Loma Linda University

About: Loma Linda University is a education organization based out in Loma Linda, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 9220 authors who have published 13485 publications receiving 447094 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Loma Linda.

Age distributions, birth weights, nephrogenic rests, and heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of Wilms tumor.

Abstract: Background The National Wilms Tumor Study (NWTS) constitutes a unique resource for study of clinical, pathologic, and epidemiologic features of Wilms tumor (WT). Procedure Data from NWTS-3,4,5 were compiled for 7,455 patients with tumors of favorable (FH) or anaplastic (AH) histology. The associations of birth weight (BW) and age-at-onset with gender, intralobar (ILNR), and perilobar (PLNR) nephrogenic rests, tumor focality, congenital malformation syndromes, and tumor histology were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. Results Mean BWs for male and female patients without PLNR were 3.52 and 3.36 kg, respectively, and for those with PLNR were 0.12 kg and 0.15 kg heavier. Mean age was 45 months for males with no rests whose tumors were unifocal and of triphasic favorable histology. ILNR or multifocality decreased the mean age by 18 and 10 months, respectively, whereas female gender, blastemal/FH or AH increased it by 3, 10, and 16 months. Over 90% of multifocal tumors occurred in the presence of demonstrated ILNR or PLNR or both. The apparent bimodality of the age distributions and later mean ages-at-onset for females with both unifocal and multifocal tumors were explained in part by the relative deficit in females of ILNR versus PLNR-associated tumors. Conclusions These observations support the view that there are multiple pathways to Wilms tumorigenesis. They will facilitate selection of informative subgroups of patients for molecular analysis that may serve to identify the putative pathway for the majority of patients who cannot be classified provisionally on the basis of ILNR or PLNR. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2006;47:260–267. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Association between reported diet and all-cause mortality. Twenty-one-year follow-up on 27,530 adult Seventh-Day Adventists.

Abstract: This report examines the association between mortality from all causes during a 21-year period and frequency of consumption of 28 specific foods among 27,530 adult California members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Food consumption was measured at the beginning of the study (1960) by a self-administered questionnaire. Deaths were identified by computer-assisted matching of study subjects to the file of death certificates for all deaths that occurred in California during 1960-1980. All-cause mortality showed a significant negative association with green salad consumption and a significant positive association with consumption of eggs and meat. For green salad and eggs, the association was stronger for women; for meat, the association was stronger for men. All the observed associations were adjusted for age, sex, smoking history, history of major chronic disease, and age at initial exposure to the Adventist Church.

The use of ramus autogenous block grafts for vertical alveolar ridge augmentation and implant placement: a pilot study.

Abstract: Purpose: This study presents a clinical, radiographic, laboratory, and histologic/histomorphometric analysis of the use of mandibular ramus block autografts for vertical alveolar ridge augmentation and implant placement. Materials and Methods: Autogenous block autografts were fixed at the recipient site with fixation screws while a mixture of autogenous bone marrow and inorganic bovine material (Bio-Oss) was used at the periphery. All grafts appeared well incorporated at the recipient site during reentry surgery. Results: Radiographic measurements revealed an average of 6.12 mm vertical ridge augmentation 1 month after surgery and 5.12 mm 4 to 6 months after surgery. Laboratory volumetric measurements revealed an average of 0.91 mL alveolar ridge augmentation 1 month after surgery and 0.75 mL 6 months postoperatively. Linear laboratory measurements revealed 6.12 mm of vertical ridge augmentation 1 month postoperatively and 4.37 mm 4 to 6 months after surgery. Histologic evaluation indicated signs of active remodeling in all the specimens. Histomorphometric analysis of the peripheral particulate bone indicated bone present at 34.33% of the grafted area, while 42.17% of the area was occupied by fibrous tissue and 23.50% by residual Bio-Oss particles. Discussion: The results demonstrated the potential of mandibular block autografts harvested from the ascending ramus to maintain their vitality. Volumetric resorption rate of 17.58% and radiographic resorption rate of 16.34% were in accordance with previously published literature. Early exposure appeared to compromise the results, while late exposures did not affect the vitality of the block autografts. Conclusion: Mandibular block autografts can maintain their vitality when used for vertical alveolar ridge augmentation. Inorganic bovine mineral (Bio-Oss) can be used at the periphery of the block graft when mixed with autogenous bone marrow. (INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 17:238‐248)

Imaging Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy with Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging

Abstract: Gradient-echo (GE) imaging is recognized as a means to detect hemorrhagic changes in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). However, almost 25% of patients with CAA do not show microhemorrhages on T2* GE imaging. We applied a new imaging method, susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), to evaluate the presence of microhemorrhages. In a suspected case of CAA, where cognitive effects are also present, we show that SWI is much more sensitive in detecting microhemorrhages than conventional methods.

Biomechanical comparison of unipedicular versus bipedicular kyphoplasty.

Abstract: Study design A cadaveric study comparing the biomechanics of unipedicular versus bipedicular kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Objectives The objectives of this study were to compare unipedicular kyphoplasty to bipedicular kyphoplasty in restoring strength, stiffness, and height to osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and to study the degree of unilateral wedging when using a unipedicular versus bipedicular approach to kyphoplasty. Summary of background data Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are a common ailment of the elderly that can lead to chronic pain and deformity. Recently developed treatments known as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty provide pain relief by percutaneously augmenting the fractured vertebral body with polymethyl methacrylate via a transpedicular approach. Vertebroplasty via a unipedicular approach has been shown to provide comparable restoration of vertebral body stiffness when compared to a bipedicular approach. The anticipated benefits of a unipedicular approach include reduction in patient risk, operative time, radiation exposure, and cost. No studies have evaluated the efficacy of unipedicular kyphoplasty. Material and methods Two fresh-frozen human cadaveric spines (T3-L5) were disarticulated, and the vertebral bodies (n = 30) were compressed using an Instron 8521 machine, recording load versus displacement. The fractured vertebral bodies then underwent kyphoplasty via either a unipedicular or bipedicular approach. The augmented vertebral bodies were then recompressed. The strength, stiffness, and height restoration of the groups were compared. Following recompression, the risk for lateral wedging was evaluated by comparing lateral height measurements. Results Following fracture and subsequent kyphoplasty augmentation, the mean strength of the bipedicular group was 1.40 kN (+/- 0.38) versus 1.57 kN (+/- 0.55) in the unipedicular group. Average stiffness in the bipedicular group was 0.4387 kN/mm (+/- 0.2095) compared to 0.6880 kN/mm (+/- 0.3179) in the unipedicular group. Postcompression vertebral body height was restored to 96% of prefracture height in the bipedicular group and 94% of prefracture height in the unipedicular group. The mean absolute value of the difference in height between right and left side of the vertebral bodies was 1.06 mm (+/- 1.01) in the bipedicular group, whereas the unipedicular group had a mean of 1.78 mm (+/- 1.84). Statistical analysis using 1-way analysis of variance revealed no significant difference in any of the outcome measurements between the unipedicular and bipedicular groups (P Conclusions Unipedicular kyphoplasty is comparable to bipedicular kyphoplasty in the restoration of vertebral body strength, stiffness, and height in experimentally induced vertebral compression fractures. There was no greater risk for lateral wedging in the unipedicular group compared to the bipedicular group. Given the advantages of a unipedicular approach with respect to vertebral pedicle cannulation risk, operative time, radiation exposure, and cost, this study would support the use of a unipedicular approach to kyphoplasty in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.