-2b alone or in conjunction with corticosteroid therapy over 2 to 9 months. Imaging studies and urinary basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels were used to monitor treatment response. RESULTS: Three of four patients demonstrated involution of the hemangiomas with improvement in their coagulopathy or visual impairment. The fourth patient expired due to cardiac complications despite radiologic evidence of hemangioma involution. Side effects associated with interferon-alpha-2b treatment included elevated transaminases (2) and leukocytosis (2), which resolved upon completion of therapy. One patient developed mild gross motor delay (1), which improved after cessation of therapy. Decreased urinary bFGF levels correlated with hemangioma involution. CONCLUSION: Interferon-alpha-2b therapy is an effective, well-tolerated treatment for complicated hemangiomas. Measurement of urinary bFGF levels may provide an objective method for monitoring treatment response.

Exophthalmos↗

Integronlike structures in Campylobacter spp. of human and animal origin.

Resistance to antimicrobial agents used to treat severe Campylobacter spp. gastroenteritis is increasing worldwide. We assessed the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Campylobacter spp. isolates of human and animal origin. More than half (n = 32) were resistant to sulphonamide, a feature known to be associated with the presence of integrons. Analysis of these integrons will further our understanding of Campylobacter spp. epidemiology.

Animals↗

Family stress after pediatric heart transplantation.

Parents of ten children who underwent cardiac transplantation at the authors' institution participated in this study to evaluate the effect of heart transplantation on the family. Parents completed the Hymovich Chronicity Impact and Coping Instrument (CICI) and/or the Feetham Family Function Survey (FFFS) 3 to 24 months (mean, 8.4 months) after the transplant. Results indicate that parents face significant psychological and social stresses after their child's heart transplantation related to (1) the uncertainty of the child's future health and well-being, (2) role strain, (3) social isolation, and (4) financial burdens. Recommendations for nursing practice are suggested.

Adolescent↗