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Biomedical subjects

W A Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to W A Anderson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Perioperative risk factors affecting hospital stay and hospital costs in open heart surgery for patients > or = 65 years old.

OBJECTIVE: Demographic changes, associated with increased demands for open heart surgery in the elderly, place increased burden on financial resources. To evaluate perioperative risk factors affecting incidence of hospital events and estimation of hospital charges, 2577 patients > or = 65 years (range 65-91), operated on from January 1991 to December 1994, were compared with a concurrent cohort of 2642 younger patients. METHODS: Statistical analysis, by surgical procedure, focused on hospital mortality, key postoperative complications affecting length of hospital stay and hospital charges. RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 4.7%, 3.5% in younger patients versus 6.1% in the older group (P << 0.01). Mortality was significantly lower in patients less than 65 years undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (3% versus 5%, P < 0.01) and valve replacement (4% versus 9%, P = 0.01). Significant risk factors for hospital death in the elderly: diabetes (P < 0.01), hypertension (P < 0.01), myocardial infarction (P < 0.01) and congestive heart failure (P < 0.01). Significant postoperative events, more common in older patients, included prolonged ventilation (P << 0.01), congestive heart failure (P << 0.01), infection (P << 0.01), cerebrovascular accident (P < 0.01), and intra aortic balloon pump (P < 0.01). Incremental risk factors for morbidity in the elderly were: higher New York Heart Association class, congestive heart failure, emergent operation, and female gender. Mean length of hospital stay for the < 65 group was 15.3 versus > 19.5 days for the > 65 group (P << 0.01). Length of stay over 18 days positively correlated with increased morbidity in both age groups. For patients > or = 65 years of age, the average hospital charge for open heart surgery was 172% higher for patients with a length of stay greater than 18 days compared with 165% for patients less than 65 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Higher operative mortality and longer length of stay in elderly patients, resulting in increased health care costs, was associated with more co-morbidities. These results suggest interventions designed to reduce congestive heart failure and other co-morbidities may improve patient's recovery and reduce costs.

Adult↗

Enhancement of the biodegradability of model wastewater containing recalcitrant or inhibitory chemical compounds by photocatalytic pre-oxidation.

m-Dinitrobenzene, diphenylamine and resorcinol, three aromatic compounds found inhibitory or recalcitrant to biological treatments, were chosen as model chemicals for this study on the integration of photocatalytic-biological treatments. The degradation of each of these compounds was achieved by ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation, leading to the formation of intermediate compounds. The photocatalytic treatment was performed in a TiO2 slurry reactor containing an aqueous solution of one of the three chemicals. The biodegradability of model wastewater treated photocatalytically was measured in terms of BOD1/TOC. Intermediate compounds that appeared at early stages of the photocatalytic degradation of m-dinitrobenzene or diphenylamine seemed to be more inhibitory than the parent compounds but this was not the case for resorcinol. A substantial improvement in BOD1/TOC could be achieved, but it required the mineralization of at least 80% of the organic carbon originally in the water. Microtox toxicity results confirmed the BOD1/TOC trends for diphenylamine.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Faculty development for ambulatory care education.

Faculty play an important role in the delivery of quality instruction in the ambulatory setting. As medical schools and residency programs move more clinical training to ambulatory care settings, more faculty must be recruited and trained. Medical educators have attempted to prepare faculty to teach in ambulatory care settings by conducting faculty development programs. This study documents the current practices of a sample of 14 peer-nominated medical educators who conduct this type of faculty development program. The authors conducted telephone interviews to learn what these educators taught, how they conducted and evaluated their programs, and the theoretical framework guiding their selection of program content and format. Results show that these faculty development programs were delivered almost exclusively in the workshop format, and that there was remarkable similarity in the topics and strategies used. Evaluation was generally limited to satisfaction ratings. Based on the results of this study, the authors recommend that faculty development programs that now emphasize the teaching encounter itself should give equal emphasis to (1) the importance of pre-instructional planning; (2) teaching faculty how to employ post-instructional techniques such as reflection; and (3) training learners and clinic staff to collaborate with faculty in the learning process.

Ambulatory Care↗

Estrogen receptor, growth factor receptor and protooncogene protein activities and possible signal transduction crosstalk in estrogen dependent and independent breast cancer cell lines.

Binding of estrogen to its receptor (ER) activates early genes that drive responsive cells through the proliferative phase. Earlier studies to evaluate the expression of protooncogenes, growth factors, growth factor receptor and steroid hormone receptor gene activities in the rat uterine system indicated complex pathways that involve significant 'crosstalk' between ER-systems and signal transduction pathways (Bhattacharyya et al., 1994). To analyze the interactions between these factors, we examined two well characterized estrogen dependent (MCF-7) and estrogen independent (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cell lines. Antibodies to estrogen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-Fos, c-Jun, and Ras proteins, protein kinases involved in receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathway, MEK1 and phosphotyrosine were utilized in immunocytochemical localization experiments to evaluate temporal expression of these factors in response to estrogen treatment. ER, which was diminished in MCF-7 cells grown in estrogen-stripped medium, increased 9-fold in estrogen-reconstituted medium by 120 min. Fos and Jun appeared at nuclear and perinuclear cytoplasmic sites within 60 min after estrogen treatment in MCF-7 cells. Fos/Jun proteins were prominent in MDA-MB-231 cells, especially in association with actin filaments. Immunolabeling studies revealed no EGF-r in MCF-7 cells, while MDA-MB-231 cells contained intense EGF-r labeling in the plasma membrane. Ras protein was prominent in the cytoplasm and at the cell surface within 60 min after treatment of MCF-7 cells with estrogen. Ras was intense in MDA cells. Similarly, MCF-7 and MDA cells contained high concentrations of MEK1 and phosphotyrosine (pTyr) containing proteins in their cytoplasm and immunolabeling remained high as long as MCF-7 cells were grown in medium containing estrogen. It is speculated that MEK1 (cytoplasmic) functioning through Fos/Jun or Myc/Max (nuclear) may regulate the activity of AP-1 transcription factor. In all cases however, MEK1 and pTyr protein labeling was more intense in the highly metastatic and hormone independent MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Results revealed signal transduction pathway proteins in ER+ estrogen dependent cells suggesting possible crosstalk between both receptor pathways during the proliferative phase of MCF-7 cells.

Actins↗

Outcomes of three part-time faculty development fellowship programs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Part-time faculty development fellowship programs have trained large numbers of new physician faculty for family medicine education programs. This study reviews data from three part-time fellowship programs to determine how well the programs train new faculty and the academic success of fellowship graduates. METHODS: Part-time fellowship programs at Michigan State University, the University of North Carolina, and the Faculty Development Center in Waco, Tex, sent written surveys to graduates as part of routine follow-up studies. Graduates were asked to report their current status in academic medicine, how they spend their time, measures of academic productivity, and assessments of how well their training prepared them for their current academic positions. Data were complied at each institution and sent to Michigan State University for analysis. RESULTS: The majority of graduates (76%) have remained in their academic positions, and half (49%) teach in medically underserved settings. Graduates report high levels of satisfaction with the training they received. Thirty-two percent of graduates have published peer-reviewed articles, and almost 50% have presented at peer-reviewed meetings. CONCLUSIONS: Part-time fellowship programs have been successful at training and retaining large numbers of new faculty for family medicine.

Faculty, Medical↗

Predictive value of prosthetic valve area index for early and late clinical results after valve replacement with the St Jude Medical valve prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate that a minimal prosthetic valve area index (VAI) of > or = 0.9 cm2/m2 for aortic and > or = 1.3 cm2/m2 for mitral valves minimizes postoperative pressure gradients. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine VAI as an independent risk factor for postoperative events, 607 isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) and 482 isolated mitral valve replacement (MVR) operations with the St Jude Medical valve were studied. End points included hospital deaths, NYHA functional class, late death and late valve-related death, major thromboembolism, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, and reoperation. VAI was calculated from the ratio of prosthetic valve area to body surface area for each patient, and a range and mean were obtained for each valve size. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 120 months, totaled 2964 patient-years, and was 98% complete. Mean and range of VAI (cm2/m2) were 1.31 (0.74 to 2.86) in the aortic and 2.5 (1.4 to 6.32) in the mitral group. There were 33 AVR (5.4%) and 38 MVR (7.9%) hospital deaths. VAI was not a risk factor for NYHA class, early death, late death, or other postoperative events. The actuarial survival rates, 84% for AVR and 80% for MVR at 5 years, were not affected by VAI. CONCLUSIONS: Within the ranges measured, VAI did not influence the end points of the study.

Adolescent↗

Resident research in internal medicine training programs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how well medical residency programs are prepared to meet the new Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation guidelines for resident scholarly activity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using a mailed survey. PARTICIPANTS: Program directors of all ACGME-accredited internal medicine residency programs. MEASUREMENTS: Program directors were asked to list the scholarly activities and products of their residents and their programs' minimal expectations for resident research; available academic, faculty, technical, and personnel support for resident research; perceived barriers to resident research; and the desired educational and skill outcomes of resident research. The responses of university-based training programs were compared with those of non-university-based programs. RESULTS: 271 program directors returned the survey, yielding a response rate of 65%. Ninety-seven percent of all programs have established scholarly guidelines consistent with accreditation requirements. Although only 37% of programs reported having an organized, comprehensive research curriculum, 70% taught skills important to research. Technical support and resources were generally available for resident research; the most frequently cited barrier to resident research was lack of resident time. University-based and non-university-based training programs differed in important ways. Generally, non-university-based programs had more research activity and structure, and they exceeded university-based programs in the number of oral and poster presentations given at local, state, and national professional meetings. CONCLUSIONS: Most programs have in place the basic elements conducive to resident research. Program directors have identified and teach educational outcomes and skills that are likely to have lifelong benefits for most of their graduates.

Accreditation↗

Esmolol and percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass enhance myocardial salvage during ischemia in a dog model.

Despite recent advances in techniques of reperfusion for acute myocardial ischemia, myocardial salvage remains suboptimal. Beta-blockers have been shown to limit infarct size during acute ischemia, but their negative inotropic properties have limited their use. Cardiopulmonary bypass is an attractive technique for cardiac resuscitation because it can stabilize a hemodynamically compromised patient and potentially reduce myocardial oxygen consumption. In an attempt to maximize myocardial salvage in the setting of acute ischemia, the combination of esmolol, an ultrashort-acting beta-blocker, with percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass was evaluated. Four groups of instrumented dogs underwent 2 hours of myocardial ischemia induced by occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 1 hour of reperfusion. Throughout the period of ischemia and reperfusion, esmolol plus percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass was compared with esmolol alone, percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass alone, and control conditions. After the reperfusion period, the extent of infarction of the left ventricle at risk was determined. Four animals had intractable arrhythmias: one in the esmolol plus bypass group, one in the esmolol group, and two in the control group. The extent of infarction of the left ventricle at risk was significantly reduced in the esmolol plus bypass group (30%) compared with bypass alone (52%), with esmolol alone (54%), and with the control groups (59%; p < 0.05). We conclude that in this experimental model the combination of esmolol with bypass improves myocardial salvage after ischemia and reperfusion.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

The application of a log-logistic model to describe the thermal inactivation of Clostridium botulinum 213B at temperatures below 121.1 degrees C.

In this work, the death of Clostridium botulinum 213B was measured at temperatures between 101 degrees C and 121 degrees C. It was found that at all temperatures tested, survivor curves deviated from log-linearity which prevented their description using traditional first order kinetics. The survivor curves were better described using a vitalistic approach and the log-logistic transformation proposed by Cole et al. (1993). A single equation was derived to describe all survivor curves over the temperature range tested and a comparison of predicted and measured data showed good correlation. The implications of the use of the vitalistic approach to the validity of the 'minimum botulinum cook' is discussed.

Clostridium botulinum↗

Cardiomyoplasty: degeneration of the assisting skeletal muscle.

This study determined effects of surgical dissection and chronic stimulation on degeneration of the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM), the muscle used for contractile assistance in cardiomyoplasty. LDMs from 10 goats were allocated into four groups: N-LDM (normal), D-LDM (dissected muscle and collateral vessels ligated, muscle remained in original anatomic location), S-LDM (electrically stimulated for 65-75 days), and DS-LDM (dissected and stimulated). S-LDM had nearly a complete transformation to type I fibers throughout the lengths of the muscle. Both groups of dissected muscles (D-LDM and DS-LDM) showed lesser transformation and significant damage. Type I myosin heavy chain and citrate synthase activity were less in the distal compared with the proximal LDM. Morphology of the N-LDM and S-LDM was normal, whereas dramatic morphological abnormalities were observed in the D-LDM and DS-LDM, including lipid-containing ghostlike fibers, atrophied and hypertrophied fibers within the same fascicle. In conclusion, muscle degeneration associated with the cardiomyoplasty procedure was caused by surgical dissection, which was exacerbated by chronic stimulation but was not caused by stimulation alone.

Animals↗

Regional blood flows in the goat latissimus dorsi muscle before and after chronic stimulation.

Latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) regional blood flows were determined in anesthetized goats by using colored microspheres under noncontracting and contracting conditions, either before or after 8-10 wk of chronic muscle stimulation. Surgical dissection of the LDM, leaving only the thoracodorsal artery to supply the muscle, did not alter regional noncontracting blood flows but significantly reduced the normal hyperemic response to muscle contraction in muscle regions (posterior-medial) furthest from the entrance of the thoracodorsal artery. Eight to 10 wk after acute muscle dissection, posterior-medial hyperemic flows were restored. Chronic stimulation of the LDM for 8-10 wk, in either dissected or nondissected muscles, did not alter regional blood flows in noncontracting muscle; however, it significantly reduced hyperemic flows in all muscle regions, although capillary density was increased and the muscle was transformed into a predominantly type I fiber type. These results, coupled with data from previous experiments, suggest that the muscle damage observed in the posterior-medial regions of the LDM after surgical dissection and chronic stimulation may be related to reduced hyperemic flow responses caused by surgical isolation of the muscle.

Animals↗

The small aortic root and the Medtronic Hall valve: ultrafast computed tomography assessment of left ventricular mass following aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: The selection of an appropriate size aortic valve substitute with respect to patient size and life-style, in the presence of a small aortic root, is problematic, and a decision to enlarge the aortic annulus is often arbitrary. An aortic valve substitute-patient mismatch may place an excessive load on the left ventricle resulting in residual left ventricular mass with attendant patient morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the adequacy of the Medtronic Hall valve in the small aortic root using ultrafast computed tomography analysis of left ventricular mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 13 patients the smallest Medtronic Hall valves (size 20 and 21; measured internal orifice area of 2.01 cm2 for both) were used to replace the native aortic valve. All patients had aortic stenosis, and left ventricular hypertrophy was established by echocardiography. The mean body surface area was 1.8 +/- 0.2 m2 (range 1.50-2.06 m2) and the mean weight was 75 +/- 15 Kg (range 50-97 Kg). The mean preoperative New York Heart Association functional class was 3.54 +/- 0.5. RESULTS: There was no operative or late mortality. At a mean follow up of 22 months after aortic valve replacement, the mean left ventricular mass index was 89 +/- 11.4 g/m2 (normal left ventricular mass index by ultrafast computed tomography = 97 +/- 14 g/m2) and mean New York Heart Association functional class was 1.6 +/- 0.8 (p (Binomial) = 0.0001 compared to preoperative). Doppler echocardiogram demonstrated a mean gradient across the prosthetic valve of 17 +/- 7 mmHg. There was no trend towards greater left ventricular mass index in patients with greater body surface area or weight. In no patient was the aortic annulus enlarged. CONCLUSIONS: Trends from this preliminary data suggest that implanting the smallest Medtronic-Hall aortic valves (sizes 20 and 21) results in normal left ventricular mass following aortic valve replacement in patients up to a body surface area of 2.06 m2 and provides support for the notion that an aortic annulus enlarging procedure was not necessary in this group of patients.

Adult↗

Comparison of low-pressure versus standard-pressure fixation Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis.

Intermediate-phase clinical results of 51 low-pressure (LP) and 234 standard-pressure (SP) fixation porcine Carpentier-Edwards (CE) valves implanted between 1977 and 1991 were compared for valve-related events. Group similarities included New York Heart Association functional class, ejection fraction, and sex. Patients with SP valves were younger (mean age, 58 versus 68 years; p = 0.0001). There were 20 in-hospital deaths (8.6%) in the SP valve group and 5 (9.8%) in the LP valve group (p = 0.79). Follow-up was 99%, with a mean of 104 months in the SP valve group versus 55 months in the SP valve group (p = 0.0001). The actuarial survival rate was 48.2% and 22.3% at 10 and 15 years, respectively, in the SP valve group and 34.1% at 10 years in the LP valve group (p = 0.42). Freedom from events at 5, 10, and 15 years in the SP valve group and at 5 years in the LP valve group was as follows: for late valve-related events, 86.3%, 51.4% and 20.2%, respectively, in the SP valve group versus 85% in the LP valve group (p = 0.44); for valve-related death, 96.4%, 93.6%, and 87.3% in the SP valve group versus 100% in the LP valve group (p = 0.20); for structural valve failure, 96%, 68%, and 35% in the SP valve group versus 100% in the LP valve group (p = 0.09); and for reoperation, 95%, 61%, and 30% in the SP valve group versus 92% in the LP valve group (p = 0.82). In conclusion, this study revealed no significant statistical difference between LP and SP valves. In the LP valve group, structural valve failure/valve-related death was not observed, perhaps indicating a more favorable result. Absolute verification of this trend awaits long-term follow-up.

Actuarial Analysis↗

CABG in octogenarians: early and late events and actuarial survival in comparison with a matched population.

BACKGROUND: With important demographic changes in cardiac surgical practice, more older patients are undergoing complex cardiac operations. Controversy exists as to whether the expenditure of healthcare resources on the growing elderly populations represents an effective approach in maintaining a meaningful quality of life. METHODS: From January 1982 through April 1991, 121 consecutive octogenarians underwent a surgical procedure that included coronary artery bypass grafting. Retrospective review of patient medical records was performed; follow-up information was obtained via telephone contact with the patient, the patient's family, or the patient's physician. RESULTS: There were 67 men (55%) and 54 women (45%). Mean age was 82.1 years (range, 80 to 89 years). Sixty-nine percent of the patients were having class III or IV symptoms. There were 11 hospital deaths (9.1%); risk factors included longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.01), higher preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (p = 0.02), advanced age (p = 0.05), history of renal disease (p = 0.02), and myocardial infarction (p = 0.04). Late death occurred in 34 patients (30.9%) at a mean of 27 months postoperatively; univariate risk factors included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.009), higher left-ventricular end-diastolic pressure (p = 0.03), and recent myocardial infarction (p = 0.03). Actuarial survival, including hospital death, was 32.8% at 80 months, compared with 37.6% for an age; sex; and race-matched population (p > 0.3). Most late survivors (84%) were in New York Heart Association class I or II. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed in octogenarians with an acceptable, although increased risk. Hospital survivors have a good late functional status but are at risk for pulmonary and other atherosclerosis-related events, which impair overall survival.

Aged↗

Perioperative events in patients with failed mechanical and bioprosthetic valves.

From 1963 through 1991, 1037 patients underwent reoperative valvular procedures. The 478 patients having reoperations for either failed bioprosthetic (n = 212) or mechanical (n = 266) valves were evaluated. There were 210 male (44%) and 268 female (56%) patients. The mean age at reoperation of the patients in the bioprosthesis group was 59.7 years and and that in the mechanical valve group was 56.1 years (p = 0.0006). The mean interval to the time of reoperation was 84.7 months in the mechanical valve group and 74 months in the bioprosthesis group. There was no difference between the two groups in the functional class at reoperation. More severe mitral valve stenosis and incompetence, more severe aortic valve stenosis, and higher right ventricular and pulmonary arterial pressures were noted in the bioprosthesis group than in the mechanical valve group. Hemolysis (p = 0.05) was more prevalent in the patients with mechanical valves than in the ones with bioprostheses. A longer aortic occlusion time (p = 0.0001) and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.0001) were required for the reoperations in the bioprosthesis group. The operative mortality was 13.2% for the bioprosthesis patients and 12.4% for the mechanical valve patients. The risk factors for hospital death included the cross-clamp time (p = 0.0001), the functional class (p = 0.00001), the presence of ascites (p = 0.02), hepatomegaly (p = 0.002), and decreasing ejection fraction (p = 0.05). We conclude that mechanical valve failures do not produce catastrophic events resulting in poor reoperative results.

Adolescent↗

Effects of a stroma-free hemoglobin and perfluorochemical combination on ultrastructure and function of the isolated rat kidney.

Experimental perfusions of isolated rat kidneys were performed with flow rates adjusted to produce comparable glomerular filtration rates (GFR) in control and experimental groups. The experimental perfusate, consisting of Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) containing 3.5% (uncrosslinked) stroma-free hemoglobin (SFH) plus 3.5% of the perfluorochemical (PFC) Fluosol-DA, was found to produce only 48% as much urine as the control perfusate consisting of KRB containing 7% dextran (without either SFH or PFC). Perfusion with the experimental SFH/PFC mixture was associated with mean fractional reabsorptions of sodium 3.3% greater and of potassium 5.1% lesser than perfusion with the control KRB (with dextran) solution (p < .05). The SFH/PFC mixture was localized histochemically to the capillaries and urinary spaces of glomeruli; and to the apical microvilli, basal laminae, and intracytoplasmic vacuoles of proximal renal tubular cells. Since the glomerular filtration rate was not a factor, decremental urine production appears to be associated with increased reabsorption of sodium, excretion of potassium, and proximal tubular uptake of the experimental SFH/PFC mixture by endocytosis.

Animals↗

Normothermic retrograde cardioplegia is effective in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. A prospective and randomized study.

Twenty patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement were prospectively randomized to receive either continuous retrograde normothermic (n = 8) or intermittent retrograde hypothermic (n = 12) methods of myocardial protection. Biopsies of the left ventricular septum were evaluated for ultrastructure and assayed for ATP. There was no mortality, no requirement for intra-aortic balloon pump nor neurological events in any of the patients from either group. Myocardial ATP (warm 23.2 +/- 1.8 nmol/mg protein; cold 22.4 +/- 1.2 nmol/mg protein; p = 0.72) and myocardial CPK-MB (warm 43.6 +/- 5.2 U/l; cold 39.0 +/- 2.5 U/l; p = 0.67) were not significantly different. Ultrastructure was generally well preserved in the biopsies from both groups, with the exception of one patient in the normothermic group. Systemic lactate sampled after 40 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass was significantly higher in the normothermic group (warm 3.4 +/- 0.27 mmol/l; cold 2.3 +/- 0.21 mmol/l; p = 0.01), however, the myocardial lactate production was not significantly different between the two groups (extraction ratio; warm 0.01 +/- 0.3; cold 0.13 +/- 0.1; p = 0.45). We conclude that the continuous normothermic retrograde method of myocardial protection is effective in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy; however, the higher systemic lactate levels using this technique raises concerns regarding the adequacy of systemic perfusion at 37 degrees C.

Aged↗