Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Roy

Publications and source records attributed to J Roy.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Short-term morbidity from CT-planned transperineal I-125 prostate implants.

PURPOSE: To summarize short-term morbidity and tumor response following transperineal CT-guided I-125 prostate implantation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-one patients were treated with CT-based transperineal I-125 prostate implantation between June, 1988 and May, 1990. An average of 75 I-125 seeds were placed, with an average activity of .62 mCi/seed. Symptoms were quantified after interviewing each patient in detail. RESULTS: Nearly all patients developed substantial dysuria, nocturia and frequency from 2-24 weeks following implantation. Urinary symptoms usually resolved within 4-6 months of implantation. The one year actuarial potency rate among 18 patients who were potent prior to implantation was 94%. By 6 months after implantation, 14/17 patients (82%) with Stage B tumors had complete regression of palpable disease. Of 17 patients with Stage A or B tumors who presented with an elevated PSA, 76% returned to the normal range within 6 months of implantation. CONCLUSION: CT-guided transperineal prostate implants entail moderate, temporary urinary and rectral morbidity. Short-term tumor responses are encouraging.

Brachytherapy↗

Hemodynamic evaluation of a bioprosthetic venous prosthesis.

PURPOSE: A prosthetic venous valve must be biocompatible and nonthrombogenic and function in the venous circulation. Biocompatibility and thrombogenicity of our prosthesis have been examined in prior animal experiments, and 91% of valve conduits including early prototypes are patent at 3 weeks. However, evaluation of valve function is much more difficult in animals; therefore in this study the function of excised valves was evaluated ex vivo. METHODS: Nine bovine jugular vein conduits, each with one bileaflet venous valve, were harvested and placed in a venous flow simulator. Flows and pressures were adjusted to mimic human respiratory and hydrostatic variations. Each valve and conduit was tested for variations in valve diameter and sinus expansion in response to flow. Valve opening and closing times and valve competence were measured in response to pressure changes. After testing, each specimen was glutaraldehyde fixed and assessed a second time. RESULTS: Valve orifice area increased in response to flow in both fresh and fixed tissues. Maximum valve orifice area was reduced by fixation (27.7%) at full flows (p < 0.05). Valve sinus dimensions increased in response to increased pressure until maximum expansion was achieved (33 mm Hg). This was reduced 15.3% in fixed tissue (p < 0.05). Valve opening times (at < 1 mm Hg gradient) were slightly longer in fixed compared with fresh tissue (0.43 +/- 0.09 vs 0.41 +/- 0.13 second; p < 0.05). Valve closing times were comparable in both states (0.43 +/- 0.08 vs 0.49 +/- 0.07 second). Three fresh and seven fixed specimens that were subjected to 287 mm Hg back pressure exhibited minimal reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Size and availability make the bovine jugular vein valve an ideal venous valve substitute. Glutaraldehyde fixation renders the tissue biocompatible and nonthrombogenic while preserving anatomic integrity and leaflet strength and flexibility. Mounted and stented in a sewing sleeve, this prosthesis could represent the first generally applicable clinical solution to chronic venous insufficiency and venous hypertension.

Adult↗

Mortality and use of health services surveys in rural Zaire.

The Combatting Childhood Communicable Disease (CCCD) project is a comprehensive public health programme designed to reduce child mortality by 25% through the use of the following strategies: vaccination, oral rehydration therapy, and prompt treatment for malaria. To evaluate this programme, cross-sectional surveys were conducted in neighbouring health zones in Zaire in 1984 to determine the use of selected medical services by the population and to estimate the child mortality rate before the CCCD programme began. A reinterview survey was conducted on a subsample of women previously interviewed to determine the reliability of the mortality estimates. In both health zones 84-85% of women used antenatal services, 45% of children under age 6 who had had fewer were treated with an anti-malarial drug, 19-22% of children age 12-23 months had been vaccinated against measles, and virtually no children who had had diarrhoea were treated with oral rehydration therapy. Women's underreporting of births and deaths resulted in low estimates of mortality in both surveys. The reinterview survey provided more accurate estimates of mortality and led to a better understanding of the factors influencing underreporting. The estimated infant mortality rate was 74 deaths per 1000 livebirths; and the probability of dying before age 5 was 191 per 1000. Because births and deaths reported with incomplete dates were excluded from analysis, the mortality rates from the reinterview survey are underestimates. Given the difficulty in obtaining accurate estimates of mortality, primary importance should be given to developing and improving routine health information systems that measure changes in health status and provide information to evaluate programmes.

Adolescent↗

The immunopathology of upper gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease. Lymphoid cells and endothelial adhesion molecules.

Acute graft-versus-host disease is a common complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, but the mechanisms resulting in tissue injury are uncertain. In order to probe the effector phase of upper gastrointestinal acute GVHD, we performed immunopathologic studies of duodenal biopsies obtained from patients with or without GVHD. We evaluated the infiltrating mononuclear cells in both epithelium and lamina propria for expression of CD2, CD4, CD8, CD25, T alpha/beta and gamma/delta receptors, CD16, CD56, CD57 and also studied the distribution of cell adhesion molecules (ELAM-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, PECAM-1). In the epithelium, only a minimal T cell infiltrate was observed. In the lamina propria, GVHD tissue (vs. control) had an infiltrate of CD2+ (17.7 +/- 2.9% vs. 7.2 +/- 1.8%; P < 0.04), CD8+ (15.5 +/- 4.4% vs. 4.8 +/- 1.9%, P < 0.04) T lymphocytes. GVHD-positive and control tissues contained similar numbers of CD4+ T cells and natural killer cells (CD56+ or CD57+). ICAM-1 staining of endothelial cells was prominent in GVHD tissues (13.5 +/- 1.1 capillaries/field) and was significantly increased over non-GVHD specimens (7.5 +/- 1.8; P < 0.02). ELAM-1, VCAM-1, and PECAM-1 were similarly distributed in both biopsy groups. These data suggest that effectors of upper GI GVHD include CD2+, CD8+, T lymphocytes infiltrating the lamina propria. Inflammatory cell activation and resultant secretion of cytokines might directly damage the mucosa, but may also upregulate ICAM-1 on local endothelium leading to perpetuation of inflammation by recruitment of additional cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Acute Disease↗

Acute graft-versus-host disease following unrelated donor marrow transplantation: failure of conventional therapy.

The response to therapy of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is uncertain in recipients of unrelated donor (URD) bone marrow transplant (BMT). We analysed the outcome of treatment in 42 patients with moderate/severe acute GVHD. Initial therapy consisted of prednisone 60 mg/m2 orally daily for 7 days (n = 42), followed by anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) 15 mg/kg i.v. twice daily for 8-10 doses after prednisone failure (n = 22). A clinical Stage Score for acute GVHD was determined initially and after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of prednisone or ATG. Treatment failure represented worsening score after 7 days, involvement of a new organ or failure to improve after 14-28 days. Prednisone treatment led to 10 of 41 (24%) patients improving, while secondary therapy with ATG led to four of 21 (19%) improving. Of 42 patients treated, only nine (21%) achieved a complete and continuing response of acute GVHD by day +100. Neither age, diagnosis, recipient/donor gender status, histocompatibility nor GVHD prophylaxis regimen was associated with more frequent responses. Response to GVHD therapy was significantly correlated with survival at 100 days and 1 year post-BMT. We conclude that prednisone and ATG used for treatment of acute GVHD following URD BMT are associated with a high failure rate and that more aggressive therapy is warranted in these patients.

Acute Disease↗

Epidemiological study of children institutionalised for psychiatric disorders.

A cross-sectional and longitudinal epidemiological study of children institutionalised for psychiatric disorders has been carried out. The differences of discharge distribution allows to describe an entanglement of three differents logics: the medical logic: diagnostic (Emotional and conduct disorder, Mental retardation, Psychosis), etiological organic factors, associated somatic disorder. the social logic: father's occupational level and etiological environnemental factors. the institutional logic: child's age when admitted, institutional categories.

Age Factors↗

Isolated relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia presenting as a gastric ulcer.

Isolated gastrointestinal (GI) infiltrate is unusual at presentation or relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). We report a case of acute myelogenous leukemia (FAB-M4) whose isolated relapse presented as a bleeding gastric ulcer. The patient was a 30-year-old male who had been diagnosed to have AML in June 1988. While in third complete remission, he underwent a sibling allogeneic HLA-matched bone marrow transplant. Five months after transplantation, he was readmitted for pneumonia. While in the hospital, he had an episode of upper GI bleeding. The endoscopy revealed a leukemic gastric ulcer, with morphology and immunophenotyping identical to his initial AML. There was no evidence of leukemia in the blood or bone marrow. Although different types of leukemic infiltrates have been recognized at post-mortem examination, our case is unique because AML presenting as an isolated malignant ulcer has not been described previously. We conclude that relapsing AML may present as an isolated gastric ulcer and suggest that any suspicious lesion on upper GI endoscopy should be biopsied after aggressive platelet support.

Adult↗

An improved nasal prong apparatus for end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring in awake, sedated patients.

We describe and evaluate a new apparatus that monitors end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) and augments the inspired oxygen concentration in awake, sedated patients. The unit was evaluated for its effectiveness as an oxygenation device and its accuracy as a predictor of PaCO2 through the correlation of PaCO2 with PETCO2. Twenty cardiac surgical patients, physical status ASA 2-4, participated in this study. The PETCO2 monitoring device consisted of a dual-prong nasal oxygen cannula and a 14-gauge intravenous catheter that was inserted into one limb of the oxygen supply tubing and connected to a Datex gas analyzer (Datex Instrumentation Corp, Helsinki, Finland) to measure PETCO2. The cross-over passage between the prongs was intentionally blocked with the end of a wooden-core cotton swab. The oxygen flow rates were randomly varied (2, 4, and 6 L/min) every 5 minutes, and values for PETCO2 as well as arterial blood samples for analysis of PaCO2 and PaO2 were obtained at the end of each 5-minute period. The accuracy of the system was assessed by comparing the PaCO2-PETCO2 differences (bias) at each oxygen flow rate. The ratios of PETCO2 compared with PaCO2 were 0.98, 0.94, and 0.85, with correlation coefficients of r = 0.81, 0.85, and 0.63, respectively. The PaO2 values were 114, 154, and 183 mm Hg for the corresponding nasal oxygen flow rates of 2, 4, and 6 L/min, respectively. This study indicates that this modified nasal cannula provides supplemental oxygen adequately and yields a satisfactory reflection of the PaCO2 depending on the oxygen flow rate delivered.

Carbon Dioxide↗

A new device to stabilize templates for transperineal I-125 implants.

Transperineal Iodine-125 implants of the prostate are currently being performed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with CT-based treatment planning and transrectal ultrasound for verification of proper needle placement in the prostate at the time of implantation. An adjustable device, the WIPI, has been designed to stabilize the perineal template and rectal obturator during planning and implementation of the procedure. The device is simple to use and is compatible with CT scanning, transrectal ultrasound, and the Mick applicator. Its design and key functional features are described here.

Brachytherapy↗