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K Krueger

Publications and source records attributed to K Krueger.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Experimental and clinical evaluation of the PARIS centering catheter for delivery of endovascular gamma-irradiation of femoropopliteal stenoses.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of aortic bifurcation and iliac geometry on centered endovascular irradiation (CEI) of femoropopliteal arteries and evaluate procedure-related complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an experimental tubing model, crossover delivery of the dummy wire by an afterloader using different sheaths (Type I: noncrossover; Type II: crossover, length 40 cm; Type III: crossover, length 65 cm) was examined at simulated angles between 20 degrees -100 degrees (aortic bifurcation) and 0 degrees -100 degrees (iliac vessels). In the clinical phase, 28 heparin-anticoagulated patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for femoropopliteal stenoses followed by CEI (192-iridium, 14 Gray at 2 mm depth of the vessel wall) delivered with the centering catheter (crossover from contralateral leg using a 65-cm-long 8F sheath in 13 patients, noncrossover from ipsilateral leg using a 10-cm 8F sheath in 15 patients). Measurement of the aortic bifurcation angle before advancement of the crossover sheath and rating of iliac artery tortuosity on both sides was retrospectively performed on angiograms. Fifteen controls received no post-PTA CEI. RESULTS: Experimental delivery of the dummy wire was not possible at aortic angles less than 40 degrees with Type I, 60 degrees with Type II, and 30 degrees with Type III sheaths. Advancement of the centering catheter was possible in all patients. CEI failed in two patients with crossover (aortic angle <40 degrees ) and in one obese patient with antegrade approach because advancement of the dummy wire was impossible. Thromboembolism rate was 4.6% during irradiation (2.3% after PTA alone). CONCLUSIONS: CEI in femoropopliteal arteries has a risk of procedure-related thromboembolic complications. Efficacy is affected by vessel geometry.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Glycosylated hemoglobin level and development of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in older women.

BACKGROUND: Biological mechanisms linking diabetes and cognition continue to grow, yet the association remains controversial in elders. Whether glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level, a marker of glucose control, is predictive of the development of cognitive impairment or dementia is unknown. We determined the association between HbA1C level and risk of developing cognitive impairment in older women, mostly without diabetes. METHODS: We studied 1983 postmenopausal women (mean age, 67.2 years) with osteoporosis who had HbA1C level measured at baseline. Development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia over 4 years was determined as part of a dementia ancillary study. We analyzed risk of MCI or dementia for every 1% of HbA1C as well as risk associated with HbA1C >or= 7%. RESULTS: The mean level of HbA1C was 5.8% (range 3.0% to 12.1%) and 86 (4.3%) women developed MCI or dementia. For every 1% increase in HbA1C, women had a greater age-adjusted likelihood of developing MCI (OR= 1.50; 95% CI 1.14-1.97) and of developing MCI or dementia (OR=1.40; 95% CI 1.08 - 1.83). For those with HbA1C level >or= 7% (n=49), the age-adjusted risk for developing MCI was increased nearly 4-fold (OR= 3.70; 95% CI 1.51-9.09) and was increased nearly 3-fold for developing MCI or dementia (OR=2.86; 95% CI 1.17-6.98). When we excluded women with diagnosed diabetes (n=53), the association between HbA1C and MCI lessened somewhat but remained elevated (unadjusted OR=1.59; 95% CI 1.01-2.50; age-adjusted OR=1.42; 95% CI 0.89-2.28). Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, education, race, depression, alcohol use and treatment with raloxifene yielded similar results. INTERPRETATION: We found an association between HbA1C level and risk of developing MCI or dementia in postmenopausal osteoporotic women primarily without diabetes. Our findings support the hypothesis that glucose dysregulation is a predictor for cognitive impairment.

Aged↗

Geriatric education centers address medication issues affecting older adults.

Serious problems have been identified in the prescribing of medications for elderly patients and use of prescription and nonprescription drugs by older persons. Overuse, underuse, and inappropriate use of drugs by the elderly have been widely documented, and the harmful consequences have been described. This paper reviews information concerning the need for action to improve health professionals' knowledge and skills with respect to drugs and the elderly and activities being undertaken by geriatric education centers (GECs) to enhance these capacities. Grant support for the centers from the Health Resources and Services Administration, a Public Health Service component agency, began in 1983. In fiscal year 1992 there are 31 centers operating in 26 States. The centers are multi-institutional and conduct four types of educational activities. These include review of pharmacological issues for multidisciplinary groups, specialized training for pharmacists, discipline-specific programs focusing on medication issues, and activities aimed at educating the public. Examples of the GECs' educational activities are given.

Curriculum↗