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Biomedical subjects

A Spira

Publications and source records attributed to A Spira.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Adjuvant treatment with polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid in operable breast cancer: updated results of a randomised trial.

The results of a randomised trial of polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid given as adjuvant treatment for operable breast cancer were reviewed after a mean follow up period of 87 months. Of the 300 patients included in the original trial, 145 had been allocated to conventional treatment alone and served as controls. At the time of review the overall survival of the group given polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid was significantly improved (p less than 0.05) as compared with that of the controls given conventional treatment alone. Significant benefit (p less than 0.02) was also observed among patients with evidence of disease in lymph nodes, the best results occurring in those with up to three invaded nodes, who showed a significant increase in both overall and relapse free survival. No evidence of toxicity was recorded. These findings confirm the value of polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid as adjuvant treatment for operable breast cancer. Results in an experimental model and in patients receiving the adjuvant suggested a possible role of interferon and natural killer (NK) cells in the mechanism of action.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Ectopic photoreceptor cells and cell death in the developing rat retina.

To confirm the identity of presumed photoreceptor-like neurones displaced from their normal location in the developing retina we have examined their morphology and extent of occurrence in the Long-Evans hooded rat aged one to six weeks postnatally. Displaced photoreceptor cells (PR) in the inner nuclear layer showed changing nuclear chromatin patterns during retinal development akin to those occurring in PR cells in the outer nuclear layer. PR cell cytoplasmic specializations included outer segments in various stages of formation and presynaptic terminal features including synaptic ribbons and vesicles. Processes abutting on PR cell terminals did not have postsynaptic specializations. Displaced PR cells may have arisen from PR progenitors which failed to retain a foothold at the retina's ventricular surface. The incidence of displaced PR cells determined from quantification of their planimetric densities decreased from 18% of the INL cell population at day 9 postnatally to less than 2% at day 15. A few such cells remained even at 36 days. Their fate appeared to be migration to the ONL and, or, in situ degeneration. Counts of necrotic cells carried out at ages preceding, during, and following the period during which ectopic PR cells were most numerous indicated that the decline in numbers of displaced PR cells coincided temporally with the period during which cell degeneration in the INL was most prominent. Degeneration of cells in the INL, including ectopic PR cells, was sufficient to account for a considerable proportion of the retinal thinning that occurred during development. Results suggest that future studies of retinal development in genetically or experimentally manipulated animals should consider abnormalities in cell migration and death.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Problems in measuring the effectiveness of infertility therapy.

Couples consulting for infertility are a highly select group, and this makes the evaluation of the effectiveness of a type of therapy difficult. The most obvious selection results from the time they have been unsuccessfully waiting for a conception. Because fecundability is variable from one couple to another, the monthly probability of conceiving after 2 or 3 years of waiting time is low, but the proportion of couples who will conceive within 1 year is still significant and can be predicted. However, in most cases, couples submitted to a specific treatment include hypofertile and totally sterile couples, in unknown proportion. This fact makes difficult the measurement of the effectiveness of therapy, and procedures including control groups should be used. An example of such a process is given.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Levels of seminal free L(-) carnitine in fertile and infertile men.

Data about the levels of free L-carnitine, an epididymal marker in human semen, are contradictory and unclear, particularly in their relationship to fertility. This can perhaps be explained by the absence of any studies of seminal L-carnitine in a large group of fertile men, and by the lack of consideration of factors influencing its secretion. In this study, free L-carnitine was determined using a spectrophotometric method in deproteinized semen samples from fertile (n = 162) and infertile men without azoospermia (n = 303). Our results can be summarized as follows: Infertile men were found to have significantly lower (P less than 0.001) seminal carnitine levels (755 +/- SD 499 nmoles) compared with fertile men (1010 +/- 570). Percentiles have been calculated for fertile men, and 'normal' values proposed (10th percentile = 390 and 90th percentile = 1830 nmoles). Distribution of the levels of L-carnitine were asymmetric in fertile as well as in infertile men (median: 922 nmoles vs 645). In both groups, a significant increase in carnitine levels was observed with increasing length of abstinence, and a decrease in the ratio of carnitine/days of abstinence. Methodological, physiological and pathological factors which may explain these results are discussed.

Carnitine↗
PubMed1984

[Methodologic approach to errors in andrology].

The authors have reviewed the errors that frequently occur at different stages of clinical assessment that have led to false conclusions. These mistakes can be avoided sometimes if a methodological system that has been proven to be successful in other fields in medicine is used. It seems that this is absolutely necessary in andrology where the difficulties of assessment are still very great.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1984

Seasonal variations of sperm characteristics.

A total of 1110 ejaculates were collected from 52 medical students over a 1-3-year period. Semen volume, sperm density, and total sperm count showed a maximum at the end of winter and beginning of spring and again in late fall. For the percentage of progressively motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa, a maximum is seen in late summer and a minimum in late winter/early spring. No bias seems responsible for these seasonal variations, which, if they are confirmed, should be taken into consideration when interpreting spermiograms.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Semen characteristics as a function of age in 833 fertile men.

The relationship between age and semen characteristics has been studied; any effect due to the influence of the length of abstinence preceding ejaculation was eliminated. There is an improvement in semen characteristics up to 25 years of age, followed by a leveling off and a subsequent decrease. This variation is not significant as far as the sperm count, semen volume, and the total number of spermatozoa are concerned. The variation, although small, is highly significant for the morphologic characteristics and prefreeze and postthaw motility. The values for the older subjects were significantly lower for postthaw motility in the group 36 to 40 years of age, in the group 41 to 45 years of age for morphologic normality, and in the group 46 to 50 years of age for prefreeze motility. The lower values in the group 21 to 25 years of age are particularly noticeable with regard to morphologic characteristics. The same curve is encountered in the variation with age of each abnormal form, but the most marked variation is found in the increased percentage of coiled tails, which first appears in the group 36 to 40 years of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Administration of diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy, a public health problem].

The analysis of the health risks associated with the administration of diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy (for the prevention or treatment of threatened abortions) has been largely published. Concerning mothers, a relationship between DES exposure during pregnancy and risk of cancer is unproved. However, existing studies are sufficient cause for serious concern over drug's carcinogenic potential, and further follow-up studies are required. Concerning daughters, a clear association between in utero exposure to DES and clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina or cervix is established (incidence between 0.14 and 1.4 per 1000 through age 24). The risk for squamous cell cancer of the vagina and cervix does not seem to be increased. Cervico-vaginal adenosis is frequent (20% to 60% of exposed subjects). This is not a pre-cancerous lesion, its spontaneous evolution is towards regression. No treatment is prescribed. Morphological changes of the genital tract have been described, their consequences on fertility and pregnancy are not clear. Concerning sons, an excess of genital abnormalities (especially of the epididymis and undescended testis) has been reported, but information on the fertility implications of these findings is not available. There is no evidence of an increased risk of testicular cancer. The analysis of all these informations should allow to bring up a policy to take into account these risks in the population.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Ultrasonography of the gallbladder and oral cholecystography. A prospective comparative study].

A prospective study comparing the information supplied by ultrasonography of the gallbladder and oral cholecystography was conducted in 254 patients with clinically suspected gallbladder calculi. The results demonstrated the limitations of cholecystography, notably the frequency of non-opacification in the absence of hepatic-biliary tract pathology and the possibility of false-negative results. Ultrasonography proved adequate in more than 80% of the cases and may be considered as the examination of choice for the diagnosis of biliary calculi. Its own limitations are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

A new adjuvant treatment with polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid in operable breast cancer.

Adjuvant treatment with polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid poly A-poly U was tested in 300 patients with operable breast cancer who had all received the same locoregional treatment. They were randomized into two groups; 155 patients receiving 30 mg poly A-poly U i.v. once a week for 6 weeks and 145 controls. Overall survival was significantly improved in the poly A-Poly U group (P less than 0.05). The most striking difference (less than 0.03) was observed in the group of positive node patients, who had a 5-year relapse-free actuarial survival rate of 71% versus 47% in the controls.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1981

Study of a group of 484 fertile men. Part I: distribution of semen characteristics.

The semen characteristics studied were the sperm count, semen volume, morphology and pre-freeze and post-thaw motility. Two categories of fertile men were investigated: semen donor candidates for artificial insemination and pre-vasectomy subjects. Since mean values for each variable in the two series were similar, they could be considered as a single group of 484 fertile men. Only those subjects whose ejaculates were obtained after an abstinence of 5 days or less were retained. The distribution, mean and percentiles were determined for each variable. The 10th and 90th percentiles for sperm count, percentage of motile forms and percentage of normal cells were respectively 25 and 180 million per ml, 60% and 80% and 50% ad 75%. The three variables, sperm count, semen volume and total number of spermatozoa which were dependent on abstinence were analysed in the same manner for 3 days of abstinence. The group studied seemed to be as representative and as well defined as possible.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Study of a group of 484 fertile men. Part II: relation between age (20-59) and semen characteristics.

Commonly measured semen variables as well as post-thaw motility have been studied as a function of age in fertile men. The mean age was 34.6 (SD = 6.6). No significant change with age was found for the sperm count, semen volume or total number of spermatozoa. Conversely, there were significant differences between age groups for the percentage of normal cells (P less than 0.01) and the percentage of motile forms (P less than 0.01) as well as for the after-thaw motility (P less than 0.001). These three variables rise, reach a maximum level at 30 to 35 years of age and then decrease. These changes are not explained by variations in the length of abstinence.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Adjuvant treatment with polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (Polya.Polyu) in operable breast cancer.

Adjuvant immunotherapy with polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (PolyA.PolyU) was tested in a randomised trial on 300 patients with operable breast cancer, all of whom were treated by surgery with or without radiotherapy. They were randomly divided into an experimental group of 155 patients who were treated with 30 mg PolyA.PolyU intravenously per week for 6 weeks and a control group of 145 patients who received normal saline intravenously on the same schedule. The mean follow-up time was more than 50 months in both groups. The overall survival was significantly higher in the treated group (p less than or equal to 0.05), in whom the 5-year "relapse-free" surival was also increased. In node-positive patients, treatment increased the relapse-free survival (p less than or equal to 0.03) and overall survival (p less than or equal to 0.07). No side-effects were noted. Thus, immunotherapy with PolyA.PolyU appears to be a simple, non-toxic, and efficient adjuvant treatment in operable breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1980

[Methodological approach of a retrospective study on 484 fertile and 2 768 infertile men (author's transl)].

One possible method to study male factors in fertility is the retrospective comparison of groups of fertile and infertile men. Such a study based on 484 fertile and 2 768 infertile men enables us to point out an increasing risk of infertility with decreasing sperm counts and percentage of motile spermatozoa and with increasing abnormal forms. However the increase in relative risk is sharper for the patients who consulted twice or more than those who came for the first time. This difference might in part be explained by the fact that the former had a longer duration of infertility or that the couple infertility had less often a female origin. Consequently detailed information on this subject must be taken into account in studies on fertility.

Fertility↗