Biomedical subjects

Tiffany Anthony

Publications and source records attributed to Tiffany Anthony.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Development of a parathyroid hormone-controlled release system as a potential surgical treatment for hypoparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop a surgically implantable controlled release delivery system for parathyroid hormone (PTH) that will maintain calcium homeostasis without the adverse side effects of long-term calcium and vitamin D replacement and can be used for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. METHODS: Biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres loaded with PTH were made using a modification of the double emulsion (water/oil/water) solvent evaporation technique. To simulate the release of PTH from microspheres after implantation in an animal, the in vitro release profile for the PTH microspheres was determined by incubating the PTH microspheres in phosphate-buffered saline, serially sampling the effluent, and determining the concentration of PTH in the effluent over time using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: (1) PTH was successfully incorporated into PLGA microspheres. (2) Controlled release of PTH was demonstrated in vitro over a 3-week period. (3) Release of physiological significant concentrations of PTH was achieved using this methodology. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled release of physiological concentrations of PTH can be achieved using PLGA microsphere encapsulation.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMed2005

Trauma surgery malpractice risk: perception versus reality.

OBJECTIVE: We set out to compare the malpractice lawsuit risk and incidence in trauma surgery, emergency surgery, and elective surgery at a single academic medical center. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: The perceived increased malpractice risk attributed to trauma patients discourages participation in trauma call panels and may influence career choice of surgeons. When questioned, surgeons cite malpractice risk as a rationale for not providing trauma care. Little data substantiate or refute the perceived high trauma malpractice risk. We hypothesized that the malpractice risk was equivalent between an elective surgical practice and a trauma/emergency practice. METHODS: Three prospectively maintained institutional databases were used to calculate and characterize malpractice incidence and risk: a surgical operation database, a trauma registry, and a risk management/malpractice database. Risk groups were divided into elective general surgery (ELECTIVE), urgent/emergent, nontrauma general surgery (URGENT), and trauma surgery (TRAUMA). Malpractice claims incidence was calculated by dividing the total number of filed lawsuits by the total number of operative procedures over a 12-year period. RESULTS: Over the study period, 62,350 operations were performed. A total of 21 lawsuits were served. Seven were dismissed. Three were granted summary judgments to the defendants. Ten were settled with payments to the plaintiffs. One went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the defendants. Total paid liability was 4.7 million dollars(391,667 dollars/year). Total legal defense costs were 1.3 million dollars(108,333 dollars/year). The ratio of lawsuits filed/operations performed and incidence in the 3 groups is as follows: ELECTIVE 14/39,080 (3.0 lawsuits/100,000 procedures/year), URGENT 5/17,958, (2.3 lawsuits/100,000 procedures/year), and TRAUMA 2/5312 (3.1/100,000 procedures/year). During the study period, there were an estimated 49,435 trauma patients evaluated. The incidence of malpractice lawsuits using this denominator is 0.34 lawsuits/100,000 patients/year. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate no increased risk of lawsuit when caring for trauma patients, and the actual risk of a malpractice lawsuit was low.

Databases, Factual↗

PubMed2004

Potential tissue-engineering applications for neonatal surgery.

Tissue engineering attempts to build neotissue from its cellular building blocks. This neotissue can then be used for reconstructive surgical applications such as replacement of a congenitally abnormal heart valve or repair of a craniofacial abnormality. Since its inception in the late 1980s, tissue engineering has sparked the interests of physicians and scientists alike because of its great potential. Significant progress has been made in this burgeoning branch of science. This article reviews some of the ongoing preclinical and clinical tissue engineering research as it applies to neonatology.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Application of tissue-engineering principles toward the development of a semilunar heart valve substitute.

Heart valve disease is a significant medical problem worldwide. Current treatment for heart valve disease is heart valve replacement. State of the art replacement heart valves are less than ideal and are associated with significant complications. Using the basic principles of tissue engineering, promising alternatives to current replacement heart valves are being developed. Significant progress has been made in the development of a tissue-engineered semilunar heart valve substitute. Advancements include the development of different potential cell sources and cell-seeding techniques; advancements in matrix and scaffold development and in polymer chemistry fabrication; and the development of a variety of bioreactors, which are biomimetic devices used to modulate the development of tissue-engineered neotissue in vitro through the application of biochemical and biomechanical stimuli. This review addresses the need for a tissue-engineered alternative to the current heart valve replacement options. The basics of heart valve structure and function, heart valve disease, and currently available heart valve replacements are discussed. The last 10 years of investigation into a tissue-engineered heart valve as well as current developments are reviewed. Finally, the early clinical applications of cardiovascular tissue engineering are presented.

Animals↗