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Biomedical subjects

D Miller

Publications and source records attributed to D Miller.

At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

An illuminated grid for macular testing.

The status of the macula should be included in the preoperative evaluation of patients about to undergo keratoplasty or cataract extraction. Frequently, corneal opacities or cataracts preclude visualization of macular details. In such cases, the Amsler grid is useful in assessing macular function. This study evaluated 15 patients with opaque media. In 13 patients, the opacity was too dense to allow the patient to see the Amsler grid. However, all 13 patients could see the illuminated version of the grid. Of the three abnormal responses detected by the use of the illuminated grid, two were caused by macular pathology and one by amblyopia.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The value of diagnostic aids in detecting pancreas cancer.

By contract with the National Cancer Institute, the accuracy of diagnostic techniques was assessed in 184 patients suspected of having pancreas cancer. Of 138 patients who were operated upon, 89 were found to have pancreas duct cancer, 30 had cancer of a different site of origin in the head of the pancreas region and in 19 there was no evidence of cancer at operation. All of the 46 patients who were not operated upon, 13 proven to have cancer and 33 patients discharged as free of cancer, were followed in our clinic. The majority of our patients presented with signs and symptoms of biliary obstruction. Computerized transaxial tomography (CTT) gave a "correct" diagnosis in 31 of 33 patients (94%) with proven cancer, there were 2 patients with a false negative report and a false positive diagnosis occurred in 8 of 20 patients (40%) without cancer. Celiac angiography (CA) gave a correct diagnosis in 78 of 94 patients (83%) with cancer, a false negative in 17%, and a false positive in 32%. 76Selenomethionine pancreas scan correctly diagnosed 27 of 36 patients (75%) with cancer, gave a false negative in 25% and a false positive in 31%. Ultrasonography gave a correct diagnosis in 18 of 27 patients with cancer (67%), a false negative in 33% and a false positive in 28%. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography diagnosed correctly 8 of 11 cases (73%) of cancer, there were false negative diagnoses in 3 cases (27%) and false positives in 3 of 14 patients (21%). Duodenal aspiration techniques gave a very low percentage of correct diagnoses. Chronic pancreatitis most commonly gave rise to a false positive diagnosis. Serum alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 82% of patients, gave 18% false negatives and 33% false positives. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was elevated (greater than 2.5 ng/ml) in most of the pancreas cancer patients but also in patients with other cancers and with non-cancerous diseases. In our hands, CTT, CA, alkaline phosphatase, 75Se-methionine and ultrasonography, in descending order, have given the highest percentage of correct diagnoses but false positive and false negative diagnoses prevented any single test from being conclusive.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1978

Initial adjuvant therapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck employing weekly high dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue.

Our initial experience with weekly high dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue (MTX-LCV), in advanced recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with a 77% tumor response rate and high therapeutic index, prompted a trial of MTX-LCV as initial adjuvant therapy in high risk nonmetastatic patients. Results in 11 patients are presented and confirm the high response rate to MTX-LCV and the low incidence of myelotoxicity and mucositis, when concurrent urinary alkalinization is employed. Initial MTX-LCV administrations has not compromised subsequent optimum aggressive combinations of surgery and radiation therapy. Cytoreduction with MTX-LCV may be safely used initially in combined therapy for high risk squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1978

4-(6-Methoxy-2-naphthyl)butan-2-one and related analogues, a novel structural class of antiinflammatory compounds.

A series of compounds related to 4-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)butan-2-one has been prepared and tested for antiinflammatory activity by the cotton pellet granuloma method. Compounds possessing a small lipophilic group such as methoxyl, methyl, or chloro in the 6 position in conjunction with a butan-2-one side chain in the 2 position of the naphthalene ring were most active. The indtroduction of a methyl group along the side chain was invariably deleterious. Good activity was generally retained by forming esters of a butan-2-ol side chain.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Evaluation of a computer-directed pneumatic-tube system for pneumatic transport of blood specimens.

The results of sending specimens through a computerized pneumatic airtransport system and manually delivering specimens were compared for 15 chemical tests and six hematologic procedures. All specimens were collected from inpatients and outpatients into evacuated glass containers. The specimens traversed a maximum of 829 feet (253 meters) involving 16 bends and eight transfer units at 25 feet/second (7.6 meters/second). Only the activity of lactate dehydrogenase exceeded the precision of the test in pneumatically transported specimens. Ruptured erythrocytes in incompletely filled vacuum tubes were the likely source of the increased lactate dehydrogenase activity. Neither the serum sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, total protein, albumin, calcium, glucose, creatinine, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, acid phosphatase, uric acid, leukocyte count, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, nor the prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were affected by pneumatic transport. It is concluded that the pneumatic system tested provides a safe, efficient method of transporting the blood specimens tested.

Blood Specimen Collection↗
PubMed1978

Monitoring corneal wound strength non-invasively.

Intensity of light scattered from 24 healing rabbit corneal incisions progressively increased during six weeks following the operation. After the first week, the mean value for scattered light intensity from the wounds was highly correlated with wound tensile strength measured in another group of rabbits. The correlation coefficient was 0.95 at the 0.05 confidence level. It is hoped that a simple and reliable method of measuring scattered light intensity may provide a non-invasive tool for assessing the strength of a corneal wound in the future.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

The front line.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1977

Preliminary report of the lung cancer detection program in New York.

The early lung cancer detection program in New York is described, and preliminary prevalence rate data are reported. Cigarette-smoking men over the age of 45, who are considered at high risk, are encouraged to enroll in the program and, to date, 6,612 have done so. These men receive PA and lateral chest x-rays annually, while a randomly selected sub-population of about half also have sputum cytology every four months. A controlled study of sputum cytology as an adjunct to the chest x-ray is now in progress. There were 15 cases of late lung cancer (pathologic stages II and III) detected at the initial examination, and 11 early cases (pathologic stages O and I). In the population of 3,387 men who had x-rays alone there were three early lung cancers detected; in the population of 3,225 men who had both examinations four early cancers were detected by x-ray and four by cytology. In addition, three cases of larynx cancer were detected by cytology. The early lung cancers detected by x-ray were peripheral and most were bronchiolar or adenocarcinoma; the early cancers detected by cytology were central epidermoid carcinoma of major bronchi. No early carcinomas were detected by both techniques. These findings suggest that a combination of chest x-rays and sputum cytology can be more effective than either one alone in detecting early lung cancer.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Ectopic ACTH, prostatic oat cell carcinoma, and marked hypernatremia.

Locally recurrent, poorly differentiated carcinoma of the prostate was associated with hypokalemic alkalosis, marked hypernatremia, diabetes mellitus of recent onset, and hyperosmolar syndrome. These findings, with mild hypertension, in the absence of clinical features of Cushing's syndrome, suggested an ectopic ACTH syndrome. Plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were markedly elevated, and failed to suppress in response to either low or high-dose dexamethazone administration. The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly. Autopsy findings included carcinoma extensively infiltrating the prostate with extension to the urinary bladder, and metastases confined to the pelvic nodes and soft tissues. The adrenal glands weighed 23 g and showed diffuse hyperplasia. Extract of the prostatic tumor was analyzed for ACTH and showed approximately 40 times normal plasma levels (or about 4,010 pg/g of tissue); ultrastructural features showed secretory granules consistent with ACTH content of the tumor cells. Such cells were positive when stained for ACTH by peroxidase-tagged immunochemical methods. The case fulfills all established criteria for relating excess corticosteroid production and nonpituitary tumors.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗