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Biomedical subjects

J J Somerville

Publications and source records attributed to J J Somerville.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Pain tolerance threshold: a pilot study of an objective measurement of spinal cord stimulator trial results.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of objective measurements of the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial results, which leads to increased number of failed permanent placements. Certain modes of sensory functions were tested as possible correlates with trial success. DESIGN: A convenience sample of 44 patients undergoing SCS trial underwent current perception threshold (CPT), pain perception threshold (PPT) and pain tolerance threshold (PTT) testing before and after the procedure. PPT and PTT were also recorded twice at the same period of time in 9 volunteers. RESULTS: PPT, but not PTT, showed an unacceptably high level of intra-individual variability in volunteers. CPT measurements did not produce significant changes after SCS use. PTT not only showed significant changes after SCS trial, but also correlated with the results of the trial and success of the permanent implantation. CONCLUSION: PTT may possibly serve as an objective measurement of the SCS trial outcome.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Mitomycin C in superficial bladder cancer: 24-month follow-up.

Twenty-three patients who were given intravesical Mitomycin C for treatment of superficial bladder cancer have been followed up for a further 12 and 24 months after an initial assessment 5 weeks after completing therapy. At 5 weeks 17 (74%) showed complete disappearance of tumour and 4 (17%) showed a partial response. Twelve months later 8 (35%) remained tumour-free and 15 (65%) had recurrences; 5 of these (22% of all patients) had progressed to invasive cancer. The results at 24 months were little different except that one further patient (27% in all) progressed to invasive cancer. Six patients with symptomatic carcinoma in situ became symptom-free after Mitomycin C, but despite remaining free of symptoms three have progressed to invasive cancer. This small series shows that involvement of large areas of bladder urothelium by tumour, carcinoma in situ and previous therapy for tumour are unfavourable prognostic indices.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1985

Long-term results of two-stage urethroplasty.

Forty-two patients undergoing a two-stage urethroplasty for stricture were reviewed and the long-term sequelae of 30 patients followed up for a minimum period of 1 year (mean 6.3, range 1-14) are presented. Twenty-six patients (87%) were considerably improved, with only minor or no symptoms. Three patients (10%) continued to require treatment for urethral stone or recurrence of stricture and one patient was incontinent. The stricture was eradicated in 28 patients (93%). The late sequelae showed that perineal fistula may not develop until 2 years after the second-stage repair, urethral stone formation until 8 years and recurrence of stricture until 12 years after the second stage. This late onset of sequelae emphasises the importance of long-term follow-up in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Segmental ureteric replacement: an animal study using a free non-pedicled graft.

An animal study has been carried out on 3 baboons to assess the feasibility of replacing a damaged segment of ureter with a free, non-pedicled, full thickness graft. A 3 cm segment was excised from the middle third of one ureter from each baboon and the free graft (buccal mucosa) fashioned into a tube and interposed between the cut ends in order to replace the excised segment. The grafts were left in situ for up to 10 weeks and their subsequent fate studied radiologically, histologically and by gross specimen examination. The results showed that in all cases perfect viability of the graft was maintained and there was no evidence of graft shrinkage or of loss of patency. In one instance a stricture developed at the mid point of the graft, but this was entirely explicable on technical grounds. Urine drainage was not impaired on account of the insertion of a muscle-free (and therefore aperistaltic) segment into the ureter.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Whitaker revisited.

Perfusion studies of the upper urinary tract have been associated (in our hands) with poor reproducibility during repeated studies carried out at the same sitting. In an attempt to overcome this, a fundamental modification of the Whitaker technique has been devised whereby, instead of measuring renal pelvis pressure during constant flow infusion, the flow rate has been measured during constant pressure infusion. The 2 techniques have been compared in a study carried out in normal ureters in anaesthetised dogs. The modified technique not only dispenses with the sophisticated equipment required for this test, but gives results which are more reproducible. In addition, it was noted that the modified technique allowed greater flow rates for given pressure measurements than was possible with the standard Whitaker test. It is thought that these findings are related to the effects of motor-driven syringe pumps, difficulty in data interpretation in some cases with Whitaker's test, and the stretch response of ureteric smooth muscle which may be excessively stimulated during the Whitaker test.

Animals↗