Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Activated clotting-time variability in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty

Abstract: Although the activated clotting time (ACT) is commonly used to assess adequacy of anticoagulation during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), there is uncertainty whether measurements on samples from the arterial and venous circulations are directly comparable. We performed ACT determinations on 115 patients undergoing PTCA at our institution. Blood samples were drawn in a sequential fashion from the arterial and femoral venous sheaths at the conclusion of each case, and ACT determination were performed in the catheterization laboratory immediately thereafter. The venous ACT exceeded the arterial value in 63 patients (55%), and was identical in only 2 instances. The arterial and venous ACT differed by more than 100 s in 10 patients. In 23 patients (20%) one ACT determination was > or = 300 s, while the value from the other circulation was < 300 s. We conclude that there is substantial variability between arterial and venous ACT determinations in heparinized patients undergoing PTCA.

Vomiting-Induced Gastric Emphysema and Hepatoportal Venous Gas: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract: Gastric pneumatosis is the presence of air within the wall of the stomach. It represents a spectrum of conditions ranging from benign disease to septic shock and death. Etiopathologically, it can be classified into emphysematous gastritis or gastric emphysema (GE). Along with hepatoportal venous gas (HPVG), it was considered as an ominous radiological sign and warranted an emergent surgical exploration; however, with widespread use of computerized tomographic (CT) scan, an increasing number of benign causes of GE and HPVG have been reported in the literature, where patients can be managed by noninvasive and conservative measures. We hereby describe a case where recurrent episodes of vomiting led to development of GE and HPVG and the patient was managed successfully by conservative measures.

Frequency of echogenic intracardiac focus by race/ethnicity in euploid fetuses

Abstract: Objective. To determine the frequency of echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) by race/ethnicity.Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis from January 1996 through June 2003. We reviewed all initial sonograms from 14 to 23 weeks gestation in singleton pregnancies. Mothers on admission for delivery provided race/ethnicity.Results. There were 8207 ultrasounds and deliveries that met study criteria. There were 4636 (56.5%) Caucasian, 2087 (25.4%) African-American, 1261 (15.4%) Hispanic and 223 (2.7 %) Asian subjects. There were 347 (4.2%) EIF detected. The frequency by race/ethnicity varied significantly (p < 0.0001).Conclusions. This large, population-based study showed that fetuses born to Asian mothers were significantly more likely to have an EIF. This racial difference should be taken into account when counseling patients about the potential for Down syndrome.