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Biomedical subjects

G Beynon

Publications and source records attributed to G Beynon.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

LOH and mutation analysis of CDKN2 in primary human ovarian cancers.

The CDKN2 gene encodes a cell cycle regulatory protein and is located on chromosome 9p21, a region deleted in a wide variety of primary tumours. While mutations in the CDKN2 gene itself are frequently observed in tumour cell lines, they are less common in primary tumours. We have investigated the role of the CDKN2 gene in ovarian cancer by analysis for allelic loss of 9p21 and single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of exons 1 and 2 of CDKN2 in 67 primary ovarian tumours. Loss of heterozygosity on 9p21 was frequently observed (24/50 informative tumours) and was common in early-stage tumours, suggesting that it is an early event in ovarian tumorigenesis. Homozygous deletion of the CDKN2 gene was detected in only 1 tumour. No somatic or germline mutations were observed in CDKN2, though a codon 140 polymorphism was detected in 2 cases. This suggests that CDKN2 is not involved in ovarian tumorigenesis and that another gene(s) may be the target of the frequent 9p allelic losses observed.

Base Sequence↗

Thrombocytosis as a prognostic factor in women with cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytosis (a platelet count > 400 x 10(9)/l) is found frequently in association with malignant disease and recently has been suggested to be a poor prognostic indicator in patients with cervical cancer. The authors decided to see if these findings could be verified. METHODS: The pretreatment platelet counts of 643 women treated for cervical cancer between 1983 and 1992 were reviewed and correlated to each patient's age, stage of disease, histologic type, node status (when available), and outcome. Differences between groups were analyzed using the chi 2 test, and survival was compared using the log rank test on Kaplan-Meier life tables. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate for patients with thrombocytosis was 57.1%, which was significantly worse than the 76.5% for those with normal platelet counts (P < 0.01). When adjusted for stage of disease, however, thrombocytosis failed to have a significant effect on patient survival. There was also no relation between thrombocytosis and the incidence of positive lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytosis was not found to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with carcinoma of the cervix in this series of 643 patients.

Adult↗

Pelvic exenteration: a review of the Gateshead experience 1974-1992.

OBJECTIVE: To examine morbidity and survival among women treated by pelvic exenteration for gynaecological malignancy. DESIGN: Retrospective review by analysis of case records. SETTING: Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK. SUBJECTS: Eighty-three consecutive patients referred from within the UK from 1974 to 1992 for initial treatment of advanced gynaecological malignancy or management of recurrent disease following unsuccessful initial therapy. RESULTS: Overall five year actuarial survival was 41%, falling to 36% at 10 years. Serious morbidity was low, and there were only three peri-operative deaths. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with limited options for treatment of advanced primary or recurrent cancer, exenteration offers a reasonable prospect of survival with good quality of life.

Actuarial Analysis↗

When is a decibel not a decibel?: The application of decibel scales and calibration in clinical audiology.

Decibel scales are a very important but potentially confusing subject for the clinician. Misunderstanding can, at worst, lead to inappropriate management which is detrimental to the patient. This paper sets out, from the viewpoint of an acoustician, the calibration and meaning of the various decibel scales in common use, shows how they are applied to the clinical setting, and explains their limitations.

Audiology↗

Closing the loop on auditory evoked potential recording: verifying the integrity of AEP equipment.

The integrity of the recording equipment in evoked response testing is essential for accurate recordings. The presence of a fault that disrupts the waveforms will degrade the accuracy of the test in diagnostic and threshold testing. Examination of the equipment alone is usually difficult due to the presence of other factors that may be the cause of disrupted waveforms (the electrodes, the patient, and the environment). This paper describes a simple test that allows examination of the recording equipment alone without the effect of other variables.

Audiometry, Evoked Response↗

A discussion of current sound field calibration procedures.

Calibration of sound fields is an area which has caused much confusion and about which there is some uncertainty. Appropriate calibration is essential if hearing results are to accurately represent the hearing status of a patient, and such results significantly affect the management of many patients. This paper outlines the basis of calibration procedures with respect to sound fields, reviews the recent work in this area, and puts forward the options open to audiologists. The issue of using the dB(A) scale rather than attempting to calibrate in dB HL is discussed and recommendations are made.

Audiometry↗

Gastro-intestinal bleeding--a major cause of iron deficiency in the elderly.

Iron deficiency of 10 g/dl haemoglobin or less was found in 18 (3.5%) of 511 patients admitted in one year to the Middlesex Hospital Geriatric Unit. Three patients were frail and not investigated. Gastro-intestinal lesions were demonstrated in all remaining 15 patients and specific therapy was instituted in 10 cases. Surgery was performed for colonic cancer at a resectable stage (Dukes B) in two cases. Patients with iron deficiency require adequate gastro-enterological investigation.

Aged↗

The influence of the autonomic nervous system in the control of erythropoietin secretion in the hypoxic rat.

1. Erythropoietin has been measured in the serum of hypoxic rats that have been exposed to 6 hr of hypoxia, by use of a biological assay. 2. The effects of section of splanchnic, renal and sinus nerves on the concentration of Erythropoietin present in the serum ofthe hypoxic animals has been investigated. 3. Serum levels of Erythropoietin were reduced in the hypoxic animals immediately after cutting the splanchnic nerves, but unaltered one week after the operation. 4. The concentration of Erythropoietin in the serum of hypoxic rats was increased by the secretion of the renal nerves. Section of the sinus nerves abolished the effect. 5. Elevated levels of Erythropoietin were present in the sera of hypoxic rats immediately after section of the sinus nerves. The effect was still obtained when the animals were exposed to hypoxia 1 week after cutting the nerves, though in attenuated form. 6. The rise in the concentration of the hormone after chronic section of the sinus nerves was estimated as as 261% (fiducial limits 167-513, P = 0-05), by parallel line bio-assay. 7. The concentration of Erythropoietin in the serum of hypoxic rats was progressively elevated as the arterial PO2 of the animals was reduced. Section of the sinus nerves did not alter the secretion of Erythropoietin in these experiments.

Animals↗