Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C McCarthy

Publications and source records attributed to C McCarthy.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Combined anti-muscarinic and H2 receptor blockade in the healing of refractory duodenal ulcer. A double blind study.

The purpose of this study was to determine if pirenzepine and cimetidine given together was superior to cimetidine alone in inducing healing of refractory duodenal ulcers which remained unhealed after treatment with cimetidine or ranitidine for at least eight weeks. One hundred and thirty one patients from six centres were randomised to receive either cimetidine (C) 800 mg daily or cimetidine 800 mg plus pirenzepine (C + P) 100 mg daily under double blind conditions for six weeks. The healing rate was similar in both groups, irrespective of the method of calculation. On an intent-to-treat analysis, healing was: C 66%, C + P 57%, and amongst the patients who completed treatment, healing was 70% in both groups. Patients on C and on C + P experienced a similar decrease in daytime and in night time pain. Side effects of treatment, notably dry mouth and blurred vision, were reported more often by patients on combination therapy. Combined treatment with cimetidine plus pirenzepine in patients with refractory duodenal ulcer is unlikely to be beneficial.

Adult↗

Stress fractures after surgery for osteosarcoma: scintigraphic assessment.

To determine how often stress fractures occur in patients who have undergone surgery for osteosarcoma of a lower limb and to characterize such lesions, 156 bone scans obtained in 43 such patients were reviewed for bone stress. Of 43 patients who had undergone amputation or limb-preserving procedures, 42 (98%) had abnormalities on scintiscans attributable to bone stress; 31 had focal or mixed focal and diffuse lesions. Bones most commonly involved were those of the contralateral leg, pelvis, ipsilateral leg, and arms. Focal and mixed lesions seemed to be associated with increased work load on the limb involved. Findings indicated that the more active the patient, the more severe the bone stress. Because of their distribution, appearance, and intensity of tracer uptake, most stress-related lesions were readily distinguishable from bony metastases on scintiscans. Questionable lesions should be evaluated further with other imaging methods.

Adolescent↗

Humoral response to wheat protein in patients with coeliac disease and enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma.

Features that might distinguish uncomplicated coeliac disease from enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma were investigated. Of 76 patients with coeliac disease, 71 (93%) had raised levels of alpha gliadin antibody and all responded clinically and histologically to treatment with a gluten free diet. In contrast, none of 16 patients with enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma had raised levels of alpha gliadin antibody, and treatment with a gluten free diet resulted in histological improvement in one and transient clinical improvement in six patients. The ratio of women to men was 2.2:1 in the group with coeliac disease and 1:1.6 in the patients with enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma. Thus patients with enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma do not display a humoral immune response to wheat protein (alpha gliadin), rarely respond to a gluten free diet, and are often men. Patients with uncomplicated coeliac disease usually have raised levels of alpha gliadin antibody, always respond to a gluten free diet, and are frequently women. These findings suggest the presence of two separate forms of enteropathy: one is benign and sensitive to wheat protein whereas the other runs a malignant course.

Adult↗