Biomedical subjects

Susan Wright

Publications and source records attributed to Susan Wright.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Reflections on the disciplinary gulf between the natural and social sciences.

The general purpose of this essay is to explore key features of the disciplinary gulf between the natural and social sciences, and, in particular, differences in fundamental assumptions concerning the nature and purpose of knowledge. The essay contrasts the claims of the natural sciences to objectivity and universality with those of the social sciences, especially the qualitative social sciences, to the historical and cultural contingency of knowledge. It examines the ways in which the use of two 'key words' - 'expertise' and 'responsibility'--serves to maintain the disciplinary gulf by reinforcing assumptions concerning the neutrality and technical nature of scientific knowledge and how those concepts marginalize social and ethical dimensions to create a politically influential hierarchy of knowledge claims.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Discrimination of SM-identified individuals.

The belief that sadomasochism (SM) is violence or abusive behavior has resulted in harassment, physical attacks, and discrimination against SM-identified individuals. Historically, they were often opposed by self-identified feminists. One reason the women who practiced SM were targeted was the official opposition to sadomasochistic practices promulgated by the National Organization for Women (NOW). Current statistics of incidents of discrimination, harassment and physical attacks against SM-identified individuals and SM groups are compiled by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF).

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Safety and feasibility of autologous myoblast transplantation in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: four-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Successful autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation into infarcted myocardium in a variety of animal models has demonstrated improvement in cardiac function. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of transplanting autologous myoblasts into infarcted myocardium of patients undergoing concurrent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. In addition, we sought to gain preliminary information on graft survival and any associated changes in cardiac function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty patients with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy participated in a phase I, nonrandomized, multicenter pilot study of autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation concurrent with CABG or LVAD implantation. Twenty-four patients with a history of previous myocardial infarction and a left ventricular ejection fraction <40% were enrolled in the CABG arm. In a second arm, 6 patients underwent LVAD implantation as a bridge to heart transplantation, and patients donated their explanted native hearts for testing at the time of heart transplantation. Myoblasts were successfully transplanted in all patients without any acute injection-related complications or significant long-term, unexpected adverse events. Follow-up positron emission tomography scans showed new areas of glucose uptake within the infarct scar in CABG patients. Echocardiography measured an average change in left ventricular ejection fraction from 28% to 35% at 1 year and of 36% at 2 years. Histological evaluation in 4 of 6 patients who underwent heart transplantation documented survival and engraftment of the skeletal myoblasts within the infarcted myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the survival, feasibility, and safety of autologous myoblast transplantation and suggest that this modality offers a potential therapeutic treatment for end-stage heart disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Feasibility and safety of autologous myoblast transplantation in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Successful autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation into infarcted myocardium in a variety of animal models has demonstrated improvement in cardiac function. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of transplanting autologous myoblasts into infarcted myocardium of patients undergoing concurrent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD). In addition, we sought to gain preliminary information on graft survival and any potential improvement of cardiac function. Eighteen patients with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy participated in a phase I, nonrandomized, multicenter pilot study of autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation concurrent with CABG or LVAD implantation. Twelve patients with a history of previous myocardial infarction (MI) and a left ventricular ejection of less than 30% were enrolled in the CABG arm. In a second arm, six patients underwent LVAD implantation as a bridge to heart transplantation and were required to donate their heart for testing at the time of heart transplant. Myoblasts were successfully transplanted in all patients without any acute injection-related complications or significant long-term unexpected adverse events. Follow-up PET scans showed new areas of viability within the infarct scar in CABG patients. Echocardiography measured an average improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from 25% to 34%. Histological evaluation in four out of five patients who underwent heart transplantation documented survival and engraftment of the skeletal myoblasts within the infarcted myocardium. These interim results demonstrate survival, feasibility, and safety of autologous myoblast transplantation and suggest that this modality may offer a potential therapeutic treatment for end-stage heart disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Randomised trials in general practice--a New Zealand experience in recruitment.

AIM: To examine general practitioner (GP) and patient recruitment in a randomised clinical trial to determine the usefulness of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the diagnosis of heart failure in the community. METHODS: Different techniques were used to maximise GP recruitment including early consultation with GPs, benefits for participating GPs and patients, and a comprehensive suburb-by-suburb approach to GPs using letters and personal visits. GPs then referred patients. At the conclusion of the study, GPs were given a questionnaire focussing on barriers to referral and reasons for participation. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty seven GPs from 135 practices were sent an introductory letter; 294 were eligible to participate. Of these, 186 GPs (63% of eligible GPs) agreed to participate. Ninety two GPs (31% of eligible GPs) from 62 practices referred 307 patients to the study (range 1-14 patients). There were no significant differences between referring and non-referring GPs with respect to sociodemographic characteristics. Referring GPs were very supportive of GP participation in research and strongly agreed that GPs should be reimbursed for involvement in trials. CONCLUSIONS: Patient recruitment by GPs may be aided by the use of a range of strategies including financial reimbursement. GPs who agree to participate will not always recruit patients. Closer collaboration and understanding between primary healthcare professionals and researchers may further enhance recruitment to clinical trials.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2003

Autologous skeletal myoblasts transplanted to ischemia-damaged myocardium in humans. Histological analysis of cell survival and differentiation.

OBJECTIVES: We report histological analysis of hearts from patients with end-stage heart disease who were transplanted with autologous skeletal myoblasts concurrent with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. BACKGROUND: Autologous skeletal myoblast transplantation is under investigation as a means to repair infarcted myocardium. To date, there is only indirect evidence to suggest survival of skeletal muscle in humans. METHODS: Five patients (all male; median age 60 years) with ischemic cardiomyopathy, refractory heart failure, and listed for heart transplantation underwent muscle biopsy from the quadriceps muscle. The muscle specimen was shipped to a cell isolation facility where myoblasts were isolated and grown. Patients received a transplant of 300 million cells concomitant with LVAD implantation. Four patients underwent LVAD explant after 68, 91, 141, and 191 days of LVAD support (three transplant, one LVAD death), respectively. One patient remains alive on LVAD support awaiting heart transplantation. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle cell survival and differentiation into mature myofibers were directly demonstrated in scarred myocardium from three of the four explanted hearts using an antibody against skeletal muscle-specific myosin heavy chain. An increase in small vessel formation was observed in one of three patients at the site of surviving myotubes, but not in adjacent tissue devoid of engrafted cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings represent demonstration of autologous myoblast cell survival in human heart. The implanted skeletal myoblasts formed viable grafts in heavily scarred human myocardial tissue. These results establish the feasibility of myoblast transplants for myocardial repair in humans.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor increases CD123hi blood dendritic cells with altered CD62L and CCR7 expression.

Changes in blood dendritic cell (BDC) counts (CD123(hi)BDC and CD11c(+)BDC) and expression of CD62L, CCR7, and CD49d were analyzed in healthy donors, multiple myeloma (MM), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients, who received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) containing peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization protocols. Low-dose G-CSF in healthy donors (8-10 microg/kg/d subcutaneously) and high-dose G-CSF in patients (30 microg/kg/d) increased CD123(hi)BDC (2- to 22-fold, mean 3.7 x 10(6)/L-17.7 x 10(6)/L and 1.9 x 10(6)/L-12.0 x 10(6)/L) in healthy donors and MM but decreased CD11c(+)BDC (2- to 10-fold, mean 5.7 x 10(6)/L-1.6 x 10(6)/L) in NHL patients, on the day of apheresis, compared with steady state. After apheresis, CD123(hi)BDC counts remained high, whereas low CD11c(+)BDC counts tended to recover in the following 2-5 days. Down-regulation of CD62L and up-regulation of CCR7 on CD123(hi)BDC were found in most healthy donors and MM patients. CD49d expression was unchanged. Thus, PBSC mobilization may change BDC counts by altering molecules necessary for BDC homing from blood into tissues.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Left ventricular assist device therapy improves utilization of donor hearts.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the survival experiences of patients bridged to heart transplantation with either intravenous (IV) inotropes or an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD). BACKGROUND: Because of the operative risks of LVAD implantation and the reported lower mortality associated with inotropic therapy, bridging to heart transplantation with inotropes is thought to be the preferred treatment option. METHODS: Between April 1, 1996, and May 10, 2001, a total of 104 patients were bridged to heart transplantation with either IV inotropes (n = 38) or an implantable LVAD (n = 66; HeartMate). Survival was compared (Kaplan-Meier method) for three periods: survival to transplantation, post-transplantation survival and overall survival (i.e., survival from the onset of bridging to follow-up). RESULTS: Survival to transplantation was 81 +/- 5% at three months for the LVAD group and 64 +/- 11% for the inotrope group (p = NS). Post-transplantation survival was 95 +/- 4% at three years for the LVAD group (two deaths) and 65 +/- 10% at three years for the inotrope group (nine deaths; p = 0.007). Overall survival was 77 +/- 6% at three years for the LVAD group and 44 +/- 9% at three years for the inotrope group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Overall survival for patients who were bridged to heart transplantation with an implantable LVAD was superior to that of patients who were bridged with inotropes. Bridging to transplantation with an implantable LVAD improves utilization of donor hearts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Relapsed plasma cell leukaemia presenting with aggressive extramedullary plasmacytomas in the meninges and testis--a missed opportunity for induction CNS prophylaxis.

After initial treatment, a 54-year-old male with plasma cell leukaemia developed extramedullary relapse in the testis and meninges without evidence of bone marrow involvement. We postulate that the central nervous system (CNS) and testis may have served as sanctuary sites for the disease during initial treatment. A role for CNS prophylaxis in plasma cell leukaemia is suggested.

Humans↗

PubMed2002

Development of a multicenter interventional cardiology database: the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) experience.

The technical challenges in the development of a quality-controlled registry of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) are currently unknown. This article describes the authors' experience in the development of a regional, quality-controlled PCI registry. In 1996, 16 centers in Michigan were invited to participate in a multicenter PCI registry. Nine centers agreed to a pilot data collection and, as of July 2001, eight centers are still actively collecting data. An Oracle database was developed by the coordinating center. A common data collection form and a standard set of definitions were agreed on during several meetings. Data validity was insured through review of each form by a trained nurse, by automatic database diagnostic routines, and by site visits that included a review of the catheterization laboratory logs and a review of randomly selected charts. The average number of forms requiring query resolution was 33% in 1997 (range 7-76%), and it decreased to 5% in 1999 (range 1.4-10%). The most commonly queried variables were outcomes prior to discharge, lesion category, lesion complexity, date of birth, device used, gender, postprocedural percent stenosis, presence of left main disease, and MI date. Invalid dates, identification of the doctor, the presence of duplicate forms, and of duplicate outcomes were additional common queries generated by the internal diagnostic routines. In conclusion, the number of queries and diagnostic reports generated in the database suggests that the development of a quality-controlled PCI registry requires the institution of a careful diagnostic and data quality assessment system.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

PubMed1997