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Biomedical subjects

C MacKay

Publications and source records attributed to C MacKay.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Lactate dehydrogenase in tears.

Lactate dehydrogenase levels in tears were measured in normal subjects and in patients with retinoblastoma. When specimens were collected without trauma in normal subjects, there were usually no detectable levels of lactate dehydrogenase. When the eyelids were rubbed (probably liberating epithelial cells) lactate dehydrogenase levels were detectable and were five to ten times those of normal aqueous humor. When lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in such specimens were analyzed, the level of lactate dehydrogenase 5 was always higher than that of lactate dehydrogenase 1 (similar to normal aqueous humor). While occasional patients with retinoblastoma do have elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase in tears, it is uncertain if this is due to epithelial destruction or retinoblastoma itself. Lactate dehydrogenase in tears does not appear to be a useful test for the diagnosis of retinoblastoma given present techniques for collection and analysis.

Child↗
PubMed1980

Faecal bile acids and clostridia in the aetiology of colorectal cancer.

This study was undertaken in an attempt to confirm the increased bile-acid concentration in association with nuclear dehydrogenating Clostridia (NDC) in the faeces of colorectal cancer patients. We have studied 37 patients with colorectal cancer and 36 control patients with no known gastrointestinal disease. Stool specimens were obtained for biochemical analysis (total faecal bile acid (FBA), lithocholic deoxycholic and cholic acids) and NDC isolation. The mean total FBA concentration (mumol/g) in the control group was 20.5 +/- 2.2 (s.e.) significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the colorectal-cancer group (11.8 +/- 0.7). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage distribution of the individual FBAs measured. NDC were isolated from the faeces of 64% of colorectal-cancer patients and 15% of control patients, this difference being statistically significant (P < 0.001). These results suggest that bacteria capable of metabolizing steroids may be implicated in the aetiology of colorectal cancer. However, the relationship between FBA and colorectal cancer requires further evaluation.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Faecal bile acids and clostridia in patients with breast cancer.

We have studied 30 patients presenting with breast cancer and 36 control patients admitted to hospital for minor surgery. Stool specimens were obtained for bile acid analysis and bacterial nuclear dehydrogenation activity (NDC) estimation. The mean total faecal bile acid (FBA) concentration (mumol/g) in patients with breast cancer was 15.6 /+- 1.8 s.e., significantly lower than for control patients (20.5 /+- 1.9). NDC were isolated from the faeces of 58% of breast cancer patients an 15% of control patients, this difference being statistically highly significant (P less than 0.005). Increased bile-acid degradation by bacteria in the large bowel may explain the reduced FBA concentration in patients with breast cancer. Increased NDC isolation in breast-cancer patients suggests that oestrogen production in the colon may play a role in the aetiogy of breast cancer in some patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Handlebar hernia.

A case of direct traumatic inguinal hernia resulting when a young man was thrown forward against the handlebar in a motorcycle accident is described. Three weeks earlier this patient had had an appendectomy through a McBurney incision. Two criteria for such traumatic hernias are: immediate appearance after injury; and medical confirmation.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1977

Aluminium hydroxide in bile-salt diarrhoea.

The treatment of choleraic diarrhoea remains a problem. Cholestyramine is effective but long-term treatment is often impracticable. In-vitro studies have shown that aluminium hydroxide has bile-acid-binding properties comparable with those of cholestyramine. The bile-acid-binding properties of aluminium hydroxide have now been investigated in vivo and applied to the treatment of patients with choleraic diarrhoea. Aluminium hydroxide increased the faecal bile-salt concentration of patients with a normal bowel habit whereas magnesium hydroxide had no effect. Eight patients with severe choleraic diarrhoea were treated with aluminium-hydroxide suspension: bowel motion became less frequent and daily faecal weight fell.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Truncal vagotomy and drainage for chronic duodenal ulcer disease: a controlled trial.

The results of elective truncal vagotomy and drainage in 547 duodenal ulcer patients are reported. Altogether, 204 patients were randomly allocated to pyloroplasty and 200 to gastrojejunostomy. In 101 patients gastrojejunostomy was electively chosen and in 42 patients the duodenum was opened to confirm the diagnosis. Operative mortality was 0.5%, the incidence of proved recurrent ulceration 3.3%, severe dumping 2%, and severe diarrhoea 1.1%. There were no significant differences between the groups, with the exception of bilious vomiting which occurred more often in patients with gastrojejunostomy.

Adult↗