The efficiency of peritoneal absorption of progesterone was investigated by following the appearance of 3H-progesterone and its metabolites in the circulation after intravenous or intraperitoneal administration. Tritium rapidly entered the peripheral circulation when given by either route. The percentage of tritium appearing as modified progesterone was substantially lower following intraperitoneal administration. This difference can be largely attributed to splanchnic absorption and hepatic metabolism of intraperitoneal steroids. The potentially large amount of progesterone secreted into the peritoneal compartment may not contribute significantly to the peripheral circulating pool of progesterone.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of methods for enhancing the detection of areas of decreased attenuation on CT caused by airways disease.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to investigate thin section CT image enhancement of subtle areas of decreased attenuation of the lung parenchyma in suspected airways disease. METHOD: Forty-seven consecutive patients with chronic sputum production underwent pulmonary function tests and high resolution CT (HRCT). Single section inspiratory (INSP), expiratory (EXP), and minimum intensity projection (MINIP) images through the lower lobes were acquired. A histogram stretch was applied to the INSP and MINIP images, generating two further image formats. The five image types were compared for the extent of decreased attenuation, observer confidence, and correlations with pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: Interobserver variation was lowest with MINIP images (mean weighted K: MINIP 0.70, INSP sections 0.65, other image formats < or =0.48). Observers were most confident with EXP and MINIP images. EXP sections identified more disease than MINIP images (p<0.001). Correlations with pulmonary function tests were similar for each image format. CONCLUSION: The HRCT changes of small airways disease are enhanced with image postprocessing. MINIP images are associated with increased observer confidence and agreement as compared with HRCT alone.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum concentration of protein CA-125 in women with pelvic inflammatory disease.

The concentration of the protein CA-125 in serum was determined in women with a normal pelvis visualized at laparoscopy (control group, n = 15) and compared with serum levels of this protein in women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (n = 14). Mean serum concentrations of CA-125 were similar in the two groups: 17.4 +/- 2.3 (SE) units/ml for the control group vs. 17.0 +/- 4.3 units/ml for those with PID (P greater than 0.05). In addition, women with chlamydial cervicitis, histologically confirmed endometritis, and laparoscopically documented salpingitis had CA-125 levels that were not significantly different from those of controls. We conclude that serum levels of CA-125 will not be useful in the diagnosis of PID.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of the Müller anterolateral femorotibial ligament reconstruction using a computerized knee model.

Iliotibial tract tenodesis has been described by Müller as part of the surgical treatment for anterolateral rotatory instability in the ACL deficient knee. The aim of this study was to use a previously described and validated computer model of the knee to calculate the effectiveness of Müller's extraarticular anterolateral femorotibial ligament (ALFTL) graft as a substitute for the ACL or as an adjunct to an intraarticular ACL reconstruction in the ACL deficient knee. This effectiveness was tested by simulating the application of a torque sufficient to create 15 degrees of internal rotation or 5 mm of anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees of knee flexion. The effects of moving the graft's proximal fixation point 1 cm superior, inferior, and anterior to the current surgical attachment site were examined to determine the amount of permissible surgical error in graft placement. The model predicts that the ALFTL is a useful restraint to internal rotation when it is performed with or without an intraarticular ACL reconstruction. The ALFTL graft took up greater amounts of tension and became more effective at increasing angles of knee flexion. Placement of the ALFTL graft 1 cm anterior to the current surgical attachment site decreases the vector component that lies perpendicular to the long axis of the tibia and consequently reduces resistance to internal rotation. The ALFTL graft at any attachment site was ineffective in resisting pure anterior displacement between 0 degrees and 30 degrees.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Management of myocardial infarction in the elderly: admission and outcome on a coronary care unit.

A data base of 1,511 patients admitted to a single Coronary Care Unit was analysed to examine the potential impact of thrombolytic therapy in elderly patients with myocardial infarction. Age was confirmed as a highly significant prognostic factor, and cost utility analysis showed that the cost of thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase in the elderly was lower per quality adjusted life year than in younger patients. However, median delay time of admission from onset of symptoms was significantly greater in this age-group, suggesting a need for a greater awareness of the benefits of thrombolytic therapy in elderly people.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neurosurgery past, present and future.

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Forecasting↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a parenteral formulation of trimelamol, a synthetic S-triazine carbinolamine-containing cytotoxic agent.

Trimelamol is a synthetic s-triazine carbinolamine-containing agent exhibiting poor aqueous solubility and stability characteristics. The present studies were conducted to provide a stable parenteral dosage form of trimelamol, which could be used for clinical evaluation of the drug and also be manufactured on a commercial scale without undue drug decomposition occurring. Solubility and stability of trimelamol were found to increase in the presence of aqueous-polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions of increasing average PEG molecular weight (up to mol wt = 1000); PEG 1000 (75%) in water provided the optimum formulation vehicle. In contrast to the optimum liquid formulation of the drug (detailed above) it was necessary to make various compromises to the formulation in terms of drug solubility and stability, because of the problems encountered in processing (e.g., sterile filtration, lyophilization, and reconstitution). Freeze-drying of the formulation extended the product shelf-life relative to the liquid formulation. Differential Scanning Colorimetry (DSC) studies, to determine the freeze-drying cycle parameters, showed that the freezing and melting characteristics of the trimelamol-PEG formulations were dependent upon the rate of cooling, as well as the concentration and average molecular weight of PEG used. The prototype containing 30 mg/mL trimelamol in a 50% PEG 3400-aqueous vehicle was found to be the optimal formulation for sterile filtration, lyophilization, and subsequent reconstitution. Through the use of in vitro techniques, the possibility of hemolysis occurring upon injection resulting from the inclusion of high molecular weight PEGs in the vehicle, was shown to be unlikely.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Unusual human chorionic gonadotropin patterns in pregnancies of undetermined location.

Three abnormal pregnancies demonstrating a previously unreported pattern of hCG production and clearance are reported. Further, the anatomic site of trophoblastic implantation remained unknown despite through surgical exploration. A conservative approach, including close monitoring of serum beta-hCG levels, resulted in spontaneous resolution in two cases. One women was treated successfully with methotrexate.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

No-touch wound dressing pack.

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Bandages↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Continuum analysis method applied to blood count reference intervals.

Conventional methods for extracting reference values from a sample of a purported normal population have a tendency to include some paranormal individuals and to obscure the existence of marginal or subclinical disorders. The suggestion is offered of defining the normal range of an analyte by extrapolation of the portion of its dispersion that fits a continuum. The method softens the present dichotomous character of the reference range. It narrows the normal range of some hematology parameters, suggesting that some paranormal individuals are excluded.

Adolescent↗