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Biomedical subjects

N Gabriel

Publications and source records attributed to N Gabriel.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of ageing on the biomechanical properties of rat articular cartilage.

Previous studies have demonstrated that male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats experience age-related bone loss with the same characteristics as that in ageing men. As articular cartilage, like bone, is a critical component of the health and function of the musculoskeletal system, the authors hypothesized that articular cartilage in the untreated male SD rats could be a suitable model for studying the age-related deterioration of articular cartilage in men. To test this hypothesis, male SD rats were killed at between 6 and 27 months. The right femur of each rat was removed. The effects of ageing on the structural integrity of the distal femoral articular cartilage were studied by biomechanical testing with a creep indentation apparatus. The aggregate modulus, Poisson's ratio, permeability, thickness, and percentage recovery of articular cartilage were determined using finite element/non-linear optimization modelling. No significant differences were observed in these biomechanical properties of the distal femoral articular cartilage as a function of age. Therefore, untreated male SD rats appear to be unsuitable for studying the age-related changes of articular cartilage as they occur in men. However, and more intriguingly, it is also possible that ageing does not affect the biomechanical properties of articular cartilage in the absence of cartilage pathology.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Electrical stimulation for gastroparesis. Gastric motility restored.

BACKGROUND: Gastroparesis is a disabling, and sometimes fatal, disease that often does not respond to medical treatment. This single-surgeon prospective study examines the safety and 6-month efficacy of electrical stimulation for the treatment of gastroparesis. METHODS: Sixteen patients with medically refractory gastroparesis underwent laparoscopic implantation of an electrical stimulator device (Enterra Therapy, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) consisting of a subcutaneous stimulator and two gastric wall leads. Gastric emptying scans (GES) confirmed the diagnosis of gastroparesis. Patients were evaluated preoperatively using a self-administered GI symptomatology questionnaire and RAND 36 Health Survey. Once patients were >6-months from implantation, a repeat GES was obtained and patients completed a postoperative GI symptomatology questionnaire and RAND 36 Health Survey. Ten of 16 patients in this case series were >6-months from implantation. One was lost to follow-up. An F-test was used to establish equality of standard deviations between the 16 patients evaluated preoperatively and the subset of 10 patients evaluated postoperatively. A Student's t-test was used to evaluate the significance of differences in pre- and postoperative results. RESULTS: Average operating time was 117 min with no intraoperative complications. The majority of patients were discharged on postoperative day 1. There were two complications in the postoperative period. Patients experienced a significant decrease in nausea and vomiting as measured by the GI symptomatology questionnaire. Half of all patients no longer required gastric prokinetic medications and there was a subjective reduction of pyrosis, early satiety, and epigastric pain. A significant increase in quality of life as measured by the RAND 36 Health Survey was seen, and six of eight patients no longer demonstrated gastroparesis on GES. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic implantation of an electrical stimulation device is a safe and effective treatment by subjective and objective standards for the management of medically refractory gastroparesis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Telementoring and teleproctoring.

Telemedicine has previously been defined as "live two-way interactive video communication between a physician and a patient and/or another physician, where all participants are able to see and hear one another much like a face to face encounter." This concept has gained recent notoriety because of the great advances in telecommunications and the potential future increased cost-effectiveness associated with its utilization. We have developed a telementoring deployment protocol that can be effectively used to introduce a student to telementoring processes. The strict protocol uses military commands to facilitate smooth information transfer. The use of a concept called tactical information deployment provides the surgeon with rapid access to reference information in the operating suite. Multimedia interactive CD-ROMs, with digitized movie clips, illustrations, sound bits, and the latest academic review of the literature arm the surgeon with a database that establishes an unprecedented clinical adaptive capability (CAC). The availability of this information is invaluable to surgeons in their initial advanced laparoscopic procedural efforts. Telementoring simulator opportunities are included to acclimate the participant to the process. If the process seems comprehensive, it is meant to be. This is a high-risk situation, and a patient's welfare is on the line. If this concept is to reach its maximal healthcare delivery potential, responsible and academically credible training programs should be established with directional guidelines.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗
PubMed1990

Vocal cord paralysis following carotid endarterectomy: the paradox of return of function.

In a series of 411 consecutive carotid endarterectomies 29 patients were identified with vocal cord paralysis. All patients were symptomatic, although in many these symptoms were subtle and rapidly resolved. There was a statistically significant predominance of left-sided paralysis. Excluding three patients who died during the initial year of follow-up return of normal voice was noted in 22 patients, but complete return of vocal cord function was present in only 15. Apposition of the contralateral vocal cord against a paralyzed vocal cord allowed for production of normal voice in five patients. Less than 1% of patients remained with symptoms at one year following endarterectomy. We conclude that vocal cord paralysis is a common complication of carotid endarterectomy; the voice becomes an unreliable guide as to its resolution. We recommend laryngoscopic examination of all patients who undergo bilateral carotid endarterectomy.

Carotid Artery Diseases↗
PubMed1987

T lymphocytes of the normal human cornea.

Lymphocytes in the periphery of the normal human cornea are identified as being only T lymphocytes by immunohistochemical methods. OKT-4 positive cells (T-helper/inducer lymphocytes) and OKT-8 positive cells (T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes) are found in similar numbers in most of the corneas examined. OKT-4 positive cells in the cornea present a risk of transferring HTLV-III (HIV) by corneal grafting.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗