Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Chow.
This paper documents the rehabilitation of newly reconstructed thumb using five different techniques of creating a new thumb. We have attempted to assess the functional usefulness that each method offers to the recipient hand.
Of 106 consecutive women referred for secondary amenorrhea of more than 1 year's duration, 65 were diagnosed as having functional amenorrhea. Of these 65, 29 had amenorrhea directly following discontinuation of oral contraceptives (OC group) and 36 had never used oral contraceptives (NOC group). There was no difference in the incidence of prior menstrual irregularity in either group. Similarly, there was no difference in the resting serum estrone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin levels between the OC and NOC groups. Nor was there a difference between the OC and NOC groups in response to medroxyprogesterone acetate, clomiphene citrate, or luteinizing hormone-releasing factor. Of 106 patients, 17 were proven to have prolactinomas. Eight patients had a prior history of OC use, whereas nine did not. With the exception of elevated serum prolactin levels, there were no significant differences in biochemical tests or history of oral contraceptive use between the prolactinoma group and patients with prolonged "functional" amenorrhea (OC plus NOC groups). The lack of historical or biochemical difference between the OC and NOC subjects indicates homogeneity between groups, and does not support the existence of a "postpill" syndrome.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We previously showed that a percutaneous arteriovenous gas exchanger was effective in removing CO2 and reversing respiratory failure in an ovine model of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) produced by smoke inhalation and burn injury (Alpard et al., Ann Surg 230:215-224, 1999). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that arteriovenous CO2 removal (AVCO2R) lessened endogenous inflammation in the lung. Myeloperoxidase activity, aquaporin-1 (AQP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNAs as well as aquaporin-1, and IL-8 protein were measured in ovine lung tissue. Lung tissue was taken at 96 h (time of sacrifice) from animals with combined smoke inhalation and 40% third degree dermal burn and subsequently treated with AVCO2R or sham (ventilator alone) after onset of ARDS (PaO2:FiO2 ratio of < 200). Myeloperoxidase activity was 1.862 +/- 0.302 U/mg protein in the ventilator group and 0.830 +/- 0.141 in the AVCO2R plus ventilator group. AQP-1 mRNA was 140,482 +/- 31,702 copies/microg total RNA in the ventilator group and 61,854 +/- 22,433 copies/microg total RNA in the AVCO2R plus ventilator group (p = 0.076). mRNA for IL-8 mRNA in the ventilator alone treated animals was 74,000 +/- 3,300 copies/microg total RNA compared to < 1,000 copies/microg total RNA in the ventilator plus AVCO2R group. This result was highly significant (p < 0.001) Inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA was 7,853 +/- 2,229 copies/microg total RNA for the AVCO2R group and 5,854 +/- 2,070 copies/microg total RNA for the ventilator managed animals. These differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.54). Percutaneous AVCO2R produced a specific decrease in IL-8 in the smoke and burn injured animals. Furthermore, this effect was consistent with cell signaling mechanisms that increase the expression of IL-8 by cyclic stretching and the observed reduction in the number of neutrophils in the lung parenchyma. Therefore, we speculate that the mechanism by which CO2 removal exerts a beneficial effect may be due to both decreases in ventilatory requirements, with an accompanying reduction in alveolar stretching, and reduction of neutrophil numbers in lung tissue.
A tool for assessing the suitability of candidates for home dialysis (Jo-Pre-training Assessment Tool--JPAT) was developed. JPAT acts as a screening instrument to identify suitable candidates for the home dialysis programme, and therefore increases a patient's chance of learning to manage the programme. JPAT is in the form of an interview questionnaire consisting of 38 assessment items in six domains: physical stability, nutritional status, communication, ability to maintain self-care, psychological suitability and social support. A pilot study was conducted (n = 20, 1996-1997) using a descriptive study design, with subjects randomly selected from an existing dialysis programme. Pearson correlation and 2-tailed tests were employed to explore the relationship between the assessment outcome (i.e. the initial JPAT scores) and the follow up data (i.e. data collected within the seven days following the initial JPAT assessment). Many of the variables attained statistical significance (p < 0.05). The inter-rater reliability was calculated at an average Kappa value of 0.909. Overall, results suggest that JPAT is sufficiently reliable to be used as a tool for assessing patients who suffer from ESRD.
A tool for assessing the suitability of candidates for home dialysis (Jo-Pre-training Assessment Tool version 2.1 - JPAT) was developed, pilot-tested at one hospital and field-tested at two major teaching hospitals in Sydney. JPAT acts as a screening instrument to distinguish suitable candidates for the home dialysis programme, identifying patients with the greatest chance of learning to manage the programme. This study included an interview/test of home dialysis patients based on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36). JPAT version 2.1 is in the form of an interview questionnaire consisting of 38 assessment items in six domains: physical stability, nutritional status, communication ability, ability to maintain self-care, psychological suitability and social support. Overall, results suggest that JPAT version 2.1 is sufficiently reliable to be used as a tool for assessing patients who suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and to identify patients most likely to succeed in a home dialysis programme.
Injury to the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery is a well recognized and dreaded complication of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Little information, however, has been presented in the Otolaryngology literature regarding the etiology, prevention, or treatment of this complication. The purpose of this study is to present a case report of a cavernous carotid artery injury during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Relevant anatomy, preventive measures, and treatment approaches are discussed for this difficult problem.
Learning only occurs when one is ready to learn and involves a wide range of intellectual skills. A pre-training assessment is the foundation for all client care activities, especially for the success of a home training programme. This paper discusses the process of the development of a pre-training assessment tool for home dialysis, which acts as a screening instrument to identify suitable candidates for the home dialysis programme, and therefore serves to reinforce the chance of success with the learning.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
For many conditions CPM can provide better results than good surgical technique alone. CPM was first used for flexor tendon repairs. More recently, its use has been extended to operations on extensor tendons, tenolysis, joint reconstruction, and the treatment of intraarticular fractures, burned hands, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and crush injuries of the hand. New portable CPM machines have permitted an increase in the effective therapy time patients may receive. This article compared three different CPM machines and described two treatment protocols for early passive movement of the hand after operations on the tendons.
Changes between 1972 and 1982 in the use of in-hospital services were studied for 164 patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. Resource use was measured in constant 1982 dollars adjusted for differences in clinical severity of the patients. Although average length of stay decreased by almost 40% during this period, the number of physician services doubled and total physician costs increased almost threefold. The increase in physician costs was due primarily to the use of complex diagnostic technologies and to the provision of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The results of this study suggest that as hospital costs are constrained by prospective payment, physician costs may continue to rise as new diagnostic and therapeutic services are introduced into practice and as more care is shifted to the outpatient setting.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.