Publications by authors named "Julia Leblanc"
Compliance with Fetal Fibronectin Testing at a Canadian Tertiary Care Perinatal Centre.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can
February 2021
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess compliance with fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing recommendations at a single tertiary care perinatal centre. The secondary objective was to identify factors associated with compliance with these recommendations.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 of all patients who presented to the IWK Health Centre with suspected preterm labour.
Mineral-based products represent a valid alternative to synthetic pesticides in integrated pest management. We investigated the effects of a novel granite dust product as an agent for controlling two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Treatment and prognosis of patients with rectal adenocarcinoma (RAC) are dependent on accurate locoregional staging.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure the performance characteristics of rectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) compared with surgical pathology, and to assess the interobserver variation of rectal EUS in the staging of RAC.
Patients And Methods: Patients referred for rectal EUS staging of a recently diagnosed RAC were prospectively enrolled between 2012 and 2016.
Objective: Incidental pancreatic cysts are often detected during abdominal imaging and require follow-up since some have malignant potential. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is highly sensitive for pancreatic diseases, yet the prevalence of incidental pancreatic cysts discovered with EUS is unknown. The objective of the study was to determine its prevalence by EUS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Study Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound - guided celiac plexus block (EUS-CPB) is an established treatment for pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), but the effectiveness and safety of repeated procedures are unknown. Our objective is to report our experience of repeated EUS-CPB procedures within a single patient.
Patients And Methods: A prospectively maintained EUS database was retrospectively analyzed to identify patients who had undergone more than one EUS-CPB procedure over a 17-year period.
Background: The utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) compared with standard white light endoscopy (WLE) following recent polypectomy of high-risk colorectal polyps is unknown.
Objective: To assess the incremental yield of EUS after endoscopic polypectomy of a high-risk rectal lesion.
Design: Retrospective cohort.
Background And Study Aims: The role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the diagnosis and management of cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) is unclear. We aimed to compare clinical/endosonographic characteristics of cystic with solid PNETs, determine diagnostic accuracy of preoperative EUS-FNA, and evaluate recurrence rates after resection.
Patients And Methods: All patients with cystic or solid PNET confirmed by EUS-FNA between 2000 and 2014 were identified.
Aim: To report the clinical impact of adrenal endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the evaluation of patients with adrenal gland enlargement or mass.
Methods: In a retrospective single-center case-series, patients undergoing EUS-FNA of either adrenal gland from 1997-2011 in our tertiary care center were included. Medical records were reviewed and results of EUS, cytology, adrenal size change on follow-up imaging ≥ 6 mo after EUS and any repeat EUS or surgery were abstracted.
Background: The accuracy of EUS in the locoregional assessment of ampullary lesions is unclear.
Objectives: To compare EUS with ERCP and surgical pathology for the evaluation of intraductal extension and local staging of ampullary lesions.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Background: Management of clinical T2N0M0 (cT2N0M0) esophageal cancer remains controversial. We reviewed our institutional experience over 21 years (1990-2011) to determine clinical staging accuracy, optimal treatment approaches, and factors predictive of survival in this patient population.
Methods: Patients with cT2N0M0 esophageal cancer determined by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were identified through a prospectively collected database.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate associations between endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) criteria for chronic pancreatitis (CP) and coexisting pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions.
Methods: Patients with known or suspected CP who underwent pancreatic resection within a year of EUS were selected. Histology slides and EUS images were reviewed for evidence of pancreatic fibrosis.
Background And Study Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided ethanol lavage with paclitaxel injection has been shown to be effective for the treatment of pancreatic cystic neoplasms; however, the evidence for effectiveness is based primarily on cyst resolution on imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pancreatic cyst fluid DNA following EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation (PCA) with ethanol and paclitaxel.
Patients And Methods: In a single-center, prospective study, patients with suspected benign pancreatic cysts (15 - 50 mm in diameter; ≤ 5 compartments) underwent EUS-PCA with ethanol and paclitaxel followed 3 months later by repeat EUS-FNA, cyst aspiration for repeat DNA analysis, and possible repeat EUS-PCA.
Objectives: This study aimed to correlate endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) criteria and pathology in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP).
Methods: Endoscopic ultrasound reports and pathology specimens were reviewed from patients with known or suspected CP who underwent surgery within 1 year of EUS. The following information was abstracted: EUS criteria for CP, corresponding pathology results, and histologic features.
Background And Study Aim: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is frequently performed for suspected biliary tumors for diagnosis and staging but carries a theoretical risk of needle-track seeding. We aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative EUS-FNA on long-term outcomes for patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).
Patients And Methods: In a retrospective single-center study of consecutive patients with CCA with preoperative EUS-FNA, main outcome measures were overall survival and progression-free survival.
Background: Diagnosis of mucinous pancreatic cysts (MPCs) is challenging due to the poor sensitivity of cytology provided by EUS-guided-FNA (EUS-FNA).
Objective: To quantify the test characteristics of molecular (DNA) analysis in suspected low-risk MPCs.
Design: A prospective cohort study performed in between 2008 and 2011.
Background/aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and Trucut biopsy (TCB) are sensitive techniques for diagnosing mediastinal lesions, but it is unclear how either one or both should be used to obtain a pathologic diagnosis. The objective of our study was to evaluate whether EUS-TCB impacts the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions after the initial on-site review of EUS-FNA specimen suggests a suboptimal result.
Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients with mediastinal lesions who underwent EUS-TCB during the same procedure if the initial EUS-FNA demonstrated an inadequate FNA sample or suggested that histopathology was required for diagnosis.
Background. The dose of alcohol used in EUS-CPN is not standardized. The objective was to compare the safety of 20 mL alcohol versus 10 mL alcohol during EUS-CPN for patients with pancreatic cancer-related pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aimed to describe a single-center experience with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) features as well as the diagnostic role and clinical impact of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and Trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB) in patients with pancreatic metastases.
Methods: Demographic, clinical, EUS, pathological, clinical outcome, and follow-up data of patients who underwent EUS at our institution between October 1998 and March 2010 for a known or suspected pancreatic metastasis were abstracted.
Results: Forty-nine patients (23 males; median age, 63 years; range 30-83 years) with 72 pancreatic masses were identified.
Objective: EUS-FNA cytology and fluid analysis are frequently utilized to evaluate pancreatic cysts. Elevated cyst fluid CEA is usually indicative of a mucinous pancreatic cyst but whether CEA or amylase values can subclassify various mucinous cysts is unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine whether cyst fluid CEA and amylase obtained by EUS-FNA can differentiate between mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We designed this study in locally advanced rectal cancer to determine the pathological response, toxicity, and disease-free survival (DFS) with induction capecitabine plus irinotecan followed by capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and analyze the gene expression of enzymes involved in the metabolism of capecitabine and irinotecan for associations with response and toxicity.
Methods: Patients with T3/T4 or node positive rectal cancer were treated with capecitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily (BID) days 1-14, and irinotecan 200 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 21 days for 2 cycles, followed by capecitabine 825 mg/m(2) BID days 1-5 per week with concurrent radiotherapy 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions.
Background: The diagnostic utility of EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) and EUS-guided Trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB) of pelvic masses has not been well described.
Objective: To evaluate the utility of EUS in the diagnosis of pelvic masses.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Background: The technique of alcohol injection during EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) in patients with pancreatic cancer-related pain has not been standardized.
Objective: To compare pain relief and safety of alcohol given as 1 versus 2 injections during EUS-guided CPN (EUS-CPN). Secondary outcomes examined were characteristics that predict response and survival.
Background: This retrospective cohort study analyzes the potential risks associated with preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy guided by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy.
Methods: Excluding 204 patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis and those with previous pancreatic resections, 230 consecutive patients with primary pancreatic neoplasms underwent elective distal pancreatectomy between 2002 and 2009. The most common indications were adenocarcinoma (28%), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN; 20%), and endocrine neoplasms (17%).
Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and impact of EUS in the management of critically ill patients. Methods.
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