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Biomedical subjects

J Vale

Publications and source records attributed to J Vale.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Colour flow and spectral Doppler imaging after papaverine-induced penile erection in 220 impotent men: study of temporal patterns and the importance of repeated sampling, velocity asymmetry and vascular anomalies.

Of 220 impotent men studied, 52 demonstrated venous leakage, 85 had arterial insufficiency and 65 showed normal vascular response. Persistent diastolic velocity > 7 cm/s diagnosed venous leakage with a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 69%, using cavernosography as the reference standard. Using clinical response as the reference standard maximal systolic velocity of 30 cm/s identified normal penile arterial response with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 82%. There was a good correlation between penile arterial insufficiency and a strong history of arteriopathy. Time to peak systole > 0.1 s was a reliable predictor of arteriogenic impotence and Pulsatility Index (PI) < 300 was discovered only in patients with either venous leakage or arteriogenic impotence. Peak systolic velocity (Tmax) occurred between 5.2 and 6.5 min after injection, and diastolic velocity was minimal at 9 min with only the normal responders showing reversed diastolic flow. However, 22% had a delayed response (Tmax range 1-18 min). Velocity asymmetry was equally common in the three groups and unilateral sampling would have misdiagnosed 6% of patients studied. Vascular anomalies were seen in 13%, particularly a single feeding artery, dorsal vein flow or collateral arterial flow.

Adult↗

Long-term urodynamic effects of finasteride in benign prostatic hyperplasia: a pilot study.

A group of 69 men with bladder outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study with finasteride (Proscar), a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, 5 mg or 10 mg/day, or an identical placebo for 3 months; subsequently, 20 patients received finasteride 5 mg/day in an open extension study. Ten of these patients have now completed 3 years of therapy and have been reevaluated with pressure/flow urodynamics. In finasteride-treated patients dihydrotestosterone (DHT) declined by over 60%, remaining unchanged with placebo. Symptom scores fell in both groups of patients, maximum flow rate values decreased on placebo but improved by a mean of 1.5 ml/s in the 10-mg group and 3.3 ml/s in the 5-mg group. After 1 year of therapy, the reduction in symptom score was well maintained and the flow rate had increased by a mean of 2.7 ml/s; the mean prostate volume was reduced by 14% and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) had declined by 28%. In the 10 patients treated for 3 years who consented to further urodynamic study, the maximum urinary flow rate had improved from a mean baseline value of 8.7 ml/s to a mean of 13.8 ml/s, while maximum subtracted voiding pressure had decreased from a mean baseline value of 72 cm H2O to an unobstructed mean value of 44 cm H2O. Side effects were minimal and reversible on stopping the medication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗

Use of the ASI titanium stent in the management of bladder outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

An expandable titanium intraprostatic stent was inserted into 30 patients with infravesical obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). All of the men were considered unsuitable for transurethral resection of the prostate as a result of comorbid conditions. In 25 patients effective micturition was reestablished with this technique. In 21 of these men, who have been followed for longer than 1 year, the mean maximum flow rate at 1 year was 10.8 ml. per second and the mean residual urine was 56 ml. Although urinary tract infections occurred subsequent to stent insertion in 10 individuals, these resolved after appropriate antibiotic treatment and no stents have had to be removed for this reason. Followup cystoscopy or examination by electron microscopy of those stents that have been removed has shown partial epithelialization of the stent surface in a proportion of patients, and a minor degree of incrustation occurred in 1 case. We conclude that an expandable intraprostatic titanium stent is an acceptable alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate or long-term catheterization in this particular group of high risk patients.

Aged↗

Pharmacocavernometry in the assessment of erectile impotence.

Thirty-three impotent men underwent pharmacocavernometry and cavernography. Ten patients had a good clinical response to 60 mg papaverine, nine had a moderate clinical response and in 14, the response was judged to be a poor one. Twelve patients had evidence of abnormal venous leakage from the corpora. Subsequent investigation with isotope phallography showed six patients to have arterial insufficiency and in three of these patients this was amenable to reconstructive vascular surgery. We conclude that pharmacocavernometry provides a useful, cheap and reliable method for the investigation of impotent men which may be performed on an outpatient basis.

Adult↗

Mammosomatotroph adenoma of the pituitary associated with gigantism and hyperprolactinemia. A morphological study including immunoelectron microscopy.

A 29-year old giantess with growth hormone excess and hyperprolactinemia underwent transsphenoidal surgery to remove her pituitary tumor. Electron microscopy revealed a mammosomatotroph adenoma composed of one cell type. Immunoelectron microscopy, using the immunogold technique, demonstrated predominantly growth hormone or prolactin or a varying mixture of both growth hormone and prolactin in the adenoma cells. The presence of growth hormone and prolactin was found not only in the cytoplasm of the same adenoma cells but also in the same secretory granules. In the nontumorous adenohypophysis, somatotrophs and lactotrophs showed ultrastructural signs of hyperactivity. This finding is in contrast with the presence of suppressed somatotrophs and lactotrophs seen in nontumorous portions of adult pituitaries harboring growth hormone or prolactin-secreting adenomas. Our morphological study reinforces the view that growth hormone-producing pituitary tumors, originating in childhood, are different from those of the adult gland.

Adenoma↗

Feeding, growth, and biochemical studies in very low birthweight infants.

Fifty infants of gestational age 28 to 32 weeks and birthweight less than 1501 g were reviewed on the expected date of delivery and at conceptional ages of 4, 8, and 12 months. All infants were at home by the expected delivery date, were fed on demand, and weighed regularly. On the expected delivery date and at 4 months, the amounts of formula milk and weaning food accepted were recorded; energy and protein intakes were calculated; and serum sodium, potassium, urea, protein, and osmolality were measured. The birthweight of these infants ranged between the 3rd and 75th centiles (on average about the 20th) but at the expected delivery date was, on average, below the 3rd centile. Infants who had been weaned in the first 4 months after the expected delivery date (n = 26) had similar energy and protein intakes and similar biochemical indices to those weaned later (n = 24). They achieved catch up growth (below 3rd to 10-25th centile) by 1 year, irrespective of the time of weaning and without any differences in metabolic 'stress'.

Blood Proteins↗

[Pseudotumor cerebri: the malignant end of the clinical spectrum].

INTRODUCTION: The pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTC) is a clinical entity of unknown etiology affecting mainly young, obese women. The major morbidity factor in this condition is the possibility of vision loss, initially considered to be low, but now known to affect a significant proportion of patients. CLINICAL CASE: We describe a case of PTC in a young, obese black women who presented with headache, transient visual blurring and diplopia. Besides obesity, there where no other relevant clinical findings, namely other pathologies and history of medication use. An extensive analytical workup was negative and the CSF showed no abnormalities, aside from increased pressure. Brain MRI was also normal. The clinical course was progressively worse, consisting of rapid vision loss associated with an intracranial pressure of over 850 mmH2O, despite treatment with diuretics (acetazolamide, furosemide and spironolactone) in therapeutic dosage. Eventually, the patient needed the rapid implantation of a lumboperitoneal shunt to prevent blindness, and went on to make a nearly full recovery. CONCLUSIONS: In all major series of PTC, loss of vision has been reported to occur in a significant percentage of patients, and cases have been described in which a catastrophic course with rapid progression to near blindness has led to the introduction of the designation of 'malignant' pseudotumor cerebri. We believe that such cases, although rare, need to be recognized as the malignant end of the spectrum of PTC, and that their management constitutes a neurological emergency.

Adult↗

[Striato-pallido-dentate calcifications].

Striato-pallido-dentate calcifications (SPDC) is a well defined entity, characterized by calcium deposits in the basal ganglia, dentate nuclei and the centrum semiovale. Several metabolic derangements have been associated with this entity, particularly parathyroid disorders. The traditional designation of Fahr's syndrome should be restricted to the idiopathic cases. The authors report a study of seven patients with SPDC. Hypocalcemia was found in three cases, two with pseudohypoparathyroidism and one with hypoparathyroidism. Fahr's syndrome was diagnosed in four patients. Clinical and laboratory features are presented. Neurological manifestations included epilepsy, dementia and parkinsonism. Discussion focuses on the distinction of this entity from the small pallidal calcifications and on the pathophysiology of basal ganglia mineralisation, in view of recent reports.

Adolescent↗