PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Bartos

Publications and source records attributed to M Bartos.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

HIV case loads of Australian GPs. Results of the national survey.

BACKGROUND: This paper presents national survey data concerning the management of HIV positive patients by GPs. OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent and nature of GPs' involvement in the management of patients with HIV/AIDS; to identify their needs for education and support. DISCUSSION: Some GPs have never been consulted by an HIV positive patient, some have no current cases, others have either low or higher case loads. GPs in the first two categories had difficulty maintaining interests and skills in HIV. Those with low case loads recognised limitations in HIV management, relying on the skills of consultants or specialist GPs, and rationalizing CME time according to their current patients. GPs with higher case loads tended to manage full care of their HIV positive patients, to be authorized s100 prescribers, to be members of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, to have attended an HIV specific CME course, and to practise in an inner urban area.

Adult↗

[The treatment of solitary thyroid nodules in non-toxic goiter with 96% ethanol injections].

40 patients (39 women and 1 man) aged 13-66 years (mean 35.9 years) with solitary benign non-toxic thyroid nodule confirmed by clinical and hormonal examination, ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy, were treated with intranodular percutaneous 96% ethanol injection, performed under ultrasound guidance. There were 34 patients with solid nodule (including 4 patients) with solitary nodule in recurrent goitre after thyroidectomy) and 6 patients with cyst. The nodules were 7-60 mm (mean 31 mm) in diameter. 1 ml of ethanol was instilled per 1 cm3 of nodule tissue. 1-5 (mean 2.6) sessions were conducted at one month intervals. The early follow-up evaluation of the results (the evaluation of nodule size by means of clinical and ultrasound examination) was performed after 6 months, and the long-term one after 2 years since the last injection. A morphological evaluation was conducted according to the following scale: 1--nodule disappearance, 2--cicatricial nodule (solid structure in the ultrasonography and less than 0.5 cm in diameter), 3--nodule smaller by [symbol: see text] 50% of initial dimensions, 4--nodule smaller by < 50% of initial dimensions. A final follow-up evaluation revealed: nodule disappearance in 15 (37.5%) patients (Group 1), cicatricial nodule in 10 (25%) patients (Group 2), nodules smaller by [symbol: see text] 50% of initial dimensions in 7 (17.5%) patients (Group 3) and nodules smaller by < 50% of initial dimensions in 8 (20%) patients (Group 4). The results in Group 1 and 2 were defined as good (25 patients--62.5%), in Group 3 as satisfactory (17.5%) and in Group 4 as bad. The results of treatment of cysts and nodules in recurrent goitre were good or satisfactory. The following complications were observed: 1) pain during and after the injection in 29 (72.5%) patients, 2) subfebrile body temperature ap to 38 degrees C in 4 (10%) patients and fever up to 39 degrees C on the 1-st day after the injection in 2 (5%) patients, 3) ecchymosis in 1 (2.5%) patient, 4) temporary dysphonia in 2 (5%) patients, 6) temporary unilateral vocal cord paralysis and temporary Horner syndrome in 1 (2.5%) patient. It seems that percutaneous ethanol injection can be useful treatment method of solitary benign non-toxic thyroid nodules, both cysts and solid nodules, in patients who do not consent to surgical treatment or with contraindications to an operation.

Adolescent↗

Metastasis as the first sign of thyroid cancer.

The aim of this paper is to review our experience with patients who presented with a metastatic tumor in the lymph nodes or other organs as the first sign of thyroid cancer. In 1974-1998, 18 602 patients were operated on due to goitre. There were 975 (5.2%) patients with thyroid malignant neoplasms. The group comprised 449 (46.1%) patients with papillary carcinoma, 309 (31.7%) with follicular carcinoma, 54 (5.5%) with medullary carcinoma, 106 (10.9%) with anaplastic carcinoma, and 57 (5.8%) with other types of thyroid malignant neoplasms. Out of these 975 patients, thyroid cancer was diagnosed on the basis of the detection of a metastatic tumor in 26 (2.7%) patients. In 16 (61.5%) of these patients the metastatic tumor was located in the regional lymph nodes. In 10 (38.5%) patients distant metastasis beyond the regional lymph nodes was the first sign of thyroid cancer. In (50%) patients metastasis was located in the bones, in 2 (20%) in the lung, in 1 (10%) in the heart, in 1 (10%) in the buttock, and in 1 (10%) in a central neck cyst. Metastasis was the initial manifestation of thyroid cancer in 18 (4%) of 449 papillary carcinoma patients, in 6 of 309 (1.9%) follicular carcinoma patients, and in 2 (3.7%) of 54 medullary carcinoma patients. Lymph node metastasis was the first sign of thyroid cancer in 13 (2.9%) patients with papillary carcinoma, 1 (0.3%) patients with follicular carcinoma and in 2 (3.7%) medullary carcinoma patients, and distant metastasis in 5 (1.1%) patients with papillary carcinoma and in 5 (1.6%) patients with follicular carcinoma. After the detection of the primary focus of thyroid cancer total thyroidectomy and modified neck dissection were performed in all patients. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients were treated complementarily with 131I and TSH suppressive doses of L-thyroxine, and medullary cancer patients with teleradiotherapy and substitutive doses of L-thyroxine.

Adolescent↗

Frequency control of a slow oscillatory network by a fast rhythmic input: pyloric to gastric mill interactions in the crab stomatogastric nervous system.

The stomatogastic nervous system of the crab, Cancer borealis, produces a slow gastric mill rhythm and a fast pyloric rhythm. When the gastric mill rhythm is not active, stimulation of the modulatory commissural ganglion neuron 1 (MCN1) activates a gastric mill rhythm in which the lateral gastric (LG) neuron fires in antiphase with interneuron 1 (Int1). We present theoretical and experimental data that indicate that the period of the MCN1 activated gastric mill rhythm depends on the strength and time course of the MCN1 evoked slow excitatory synaptic potential (EPSP) in the LG neuron, and on the strength of inhibition of Int 1 by the pacemaker of the pyloric network. This work demonstrates a new mechanism by which a slow network oscillator can be controlled by a much faster oscillatory neuron or network and suggests that modulation of the slow oscillator can occur by direct action on the neurons and synapses of the slow oscillator, or indirectly by actions on the fast oscillator and its synaptic connection with the slow oscillator.

Animals↗

Trace iron determination in aminoisophthalic acid using differential-pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry at carbon paste electrodes.

Application of differential-pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry using a carbon paste electrode (consisting of carbon powder and liquid paraffin) have been investigated for trace determination of iron in 5-aminoisophthalic acid (AIPA). Samples were dissolved in 1 M HC1, pH was adjusted to 4-5 after addition of EDTA. Voltammetric measurements were performed after filtration. No sample decomposition (mineralization) was necessary. The method showed a good linearity between current and concentration from 3 x 10(-7) to 5 x 10(-5) mol dm-3 of iron, with a detection limit of 3 x 10(-7) mol dm-3 (resp. 1 ppm in solid AIPA). The results agreed well to those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using electrothermic atomisation. For AAS measurement, however, microwave digestion of samples was necessary.

Carbon↗

Seton treatment of anal fistula: experience with a new modification.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a modified method of seton treatment of anal fistula. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Poland. SUBJECTS: 33 patients operated on for anal fistulas between January 1992 and September 1996. INTERVENTIONS: A modified seton technique in which a rubber band was pulled through fistulous track and tightened around the external sphincter by a thread tied around its ends. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anal incontinence, fistula recurrences. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients, 22 had high trans-sphincteric, 4 had suprasphincteric, and 7 had extrasphincteric fistulas. No fistula recurred. All patients were sent a questionnaire and 32 replied (97%). 26 patients had normal control of solid stool. I was incontinent less than once a week, and 5 less than once a month. 20 patients were continent to liquid stool. 3 patients experienced problems controlling liquid stool less than once a week, and 9 less than once a month. 21 patients had normal control of flatus. 9 experienced minor soiling. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, therapeutic results are satisfactory, and patients tolerate the procedure well. We recommend it in any case in which total fistulectomy cannot be done because of the risk of incontinence.

Adult↗

Percutaneous ethanol injection in treatment of benign nonfunctional and hyperfunctional thyroid nodules.

In recent years a new method of treatment of thyroid disorders, percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), has been successfully used as an alternative to surgery for the management of benign nodules. In this study 103 females and 5 males (34.4 +/- 11.3 yrs) with nonfunctional cystic (23) or solid (38) nodules, and also 47 with hyperfunctional solid nodules, were treated with single or repeated ethanol injections. In all patients, the cytological studies, ultrasound evaluation and the levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyrotropin or thyroids-stimulating hormone (TSH) before and after ethanol administration, were determined. The patients were followed up for 12-36 months. The size of the benign nonfunctional nodules was totally reduced in 49.9% of cases with solid and in 60.9% of patients with cystic nodules. Hyperthyroidism was cured in 91.5% of patients. The PEI procedure was connected with a few significant complications only, in relation to the localization of nodules. It was cheap, possible on an outpatient basis, easy to perform and acceptable to patients. Since the cost of thyroidectomy is high and the complication rate significant, PEI is a suitable substitute treatment especially for some patients with small toxic benign nodules of the thyroid gland.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Intercircuit control of motor pattern modulation by presynaptic inhibition.

Rhythmically active neural networks can control the modulatory input that they receive via their synaptic effects onto modulatory neurons. This synaptic control of network modulation can occur presynaptically, at the axon terminals of the modulatory neuron. For example, in the crab stomatogastric ganglion (STG), a gastric mill network neuron presynaptically inhibits transmitter release from a modulatory projection neuron called modulatory commissural neuron 1. We showed previously that the gastric mill rhythm-timed presynaptic inhibition of the STG terminals of MCN1 is pivotal for enabling MCN1 to activate this rhythm. We also showed that MCN1 excites the pyloric rhythm within the STG. Here we show that, because MCN1 stimulation conjointly excites the gastric mill and pyloric rhythms, the gastric mill rhythm-timed presynaptic inhibition of MCN1 causes a rhythmic interruption in the MCN1-mediated excitation of the pyloric rhythm. Consequently, during each protraction phase of the gastric mill rhythm, presynaptic inhibition suppresses MCN1 excitation of the pyloric rhythm, thereby weakening the pyloric rhythm. During the retraction phase, presynaptic inhibition is absent and MCN1 elicits a faster, stronger, and modified pyloric rhythm. Thus, in addition to its role in enabling a neural circuit to regulate the modulatory transmission that it receives, presynaptic inhibition is also used effectively to rhythmically control the activity level of a distinct, but behaviorally related, neural circuit.

Animals↗

Application of numerical modelling of osteotomy to orthopaedic practice.

During the development of an osteoarthritic hip joint, osteophytes, cysts as well as arthrosis originate on the contact boundary between the femoral head and the acetabulum in highly loaded human joints. The purpose of proximal femur osteotomy is to bring the femoral head into a new position inside the acetabulum. The corrective options of intertrochanteric osteotomy most frequently used in orthopaedic practice are valgization, varization, displacements, oblique displacements, lateralization, extension, rotation or shortening of the shaft. The present widespread tomographic measurement methods, such as computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 2D or 3D reconstruction involve the simulation of surgical problems of osteotomy, as well as the simulation of the reconstruction of the function of the hip joint after the operation. The results of numerical modelling of osteotomy concerning contact problems, will be presented in the contribution.

Acetabulum↗

2D and 3D finite element pre- and post-processing in orthopaedy.

The present widespread tomographic techniques based on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and automatic 2D and 3D reconstructions also involve numerous new points of view for planning surgical techniques in orthopaedy. These require efficient pre- and post-processing methods. By pre-processing and post-processing is meant both the generation of a finite element mesh that numerically models human joints and the visualization of the results obtained as required by the surgeon. Since the numerical reconstructions of human joints are based on the finite element approximation of contact problems assuming linear elasticity, the main goal of pre-processing is to generate triangular (2D) and tetrahedral (3D) meshes of objects with a 'reasonable' boundary-human joints. In our paper we restrict ourselves, for the sake of simplicity, to polygonal (resp. polyhedral) objects. The idea of preprocessing is based on the modified method of Delaunay Mangulalia and on the so-called relaxation technique. After the generation of the finite element mesh and after numerical simulation of surgical problems of orthopaedy, the results obtained as stress-strain fields, temperature, etc. may be visualized in a graphical form on the computer screen as well as on other media.

Arthrography↗

[Detection of DNA specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in archeological material using the polymerase chain reaction].

The paleopathological diagnosis of bone tuberculosis in archeological findings may be confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). If the M. tuberculosis-specific DNA fragment is amplified, then the presence of this microorganism in the sample is demonstrated. The pilot study presented investigated whether our molecular biology laboratory can collaborate with anthropologists in paleopathological analyses and to verify the use of the commercial diagnostic kit Cleanmix (Talent, Italy), for DNA isolation from archeological samples. The results were compared with the conclusions of anthropologists. Successful amplification of specific DNA fragments was achieved in a specimen from the period of the 13th to 15th century. The specimen consists of four thoracic vertebrae modified by osseous tuberculosis (gibbus). The PCR result was also positive in a five-year-old femur sample of a patient with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis. All other specimens of various ages but without macroscopic symptoms of osseous tuberculosis, were PCR negative. These results suggest that it is possible to detect former infections with pathogenic microorganisms in archeological bones find.

DNA, Bacterial↗

[Thyroid neoplasms in children and adolescents--personal experience].

Between 1974-1992 we operated 12,344 patients at the Clinic of Surgery of the Institute of Endocrinology of the Lódź Medical Academy for various forms of goiter. Of these, 295 patients were between the ages of 9-18 years, including 268 (90.8%) girls and 27 (9.2%) boys. Malignant thyroid neoplasm was diagnosed in 19 of these children (6.4%). From among the 268 girls, malignant tumors were discovered in 15 (5.6%), while among the 27 boys, in 4 (14.8%). Ten of these neoplasms were carcinoma papillare, 9 carcinoma folliculare. All of the children are alive without signs of metastases or recurrence. None developed hypoparathyroidism, but one child presented unilateral paresis of the vocal chords.

Adolescent↗

The antennal motor system of crickets: proctolin in slow and fast motoneurons as revealed by double labelling.

This study describes proctolin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) of identified antennal motoneurons in the brain of adult crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). The motoneurons were first backfilled with the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow and then immunohistochemically labelled with an antibody against proctolin. Altogether 14 of the 17 excitatory antennal motoneurons, including physiologically fast and slow types, showed PLI. The only common inhibitor consistently demonstrated a weak positive PLI. PLI was also present in the dendritic arborizations and varicosities of motor axons in the intrinsic antennal muscles. Densitometric measurements of motoneuron somata showed significant differences in the intensity of PLI in different types of antennal motoneurons, suggesting that antennal motoneurons produce different amounts of proctolin. Identical motoneuron somata display a large variance of PLI intensities in different brains. This observation may indicate up- and down-regulation of proctolin in individual crickets.

Animals↗

Use of DNA fingerprinting for accurate typing of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

DNA fingerprinting was tested as a method for detailed differentiation of 23 strains of the causal agent of porcine pleuropneumonia--Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The set consisted of twelve reference strains, each representing one serotype, and eleven field strains belonging to serotype 9 which occurs most frequently in the Czech Republic. Nine of the reference strains could be differentiated from each other and from serotypes 1, 9 and 11, but a very close relatedness was demonstrated among the latter three by repeated examination. Four DNA types were identified among the twelve serotype 9 strains. The findings are discussed within the context of the production and efficiency of industrial and autogenous vaccines.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae↗

[Closed spongioplasty technique (preliminary report)].

The authors demonstrate in their preliminary report the possibility of careful percutaneous application of spongy bone in the form of a bone paste. For collection of specimens and application of spongy bone the authors use instruments originally designed for transpedicular spongioplasty of fractured vertebrae of the thoracolumbar spine. The described procedure was used in four patients where the risk of complications, local or general, associated with classical spongioplasty was considerable. Healing occurred in all patients within a relatively short time.

Adult↗