Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Lambert

Publications and source records attributed to R Lambert.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Radiofrequency facet joint denervation in the treatment of low back pain: a placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess efficacy.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency articular facet denervation for low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Uncontrolled observational studies in patients with low back pain have reported some benefits from the use of facet joint radiofrequency denervation. Because the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency had not been clearly shown in previous studies, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of the technique for improving functional disabilities and reduce pain. METHODS: For this study, 70 patients with low back pain lasting of more than 3 months duration and a good response after intraarticular facet injections under fluoroscopy were assigned randomly to receive percutaneous radiofrequency articular facet denervation under fluoroscopic guidance or the same procedure without effective denervation (sham therapy). The primary outcomes were functional disabilities, as assessed by the Oswestry and Roland-Morris scales, and pain indicated on a visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included spinal mobility and strength. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, the Roland-Morris score had improved by a mean of 8.4% in the neurotomy group and 2.2% in the placebo group, showing a treatment effect of 6.2% (P = 0.05). At 4 weeks, no significant treatment effect was reflected in the Oswestry score (0.6% change) or the visual analog pain score (4.2% change). At 12 weeks, neither functional disability, as assessed by the Roland-Morris scale (2.6% change) and Oswestry scale (1.9% change), nor the pain level, as assessed by the visual analog scale (-7.6% change), showed any treatment effect. CONCLUSIONS: Although radiofrequency facet joint denervation may provide some short-term improvement in functional disability among patients with chronic low back pain, the efficacy of this treatment has not been established.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Hydronephrosis with diffuse or segmental cortical thinning: impact on renal function.

PURPOSE: Management of hydronephrosis has changed considerably with the routine use of prenatal ultrasonography. Increased dependence is now placed on nuclear renographic differential renal function, and many urologists consider surgical intervention for ureteropelvic junction obstruction with significant decrease in renal function (less than 40%). Correlation between differential renal function and the degree of dilatation diagnosed by ultrasound has not been reported. In addition, no difference between hydronephrosis associated with either diffuse or segmental cortical thinning has been made, as both are classified as grade IV according to the Society of Fetal Urology classification. Based on clinical observation we hypothesized that hydronephrotic grade IV kidneys with diffuse parenchymal thinning are associated with worse renal function and are distinct from those with segmental cortical thinning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent pyeloplasty between January 1996 and December 1998. Hydronephrosis was graded according to Society for Fetal Urology classification and all diuretic renograms were performed in a standardized fashion. Grade IV kidneys were divided into IVA (segmental cortical thinning) and IVB (diffuse cortical thinning). Statistical correlation of grade and differential renal function was performed using a chi-square test. RESULTS: Images were available for review in 77 patients. Average patient age at intervention was 20.4 months and 7.6 years of the prenatally and postnatally detected hydronephrosis groups, respectively. Of the 77 cases 25 had grade IVA and 18 had grade IVB hydronephrosis. Of the grade IVB hydronephrosis cases 66% had less than 40% differential renal function compared to 24% in group IVA (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with grade IVB hydronephrosis secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction have a higher risk of significant decrease in renal function. Group IVA has significantly better function than group IVB and characteristics similar to grade III hydronephrosis cases. Grade IVB hydronephrosis should monitorized closely as earlier intervention may be warranted to avoid progressive deterioration of renal function.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Role of scintigraphy in musculoskeletal and spinal infections.

Clinical findings are still the mainstay for suspecting the diagnosis of musculoskeletal infections, especially osteomyelitis. No single complementary imaging technique has 100% specificity and sensitivity for every case of musculoskeletal infection. Depending on the age of the patient, presence of orthopedic hardware, location of infection, underlying bone, and systemic conditions, the choice of imaging modalities must be tailored to the patient's condition. Plain radiographs are performed first and may be sufficient. In children, bone scan is highly accurate to diagnose osteomyelitis. Labeled leukocytes with complementary bone or bone marrow studies are recommended for orthopedic hardware or diabetic foot. Finally, gallium scanning is useful for the diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis. Current radiopharmaceuticals used for diagnosing infection also label inflammation. Newer products, as Infecton, should in the future allow better differentiation between infection and sterile inflammation.

Arthritis, Infectious↗
PubMed2001

Barrett's oesophagus: better left alone?

The risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett's oesophagus is overrated in most publications, including meta-analyses. The upper limit of the overall risk is currently estimated at 0.5 per 100 patients per year. This means that one cancer may occur out of 200 patients followed for one year. Furthermore, a large fraction of patients with Barrett's oesophagus have a precarious health status, either from advanced age or from a chronic severe disease. Management is based upon a careful index endoscopy; accordingly, patients positive for dysplasia must be strictly observed or treated. Endoscopic surveillance protocols aiming at early detection of neoplasia--and treatment--in patients without dysplasia are unjustified in most cases. On the other hand, a minority of male patients--providing a good performance status--should enter into surveillance protocols when high-risk factors such as a long history of reflux symptoms and smoking habits are present.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Clinical and radiological amelioration of refractory peripheral spondyloarthritis by pulse intravenous pamidronate therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential therapeutic properties of an aminobisphosphonate, pamidronate, using clinical and laboratory outcome variables together with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and gadolinium augmentation in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) refractory to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID). METHODS: We studied 9 patients (7 male, 2 female) of mean age 27.9 years (range 19-38) and mean disease duration of 5.5 years (range 0.5-20). Five had ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 3 had undifferentiated SpA, and one had reactive arthritis. Seven were HLA-B27 positive. Two had inflammatory bowel disease. Pamidronate (60 mg) was given intravenously on Days 1, 2, 14, 28, and 56, over 4 h in 500 ml of 5% dextrose. Clinical outcome assessments included the BASDAI (disease activity), BASFI (function), BASGI (global well being) composite visual analog instruments, and swollen and tender joint count. Laboratory variables included the erthrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Dynamic MRI with gadolinium augmentation of synovium and bone was performed at baseline and at Day 84 in the first 6 patients enrolled in the study. RESULTS: All patients completed the study and there was a significant improvement in all clinical and laboratory variables assessed. Mean swollen and tender joint count decreased by 93.8% (p = 0.017) and 98.2% (p = 0.012), respectively, and complete clinical resolution of synovitis was noted in 5 patients. BASDAI decreased by 44.2% (p = 0.028), BASFI by 47.3% (p = 0.015), and BASGI by 42.2% (p = 0.011). ESR and CRP declined by 49.4% (p = 0.012) and 66.9% (p = 0.008), respectively. Acute lymphopenia accompanied by elevated CRP levels was noted in 8 patients in the 48 h after first pamidronate infusion. Maximal rate and magnitude of enhanced MRI signal after gadolinium augmentation decreased after pamidronate therapy, especially in the bone marrow. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data from uncontrolled studies support the efficacy of pamidronate therapy for NSAID refractory SpA and warrant further evaluation in controlled trials.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Endoscopic mucosectomy: an alternative treatment for superficial esophageal cancer.

Recent trends in the management of superficial esophageal cancer consist of improved detection, pretherapeutic staging and reliable criteria for curative endoscopic therapy. The endoscopic treatment is legitimate when the cancer is at an early stage, intra-epithelial or microinvasive (m1 or m2) and N0. Submucosal cancer should not be treated with a curative intent by endotherapy. Concerning squamous cell cancer, the oriental and occidental pathologists include high-grade dysplasia in the same group as intramucosal cancer. The distinction is however maintained for adenocarcinoma in the Barrett's esophagus. Indications of endoscopic rather than surgical treatment rely on: (1) the small size of the tumor (not more than 2 cm in diameter); (2) the endoscopic morphology in the type 0 of the Japanese classification with the flat subtypes IIa and IIb rather than type IIc--there is high risk of submucosal invasion for the polypoid (type I) or ulcerated superficial cancer (type III); and (3) the endoscopic ultrasound staging, with confirmed integrity of the hyperechoic submucosal layer. The high-frequency (20 MHz) miniprobe is preferred to the standard (7.5 MHz) instrument. The elective procedure for tumor eradication is endoscopic mucosectomy. The technique is associated with a 6.8% risk of severe complications (hemorrhage or perforation) and a recurrence rate of 3%-7%. The 5-year survival rate is similar to that of surgery (over 80%). In the small group of patients with superficial esophageal cancer (less than 10% of the disease) endoscopic treatment may now be proposed in about 30% of cases, surgery is preferred for submucosal cancer and for neoplasia with a large surface. Areas of high-grade dysplasia in the Barrett's esophagus offer a new and increasing sector of indications. The concurrent endoscopic procedure of destruction--photodynamic therapy--is preferred for the destruction of lesions with poorly delineated limits.

Barrett Esophagus↗
PubMed2000

Risk-resistance adaptation model for caregivers and their children with sickle cell syndromes.

This investigation examined the risk-resistance adaptation model for children with sickle cell disease and their primary caregivers. Participants were 55 children, ranging in age from 5 to 16 years with a mean age of 9 years 2 months, diagnosed with sickle cell disease and their primary caregivers, recruited from a university medical center. Measures included adjustment (i.e. primary caregiver and child adjustment), risk factors (i.e. disease and disability, functional independence, and psychosocial stressors), resistance factors (i.e. intrapersonal health locus of control, social-ecological), and stress processing (coping). Primary caregivers' adjustment was associated with developmental coping, changeR2 = .08, and child adaptation was associated with an internal health locus of control, changeR2 = .22. An indirect effect of primary caregivers' coping on child adjustment was found through influence on primary caregivers' adjustment, changeR2 = .11. The findings support research among other chronically ill populations that suggests an association between coping and disease adjustment. The results were interpreted to support the use of theoretically driven models in predicting the adaptation of children with chronic illness and adjustment in their caregivers.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Effect of dietary lipid (soybean lecithin and triacylglycerol) on hepatic F-actin microfilaments in cyclosporine A-treated rats: image analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

We studied and quantified the effect of cyclosporine A on hepatic F-actin on bile canalicular and basolateral membranes in rats fed either soybean lecithin, triacylglycerol-enriched diet, or low-fat diet by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging. The phalloidin-FITC staining of F-actin was quite normal in the lecithin-cyclosporine A group but decreased significantly in the other cyclosporine A-treated groups (by 40% and 25% of control in triacylglycerol-cyclosporine A and cyclosporine A groups, respectively). The alteration of F-actin by cyclosporine A, related to cholestasis evidenced by a decrease in bile salt secretion, was prevented by dietary soybean lecithin and amplified by dietary soybean triacylglycerol.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

Treatment of esophagogastric tumors.

Palliative endoscopic treatment of esophagogastric cancer is now possible using expandable metal stents. The properties, advantages, and drawbacks of these stents have been extensively analyzed, and there is no doubt that they are now easy and safe to introduce, without serious morbidity. However, the frequency of persistent thoracic pain and delayed complications, as well as the high rate of repeat interventions required, justify limited use of the procedure. The major indication for the procedure is dysphagia due to cancer in the esophagus or at the cardia. Enteral stents have been used in the treatment of malignant duodenal or jejunal stenoses, but the results are poor. A promising new area is the treatment of benign stenoses using expandable and biodegradable stents. It may be possible to use this technique for surgical anastomoses after tumor resection. Careful endoscopic analysis of the mucosal surface is necessary to establish the strict indications for endoscopic mucosal resection for mucosal malignancy. Biopsy evidence of the relation between lesion diameter, a depressed surface pattern and the depth of invasion into the submucosa, as well as the extent of regional or distant lymphatic invasion, provides the best guidelines for safe curative mucosectomy in gastric cancer. Endoscopic therapy is always safe in lesions less than 1cm in diameter; for other lesions, resection is safe when the depth of submucosal invasions is less than 300 microm. In other situations, surgery is preferable in patients who are otherwise in good health. In Japan, the results of the National Survey of Gastric Cancer, with cases detected by screening, confirmed the benefits of adherence to these guidelines; most patients were treated surgically, and only 7% with endoscopic therapy.

Endosonography↗
PubMed2000

Identity in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate identify formation among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Family functioning, perceived emotional support from family and peers, life stress, and anxiety produced by the cancer experience also were examined as they influenced identity development. METHOD: Participants were 52 adolescent survivors and their mothers recruited from a medical center and 42 healthy adolescent counterparts and their mothers recruited from the community. RESULTS: A greater frequency of survivors than their healthy peers was found within the foreclosed identity status. Factors associated with the foreclosed identity status included the cancer diagnosis, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and family functioning characterized by greater levels of conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Data were interpreted to suggest that the foreclosed identity status may serve a protective function in assisting survivors to cope with the stressors of the cancer experience.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Effect of transpulmonary pressure on airway diameter and responsiveness of immature and mature rabbits.

We previously demonstrated that airway responsiveness is greater in immature than in mature rabbits; however, it is not known whether there are maturational differences in the effect of transpulmonary pressure (Ptp) on airway size and airway responsiveness. The relationship between Ptp and airway diameter was assessed in excised lungs insufflated with tantalum powder. Diameters of comparable intraparenchymal airway segments were measured from radiographs obtained at Ptp between 0 and 20 cmH(2)O. At Ptp > 8 cmH(2)O, the diameters were near maximal in both groups. With diameter normalized to its maximal value, changing Ptp between 8 and 0 cmH(2)O resulted in a greater decline of airway caliber in immature than mature airways. The increases in lung resistance (RL) in vivo at Ptp of 8, 5, and 2 cmH(2)O were measured during challenge with intravenous methacholine (MCh: 0.001-0.5 mg/kg). At Ptp of 8 cmH(2)O, both groups had very small responses to MCh and the maximal fold increases in RL did not differ (1.93 +/- 0.29 vs. 2.23 +/- 0.19). At Ptp of 5 and 2 cmH(2)O, the fold increases in RL were greater for immature than mature animals (13.19 +/- 1.81 vs. 3.89 +/- 0.37) and (17.74 +/- 2.15 vs. 4.6 +/- 0.52), respectively. We conclude that immature rabbits have greater airway distensibility and this difference may contribute to greater airway narrowing in immature compared with mature rabbits.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

[Respiratory manifestations after exposure to sulfurous anhydride in wine-cellar workers: 6 case reports].

Sulfite treatment of wine [a process exploiting the biocidal and anti-oxidant properties of sulfur dioxide (SO2)] involves the use of liquified gas, aqueous solutions or bisulfites, i.e. the salts of sulfurous acid which slowly release SO2. This procedure can result in repeated exposures of operators to significant amounts of SO2. However, risks associated with the use of SO2 are greatly under-estimated by wine producers and wine-cellar workers. We report on 6 cases of respiratory symptoms attributable to SO2 identified during a survey of wine-cellars in the French Beaujolais district. Their pathogenesis is discussed after an overview of the occupational toxicology of SO2.

Adult↗