Characterizing the tissue dielectric constant of skin basal cell cancer lesions.

Background: Measuring tissue dielectric constant (TDC) of cancer tissues to distinguish them from normal or non-cancerous tissues has been an active area of research that has targeted several different cancer types usually using in vitro specimens. The goal of this study was to determine if and to what extent TDC values measured in vivo at 300 MHz using a simple hand-held measuring device might differentiate between skin cancer lesions and non-cancerous skin.

Materials And Methods: Triplicate TDC measurements were made in 32 patients who were subsequently diagnosed with skin basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and in 14 patients subsequently diagnosed as having non-cancerous lesions.

Sacral Skin Temperature Assessed by Thermal Imaging: Role of Patient Vascular Attributes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that temperature differentials measured by thermal imaging of sacral versus a remote skin area in critically ill patients differentiate those with significant vascular disease and risk for pressure injury of the sacral area.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Subjects And Setting: The sample comprised 100 patients (58 men, 42 women) with mean ± SD ages of 70.

Role of handedness on forearm skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) in relation to detection of early-stage breast cancer-related lymphedema.

skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements help assess local skin water to detect incipient early-stage lymphedema subsequent to breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema. However, presurgery measurements are not always obtained and assessments for evolving lymphedema are only made after surgery. Thus, subsequent TDC assessments may be biased in an unknown way dependent on a patient's handedness in relation to the at-risk arm.

Dinosaur evolution. A Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales.

Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous deposits from northeastern China have yielded varied theropod dinosaurs bearing feathers. Filamentous integumentary structures have also been described in ornithischian dinosaurs, but whether these filaments can be regarded as part of the evolutionary lineage toward feathers remains controversial. Here we describe a new basal neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic of Siberia with small scales around the distal hindlimb, larger imbricated scales around the tail, monofilaments around the head and the thorax, and more complex featherlike structures around the humerus, the femur, and the tibia.

The effect of desmopressin acetate on postoperative hemorrhage in patients receiving aspirin therapy before coronary artery bypass operations.

It has been suggested that desmopressin acetate has been effective in reducing hemorrhage after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients receiving aspirin before operation. We conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to determine the effectiveness and safety of desmopressin in these patients. Sixty-five patients pretreated with aspirin within 7 days before their scheduled elective coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to receive desmopressin (0.

Continuous noninvasive cardiac output as estimated from the pulse contour curve.

We developed a noninvasive computer-based system for estimating continuous cardiac output by a modified pulse contour method using a finger pressure waveform. The method requires no individual patient calibration or baseline cardiac output. First, we calibrated the system in a "learn" group of 20 patients.

Hypertrophy of nodules of Arantius and aortic insufficiency: pathophysiology and repair.

Aortic insufficiency (AI) due to fibrosis and thickening of the nodules of Arantius in the otherwise normal aortic valve was found in 11 adults (age range, 41 to 65 years) between 1976 and 1988. Nine had concomitant mitral stenosis; 2 had coronary artery disease. In 6 patients AI was graded 3+ or greater; in 5 it was less than 3+.

Total left main coronary artery occlusion after aortic aneurysm repair and valve replacement.

A 38-year-old woman with complete occlusion of the left main coronary artery secondary to cannulation during aortic valve replacement is presented. The clinical course was characterized by progressive left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Recognition of this potential problem when it occurs is important as to institute therapeutic measures which may interrupt a patient's progressive clinical deterioration.

Replacement of the descending thoracic aorta with intraluminal ring graft.

Renal failure and paraplegia are major complications of operations on the descending thoracic aorta. To minimize cross-clamp time and reduce the incidence of such complications, we have used an intraluminal ring graft to reestablish aortic continuity in patients with descending thoracic aortic lesions. From March 1978 to December 1986, we used this technique alone in 28 patients.

An improved technique for venous drainage and right heart decompression.

Venous return for cardiopulmonary bypass is successfully achieved using of two stage cavoatrial cannula. Right heart decompression is facilitated and drainage optimized by the use of a caval occluding clamp which stabilizes the cannula. This technique is described.

Replacement of the abdominal aorta with a sutureless intraluminal ringed prosthesis.

To evaluate our experience with sutureless intraluminal ringed grafts in the abdominal aorta, we reviewed all patients who were managed with this device from 1980 to 1987. Thirty-one patients were identified with a mean follow-up time of 41 months. Three patients had suprarenal aneurysms and four had ruptured abdominal aneurysms.

Review of Salmonella mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta.

Transient bacteremia leading to hematogenous infection of atherosclerotic vessels is the most common cause of mycotic aneurysms. Salmonella species, which are especially potent pathogens, often are the infecting organisms. A high index of suspicion is the cornerstone of diagnosis.

Antegrade and retrograde infusion of cardioplegia: assessment by thermovision.

The efficacy of two routes of cardioplegia infusion was examined by assessing the hypothermia induced in patients with critically obstructed or occluded major coronary arteries. The antegrade (through the aorta) and the retrograde (through the coronary sinus) methods of cardioplegia infusion were compared using myocardial thermograms. Patients (N = 8) were matched according to angiographic similarities of their coronary artery disease.

Rigid intraluminal prosthesis for replacement of thoracic and abdominal aorta.

During the past seven years, 80 patients have undergone aortic substitution using a rigid intraluminal prosthesis. There were 9 early deaths. The procedures involved 32 dissecting aneurysms (18 ascending and 14 descending), 16 atherosclerotic aneurysms of the ascending aorta and 13 atherosclerotic aneurysms of the descending aorta, 3 thoracoabdominal aneurysms, 2 arch aneurysms, and 14 abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Left ventricular aneurysm. Ten years' experience in surgical treatment of 244 cases. Improved clinical status, hemodynamics, and long-term longevity.

This report reviews 244 patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm operated upon between 1971 and 1980. The location of the left ventricular aneurysm was anteroapical (64.7%), apical (21.

Rigid intraluminal prosthesis for replacement of thoracic and abdominal aorta.

From December 1976 to April 1983, 55 patients underwent operations in which intraluminal ring grafts were used for replacement of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Twenty-eight patients had dissections, and 11 had ascending aneurysms. There were 10 descending aneurysms; three of these were traumatic.

Transvenous pacemaker insertion with a zero dislodgement rate.

A non-retractable transvenous screw-in lead which gives both stability of placement and low acute and chronic stimulation thresholds was used in 64 patients during the period April, 1979 to June, 1981. The average threshold at implant was 0.7 volts; the current threshold average was .

Improved results for dissecting aneurysms. Intraluminal sutureless prosthesis.

Surgical therapy for dissection of the thoracic aorta has had a high mortality. One contributing factor has been hemorrhage from the prosthesis and the suture lines. A method of treatment with an intraluminal prosthesis that requires no end-to-end anastomosis has been developed.

Successful management of Penicillium endocarditis.

Penicillium endocarditis involving an aortic valvular tissue prosthesis (Ionescu-Shiley) was successfully managed. This is the fourth reported case of Penicillium endocarditis, and the first survivor. A review of the literature shows that this fungus is ubiguitous though rarely pathogenic.

Charge levels in programmable pacemakers.

The method of calculation of charge in one series of programmable pacemakers is described. Accurate charge tables are constructed and examples of their use are given. With the tables the margin between the threshold and the pacemaker setting can be more precisely determined and consequently, at least in some cases, it can be reduced for greater pacemaker longevity.