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Biomedical subjects

J Albin

Publications and source records attributed to J Albin.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Semirigid instrumentation in the management of lumbar spinal conditions combined with circumferential fusion. A multicenter study.

STUDY DESIGN: Patients with the diagnosis of degenerative disc conditions or spondylolisthesis undergoing circumferential fusion with posterior pedicle screw fixation using a semirigid rod were reviewed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of this approach in achieving a spinal fusion and satisfactory clinical outcome, and to determine the complications associated with the procedure. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The use of instrumentation to stabilize the lumbar motion segments and thereby enhance the fusion rate has been proposed in a number of studies. Semirigid fixation was believed to be effective in achieving these objectives without concern for stress-shielding, which was suggested by some authors using rigid fixation systems. METHODS: Patients who required spinal fusion with anterior and posterior approaches because of specific lumbar pathology or previous surgeries were selected. The surgery consisted of an anterior interbody fusion using allograft, followed by a posterolateral fusion and pedicle screw fixation. Fusion was determined by continuity of trabecular bridging, and outcomes were determined by pain reduction and return to previous levels of activity. Fusion was considered solid if the two posterolateral areas were fused (Zones one and two), if the anterior interbody area was fused (Zone three), or if all three zones were fused. Complications were documented during and after surgery. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent of patients had previous surgery with 25% of these patients having a diagnosis of pseudarthrosis. Fifty-five percent of patients had two or more levels fused, and 43% were heavy smokers. Ninety-seven percent of patients had successful fusions. Pain was significantly reduced on a pain analogue scale from 7.1 to 2.1 in the back and from 5.8 to 1.5 in the leg (p < 0.006 and 0.0001, respectively). Fifty-nine percent of patients returned to their previous level of activity, and 18% returned to lighter work or job retraining, for a total of 77% returning to the same or lighter levels of activity. Complications included metal failure, 4.9%; neurologic deficit, 1.2%; deep infection, 1.2%; deep venous thrombosis, 4.9%; and vascular injury, 2.4%. Fatal pulmonary embolus occurred in one patient. CONCLUSION: This technique produces a satisfactory fusion rate (97%) and a good clinical outcome based on pain reduction and return to a satisfactory level of activity (77%). It is associated with few, but significant, complications that compare well with other reported series in a difficult group of patients. This procedure should be reserved for patients who are considered to be at high risk for not achieving spinal fusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Hyporegenerative anemia associated with intrauterine transfusion in rhesus hemolytic disease.

Serial erythropoietin and ferritin levels were monitored in a fetus and newborn requiring three intravascular transfusions (in utero) for severe Rh disease. The newborn had a hematocrit of 37% at birth; however a hyporegenerative transfusion-dependent anemia developed and lasted approximately 3 months. The prolonged hyporegenerative anemia may be caused in part by erythropoietin suppression as a result of the fetal intravascular transfusions. In addition, anti-D antibody may also contribute to this anemia by a direct toxic effect on erythroid precursors and by peripheral hemolysis of reticulocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Computed tomography of rectal and perirectal disease in AIDS patients.

Twenty-eight homosexual men with Kaposi sarcoma as part of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS-related KS) and 2 homosexual men without AIDS were examined with abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT). Abnormalities of the rectum and perirectal areas were seen in 8 of the 30 patients on CT examination. Endoscopy and biopsy of the colon in these 8 cases revealed inflammatory changes in 6 patients and KS in 2. The CT abnormalities were not specific for inflammatory disease or tumor, and endoscopy with biopsy was necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Malignant melanoma: correlating abdominal and pelvic CT with clinical staging.

Two hundred two patients with malignant melanoma underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning of the abdomen and pelvis. The frequency of metastases in the abdomen and pelvis was correlated with the site, level, and thickness of the primary tumor. The sites of the primary tumors were the trunk (70 patients), the lower extremities (37 patients), the upper extremities (33 patients), the head and neck (29 patients), the eye (nine patients), and the genitourinary tract (six patients). In 18 patients, the primary site could not be identified. In 96 patients, the level and thickness of the primary tumor, based on Clark and Breslow classifications, were correlated with the presence and extent of metastases. CT showed metastases in 122 patients (60%). The head and neck were the most common primary sites associated with metastases (79%), followed by the eye (77%) and genitourinary tract (67%). Thick lesions had the highest frequency of metastases (84%), compared with intermediate (50%) and thin (46%) lesions. Tumors classified as Clark level V had the highest frequency of metastases (87%).

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

Thyrotoxicosis in the very old.

The records of 25 patients older than 75 years of age with the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism were reviewed. The mean age of the group (22 women and three men) was 81.5 years, the eldest being 95 years old. Twenty-one patients had Graves' disease, three had multinodular goiter, and one had toxic adenoma. Major presenting symptoms included weight loss (44 percent), palpitations (36 percent), and weakness (32 percent). The average number of thyrotoxic symptoms was only two per patient. Two patients were asymptomatic. Clinical signs included fine skin (40 percent), tremor (36 percent), atrial fibrillation (32 percent), and tachycardia (28 percent). The thyroid was palpable in only three patients with Graves' disease. Mean blood thyroxine level was 15.6 micrograms/dl (range, 11.5 to 24); blood triiodothyronine level was elevated in only half of the patients. One patient had triiodothyronine toxicosis. Mean 24-hour radioiodine uptake was 52 percent. Five patients had normal uptake. No correlation could be established between age, clinical symptoms, signs, and hormone blood levels. Because signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism in the very old may be too subtle for clinical diagnosis, all elderly subjects should have periodic screening of blood thyroxine levels.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of carriage rates of group B streptococcus in diabetic and nondiabetic persons.

In several published studies, diabetic persons appeared to be at increased risk for Group B streptococcal disease. Since colonization with pathogens frequently antedates disease, the authors studied the carriage rate of Group B streptococcus in 38 diabetic and in 39 nondiabetic age- and sex-matched subjects. Fifty-four per cent of the controls and 34% of the diabetics carried Group B streptococci in at least one of five sites cultured (p less than 0.05). The data indicate that an increased carriage rate of Group B streptococci cannot be invoked as a reason for the increased numbers of diabetic persons among patients with Group B streptococcal infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary function in polyostotic fibrous dysplasia.

Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction was found in two patients with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and leontiasis ossea. Both patients probably had McCune--Albright syndrome with early sexual development, disfiguring craniofacial bone lesions, cutaneous hyperpigmentation and gigantism in childhood. Endocrinological studies revealed measurable plasma growth hormone throughout a 24-h sampling period with preservation of sleep augmented rises. The mean 24-h values were 329 and 7 ng/ml, respectively. Both their mean plasma prolactin concentrations, 385 and 45 ng/ml, and the 24-h secretory patterns of prolactin were abnormal. One patient had an elevated mean plasma cortisol concentration of 8.5 micrograms/dl but the 24-h pattern of cortisol secretion was normal. Basal plasma LH, FSH, TSH, T4 and T3 concentrations were normal but neither patient had a TSH response to TRH. Prolactin and growth hormone secretions were, however, increased after TRH. Oral glucose resulted in partial suppression of GH but an exaggerated insulin response in both patients. Post-mortem in one patient revealed a thick calvarium with bony encasement of the pituitary gland. The pituitary and hypothalamus appeared normal on gross, light microscopic and electronmicroscopic examination. These data strongly suggest the presence of hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in these two patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Hypoglycemia in chronic hemodialysis patients: association with propranolol use.

We have observed six episodes of severe symptomatic hypoglycemia in 5 nondiabetic patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. The common factor in all 5 patients was propranolol administration for the treatment of hypertension. This observation suggests that beta-adrenergic blockade may cause profound hypoglycemia in dialyzed patients with other predisposing factors such as poor nutrition, liver dysfunction or stress. On the basis of our experience, we recommend blood sugar determinations for propranolol-treated patients during dialysis against glucose-free dialysate.

Adult↗