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Biomedical subjects

Richard Berg

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Berg.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

A modern biomaterial for adhesion prevention.

A biomaterial composed of carboxymethylcellulose, poly(ethylene oxide), and calcium can be prepared in a variety of ways to reduce fibrin deposition and adhesion formation. This biomaterial platform can be formulated into a flowable gel with tissue adherence appropriate for use in minimally invasive surgery. The device remains at the site of placement even in gravitationally dependent areas. A peridural formulation was shown in preclinical studies to be safe and effective in reducing adhesions to dura following spinal surgery. A peritoneal formulation used on pelvic organs following peritoneal cavity surgery was also shown to be safe and effective. A clinical feasibility study showed that patients with severe back pain and lower extremity weakness treated with the peridural formulation, applied over their nerve roots following laminectomy or laminotomy, experienced significantly reduced symptoms when compared with surgery-only controls. The peritoneal formulation was shown in two multicenter feasibility studies of women undergoing pelvic surgery to significantly reduce adhesion formation when compared with surgery-only controls. Confirmation of the feasibility studies awaits results from pivotal clinical trials. These formulations were safe, effective, and easy to use. This biomaterial provided a benefit to patients undergoing surgery where postsurgical adhesion formation is a concern.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Static magnetic fields neither prevent nor diminish symptoms and signs of delayed onset muscle soreness.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether application of a commercially available static magnetic field would alter the signs and/or symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) produced by exhaustive eccentric exercise. DESIGN: A double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled study, with subjects serving as their own controls. SETTING: An outpatient physical therapy and performance center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three healthy volunteers (18 women; mean age, 30 y; range, 18-40 y; 5 men; mean age, 29 y; range, 19-39 y). INTERVENTION: After exhaustive eccentric exercise of both the right and left elbow flexor muscle groups, subjects received daily treatment with either a 350G magnet or a placebo device for 5 consecutive days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome variables, including anthropometric measurements, perceived discomfort, and muscle force production, were compared using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Arm circumference, relaxed elbow flexion angle, and pain increased, whereas active elbow flexion angle and maximal isometric torque decreased transiently before returning to near baseline. No significant difference in outcome variables existed between the treated and control arms. Participants reported less pain in both treated and control arms after each session, suggesting a placebo effect. CONCLUSIONS: Static magnetic fields were no more effective than placebo in preventing DOMS.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Osteoinduction by a collagen mineral composite combined with isologous bone marrow in a subcutaneous rat model.

In a subcutaneous implant rat model, Collagraft alone (n=8), Collagraft plus isologous bone marrow (n=8), and marrow alone (n=8) were evaluated. Twelve rats were euthanized at 11 days and 12 at 21 days. Explants were evaluated histologically for evidence of bone formation, and osteogenic activity was determined by an assay for alkaline phosphatase. Histological bone formation was absent in all groups at 11 days. At 21 days, in the Collagraft alone and bone marrow alone groups, no bone induction was noted. In contrast, 21-day specimens from the Collagraft plus bone marrow group showed newly formed bone. Alkaline phosphatase activity was negligible (<0.05 units/mg) in all 11-day specimens. Activity in Collagraft plus bone marrow specimens at 21 days (0.38 units/mg) was significantly higher than any other group (P<.001 for all comparisons). This study demonstrates that Collagraft plus bone marrow is an osteoinductive matrix.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Duplex scanning-guided thrombin injection for the treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms.

PURPOSE: This study presents our current results with duplex scanning-guided thrombin injection (DGTI) for the treatment of lower-extremity iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms (PAs). These results were compared with the results from our patient population that was treated with duplex scanning-guided compression (DGC). METHODS: This was a prospective evaluation of an institutional review board-approved protocol for ultrasound scanning-guided thrombin injection for the treatment of iatrogenic lower-extremity PAs. The maneuver was performed with continuous real-time color ultrasound scanning imaging to guide a needle into a PA sac. Then 0.5 to 1.0 mL of a thrombin solution (1000 U/mL) was injected, and thrombosis of the sac was monitored. All patients underwent an arterial evaluation of the involved extremity before and after thrombin injection. In addition, the size of the PA and its parent artery were documented by means of pre-injection imaging. After thrombosis of the PA, the patient was kept on bed rest for 4 hours, and activity was limited that day (bathroom privileges for inpatients). Follow-up imaging was performed after 24 hours, and attempts were made to obtain imaging 1 week and 1 month after injection. RESULTS: In the 31 months of the study, 131 iatrogenic PAs of the lower extremity were initially treated with DGTI, and thrombosis was achieved in 126 of these cases (96%). Thrombosis of the PA sac was accomplished within seconds of thrombin injection. Five cases failed, three of which resulted from complications of the procedures, with two intra-arterial thrombin injections and one PA rupture after thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Our experience indicates that DGTI is more effective than DGC (96% vs 75%) in the treatment of iatrogenic lower-extremity PAs. The DGTI procedure is completed in minutes, compared with a mean compression time of 44 minutes with DGC, which leads to increased patient and operator acceptance. Intra-arterial thrombin injection was seen in 4% of PAs that were 2.6 cm or smaller and resulted in limb-threatening ischemia requiring surgical intervention. Finally, the use of a biopsy guide attached to the ultrasound scanning transducer head simplifies the visualization of the needle, reducing the number of needle punctures and needle manipulation.

Adolescent↗