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Biomedical subjects

C Scott

Publications and source records attributed to C Scott.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Appraisal of the clinical value of serotoninergic drugs.

Principal objectives in obesity management comprise the prevention of weight gain, the promotion of weight loss, and the treatment of obesity-related complications, including diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Serotonin agonists reduce food intake. The resultant weight loss is variable and there appears to be no way of predicting good responders, nor is there evidence that additional weight loss attributable to drug therapy is sustained once treatment is discontinued, although nonpharmacological strategies for preventing weight regain are worthy of exploration. Serotonin agonists are of clinical value if there is a short-term need for weight reduction or if long-term pharmacotherapy can be justified. This implies that sometimes the dangers of the obese state outweigh the potential hazards of drug treatment. Clearly, if the same agent also improves diabetic control, blood pressure, or depression then a longer term usage is more readily justified. The extent to which this may be achieved by the currently available 5-HT agonists is discussed.

Appetite Depressants↗
PubMed1992

Phase II trial of combination chemotherapy and irradiation in non-small-cell lung cancer, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 88-04.

Encouraging results of several clinical trials utilizing combination chemotherapy and irradiation in unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer have been reported. A recent report from a cooperative group study suggested that preirradiation vinblastine and cisplatin improved survival over irradiation alone. In an attempt to enhance the possible effectiveness of combination chemotherapy and irradiation, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group embarked on a Phase II trial utilizing preirradiation vinblastine (5 mg/m2 weekly x 5) and cisplatin (100 mg/m2) on days 1 and 29 prior to irradiation and on days 50, 71, and 92 during irradiation. The irradiation began on day 50 and consisted of 6300 cGy in 7 weeks. Between May 20, 1988 and May 1, 1989, 30 patients were entered on study. Seventy-two percent of patients had Karnofsky status greater than 90, and 76% had weight loss less than 5%. Forty-eight percent of the patients were younger than 60 years of age. Forty-five percent of the patients had Stage IIIA disease. Eighty-three percent of the patients received at least four courses of vinblastine, and 59% received at least four courses of cisplatin. Seventy-eight percent of the patients received at least 95% of the prescribed irradiation. The major toxicity was hematologic, and there were two fatal complications in the study group. The preliminary survival figures are encouraging. This combination of chemotherapy and irradiation appears to be tolerable and may merit further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

A case-control study of benign ovarian tumours.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the association between reproductive, contraceptive, and menstrual factors and risk of benign ovarian tumours. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a case-control study carried out in six London Hospitals. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used. SUBJECTS: 62 women with a benign epithelial ovarian neoplasm, 37 women with a functional ovarian cyst, and 20 women with a dermoid cyst presenting between 1983 and 1985, together with 132 controls, took part in the study. MAIN RESULTS: On average, women with a benign epithelial ovarian neoplasm were older than those with a functional ovarian cyst, who in turn were older than those with a dermoid cyst. Nulliparity and infertility were associated with an increased risk, and multiparity with a reduced risk, of benign epithelial ovarian neoplasms. Infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease were associated with increased risks of functional and dermoid cysts. Recent use of oral contraceptives was associated with a reduced risk of all three tumour types. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the aetiology of ovarian cysts and benign epithelial ovarian neoplasms may differ. The aetiology of benign and malignant epithelial ovarian neoplasms may be similar, however, since some risk factors are shared.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Construction of synthetic genes using PCR after automated DNA synthesis of their entire top and bottom strands.

A new method is described for the direct construction of synthetic genes by applying a modified version of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to crude oligonucleotide mixtures made by automated solid phase DNA synthesis. Construction of the HIV-1 393 bp rev gene and the 655 bp nef gene by this method is illustrated. The sequences for the entire top and bottom strands of rev were each programmed into an automated DNA synthesizer. Following DNA synthesis, the two crude oligonucleotide solutions were mixed together, specific primers were added, and the target gene was amplified by a modified PCR technique. Although the longer (greater than 200 bases) strands comprise a very small percentage of the total DNA after solid phase synthesis, this method uses PCR to 'find' and amplify such strands to create the target gene. The rev gene constructed by this method was found to contain 4 sequence errors, which were subsequently corrected by site-directed mutagenesis. In order to evaluate the source of sequence errors, several nef genes were made from the top and bottom strand DNA synthesis solutions using independent PCR's. Results suggest that sequence errors arose from both DNA synthesis and PCR. The utility of this method in producing a functional gene is demonstrated by expression of rev in E.coli.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Corneal ulcer and adverse reaction rates in premarket contact lens studies.

We analyzed clinical data on 22,739 contact lens wearers who were studied and whose lenses were approved under 48 manufacturer-sponsored studies for the Food and Drug Administration between 1980 and 1988. The incidence of corneal ulcers was low in the cosmetic (nontherapeutic) daily-wear soft and rigid gas-permeable lens wearers (1/1,923 and 1/1,471 patient-years, respectively). Corneal ulcers and severe adverse reactions occurred two to four times more frequently in extended-wear cosmetic soft and rigid gas-permeable lens wearers than in cosmetic daily-wear lens wearers. Aphakic extended-wear soft lens users were nine times more likely to develop a corneal ulcer when compared to the soft daily-wear cosmetic group. Corneal abrasions and keratitis accounted for 81 of 159 severe adverse reactions, whereas corneal ulcers accounted for 28 of 159 adverse reactions. The data indicate that overnight extended wear of contact lenses is associated with a greater risk of serious, sight-threatening complications than daily wear.

Aphakia↗
PubMed1991

The relationship of nasopharyngeal carcinomas and second independent malignancies based on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group experience.

The authors sought to learn if the incidence of second independent malignancies after the irradiation of carcinomas of the nasopharynx is similar to that observed after treatment of tumors arising in other head and neck sites. One hundred twenty-one patients who had primary carcinomas of the nasopharynx who were treated solely by ionizing radiation (according to the specifications of a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol) were identified and their subsequent well-being was reviewed. Overall there was a 4.1% incidence of second malignancies (2% after 3 years, 5% after 5 years, and 8% after 8 years) with most arising in the upper aerodigestive tract. This rate is significantly less than the rate associated with other head and neck sites. It is not significantly different from the rate of first malignancies observed in an age-matched and sex-matched population. When only those patients who were free of all evidence of neoplastic disease 6 months after the completion of radiotherapy are considered, similar analysis leads to similar outcomes. The authors conclude that the risk of second malignancies after the successful irradiation of carcinomas of the nasopharynx is substantially less than after treatment of tumors at other head and neck sites.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Phase I/II study, combination of radiotherapy and hyperthermia in patients with deep-seated malignant tumors: report of a pilot study by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.

This is a report of a Phase I/II study activated in March 1984 and completed in October 1988 by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group on the feasibility/toxicity of hyperthermia in patients with deep-seated malignant tumors. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the morbidity of regional hyperthermia (systemic and regional, acute and late effects); a secondary objective was to evaluate tumor response to combined irradiation and regional hyperthermia. A total of 54 patients with locally advanced abdominal or pelvic malignancy were accrued to this study; 42% were male and 58% female. Seventy-five of the patients had pelvic tumors and 25% abdominal tumors. Acute toxicities included grade 4 in three patients (1 cutaneous, 1 infection and 1 chemical peritonitis) one grade 3 (skin), and 12 grade 2 toxicities (6 skin and 6 gastrointestinal). With regard to late toxicities, grade 4 was noted in one patient (skin), grade 3 (GI) in one, and grade 2 (skin, peripheral neuropathy) in six patients. The prescribed course of hyperthermia was completed in 17 (32%) of patients. In 36 patients (68%) the course of hyperthermia was terminated, primarily because of patient discomfort. Tumor response was assessed by physical examination or radiological studies. Of 44 patients evaluable for response, there were 17 (39%) complete responses and 6 (14%) partial responders. Significant technical problems in heat delivery and thermometry remain.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Community hospital carotid endarterectomy in patients over age 75.

We compared the prevalence of stroke and death in 133 patients aged 75 and older in whom 170 carotid endarterectomies were performed with that in 501 patients less than age 75 in whom 640 carotid endarterectomies were performed. There were three strokes (2%) in patients aged 75 and older and nine strokes (1%) in younger patients (p = 0.7). There were 8 deaths (5%) in patients aged 75 and older and 14 deaths (2%) in younger patients (p = 0.1). After controlling for the possible confounding effects of diabetes, prior stroke, history of angina, prior carotid artery disease, previous vascular surgery, history of myocardial infarction, preoperative hypertension requiring medication, and female gender, a logistic regression model showed that patients aged 75 and older were no more likely to have a stroke or death than patients under age 75. We conclude that age alone is not a contraindication to the safe performance of carotid endarterectomy in the community hospital.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

The role of hemoglobin concentration in the outcome of misonidazole-sensitized radiotherapy of head and neck cancers: based on RTOG trial #79-15.

Recent data from the DAHANCA (Danish Head and Neck Cancer) 2 study implies a positive effect of high hemoglobin concentration in concert with misonidazole for the treatment of head and neck cancers by radiotherapy. We have therefore reviewed and updated our analysis of RTOG protocol 79-15, which included the effect of misonidazole plus radiotherapy in a presumably similar population. Despite additional follow-up and more sophisticated analysis, our analysis does not demonstrate an influence of hemoglobin concentration on any of the outcome measures we examined. Possible explanations for the difference in findings of RTOG 79-15 and DAHANCA 2 are discussed. Radiation therapy of head and neck squamous cancers, Hypoxia and hemoglobin conc. in head and neck cancers, Oral cavity cancer, Effect of radiation therapy, Oropharynx cancer, Hemoglobin and radiotherapy, Hemoglobin concentration, Effect upon radiotherapy, Irradiation of oropharynx cancer, Hgb effect.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1989

Union election activity in the hospital industry.

In the past five years, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of representation elections in the hospital industry. Once a union is in place, however, decertification is less likely to occur than in other industries.

Collective Bargaining↗
PubMed1988

Remote viewing.

Remote viewing is the supposed faculty which enables a percipient, sited in a closed room, to describe the perceptions of a remote agent visiting an unknown target site. To provide convincing demonstration of such a faculty poses a range of experimental and practical problems, especially if feedback to the percipient is allowed after each trial. The precautions needed are elaborate and troublesome; many potential loopholes have to be plugged and there will be strong temptations to relax standards, requiring exceptional discipline and dedication by the experimenters. Most reports of remote viewing experiments are rather superficial and do not permit assessment of the experimental procedures with confidence; in many cases there is clear evidence of particular loopholes left unclosed. Any serious appraisal of the evidence would have to go beyond the reports. Meanwhile the published evidence is far from compelling, and certainly insufficient to justify overthrow of well-established scientific principles.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1988

High-density lipoprotein subclass distribution in premature newborns before and after the onset of enteral feeding.

Changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclass distribution were evaluated in a group of premature infants during the early postnatal period to ascertain whether enteral feeding brought about a rapid shift from neonatal to adult-like distributions. All infants were fed a combination of breast milk and formula. Cord blood of premature infants had a predominance of large, less dense (HDL2b)gge and a paucity of intermediate-sized (HDL3a)gge particles. Lack of a peak in the (HDL3a)gge is a characteristic feature for cord blood, whereas a prominent (HDL3a)gge peak is characteristic of adult plasma. After the start of enteral feeding, blood was obtained at two time-points: 6-14 days (sample A) and 17-32 days (sample B) postdelivery. With the onset of feeding, triglyceride increased significantly from an average of 34 mg/dl in cord blood to 120 mg/dl in sample B, and cholesterol increased from 86 to 112 mg/dl in the same period. Increases in plasma lipid concentrations were paralleled by a redistribution of subclasses such that three components of almost equal intensity were evident in sample B; these consisted of (HDL2b)gge, (HDL2a2)gge, and (HDL3b)gge. A paucity of (HDL3a)gge particles persisted even after onset of enteral feeding; thus, increases in plasma triglyceride and cholesterol per se are not sufficient to induce the adult-like distribution. It is suggested that development of the normal adult HDL subclass pattern is complex and is probably related to the development and interaction of several factors, including plasma enzymes involved in lipid hydrolysis and esterification, lipid exchange proteins, and hormonal status.

Age Factors↗