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Biomedical subjects

A Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to A Solomon.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

A survey of black mineworkers of the Cape crocidolite mines.

Between 1974-1978, a study group 970 mineworkers exposed from before July 1962 only to Cape crocidolite were traced: 755 were alive and 215 dead. Of those still alive, 66.1% showed no radiological abnormalities of the chest; 8.9% had irregular small opacities only; 17.7% had pleural abnormalities only; and 7.3% had both. Five pleural mesotheliomas were found in living ex-workers; although only one was reported in those who had died, this was considered to be an underestimate. The incidences of pleural mesotheliomas in ex-employees of the mining industry outside of the study group are also described.

Black or African American↗

Levodopa administration and multiple primary cutaneous melanomas.

Malignant melanoma derives from melanocytic cells that possess the special biochemical pathway for the conversion of levodopa to melanin. Levodopa is widely employed in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and several patients receiving levodopa have been observed to have acquired melanomas, raising concern about a possible relationship between this drug and the tumor. We encountered a 74-year-old woman in whom three distinct primary melanomas developed after she had been receiving long-term therapy with levodopa and a decarboxylase inhibitor. These lesions could be distinguished histologically from epidermotropic metastatic melanoma. Although the association between levodopa and melanoma is tenuous, careful monitoring of pigmentary changes in patients receiving levodopa is advised.

Aged↗

Multiple squamous carcinomas and the oesophagus.

Attention is directed to the synchronous and sometimes delayed appearance of squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus with other head and neck squamous carcinomas. The rare occurrence of double carcinoma of the oesophagus is emphasized. Two cases of double carcinoma of the oesophagus occurred in a group of 383 patients who were investigated as part of an epidemiological survey (an incidence of 0,5%). A third case of double carcinoma of the oesophagus is additionally reported.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Contrast computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.

Computed tomography (CT) has the ability to detect small variations in tissue density. Meglumine diatrizoate was given intravenously to four patients with clinical acute cholecystitis as part of the CT scanning procedure. The enhancement of the thick gallbladder wall, together with an enlarged gallbladder and the presence of stones, confirmed the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Our present experience indicates that, after contrast medium administration, CT has a distinct place in the assessment of acute inflammation of the gallbladder.

Acute Disease↗

Risk of asbestosis in crocidolite and amosite mines in South Africa.

X-rays of all while and mixed-race men employed in crocidolite and amosite mines and mills were read independently by three experienced readers according to the ILO U/C classification. Abnormality was regarded as present if reported by two or more readers. Parenchymal abnormality, defined as the presence of small irregular opacities of profusion 1/0 or greater, was found in 7.3% of the workers. Pleural thickening was found in 4.5% of the workers, costophrenic angle obliteration in 3.2%, and pleural calcification in 1.7%. The prevalences of both pleural and parenchymal abnormality were strongly related to the duration of exposure to asbestos at work. The overall prevalence of abnormality increase from 4.0% in men with exposure for 1 year or less to 47.9% in men with more than 15 years of exposure. After taking into account the effects of age and duration of asbestos exposure, the prevalence of pleural abnormality was not predicted by fiber concentration. However, white men working with amosite tended to develop a higher prevalence of pleural abnormality than did those working with crocidolite. Compared to whites, men of mixed race, who only work with crocidolite, had a high prevalence of pleural abnormality in each exposure duration category. In contrast to pleural abnormality, the prevalence of parenchymal abnormality, after taking into account the effects of age and duration of exposure, was significantly predicted by fiber concentration but not by race or asbestos type. Our results suggest that parenchymal abnormality in workers in South African asbestos mines could be largely prevented by reducing exposure to fibers visible under the light microscope. However, this may not be the case for pleural abnormality.

Adult↗

Acetylator phenotype in spontaneous SLE and rheumatoid arthritis.

Acetylator phenotype was determined in 22 patients with spontaneous systemic lupus erythematosus and the proportion of 'slow' acetylators compared with that obtained in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a group of healthy controls. 73% of the SLE group were designated 'slow' compared with 72% of the rheumatoid group and 64% of the control group. These differences were not significant.

Acetylation↗

cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) and hexamethylmelamine in the treatment of non-oat cell lung cancer: a pilot study of the Southeastern Cancer Study Group.

Fifty-one patients with metastatic non-oat cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with a combination of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) and hexamethylmelamine. The overall response rate (all cell types) was 16%. Four of 20 patients with adenocarcinoma had a partial response and an additional five patients classified as having stable disease had tumor regression less than 50%. The median survival of responders and of those with stable disease (all types) was 8 and 7 months respectively, significantly longer than the median survival of patients who progressed (median survival, 2 months [P less than 0.05]). The major dose-limiting toxicity was nausea and vomiting in over half of the patients; hematologic toxicity and peripheral neuropathy were the other adverse effects of the combination.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Computed tomography in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

A group of 34 proven cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis was investigated by computed tomography (CT) to determine whether CT provided any information beyond that obtained from conventional chest films. Computed tomography disclosed a surprisingly high prevalence of minor pleural changes in sarcoidosis, including two patients with small pleural effusions. Unsuspected bullae and isolated "granulomatous" nodules were additionally demonstrated. Increases in lung density and alterations in gravity dependent vascular perfusion were assessed; these may reflect alterations in the vascular bed, and the increased density is possibly due to diffuse invasion of the lung not recognizable by conventional chest X-ray films. Tracheal compression was noted in one case and vertebral densities in three. Prominence of "small air spaces" was recorded in four patients; the nature of the pathology responsible for this finding is at present speculative. While not replacing conventional chest radiography, CT does make a definite contribution to the assessment of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Adolescent↗

Focal osseous lesions in congenital lues.

Five babies, aged between one to three months presented with clinical and serological evidence of syphilis. In addition to the usual periosteal and metaphyseal bone lesions of lues, areas of focal lucencies and sequestra were present. The association of sequestra in focal diaphyseal erosions may represent a non-dystrophic manifestation of the disease. The lesions were attributed to the syphilitic process. Trivial trauma to disorganised metaphyses, dystrophic changes and possibly focal osteomyelitis account for the spectrum of bone lesions in congenital syphilis. No tubular bone appears immune to these processes.

Bone and Bones↗