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Biomedical subjects

P McAllister

Publications and source records attributed to P McAllister.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging with titanium implants of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

Within recent years, the technologies of radiological imaging and spinal instrumentation have exponentially increased. New methods of preoperative imaging, that is, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography, have allowed for a better understanding of surgical pathology. Such an understanding is likely to lead to a more successful surgical experience, which certainly is the case with spine surgery with instrumentation. However, after implantation of most instrumentation, imaging is greatly impaired. Metallurgic advancements in titanium were sought to reduce postoperative imaging problems. The purpose of this study is to assess the presence and extent of artifacts seen on postoperative MRI scans in patients with titanium spinal implants. Six patients, four with degenerative spine disease and two with neoplasms, had thoracic and/or lumbar spinal fixation performed with titanium instrumentation. All patients underwent postoperative conventional MRI with the use of T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gradient-echo sequences. The scans and individual sequences were then analyzed for image quality. A progressive and significant increase in imaging artifact related to the titanium spinal instrumentation was observed on the T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gradient-echo sequences. Titanium spinal instruments do not allow optimal postoperative imaging on conventional MRI scanners.

Adult

Intracerebral hematoma related to thrombolysis for myocardial infarction.

The incidence of intracerebral hematomas after myocardial infarction increases after thrombolysis. As noted in the case described, clots formed after the administration of thrombolytic agents may remain liquid, and this blood can be drained by a catheter. However, in this case, the patient continued to bleed locally. This problem requires the development of methods to stop such ongoing local bleeding. It may be prevented in the future by improved thrombolytic drugs.

Aged

A comparison study of human papillomavirus prevalence by the polymerase chain reaction in low risk women and in a gynaecology referral group at elevated risk for cervical cancer.

The reported prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 in the genital tracts of women with various gynaecological conditions is highly variable. In particular, some results with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique have suggested that HPV-16 is a ubiquitous or very common virus. We undertook this study to help clarify the current confusion. PCR with HPV consensus L1 primers and specific E6 primers was used to study 89 women attending two gynaecology referral clinics, as well as 99 women attending a health maintenance organization (HMO) clinic; 70 of these latter women had no current or prior history of genital HPV disease. HPV-16 was detected in less than 5% of cytologically normal women from either group and in 17% (6/36) and 31% (9/29) of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) from the referral clinic and the HMO, respectively. The other high-risk or intermediate-risk HPVs (types 18, 31, 33 or 35) were less prevalent than HPV 16 in all groups of women. A majority of the HPV types detected by the L1 primers in normal women were uncharacterized HPVs. Overall these uncharacterized HPVs were detected in 37% (46/123) of the normal women and in 48% (31/65) of the women with CIN. Using the most sensitive PCR product detection method employed in the study, HPV DNA was detected in 36% (4/11) of swab specimens obtained from the external abdomen.

Base Sequence

Chronic extradural haematomas: indications for surgery.

Non-invasive neuro-imaging has led to the detection of minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic chronic extradural haematomas. Our experience and review of the literature suggests that, as in the case of chronic subdural haematomas, there is development of membranes and liquifaction of the clot which may permit drainage of such collections through twist drill or burrholes. The time from development and the neuro-imaging chanes on CT and MRI can suggest the age and nature of the clot and thus permit timing of surgery so that drainage may be accomplished with a minor procedure.

Adult

Human papillomavirus type 56: a new virus detected in cervical cancers.

A new human papillomavirus type (HPV-56) was identified by low stringency Southern blot analysis with an HPV-31 DNA probe, in a cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN). The DNA of this virus was molecularly cloned and shown to be a new HPV type based on the absence of cross-reactivity to HPV types 1 to 55 under high-stringency hybridization conditions. At low stringency, HPV-56 was most related to HPV types 30 and 45. The deduced organization of the open reading frames of HPV-56, from hybridization and partial nucleotide sequence analyses, reveals a typical HPV genome. HPV-56 was detected in two of 464 normal cervical tissues, in five of 227 cervical condylomas and CIN, and in two of 84 invasive cancers of the cervix.

Amino Acid Sequence