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Biomedical subjects

S Sherman

Publications and source records attributed to S Sherman.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Diagnosis and therapy of pancreas divisum.

Pancreas divisum patients make up a small but problematic portion of ERCP cases. Minor papilla cannulation techniques have been improved. Recurrent pancreatitis patients generally benefit from minor papilla therapy. Methods to select patients who are likely to respond to invasive therapy need refinement. Clinicians and endoscopists are strongly encouraged to be cautious and conservative with this patient group until stronger data indicate optimal management schemes.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1998

ERCP and biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy-induced pancreatitis.

The magnitude of post-ERCP pancreatitis as a clinical and economic problem has increased, and with it the need to find ways of decreasing its incidence and severity. Furthermore, the study of post-ERCP pancreatitis is interesting as a unique model for acute pancreatitis in general. Current thinking and results of recent promising studies are reviewed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy: techniques and complications.

Endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy of the major and minor papilla has expanded our approach to the management of a variety of pancreatic disorders. Analysis of the complication rates of this therapy is difficult, however, because a variety of techniques are often used in conjunction with the pancreatic sphincterotomy. This article reviews the techniques and complications of endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy. Based on the currently available data, it appears that the complication rates of pancreatic sphincterotomy are probably higher than those of biliary sphincterotomy. Should application of this technique become more widespread, methods to reduce the incidence of post-procedure pancreatitis will demand further investigation.

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Endoscopic measurement of pancreatic blood flow.

A reduction of pancreatic blood flow has been observed in acute and chronic pancreatitis in animal models. Most available blood flow techniques are either too invasive or impractical to carry out in humans. Since the arrival of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), our understanding and management of pancreatic disorders has gradually improved. It may now be utilized to investigate what is believed to be a very important factor in the pathogenesis of pancreatic disease and symptoms: pancreatic tissue perfusion.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Stabilization of vasoactive intestinal peptide by lipids.

An anionic phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), induced vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to adopt a helical conformation, determined by circular dichroism studies. PG inhibited the trypsin-catalyzed, antibody-catalyzed and uncatalyzed cleavage of VIP, measured by radiometric and HPLC methods. Phosphatidylcholine, a neutral lipid, did not alter the circular dichroism spectra of VIP, and it was without detectable effect on the rates of VIP cleavage. Trypsin-catalyzed cleavage of Boc-Ile-Glu-Arg-methylcoumarinamide, a substrate unrelated in sequence to VIP, proceeded at equivalent rates in the absence and presence of PG, which suggests that the phospholipid did not exert a nonspecific inhibitory effect on the enzyme. Study of the kinetics of antibody-catalyzed VIP cleavage indicated that the inhibition by PG was due to decreased affinity for VIP, suggested by observations of increased K(m) values and unaltered Vmax values. Incorporation of VIP in the liposomes and the liposomal surface permitted maintenance of the peptide in essentially undegraded form at 37 degrees C for 8 days. The longevity of liposomal VIP administered i.v. to mice was increased by about 5-fold compared with aqueous VIP. These observations indicate that certain phospholipids and liposomes can be applied to circumvent the rapid loss of VIP in vitro and in vivo due to degradative processes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

The method of sib-pair linkage analysis in context of case-control design.

We used sib-pair linkage analysis as part of an epidemiologic approach to solving Problem 2 of the GAW10 data set of nuclear families. We recoded the quantitative trait Q1 into a dichotomous trait using Q1 > or = 40 as the cut-point. In a case-control design of sib-pair analysis, the affected siblings of the proband were the case subjects and the unaffected siblings were the control subjects. Case and control subjects were compared with respect to the number of alleles at one or more loci (0, 1, 2) that were identical-by-descent (IBD) with those of the proband. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were then computed with subjects sharing no alleles (share-0) serving as the reference group. Significantly high ORs were taken as indication of linkage between a marker locus and a suspected disease-susceptibility locus. The case-control sib-pair analysis identified marker D5G15 as associated with disease susceptibility (OR of sharing two alleles [share-2] = 7.7 [95% CI 2.5-23.9]). Our results were consistent with the results from Kruglyak and Lander's method of complete multipoint sib-pair analysis for linkage. For the marker (D5G15) identified through sib-pair analysis, we examined the effects of other covariates and evaluated gene-environment interaction using conditional logistic regression.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of post-ERCP pancreatitis: potential causes noted during controlled study of differing contrast media. Midwest Pancreaticobiliary Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Possible sources of post-ERCP pancreatitis were evaluated during a prospective, randomized, controlled study comparing different contrast media. METHODS: A total of 1979 patients were randomized and subdivided into groups during the study. Patients were grouped for comparison depending on the type of procedure performed during ERCP. Diagnostic patients studied with pancreatograms (Group I) were compared with other groups, specifically, those not studied with pancreatograms (Group IV). All patients had subjective and objective estimates of the difficulty in cannulation of both ducts. The incidence of postprocedural pancreatitis was compared between and within each group. RESULTS: In Group I there was a progressively higher incidence of pancreatitis with increased numbers of pancreatic duct injections. Patients with the highest (19.5%) frequency of pancreatitis received 10 or more injections into the pancreatic duct. Group I cases with difficult common bile duct cannulations had a higher frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis (9.5%), as compared with the entire group (5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher incidence of pancreatitis associated with increased manipulation around the papillary orifice, especially with multiple pancreatic duct injections. There was also a slightly higher incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in cases with difficult common bile duct cannulation. Endoscopists are encouraged to evaluate and develop safer cannulation techniques that minimize the number of injections into the pancreatic duct and enhance selective cannulation.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1997

Radial scanning and linear array endosonography for staging pancreatic cancer: a prospective randomized comparison.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is known to be accurate for staging pancreatic cancer. Little data exist to determine if linear array or radial scanning EUS is superior for staging pancreatic cancer. This prospective comparison was undertaken to assess the accuracy of linear array and radial scanning EUS for staging pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Patients with pancreatic cancer referred for EUS staging were randomized to linear array or radial scanning EUS. Staging accuracy for each was determined by comparison to surgical pathology in those patients going to surgery. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients with pancreatic cancer were enrolled and 33 had surgical resection. Of these, 17 patients were randomized to linear array and 16 to radial scanning EUS. The remaining 46 patients did not have surgery because of comorbid illness or clinically unresectable disease. EUS staging accuracy for linear array was 94% (16 of 17) for T and 71% (12 of 17) for N staging, whereas radial scanning was 88% (14 of 16) for T and 75% (12 of 16) for N staging. For predicting vascular invasion, radial scanning was 100% accurate (16 of 16) while linear array was 94% (16 of 17) accurate. There was one false-negative assessment of invasion using linear array EUS. CONCLUSION: Overall, both EUS designs appear equivalent for staging pancreatic cancer and assessing vascular invasion. In view of our findings and the capability for ultrasound-directed fine-needle aspiration with linear array EUS, this instrument may be the preferred choice for evaluating pancreatic masses.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Mucin-hypersecreting intraductal neoplasms of the pancreas: a precursor to cystic pancreatic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Muncin-hypersecreting intraductal pancreatic neoplasms were first described in 1982 and have been observed in increasing numbers since. They are observed primarily by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and are characterized by an intraductal papillary neoplasm that secretes thick mucin, causing pancreatic duct dilatation and obstructive pancreatitis. METHODS: Twenty patients are presented, 14 male and six female, with an average age of 59 +/- 11 years. All patients presented with abdominal pain, and most had nausea and vomiting, weight loss, and documented pancreatitis. Of the preoperative studies, ERCP was positive in all patients. Computed tomography scan, endoscopic ultrasonogram, and cytologic findings were less sensitive. Tumor markers were only positive in one patient. All 20 patients were treated surgically. Nine underwent Whipple procedure, one patient had a total pancreatectomy, and nine had distal pancreatic resections. The first patient in the series did not have a pancreatic resection, and his disease evolved into a lethal cystadenocarcinoma causing his death 99 months later. RESULTS: Histopathologic findings were interpreted as borderline malignant in 17 of the 20 patients, and three patients had evidence of invasive adenocarcinoma. Two of these three patients had nodal or distant metastases at the time of diagnosis, and all three died of adenocarcinoma. Seventeen of the patients are alive and well, although two of three with positive pancreatic margins have had recurrent symptoms and have been successfully reresected. CONCLUSIONS: The mucin-producing intraductal papillary tumor of the pancreas is a newly described variant of pancreatic cancer. It presents with symptoms of pancreatitis and has a progressive but more indolent course than the more lethal invasive ductal cancers. Patients with unexplained pancreatitis should undergo ERCP investigation, and aggressive surgical therapy should be carried out because the prognosis for this lesion, when appropriately treated, is more favorable than the usual pancreatic cancer.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1997

Endoscopic therapy of pancreatic disease.

Endoscopic management of a variety of benign and malignant biliary tract diseases is now a well-established alternative to surgery. Similar techniques are now applied to the pancreas and are being used in the setting of acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, complications of pancreatitis, and pancreas divisum. This review analyzes the current state of the art of these exciting applications of endoscopy. Selection of appropriate candidates for the various treatment modalities appears important for optimal results of therapy. However, definite recommendations are difficult to make because there are limited controlled studies, follow-up in most series is brief, and there are no comparison studies of endoscopic versus surgical therapy. At present, careful case selection and conservatism are the appropriate general rule in these therapeutic endeavors. Further prospective random studies are awaited.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Complications of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy is commonly used to remove bile-duct stones and to treat other problems. We prospectively investigated risk factors for complications of this procedure and their outcomes. METHODS: We studied complications that occurred within 30 days of endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy in consecutive patients treated at 17 institutions in the United States and Canada from 1992 through 1994. RESULTS: Of 2347 patients, 229 (9.8 percent) had a complication, including pancreatitis in 127 (5.4 percent) and hemorrhage in 48 (2.0 Percent). There were 55 deaths from all causes within 30 days; death was directly or indirectly related to the procedure in 10 cases. Of five significant risk factors for complications identified in a multivariate analysis, two were characteristics of the patients (suspected dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi as an indication for the procedure and the presence of cirrhosis) and three were related to the endoscopic technique (difficulty in cannulating the bile duct achievement of access to the bile duct by "precut" sphincterotomy, and use of a combined percutaneous-endoscopic procedure). The overall risk of complications was not related to the patient's age, the number of coexisting illnesses, or the diameter of the bile duct. The rate of complications was highest when the indication for the procedure was suspected dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi (21.7 percent) and lowest when the indication was removal of bile-duct stones within 30 days of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (4.9 percent). As compared with those who performed fewer procedures, endoscopists who performed more than one sphincterotomy per week had lower rates of all complications (8.4 percent vs. 11.1 percent, P=0.03) and severe complications (0.9 percent vs. 2.3 percent, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of complications after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy can vary widely in different circumstances and is primarily related to the indication for the procedure and to endoscopic technique, rather than to the age or general medical condition of the patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Predictive value of electron beam computed tomography of the coronary arteries. 19-month follow-up of 1173 asymptomatic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Coronary electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) detects atherosclerotic coronary artery disease by measuring calcium deposition in the walls of coronary arteries. EBCT-derived coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores correlate with the severity of underlying coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We followed 1173 asymptomatic patients who underwent EBCT between September 1993 and March 1994. During average follow-up of 19 months, 18 subjects had 26 cardiovascular events: 1 death, 7 myocardial infarctions, 8 coronary artery bypass graft procedures, 9 coronary angioplasties, and 1 nonhemorrhagic stroke. For CAC score thresholds of 100, 160, and 680, EBCT had sensitivities of 89%, 89%, and 50% and specificities of 77%, 82%, and 95%, respectively. Odds ratios ranged from 20.0 to 35.4 (P < .0001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary EBCT predicts future atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events in asymptomatic subjects.

Angioplasty↗
PubMed1996

Three-generation family with resemblance to Townes-Brocks syndrome and Goldenhar/oculoauriculovertebral spectrum.

The Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is comprised of a triad including characteristic anal, thumb, and ear anomalies. There are many other organ system abnormalities which may be present. However, the literature does not emphasize craniofacial findings except with reference to the typical ear configuration. A three-generation family is described in which craniofacial manifestations were prominent and a Goldenhar-like condition was considered as the most likely diagnosis. However, with the recent birth of an affected male who had an imperforate anus, the diagnosis of TBS was also considered. The family manifests a variety of Goldenhar-like findings, including epibulbar dermoids, hemifacial microsomia, preauricular tags, macrostomia, and micrognathia in addition to classical ear, radial, and anal findings of TBS. We report on this family to point out a possible biological relationship of these two conditions.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1996

Presentation of choledochal cysts without intrabiliary communication on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Choledochal cysts have generally been described to communicate with the biliary system. We recently saw three adult patients in whom we could not demonstrate biliary communication between the cyst and the biliary tree, despite a carefully performed endoscopic cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). These cases may represent a variant of type II choledochal cysts. During the 5-year period of review of ERCP records, 30 choledochal cysts were diagnosed, of which 3 (10%) were the noncommunicating cases described in this report.

Adult↗