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Biomedical subjects

M W Ragozzino

Publications and source records attributed to M W Ragozzino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Brief communication: effects of diagnostic irradiation during pregnancy on head circumference at birth.

A historical cohort study was carried out to evaluate the effects in utero medical ionizing radiation on head circumference at birth. The nature of medical practice in Rochester, Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic medical records linkage system enabled us to provide accurate estimates of medical radiation absorbed dose in 9,793 pregnancies of 2,980 women pregnant in Rochester between 1917 through 1973. Data were controlled for sex of the fetus, duration of pregnancy and congenital head abnormalities. It was found that medical ionizing radiation in the second and third trimesters of more than 300 mrad were related to significantly decreased head circumference. There was no significant effect of radiation exposure in the first trimester or periconceptional period. Medical ionizing radiation in the second and third trimesters of more than 300 mrad is related to a significant yet minimal, decreasing head circumference at birth. Maximum effects were seen during the midgestational and second trimester periods.

Cephalometry↗

Oral contrast is not necessary in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma by computed tomography.

The administration of oral contrast (OC) is widely recommended for computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen in patients with blunt trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine abdominal CT scans performed without OC were associated with diagnostic error in patients with blunt trauma. Four hundred ninety-two patients were identified from our Trauma Registry who had CT scans for the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma between January 1988 and December 1991. Seventy-six percent (372) of the CT scans were interpreted as negative, and 24% (120) were considered positive. OC was used in 8 (1.6%) of 492 patients. Only 1 of 372 patients whose initial non-OC--enhanced scan was negative subsequently required surgery. There were 5 bowel injuries among the 42 patients who underwent an abdominal operation; in none would the use of OC have ensured the preoperative diagnosis. We found that the omission of OC did not represent a disadvantage to patients with blunt trauma undergoing a routine abdominal CT scan. Potential time delays and the hazards associated with the use of OC were minimized.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Bilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema following unilateral pleurocentesis.

Acute ipsilateral pulmonary edema following reexpansion of the lung after pleurocentesis or pneumothorax is a well described entity. We report the unusual occurrence of bilateral pulmonary edema following unilateral pleurocentesis in a young male without heart disease. Various hypotheses regarding the mechanism of reexpansion pulmonary edema include increased capillary permeability due to hypoxic injury, decreased surfactant production, altered pulmonary perfusion and mechanical stretching of membranes. This case suggests that forces leading to ipsilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema also affect the contralateral lung.

Acute Disease↗

Average fetal depth in utero: data for estimation of fetal absorbed radiation dose.

To estimate fetal absorbed dose from radiographic examinations, the depth from the anterior maternal surface to the midline of the fetal skull and abdomen was measured by ultrasound in 97 pregnant women. The relationships between fetal depth, fetal presentation, and maternal parameters of height, weight, anteroposterior (AP) thickness, gestational age, placental location, and bladder volume were analyzed. Maternal AP thickness (MAP) can be estimated from gestational age, maternal height, and maternal weight. Fetal midskull and abdominal depths were nearly equal. Fetal depth normalized to MAP was independent or nearly independent of maternal parameters and fetal presentation. These data enable a reasonable estimation of absorbed dose to fetal brain, abdomen, and whole body.

Abdomen↗

Herpes zoster and diabetes mellitus: an epidemiological investigation.

Five hundred and ninety Rochester, Minnesota, residents were initially diagnosed with herpes zoster in the period 1945-59. Fifteen had diabetes mellitus before the onset of herpes. The expected number was 15.7. The entire herpes zoster cohort was followed subsequently for nearly 9400 person-years and 33 new cases of diabetes mellitus developed while the expected number was 30.6. The clinical spectrum of herpes zoster in individuals with diabetes mellitus was not different from that of zoster patients from the general population. We conclude that herpes zoster is not a risk factor for diabetes mellitus and that diabetes mellitus is not a risk factor for herpes zoster.

Diabetes Complications↗