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Biomedical subjects

J C Carroll

Publications and source records attributed to J C Carroll.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Urological aspects of intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor of childhood: a preliminary report.

To our knowledge intra-abdominal desmoplastic round cell tumor has not previously been described in the pediatric urological literature. This lesion has only recently been recognized as a clinicopathological entity with predilection for adolescent boys. We report on 2 patients who presented with urological symptoms and a large abdominal or pelvic tumor that was biopsied at exploratory laparotomy. Complete surgical excision was impossible in both patients, who subsequently underwent multiagent chemotherapy. Histological and immunohistochemical staining are distinctive in this condition. The tumor is associated with a poor prognosis, despite multidisciplinary, multimodal therapy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Maternal serum screening.

Maternal serum screening (MSS) measures three serum markers: alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol, from which the risk of fetal Down syndrome or open neural tube defect is calculated. Initially, 8% of women will have positive results. I present a protocol for investigating these women. Family physicians should be informed about MSS so they can give their patients information and guidance.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

Psychosocial risk factors during pregnancy. What do family physicians ask about?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether physician characteristics affect attitudes or practices regarding assessment of psychosocial risk factors during pregnancy, and to evaluate whether an antenatal psychosocial risk factor assessment form would help family physicians. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire asking physicians to rate the importance of information on a scale of one to five was mailed to all active members of the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine's Survey Network of Attitudes and Practice (SNAP). PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of physicians doing prenatal and intrapartum obstetrics who are active members of SNAP. The network is made up of full-time faculty in the University of Toronto's family practice units and teaching practice physicians (rural, suburban, and urban) who are interested in participating in research projects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response rate was 78%. Responses of the 45 SNAP members who did not practise obstetrics were excluded; 125 of 218 questionnaires mailed were analyzed. RESULTS: Women family physicians rated the form potentially helpful more frequently than their male colleagues. Urban and suburban physicians' concerns differed from those of rural physicians. Alcohol and drug abuse, abuse in the relationship, and acceptance of the pregnancy were rated highly important by physicians. Of the physicians surveyed, 77% thought that an antenatal psychosocial risk assessment form would be of some benefit or very helpful. Only 15% indicated it would be useless or not helpful. CONCLUSION: The importance respondents accorded to risk factors showed little correspondence to the frequency of inquiry about them. The survey confirmed our plan to design an antenatal psychosocial risk factor assessment form.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Are physicians changing the way they practise obstetrics?

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in obstetric interventions in women at low risk over approximately 3 years. It was postulated that there would be a general reduction in most intervention rates. DESIGN: Retrospective review of hospital records. SETTING: Three downtown hospitals of the University of Toronto, in which academic and nonacademic family physicians and obstetricians practised. PATIENTS: A total of 2365 women in phase 1 (April 1985 to March 1986) and 1277 in phase 2 (May to September 1988) met the inclusion criteria for grade A (pregnancy at no predictable risk) of the Ontario Antenatal Record at the time of admission to hospital. OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of artificial rupture of the membranes, induction, augmentation, epidural anesthesia, continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), instrumental delivery, episiotomy and cesarean section. RESULTS: The family physicians and the obstetricians had significant decreases (p < 0.01) over time in the rates of episiotomy, especially mediolateral, and low forceps delivery. The rate of epidural anesthesia decreased significantly in the obstetrician group. The rates of artificial rupture of the membranes, induction and continuous EFM increased in the two physician groups; the increased rate of EFM was significant in the obstetrician group (p < 0.01). There was no significant change in the rates of augmentation, midforceps delivery, vacuum extraction or cesarean section. All of the trends were found to hold when the intervention rates were analysed according to the women's parity. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the findings reflect recommendations and trends reported in the literature, whereas others are not supported by clear medical evidence. The unpredictable nature of the trends suggests that further study is warranted of the reasons for obstetric trends and for the changes in physicians' practice patterns.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1993

New matrix material for potential use in "reversible" vasectomy. Preliminary animal biocompatibility studies.

The biocompatibility of a new elastomeric-hydrogel matrix biomaterial for use as an intravasal occlusive device was assessed by inserting it into the vas deferens of dogs. The vas was removed and examined histologically after varying periods of time. The biomaterial resulted in total occlusion of the vas. Epithelial changes were limited to squamous metaplasia in areas adjacent to the implant. Changes in the subepithelium were minimal. This new material is biocompatible with the dog vas, and it has potential as an occlusive device for "reversible" vasectomy in men. Semen analysis studies are needed to assess the completeness and reversibility of the vasal occlusion achieved with this implant.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Chlamydia trachomatis during pregnancy. To screen or not to screen?

A critical review of the literature on screening for and treating Chlamydia trachomatis during pregnancy suggests that all pregnant women at high risk of chlamydial infection, or from a population where infection is prevalent, should be screened and treated. This will help reduce chlamydial infections in infants and may decrease adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Normal survival and in-vitro development after cryopreservation of zona-drilled embryos in mice.

The importance of the zona pellucida on survival after freezing and thawing was investigated. Zona-drilled and zona-intact mouse embryos were fertilized in vitro, cultured to the 2, 4 and 8-cell stages and frozen using conventional methods. Zona drilling did not affect the survival or development of frozen embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitro. We conclude that partial damage to the zona pellucida during micromanipulation procedures is compatible with rates of survival and development which are not different to those observed in zona-intact control embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Differences in intrapartum obstetric care provided to women at low risk by family physicians and obstetricians.

To determine differences in practice style and to examine maternal and neonatal outcomes, we reviewed the hospital charts of 1115 women admitted by family physicians and 1250 women admitted by obstetricians who gave birth at one of three teaching hospitals in Toronto between April 1985 and March 1986. All the women in the two groups were categorized retrospectively as being at low risk at the onset of labour on the basis of their prenatal records and their admission histories and physical examination results. There were higher proportions of younger women and women of lower socioeconomic status in the family physician group than in the obstetrician group (p less than 0.001). The rates of interventions, including artificial rupture of the membranes, induction, augmentation, low forceps plus vacuum extraction, episiotomy and epidural anesthesia, were all higher in the obstetrician group. The mean birth weight and the cesarean section rate were the same in the two groups. Differences in labour and delivery outcomes between the two groups, including a higher rate of spontaneous vaginal delivery for the family physicians, reflected a more "expectant" practice style by family doctors. However, there were no significant differences in the rates of maternal or neonatal complications. A practice style characterized by a higher rate of interventions was not associated with improved maternal or newborn outcome in this low-risk setting.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Stature change with aging in black americans.

The study consisted of a sample of 500 black Americans (50-104 years old) to determine whether or not there was a decrease in height among black Americans with increasing age. There is no significant difference between height and arm-span at the start of adult life. In order to study the loss of stature, as a result of senescence, a comparison of height with arm-span measurement was used. It was found that: (1) the black population has a greater decrease in height with aging than does the white population; (2) black males decrease approximately 4.2 cm in height every 20 years compared to 1.2 cm in the white population; (3) the older population sampled had shorter arm-spans as well as shorter stature.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cancer self-help groups and family physicians.

PURPOSE: Despite the phenomenal growth during the past decade of cancer self-help groups for adult patients with cancer, little research has been conducted to document the interface between these groups and healthcare professionals, especially physicians. This study was initiated to provide information about family physician practices, awareness, and attitudes about self-help groups. DESCRIPTION: A survey questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of Ontario family physicians drawn from the College of Family Physicians of Canada's membership database. RESULTS: A total of 911 completed questionnaires were returned, for a response rate of 64%. A majority (56.8%) of respondents were aware of at least one cancer self-help group in their region; 26.8% of these spoke frequently with their cancer patients about such groups. Most family physicians indicated that they were positively inclined toward cancer self-help groups, giving especially high ratings of helpfulness to sharing common experiences, overcoming isolation, feeling understood, and sharing information. Ratings of potential harm were low, with the most concern expressed about the possible provision of misinformation and the promotion of unconventional therapies. Responses to an open-ended question showed that many family physicians qualify their support for cancer self-help groups, depending on patient need, group composition, and leadership. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Family physicians and other members of the cancer care team should give increased attention to informing cancer patients about the potential benefits of self-help groups. Efforts need to be made to assist cancer self-help groups in developing informational brochures and to ensure that groups are listed in cancer resource directories. Educational initiatives about self-help groups would be useful for family physicians and other health professionals engaged in the care of cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of the high-risk care environment on the practice of low-risk obstetrics.

This retrospective chart review compared the intervention rates in 2,365 low-risk obstetric patients at three urban teaching hospitals, two of which were high-risk, perinatal referral centers. The third cared for mostly low-risk patients. The hypothesis was that rates of intervention in low-risk pregnancies would be higher in the high-risk care environment. Family physicians at the perinatal referral centers performed significantly more artificial rupture of membranes, epidural blocks, augmentations of labor, and episiotomies on their low-risk patients than did those at the low-risk hospital. This trend was also found for obstetricians but did not reach statistical significance. Thus, the conclusion was drawn that caring for low-risk patients in a high-risk care environment is associated with a higher intervention rate by family physicians. Factors that may contribute to this finding are discussed.

Adult↗