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Biomedical subjects

A Cuschieri

Publications and source records attributed to A Cuschieri.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Three-centre study on urinary hydroxyproline excretion in cancer of the breast.

A study instigated by the British Breast Group and involving 3 centres (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool) was carried out to compare 3 methods for the estimation of urinary hydroxyproline. No significant difference between the first and the second 24 h urine collection was found for each measure of urinary hydroxyproline, within laboratories and within patient groups. Reliable hydroxyproline studies can, therefore, be performed on one 24 h urine collection. The Grant and Ellis/Goldberg methods gave comparable results and the excretion of hydroxyproline in the urine measured by either of these 2 methods could be used to distinguish cases of breast cancer with osseous involvement (as demonstrated by X-rays) from those without. The Hypronosticon Kit method was found to be unreliable as it has 29.4% false negatives in breast-cancer patients with X-ray demonstrable metastases. The incidence of elevated urinary hydroxyproline excretion in breast-cancer patients with negative X-rays was 11/14 (25%), 5/34 (15%) and 8/43 (19%) for the Ellis/Goldberg, Hypronosticon and Grant methods respectively. No conclusion can be drawn regarding the outcome of this group of patients because of the short period of follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic carcinoma.

Our experience with laparoscopy in the diagnosis and staging of 23 cases of pancreatic cancer is reported. This endoscopic procedure has proved useful in the diagnosis of the disease, in the assessment of operability, and in the retrieval of material for histological and cytological confirmation of pancreatic cancer. An infra-gastric laparoscopic method for inspection of the body and tail of the pancreas is described and the technique may allow the earlier detection of neoplasms in this region.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome no. 13.

A case of partial deletion of chromosome No. 13 identified by G banding as 46, XX, del(13)(q21--ater) is reported in an infant with severe microcephaly, microphthalmos, talipes calcaneovalus, and a single crease on each of the little fingers. A review of other cases of chromosome No. 13 deletion that were identified by banding is presented and the correlation between clinical features and deletion of specific bands is discusses.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1977

Activation and release of proteolytic kinin-forming enzymes from rat jejunal loops perfused with hyperosmolar glucose solutions.

Loops of rat jejunum were perfused in vivo for one hour with de Jalon solutions of increasing glucose concentration. The esterolytic activity of the perfusate and of the extracted loop was measured using benzoyl arginine ethyl ester (BAEe) as substrate. The enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and acid phosphatase were measured in the perfusate to estimate the degree of cellular damage. There was a significant depletion of kallikrein from the intestine and a raised level in the perfusate during the hyperosmolar perfusions. No significant difference in the kallikrein levels was observed between the normal jejunum and the iso-osmolar perfused jejunum. Prolonged contact with hyperosmolar solutions caused some cellular damage but this effect appeared to be distinct from the release of kallikrein, which occurred very rapidly during the first 20 minutes. These results confirm that hyperosmolar intestinal contents result in the release of kinin-forming proteolytic enzymes into the circulation and suggest that this mechanism is involved in the syndrome of vasomotor dumping after gastric surgery.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Kinin levels in the peripheral venous blood of patients with severe vasomotor dumping before and after revisional surgery.

The kinin activity in peripheral venous blood was estimated before and after jejunal interposition in 17 patients with severe vasomotor dumpling. In each case the kinin activity was assayed both under fasting conditions and after the oral administration of a liquid hypertonic glucose meal (100 g). No significant difference in the preoperative fasting kinin values was found between patients who were improved of their symptoms (11 cases) as distinct from those who did not derive any benefit from jejunal interposition (6 cases). However, in patients who obtained relief after revisional surgery, the kinin level after glucose administration (56-15 +/- 11-19 ng/ml) was significantly higher (P less than 0-01) than the release obtained in patients who were not improved by surgery (3-65 +/- 2-33 ng/ml). Furthermore, the kinin release was reduced to near normal levels on re-challenge with glucose 3 months after jejunal interposition in patients who were cured or improved of their symptoms.

Dumping Syndrome↗
PubMed1976

Estimation of plasma esterolytic activity and its in vitro inhibition by proteinase inhibitors during acute pancreatitis in the human.

The plasma esterolytic activity was measured using benzyol arginine ethyl ester (BAEe) in the peripheral venous blood of patients with acute pancreatitis, normal healthy volunteers and a contrast group of patients with acute intrabdominal inflammations other than acute pancreatitis. The plasma esterolytic activity was significantly elevated in the pancreatitis group. This activity was maximal during the first 48 hours of the illness and remained elevated for a further 8 days thereafter. Aprotinin in a dose of 2000 K.I. u/0-3 ml plasma did not completely inhibit this esterolytic activity, although it resulted in a more substantial inhibition than either ovomucoid or soy bean inhibitor. It is concluded that pancreatic enzymes are released into the circulation during acute pancreatitis and that Aprotinin does not completely inhibit this proteolytic activity. This polyvalent proteinase inhibitor should therefore be administered in much higher dosage than that used hitherto in acute pancreatitis. The plasma esterolytic activity seems to be of diagnostic value in acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

Controlled clinical trial comparing early with interval cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

The traditional management of acute cholecystitis is initial conservative treatment with antibiotics followed by elective cholecystectomy. Although early cholecystectomy has often been advocated, there has been only one randomized controlled clinical trial comparing the two methods of treatment. This paper reports the preliminary results of such a trial in which 32 patients have been studied so far. Of the 17 patients managed conservatively, there was a misdiagnosis in 2 (11-8 per cent). In the remaining 15 patients with acute cholecystitis 3 (20 per cent) required urgent operation because of failure of medical treatment. Elective cholecystectomy was not technically difficult. Of the 15 patients treated by early cholecystectomy, there was a misdiagnosis in 1 (6-8 per cent). Surgery was technically difficult in 2 patients but cholecystectomy was possible in all. The former 2 patients required blood transfusion, but in the remainder the estimated blood loss was only slightly more than in the elective group. There was no mortality in either group nor any complication directly attributable to the biliary surgery. The incidence of minor postoperative complications was only slightly greater in those treated by early operation. The length of postoperative stay was similar in both groups but those treated conservatively spent an average of 11 more days in hospital. The preliminary results indicate that those treated by early cholecystectomy spend less time in hospital and avoid the complications of failed conservative treatment without the added risk of increased postoperative mortality and major complications.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

The effect of metal clips on the tensile properties of healing skin wounds.

The effects of nylon sutures and metal skin clips on the tensile properties of healing skin wounds have been studied in the pig. Wounds closed with clips have significantly poorer mechanical properties at 5, 7 and 14 days after wounding than similar wounds in the same animal closed with interrupted nylon sutures. This difference increased progressively with the period of retention of the clips. It is also shown that in equivalent groups of 14-day wounds, those in which clips were retained after the seventh day had a lower tensile strength, poorer ability to absorb energy and a lower elastic modulus than similar wounds where clips had been removed early. No such adverse effect was noted with nylon sutures.

Animals↗