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Biomedical subjects

D Tait

Publications and source records attributed to D Tait.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

HM-PAO assessment of human tumour perfusion.

Technetium-99m-labelled hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HM-PAO) has been used to investigate tumour perfusion in 11 tumour sites in 8 patients with a variety of histologies. In 8 out of 11 instances single photon emission tomography clearly distinguished between tumour and normal tissues; in 7 cases due to increased HM-PAO uptake and in 1 due to reduced tumour uptake compared with hepatobiliary excretion of HM-PAO in adjacent normal liver. Heterogeneous uptake within individual tumour masses was observed in 3 cases. In 2 where a correlation between the pathology of excised tumour and the scan findings could be made, the findings were consistent with HM-PAO uptake in well-perfused tissue. These preliminary observations suggest that Technetium-99m-HM-PAO may be a valuable clinical technique for displaying patterns of tumour perfusion.

Humans↗

Interaction of phospholipid liposomes with a DNA model compound in irradiated systems.

Phospholipid liposomes of different unsaturated fatty acid compositions were irradiated either in the presence of a double-stranded polynucleotide, or alone and then mixed with the polynucleotide. Changes in the structure of the polynucleotide were estimated by measuring its ability to form a fluorescent intercalation complex with ethidium bromide. The results imply that radiation-induced peroxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the phospholipid followed by transfer of damage to the polynucleotide was a very minor process in these systems. The results are discussed in terms of .OH radical attack on the phospholipids at the polar head group or at saturated positions of the fatty acid chains near the water lipid interface. The intermediates produced by this process may then damage the polynucleotide.

DNA↗

Familial abnormalities of thyroxine binding proteins: some problems of recognition and interpretation.

A three generation family study was carried out after inappropriate treatment with radioactive iodine of a 50 year old woman with a raised serum total thyroxine concentration and free thyroxine index. Subsequent investigations showed that she and five members of her family had raised thyroxine binding globulin concentrations. Free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine concentrations were normal. Problems encountered in the recognition of this thyroxine binding protein disorder are discussed. Clinicians and clinical biochemists should be aware of these pitfalls and thus avoid further incorrect treatment on the basis of biochemical findings, even though free hormone estimations are now becoming readily available.

Adolescent↗

Post-chemotherapy surgery in advanced non-seminomatous germ-cell testicular tumours: the significance of histology with particular reference to differentiated (mature) teratoma.

Of a total of 307 patients treated with chemotherapy for advanced non-seminomatous germ-cell testicular tumours between 1976 and 1983, 73 (23.8%) had masses excised after treatment. Resected tissue showed residual malignancy in 16 (22%), fibrosis and necrosis in 25 (34%) and differentiated (mature teratoma) in 32 (44%). Of the 16 patients with tumour only 7 (44%) are alive and disease-free compared with 21/25 (84%) and 27/32 (84%) for fibrosis/necrosis and differentiated teratoma respectively. In addition to histological evidence of residual tumour, elevated serum markers at the time of surgery and/or incomplete excision of residual masses were adverse prognostic features. Of 12 patients with differentiated teratoma or fibrosis who had incomplete resections or densely adherent masses excised with difficulty, 7 subsequently relapsed. The majority of differentiated teratoma patients (75%) had evidence of differentiation in their primary tumours; 88% showed cystic change in metastases and almost one-third showed an increase in the size of metastases during chemotherapy. The data suggest that post-chemotherapy surgery may have a therapeutic as well as a diagnostic role and that complete excision of residual disease should be attempted even if resection at one site has shown either fibrosis or differentiated teratoma. The significance of these findings in relation to treatment induced differentiation is discussed.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Mortality and dementia among ageing defectives.

From a detailed case-register of the ascertained mentally handicapped in a defined population, 382 individuals were identified with an IQ of 50 or under, and of age 57 or over at follow-up 12 years later. In the 277 patients initially in hospital, case records and clinical examination of the survivors showed a life expectancy and a prevalence of dementia similar to that found in the general population. The 105 individuals originally resident in the community had made little demand upon hospital services over the period. The survival to old age of the mentally handicapped poses a quantitative problem for mental deficiency hospitals, but no evidence was found to suggest that provision of high-dependency care above the level required for the general population is needed.

Aged↗

A general practice study of timolol/hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride ('Moducren'), a new therapy for hypertension, and the doctor's influence on management.

An open study was carried out in general practice to assess the efficacy and tolerance of a timolol (10 mg)/hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg)/amiloride (2.5 mg) preparation in 558 hypertensive patients previously receiving multi-dose antihypertensive therapy, and to determine whether the results were influenced by the manner in which the doctor conducted this change in therapy. Patients received 1 or, if necessary, 2 tablets once daily over a period of 12 weeks and were randomly allocated on entry to one of two groups. One group was given a full explanation for the change in therapy, the other group was simply told that treatment was to be changed. The results showed that the change in treatment led to a significant reduction in blood pressure in both groups, at a dosage of 1 tablet daily in over half the patients, and the majority (88%) preferred the new form of treatment. Patient acceptance was good and the number of reports of adverse symptoms decreased during the study period. There was no significant difference in any of the results between the two groups.

Adult↗

Sarcoidosis and chronic sensory neuropathy.

A patient with long-standing sensory peripheral neuropathy is described who finally presented with acute pulmonary sarcoidosis after a period of 18 years. Purely sensory neuropathy presumably due to sarcoidosis of this duration has not been reported before.

Female↗

Prognosis for papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium after surgical staging.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the pattern of failure and the prognosis following pathological staging for uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 22 patients with UPSC, treated between 1989 and 1998 at a single institution. All patients were surgically staged. Two patients with advanced disease received chemotherapy only. Two patients with early-stage disease were followed without further treatment. Eighteen patients received postoperative irradiation; eight patients received whole abdominal irradiation (WART), and the remaining 10 patients, pelvic irradiation (PRT). In addition, seven of these patients received vaginal cuff irradiation with low-dose-rate or high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Toxicity, pattern of failure, and survival were evaluated and compared to the literature. RESULTS: Seven patients (32%) developed distant metastases, three out of seven (42%) after WART. Four out of seven patients who had distant metastases died from disease progression during subsequent chemotherapy. All patients with distant metastases had locally advanced-stage disease at presentation (six stage III, one stage IV). Four patients with pelvic recurrences developed concurrent (2) and subsequent (2) distant metastases. Three patients had isolated distant metastases. No patient with early stage-disease (stage I and II) died from disease progression. CONCLUSION: Pathological staging should be performed for all patients with UPSC to determine the prognosis as well as to tailor the treatment. The role of abdominal irradiation in the treatment of UPSC is yet to be determined; however, such an approach may not be necessary for the control of disease for patients with early-stage (I and II) disease. Patients with locally advanced-stage (stage III) disease are at risk of local regional failures and distant metastases despite WART. Therefore, the benefit of WART for advanced-stage disease is also questionable. Paclitaxel-based chemotherapy is currently being investigated in this setting.

Aged↗

[131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine and high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow rescue in advanced neuroblastoma.

High-dose chemotherapy (HDT) and autologous bone marrow rescue (ABMR) is routinely used as consolidation treatment in advanced neuroblastoma. This study is presently examining the efficacy and toxicity of combined [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) therapy with HDT and ABMR. Five children (4 male, 1 female), median age of 8 years (range 4-11 years) were treated, 3 at relapse and 2 after initial chemotherapy. A single infusion of 131I-MIBG (median activity 11.1 GBq, range 7.4-11.2 GBq) was followed by HDT and ABMR 14-32 days later. High-dose chemotherapy consisted of carboplatin and melphalan in 4 patients, and vincristine, etoposide, carboplatin and melphalan in 1. One patient developed a septicaemia and died, and another failed to engraft; both had extensive bone marrow infiltration at the time of 131I-MIBG therapy. The combined therapy was well tolerated by the three other patients. Two children have relapsed and died (including one who failed to engraft), and 2 are alive 17 and 41 months after ABMR. In the absence of extensive bone marrow metastases, combined therapy offers potential as a means of consolidating treatment in advanced neuroblastoma.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗