Biomedical subjects

C Lowe

Publications and source records attributed to C Lowe.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevention of adverse reactions to blood transfusion by the administration of saline-washed red blood cells.

We prospectively compared the incidence of complications following saline-washed versus packed red blood cell transfusions, to determine whether routine use of washed red blood cells could reduce significantly the incidence of transfusion reactions. Clinical reports of reactions were evaluated carefully to confirm whether the reaction was caused by transfusion. In 3,799 washed red blood cell transfusions, there were eight confirmed reactions (0.21%). Of 6,359 packed red blood cell transfusions, 31 reactions occurred (0.49%). The difference in incidence of confirmed complications was statistically significant (p less than 0.03). Administration of washed red blood cells to all patients requiring transfusions can thus be seen to reduce significantly the incidence of adverse reactions. This is likely the result of the removal of leukocytes and plasma achieved by the washing process. The increased safety of washed red blood cells must be weighed against their extra expense to determine their cost-effectiveness in transfusion therapy.

Blood Preservation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Repair of five distal radius fractures with an investigational cancellous bone cement: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of Norian SRS bone cement injected percutaneously into a distal radius following reduction in both preventing loss of reduction as well as safety. DESIGN: The study was a prospective clinical study with an established protocol. SETTING: The study was conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital following approval of the institutions Investigational Review Board. All patients were required to read and approve an informed consent document. PATIENTS: While twenty patients' radiographs fulfilled the requirement of a dorsally displaced extraarticular fracture to have occurred within 72 hours of presentation, only five consented to participate fully and one voluntarily withdrew after a six-month follow-up. INTERVENTION: All fractures were reduced under regional or general anesthesia, and the Norian SRS was introduced via a catheter system into the metaphyseal defect of the fracture. A short arm cast was applied and remained in place for six weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Radiographic parameters of fracture reduction were measured prospectively by an independent radiologist throughout the 12 months of the study. Clinical parameters of hand and wrist function were measured prospectively by an independent occupational therapist. RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, radial length was a mean 9.9 mm with an average loss of < 1 mm; radial angle maintained at a mean 25.4 degrees; volar angle was within normal range (0-21 degrees) in 4; and 1 patient had a dorsal angle of 7 degrees. Wrist motion improved 50 percent between 6 weeks and 3 months and improved further by 12 months when grip strength reached a mean of 88 percent of the contralateral side. Dorsal and volar extrusion of injected Norian SRS in 4 patients resorbed over time. There were no clinically significant adverse effects or complications. CONCLUSIONS: Norian SRS proved to be clinically safe and effective as a cancellous bone cement to maintain fracture reduction of unstable extraarticular distal radius fractures.

Bone Cements↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health in Action.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Alberta↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A study of alleged leprosy bacillus strain HI-75.

Subcultures of strain HI-75 of Skinsnes leprosy bacillus received in Antwerp and London have been studied bacteriologically and compared. Both contained moderately large acid-fast bacilli readily subcultured and maintained on ordinary mycobacteriologic media. These organisms were found to be a variety of Mycobacterium marianum (syn. serofulaceum) and were considered likely to be a laboratory contaminant. The earlier subculture studied also contained numbers of a much smaller mycobacterium (of a similar size to M. leprae) which appeared to be dead and which did not grow on the ordinary media. Skin tests and immunodiffusion analyses performed with extracts of the earlier subculture failed to demonstrate the presence of the specific antigens of leprosy bacilli. Similar studies on other cultures of Skinsnes bacillus must be performed to confirm or refute its identity as M. leprae.

Cell Wall↗