Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M A Hurrell.
A case of malignant granular cell tumour of the sciatic nerve is presented. Computed tomography demonstrated isodensity with muscle and minimal enhancement. Magnetic resonance demonstrated T1 isointensity with muscle with marked enhancement, and isointensity with fat on proton and T2 images. Pathological evidence is presented for its probable Schwann cell histogenesis.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Gallbladder contraction was measured by ultrasound, using the sum-of-cylinders method, as part of a study of the effects of lipid-lowering drugs. Although this method of measurement has been validated in the literature, paired measurements were obtained to provide an additional check on reproducibility. METHODS: A total of 136 pairs of gallbladder measurements were made on 17 patients using the sum-of-cylinders method of calculating gallbladder volume. Each pair comprised a left posterior oblique and a supine measurement performed at the same ultrasound examination to assess measurement error. RESULTS: There was a large average coefficient of variation of 21%. CONCLUSIONS: Marked measurement variability limited the ability of the sum-of-cylinders technique to detect even modest alterations in gallbladder contractility, at least in this population subgroup.
Some barium enema kits are manufactured with two-part enema tips, enabling a cuff to be placed on the tip only if required. Difficulty can be experienced during enema tip assembly while attempting to place the cuff on the tip. A readily available gadget used in the farming sector provides a neat and cost-effective solution to this problem.
The beneficial effect of correcting anemia in end stage renal failure using recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is sometimes complicated by thrombosis of the arteriovenous fistula. This placebo-controlled study investigated the relationship between hemorheological changes caused by rHuEPO and alterations in fistula function and heparin requirements in home hemodialysis patients. Erythropoietin induced a rise in high shear rate blood viscosity, a determinant of blood flow in large vessels. Doppler assessment of brachial artery blood flows, tests of fistula function and heparin requirements were similar in the two patient groups. These findings indicate that rHuEPO treatment of renal anemia resulted in the expected rise in red blood cell mass and blood viscosity although these changes did not cause problems with arteriovenous access or alter fistula function in the short term.
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Female non-insulin-dependent diabetics have a high prevalence of gallstones. Treatment of hyperlipidaemia in these patients may modify the risk. Seventeen female non-insulin-dependent diabetics (age 35-65) were treated with simvastatin (n = 10) or bezafibrate (n = 7) and had the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) of bile and gall-bladder emptying measured before and after 3 months therapy. In both groups, there was a significant reduction in serum cholesterol following treatment. The mean pretreatment cholesterol saturation indices of bile did not differ between the two groups but, after 3 months therapy, there was a highly significant difference in CSI between the bezafibrate group (2.0 +/- 0.33) and the simvastatin group (1.1 +/- 0.14) P < 0.002. Whereas the increase in the CSI (42%) observed with bezafibrate therapy was significant, the decrease in the simvastatin group (14%) was only significant in those whose pretreatment cholesterol saturation indices were elevated. Despite the differences in CSI observed between the two treatment groups, no changes in gall-bladder emptying were detected.