Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Embolic Complication Of Tako-Tsubo Cardiomyopathy., Vincent M. Figueredo, S Gupta

Department of Medical Genetics Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Sour Ageusia In Two Individuals Implicates Ion Channels Of The Asic And Pkd Families In Human Sour Taste Perception At The Anterior Tongue., Taufiqul Huque, Beverly J Cowart, Luba Dankulich-Nagrudny, Edmund A Pribitkin, Douglas L Bayley, Andrew I Spielman, Roy S Feldman, Scott A Mackler, Joseph G Brand

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The perception of sour taste in humans is incompletely understood at the receptor cell level. We report here on two patients with an acquired sour ageusia. Each patient was unresponsive to sour stimuli, but both showed normal responses to bitter, sweet, and salty stimuli.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: Lingual fungiform papillae, containing taste cells, were obtained by biopsy from the two patients, and from three sour-normal individuals, and analyzed by RT-PCR. The following transcripts were undetectable in the patients, even after 50 cycles of amplification, but readily detectable in the sour-normal subjects: acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) 1a, 1beta, 2a, …

Epidemiology And Outcomes Of Candidemia In 2019 Patients: Data From The Prospective Antifungal Therapy Alliance Registry., David L Horn, Dionissios Neofytos, Elias J Anaissie, Jay A Fishman, William J Steinbach, Ali J Olyaei, Kieren A Marr, Michael A Pfaller, Chi-Hsing Chang, Karen M Webster

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

BACKGROUND: Candidemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the health care setting, and the epidemiology of Candida infection is changing.

METHODS: Clinical data from patients with candidemia were extracted from the Prospective Antifungal Therapy (PATH) Alliance database, a comprehensive registry that collects information regarding invasive fungal infections. A total of 2019 patients, enrolled from 1 July 2004 through 5 March 2008, were identified. Data regarding the candidemia episode were analyzed, including the specific fungal species and patient survival at 12 weeks after diagnosis.

RESULTS: The incidence of candidemia caused by non-Candida albicans Candida species (54.4%) was higher …

High-Resolution Analysis Of Dna Copy Number Alterations In Patients With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma., Khaled K Abu-Amero, Ali Hellani, Patrick Bender, George L. Spaeth, Jonathan Myers, L Jay Katz, Marlene Moster, Thomas M Bosley

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To determine whether patients with isolated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) have evidence of chromosomal copy number alterations.

METHODS: Twenty-seven Caucasian and African-American POAG patients and 12 ethnically matched controls were carefully screened for possible glaucoma and tested for chromosomal copy number alterations using high resolution array comparative genomic hybridization.

RESULTS: No POAG patient had evidence of chromosomal copy number alterations when compared to normal ethnically matched controls. Additionally, there was no evidence of somatic mosaicism in any tested POAG patient.

CONCLUSIONS: Chromosomal deletions and/or duplications were not detected in POAG patients as compared to controls. Other chromosomal imbalances such …

Intracerebral Hemorrhage For The Palliative Care Provider: What You Need To Know., B Brent Simmons, Susan M Parks

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) makes up 10%-30% of all strokes. Palliative care providers are often asked to get involved with ICH cases to aid with development of short-term and long-term goals. Prognosis can be calculated using the ICH score (based on Glasgow Coma Score score, ICH volume, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, age, and location of origin) or the Essen score (based on age, NIH Stroke Scale [NIHSS], and level of consciousness). Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status is important to discuss with families. Expert consensus states DNR is appropriate if the patient has two of the following: severe stroke, life-threatening brain damage, or significant …

Overexpression Of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 In Tumor Epithelial Cells Correlates With Colorectal Cancer Metastasis., David S Zuzga, Ahmara Vivian Gibbons, Peng Li, Wilhelm Johannes Lubbe, Inna Chervoneva, Giovanni Mario Pitari

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Colorectal cancer mortality largely reflects metastasis, the spread of the disease to distant organs. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a key regulator of metastasis and a target for anticancer strategies in colon cancer. Here, the overexpression of MMP-9 in pure tumor epithelial, but nor stromal, cell populations was associated with metastatic progression of colorectal cancer, as defined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and confirmed by immunostaining. Thus, cancer cell MMP-9 represents a novel, selective prognostic and predictive factor that may be exploited for more effective disease stage stratification and therapeutic regimen selection in patients with colorectal cancer.

Lead-Associated Endocarditis: The Important Role Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus., Arnold J. Greenspon, Eugene S. Rhim, George Mark, Joseph Desimone, Reginald T. Ho

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Infection is a potentially life-threatening complication of cardiac device implantation. Lead-associated endocarditis (LAE) may be the most serious complication since it is associated with a high mortality. METHODS: The medical records of patients referred to our institution for the treatment of LAE between 1999 and 2007 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 51 of 107 patients referred for device-related infections met the criteria for LAE. Of these, 19 occurred within 6 months of their most recent procedure (early), while the remaining 32 occurred more than 6 months later (mean = 31.9 months post procedure). Devices included pacemakers in 33 …

Retinal Pigment Epithelial Tears After Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection For Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration., Sunir Garg, Roy Brod, David Kim, R Gary Lane, Joseph Maguire, David Fischer

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of and the risk factors for the development of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) injection for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS: A retrospective, multicentre, consecutive interventional case series of all patients with subfoveal exudative AMD treated with intravitreal bevacizumab between August 2005 and April 2007. The main outcome measures were pre- and post-RPE tear visual acuity and choroidal neovascular membrane lesion types, incidence of tears and time from first injection until development of the tear.

RESULTS: A total of 920 eyes with exudative AMD were treated with …

Upa Is Upregulated By High Dose Celecoxib In Women At Increased Risk Of Developing Breast Cancer., Wenyi Qin, Weizhu Zhu, John E Hewett, George Rottinghaus, Yin-Chieh Chen, John T Flynn, Beth Kliethermes, Ferdinando Mannello, Edward R Sauter

Department of Physiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: While increased urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in breast cancer tissue is directly associated with poor prognosis, recent evidence suggests that uPA overexpression may suppress tumor growth and prolong survival. Celecoxib has been shown to have antiangiogenic and antiproliferative properties. We sought to determine if uPA, PA inhibitor (PAI)-1 and prostaglandin (PG)E2 expression in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and uPA and PGE2 expression in plasma were altered by celecoxib dose and concentration in women at increased breast cancer risk.

METHODS: NAF and plasma samples were collected in women at increased breast cancer risk before and 2 weeks after taking …

A Review Of The Association Between Congestive Heart Failure And Cognitive Impairment., Michael B. Cohen, Paul J. Mather

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Heart failure is a growing epidemic with an estimated 5 million Americans suffering from this condition. Several clinical trials have demonstrated a high correlation between congestive heart failure (CHF) and cognitive impairment. The severity of cognitive impairment correlates positively with the degree of CHF. The underlying mechanism for cognitive impairment remains unclear but appears to be related to cerebral hypoperfusion and impaired cerebral reactivity with selective impairment of verbal memory and attention domains. Furthermore, cognitive dysfunction represents one aspect of frailty, a novel concept that encompasses a range of clinical conditions that results in functional impairment in patients with heart …

Predictors Of Paralysis In The Rheumatoid Cervical Spine In Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty., Jonathan N Grauer, Edwin M Tingstad, Nahshon Rand, Michael J Christie, Alan Hilibrand

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes associated with radiographic evidence of instability of the cervical spine, most commonly an abnormal subluxation between vertebrae. When this instability compromises the space that is available for the spinal cord, it may be predictive of paralysis. However, the prevalence of radiographic signs of instability that are predictive of paralysis among patients with nonspinal orthopaedic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown.

METHODS: Radiographs of the cervical spine of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had undergone total joint arthroplasty over a five-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The radiographs were evaluated for predictors of paralysis (a posterior atlantodental …

Circulating Testosterone And Prostate-Specific Antigen In Nipple Aspirate Fluid And Tissue Are Associated With Breast Cancer., Edward R Sauter, David S Tichansky, Inna Chervoneva, Eleftherios P Diamandis

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Preliminary evidence has associated testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with breast cancer. Our objective was to determine whether a) testosterone levels in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), serum, or breast tissue are associated with breast cancer; b) testosterone levels in serum are associated with levels in NAF; c) PSA in NAF, serum, or breast tissue is associated with breast cancer; and d) serum PSA is associated with NAF PSA levels. We obtained 342 NAF specimens from 171 women by means of a modified breast pump. Additionally, we collected 201 blood samples from 99 women and 51 tissue samples from 41 subjects …

Radiculopathy And Myelopathy At Segments Adjacent To The Site Of A Previous Anterior Cervical Arthrodesis., Alan S. Hilibrand, Gregory D. Carlson, M A Palumbo, P K Jones, H H Bohlman

Rothman Institute Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: We studied the incidence, prevalence, and radiographic progression of symptomatic adjacent-segment disease, which we defined as the development of new radiculopathy or myelopathy referable to a motion segment adjacent to the site of a previous anterior arthrodesis of the cervical spine.

METHODS: A consecutive series of 374 patients who had a total of 409 anterior cervical arthrodeses for the treatment of cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy or myelopathy, or both, were followed for a maximum of twenty-one years after the operation. The annual incidence of symptomatic adjacent-segment disease was defined as the percentage of patients who had been disease-free at …

How Occupational Therapists Teach Older Patients To Use Bathing And Dressing Devices In Rehabilitation., Ruth Levine Schemm, Laura N. Gitlin

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the methods occupational therapists use to teach bathing and dressing device use to older patients in rehabilitation programs. The relationship of three patient characteristics to five aspects of assistive device instruction was examined.

METHOD: The study sample included 86 patients and 19 occupational therapists who provided the assistive device training. Patients were 55 years of age or older and in rehabilitation for an orthopedic deficit, cerebrovascular accident, or lower limb amputation. Therapists recorded information on teaching methods, perceptions of patient knowledge, and expectations for future device use after each treatment session.

RESULTS: Patients received an average …