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Biomedical subjects

B H Stack

Publications and source records attributed to B H Stack.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Serum biochemical markers in lung cancer.

The prevalence of elevated serum levels of 5 potential tumour-associated antigens was determined in patients with lung cancer sampled at the time of initial presentation, using age- and sex-matched patients with benign lung disease as controls. Elevated levels (greater than upper 95th centile of controls) were found as follows: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), 17%; pregnancy-associated alpha-macroglobulin (PAM), 16%; casein 14%; human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) 6%; alpha-foetoprotein (AFP), 1.5%. The prevalence of elevated CEA levels (but not other markers) was higher in patients with evidence of extra-thoracic tumour spread (23%) mainly due to anaplastic tumours and adenocarcinomas. A degree of concordance of elevated marker levels occurred with CEA, HCG, casein and AFP, but there was a striking discordance of elevated CEA and PAM levels. Simultaneous assays of CEA and PAM will detect the majority of patients with elevations of any of the markers studied, and are likely to be the most useful biochemical markers in following the response of lung tumours to therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Pulmonary thromboembolism after travel.

Pulmonary thromboembolism developed in eight patients shortly after travel. Preexisting vein disease was present in this group. Possible prophylactic measures are suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1971

Diagnosis of tuberculosis in a general hospital.

In a survey of 71 new cases of tuberculosis diagnosed in a general hospital the average interval between admission and diagnosis of tuberculosis (the diagnostic interval) ranged between 10 days for intrathoracic tuberculosis and 20 days for genitourinary tuberculosis. The average diagnostic interval was 10.9 days when tuberculosis was included in the initial differential diagnosis, and 22.8 days when other diagnoses were made. Undue delay in diagnosis occurred in 17 patients (24%). In eight this was due to failure to include tuberculosis in the initial differential diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis might have saved three of the five patients who died.In 21 patients (30%) a history of predisposing factors or associated illness was obtained. Ten of these had suffered from previous tuberculosis.The vital factor in diagnosis of tuberculosis in general hospital patients is consideration of this condition in the diagnosis of any unexplained illness, especially where a history of previous tuberculosis or a recognized predisposing factor is obtained.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1969

Measurement of blood and iron loss in colitis with a whole-body counter.

Estimation with a whole-body counter of the fall in total body radioactivity due to loss of parenterally administered (59)Fe has been used to measure blood loss in 17 patients with ulcerative colitis. It was shown that blood loss was related to the activity of disease as judged by sigmoidoscopic changes and less obviously to the extent of involvement of the colon. Blood losses of 50 to 150 ml per week were observed when the patient saw no blood in the stools and the rectal mucosa did not appear haemorrhagic. Some patients lost more than 0.5 g iron during the few weeks following an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis suggesting that repeated replacement of the body's iron stores is often necessary in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fatal disseminated BCG infection in an 18-year-old boy.

Death from disseminated infection with BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) after routine vaccination is rare, and various immune defects may be responsible. An 18-year-old boy died with widespread lymph-node, bone, lung, and liver involvement 6 years after BCG vaccination. Total numbers of B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes were normal, but T lymphocytes, while transforming normally in the presence of non-specific mitogens, did not transform in the presence of purified protein derivative. Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests were negative. Monocytes containing alpha-naphthylacetate esterase were absent.

Adolescent↗