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Biomedical subjects

G Rosenberg

Publications and source records attributed to G Rosenberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of valve type and drive line dP/dt on hemolysis in the pneumatic ventricular assist device.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between blood damage and drive line dP/dt and valve type in the pneumatic ventricular assist device. Two mock circulatory loops were assembled using 70-ml Penn State pneumatic ventricular assist devices, one fitted with convexo-concave (CC) valves and one fitted with monostrut (MS) valves. Use of a compliance chamber established three ranges of drive line dP/dt values. Using bovine blood and the methods of generalized estimating equations, it was found that drive line dP/dt was significantly associated with the index of hemolysis (p = 0.00): the lower drive line dP/dt values yielded lower indices of hemolysis. In addition, this association differed between MS and CC valves (p = 0.01); the MS valves consistently yielded a higher index of hemolysis than the CC valves across all drive line dP/dt ranges. However, the relative hemolytic potential of each valve type became much closer at low drive line dP/dt values (2,000-3,000 mm Hg).

Animals

The recruitment of research participants: a review.

Social workers are involved in the recruitment of research participants in a variety of ways. Increased knowledge regarding recruitment issues will allow social workers to expand their role and improve their performance in this area. These individuals should be aware that there is a large body of literature addressing recruitment. This selective review of the literature prior to mid-1992 will focus on the Coronary Primary Prevention Trial, volunteer effects, recruitment sources, the recruitment process, impediments to recruitment, bias in recruitment, the amount of time required to recruit and the impact of recruitment and participation on individuals. This will be followed by a discussion of issues to be addressed in arriving at solutions to recruitment problems.

Clinical Trials as Topic

Hematologic and hemostatic complications associated with long-term use of total artificial heart: clinical and experimental observations.

The two most serious complications associated with long-term use of a total artificial heart (TAH) are thromboembolism and infection. In this article, we review our experience in one patient implanted with a pneumatic TAH for 396 days, and in 24 calves implanted with the same type of device for 70 to 353 (median 150) days. During his survival with the TAH, our patient suffered several thromboembolic episodes despite adequate anti-coagulation with warfarin. Autopsy showed widespread thrombotic lesions, mostly in the brain. Throughout his survival, the patient had markedly elevated plasma beta-thromboglobulin and fibrinopeptide A levels, indicating sustained activation of platelets and the coagulation system secondary to blood contact with the artificial surface. Long-term use of TAH in calves causes significant mechanical hemolytic anemia and a small reduction in the total leukocyte and neutrophil counts. The platelet count normalized to preimplantation levels by 25 to 35 weeks. At autopsy, thrombotic lesions and organ infarction were noted in 13 calves, and major septic complications were documented in 10 animals. Although impressive gains in the clinical and experimental use of TAH were achieved during the last 15 years, thromboembolism and infection remain challenging problems.

Anemia, Hemolytic

Evaluation of an intervention designed to improve patients' hospital experience.

The influence of a videotape, shown in a hospital admitting room, on patients' state anxiety and concerns about hospitalization was assessed in a preliminary study. For both state anxiety and specific concerns regarding hospitalization the pretest scores on each variable accounted for the preponderance of the variance in the posttest scores. In both instances, the intervention and the interaction of the intervention with the pretest scores accounted for less than 1% of variance in the outcome. While finding small effects to be significant for such a small sample (N = 93) is unlikely, the sample size was adequate to detect medium to large effects. More important was the fact that 73.33% of the videotape intervention group indicated that they did not watch the video, which leads us to the conclusion that this intervention as tested is not worthwhile.

Anxiety

Bone mass is related to creatinine clearance in normal elderly women.

We determined the relationship between bone mass and age, anthropometric variables, creatinine clearance (Ccr), and serum and urine biochemical variables in 77 normal white women (aged 41-86, mean = 67) living in their own homes. A total of 74 women were postmenopausal. Skeletal status was assessed in all subjects by x-rays of the hand with measurement of the mean combined cortical thickness (CCT) of the second metacarpal bones. In 53 women, bone mineral content of the radial shaft (RMBC) was also measured by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) and lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD) was measured by dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA). Serum and urine biochemical variables were measured under standardized conditions on the sixth and seventh days of a controlled diet. There was a strong positive correlation between Ccr and bone mass. Although our subjects showed the expected linear decline in Ccr with age, we found that the relationship between Ccr and bone mass in the radius and lumbar spine was independent of age. On the other hand, the relationship between Ccr and CCT was not independent of age. We concluded that the relationship between Ccr and lumbar and radial bone mass is probably indicative of a relationship between glomerular filtration rate and bone mass, although this requires validation with a noncreatinine method for measurement of glomerular filtration rate. Age per se does not appear to be a cause of declining lumbar bone mass after the menopause.

Absorptiometry, Photon

An electric artificial heart for clinical use.

Advances in microelectronics, high-strength magnets, and control system design now make replacement of the heart using an implantable, electrically powered pump feasible. The device described herein is a compact, dual pusher plate unit with valved polyurethane sac-type ventricles positioned at either end. The power unit consists of a small, brushless direct current motor and a motion translator. A microprocessor control system is used to regulate heart beat rate and provide left-right output balance. Bench studies lasting for as long as 1 year have been performed. Heart replacement with the electric heart has been performed in 18 calves since 1984. The longest survivor lived for more than 7 months. Among the causes of termination were component failure, thromboembolic complications, and bleeding. No major problem has been identified that precludes prolonged use of the electric heart. In the future the patient with end-stage heart disease will have an electric artificial heart as one therapeutic option.

Animals

Permanent circulatory support systems at the Pennsylvania State University.

Permanent circulatory support systems are required for patients in whom myocardial damage is irreversible and cardiac transplantation is not possible. Two systems are described which provide long term circulatory support: the left ventricular assist system and the total artificial heart. These systems are based on the design of a pusher plate actuated blood pump, driven by a small brushless dc electric motor and rollerscrew driver. An implantable motor controller maintains suitable physiologic flow rates for both systems and controls left-right balance in the total artificial heart. Other parts of the system include an intra-thoracic compliance chamber, transcutaneous energy and data transmission system, and internal and external batteries.

Animals

Current status of permanent total artificial hearts.

Pneumatic total artificial heats, although demonstrating utility as temporary mechanical circulatory support devices, have not demonstrated a great deal of promise as permanent cardiac replacements. The increasing number of patients who would be candidates for total heart replacement suggests a large role for a permanent implantable total artificial heart. To that end, the Pennsylvania State University is developing an electric motor-driven total artificial heart; the results with implants in calves are encouraging. In this device, a roller-screw mechanism is used to translate the rotation of a brushless direct-current motor into rectilinear motion of a pusher-plate assembly, which in turn empties the blood sacs. The total artificial heart of the future will function under automatic control without percutaneous leads, and this should provide the patient with a nearly normal life-style. Although further experimental efforts are necessary to prepare the device for clinical trials, the technology to provide a safe and reliable electric blood-pump system is at hand.

Animals

Hot-film wall shear probe measurements inside a ventricular assist device.

Wall shear rates at eleven sites within the Penn State Electric Ventricular Assist Device (EVAD) were determined with the pump operating under conditions of 30 and 50 percent systolic duration and a mean flow rate of 5.8 L/min using a flush-mounted hot-film probe. Probe calibrations were performed with the hot-film in two orientations relative to the flow direction: a standard orientation and an orientation in which the hot-film was rotated by 90 deg from the standard orientation. The magnitude and direction of the wall shear stress at each site within the EVAD were estimated from ensemble averaged voltage data recorded for similar standard and rotated film orientations. The results indicate that, during diastole the wall shear stress direction around the pump's periphery for both operating conditions is predominantly perpendicular to the inflow-outflow plane (in the direction of the pusher plate motion) and reaches a peak value of approximately 350 dynes/cm2. The highest wall shear stresses were found near the prosthetic aortic valve (inside the EVAD) under the 30 percent systolic duration condition and are estimated to be as high as 2700 dynes/cm2. Peak shear stress values of 1400 dynes/cm2 were observed in the vicinity of the prosthetic mitral valve under both operating conditions. The results suggested that the valve regions are substantially more hemolytic than other wall regions of the EVAD; the magnitudes of the wall shear stresses are sensitive to operating conditions; and that wall shear in the direction of pusher plate motion can be significant.

Assisted Circulation

Findings and implications from preadmission screening of elderly patients waiting for elective surgery.

Volunteers trained by a social worker did a telephone screening of 716 elderly persons waiting for elective surgery to determine in advance of admission their need for social services. On the basis of their findings patients were given a risk rating by a social worker. While the survey was experienced positively by patients, volunteers, and social workers, the results do not establish its value in terms of shortened length of stay. Aging females living alone required the greatest amount of social work and had the longest length of stay. This group requires further study, along with the connection between intensity of illness with social problem vulnerability. The study raises other important questions critical to programming for an increasingly older population.

Aftercare

Towards a network of social health services: redefining discharge planning and expanding the social work domain.

Hospitalization for most people occurs episodically in an individual's lifetime, when the patient, someone with a past and future, is acutely ill. Particularly in the present health care climate "discharge planning" in hospitals will need to be redefined to address the real needs of people at health transitions. Programmatic initiatives by hospital social work departments are suggested as a strategy of moving toward the new concept of "social health care management." This paper discusses the background and a model of expanding social work domain in providing such a viable network of social health services.

Community-Institutional Relations