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Biomedical subjects

C McArdle

Publications and source records attributed to C McArdle.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Treatment of polycystic ovary disease with chronic low-dose follicle stimulating hormone: biochemical changes and ultrasound correlation.

Pure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was administered during six cycles to five patients with "classical" polycystic ovary disease (PCO). Ovulation occurred in four of six cycles, and pregnancy occurred in three of six cycles studied. Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels initially declined slowly. Immediately prior to ovulation there was an exaggerated drop in LH coincidental with an estradiol (E2) rise. This was subsequently followed by a rise in LH above baseline consistent with a preovulatory LH surge. No more than a single dominant, preovulatory follicle was noted in the ovaries of any patient in whom pelvic ultrasound was performed. This study adds further in vivo evidence that FSH is capable of interrupting the self-perpetuating biochemical cycle of PCO in a safe and logical way.

Estradiol↗

Sequential methotrexate plus 5-FU in advanced breast and colorectal cancers: a phase II study.

Fifty-two patients with advanced breast or colorectal cancer have been treated with methotrexate (MTX) (50 mg/m2) followed 6 hours later by 5-FU (600 mg/m2). The mean serum MTX level immediately prior to 5-FU administration was 1.37 mumols/L (1.37 X 10(-6) M). Of 29 evaluable patients with breast cancer (six of whom had received prior chemotherapy), one achieved a complete response and five achieved a partial response (total response rate, 21%). Among 16 evaluable patients with colorectal cancer (three of whom had received prior chemotherapy), there were no objective responses. Although hematologic toxicity was generally mild, mucositis occurred in 20 patients (severe in three), and at least one early death was attributable to toxicity. These results indicate that at doses of MTX and 5-FU which are in general use in combination chemotherapy for breast cancer, sequential treatment does not have a therapeutic advantage. In colorectal cancer, the same combination is inactive.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

A randomised multicentre single blind comparison of a cannabinoid anti-emetic (levonantradol) with chlorpromazine in patients receiving their first cytotoxic chemotherapy.

One hundred and eight patients selected to receive combinations of highly emetic cytotoxic chemotherapy for malignant disease were included in a study of anti-emetic therapy. The patients were randomly allocated to receive levonantradol (0.5, 0.75 or 1 mg) or chlorpromazine (25 mg) prior to receiving their first course of cytotoxic therapy. The appropriate anti-emetic was administered 2 hr prior to the start of chemotherapy, 2 hr after chemotherapy and subsequently at 4-hourly intervals for a further 8 hr. The extent of anorexia, nausea and vomiting along with other side-effects were assessed at regular intervals by physicians and nursing staff during the 24 hr following chemotherapy. In addition, a self-assessment questionnaire was completed by the patients. Levonantradol (0.5 mg) was superior to chlorpromazine (25 mg) as an anti-emetic. Both were reasonably well tolerated, although at this dose of levonantradol 22% of patients experienced dysphoric reactions. At higher doses of levonantradol the proportion of patients experiencing these reactions rose to 50%, but without a concomitant increase in antiemetic activity. Neither drug achieved satisfactory control of vomiting in patients receiving combinations containing cis-platinum. We conclude that levonantradol (0.5 mg) is a more effective anti-emetic than chlorpromazine (25 mg) in patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, its use cannot be recommended due to its high incidence of unacceptable central nervous system side-effects.

Adolescent↗

The diagnosis of ovarian hyperstimulation (OHS): the impact of ultrasound.

Eighty cycles induced by human menopausal gonadotropins in 45 women were studied with serial ultrasound examinations. The incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation (OHS) was 44%, considerably higher than in other series using similar induction protocols. This was probably due to the superior ability of ultrasound to detect ovarian enlargement and the withholding of human chorionic gonadotropin until at least one follicle had reached a minimum size of 15 mm. No difference was found between the mean urinary estrogen levels of those in whom mild or moderate OHS developed and those in whom it did not. It is concluded that the development of OHS is a frequent but acceptable result of ovulation induction.

Amenorrhea↗

Clinical examination as a screening method for breast cancer.

A five-year experience of a breast cancer screening clinic in a Scottish urban area is reported. During this period 28 per cent of the female population aged 25 to 70 years was screened by clinical examination alone. The pick-up rate for cancers was 7.8 per 1,000 'well' women examined, and 21 per cent of all patients with cancer were under 40 years old. Clinical examination is an effective and economical method of screening for breast cancer. The establishment of similar clinics to detect breast disease in women of all age groups is recommended.

Adult↗

Soluble and nuclear oestrogen receptor status in human breast cancer in relation to prognosis.

The relationship between oestrogen receptor (RE) content of primary breast cancer and subsequent prognosis was examined with regard to nodal status. It was found that, within a particular nodal group, patients with tumours containing fully functional RE experienced a longer disease-free interval than those with RE- disease. An earlier observation that RE- primary disease gave rise to distant metastases as first site of recurrence more frequently than did RE+ disease, was not sustained. However, patients with RE+ primary disease had a much reduced chance of dying from cancer within a 3-year period.

Adult↗

Ultrasonic visualization of the posterior thoracic aorta in long axis: diagnosis of a saccular mycotic aneurysm.

A saccular aneurysm arising from the descending thoracic aorta was identified ultrasonically in a 60-year-old man with a subsequent pathologic diagnosis of a Listeria monocytogenes mycotic aneurysm. A cross-sectional scanning technique, which permitted visualization of the descending thoracic aorta in long axis, demonstrated a 3 X 5 cm relatively echo-free mass between the heart and the aorta. A communication between the mass and the aorta established the diagnosis of an aneurysm.

Aneurysm, Infected↗

Detection of placental protein five (PP5) and pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (SP1) in benign and malignant breast disease.

Sensitive radioimmunoassays for the placental proteins PP5 and SP1 were used to investigate possible ectopic synthesis of these proteins by breast tumors. Elevated serum levels of the proteins were found in a small proportion of patients who had undergone mastectomy for malignant tumors, but little useful information on tumor spread could be gained from such measurements. In two patients with elevated pre-operative serum PP5, the levels fell to normal upon resection of the tumor, suggesting that PP5 may be a product of the tumor. PP5 and SP1 were found to be present in the majority of homogenates of malignant and benign breast lesions; the highest concentrations of SP1 were found in malignant tumors, whereas with PP5, especially high levels were found in cases of simple cystic disease.

Adenofibroma↗

Echocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular thrombi.

Left ventricular thrombi have not been commonly recognized by M-mode or by cross-sectional echocardiographic techniques despite their frequency at postmortem examination in patients dying of cardiovascular disease. We discuss two patients, with left ventricular throbmi recognized echocardiographically and confirmed by pathologic and/or angiographic evaluation, whose M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiographic abnormalities add to the variable spectrum of appearance of left ventricularl thrombi. The sensitivity and specificity of echocardiographic techniques in the diagnosis of intracardiac thrombi are discussed.

Adult↗

Geriatric patients in an acute medical ward.

During a nine-month study 160 out of 482 bed-weeks in an acute medical ward were accounted for by 11 patients who no longer needed to be there. This was unsatisfactory both for the 11 patients concerned and for those patients requiring admission for whom the beds were blocked.

Aged↗

The reaction of sulphite ions with an intermolecular disulphide bond in bovine serum non-mercaptalbumin.

1. The reaction of SO(3) (2-) ions with bovine serum non-mercaptalbumin was studied at physiological pH. 2. The presence of an intermolecular disulphide bond between the protein and one of two small molecules is confirmed. 3. The bonds are readily cleaved according to the equation:AlbS.SR+SO(3) (2-) right harpoon over left harpoon AlbS.SO(3) (-)+RS(-)but the additional presence of 2m-urea is necessary to separate the small molecules from the protein. 4. The points of elution of the small molecules from a column of Sephadex G-25 correspond to those of glutathione and cysteine.

Chemical Phenomena↗