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Biomedical subjects

J C Vuletic

Publications and source records attributed to J C Vuletic.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Immunohistochemical staining for Chlamydia pneumoniae is increased in lung tissue from subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae is increased in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and subjects with COPD are more likely to have a positive polymerase chain reaction for C. pneumoniae in their sputum. It has been suggested that C. pneumoniae may have a role in the pathogenesis of COPD. We undertook immunohistochemistical staining for C. pneumoniae in archival tissue from subjects who had undergone lobectomy for bronchial carcinoma. There were 16 subjects with COPD (FEV(1) = 64 +/- 8% [mean +/- SD] predicted) and 21 subjects with normal lung function (FEV(1) = 95 +/- 11% predicted). There was no difference between the two groups in age or smoking history. Tissues from all of the subjects stained positively for C. pneumoniae, but in the subjects with COPD there were 14.5 positive cells per field (magnification x400), as compared with 9.3 cells per field in the control subjects (p = 0.02). Fifty-four percent of the macrophages from the subjects with COPD stained positively for C. pneumoniae, as compared with 29% from the control subjects (p < 0.001). A second control group consisted of 18 younger individuals (mean age: 32 yr) who died accidentally. Only 44% of these subjects had positive staining for C. pneumoniae, and the mean number of cells per field was 0.4. These findings suggest that persistent infection with C. pneumoniae is common, and that there is increased immunostaining for C. pneumoniae in COPD. Further studies are necessary to determine whether chronic infection with C. pneumoniae is important in the pathogenesis of COPD.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Death certification in Auckland.

AIMS: to investigate the reasons behind general practitioner referral of cases of natural death to the coroner, and also the understanding of general practitioners of the relevant legislation. METHODS: as cases of natural death were referred to the coroner over a seven month period, the deceased's general practitioner was contacted by telephone and questioned regarding his/her knowledge of the death and willingness to sign a cause of death certificate. Based upon this interview, cases were divided according to whether their general practitioner could have signed the death certificate or not. RESULTS: there were 314 cases where there was a contactable general practitioner. In 257 instances, the general practitioner would not have signed the death certificate: 183 found the death unexpected, and 74 had not seen the patient recently enough. In 57 instances the general practitioner would have signed the death certificate, but did not because: 23 were unaware of the death, 13 could not be contacted, 14 did sign a death certificate but this was rejected by the medical referee, and seven would have signed but did not for miscellaneous reasons. CONCLUSION: a disturbing finding was the general lack of understanding of certification legislation in particular the concept that the patient must have been seen in their last illness to be able to sign the death certificate. When signing death certificates, doctors should be thinking in terms of last illness rather than a vague period of time between two weeks and three months.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1992

Homicides in Auckland, New Zealand. A 14-year study.

In the 14-year period from 1976 to 1989, there have been 174 homicide victims in the Auckland colonial area. Data accessed from autopsy and police reports show that victims of marital conflict, family dispute, and arguments developing between nonmarried couples made up the largest proportion of homicide cases. Stabbing and assault with a blunt weapon were the most common causes of death. The data also show that homicide is relatively uncommon in Auckland in comparison with other cities of similar size.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Does advancing age modify the presentation of disease?

A group of patients who had died of either cardiac tamponade due to ruptured myocardial infarct, perforated peptic ulcer, or diverticulitis with perforation were studied to determine the effect that age has on the presentation of these three potentially fatal diseases. With advanced age, a decrease in the number of patients who had symptoms typical for the disease that was ultimately the cause of death was found. We also noted a number of patients who did not experience any symptoms, and some patients who experienced symptoms that were not typical of their disease. In many instances, the disparity between disease severity and symptoms had resulted in the disease not being diagnosed either because the patient did not seek medical advice or because the doctor was unable to make the appropriate diagnosis from the patient's symptoms.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Rapidly progressive calcific periarthritis occurring in a patient with lupus nephritis receiving chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We present a patient who developed rapidly progressive calcific periarthritis while receiving chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. She developed chronic renal failure on the basis of lupus nephritis. Hydroxyapatite crystals were isolated from periarticular deposits and identified using phase contrast light microscopy and electron microscopy. Conservative management using phosphate binding agents and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs was unsuccessful and lesions were excised surgically.

Adult↗