Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A W Bruce.
Patients with recurrent superficial bladder tumors have been treated by vesical and intradermal administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. The pattern of recurrence in 9 patients has been altered favorably. Although the findings are still preliminary they appear to hold promise of a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of a group of neoplasms for which effective therapy is still lacking.
We reviewed 8 cases of renal vein thrombosis, 4 of which were detected at autopsy, 1 by laparotomy and the remaining 3 by venography. In 4 cases malignancy also was found and in 2 membranous glomerulonephritis was noted. In 1 patient the thrombosis occurred in a solitary kidney, while it was bilateral in 3. The 4 patients in whom the diagnosis was made during life were treated with anticoagulants alone and 3 are alive with stable renal function 3, 4 and 7 1/2 years after diagnosis.
Introital swabbing was performed on each of 20 premenopausal female volunteers over a 5-day period, 2 swabs being collected each day. During the last 3 days of the 5-day period the volunteers were requested to void every 2 hours. Analysis of our data shows: 1. Perineal bacterial flora varies in number and type of organisms from hour to hour and day to day. 2. Quantitative culturing is of little help in distinguishing colonisation of the introitus with urinary pathogens from mere intermittent contamination of the introitus with the same pathogens. 3. Our results suggest that 4 or more consecutive isolates of the potential urinary pathogens from the introitus over a 48-hour period signify colonisation. 4. Frequency of micturition increases the risk of colonisation of the introitus with potential urinary pathogens. The significance of these findings is discussed, in relation to the previous work of other investigators.
An unusual long-term survival of a patient with metastatic renal cancer is reported. Asthma developed after lung lesions were detected. After development of his allergy, new lesions have failed to appear and growth of old ones has slowed. The possibility that allergy can be a factor in the control of neoplasia is discussed.
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Patients with prostatic cancer, receiving oestrogen therapy were found to have elevated serum cortisol levels and lymphopenia. Oestrogens are known to have a profound effect on the immune system; the possibility that this effect is mediated through the adrenal cortex is discussed. The significance of these findings, however, remains to be determined.
Catheter encrustation was studied in a group of long-stay hospital patients using both latex and silicone catheters. Moisture accounted for 80% by weight of the encrusted material with both catheters. Of the dry weight 90% was composed of protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and uric acid. No relationship was found between the amounts of these substances in the urine and in the encrusted material. High levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were found in the encrusted material from patients infected with Proteus organisms. No direct relationship was found between the duration of catheter drainage and the degree of encrustation, and there was a variation in patient susceptibility to encrustation irrespective of the catheter material. There was significantly less encrustation associated with silicone catheters.
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1 The distribution of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in isolated preparations of human bladder neck and detrusor muscle has been studied.2 Adrenaline caused contraction of the bladder neck which was blocked by phenoxybenzamine but unaltered by propranolol.3 Isoprenaline caused relaxation of the bladder neck which was blocked by propranolol. High concentrations caused contraction which was enhanced by propranolol but blocked by phenoxybenzamine.4 Detrusor muscle was relaxed by isoprenaline and this effect was blocked by propranolol. Phenylephrine caused relaxation of detrusor which was unaffected by phenoxybenzamine; in some cases contraction was produced in the presence of propranolol.5 It is concluded that the bladder neck contains mainly alpha-receptors and the detrusor mainly beta-receptors but both regions posses both types of adrenoceptor.
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The bacterial flora of the vestibule, urethra and vagina of a group of patients with recurrent urethritis, and of control subjects without symptoms, was investigated. Organisms regarded as pathogenic, such as enterobacteria and Streptococcus faecalis, were recovered significantly more frequently from patients than from controls, whereas the reverse was found for non-pathogenic organisms. The bacterial flora was similar in the three areas, suggesting that a specimen taken from one region only would give adequate bacteriological information. The vestibule is suggested as a suitable site. The incidence of vestibular pathogens was higher in postmenopausal patients. Perineal length and vestibular pH were very similar in patient and control groups. There was some evidence that in most subjects the bacterial flora of the areas investigated remains fairly constant over a period of several weeks. Although bacterial species commonly responsible for urinary tract infection may often cause recurrent urethritis, the absence of these pathogens from some patients suggests that the etiology of this condition is not yet fully understood.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.