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Biomedical subjects

P Stauffer

Publications and source records attributed to P Stauffer.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Helping the news media cover family planning.

To make informed choices about family planning, women and men need accurate information in the media as well as in the clinic. The media are looking for news important to the millions of people they reach each day. Thus helping the news media cover family planning fully and accurately merits the efforts of every family planning program.

Family Planning Services↗

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy after combined hyperthermia and radiation.

Mechanisms of uveal melanoma response to therapy are poorly understood. There are a paucity of changes that have been detected immediately after tumor treatment to differentiate successful from ineffective therapy. In this study we used in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to assess intra-tumor treatment alterations. The metabolic consequences of effective and ineffective levels of solitary hyperthermia and combined hyperthermia-radiation were investigated. We have previously noted a characteristic 31P MRS pattern with successful hyperthermia in this intraocular melanoma model. The metabolic response after effective or ineffective combined radiation/hyperthermia therapy was indistinguishable from solitary radiation therapy and opposite to that with successful hyperthermia therapy. In contrast to solitary hyperthermia therapy, early changes in 31P spectral ratios following radiation or combined hyperthermia/radiation therapy of uveal melanoma were not predictive of treatment response. Twenty-four to 48 hours after effective or ineffective radiation or combined treatment the Pi/beta-NTP ratio decreased significantly (delta Pi/beta-NTP = -0.433 +/- 0.08 and -0.478 +/- .13 and .10 +/- 0.2, respectively). There was over a 2.0 thermal enhancement of radiation with heat. The increased tumor cell death after combined therapy was reflected by a two-fold larger decrease in beta-NTP signal-to-noise (S/N).

Animals↗

Enzyme immunoassays for ovarian steroid metabolites in the urine of Macaca fascicularis.

In vivo studies using carbon 14 labeled estradiol (E2) and progesterone (Po) were performed to characterize the time course and metabolic fate of circulating E2 and Po. Co-chromatography of human, orangutan, and macaque luteal phase urine samples demonstrated the presence of a steroid conjugate peak in all three species that was identified as being androsterone and etiocholanolone glucuronides. An enzyme immunoassay for urinary metabolites of Po was developed subsequently for Macaca spp. using a monoclonal antibody that cross-reacted with both C-19 and C-21 metabolites.

Animals↗

Sonophoresis. I. The use of high-frequency ultrasound to enhance transdermal drug delivery.

Previous attempts to use ultrasound (less than or equal to 1-MHz frequency and 1 to 3-W/cm2 intensity) to enhance transdermal drug delivery (so-called sonophoresis) have produced inconsistent results. Theoretical analysis of ultrasound propagation in tissue predicts that higher-frequency ultrasound (greater than 1 MHz) will increase the concentration of energy deposition in the stratum corneum (SC) (typically, the rate-limiting barrier to percutaneous penetration). This hypothesis was tested by comparing the passive transdermal delivery of salicylic acid with that under the influence of ultrasound at 2-, 10-, and 16-MHz frequency; measurements were performed in vivo in hairless guinea pigs. Total drug absorbed was quantified by determining the amount of salicylic acid (1) present in SC tape strips and (2) eliminated in urine. Sonophoresis for 20 min at 2 MHz caused no significant increase in salicylic acid delivery over passive diffusion; treatment with ultrasound at 10 and 16 MHz, on the other hand, significantly elevated salicylic acid transport, by 4-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively. Kinetic analysis of the sonophoretic data at 10 and 16 MHz also revealed that the diffusion lag time associated with transdermal drug delivery (TDD) was reduced. A shorter period (5 min) of sonophoresis again resulted in enhanced TDD (relative to the corresponding control) at the higher frequencies; the delivered dose, and the level of enhancement, however, were lower than those after the 20-min treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Characteristics of improved microwave interstitial antennas for local hyperthermia.

The heating potentials of two newly-developed microwave interstitial antennas are reported in this paper. The longitudinal (parallel to the antenna) and transverse (over a plane perpendicular to the antenna) specific absorption rate (SAR) distributions of single and an array of four parallel antennas were measured in a muscle equivalent phantom and their performance characterized at 915 MHz in terms of the following parameters: peak depth (location of the profile peak with respect to the surface), 50% HL (effective heating length over which SAR greater than 50% of the peak normalized SAR), dead length (axial length at the antenna tip with SAR less than 50% of peak normalized SAR), and the variations of the specific absorption rate pattern relative to the depth of insertion. The results are analyzed and discussed in terms of these parameters and other factors important in the clinical use of these antennas for effective interstitial hyperthermia.

Equipment Design↗

RTOG quality assurance guidelines for clinical trials using hyperthermia administered by ultrasound.

Clinical quality assurance guidelines are established for RTOG hyperthermia protocols in which unfocused planar ultrasound may be used to administer hyperthermia. Measurement of temperature at a few fixed points is no longer considered to be adequate. Thermal mapping is required to obtain profiles of the temperature across the tumor dimensions, including margins of normal tissue. The thermometry strategies established for microwaves are to be adhered to with oblique insertion of the probes recommended. Two types of errors arise which are generally not present with microwaves. A measurement error, commonly referred to as a temperature artifact, arises because of absorption and/or viscous heating of the probe. Another error arises when thermocouples are used due to the conduction of heat along the wire leads, especially the copper wire. Several thermometry systems are evaluated with regard to the expected artifact and conduction errors. Acceptable systems include: a) indexing a polyurethane sheathed single sensor thermocouple in a polyurethane catheter, b) indexing a fiberoptic probe in a steel needle, c) indexing a single sensor thermocouple in a steel needle, and d) use of manganin-constantan multisensor thermocouples. Unacceptable systems include: a) fixed or static probes that do not provide profiles of the temperature across the tumor dimensions, b) copper-constantan multisensor thermocouples, and c) teflon sheathed thermocouples inserted into a teflon catheter.

Clinical Protocols↗

RTOG quality assurance guidelines for interstitial hyperthermia.

This document specifies the current recommendations for quality assurance for hyperthermia administration with interstitial techniques as specified by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). The document begins by providing a brief description of the physical principles behind the use of the three most commonly used methods of interstitial hyperthermia: radiofrequency (RF-LCF), microwave antennas, and ferromagnetic seeds. Emphasis is placed on features that effect quality assurance. Specific recommendations are provided for: a) Pretreatment planning and equipment performance checks, b) Implant considerations and documentation, c) Thermometry, and d) Safety procedures. Specific details regarding quality assurance issues that are common to all local and regional hyperthermia methods are outlined in previous documents sponsored by the RTOG. It is anticipated that technological advances may lead to future modifications of this document.

Documentation↗

Catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction using a helical microwave antenna: a novel means of coupling energy to the endocardium.

Catheter ablation with either direct current defibrillator discharges or radiofrequency energy produces tissue injury via current flow from an electrode into the adjacent myocardium. In order to affect tissue at a distance, excessive power density may be produced at the electrode-tissue interface with the possibility of explosive gas formation or coagulum formation. A novel microwave catheter was developed with a helical antenna distally. This coil, although not in direct contact with the endocardium, radiates an electromagnetic field into the tissue that, in turn, causes thermal injury. The utility of this system for ablation was assessed in six dogs. The antenna catheter was introduced percutaneously and positioned so as to record the largest His electrogram. Microwave power (50 watts at 2,450 MHz) was applied for 114 +/- 118 seconds. Complete AV block was produced in all six animals with 1.8 +/- 1.2 applications. There was no ventricular ectopy or change in blood pressure during microwave ablation. One dog died 6 days after ablation. The remaining five dogs had persistent, complete AV block during 6 weeks of follow-up. Pathological analysis at 6 weeks revealed a large (mean 2.8 x 4.7 mm) fibrovascular scar in the region of the AV junction. Percutaneous microwave ablation of the endocardium appears feasible. By radiating an electromagnetic field without direct contact, this system can produce large lesions without being limited by desiccation of tissue and impedance rise.

Animals↗

Temperature gradients at two locations within the tooth during cavity preparation in vitro.

An improved method has been developed to measure temperature at both the DEJ and the PDJ during cavity preparation. This method allows a more realistic determination of the effects on the pulp tissue of various tooth reduction procedures. In future studies, the same method could also be used to determine pulpal effects from various restorative materials.

Body Temperature↗

CT body stereotaxic system for placement of needle arrays.

A new CT body stereotaxic system that is particularly suited to multiple placements of needles precisely in parallel is described. By scanning through a right triangle placed on the patient's skin, the stereotaxic method defines an entry point for the first needle placement. An articulating arm is then used to aim the needle at the entry point and hold the needle at the correct angle. The arm can be angled so that the complex approaches from one scan plane to another can be made to place needle arrays through inaccessible lesions, for instance, beneath the diaphragm. Animal and phantom studies have shown that placement of multiple needle arrays in parallel from CT scan data is possible.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Non-invasive temperature profile estimation in a lossy medium based on multi-band radiometric signals sensed by a microwave dual-purpose body-contacting antenna.

Microwave radiometry has during the past two decades been investigated as a non-invasive scheme for measurement of subcutaneous tissue temperatures, basically for monitoring and control in hyperthermic treatment of cancer. In this effort, we test a contact-type, dual-purpose antenna with integral water bolus. To overcome conflicting optimization criteria in the integration of this thermometry technique with heat applicators exhibiting a large effective field size during superficial hyperthermia, a stacked configuration design is proposed, where the radiometer receive antenna (Archimedean spiral) is located on the front (skin) surface of the water bolus and the heating antenna (Dual-Concentric Conductor aperture) is placed on the bolus back surface. The motivation is to achieve homogeneous tissue heating simultaneously with non-invasive thermography of the target tissue under the applicator. This paper addresses the feasibility of predicting one-dimensional depth temperature profiles from multi-band brightness temperatures. The performance is investigated statistically by a Monte Carlo technique on both simulated and real heated-phantom data using up to six radiometric bands. Analysis of measured data shows that during the transient heating period in a solid lossy phantom, the inversion technique exhibits a precision (2sigmaT) and skewness (bias) of estimated compared to actual temperature profiles of better than +/-0.38 degrees C and +/-0.55 degrees C, respectively.

Algorithms↗