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Biomedical subjects

J A Becker

Publications and source records attributed to J A Becker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Multiple myeloma and contrast media.

Contrast media administered intravenously are still thought by many to be a major cause of acute renal failure (ARF) in myeloma patients. Recently, several authors found that the predominant risk factors of ARF in myeloma patients are hypercalcemia, dehydration, infection, and Bence Jones proteinuria rather than contrast media. In a review of seven retrospective studies of myeloma patients receiving contrast media, 476 patients were noted to have undergone 568 contrast media studies, with an ARF prevalence of 0.6%-1.25%. One large series showed the incidence of ARF after administration of contrast media to be 0.15% in the general population. Although the administration of contrast media to myeloma patients is not totally risk free, it may be performed if the clinical need arises and the patient is well hydrated.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1991

CT nephrogram in acute obstructive uropathy.

Computed tomography (CT) of acutely obstructed kidneys secondary to stone disease demonstrated that approximately two thirds of these patients showed a mottled nephrogram in contrast to 6% at urography, where the nephrogram was seen as the previously reported striated nephrogram. Mottled nephrograms are better and more frequently shown at CT than at urographic imaging.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Autourethrography.

"Autourethrography," a technique of retrograde urethrography in which the patient injects the contrast material, was used on 22 patients. The results of the study were compared with the results of nonemergency retrograde urethrography performed on 22 patients during an earlier 1-year period. The following observations of the autourethrography group were made. Patient tolerance was enhanced, with less discomfort and anxiety. There was no extravasation of contrast material outside the urethra, compared with extravasation in three of 22 patients (14%) in the control group for whom conventional techniques were used. Retrograde opacification of the posterior urethra was achieved in 20 of 22 patients (91%) in the autourethrography group, compared with 13 of 22 patients (59%) in the control group. Radiation exposure to the examining radiologist was eliminated. Autourethrography is a technique that has important benefits for both the radiologist and the patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The role of radiology in evaluation of the failing renal transplantation.

Renal allograft transplantation frequently is the optimal treatment for patients in renal failure. This review discusses the current status of renal transplantation, emphasizing the medical and surgical processes that can interfere with normal renal function. Although many insults to the renal allograft are nonspecific, a logical approach to the identification of the decrease in renal function and appropriate treatment can be suggested by some imaging procedures.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1990

Anomalous systemic and pulmonary venous pathways diagnosed in utero by ultrasound.

Anomalies of systemic and pulmonary venous return are found as either isolated lesions or as part of a complex cardiac malformation. Specifically, these venous pathway malformations are associated frequently with the cardiac defects in asplenia or polysplenia. This report describes the prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of both anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage in three late gestation fetuses with a splenic syndrome and complex congenital heart disease. In addition, the utility of color-flow Doppler as an aid in making the diagnosis is emphasized.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Correlation of experimental rCBF determinations in goats with flow measurements from a Doppler-modified carotid artery shunt.

A carotid artery shunt system has been developed that continuously monitors blood flow rates by embedding a Doppler crystal in the shunt wall. The crystal ranges through a "liquid lens" that enables it to be placed without violation of the shunt lumen. Because the crystal is at a fixed angle (45 degrees) to the axis of blood flow and the diameter of the lumen remains constant, a linear relationship exists between flow rates and the Doppler velocity signal. This shunt system was previously tested in vitro using a pulsatile pump and was found to be accurate to within 4.7% of the actual flow rate. In the present study, animal (goat) experiments were performed consisting of simultaneous carotid shunt flow and bilateral rCBF measurements by the radiolabeled microsphere technique to determine in vivo the accuracy of this Doppler modified shunt and to ascertain the ability of shunt flow to increase in the face of acute contralateral carotid occlusion. Data from five animals show that in vivo shunt flow can be recorded to within 13% of control rCBF and that shunt flow increases nearly 50% under conditions of distal demand (contralateral carotid occlusion). This device may prove useful in laboratory studies of carotid shunt dynamics and in clinical practice to quickly detect correctable shunt flow abnormalities.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of associations to vowel speech sounds by English and Spanish speakers.

Many psycholinguists have studied associations to vowel speech sounds. It appears that associations involving brightness and size are related to the manner in which the vowels are articulated. That is, high front vowels are judged to be bright and small, and low back vowels are judged to be dim and large. In an extension of a study by Greenberg and Jenkins (1966), 40 English-speaking and 40 Spanish-speaking adults rated nine audiotaped vowel sounds on 23 dimensions. The front-back distinction was again found for both groups. In addition, ratings for all nine vowels were similar for the two groups, which has implications for the cross-cultural universality of these associations.

Association↗
PubMed1978

Unusual pelvic complications of a pancreatic pseudocyst.

Pancreatic pseudocysts are notorious for their extension beyond the normal confines of the pancreatic bed. Their inferior extension has been known to involve kidney and ureter. However, involvement of the bladder and rectum is unique although understandable on anatomic grounds. We report an enormous pseudocyst with extension deep into the pelvis to displace both rectum and bladder.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Hemangiomas of the liver in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Five patients with renal cell carcinoma were noted at angiography to have vascular hepatic lesions which resembled metastatic renal cell carcinoma but which proved to be benign hepatic hemangiomas. The angiographic differentiation between small hemangiomas and metastatic vascular neoplasms of the liver can be difficult; angiographic characteristics may not be definitive. Surgery to remove the renal tumor should not be deferred solely on the basis of vascular hepatic lesions found at angiography.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1977

Wandering spleen--the radiological and clinical spectrum.

Eight cases of wandering spleen demonstrate that this rare entity has a characteristic constellation of findings which, though nonspecific, are highly suggestive of the diagnosis. Angiography or isotopic imaging specific for the spleen confirms the diagnosis. Asymptomatic patients may be carefully observed, with the institution of splenectomy should signs of torsion develop.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Reticular neovascularity in malignant and inflammatory renal masses.

Experienced angiographers were asked to differentiate malignancy from inflammatory disease on arteriograms of 37 renal masses containing fine reticular neovascularity, as opposed to the coarser, more irregular vessels typical of hypernephroma. The rate of accuracy was only 58%. Distribution of vessels chiefly around the periphery of the mass was associated with a diagnosis of inflammatory disease in all 6 patients with this finding; this was the sole criterion which proved to be helpful in making the distinction. The authors feel that when arteriography reveals reticular neovascularity, differentiation between malignant and inflammatory renal masses may be difficult or impossible and that the term "tumor vascularity" should be avoided in such situations.

Diagnosis, Differential↗