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N Collier

Publications and source records attributed to N Collier.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Spiral computed tomography-intravenous cholangiography with three-dimensional reconstructions for imaging the biliary tree.

This study aimed to assess the ability of CT-i.v. cholangiography to show the perihilar biliary and cystic duct anatomy and to assess the relative performance of axial, maximum intensity projection and surface rendered displays. We also assessed the correlation between serum bilirubin levels and adequacy of biliary opacification. Spiral CT was carried out following infusion of 100 mL of Biliscopin in 181 patients with suspected biliary disease. The display of biliary anatomy was of high quality, with 91% of patients having good opacification of at least first-order bile ducts and 84% having good opacification of at least third-order right and left hepatic ducts. The quality of biliary opacification correlated inversely to serum bilirubin levels, with levels above two to three times the normal value being associated with lower rates of good opacification. Maximum intensity projection and surface rendered reformats aided anatomical interpretation to a similar degree. The relative frequency of types of perihilar branching patterns and cystic duct junctional anatomy correlated closely to those reported from previous anatomical studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Developing NLP Tools for Genome Informatics: An Information Extraction Perspective.

Huge quantities of on-line medical texts such as Medline are available, and we would hope to extract useful information from these resources, as much as possible, hopefully in an automatic way, with the aid of computer technologies. Especially, recent advances in Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques raise new challenges and opportunities for tackling genome-related on-line text; combining NLP techniques with genome informatics extends beyond the traditional realms of either technology to a variety of emerging applications. In this paper, we explain some of our current efforts for developing various NLP-based tools for tackling genome-related on-line documents for information extraction task.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy.

The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, is a tertiary referral hospital with over 7,000 deliveries per year. We report 3 cases of phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy at the hospital in the 20-year period since 1976. The first case was unsuspected and resulted in a maternal death. The subsequent 2 cases were diagnosed antenatally with successful outcomes for both mother and baby. The 3 cases demonstrate the importance of an early antenatal diagnosis and the special management problems of phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy. The diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma should be considered in any pregnant women with severe hypertension, particularly if presenting before 20 weeks' gestation, labile, or associated with sweating, palpitations or headaches.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Relapsing pancreatitis due to juxta-pancreatic duodenal duplication cyst with pancreatic ductal communication.

A 21 year old patient first presented with acute pancreatitis in infancy, followed by subsequent episodes of relapsing pancreatitis in childhood. The cause of the pancreatitis defied diagnosis, despite two laparotomies in infancy and childhood, until twenty years later when a juxta-pancreatic duodenal duplication--a rare congenital lesion--was finally discovered. The duplication communicated with the main pancreatic duct via a long, aberrant duct, resulting in the relapsing pancreatitis. Abdominal ultrasonography and computerized tomography scan, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticogram were useful in demonstrating the lesion. Surgical excision of part of the cyst, with marsupialization of the remaining structure to the stomach, abolished further symptoms and recurrence of pancreatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Obstructive jaundice due to foramen of Winslow hernia: a case report.

An unusual case of obstructive jaundice due to foramen of Winslow hernia is presented. The hernia re-entered into the general peritoneal cavity through the lesser omentum and this appeared to be important in the pathogenesis of jaundice in this patient. Accurate pre-operative diagnosis of this uncommon condition remains difficult despite the advent of modern imaging techniques such as computerized tomography. Optimal outcome demands a high index of suspicion and early surgical intervention, together with operative measures to prevent future recurrence. The pathoanatomy of caecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow is also discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Interindividual differences in the activation of two hepatic carcinogens to mutagens by human liver.

The possibility that the presence of malignant disease can influence the metabolic activation of two carcinogens, 2-acetylaminofluorene and aflatoxin B1, has been investigated in a group of patients with secondary carcinoma of the liver. Mutagenic activation by subcellular fractions from biopsy samples from the patients was determined in the Ames/Salmonella test and the results compared with those obtained from a group of control patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups of patients in their ability to activate the two compounds to mutagenic metabolites. A tenfold range in ability to activate aflatoxin B1 was observed whereas only a threefold range was obtained with 2-acetylaminofluorene. Human liver activates aflatoxin B1 approximately 100 times more efficiently than 2-acetylaminofluorene, a proven carcinogen in many species. This raises the question of the true risk to man from hepatocarcinogenicity from aflatoxin B1.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1985

Basal, sham feed and pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid, pepsin and electrolytes after omeprazole 20 mg and 40 mg daily.

Gastric secretion was measured in nine patients with duodenal ulcer before, and after treatment for four weeks with omeprazole 20 mg or 40 mg daily. Basal acidity and acid output were affected variably by 20 mg, but inhibited totally by 40 mg daily. Sham feed stimulated acid output was reduced by 20 mg daily and completely inhibited by 40 mg daily. Maximal pentagastrin stimulated acid output was halved by 20 mg omeprazole daily and 84% inhibited by 40 mg daily. The reduction in acidity was always greater than the reduction of volume. Pepsin output after pentagastrin was little altered but with the reduced secretory volume pepsin concentrations were increased by both doses. The major cause of reduced aspirate acid output after omeprazole is decreased secretion of the primary acid component of the parietal cell by the proton pump H+K+ ATPase. Duodenogastric alkaline reflux is, however, markedly increased after omeprazole and is an additional factor in the resultant hypoacidity or even anacidity after this drug.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Carcinoma of the stomach: the need for a new approach.

An analysis was performed of 229 cases of carcinoma of the stomach presenting between 1970 and 1975 and followed up until 1980. The average age of the patients was 67 years with a range of 24 to 96 years. The predominant symptoms were weight loss, epigastric pain, anorexia, vomiting and an abdominal mass of two of 18 months duration. All cancers were adenocarcinomata, most commonly in the distal third of the stomach; most were bulky (T3) on diagnosis and of poor histological differentiation. Some tumours had not spread to nodes but most had nodal involvement of the first and second order. Over half showed evidence of wide-spread dissemination at presentation. The operative mortality of all procedures including curative resection, palliative resection and by-pass was high, reflecting the high exploration rate (81.6%), high resection rate (56%) and the extent and hazards of major operation. Total gastrectomy was associated with twice the operative mortality of subtotal gastrectomy. Five year survival was in each case 17.3% and 16.3% respectively but it should be noted that the larger, more bulky and infiltrative tumours could not have been dealt with by anything less than total gastric resection. Average survival time in the "curative" surgery group was 27.9 months and of all 229 patients presenting, only 11 (4.8%) were alive after five years. Factors which may lead to improvement in this dismal outlook are discussed. Earlier diagnosis and multimodal chemotherapy as an adjunct to traditional surgery appear to offer the greatest prospects of improvement.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized clinical trial of agents to reduce sensitivity after crown cementation.

Three desensitizing agents were evaluated for the control of sensitivity after cementation of 77 crowns. Information was collected on pain in response to hot, cold, or bite preoperatively; and postoperatively with temporary crowns at one week and at one month after cementation of crowns. No medicament was clearly better than the placebo.

Adult↗