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Biomedical subjects

I Shrier

Publications and source records attributed to I Shrier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Do distal adenomas mandate total colonoscopy?

BACKGROUND: Distal adenomas have been considered markers of proximal neoplasms. It also has been suggested that patients with small, distal adenomas do not require proximal examination of the colon. This study was conducted to determine the validity of the latter recommendation. METHODS: From a total of 5,132 colonoscopies performed between 1976 and 1999, all patients from whom adenomas were removed were included. Those with previous colon resections or incomplete cecal intubation were excluded. Proximal adenomas were defined as those proximal to the sigmoid colon. Adenomas were considered advanced if they were 1 cm or larger, contained any villous component, or demonstrated severe dysplasia. RESULTS: The study included 226 patients. Overall, 98 patients had distal adenomas, and there was a synchronous proximal adenomas rate of 23.4%. Patients with single, small, rectosigmoid, tubular adenomas had proximal adenomas at a rate of 28.8%, and 9.6% were advanced adenomas. Patients with advanced distal adenomas had synchronous proximal adenomas at a rate of 18.9%, and 10.8% of these were advanced adenomas. According to multiple logistic regression, the strongest predictor of proximal neoplasia was the absence of distal polyps. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the necessity for total colonoscopy in all patients with distal adenomas regardless of size. In addition, the high proportion of proximal neoplasia without distal markers suggests that full colonoscopy may be warranted as a screening tool in all patients.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

The changed histologic paradigm of colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Previous literature has recorded the preponderance of hyperplastic over neoplastic polyps. This study evaluated the histopathologic characteristics of colonic polyps, excised during colonoscopic polypectomy, and further determined their relationship to age, location, and gender. METHODS: Of 5132 colonoscopies reviewed between 1976 and 1999, 757 were performed on 582 patients who had polyp removal. Patients with previous colon resection or incomplete cecal intubation were excluded. RESULTS: The mean age was 67 +/- 11 years for men and 66 +/- 11 years for women. Of the 1050 lesions histologically analyzed, 871 (83.0%) were neoplastic, 129 (12.3%) were hyperplastic, and 50 (4.8%) were miscellaneous lesions (29 inflammatory polyps, 14 lipomas, 2 leiomyomas, 1 juvenile polyp, and 4 no pathology identified). Hyperplastic polyps were always less than 1 cm (with one exception) and were located predominantly in the left colon, the majority residing in the sigmoid colon. Peak prevalence of hyperplastic polyps occurred in the 50-70 years old age group. Of the neoplastic polyps, 566 (65.0%) were tubular, 225 (25.8%) villotubular, 63 (7.2%) villous adenomas, 4 (0.5%) mixed adenomatous hyperplastic polyps, and 12 (1.4%) invasive carcinomas. The peak prevalence of neoplastic polyps occurred in the same age group as did hyperplastic polyps. Even though adenomatous polyps outnumbered hyperplastic polyps throughout the colon and within each age group, a greater percentage of hyperplastic polyps were found distally and in younger patients compared to location and age groups for neoplastic polyps. CONCLUSION: Adenomatous polyps outnumber hyperplastic polyps 7:1, even in the distal colon. Even small polyps seen during colonoscopy should be removed and subjected to histologic analysis because of the advisability of follow-up examinations of patients with neoplastic polyps. The increase in the incidence of neoplastic polyps beginning at the age of 50 years supports the need for colonoscopy in these individuals.

Adenomatous Polyps↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for the development of low back pain in adolescence.

A previous history and earlier onset of low back pain are associated with chronic low back pain in adults, implying that prevention in adolescence may have a positive impact in adulthood. The study objectives were to determine the incidence of low back pain in a cohort of adolescents and to ascertain risk factors. A cohort of 502 high school students in Montreal, Canada, was evaluated during 1995-1996 at three separate times, 6 months apart. The outcome was low back pain occurrence at a frequency of at least once a week in the previous 6 months. Of the 377 adolescents who did not complain of low back pain at the initial evaluation, 65 developed low back pain over the year (cumulative incidence, 17 percent). Risk factors associated with development of low back pain were high growth (odds ratio = 3.09; 95 percent confidence interval (CI): 1.53, 6.01), smoking (odds ratio = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.38, 3.50), tight quadriceps femoris (odds ratio = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.05), tight hamstrings (odds ratio = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.06), and working during the school year (odds ratio = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.71). Modifying such risk factors as smoking and poor leg flexibility may potentially serve to prevent the development of low back pain in adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The value of specialization--is there an outcome difference in the management of fistulas complicating diverticulitis.

PURPOSE: The value of specialization has frequently been challenged by many health care institutions and providers. This review was conducted to determine whether there were any outcome differences in the management of fistulas complicating diverticulitis. METHODS: We conducted an historical cohort study using hospital charts of all cases of fistulas complicating diverticulitis that were operated on in four university-affiliated hospitals between 1975 and 1995. There were 122 patients, with 37 under the care of fully trained colorectal surgeons and 85 under the care of general surgeons. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient demographics, preoperative comorbidities, or the number of preoperative diagnostic investigations between the two groups. The colorectal surgeons performed more intraoperative ureteral stenting (Colorectal Surgery 55.5 percent vs. General Surgery 24.4 percent, P = 0.001). The general surgeons performed more initial diverting Hartmann's and colostomy procedures (Colorectal Surgery 5.4 percent vs. General Surgery 27 percent, P = 0.013). The patients in the General Surgery group had longer preoperative lengths of stay (median Colorectal Surgery 3 (range, 1-28) days vs. General Surgery 8 (range, 0-29) days; P < 0.001), longer postoperative lengths of stay (median Colorectal Surgery 11 (range, 5-40) days vs. General Surgery 14 (range, 2-80) days; P = 0.001), and longer total lengths of stay (median Colorectal Surgery 14 (range, 6-62) days vs. General Surgery 24 (range, 6-100) days; P < 0.001). The patients in the General Surgery group experienced a higher rate of wound infections (Colorectal Surgery 5.4 percent vs. General Surgery 12.9 percent), and a larger proportion of them experienced complications (Colorectal Surgery 27 percent vs. General Surgery 41.2 percent). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that specialization in colon and rectal surgery contributed to an improved outcome, with a lower rate of diverting procedures, a shorter hospital stay, and a lower rate of complications.

Canada↗
PubMed2001

Systematic review: the use of somatostatin or octreotide in refractory diarrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Somatostatin and octreotide have multiple effects which make them ideal for treating diarrhoea of different aetiologies. Their use in a variety of conditions with refractory diarrhoea, however, is based on a limited number of studies. AIM: We undertook a systematic review of the available English literature to maximize an evidence-based approach to the treatment of refractory diarrhoea. We tested the hypothesis that efficacy is independent of aetiology. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Medline and individual article search from 1965 to 2000 was undertaken on the use of somatostatin and octreotide in diarrhoea. All reports containing at least five subjects were included. The percentage response in case series and randomized controlled trials was compared, and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials where patient level data were provided was carried out. There were 30 publications found (18 case series, 12 randomized controlled trials). The response percentage was 73% overall in case series and 64% in randomized controlled trials (not significant). A meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials revealed significant heterogeneity despite an overall relative risk of 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.91). Subgroup analysis of the largest aetiological groups showed that acquired immunodeficiency syndrome studies were homogeneous, but somatostatin and octreotide were less effective. Post-chemotherapy studies remained heterogeneous and somatostatin and octreotide were highly effective. CONCLUSIONS: While this review strengthens the consensus guidelines on the use of somatostatin and octreotide for refractory diarrhoea, evidence-based support requires additional studies.

Antidiarrheals↗
PubMed2001

A teaching unit in primary care sports medicine for family medicine residents.

The authors describe their experience in setting up a sports medicine teaching unit within a family practice center of a teaching hospital. The unit's patient population more closely resembles that of a typical family practice than that of a traditional musculoskeletal teaching clinic (e.g., orthopedics, emergency room). The teaching program includes direct observation of residents performing history taking and physical examinations through one-way mirrors, close supervision for each case, and a sports therapist who educates patients and residents about home exercise programs when physiotherapy within private clinics is not necessary or affordable. At the end of each session 20-30 minutes are devoted to teaching specific physical examination skills. The authors describe how their clinic interacts with other services within the hospital and how certain obstacles they encountered when setting up the clinic might be avoided by others. They feel that this type of unit complements other existing programs in the family medicine department and provides an excellent learning experience for family medicine residents, who are likely to see a high proportion of patients with muskuloskeletal injuries in their practices.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2001

Missed opportunities for prevention of venous thromboembolism: an evaluation of the use of thromboprophylaxis guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and characterize cases of potentially preventable venous thromboembolism (VTE): cases for which thromboprophylaxis was indicated, according to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) consensus guidelines for VTE prevention, yet was administered inadequately. DESIGN: A historical cohort study to examine all cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism from 1996 to 1997 at a large teaching hospital. Of these, we determined the proportion that was potentially preventable. We examined the reasons for inadequacy of prophylaxis and the setting in which preventable VTE occurred. RESULTS: Of 253 objectively diagnosed cases of VTE in 245 patients, 44 cases (17.4%) were considered potentially preventable. This represented two thirds of all VTE cases for which thromboprophylaxis had been indicated (n = 65). Of preventable cases, the most frequent reason for inadequacy of prophylaxis was omission of prophylaxis (47.7%), followed by inadequate duration of prophylaxis (22.7%), and by incorrect type of prophylaxis (20.5%). Surgical and medical indications for thromboprophylaxis that were common among preventable cases included nonorthopedic surgery, admission to hospital for pneumonia, and stroke with lower limb paralysis. Underlying risk factors for VTE that were common among preventable cases included recent immobility, active cancer, and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: One of six cases of all VTE and two of three cases of VTE for which thromboprophylaxis had been indicated could potentially have been prevented had physicians followed the recommended ACCP guidelines. Inadequacy of prophylaxis was most often caused by omission of prophylaxis. Missed opportunities for prevention occurred most commonly in the settings of nonorthopedic surgery, pneumonia, and stroke.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for development of lower limb pain in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Although many clinicians believe high growth leads to inflexibility, which may lead to lower extremity pain, the only prospective data suggest growth is unrelated to flexibility. However, it is still possible that growth and/or flexibility are related to pain even if they are not related to each other. We investigated the incidence of leg pain in adolescents to determine whether high growth spurt and/or poor flexibility are risk factors for the development of lower extremity pain. METHODS: Repeated measures, prospective cohort study of urban high school students aged 12-18. Subjects were measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 months for flexibility of hamstrings and quadriceps and with the sit-and-reach test. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire on recreational activity, occupational activities, psychosocial variables, and musculoskeletal pain. RESULTS: Poor hamstring flexibility (odds ratio 0.99, confidence interval 0.97-1.01), poor quadriceps flexibility (OR 1.01, CI 0.99-1.03), poor sit-and-reach flexibility (OR 0.99, CI 0.99-1.01), and growth (OR 0.93, CI 0.50-1.71) were not related to the development of lower extremity pain. There was an association between lower extremity pain and occupational activities (OR 2.08, CI 1.45-2.98) and poor mental health (per 1 SD change, OR 1.41, CI 1.19-1.67). CONCLUSION: Neither growth nor flexibility is related to the development of lower extremity pain in adolescents. A poor mental health score and occupational activities may be associated with the development of lower extremity pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Etiology of small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a major cause of morbidity and financial expenditure in hospitals around the world. The leading cause of SBO in the western world has become adhesions. The goal of this study was to determine the causes of SBO. METHODS: The medical records of all patients admitted to one hospital between 1986 and 1996 with the diagnosis of SBO were reviewed retrospectively. This included 552 patients accounting for 1,001 admissions. RESULTS: The etiology of SBO was adhesions (74%), Crohn's disease (7%), neoplasia (5%), hernia (2%), radiation (1%), and miscellaneous (11%). Patients with Crohn's disease were younger than patients with other etiologies. Surprisingly, recurrence rates were similar for patients treated operatively as for those treated nonoperatively with the exception in the hernia group where higher recurrence rates were noted for patients initially treated in a nonoperative manner. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of SBO is adhesions followed by Crohn's disease and neoplasia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A tale of two homocysteines--and two hemodialysis units.

Pharmacologic doses of folic acid are commonly used to reduce the hyperhomocysteinemia of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Vitamin B12 acts at the same metabolic locus as folic acid, but information is lacking about the specific effects of high doses of this vitamin on homocysteine levels in renal failure. We therefore compared the plasma homocysteine concentrations of maintenance hemodialysis patients in two McGill University-affiliated urban tertiary-care medical centers that differed in the use of vitamin B12 and folic acid therapy. Patients in the first hemodialysis unit are routinely prescribed high-dose folic acid (HI-F, 6 mg/d), whereas those in the second unit receive high-dose vitamin B12 in the form of a monthly 1-mg intravenous injection, along with conventional oral folic acid (HI-B12, 1 mg/d). Predialysis homocysteine was 23.4 +/- 6.8 micromol/L (mean +/- SD) in the HI-F unit and 18.2 +/- 6.1 micromol/L in the HI-B12 unit (P < .002). Postdialysis homocysteine was 14.5 +/- 4.1 in the HI-F unit and 10.6 +/- 3.4 micromol/L in the HI-B12 unit (P = .0001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that high-dose parenteral vitamin B12 was associated with a lower homocysteine concentration even after controlling for the potential confounders of sex, serum urea, serum creatinine, urea reduction ratio, and plasma cysteine. Because this was a cross-sectional observational study, we cannot exclude the possibility that unidentified factors, rather than the different vitamin therapies, account for the different homocysteine levels in the two units. Careful prospective studies of the homocysteine-lowering effect of high-dose parenteral vitamin B12 in ESRD should be undertaken.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Natural history of patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a major cause of morbidity and financial expenditure. The goals of this study were to determine factors predisposing to adhesive SBO, to note the long-term prognosis and recurrence rates for operative and non-operative treatment, to elicit the complication rate of operations and to highlight factors predictive of recurrence. METHODS: The medical records of all patients admitted to one hospital between 1986 and 1996 with the diagnosis of SBO were reviewed retrospectively. This included 410 patients accounting for 675 admissions. RESULTS: The frequency of previous operation by procedure type was colorectal surgery (24 per cent), followed by gynaecological surgery (22 per cent), herniorrhaphy (15 per cent) and appendicectomy (14 per cent). A history of colorectal surgery (odds 2.7) and vertical incisions (odds 2.5) tended to predispose to multiple matted adhesions rather than an obstructive band. At initial admission 36 per cent of patients were treated by means of operation. As the number of admissions increased, the recurrence rate increased while the time interval between admissions decreased. Patients with an adhesive band had a 25 per cent readmission rate, compared with a 49 per cent rate for patients with matted adhesions (P<0.004). At the initial admission 36 per cent of patients were treated surgically. Patients treated without operation had a 34 per cent readmission rate, compared with 32 per cent for those treated surgically (P not significant), a shorter time to readmission (median 0.7 versus 2.0 years; P<0.05), no difference in reoperation rate (14 versus 11 per cent; P not significant) and fewer inpatient days over all admissions (4 versus 12 days; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The likelihood of reobstruction increases and the time to reobstruction decreases with increasing number of previous episodes of obstruction. Patients with matted adhesions have a greater recurrence rate than those with band adhesions. Non-operative treatment for adhesions in stable patients results in a shorter hospital stay and similar recurrence and reoperation rates, but a reduced interval to reobstruction when compared with operative treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Poisoning-induced acute atraumatic compartment syndrome.

Acute Atraumatic Compartment Syndrome (AACS) can be a potentially life and limb threatening complication of either drug abuse or medication injection. Prompt recognition followed by emergency fasciotomy is required to avoid permanent disability. A better understanding of the different clinical presentations may lead to improved outcomes through more expedient diagnosis and treatment. We describe five new cases of AACS caused by illicit drug abuse within the McGill University Hospitals, with a review of all 102 similar patients previously documented in the literature between January 1970 and May 1997. The average age for all cases was 29 years, with 74% being male. The presence of edema, pain, tension, and skin changes were the most frequent symptoms and signs reported. There appear to be two distinct mechanisms of poisoning-induced AACS: (1) direct vasotoxicity and (2) limb compression caused by prolonged comatose state. Direct vasotoxicity is more likely to lead to eventual amputation, whereas prolonged limb compression is more likely to progress to systemic complications such as azotemia, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, and renal failure (Crush Syndrome). Long-term sequelae of motor loss, sensory disruption, and development of contracture were common in AACS of both causes. Because Compartment Syndrome is a surgical emergency, primary care and emergency physicians must have a high index of suspicion to promptly recognize and treat this problem.

Acute Disease↗