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Biomedical subjects

T Cochran

Publications and source records attributed to T Cochran.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

Long-term effects on personality development in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Influence of type of treatment.

In a series of 157 patients treated surgically and/or with Milwaukee braces, constituting 83% of the original criterion patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, treated in the Department of Orthopaedics in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1969 to 1974, a specific psychologic interview was carried out an average of 9 years after treatment. The 92 surgical patients all wore a Milwaukee brace postoperatively for 6-9 months and were gradually weaned over the next year (17 +/- 2 months). The brace-treated patients wore their braces full time for 18 months and part time for another 8 months (26 +/- 3 months). The psychologic portion of the study was a semistructured interview aimed at evaluating reactions in connection with the diagnostic phase, attitudes and reactions to the treatment, attitudes to the hospital staff, and body image concepts at follow-up. The brace-treated patients more often said that they experienced more fear and anxiety when informed about the diagnosis than did the surgical patients (53% and 38%, respectively). In both groups, nearly all patients initially had negative attitudes to the brace treatment. Most of the surgically treated patients gradually accepted the brace, whereas very few of the other group did so. Forty percent in the brace group had negative experiences with the hospital staff, but only 15% in the other group reported negative experience. Several years after completed treatment, one-half of the brace group had definite signs of negative body image concept, whereas this emotional disturbance was found in 33% of the surgically treated patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Long-term anatomic and functional changes in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with the Milwaukee brace.

Ninety-five patients from the Gothenburg Scoliosis Data Base were studied. They met the following criteria: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, completion of Milwaukee brace treatment before age 20, a minimum follow-up period of 5 years thereafter, minimum age of 22 years at final follow-up examination. Of these, 85 (90%) were examined personally by an independent investigator, including anteroposterior and lateral full-length spinal roentgenograms. The average length of follow-up was 7.5 years (range, 5-12 yrs). These patients who successfully completed the brace treatment program, in their mid-twenties ended up with curves that were of equal size (33 degrees +/- 3 degrees) as when the treatment started (30 degrees +/- 3 degrees). In the sagittal plane, the spines were normal; none exhibited hypokyphosis (less than 20 degrees). Compared with the straight control group and to a previously reported group of operated patients, the brace group functioned at the same level in regard to marriage, child bearing, sports activities, and job performance. Overall back pain was also reported at a normal rate, with low-back pain significantly less frequent than the control group. Ten patients showed an increase of their curves exceeding 5 degrees; eight of these had been pregnant multiple times before age 25. None of the patients pregnant after that age increased their curve size. This study demonstrates that those patients who complete a Milwaukee brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from a functional and social point of view do very well. Early pregnancy is a significant risk factor for progression after maturity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1983

Long-term anatomic and functional changes in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated by Harrington rod fusion.

One hundred patients from the Gothenburg Scoliosis Data Base were studied. They met the following criteria: (1) adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (2) completion of treatment before age 20, (3) a minimum follow-up of five years thereafter, (4) a minimum age of 22 years at final follow-up, and (5) operation performed by the senior author. Of these, 95 were personally examined. The surgical technique from 1968 to 1973 included a two-stage Harrington distraction, with fusion added at the second operation (52 patients). From 1973 to 1975, 48 patients were treated with a one-stage distraction and fusion after a week of preoperative Cotrel traction. Postoperatively, all patients were treated with a Milwaukee brace. A spinal examination and functional assessment, including a questionnaire and pain drawing, full standing anterior-posterior (AP), and lateral roentgenograms of the spine, was performed by independent observers. Eighty-five subjects without scoliosis served as a control group. The radiographic evaluation showed the usual nearly 50% permanent correction at the follow-up examination averaging nine years postoperatively. Lateral roentgenograms, however, demonstrated in 52% flattened or kyphotic cervical spines producing no significant complaints, non-significant flattening of the thoracic kyphosis, but significant lowering of the lumbar lordosis. Fifteen of the 24 patients with distal hook insertion and fusion including L4 or L5 demonstrated retrolisthesis. All had significant low-back pain. Degenerative facet joint changes and disc space narrowing was noted in 11 patients, again with a distal hook purchase in L4 or L5. Compared to the controls, the operated patients, as a group, revealed no lessened activity or back pain at any location.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Muramic acid detection in mammalian tissues by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Muramic acid is a component of the peptidoglycan moiety of cell walls of all bacteria and blue-green algae and is not found elsewhere in nature. A gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for muramic acid in tissue is described. The application of the method to the detection of muramic acid in tissues of rats with streptococcal cell wall-induced polyarthritis is demonstrated. Because the method has the potential to measure total bacterial biomass in tissue, it should prove to be an important assay in elucidating the etiological role of bacterial debris in chronic inflammatory diseases in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome with partial response to transfer factor.

A male infant presented with dermatitis, purpura and susceptibility to bacterial infections. The clinical diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome was confirmed and after full immunological assessment, treatment with transfer factor was commenced. This has resulted in a rise in the platelet count and improvement in the bleeding tendency. This improvement in the haematological aspect of the disease has, however, been accompanied by exacerbations of the cutaneous lesions.

Blood Cell Count↗