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Biomedical subjects

T Brooks

Publications and source records attributed to T Brooks.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Examination of biofilm formation and risk of infection associated with the use of urinary catheters with leg bags.

Urinary catheters and legs bags were simultaneously colonized by Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris using a model urinary drainage system. the system was continuously supplied with filter-sterilized artificial urine using a diurnal flow pattern. The extent of colonization was determined by assessment of both planktonic and biofilm formation over time. Contamination of the catheters resulted in rapid colonization of the whole system within a 24 h period. Contamination of the leg bags resulted in an ascending biofilm formation over a four-day period. Results indicated that infection risk could be minimized by changing the catheter and leg bags at least once a week. The design of the leg bags was not found to influence the rate or extent of biofilm formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Accreditation programs for hospitals: funding and operation.

Accreditation is a formal process by which an authorized body assesses and recognizes an individual, an organization (like a hospital), a program, or a group as complying with requirements such as standards or criteria. This article analyses and compares the activity and funding of six health care accrediting bodies which operate in five different countries, and which in 1994, accredited over 5000 health centres. The data included in this article could be useful for other institutions who wish to commence accreditation programmes for health care organizations.

Accreditation↗
PubMed1996

Endocrine characterization of primary mediastinal lymphoma.

Because of the characteristic presentation of primary mediastinal large cell lymphoma (PMLCL) in young females its known origin from thymic B-cells, there might be a role in lymphomagenesis for estrogen receptors as well as for known neuroendocrine thymic mediators. A retrospective review of all patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma seen at our institution from January 1985 to January 1994 revealed 75 consecutive cases with a diagnosis of PMLCL. Through retrieval from our pathologic archives and requests to outside pathologists, we recovered and analyzed 17 biopsy specimens for the presence of the following hormone receptors: estrogen, beta endorphin, prolactin, T3, growth hormone, and leutinizing hormone. None of the specimens stained for any of the reagents. The most plausible explanation is that PMLCL tissues are devoid of these hormonal receptors and thus these receptors do not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of PMLCL.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1995

Consistent expression of an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (C-CAM) during human prostate development and loss of expression in prostate cancer: implication as a tumor suppressor.

Cell adhesion molecules have been suggested to function as tumor suppressor molecules. We have been studying one of the epithelial cell adhesion molecules (C-CAM), which belongs to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. Transfection of a C-CAM cDNA expression vector into a highly tumorigenic human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) suppresses tumor formation in nude mice. Alternatively, reducing C-CAM expression levels in the nontumorigenic rat prostate epithelial cell line NbE by the antisense expression vector markedly increases tumorigenicity of NbE cells in nude mice. These results suggest that C-CAM may be a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. In this study, we examined the relationship between C-CAM expression during human prostate development and neoplastic progression by immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections. C-CAM predominantly localized on the plasma membrane of the basal cell layer in both the fetal and normal adult prostate gland. However, an overall decreased staining was seen in benign prostatic hyperplasia and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Furthermore, C-CAM was not detected in prostate carcinomas. Thus, a decrease in C-CAM expression may be an early event in hyperplastic/neoplastic transformation. These observations support the suggestion that C-CAM is a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer progression.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1993

Brain metastases in osteosarcoma. Report of a long-term survivor and review of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital experience.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastasis has been considered a rare event in osteosarcoma, although with prolonged survival an increasing incidence has been suggested. There have been no prior reports of long-term survivors among patients with this complication. METHODS: The authors describe a child treated for osteosarcoma who is alive and free of disease 8 years after the detection of brain metastases. Of 254 patients with primary osteosarcoma referred to St. Jude Children's Hospital between 1962 and 1989, 13 developed brain metastases, all after relapse or recurrence in another site. Concomitant active lung metastases were present in all of the patients except the one long-term survivor, whose pulmonary disease had responded to treatment with cisplatin and doxorubicin. Log-rank analyses were used to compare survival duration and the frequency of brain metastases among patients treated before and after 1982, when effective multiagent therapy was initiated. RESULTS: Log-rank analyses comparing patients treated before and after 1982 showed that the introduction of effective modern therapy improved survival among patients at risk for brain metastases (i.e., those with recurrent and progressive disease, P = 0.007) but was not associated with a statistically significant increase in the frequency of brain metastases (15.5% versus 4.5%, P = 0.125). CONCLUSIONS: Although the outlook for patients with this complication remains bleak, the resolution of brain metastases after eight courses of ifosfamide in the patient described in this article suggests that enrollment of selected patients in Phase II trials is merited.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Total quality management in the NHS.

In 1989, the Department of Health embarked upon a programme to encourage the introduction of a managed approach to quality in the NHS. In 1990 it extended this programme to include 23 sites ranging from departments within units to total districts. The criteria for inclusion in the programme were loose, but all successful pilots marched under the banner of total quality management (TQM), a clearly defined concept with a well-documented history. Tessa Brooks summarises TQM and considers its place in the NHS.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of immunocytochemical and biochemical assays for estrogen receptor in fine needle aspirates and histologic sections from breast carcinomas.

An immunocytochemical assay using a monoclonal antibody specific for estrogen receptor (ER-ICA) was performed on needle aspirates and on histologic sections (mastectomy and biopsy specimens) from 55 patients with breast cancer. A total of 82 ER-ICAs were performed, with matched cytologic and histologic specimens in 27 patients, cytology alone in 15, and histology alone in 13. ER-ICA results were described by a histochemical score (H score) based on intensity-weighted percentages of staining cells. The H scores were compared with results of sucrose density gradient (SDG) analysis of histologic specimens (mastectomy, resection, or biopsy). An H score greater than or equal to 10 and an SDG value greater than or equal to 10 fmol/mg protein were considered positive. The sensitivity of cytologic ER-ICA was 94%, the specificity 100%. The sensitivity of histologic ER-ICA was 67%, the specificity 90%. Correlating cytologic H score with Black's nuclear grade showed that grade 1 (the most anaplastic) carcinomas demonstrated the lowest H scores (mean, 7.3 +/- 29.8), whereas the highest H scores were noted in grade 3 tumors (mean, 150.0 +/- 88.1). Both SDG and ER-ICA showed ER values to be lower in premenopausal than postmenopausal women. There was no correlation between H score and presence of axillary nodal metastases or tumor size. An overall good correlation was demonstrated between immunohistochemical methods and biochemical analysis.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1987

Use of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I in the identification of lymphatic and blood vessel invasion in previously stained microscopic slides.

Lymphatic and blood vessel invasion is one of the most important diagnostic and prognostic parameters used by pathologists in the evaluation of neoplastic conditions. Although a variety of tissue artifacts can make the recognition of vascular, capillary, and lymphatic permeation by tumor cells extremely difficult, recent immunohistochemical studies have employed a variety of tissue markers that appear to have great value in establishing the diagnosis of lymphovascular involvement. In the present study, we applied an immunoperoxidase staining technique to previously stained microscopic tissue sections using Ulex europaeus agglutinin I lectin, an endothelial marker that can be used in paraffin-embedded tissues. Our results indicate that this technique can be successfully applied on microscopic slides previously stained with a variety of histochemical stains. It can also be used in those cases in which paraffin blocks are not available or the area in question is absent from the recut tissue sections.

Endothelium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Objectives to direct the training of emergency medicine residents on off-service rotation: otolaryngology.

This is the sixth article in a continuing series on objectives for emergency medicine training; otolaryngological objectives will be presented. Otolaryngological skills and knowledge areas are frequently encountered in clinical practice. The Core Content in emergency medicine devotes an entire section to their listing. Off-service rotations provide some one-half of all rotational-based experience in emergency medicine training. Specific behaviorally based objectives for mastery of knowledge and skill areas provide guidance in a training rotation not directly under emergency medicine faculty supervision. References are suggested for additional and supportive information and reinforcement in skill and knowledge area mastery. These objectives are presented to aid in directing training of emergency medicine residents on an otolaryngological service.

Clinical Competence↗