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Biomedical subjects

David M Quinlan

Publications and source records attributed to David M Quinlan.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Genital self-mutilation.

A 53-year-old man was brought to the emergency department having removed both testicles and amputated his penis using a bread knife. Examination of the amputated penis showed it to be unsuitable for an attempted replant procedure. The patient was taken to theatre where the perineal wound was debrided and the remaining urethra brought down as a perineal urethrostomy, with a local cutaneous flap rotated to provide coverage for the urethra. Discussed herein are the incidence, predisposing factors, management and complications of genital self-mutilation in the adult male, and the existing literature is reviewed on the subject.

Amputation, Traumatic↗

Management of gestational nephrolithiasis in the presence of a bicornuate uterus and pelvic kidney.

A 39-year-old para 0(+1) woman with known nephrolithiasis within a left-sided pelvic kidney presented with left-sided renal colic at 7 weeks gestation. She had a previous miscarriage due to a bicornuate uterus. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance urography confirmed an incomplete obstruction of the left upper renal tract which was relieved by percutaneous nephrostomy. She presented again at 14 weeks with renal colic and minimal output. An ultrasound confirmed recurrent hydronephrosis and a nephrostogram showed that the catheter had retracted almost completely from the collecting system. This was considered to be due to the upward pressure of the enlarging uterus on the catheter, which had been fixed externally to the skin. This problem was obviated by not securing the replacement nephrostomy tube to the skin. She developed pre-eclamptic toxaemia and gave birth at 35 weeks gestation by caesarean section. The calculus was later dissolved using extra-corporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

Adult↗

Cell death mechanisms associated with G2 radiosensitivity in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Cells respond to genotoxic insults such as ionizing radiation by halting in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Delayed cell death (mitotic death) can occur when the cell is released from G2, and specific spindle defects form endopolyploid cells (endoreduplication/tetraploidy). Enhanced G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity has been observed in many cancers and genomic instability syndromes, and it is manifested by radiation-induced chromatid aberrations observed in lymphocytes of patients. Here we compare the G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity in prostate patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer with disease-free controls. We also investigated whether there is a correlation between G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity and aneuploidy (tetraploidy and endoreduplication), which are indicative of mitotic cell death. The G2 assay was carried out on all human blood samples. Metaphase analysis was conducted on the harvested chromosomes by counting the number of aberrations and the mitotic errors (endoreduplication/tetraploidy) separately per 100 metaphases. A total of 1/14 of the controls were radiosensitive in G2 compared to 6/15 of the BPH patients and 15/17 of the prostate cancer patients. Radiation-induced mitotic inhibition was assessed to determine the efficacy of G2 checkpoint control in the prostate patients. There was no significant correlation of G2 radiosensitivity scores and mitotic inhibition in BPH patients (P = 0.057), in contrast to prostate cancer patients, who showed a small but significant positive correlation (P = 0.029). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between G2 radiosensitivity scores of BPH patients and endoreduplication/ tetraploidy (P = 0.136), which contrasted with an extremely significant correlation observed in prostate cancer patients (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, cells from prostate cancer patients show increased sensitivity to the induction of G2 aberrations from ionizing radiation exposure but paradoxically show reduced mitotic indices and aneuploidy as a function of aberration frequency.

Aged↗

Thromboprophylaxis for radical prostatectomy: a comparative analysis of present practice between the USA, the UK, and Ireland.

BACKGROUND: A clinical dilemma exists in the management of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) whereby measures taken to reduce the risk of thrombotic events may adversely affect efforts to limit blood loss. No consensus exists in the literature on the ideal management of thromboprophylaxis in these patients. Our aim is to examine and compare current thromboprophylactic policy and practice between the centres involved in performing RP. METHODS: A questionnaire was forwarded to all urology residency programmes in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, regarding their current practice with respect to thromboprophylaxis in RP. Completed questionnaire were returned by fax and the data entered into a computer database. RESULTS: An overall response rate of 60% was achieved. The questionnaires demonstrated a significant difference in clinical practice between Urologists in the United States and the United Kingdom. Just 24% of American Urologists use pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in contrast to 100% of British Urologists. There was no difference in the use of non-pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is mainly administered by units, mostly in the United Kingdom, doing fewer radical prostatectomies. CONCLUSIONS: While there have been studies advocating the use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing major pelvic surgery, there is no consensus on it is use in urological practice. This study has demonstrated significant differences in the management of thromboprophylaxis between the USA and the UK/Ireland. Units performing the largest number of radical prostatectomies, mostly in the USA, do not use pharmacological thromboprophylaxis and most do not use compression boots.

Anticoagulants↗

Can prostate biopsies predict suitability for nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy?

OBJECTIVE: The process for selecting patients suitable for nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) has been the source of much debate. In this study we analysed the use of prostate biopsies as the principal selection tool. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (n = 133) were retrospectively categorized as having "unilateral" (biopsy demonstrated malignancy confined to one side of the gland) or "bilateral" carcinoma. The accuracy and reliability of this categorization were determined by correlation with the final histopathology of the resected radical prostatectomy specimen. RESULTS: Prostate biopsy suggested "unilateral" carcinoma in 30/58 (52%) and 45/75 (60%) patients diagnosed using transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) and transperineal digital-guided (TP) routes, respectively. Subsequent analysis of the resected specimen, however, revealed "bilateral" malignancy in 50 patients (86%) in the TRUS group and in 63 (84%) in the TP group. Furthermore, positive surgical margins were identified on the "benign" side (by preoperative biopsy) in 6 (20%) patients in the TRUS subgroup whose biopsy had suggested "unilateral" carcinoma, and in 12 (27%) of the comparative TP subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy-suggested "unilateral" carcinoma was associated with both a high incidence of "bilateral" disease on final histology following radical prostatectomy and an alarming incidence (24%) of positive surgical margins on the "benign" side where NSRP might be advocated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Positive apical surgical margins after radical retropubic prostatectomy, truth or artefact?

OBJECTIVE: The significance of a positive apical surgical margin following radical retropubic prostatectomy has been the subject of controversy. We examined the hypothesis that a positive apical margin alone is not associated with an increased probability of biochemical relapse. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 162 men underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically organ-confined disease between May 1990 and December 1998. The mean follow-up period was 55 months (minimum 24 months). The mean patient age was 60.8 years. Clinical staging was 67.9% T1 and 32.1% T2. The mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen level was 11.5 ng/ml, and the mean Gleason score was 5.8. RESULTS: Overall, 5/64 patients (7.8%) with negative surgical margins and 42/98 (42.9%) with at least one positive surgical margin had biochemical recurrence (p < 0.001). Seven of 25 patients (28%) with a solitary positive apical margin relapsed. A solitary apical positive margin was associated with a statistically significant higher risk of recurrence versus controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: All patients with a positive surgical margin, including those with a solitary apical margin alone, are at significantly increased risk of biochemical failure.

Adenocarcinoma↗