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Biomedical subjects

A Morales

Publications and source records attributed to A Morales.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The effect of tumor burden on the modulation of natural killer cell activity.

In this study, experiments were conducted to investigate immuno-modulating effects of bacillus Calmette-Guerin and poly I:C as determined by the cytotoxic activity of spleen and peritoneal exudates of C3H/HeN mice against MBT-2 target cells in vitro and the tumor growth patterns in vivo. It was found that animals receiving bacillus Calmette-Guerin exhibited most of the cytotoxic activity in the peritoneal exudate cells. On the contrary, animals receiving poly I:C exhibited most of the NK activity in the splenocytes and little or none in the peritoneal exudate cells. Administration of bacillus Calmette-Guerin or poly I:C in mice bearing small tumors (1 cm. mean diameter) resulted in an increased natural killer cell activity in the exudates and splenocytes of 65 and 50 per cent respectively. No cytotoxic activity was demonstrated when either of the 2 agents was administered to mice bearing large tumors. However, surgical excision of the tumor followed by bacillus Calmette-Guerin or poly I:C administration resulted in levels of natural killer cell activity comparable to those observed in tumor-free animals or in mice bearing tumors of 1 cm. in diameter.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Torre's syndrome: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two patients with multiple sebaceous adenomas associated with visceral carcinoma (Torre's syndrome) are described, and reported cases in the literature are summarized. Certain aspects of Torre's syndrome are emphasized: that the presence of multiple sebaceous adenomas is a cutaneous marker for visceral carcinomas, that the associated carcinomas are of comparatively low-grade malignancy, and that it is a genetic condition probably related to the Cancer Family syndrome. In addition, three morphologic patterns of the sebaceous adenoma are described: solid, cystic, and "keratoacanthoma-like"; then, the potential pitfalls in the histopathologic interpretation of this tumor are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Necrotizing fasciitis of the male genitalia (Fournier's gangrene).

Necrotizing fasciitis of the male genitalia was first described 100 years ago. Although the mortality of this condition has generally been high, the last few years have seen dramatic therapeutic improvements. This paper details the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis in two patients and describes a plan of management, which includes early diagnosis, vigorous antibiotic treatment and radical débridement of the necrotic tissues, that should improve the prognosis of the condition.

Fasciitis↗
PubMed1983

Clinical application of a whole blood assay for human natural killer (NK) cell activity.

A whole blood assay for assessment of spontaneous or NK-cell activity has been proposed in order to avoid many of the problems encountered with the conventional methods involving cell separation procedures. Normal subjects and patients with cancer of the kidney or bladder were investigated with the new method. Cancer patients were found to exhibit significantly lower levels of reactivity when compared to normal subjects; furthermore, the results were consistent with the common belief that tumor burden and NK activity were inversely related. The whole blood assay appears useful in monitoring cancer patients, particularly those treated with immune modulators.

Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic↗
PubMed1983

Synchronous independent primary osteosarcoma and adenocarcinoma of kidney.

Primary osteogenic sarcomas are extremely rare tumors of the kidney. The association with a juxtaposed renal "clear" cell carcinoma would appear to be unique, although several cases of osteogenic sarcomatous differentiation have been described within so-called sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma variants. We report a case of synchronous independent development of both renal cell carcinoma and osteogenic sarcoma within the same kidney.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Pyogenic cyst of adrenal gland.

A case of cystic lesion of the adrenal gland is presented. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography greatly facilitate the diagnosis of these lesions. The cause, differential diagnosis, and treatment of adrenal cysts are discussed.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1983

Nocturnal penile tumescence with stamps: a comparative study under sleep laboratory conditions.

The usefulness of nocturnal penile tumescence with stamps to measure erections during sleep has been evaluated under laboratory conditions and compared to strain gauge recording. If the ring of stamps does not break a diagnosis of organic dysfunction is supported. However, if breakage occurs at the perforations no diagnostic conclusion can be made. The diagnostic importance of nocturnal penile tumescence with stamps is limited.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Penile elongation: a method for the screening of impotence.

Circumferentially assessed penile responses less than 10 per cent of maximal tumescence usually are regarded as random variation. However, several investigators have hypothesized that one of the initial responses to sexual stimulation is a lengthening of the penile shaft. Circumferential measurements detect this lengthening as a decrease in penile circumference. Two experiments were conducted to investigate this hypothesis. During the first experiment penile circumference changes were monitored at 2 levels of voltage sensitivity. A reliable voltage decrease was observed for all subjects immediately after the introduction of an erotic stimulus. In the second experiment the penis was videotaped to determine the magnitude of penile lengthening that occurred during the circumferential decrease. The results indicated that a substantial penile length change occurred (mean 34.5 per cent of the total erection length change) before any diameter increase was evident. A small number of impotent patients with a clear etiology were investigated using this new test. The results suggest that penile elongation occurs in the absence of full erections in patients with psychogenic impotence, while circumferential and longitudinal changes do not appear after visual erotic stimuli in organically impotent patients. The penile elongation test may prove useful in the etiological screening of impotent patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Chemoimmunoprophylaxis of an experimental bladder cancer with retinoids and Bacillus Calmette Guérin.

The prophylactic effect of 2 retinoids (Ro 4-3780 and Ro 10-9359), either alone or in combination with Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG), was studied in an experimental murine bladder tumor model. The incidence of tumor takes in all treatment groups was lower than in the control group. Both BCG and Ro 10-9359 were effective in decreasing the percentage of tumor takes and the simultaneous use of these agents was more effective than either one alone. Ro 10-9359 was found to possess more antitumor activity than Ro 4-3780 in this tumor model. Treatment of mice with a combination of Ro 10-9359 and BCG resulted in an 83.3 per cent incidence of complete tumor regression within 80 days. Results suggest that vitamin A derivatives may be useful in the prevention and treatment of bladder cancer and that the activity is likely potentiated by nonspecific stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Adherence of gram-negative uropathogens to human uroepithelial cells.

The adherence of several gram-negative uropathogens to human uroepithelial cells was examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and in vitro adhesion assays. The bacteria studied demonstrated different extracellular structures: fimbria and glycocalyx. Human uroepithelial cells were obtained from a bladder tumor cell line (T-24) and from different groups of patients, including those with no history of urinary tract infection (controls), recurrent urinary tract infection, acute cystitis and bladder tumors before and after bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. Results from these comparative studies showed that bacteria with extracellular structures adhered better than those bacteria without extracellular structures. It also was shown that uroepithelial cells obtained from patients with recurrent urinary tract infection and with acute cystitis were more susceptible to bacterial adherence than the uroepithelial cells of the controls (there were significant increases of 2 to 5-fold in mean adherence in the former 2 groups, p equals 0.015 and 0.002). There was no significant difference in bacterial adherence between the T-24 cells and the bladder tumor cells before bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment. However, in both groups after treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guerin the mean adherence increased 2 to 4-fold (p equals 3 times 10(-5)). A survey of 29 bladder tumor patients also showed a 5-fold increase in the incidence of acquired urinary tract infection after bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. These results reveal a correlation between bacterial adherence and urinary tract infection, and suggest that bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells depends upon the bacterial extracellular structures and the source of the uroepithelial cells.

BCG Vaccine↗
PubMed1983

The prognostic significance of histological grading and pathological staging in carcinoma of the prostate.

Histological grading and pathological staging are relevant factors in the prognosis of patients with prostatic cancer. Of 115 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the prostate that was staged fully before treatment 16 had stage A2 disease. Low grade neoplasms were present in 6 of these patients and evidence of nodal metastases was documented at lymphadenectomy in 2. Similarly, 4 of 35 patients with low grade stage B1 disease had nodal metastases. With the enzymatic and/or radioimmunoassay techniques for acid phosphatase determination we were unable to select those patients with nodal metastases. From these studies we believe that low grade, low stage carcinoma of the prostate retains a potential for metastatic disease and that acid phosphatase determinations are unreliable in detecting bulky regional nodal involvement.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1983

A new device for diagnostic screening of nocturnal penile tumescence.

An erectometer for the measurement of sleep erections is described. Comparative studies using simultaneously strain gauges and the new device indicate that it possesses a significant potential for valid measurement of the circumferential increase that may occur during sleep. Because of its reliability, simplicity and low cost the erectometer is proposed as a screening procedure or as a diagnostic alternative when sleep laboratory facilities are not feasible.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1983

Perforating lichen nitidus.

We report a second case of perforating lichen nitidus. This supports the occurrence of the transepidermal elimination phenomenon in lichen nitidus and justifies the addition of lichen nitidus to the family of perforating dermatoses.

Adult↗