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Biomedical subjects

J R Stevens

Publications and source records attributed to J R Stevens.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Colonic fistulization in pancreatitis: case report and literature review.

A case is reported in which pancreatic abscess with erosion into the colon and the splenic artery was treated successfully. The 35 previously reported cases of colonic fistulization in pancreatitis are reviewed, and the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of this complication are discussed.

Abscess↗

Adenocarcinoma in perineal fistulas of Crohn's disease.

Until recently, Crohn's disease has not been regarded as a premalignant lesion, but the increasing number of patients with Crohn's disease in whom adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract develops strongly suggests that these patients are indeed at a higher risk for carcinoma. These patients are usually young and tend to develop a malignancy in the bypassed ileum or right colon. Patients with such lesions usually have a poor prognosis. Adenocarcinoma arising in perineal fistulas secondary to Crohn's disease has not been reported in English medical literature except for one case published in 1975. In this article, the authors report a second, similar case of Crohn's disease with recurrent perineal fistulas. An infiltrating adenocarcinoma developed in these fistulas, in the anorectal region, and in the left labia. The risk of malignancy should be seriously considered in the management of Crohn's disease, especially in young patients. Because of the risk of adenocarcinoma in these patients, resection rather than bypass is recommended in the surgical management.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Epilepsy, psychosis and schizophrenia.

A connection between epilepsy, especially temporal lobe (psychomotor, limbic) epilepsy (TLE) and schizophrenia has been proposed by a number of investigators. The evidence both supporting and challenging this widespread idea is reviewed, and several hypotheses are considered that may account for the higher incidence of this form of epilepsy and of schizophrenic psychoses after adolescence.

Electroencephalography↗

gamma-Vinyl GABA in endopiriform area suppresses kindled amygdala seizures.

Suppression of kindled amygdala seizures in rats followed bilateral infusion of the GABA transaminase inhibitor gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG) into the endopiriform area of the forebrain. The deep prepiriform cortex of the rat is an important site for both initiation and arrest of generalized seizures induced by systemic convulsants. To determine whether this area also regulates the spread of amygdala seizures, the irreversible GABA-transaminase blocking agent, GVG (vigabatrin) was infused bilaterally in the deep prepiriform area in amygdala-kindled rats. Twenty-four hours after the infusion, kindled seizure threshold was elevated in 12 of 13 rats tested. If homologous areas exist in the primate brain, treatment strategies that take advantage of critical areas for seizure spread by local infusion of inhibitory agents or transplantation of GABA-containing cells may be developed for suppressing intractable seizures in humans.

Aminocaproates↗

Cerebral transplants for seizures: preliminary results.

Several critical brain regions have been identified in which application of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) potentiating agents in small quantities can suppress or prevent generalized and kindled amygdala seizures, i.e., substantia nigra and deep prepiriform cortex. Severity of audiogenic seizures in the genetically epilepsy prone rat (GEPR) is reduced by injection of norepinephrine (NE) into the lateral ventricles and by GABA in inferior colliculus. The present investigation examines the potential for raising epileptic thresholds by increasing local GABAergic or NE inhibitory activity by means of brain transplants of tissue rich in GABA or NE neurons. Two models of epilepsy were used: amygdala-kindled seizures and sound-induced seizures in GEPRs. Transplantation of embryonic cerebellar or cortical tissue to the deep prepiriform area of amygdala kindled rats transiently raised seizure thresholds in three of the nine animals. Transplantation of embryonic cerebellar or cortical tissue to the inferior colliculus or adrenal medulla tissue to lateral ventricles of GEPRs did not appreciably reduce the intensity of audiogenic seizures in these animals.

Amygdala↗

The evolution of pathogenic trypanosomes.

In the absence of a fossil record, the evolution of protozoa has until recently largely remained a matter for speculation. However, advances in molecular methods and phylogenetic analysis are now allowing interpretation of the "history written in the genes". This review focuses on recent progress in reconstruction of trypanosome phylogeny based on molecular data from ribosomal RNA, the miniexon and protein-coding genes. Sufficient data have now been gathered to demonstrate unequivocally that trypanosomes are monophyletic; the phylogenetic trees derived can serve as a framework to reinterpret the biology, taxonomy and present day distribution of trypanosome species, providing insights into the coevolution of trypanosomes with their vertebrate hosts and vectors. Different methods of dating the divergence of trypanosome lineages give rise to radically different evolutionary scenarios and these are reviewed. In particular, the use of one such biogeographically based approach provides new insights into the coevolution of the pathogens, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, with their human hosts and the history of the diseases with which they are associated.

Africa↗

Introductory small cash incentives to promote child spacing in India.

The Ammanpettai Family Welfare Program began in 1985 as a pilot program to determine whether offering small monthly cash incentives for a limited period would be a cost-effective way to increase the use of modern temporary methods of contraception among rural Indian women who do not want to become pregnant but are not ready to adopt sterilization. The program has demonstrated that a modest cash incentive for 3-5 months attracts very large numbers of women to a clinic where they learn about and are provided with the pill, condoms, or the IUD. In catchment areas where official government reports showed temporary-methods prevalence rates of 3-5 percent at best, the Ammanpettai incentive program has attracted up to 70 percent of eligible women to join the program and try the method of their choice. By requiring that participants bring their youngest child to the clinic, the program provides for mother and child health surveillance, including immunizations. The great majority of rural women who join the program work as field laborers, have little or no schooling, and have little knowledge of or experience with modern contraceptive methods. Continuation rates are 25-50 percent at one year if follow-up is maintained by village resident women distributors. The program has been extended to several rural primary health centers in Thanjavur District, to 14 government health posts in the city of Madras, and to a semiurban area and several rural areas in Bihar. The cost-effectiveness of this program compares favorably with that of the current government family welfare program.

Adult↗