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Biomedical subjects

L Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to L Ferguson.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Casemix update.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1991

Intracarotid saline infusion improves outcome from incomplete ischemia in rats.

Previous studies suggest that rheological changes associated with ischemia may produce postischemic hypoperfusion. We tested whether intracarotid or intravenous infusions of saline improve neurological outcome from incomplete cerebral ischemia in rats. Rats were anesthetized with 1.4% isoflurane in air, and ischemia was produced by unilateral carotid artery ligation combined with hemorrhagic hypotension to 30 mm Hg for 30 minutes. Intracarotid (n = 10) or intravenous (n = 10) saline infusion (0.3 ml/min) decreased hematocrit 20% compared with control rats (n = 10). Neurological outcome was significantly improved in rats infused with intracarotid (p less than 0.05) but not intravenous saline during ischemia without a change in brain temperature. Cerebral blood flow, measured in a separate study using laser Doppler flowmetry (n = 5), decreased 70% (p less than 0.01) during carotid ligation and hypotension but was not changed by intracarotid saline infusion (p greater than 0.30). These results show that perfusion of ischemic brain with saline improves outcome by factors not related to changes in hematocrit, brain temperature, or intraischemic tissue blood flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Subarachnoid hemorrhage in sickle-cell disease.

The neurological complications of sickle-cell disease include cerebral intracerebral hemorrhage; subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been infrequently reported. Among 325 patients with sickle-cell disease followed at the University of Illinois between 1975 and 1989, 11 cases of SAH were identified. Aneurysms were found in 10 of these patients, three of whom had multiple aneurysms. All of the patients had some degree of anemia and nine underwent craniotomy without hematological or neurological complications. From this review it appears that SAH is not uncommon in sickle-cell disease patients and tends to occur at a younger age and with smaller aneurysm size than in the general population. With proper perioperative management, including exchange transfusions to reduce the proportion of hemoglobin S to less than 30%, these patients can undergo angiography and craniotomy without an increased incidence of complications. The techniques used in managing sickle-cell disease patients with SAH are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Monitoring mutagenicity in urine and peripheral blood lymphocytes of pharmacists occupationally exposed to anticancer drugs.

Two approaches to mutagenicity monitoring were compared for estimation of possible absorption of cytotoxic drugs by a group of six pharmacists at Auckland Hospital. Blood samples were taken before and after a three week duty roster, from age and sex matched negative controls, and from a matched group of patients on chemotherapy. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were fixed, stained and analysed for sister chromatid exchange (SCE). Urine samples were collected from the pharmacists on the morning following their last day on cytotoxic dispensing duty, as well as from positive and negative controls. Samples were concentrated and analysed for mutagenicity in the bacterial Ames test. Comparison of negative control groups with the pharmacists using either of these test measures gave no evidence for significant absorption of cytotoxics by the pharmacist group as a whole, although values for the positive control groups were raised significantly in a similar comparison. The value for SCE of one pharmacist however, was elevated in the second sample (after three weeks dispensing duty) when compared with the first sample (before duty) and the urine analysis also suggested that this individual might have absorbed some mutagens. The results permit a comparison of these techniques as a means of ongoing monitoring of similar populations within New Zealand.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1990

"Instant-mix" whole brain photon with neutron boost radiotherapy for malignant gliomas.

From July 1985 through March 1987, 44 consecutive patients with supratentorial, nonmetastatic anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) were treated with whole brain photon irradiation with concomitant neutron boost at the University of Chicago. All patients had biopsy proven disease and surgery ranged from biopsy to total gross excision. Whole brain photon radiation was given at 1.5 Gy per fraction, 5 days weekly for a total dose of 45 Gy in 6 weeks. Neutron boost radiation was prescribed to a target minimum dose that included the pre-surgical CT tumor volume plus 1 cm margin. Neutrons were administered 5-20 minutes prior to photon radiation twice weekly and a total dose of 5.2 Gyn gamma was administered over 6 weeks. Median follow-up was 36 months. The median survival was 40.3 months for anaplastic astrocytoma (10 patients) and 11 months for glioblastoma multiforme (34 patients) and 12 months for the overall group. Variables that predicted longer median survival included histology (AA vs. GBM), age (less than or equal to 39 years vs. older), and extent of surgery (total gross or partial excision vs. biopsy) whereas tumor size and Karnofsky performance status did not have a significant influence. The median survival of the anaplastic astrocytoma group was better than expected compared to the RTOG 80-07 study (a dose-finding study of similar design to this study) and historical data. Reasons for this are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Eosinophilic granuloma of the second cervical vertebra.

The occurrence of eosinophilic granuloma in the body of the second cervical vertebra of a young adult male is presented. The necessity of making a histologic diagnosis and prevention of vertebral instability led to operative intervention. Treatment consisted of posterior fixation of the spinous processes of the second and third cervical vertebrae with size 0 wire. Through a transoral approach the lesion was curetted, and bone chips were placed in the vertebral defect. The patient remains well, and disease-free, after 36 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Acute hemorrhagic cerebellar infarction following angiography.

Cerebellar infarction following cerebral angiography is an unusual complication. A case is reported. The patient's condition deteriorated with each diagnostic study. Improvement occurred after cerebellar decompression and evacuation of an intracerebellar hematoma.

Cerebellar Diseases↗