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Biomedical subjects

John A Hall

Publications and source records attributed to John A Hall.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The value of digital rectal examination as a predictor of prostate cancer diagnosis among United States Veterans referred for prostate biopsy.

BACKGROUND: As digital rectal examination (DRE) remains an essential part of a routine physical examination, it is important to understand its diagnostic value in different circumstances. AIM: To quantify sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of DRE as a predictor of biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer in the US Veteran population. METHODS: The study group included 628 consecutive patients who underwent transrectal biopsy for suspected prostate cancer due to abnormal digital examination of the prostate, elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) or both. The DRE results reported in this study are documented during physical examinations that were performed after referral for biopsy. The relation between DRE results and positive biopsy was examined while taking into consideration demographic and clinical patient characteristics. RESULTS: Among men with normal PSA the adjusted odds ratio (OR) reflecting the association between abnormal DRE and positive prostate biopsy was 0.53 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) from 0.27 to 1.06. In the presence of a moderately elevated (4.1-10 ng/mL) PSA, the OR was 1.07 (0.72-1.60). When serum PSA exceeded 10 ng/mL, the OR was 2.15 (1.12-4.43). The positive predictive value of an abnormal DRE varied widely from as high as 81% to as low as 14% depending on the other patient characteristics. DISCUSSION: These results indicate that DRE results are most informative when evaluated in conjunction with other clinical and demographic information.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Role of transrectal ultrasonography in diagnosis and treatment of retained Foley catheter.

Retention of Foley balloon in the bladder or urethra is a troublesome complication that presents a challenge to the urologist. We describe a complicated case of Foley catheter balloon retention (and trauma) within the urethra in an orthopedic patient undergoing hemiarthroplasty. The Foley balloon failed to deflate with standard methods. We used transrectal ultrasonography to successfully diagnose and manage the case.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Morphology of the prometamorphic larva of the spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus intermontanus (Anura: Pelobatidae), with an emphasis on the lateral line system and mouthparts.

We provide a detailed description of the larval morphology of the Great Basin spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus intermontanus), a species with documented morphological variability in larval structures associated with feeding. We based our findings on laboratory-raised individuals fed a herbivorous diet. We characterized the morphology of the prometamorphic larva (limited to developmental stages 37 and 38) and then related our findings to the larval ecology of the species. Based on its morphology, such as slightly depressed body, dorsally positioned eyes, anteroventrally oriented oral disc, intermediate tail fin height and slightly attenuated tail tip, relative lack of ventral neuromasts (compared to Xenopus laevis), and pigmentation banding patterns, and habits, such as selection of breeding sites by adults and larval foraging behavior, S. intermontanus can be characterized best as belonging to a (lentic-) benthic guild of anuran larvae. Nevertheless, the larvae are capable of occupying a broader array of ecological niches. Because we characterized individuals raised on a herbivorous diet, our morphological descriptions apply only to the herbivorous S. intermontanus larva (and perhaps to those larvae that are dietary generalists and may feed carnivorously only infrequently). Our findings can serve as a baseline for future morphological and developmental comparisons with the carnivorous morphological variant of this species.

Animals↗