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Biomedical subjects

S M Becker

Publications and source records attributed to S M Becker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Numerical modeling of in vivo plate electroporation thermal dose assessment.

Electroporation is an approach used to enhance the transport of large molecules to the cell cytosol in which a targeted tissue region is exposed to a series of electric pulses. The cell membrane, which normally acts as a barrier to large molecule transport into the cell interior, is temporarily destabilized due to the development of pores in the cell membrane. Consequently, agents that are ordinarily unable enter the cell are able to pass through the cell membrane. Of possible concern when exposing biological tissue to an electric field is thermal tissue damage associated with joule heating. This paper explores the thermal effects of various geometric, biological, and electroporation pulse parameters including the blood vessel presence and size, plate electrode configuration, and pulse duration and frequency. A three-dimensional transient finite volume model of in vivo parallel plate electroporation of liver tissue is used to develop a better understanding of the underlying relationships between the physical parameters involved with tissue electroporation and resulting thermal damage potential.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed2001

Consanguinity and congenital heart disease in Saudi Arabia.

First-cousin marriage may be a significant risk factor for specific types of congenital heart disease in a consanguineous population. Inbreeding studies suggest an autosomal recessive component in the cause of some congenital heart defects. We studied a large sample of patients with structural congenital heart defects (CHD) identified through the Congenital Heart Disease Registry at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After exclusions of chromosome abnormalities and non-participation, data were collected on 891 consecutive patients who were registered between January and August, 1998. Data on first-cousin consanguinity and type of CHD diagnosis were collected. A z test of proportions was used to determine the association between consanguinity and subtypes of CHD. Data indicate that the proportion of first cousins in the CHD sample is higher than the proportion in the general population, supporting a hypothesis of autosomal recessive gene involvement in congenital heart disease. When subgroups of CHD were analyzed, first-cousin consanguinity was significantly associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), pulmonary stenosis (PS), and pulmonary atresia (PA). There was no relationship between consanguinity and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), tricuspid atresia (TA), aortic stenosis (AS), co-arctation of the aorta (CoA), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Thus, in a population with a high degree of inbreeding, consanguinity may exacerbate underlying genetic risk factors, particularly in the offspring of first cousins. There may be a recessive component in the causation of some cardiac defects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Meeting the threat of weapons of mass destruction terrorism: toward a broader conception of consequence management.

As the importance of psychosocial issues in domestic preparedness has come to be better understood, it has become evident that there are significant conceptual limitations in existing approaches to weapons of mass destruction consequence management. This article identifies six problems: (1) most understandings of consequence management focus on short-term issues with longer-term recovery issues receiving far less attention; (2) while psychological issues are beginning to be introduced, social issues are generally not addressed; (3) although more attention is being paid to mental health issues, scenarios that are predominantly psychosocial in their effects are not generally considered; (4) social and behavioral science insights are not adequately incorporated; (5) despite the further inclusion of psychological issues, the overall approach is not sufficiently integrated or interdisciplinary; and (6) although psychological issues are receiving more attention, fundamental macro-level issues such as the re-establishment of trust after a weapons of mass destruction terrorist incident rarely receive significant attention. These limitations could seriously weaken efforts to address the consequences of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear terrorist attack. There is an urgent need, therefore, to re-think current approaches and to develop a broader conception of consequence management.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2001

Are the psychosocial aspects of weapons of mass destruction incidents addressed in the Federal Response Plan: summary of an expert panel.

Within the domestic preparedness community, there is a growing recognition of the importance of psychosocial issues in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents. Whereas social and behavioral issues were only infrequently considered just a few years ago, they are now coming to be seen as central to consequence management efforts. As a result, discussions in the domestic preparedness community are beginning to consider the extent to which psychosocial effects are addressed in the Federal Response Plan and the degree to which additional preparedness and response steps may be needed. To grapple with this crucial issue, an expert panel was brought together at the International Conference on the Operational Impact of Psychological Casualties from Weapons of Mass Destruction. The panel brought together a wide range of specialists from federal agencies, the armed services, and the academic community. This article summarizes the views and assessments of the panelists as well as their policy recommendations for enhancing preparedness.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed1997

Psychosocial assistance after environmental accidents: a policy perspective.

There is a substantial body of literature on psychosocial impacts of chemical and nuclear accidents. Less attention, however, has been focused on the program and policy issues that are connected with efforts to provide psychosocial assistance to the victims of such accidents. Because psychosocial assistance efforts are certain to be an essential part of the response to future environmental emergencies, it is vital that relevant program and policy issues by more fully considered. This article discusses the highly complex nature of contamination situations and highlights some of the key policy issues that are associated with the provision of psychosocial services after environmental accidents. One issue concerns the potential for assistance efforts to become objects of conflict. In the context of the intense controversy typically associated with chemical or nuclear accidents, and with debates over the causation of illness usually at the center of environmental accidents, psychosocial assistance services may themselves become contested terrain. Other significant program and policy issues include determining how to interface with citizen self-help and other voluntary groups, addressing the problem of stigma, and deciding how to facilitate stakeholder participation in the shaping of service provision. This article offers a series of policy proposals that may help smooth the way for psychosocial assistance programs in future environmental emergencies.

Counseling↗
PubMed1978

Soft tissue metastasis of a chemodectoma: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of a single soft tissue metastases (abdominal wall) occurring 15 years after removal of chemodectoma of the right carotid bifurcation is described. The tumor had apparently been completely removed with excision of portions of the common, external and internal carotid arteries up to the base of the skull. Seven years later osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions were noted in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae which were radiated with 3500 rad. The 19 previously reported cases of chemodectomas with distant metastases are reviewed.

Adolescent↗