Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S M Bloom.
Photocoagulation burns of the crystalline lens are a rare complication of posterior segment laser surgery. These burns occur more commonly in eyes with cataracts and with small, high-power, long-duration argon blue-green burns. We describe the first occurrence of lenticular burns caused by a fractured laser fibre optic cord.
The chest roentgenograms of 54 patients receiving high dose interleukin-2 with or without lymphokine-activated killer cell therapy for advanced cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-nine patients (72 percent) developed chest roentgenographic abnormalities consisting of pleural effusions, 28 (52 percent); diffuse infiltrates (pulmonary edema), 22 (41 percent); and focal infiltrates, 12 (22 percent). These abnormalities resolved in 30 of 39 (77 percent) patients by four weeks after therapy. Simple pleural effusions were the only residual roentgenographic abnormalities seen and were present primarily in patients receiving IL-2 by bolus intravenous injection (8 of 28) (29 percent) as compared to continuous intravenous infusion (1 of 24) (4 percent) (p = 0.03). Only roentgenographic evidence of pulmonary edema appeared to correlate with the degree of clinical pulmonary toxicity (p = 0.001). The development of chest roentgenographic abnormalities correlated with the administration of IL-2 solely by bolus intravenous injection (p = 0.04), a pretreatment FEV1 of less than 3 L (p = 0.04), and treatment associated bacteremia (p = 0.09), but not with prior therapy, the presence of pulmonary metastases or the degree of systemic capillary leak as measured by percentage of weight gain during therapy. Although the roentgenographic abnormalities did not relate to the number of LAK cells received, two patients developed sudden onset of dyspnea and chest roentgenographic evidence of pulmonary edema shortly after the first LAK cell administration, implying that a direct cause-and-effect relationship exists in some patients. Possible mechanisms for these IL-2 related chest roentgenographic abnormalities and pulmonary toxicity in general are discussed.
Retinal astrocytomas are rare, usually asymptomatic, hamartomatous retinal tumors that are most commonly seen in patients with tuberous sclerosis. Serous detachment of the macula is a rare complication of retinal astrocytomas. The first successful treatment with laser photocoagulation of two eyes (two patients) with decreased vision due to a serous detachment of the macula from a retinal astrocytoma is described. Laser photocoagulation should be considered for retinal astrocytomas causing persistent or increasing exudation that is threatening the macula or causing visual loss.
Bimanual vitrectomy has become the method of choice for performing closed vitrectomy. In certain situations, visualization is improved by using indirect ophthalmoscopy to see the vitrectomy instrument. A simple method using a +20.00-diopter condensing lens is described as a means of practicing the initially difficult unimanual technique, which requires working in an inverted operative field.
Thermal papillitis is a previously unrecognized complication of photocoagulation for peripapillary choroidal neovascularization. This report describes a patient in whom transient thermal papillitis, choroidal ischemia, and two small branch retinal arteriolar occlusions developed after dye red photocoagulation of an idiopathic peripapillary choroidal neovascular membrane.
The posterior dislocation of an intraocular lens is a serious complication of extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens. We describe a method of repositioning and suturing such a lens, using pars plana techniques. The method we recommend has several advantages over previously described methods, including the use of radially oriented scleral fixation sutures.
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The posteriorly directed duodenal bulb can be difficult to demonstrate because of the overlapping gastric antrum. A technique is described for displacing the antrum from the bulb while simultaneously distending the barium-coated duodenal bulb with air.
We have reviewed the clinical manifestations, endoscopic findings, pathology, and upper gastrointestinal x-rays in 10 patients with chronic erosive gastritis, a disorder that was rarely recognized before the use of double-contrast upper gastrointestinal radiology and endoscopy. The characteristic x-ray appearance is that of a series of 3 to 11-mm nodules, some with central collections of barium, that are distributed along rugal folds and usually extend into the antrum. The endoscopic appearance is similar: small erythematous nodules with shallow central erosions. The pathology differs from that seen in peptic ulcer disease. There are few polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a predominance of plasma cells in the inflammatory infiltrate. Seven of our patients presented with epigastric pain similar to that of peptic ulcer disease; four of these also had anorexia and weight loss. In two other patients anorexia and weight loss were the only symptoms. One patient was asymptomatic. All nine symptomatic patients responded to antacid treatment. However, repeat x-rays demonstrated persistence of the nodules, although the central erosions usually disappeared. The etiology is unknown. Chronic erosive gastritis appears to be a distinct entity different from peptic ulcer disease.
Nine patients are reported who presented with severe weight loss of up to 13.6 kg (30 lb) as a result of chronic erosive gastritis. In many the cachexia was sufficient to prompt a search for malignancy but no other lesion was found. The importance of the radiological pursuit of this diagnosis is emphasised. Illustrative case histories are presented.
Chronic erosive gastritis has been regarded as an unusual, ill-defined condition of unknown etiology. We report a retrospective study of 40 patients in whom this diagnosis was made relating radiologic findings to patients' age, symptomatology and possible etiologic factors. The condition is more common than previously suspected and requires careful technique combining double contrast and graded compression to demonstrate fine mucosal abnormalities. The radiologic appearance is of mucosal mounds measuring 3-11 mm in diameter with central barium collections and numbering from 3-27 per examination. Antral involvement occurred in 90% of patients, with diffuse involvement of both antrum and body in 58%. Several linear erosions measuring up to 15 mm in length were also demonstrated. Chronic erosive gastritis is most severe and symptomatic between 40 and 60 years, becoming sub-clinical in the elderly. Symptoms mimic those of a peptic ulcer or gastric neoplasm and are more severe the more extensive the disease. Gastric irritants, virus infection and Crohn's disease were possible etiologic factors in some patients in this study.
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In more than 1,500 double contrast upper gastrointestinal examinations performed January through November 1974, 26 cases of multiple gastric ulcers were diagnosed. This represents 18.6% of the 140 patients who had a demonstrable gastric lesion, and 23.4% of the 111 patients who had either a single gastric ulcer or scar. This technique was developed in a country where gastric carcinoma is common, but in the United States its greatest usefulness will probably be in the detection of subtle mucosal defects such as multiple gastric ulcers, linear ulcers, and erosions. The sensitivity of the routine pharmacologically aided double contrast upper gastrointestinal examination is confirmed by the high incidence of multiple gastric ulcers found.
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Retinal detachment and retinal holes in two family members with retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento are reported. We believe these are the first such cases reported in the literature. We describe the presenting symptoms and management, including cryotherapy, scleral buckling procedure, and sulfur hexafluoride injection (SF6), resulting in stable visual acuity in one case and retinal reattachment and improved visual acuity in the other case.