Biomedical subjects

D Cowen

Publications and source records attributed to D Cowen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

[Curietherapy-surgery for epidermoid carcinomas of the uterine cervix T1].

Between 1975 and 1985, we have treated 157 patients with carcinoma of the cervix T1. The size of the tumor was always equal or less than 30 mm. Our patient underwent Cesium 137 brachytherapy with Fletchers applicators followed by a modified radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy 4 to 6 weeks later. Intracavitary brachytherapy was performed within three days (low dose rate 0.8-1 Gy/h). The median 60 Gy Isodose was: 65 mm height, 58 mm width and 29 mm thickness. At surgical time we mentioned that vaginal cut out was 2-3 cm and pelvic lymphadenectomy limited to external iliac nodes. The 5 and 10 disease Free Survival was respectively 91.6 and 89.4%. We observed 14 relapses, five were distant metastases only. The tumor size and pelvic node involvement were the main prognostic factors in our data. The sterilization of the cervix wasn't of prognostic value. Complications occurred in 22 patients, 2 (1.3%) were severe urinary injury.

Brachytherapy↗

PubMed1990

[Cancer of the lips. Results of the treatment of 299 patients].

From 1970 to 1985, 299 patients with carcinoma of the lip were entirely managed at the Bergonié Foundation. Interstitial radiotherapy was most commonly used. It resulted in a successful local control in 96% of cases (238/248), while cosmetic and functional results seemed better than those of surgery. However, surgery seemed more performant for in situ carcinomas, late aggressive T3 carcinomas, local recurrences, as for T4 lesions associated with other techniques. After reviewing the case history of patients with local recurrences, we found technical faults in one half of those managed by interstitial radiotherapy. Local control rates after surgical salvage of recurrences was 99%. Treatment of neck nodes was not discussed in this publication.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Treatment of cervical lymph nodes in lip cancers].

From 1970 to 1985, 299 patients with lip cancer were examined, treated and followed-up at the Bergonié Foundation. In most cases, interstitial radiotherapy was used and the local control rate reached 94%. Local recurrences could usually be treated again, so that the final local control rate was 99%. However, the management of neck nodes remains controversial in some cases: 5.6% only of T1-2 N0 stages developed neck nodes, which were successfully controlled in 78.9% of cases and it was therefore considered that the preferred option should be to maintain the patients under close follow-up. For T3 N0 cases, of which 17.6% would evolve, it was considered that a sub-mental and sub-maxillary neck node dissection was advisable when performance status was satisfactory and when a close follow-up was difficult. The recurrence rate was 40% for patients with palpable neck nodes who were often submitted to a combined radio-surgical treatment. In such cases, recurrences were controlled in 22% of patients who died 7 times out of nine.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Ornithine decarboxylase activity and immunohistochemical location in postischemic brain.

Ornithine decarboxylase, rate-limiting in polyamine formation, has been found to be necessary for the development of vasogenic edema after cryogenic cerebral injury and is postulated to be of importance in late ischemic brain edema formation. Ornithine decarboxylase activity and accompanying edema was studied after transient cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Bilateral carotid artery occlusion was utilized to produce dense forebrain ischemia. After 4 h of reperfusion a significant elevation in ornithine decarboxylase activity was present (72.5 +/- 24.7 vs 8.5 +/- 2 pmoles/mg protein/h, p less than 0.05). Immunohistochemical localization of ornithine decarboxylase indicated its presence in cortical neurons of ischemic gerbils. This was typically located in the perinuclear cytoplasm and extended into proximal dendrites. Nonischemic animals did not contain ornithine decarboxylase immunoreactivity. These studies show the presence and location of ornithine decarboxylase in cerebral tissue subjected to transient ischemia. The increase in this marker of polyamine activity paralleled previous studies in this model of cerebral edema formation and reperfusion deficit in blood flow and evoked potential, suggesting that ornithine decarboxylase is a marker for and may be associated with those late metabolic events leading to progressive functional deterioration after incomplete cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Brain death in a murder victim: a medicolegal dilemma.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

The melanoneurons of the human cerebellum (nucleus pigmentosus cerebellaris) and homologues in the monkey.

Little has been written about the cells here termed cerebellar melanoneurons. This paper describes and illustrates their cytologic features and topographic relationships. In the human brain these large pigmented neurons are scattered in a narrow layer near the lateral wall, dorsal angle and roof of the fourth ventricle. They form an inconspicuous part (group A4) of the system of catecholamine, neuromelanin-containing cells well known in the brain stem. Rostrally, a few of them provide a tenuous continuity with the locus ceruleus but topographically the two nuclei are independent. With ordinary stains the cerebellar cells can be seen as early as the 26th week of gestation (the earliest period examined). Brown neuromelanin granules do not appear until two and a half years of age but argentaffin granules, foreshadowing the production of pigment, are found in increasing numbers in the fetal and postnatal period. Homologues of the human cerebellar cells are reported in two species of monkey, Macaca nemestrina and Lagothrix sp. Neuromelanin, not previously observed in non-human cerebellar cells, occurs in M. mulatta and M. nemestrina. The proximity of the cerebellar melanoneurons to the ventricle raises the possibility that they are related to functions of the ependyma, or that they influence, or are affected by, constituents of the cerebrospinal fluid. The pathologic changes they undergo in Parkinson's disease and other disorders are to be described elsewhere.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Hereditary adult-onset leukodystrophy simulating chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.

We studied a large kindred with a chronic progressive neurologic disorder affecting at least 10 men and 11 women in four generations in a pattern compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. In 20 of the affected subjects, evaluated before the availability of computerized tomography and without regard to family history, the diagnosis was multiple sclerosis. Symptoms of the neurologic disorder begin in the fourth and fifth decades and include cerebellar, pyramidal, and autonomic abnormalities. The autonomic symptoms, which involve bowel and bladder regulation and orthostatic hypotension, may be the earliest changes but are frequently disregarded. Survival for 20 years after onset is common. The CT scan is striking and shows a symmetrical decrease in white-matter density, beginning in the frontal lobes but extending to all of the centrum ovale and the cerebellar white matter. Limited pathological observation reveals gross white-matter degeneration with microscopic vacuolation, preservation of U fibers and cortical structures, and no inflammatory changes or reactive gliosis. Because of its hereditary basis, the disorder should be susceptible to genetic definition and ultimately to treatment or prevention.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Delayed onset of post-rabies vaccination encephalitis.

A 31-year-old veterinarian developed seizures, left hemiparesis, loss of memory, and behavioral disorders 5 months after intensive antirabies vaccination, the longest incubation period yet recorded. Computed tomographic scan revealed a right frontal contrastenhanced mass that extended to the left frontal lobe through the corpus callosum. Brain biopsy showed foci of primary demyelination largely confined to the white matter. The lesions were characteristic of the demyelinating encephalomyelitis that follows treatment with certain vaccines against rabies. The hemiplegia improved, but seizures, memory impairment, and abnormal behavior persisted.

Adult↗

PubMed1980