LAC+USC Medical Center

About: LAC+USC Medical Center is a healthcare organization based out in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 1348 authors who have published 886 publications receiving 21927 citations. The organization is also known as: County/USC & Los Angeles County General.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase polymorphism: a valuable tool to study tumor origin.

Abstract: Genetic electrophoretic variants of G - 6 - PD were studied in tumor tissue from heterozygous Negro women to determine whether their malignancies were of unicellular or multicellular origin. Adenocarcinoma of the breast appeared to be multicellular in origin in two cases while a single case of Bowen's disease of the vulva was of apparent unicellular origin. These findings and others from the literature indicate that the G-6-PD polymorphism is a valuable tool to evaluate the unicellular versus multicellular origin of human tumors.

Markers of viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Abstract: Serum samples from 56 patients with biopsy-proven chronic B viral hepatitis without superimposed delta hepatitis were analyzed for the various markers of viral replication, including serum hepatitis B e Ag (HBeAg), hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA), and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in the liver tissues. Twenty-seven patients had persistent viral hepatitis (PH) and 29 patients had chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with or without cirrhosis. HBV-DNA was identified in the sera of 81% of patients with PH and 60% of patients with CAH. Significantly higher levels of HBV-DNA were found in patients with PH than in those with CAH. Both HBeAg in serum and HBcAg in liver correlated positively with serum HBV-DNA. Nine patients had serum HBV-DNA in the absence of HBeAg (four had anti-HBe), and seven of these nine patients had stainable HBcAg in the liver (two did not have staining). None of these patients had hepatic HBcAg in the absence of serum HBV-DNA. When these patients were stratified according to their epidemiologic background, serum HBV-DNA was present in a significantly higher number of male homosexuals than in any other groups. This was unrelated to their status of human immunodeficiency viral serology.

Chronic ectopic pregnancy: ultrasonic diagnosis.

Abstract: The classical ultrasonic description of a chronic ectopic pregnancy is a slightly enlarged uterus with uniform internal echoes and no evidence of an intrauterine pregnancy, combined with an extrauterine semicystic mass, gestational sac, or fetal structures. It is our experience that the ultrasonographer more commonly finds a midline pelvic mass containing irregular echo patterns and cystic areas. The mass may also be associated with abdominal or pelvic fluid and obliteration of normal anatomical structures. We wish to emphasize these variations from the classical description with illustrations that demonstrate the differences in the ultrasonic presentation of chronic ectopic pregnancy.

Brief report on combat trauma surgical training using a perfused cadaver model.

Abstract: Background Surgical combat casualty care presents difficult training challenges. Although several high-fidelity simulation (SIM) techniques have emerged, none are able to fully integrate the many intricacies involved in the care of a complex trauma patient. Herein, we report the use of perfused fresh human cadaver model for training and assessment of forward surgical teams (FSTs). Methods Forward surgical teams attend a 4-day combat trauma surgical skills course including focused on trauma exposures. A half-day SIM involves the entire surgical team in four sequential surgical scenarios that involve the neck, chest, abdomen, and extremities, as well as airway management and resuscitation. Teams undergo immediate debriefing and videotape review of team dynamics and technical skills, as well as times to completion of critical interventions. Results The data evaluated include five initial demonstration courses in which training metrics were available. Each team included both a junior and experienced surgeon, anesthesiologists, and surgical scrub technicians. As FSTs progressed through SIMs, they demonstrated improvements in team dynamics and technical skills evaluations. There was considerable variability in the times to completion of critical intervention, particularly for control of cardiac and vascular injuries. Conclusion Initial evaluations support the use of this novel perfused cadaver model for the training and evaluation of military FSTs. Preliminary data highlight the utility for open vascular, thoracic, and other high-acuity/low-volume procedures critical to combat casualty care. Larger studies are needed for model optimization and further validation of an objective structured technical assessment tool. Level of evidence Care management, level V.

PET/CT in Head-neck Malignancies: The Implications for Personalized Clinical Practice.

Abstract: PET/CT has been shown to help localize head and neck cancers and provide more accurate staging, post-treatment assessment, and restaging than standard imaging. PET/CT detects synchronous and metachronous cancers and sequelae of therapy and provides prognostic information for each patient. Information provided by PET/CT allows for more individualized therapeutic and surveillance plans for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.