Biomedical subjects

C Murray

Publications and source records attributed to C Murray.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Melanosis in association with metastatic malignant melanoma: report of a case and a unifying concept of pathogenesis.

An unusual case of melanosis associated with metastatic malignant melanoma is reported. This was characterized by progressive blue/gray discoloration of the skin of the chest and abdomen in an elderly patient, 1 year after removal of a polypoid malignant melanoma from the right arm. A biopsy of involved skin revealed perivascular aggregates of melanin-laden histiocytes throughout the dermis, the histopathologic hallmark of melanosis. An unusual aspect of the case was the coincidental finding of a tumor embolus within a small dermal vessel, probably a lymphatic. To date, neoplastic melanocytes have been detected in only a small minority of skin biopsies with features of melanosis. This case and a distillation of related information in the literature lead to the conclusion that the essence of melanosis, and the feature that distinguishes this from conventional metastatic melanoma, is the persistent and cumulative dissemination of melanin, via the bloodstream, throughout the body. This in turn leads to progressive pigmentation of all internal organs and the skin. Only continuous access to the circulation by neoplastic melanocytes could explain such a phenomenon. Potential mechanisms by which this could arise are discussed in the context of existing knowledge.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Effects of pirfenidone and dermoid cyst fluid on adhesion formation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of pirfenidone and human dermoid cyst fluid on adhesion formation in a rat model. DESIGN: A prospective, blinded, controlled study. SETTING: Sprague-Dawley white rats in a conventional laboratory setting. INTERVENTION(S): Rats were divided into four groups according to the type of solution tested (dermoid fluid, 0.05 mg of pirfenidone, normal saline, and a combination of dermoid fluid and pirfenidone). In the first experiment, the solution (0.5 mL) was injected intraperitoneally. In the second experiment, the solution was instilled intraperitoneally after a standardized injury to the right uterine horn. The degree of adhesion formation was evaluated 2 weeks after the initial surgery. RESULT(S): Human dermoid cyst fluid caused adhesion in 4 of 10 intact rats and in 9 of 10 standardized injured rats. Pirfenidone did not decrease adhesion formation. No adhesion was found after injection of saline or pirfenidone in intact rats. The mean +/- SEM adhesion score in standardized injured rats was higher in the dermoid group (4.6 +/- 0.6) than in the pirfenidone group (2.8 +/- 0.7) or the saline group (3.8 +/- 0.5). The mean +/- SEM adhesion score in intact rats was 0.6 +/- 0.3 after dermoid fluid injection and after dermoid instillation in standardized injured rats was 4.6 +/- 0.6. CONCLUSION(S): Human dermoid fluid causes adhesion formation even in intact rats, and the adhesion is worse in the presence of serosal injury. Intraperitoneal pirfenidone does not decrease adhesion formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Memory for faces and objects by deaf and hearing signers and hearing nonsigners.

The memory of 11 deaf and 11 hearing British Sign Language users and 11 hearing nonsigners for pictures of faces of and verbalizable objects was measured using the game Concentration. The three groups performed at the same level for the objects. In contrast the deaf signers were better for faces than the hearing signers, who in turn were superior to the hearing nonsigners, who were the worst. Three hypotheses were made: That there would be no significant difference in terms of the number of attempts between the three groups on the verbalizable object task, that the hearing and deaf signers would demonstrate superior performance to that of the hearing nonsigners on the matching faces task, and that the hearing and deaf signers would exhibit similar performance levels on the matching faces task. The first two hypotheses were supported, but the third was not. Deaf signers were found to be superior for memory for faces to hearing signers and hearing nonsigners. Possible explanations for the findings are discussed, including the possibility that deafness and the long use of sign language have additive effects.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

CD6+ T cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

For patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) undergoing blood or bone marrow transplantation (BMT), the use of autologous grafts has often been preferred to that of allogeneic stem cells because of a significantly lower incidence of non-relapse mortality. If complications associated with allo-BMT could be minimized without compromising efficacy, then it might become a preferred strategy for certain subsets of patients. In this report, we describe the toxicity and long-term efficacy of T cell-depleted allogeneic BMT using anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody and complement alone to reduce the risk of GVHD and its sequelae. Twenty-two patients, aged 18-60 years, with high (n = 10), intermediate (n = 9), or low (n = 3) grade NHL underwent HLA-identical allogeneic BMT from siblings. Patients had either relapsed after at least one remission or never achieved a full remission with chemotherapy. Twenty patients had a history of marrow involvement. Bone marrow was depleted of CD6+ T cells with T12 monoclonal antibody and complement as the sole form of GVHD prophylaxis. Stable hematopoietic engraftment occurred in all 22 patients. Four patients developed grade 2 and 1 patient grade 3 GVHD (23% grades 2-4 GVHD). Chronic GVHD has occurred in three patients. Treatment-related mortality was very low. Only one patient died while in remission. Thirteen patients are alive and free of disease with a median follow-up of 30 months. Estimated event-free and overall survivals are 54 and 59%, respectively. CD6 allogeneic marrow transplantation is associated with a low risk of transplant-related complications and may offer advantages for certain patients with recurrent NHL felt to be at high risk for relapse after autologous transplantation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

The psychosocial impact of bone marrow transplantation: a review of the literature.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a procedure used for the treatment of a variety of cancers and malignant diseases. Recovery from this intensive process requires a long-term course, often accompanied by acute morbidity which includes various distressing physical symptoms. Recent literature has begun to explore the impact of this procedure on quality of life and psychosocial issues. While survivorship is often associated with a highly rated global quality of life, recovery from BMT is accompanied by several psychosocial difficulties which negatively impact patients. Fatigue is a common complaint, often hindering recipients for several years following their transplant. As well, reports of psychological distress, psychiatric symptoms, and/or mood disturbances such as anxiety or depression are not uncommon. Many patients also indicate interruption of sexual activity and increased sexual difficulty for several months following BMT. While some investigators have begun to examine hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a treatment option for reducing sexual dysfunction, there is a general paucity of literature evaluating interventions for BMT survivors. This article reviews the literature examining various quality of life aspects including fatigue, psychosocial difficulties, and sexual functioning of patients during recovery from BMT. Limitations of past research are discussed and directions for future research suggested.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

PubMed1998

Teaching the clinical interpretation of peripheral blood smears to a second-year medical school class using the PeripheralBlood-Tutor computer program.

The interpretation of peripheral blood smears has an important role in the diagnosis of hematologic diseases and is, therefore, part of the education of physicians and technologists. We describe a computer program, PeripheralBlood-Tutor (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, Pa), that teaches the morphologic features of normal and abnormal peripheral blood smears; we also describe the evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in 133 second-year medical students who were required to use the program in their hematology course. The version of the PeripheralBlood-Tutor used in the study had 2 distinct but equivalent 20-question examinations; one examination, the pretest, was taken before the students viewed the contents of the program, and the other examination, the posttest, was taken after completing the program. The mean score on the pretest was 61% (SD, 14%), the mean on the posttest was 91% (SD, 10%), and the improvement was significant. In addition, 4 questions about peripheral blood smears, which were based on printed images, were administered at the end of the hematology course. The students scored an average of 2.75 (SD, 0.86), and a positive correlation was found between these scores and the scores on the Tutor posttest. The results of the study suggest that PeripheralBlood-Tutor is feasible to implement, and it helps students learn to interpret peripheral blood smears. The use of PeripheralBlood-Tutor is now a requirement in the medical school curriculum, the medical technology program, and the pathology residency at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Blood Cell Count↗

PubMed1998

A South Australian Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak investigation using a database to select controls.

UNLABELLED: Between April and June 1996, 15 persons with Salmonella enterica serovar Mbandaka infection were reported in South Australia (population 1.6 million) compared with 12 over the previous five years. To identify a possible source for the infections a case control study was conducted. METHODS: Trained interviewers asked 15 cases and 45 controls about their consumption of 105 foods. Controls were matched to case residential location and age. They were selected from a previously constructed database of 3,014 randomly selected South Australian households. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 15 cases ate 'generic' or 'retail store' brands of peanut butter produced by the same factory in another state, compared with five of the 45 controls (p < 0.01). Salmonella Mbandaka was isolated from three opened jars of peanut butter from case households, and from three unopened jars from retail outlets. Further investigation implicated roasted peanuts from a third Australian state as the source of the Salmonella contamination. DISCUSSION: This is the first recorded outbreak of salmonellosis resulting from the consumption of peanut butter. The SA outbreak investigation comprised a matched case control study to identify possible common food sources. Such investigations need be conducted rapidly to maximise public health benefits, and the utility of selecting controls from a population based database can improve timeliness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Respiratory symptoms and lung function in aborigines from tropical Western Australia.

To estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, smoking, and atopy in a population of Australians of Aboriginal descent (AAD), to determine the association of these and other factors with lung function, and to compare levels of lung function of AAD with Australians of European descent (AED) according to age and height, and to explore reasons for their differences, we conducted a study of 96 male (41 of whom were under 18 yr of age) and 111 female (48 of whom were under 18 yr of age) AAD living in a single remote tropical community in 1993. This population provided data on age, height, and lung function. A modified British Medical Research Council (MRC) questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking was administered. FEV1, FVC, height, age, and bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine were measured. Atopic status was assessed by skin prick tests for eight common allergens. Age- and sex-adjusted lung function was similar to that of other AAD groups and lower than in AED. For children, lung function increased less with increasing height in AAD than in AED. Lung function was reduced in adult AAD as compared with adult AED, although it was not possible to determine statistically whether lung function started to decline at an earlier age or declined faster with increasing age in AAD. A history of asthma, smoking, dyspnea, cough, or sputum production; atopic status; and increased bronchial responsiveness were all associated with lower levels of lung function. Differences in lung function between AAD and AED appear to be determined by characteristics that may be inherited, as well as by adverse external influences.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

CD6-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute leukemia in first complete remission.

The appropriate timing of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for adults with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is controversial. Although allogeneic transplantation results in a lower risk of disease recurrence than intensive chemotherapy alone, overall outcome following BMT may not be improved due to the higher incidence of therapy-related fatal complications, frequently as a result of the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Selective T-cell depletion of donor marrow can reduce the incidence of GVHD and thereby limit transplant-related toxicity. Herein we report the risk of GVHD, incidence of transplant related mortality (TRM), likelihood of disease relapse, and overall survival in adult patients undergoing BMT with CD6 depleted allogeneic marrow for acute leukemia in first remission. Forty-one consecutive allogeneic transplants were performed on patients with acute leukemia and high-risk features (28 AML, 13 ALL) using T12 monoclonal antibody and complement to remove CD6+ T cells from donor marrow. No pre- or posttransplant immune suppressive medications for GVHD prophylaxis were administered. The actuarial estimated risk of grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD was 15% in patients receiving HLA identical grafts. Chronic GVHD developed in five patients. The estimated risk of TRM for patients in first complete remission was 5% at Day +100 and 16% at 2 years. Fatalities attributable to infection with cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus occurred in only three patients. Estimated probabilities of relapse, overall survival, and event-free survival at 4 years were 25%, 71%, and 63%, respectively. No significant differences in GVHD, TRM, relapse rate, or survival was observed for patients with AML compared with those with ALL. Allogeneic transplantation with CD6 depleted bone marrow is effective in consolidating remissions of high-risk patients with acute leukemia in first remission without excessive toxicity.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Concurrent outbreaks of Salmonella Typhimurium in South Australia.

The Communicable Disease Control Branch of the South Australian Health Commission received 45 laboratory notifications of Salmonella between 23 December 1996 and 17 January 1997. A rapid screening test, undertaken by the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, was the first indication that this was more than one outbreak, prompting the establishment of separate investigations. Three Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) phage types were subsequently identified. Investigations are continuing into an outbreak of S. Typhimurium phage type (PT) 64, while investigations failed to identify any association between four cases of PT 44. As of 12 February 1997, 71 notifications had been confirmed as S. Typhimurium PT 135. Epidemiological investigations found this outbreak was associated with consumption of bread rolls with a meat filling distributed through local Asian grocery stores from a home-based manufacturer. The product was voluntarily withdrawn and there have been no new cases of PT 135.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

PubMed1997

Reading and metaphonological outcomes in late talkers.

Children with a history of slow expressive language development (SELD) were followed to second grade, at which point outcomes in terms of speech, language, cognitive skills, reading achievement, and metaphonological performance were evaluated. Although there were some statistically significant differences between groups, children with a history of SELD generally performed within the normal range on the measures collected. Relations among speech, reading, and metaphonology in the SELD cohort appeared to operate in a manner similar to that seen in groups with typical language development. The implications of these findings for understanding the nature of specific language impairments and for treating early circumscribed language delays are discussed.

Achievement↗

PubMed1997

Campylobacter jejuni seasonal recovery observations of retail market broilers.

This study investigated possible seasonal trends in the Campylobacter jejuni carrier state of market broilers. In this study, broiler carcasses, 15 each of two major companies, were obtained from a local supermarket each month for an entire year to evaluate the presence of C. jejuni on the carcasses. Direct plating and the whole carcass rinse procedure were used for C. jejuni detection. Resuscitation of damaged cells and preenrichment of low numbers of micoorganisms were accomplished by Hunt's procedure. None of the carcasses tested positive from direct plating of skin flora in this study. After both Company A and Company B broiler samples were enriched, 69% (229/330) of the raw commercial broilers were, positive for C. jejuni. The highest recovery rates were obtained during the warmer months of the year, from May through October (93, 97, 97, 87, 87, and 93% respectively), and the lowest were obtained in December (7%) and January (33%). Storage time, due to slow movement of broilers, appeared to affect the detectability of C. jejuni during December and January. This study shows that seasons of the year influence C. jejuni detectability and the carrier state in market broilers at retail level.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Evaluation of leaves as a litter material.

The suitability of leaves for use as broiler litter was evaluated in four 49-d floor pen trials of 150 Avian x Avian female chickens each. In each trial, 25 broiler chicks were weighed and randomly assigned to one of six pens at a density of 1.2 m2 per bird. There were two replicates of each of the following three treatments: 1) pine wood shaving (control), 2) a mix of 50% pine wood shaving and 50% leaves, and 3) leaves. Litter materials had no significant (P > or = 0.05) influence on live weight, feed conversion, breast blisters, dressed carcass weight, carcass yield percentage, or mortality. Mortality of birds reared on leaves tended to be higher than the other treatments, but it was found to be nonsignificant at the P < 0.05 level. No significant differences were observed for percentage litter moisture among treatments. Body weight gain was significantly (P < or = 0.05) higher for the broilers reared on the leaf litter. Leaves alone or mixed with wood shavings have potential as an alternate litter material without compromising production or processing parameters at a low placement density.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1997

Intense muscle uptake of Tc-99m MDP and Ga-67 citrate in massive rhabdomyolysis.

A 6-year-old boy had an Addisonian crisis with hyponatremic shock and required resuscitation after cardiac arrest. Severe renal failure necessitated continuous dialysis. Rhabdomyolysis was identified because of myoglobinuria and gross elevation of creatinine kinase. In the course of his treatment, bone infection was suspected. A bone scan with Tc-99m MDP showed intense uptake in numerous major muscle groups throughout the body in keeping with massive rhabdomyolysis. Similar gross muscle uptake of Ga-67 citrate was less expected. In an additional bone scan obtained 15 days later, the MDP uptake showed less intense accumulation.

Bone and Bones↗

PubMed1997

Management of knee deformity in classical arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (amyoplasia congenita).

We describe the management of significant knee deformity in 44 knees of 22 patients suffering from classical arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (amyoplasia congenita). Follow-up ranged from a minimum of 18 months to 19 years 3 months, with an average 7 years 8 months. Thirteen patients showed fixed flexion of the knees at birth and 9 showed fixed extension. All were treated initially by physiotherapy and splintage, which was successful in all except 1 patient in the extended-knee group, whereas only 7 to 26 knees responded to physiotherapy and splintage alone in the flexed-knee group. Walking ability in the extended-knee group was high; 8 of 9 were community walkers with or without walking aids and orthoses and only one was a therapeutic walker. By contrast, in the flexed-knee group, despite posterior release surgery, which sometimes had to be repeated, only to 6 of 13 patients were community walkers at follow-up, 2 were household walkers, 3 were therapeutic walkers, and 2 had stopped walking in adolescence and preferred to use a wheelchair full time. Long-term splintage is recommended but does not always prevent recurrence of deformity. Bony surgery was used only toward the end of growth or in one case when very severe deformity necessitated its use at an early age and it subsequently had to be repeated. Despite their severe handicap and multiple deformities, this group of children show a remarkable determination to walk with or without walking aids and orthoses.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Children raised in fatherless families from infancy: family relationships and the socioemotional development of children of lesbian and single heterosexual mothers.

The aim of the study was to investigate family functioning and the psychological development of children raised in fatherless families from their first year of life. Thirty lesbian mother families and 42 families headed by a single heterosexual mother were compared with 41 two-parent heterosexual families using standardised interview and questionnaire measures of the quality of parenting and the socioemotional development of the child. The results show that children raised in fatherless families from infancy experienced greater warmth and interaction with their mother, and were more securely attached to her, although they perceived themselves to be less cognitively and physically competent than their peers from father-present families. No differences were identified between families headed by lesbian and single heterosexual mothers, except for greater mother-child interaction in lesbian mother families.

Child↗

PubMed1997

A study of enhanced management in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

The clinical efficacy of two intensive treatment packages (one including the new antipsychotic risperidone and the other not doing so) was compared with that of standard management in 43 patients with long-standing treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Significant differences between the groups in terms of total positive or total negative symptoms were not demonstrated, but the pattern of change between the treatment groups differed, so that benefit in positive symptomatology was seen in both intensive treatment groups and in negative symptomatology in the intensive treatment/risperidone group and the standard group. Changes in general psychopathology were most marked in the risperidone group and were compatible with a relatively non-sedative profile. Using the Disability Assessment Schedule, substantial significant advantages for the intensive treatment groups were found.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

CD6+ T cell depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from genotypically HLA nonidentical related donors.

The widespread use of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is limited by the availability of suitable donors. Recent attempts to expand the donor pool by employing HLA matched unrelated marrow have been partially successful. However, severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft failure remain obstacles and contribute to the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with matched unrelated BMT. The use of genotypically nonidentical related or unrelated donor marrow could have wider application if problems associated with GVHD could be overcome. Based upon the low incidence of GVHD in recipients of HLA-matched related donor marrow depleted of T cells with T12, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody, we applied this approach to 27 adult recipients of HLA mismatched related bone marrow. Ten patients received marrow mismatched at 2 HLA loci, 13 received 1 antigen mismatched marrow, and 4 received phenotypically identical marrow from a non-sibling. Immediately prior to admission, patients were treated with total lymphoid irradiation (750-1050 cGy) to suppress host derived. T lymphocytes capable of mediating graft rejection. The ablative regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg x 2 days) followed by total body irradiation (1400 cGy in 7 fractions over 4 days). Patients then received marrow depleted of T cells with T12 (CD6) plus complement. No immune suppressive medications were administered to prevent GVHD. Twenty-four of 27 patients displayed stable hematologic engraftment, achieving an absolute neutrophil count of 0.5 x 10(9)/L at a median of 19 days post-BMT. Degree of HLA disparity did not influence engraftment. Among engrafting patients, grades 2-4 acute GVHD occurred in 40% and grade 3-4 GVHD in 8%. Chronic GVHD developed in 5 patients. Patients mismatched at 2 loci were more likely to develop GVHD than those mismatched at 0-1 loci (logrank, p = .04). Disease relapse has occurred in only 3 patients receiving mismatched marrow. Estimated overall survival for mismatched patients is 56% at 2 years and is independent of HLA disparity. Among the patients transplanted for chronic myelogenous in stable phase or acute leukemia in first remission, estimated event free survival is 69% at 2 years compared to 20% for patients with more advanced disease. Our results suggest that transplantation of mismatched related marrow using modalities designed to reduce GVHD without immune suppressive medication (CD6 depletion) is feasible and should prompt wider investigation into the extended families of patients in the search for potential marrow donors. This approach also merits investigation in recipients of matched unrelated marrow as a potential means of reducing transplant-related toxicity.

Adolescent↗