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Biomedical subjects

H B Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to H B Robinson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Adverse outcome in pregnancy following amniotic fluid isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Infections in pregnancy with Ureaplasma urealyticum have been associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes, such as early abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Causality has been difficult to demonstrate secondary to the high prevalence of asymptomatic lower genital tract (LGT) colonization and culture data from inaccessible or potentially contaminated sites. Between 1985 and 1989, 2461 second-trimester genetic amniocenteses were evaluated at the cytogenetics section of the Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron. All were cultured for the genital mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. A total of nine patients were positive, all for Ureaplasma urealyticum, with one patient excluded because of subsequent therapeutic abortion. In addition, complete follow-up data, such as indication for amniocentesis, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, gestational age at parturition, and outcome of pregnancy, were available on 86 Ureaplasma-negative (U-) patients during an approximate 2-year span within the time-frame of the study. This was in part due to physician response to a questionnaire sent after amniocentesis. Of the eight positive cultures, 100 per cent were associated with an adverse outcome, defined as fetal loss or premature delivery. This was significant compared with the U- group (p less than 0.001) with a more than eight times greater risk of adverse outcome. Six (75 per cent) resulted in spontaneous miscarriage within 4 weeks of amniocentesis and at less than 21 weeks' gestation. Two (25 per cent) delivered prematurely, with one (12.5 per cent) neonatal death at 24+ weeks. Histological examination of all eight placentae and the seven fetuses revealed a 100 per cent incidence of chorioamnionitis and pneumonia, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abortion, Spontaneous

Standardized residuals as a means for detection of growth alteration in the pathologic human fetus.

This paper introduces and discusses the use of standardized residuals as a technique for comparing the growth of normal and pathologic human fetuses. Anthropometric measures, radiographic measures, and organ weights were regressed on known gestational age of second- and third-trimester fetuses. Standardized residuals were calculated for a group of potentially growth-impaired fetuses. Use of residuals aids in identification of patterns of growth alteration in specific pathologies. Most important, studying the response of developing organ systems to a variety of insults may elucidate mechanisms of growth regulation in the fetus. We emphasize the special quality of the multivariate measures of the core sample of fetuses from the Akron Children's Hospital collection.

Anthropometry

Placental emboli from a fetus papyraceous.

A syndrome in monozygotic twins that consists of a macerated twin fetus (fetus papyraceous) and a live-born twin with various anatomical defects has been described. The etiology is thought to be placental transfer of emboli or thromboplastic material through vascular shunts. Thromboplastic material precipitates disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the fetus, with a resultant hypercoagulable state due to relative fetal antithrombin III deficiency. Two cases of this syndrome will be discussed. The case of a live-born twin with intestinal atresia, who developed in utero with a fetus papyraceous, is reported. Emboli were demonstrated in vascular shunts of the diamniotic-monochorionic placenta. The hypothesis of intestinal atresia as a result of a vascular accident is reviewed. Another case involving a live-born twin with congenital skin defects, who developed in utero with a fetus papyraceous, is also reported. The skin defects were a congenital disruption from fetal DIC with resultant hypercoagulable state. Several other manifestations of the placental emboli syndrome will be discussed and the vascular etiology of the disruptions explained.

Adult

Lipoprotein disorder, cirrhosis, and olivopontocerebellar degeneration in two siblings.

Two siblings had olivopontocerebellar degeneration, failure to thrive, hepatic fatty change and cirrhosis, and a dyslipoproteinemia characterized by low cholesterol and elevated triglycerides. This condition was distinct from other cerebellar atrophies and ataxias and was not due to malabsorption or malnutrition. Cerebellar degeneration progressed rapidly during the first year of life, and both children died from intercurrent infections and surgical complications at 11 and 17 months. Stereotyped clinical and pathologic findings in the two patients suggest a previously unreported genetic metabolic disorder affecting the liver and the CNS.

Atrophy

Internal vascular access for hemodialysis in children weighing less than fifteen kilograms.

An arteroarterial femoral graft using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is described which has been successfully for vascular access in young children having small peripheral vessels. This graft allows high flow and favorable patency for dialysis without the complications of arteriovenous shunting or the risks associated with an external hemodialysis device. This graft has been used successfully for outpatient dialysis in children weighing as little as 9 kg and may be a useful adjunct in long-term dialysis of patients for whom more conventional means of vascular access are not acceptable.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis

Bilateral congenital subdural cysts associated with porencephaly and CSF-subdural fistula. A report of two cases.

Tow infants had bilateral congenital subdural cysts associated with encephaloclastic porencephaly and a CSF-subdural fistula. The cysts occupied 80% to 90% of the crainal cavity. There was severe atrophy and malformation of the underlying brain, suggesting that its development had been disturbed at an early stage of gestation. The clinical and radiologic findings were indistinguishable from those of hydranencephaly.

Brain

Discussion and management of late failures in reconstructive procedures involving the abdominal aorta.

Review of fifty-eight late failures of 326 procedures performed for revascularization of the abdominal aorta over the past six years showed a low overall operative mortality of 9 per cent. Secondary vascular procedures directed at the aorta itself or at its graft substitute proved more effective in relieving symptoms and restoring flow than did secondary procedures directed at more distal problems in the lower extremities. The aortofemoral graft in conjunction with profundaplasty proved to be the most effective means of restoring flow to the lower extermity after graft occlusion in a previous aortoiliac or aortofemoral graft.

Adult

Reduction of early occlusions in the high risk peripheral saphenous vein graft.

Early thrombosis of saphenous vein grafts can only reduce long-term patency. There exists a high risk category of patients who can be identified preoperatively where early failure is increased above the 10-20% which is attributed to technical errors. A venous side-arm indwelling catheter offers a safe means of reducing early thrombosis, promptly diagnosing the occlusion when it does occur, and more clearly delineating a course of corrective action. The venous side-arm catheter provides a means by which the vascular bed at highest risk may be regionally anticoagulated while allowing systemic clotting times to remain near normal. In addition, vasoactive drugs may be infused directly into the arterial tree and perhaps most importantly, rapid and atraumatic arteriograms can be obtained postoperatively at the bedside for evaluation of questionable perfusion. Regional heparinization and postoperative arterigraphy by means to the side-branch catheter technique was used in twelve patients who otherwise had an expected occlusion rate of 75% or more with an actual early occlusion incidence of zero.

Angiography

Cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome. Report of a case with histochemical and ultrastructural observations.

A new case of the cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome is being reported. The neuropathologic changes consisted of developmental abnormalities of cerebral and cerebellar cortex and of the inferior olives. In addition, there were metabolic changes in the central nervous system, indicated by an accumulation of lipid within histiocytes of free in gray and white matter, deficiency in myelination and gliosis of the white matter, and marked proliferation of protoplasmic astrocytes in the gray matter. A unique feature of this case was the presence of numerous clusters of lipid-filled macrophages and occasional cholesterol crystals in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. The histochemical reactions and ultrastructural appearances of the lipid deposits are suggestive of accumulation of several different types of lipids.

Abnormalities, Multiple