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Biomedical subjects

L Bolt

Publications and source records attributed to L Bolt.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of polypropylene prostheses for strangulated inguinal and incisional hernias.

We used monofilament polypropylene prostheses in 20 emergency operations for strangulated hernias. Sixteen of the operated patients had groin hernias (five of them recurrent), two had incisional and one had a Spigel's type hernia. Intestinal resection was performed because of bowel wall necrosis in one of the patients. During the postoperative period, we observed only one minor complication (a seroma formation). During the follow-up, no recurrence was observed. In our opinion, the use of monofilament polypropylene mesh in emergency hernia operations is safe, simple and effective.

Aged↗

A technique for manual definition of an irregular volume of interest in single photon emission computed tomography.

A technique is described for manually outlining a volume of interest (VOI) in a three-dimensional SPECT dataset. Regions of interest (ROIs) are drawn on three orthogonal maximum intensity projections. Image masks based on these ROIs are backprojected through the image volume and the resultant 3D dataset is segmented to produce the VOI. The technique has been successfully applied in the exclusion of unwanted areas of activity adjacent to the brain when segmenting the organ in SPECT imaging using 99mTc HMPAO. An example of its use for segmentation in tumour imaging is also presented. The technique is of value for applications involving semi-automatic VOI definition in SPECT.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

[Colonization with group B streptococcus in pregnant women taken into the care of unit K and hospitalized in the department of obstetric pathology].

Colonization with group B streptococci (GBS) in 714 pregnant women was investigated. Among 232 were hospitalised in department of pathological pregnancy and 512 were under ambulatory control. In 13.4% of hospitalised patients and 2.8% healthy pregnant women the colonization of vagina or throat with GBS was stated. The greatest percentage of vagina colonization was found in patients hospitalised in connection with gestosis or because of abortions, premature delivery and inanimate fetus. No correlation was found between range of GBS colonization and trimester of pregnancy. Almost all GBS strains proved to be susceptible for commonly used antibiotics but resistant to biseptol (88.2%). Patients of hospitalised group were more often colonized not only GBS but also other potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

Ambulatory Care↗

Home detoxification from alcohol: its safety and efficacy in comparison with inpatient care.

The safety and short-term effectiveness of home detoxification (HD) was investigated by contrasting rates of treatment completion and of complications of 41 service users with those of a retrospectively matched inpatient comparison group. The latter comprised patients of a detoxification unit matched for age, sex and degree of alcohol dependence with HD subjects. HD subjects had severe problems with alcohol--they averaged 28.7 on the SADQ, 4.6 serious alcohol-related problems in the previous 2 months, a GGT of 123.8 and 174.6 reported units of alcohol consumed in the week before treatment. A high follow-up rate was achieved for both HD subjects and their relatives; there was close agreement between clients' reports, carers' reports and breathalyser readings with regard to further alcohol consumption. The HD subjects were visited at home an average of 6.9 times over 6.15 days. Chlormethiazole was prescribed in 36 cases at an average maximum daily dose of 6.3 capsules--significantly fewer than for the inpatient group. Both rates of completion and complication were virtually identical in the 2 groups. It is concluded that these data suggest HD is equivalent in both its safety and immediate efficacy to more expensive inpatient care.

Adult↗

Home detoxification for problem drinkers: acceptability to clients, relatives, general practitioners and outcome after 60 days.

The value of a new Home Detoxification service was assessed in a variety of ways employing data collected from 41 clients of the service, their family and GP's. By 60 days from the start of treatment, 11 clients were abstinent, two were controlling their drinking with relatively few problems, 13 had 'improved', 14 were not 'improved' and one had an unknown outcome. Subsequent involvement in treatment by both clients and their partners was high in comparison with other studies. Significant predictors of 'Good' outcome included attendance for after-care by client and by spouse/partner and a low Alcohol Problems Inventory score. High levels of satisfaction were expressed with the HD service by clients, their carers and GP's. The great majority of clients gave 'home' as their preferred place of treatment and nearly half claimed they would have been unwilling to accept hospital care. There was evidence of significant, though modest, shifts in GP's management practices towards less use of hospitals and greater use of the patient's home after 15 months of the programme.

Adult↗