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Biomedical subjects

M J Cooney

Publications and source records attributed to M J Cooney.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Outcome of pregnancies in women with uterine duplication anomalies.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare pregnancy outcomes in women with uterine duplication anomalies with outcomes in women with normal uteri. METHODS: We studied 22 women with uterine duplication anomalies in whom first-trimester sonography demonstrated a live fetus and compared pregnancy outcomes in these patients with outcomes in 66 women with normal-appearing uteri (controls). The 2 groups were matched for gestational age at the time of first-trimester sonography. RESULTS: Uterine duplication anomalies were associated with a higher miscarriage rate than were normal-appearing uteri (23% versus 6%, p < 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Deliveries resulting in liveborn infants occurred earlier in women with anomalous uteri. The mean gestational age at delivery was 37.0 weeks for women with duplication anomalies versus 38.8 weeks for controls (p < 0.05, Student's t-test), and a higher percentage of duplication anomaly patients delivered before 34 weeks' gestation (29% versus 3%, p < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Neonates born from anomalous uteri had lower mean birth-weight percentiles than did neonates in the control group (51st versus 68th percentile, p < 0.05, t-test). There was no difference in Apgar scores between the 2 groups at 1 and 5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Women with duplication anomalies of the uterus have a higher miscarriage rate, deliver earlier, and have infants with lower birth-weight percentiles than do women with normal-appearing uteri.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Eye injuries caused by bungee cords.

OBJECTIVE: Bungee cords are common workplace and household items that have many uses. Despite their utility, they represent a potential source of severe ocular injury. DESIGN: A retrospective review was conducted to identify patients presenting to an ocular emergency department with bungee cord-related eye injuries over a 42-month period. PARTICIPANTS: The authors identified 17 patients with bungee cord-related ocular injuries. INTERVENTION: In identified patients, the hospital inpatient and outpatient charts were reviewed in detail. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, use of ocular protection, presenting and final best-corrected visual acuity, associated ocular injuries, therapeutic interventions, and anatomic results were noted. RESULTS: Fourteen (82%) of the patients had closed globe injuries and 3 (18%) had open globe injuries. A wide array of periocular, anterior segment, and posterior segment injuries were identified with hyphema being the most common associated ocular injury. Ten patients (59%) had a final visual acuity of 20/25 or better. Five patients (29%) had a final visual acuity that was less than or equal to 20/60, with three of these patients having a final visual acuity less than or equal to 4/200. Two of the three patients with open globe injuries had a final visual acuity of 20/60 or better, whereas one had no light perception. Poor visual outcome was associated with posterior segment involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The authors advocate the use of printed warnings on the packaging of bungee cords and extreme caution by those who use them. A modification in design and the use of certified safety glasses may help to decrease the incidence of bungee cord-related ocular trauma.

Adult

Early singleton pregnancy outcome: effects of maternal age and mode of conception.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of prognostic factors on the outcome of singleton pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First-trimester ultrasonographic (US) scans that demonstrated a living fetus in 4,156 consecutive singleton pregnancies were studied. The relationship between outcome and maternal age, mode of conception, maternal symptoms, and US findings was evaluated. RESULTS: Spontaneous abortion occurred in 371 of 4,156 (8.9%) cases. Higher pregnancy-loss rates were associated with older maternal age (P < 10(-5)), assisted mode of conception (P < 10(-8)), maternal symptoms of pain and/or bleeding (P < .001), and abnormal US findings (P < 10(-8)). US abnormalities were more frequent in older women than in younger women (P < 10(-5)) and in assisted conceptions than in natural conceptions (P < 10(-8)). At stepwise logistic regression, with gestational age as a covariate, US abnormalities and maternal symptoms independently affected pregnancy outcome. Maternal age and mode of conception had no further statistically significant effect on pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSION: The prognosis for older mothers and for those with assisted conception is not statistically significantly different from that for younger mothers and for those with natural conception if maternal symptoms, US findings, and gestational age are the same.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Physiologic studies with the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans: evaluation for use in a biofuel cell.

The growth kinetics of the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Essex 6 was investigated under various conditions for potential use in a microbial fuel cell that recovers electrons generated from the reduction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide was found to inhibit growth and decrease both the growth yields and the sulfate-specific reduction rate. Hydrogen sulfide inhibition was direct, reversible, and not due to limitation by iron deficiency. A high initial lactate concentration also retarded bacterial growth, reduced the specific sulfate reduction rates, and gave variable biomass growth yields. This effect resulted from a bottleneck in the lactate oxidation pathway which induced the production of the secondary product butanol. The use of pyruvate as a carbon source was more advantageous than lactate in terms of growth rate and biomass growth yields, with only a slight decrease in the rate of specific sulfate reduction. For equal biomass, a slightly higher current density was generated from lactate than pyruvate, but pyruvate required nearly 40% less sulfate.

Biomass

Optimal dynamic experiments for bioreactor model discrimination.

This paper describes a general approach for dynamic model discrimination for continuous cultures and presents dynamic models for pure cultures of E. coli and C. utilis obtained using the method. For each pure culture system, four candidate models representing various levels of structure were considered. All models reduce to Monod growth kinetics at steady state. An optimized set of multivariable step inputs in selected manipulative variables was used to discriminate between candidate models. The models that best predicted the dynamic behavior were selected by comparison of model predictions with experimental data. Two discrimination functions were compared in terms of their ability to determine the optimal set of multivariable step inputs to discriminate between candidate models. Results indicate that model discrimination based on maximizing the minimum absolute difference between any two models for a given set of inputs possessed good potential for discrimination between candidate models. Models selected for E. coli and C. utilis from the model discrimination work are presented and compared with experimental data.

Candida

Orbital polymyositis and giant cell myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Orbital polymyositis associated with giant cell myocarditis rarely has been reported in the literature. The authors report the clinical, neuroradiographic, and histopathologic features of the only patient to survive this usually fatal syndrome after cardiac transplantation. FINDINGS: This 22-year-old white woman presented in 1991 with periorbital redness, swelling, and pain in both eyes that was unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Results of her examination were significant for limited extraocular movements, ptosis, erythema, edema, chemosis, and exophthalmos. Electrocardiogram and chest x-ray were normal. Orbital computed tomographic scan showed swelling of the extraocular muscles up to and including their insertions. The patient was given the diagnosis of orbital polymyositis and her condition improved clinically and radiographically while taking parenteral steroids. One month after discharge, the patient was in cardiogenic shock. Endomyocardial biopsy showed giant cell myocarditis, and the patient underwent emergent cardiac transplantation. Despite a complicated postoperative course, the patient has done remarkably well. CONCLUSION: Although this disorder is rare, this case suggests the need for a high index of suspicion for giant cell myocarditis in patients with inflammatory orbital polymyositis. In non-Graves orbital polymyositis the patient should be questioned and instructed concerning the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Chest x-ray, Holter monitoring, and electrocardiogram also should be performed and be repeated with an echocardiogram if there are any cardiac symptoms. In addition, early endomyocardial biopsy should be considered in the proper clinical setting, allowing timely diagnosis and expeditious cardiac transplantation.

Adult