Biomedical subjects

G Evans

Publications and source records attributed to G Evans.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

A prospective randomized comparison of radiation therapy plus lonidamine versus radiation therapy plus placebo as initial treatment of clinically localized but nonresectable nonsmall cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: By means of a multicenter, prospective randomized, placebo-controlled study, to assess the impact of adding the radiation-enhancing agent lonidamine to standard "curative-intent" radiation therapy upon overall survival, progression-free survival, and local progression-free survival of patients with clinically localized but nonresectable nonsmall cell lung cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Lonidamine, or the lonidamine-placebo, was administered at a dose of 265 mg/m2 in three divided daily doses. Drug therapy began 2 days prior to the initiation of radiation therapy and continued until progression of disease mandated a change in therapy. The radiation therapy dose was 55-60 Gy, at a daily dose of 1.8 Gy and five treatments per week. Patients with clinical Stage II or III nonsmall cell lung cancer were stratified within the treatment center, and within two histologic strata: epidermoid vs. other nonsmall cell cancers. RESULTS: A total of 310 patients were enlisted on study, 152 on the placebo arm and 158 on the lonidamine arm. The median survival durations were 326 days and 392 days for the placebo and lonidamine-treated groups respectively, p = 0.41 for a comparison of the survival curves. Median progression-free survival and median local progression-free survival durations were 197 days and 341 days for placebo + radiation therapy vs. 230 days and 300 days for lonidamine + radiation therapy; p-values for the respective curves were 0.75 and 0.42. Although there were proportionately more lonidamine-treated patients than placebo-treated patients demonstrating continued local control in excess of 12 months, the numbers of patients still at risk after 24 months were too small for meaningful statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: This multicenter Phase III study failed to demonstrate a significant advantage in the lonidamine-treated population in overally patient survival, in progression-free survival, or in the median duration of local control.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1994

Active and passive smoking are associated with increased carotid wall thickness. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

BACKGROUND: Active cigarette smoking has been established as a potent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in clinical populations; however, neither the role of active smoking in general populations nor the impact of environmental tobacco smoke has been well described. METHODS: The association between carotid artery wall thickness and cigarette smoking was studied in 12,953 black and white men and women, aged 45 to 65 years, examined in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Participants were classified as current smokers (n = 3525), past smokers (n = 4315), never smokers reporting weekly exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS or "passive smoking") of at least 1 hour (n = 3339), or never smokers reporting no weekly exposure to ETS (n = 1774). Carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT) was measured by B-mode ultrasound. RESULTS: Increased IMT was observed in each category, in order from smallest to greatest increase: never smokers not exposed to ETS, never smokers exposed to ETS, past smokers, and current smokers. The larger IMT observed in the nonsmoking group exposed to ETS compared with the nonsmokers not exposed persisted after control for diet, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol intake, education, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Among past and current smokers, increased pack-years of exposure was associated with increased IMT. Among nonsmoking men exposed to ETS, there was a significant increase in IMT with increasing number of hours per week of ETS exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm the strong relationship between active smoking and carotid artery IMT and provide initial evidence that passive smoking exposure is related to greater IMT. Increasing exposure to cigarette smoke (either pack-years of active smoking or hours of ETS) was significantly related to increased IMT.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence in patients attending a sexual health centre.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients attending the Christchurch sexual health centre. METHODS: Anonymised unlinked serum specimens from 362 patients sequentially attending the sexual health centre were obtained and tested for HCV antibody using the second generation enzyme immunoassay kit (Abbott). Antibody positive samples were assayed for virus by amplification of hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA). RESULTS: Twelve patients (3.3%) were seropositive and 10 samples were also positive for virus RNA (2.7%). In 50% of cases the patients had no discernible risk factors other than unprotected sexual intercourse. An overall serum prevalence of 22% (4/19) was noted within a sub population who admitted to intravenous drug use. Ninety patients had, at the time of consultation, requested an antibody test for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There were no antibodies to HIV detected in any of these patients nor any statistical difference in HCV antibody prevalence within this group. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C is a common viral infection within the community. A significant percentage of patients who were anti HCV positive had no discernible risk factors other than sexual transmission which must be considered as a mode of transmission. We concur with the Department of Health guidelines emphasising the need for safer sex practices in a patient with a diagnosis of hepatitis C.

Community Health Centers↗

PubMed1994

Physical mapping of the NF2/meningioma region on human chromosome 22q12.

Loss of genetic information from chromosome 22 has been implicated in the development of neurofibromatosis type 2, meningioma, and several other neoplasia. Molecular studies indicate that genes within chromosomal band 22q12 may be involved in tumorigenesis. We have mapped 29 loci into 16 groups in this region, using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, fluorescence in situ suppression hybridization, and somatic cell hybrid mapping. The region spans more than 5 Mb of genomic DNA and contains the genes for neurofibromatosis type 2 and meningioma. The order of loci presented here provides the framework for the fine mapping of this region using cosmids and yeast artificial chromosomes, and it facilitates the speedy cloning of novel genes from 22q12.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

PubMed1994

Cloning and characterization of the t(X;11) breakpoint from a leukemic cell line identify a new member of the forkhead gene family.

Chromosome translocations involving 11q23 are associated with a number of different types of leukemia. These translocations fuse a gene encoding a putative transcription factor, HTRXI, to genes on other chromosomes. We report cloning and sequencing the t(X;11) breakpoint region from a cell line established from an infant with acute lymphocytic leukemia. The gene AFXI, on the X chromosome, is expressed in a variety of cell types. Sequence analysis indicates a high degree of homology between AFXI and the forkhead family of transcription factors. The high degree of identity within the forkhead region and the lack of homology outside that region suggest that AFXI represents a novel forkhead family member. It is predicted that a chimeric fusion protein with altered DNA binding activity will be the result of the translocation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Incorporation of penetrating cryoprotectants in diluents for pellet-freezing ram spermatozoa.

Glycerol may be toxic to frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa and reduce their fertilizing capacity. This study examined the cryoprotective effects of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol, glycerol and propanediol alone and in combinations with each other in Triscitrate-glucose diluents on the post-thaw motility and acrosome integrity of pellet-frozen ram spermatozoa. The 4 cryoprotectants were examined in diluents at 5 concentrations (0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0% v/v). Post-thaw motility of spermatozoa was higher in diluents containing ethylene glycol (1.5 to 6.0% v/v), glycerol (at all levels tested) and propanediol (1.5 and 3.0% v/v) than in diluents without cryoprotectant (P<0.001), but there was no effect of DMSO on post-thaw motility. Motility of spermatozoa was higher in diluents containing ethylene glycol or glycerol than DMSO or propanediol (P<0.001). In diluents containing the 4 cryoprotectants at 3 concentrations (1.5, 3.0, 6.0% v/v), better recovery of spermatozoa was found with the addition of 18.0 than 4.5% v/v egg yolk. Combinations of ethylene glycol and/or propanediol (0 to 6.0% v/v) with glycerol (0 to 6.0% v/v) in diluents were also examined. In the presence of glycerol at all levels tested, increasing levels of ethylene glycol and/or propanediol decreased motility and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa (P<0.001). We conclude that the compounds examined exert a cryoprotective effect on pellet-frozen ram spermatozoa, except for DMSO which had no effect. In this study, glycerol remained the single most effective cryoprotectant, and there was no enhancement of this cryoprotection by addition of the other compounds.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Effect of polyols on the post-thawing motility of pellet-frozen ram spermatozoa.

The cryoprotective effects of polyols in the absence and presence of glycerol in Tris-glucose-egg yolk based diluents on the post-thawing motility and acrosome integrity of pellet-frozen ram spermatozoa were examined. Incorporation of adonitol or xylitol (low molecular weight polyols; LMWPs) in diluents improved motility of spermatozoa in the absence of glycerol with maximum motility at 0.3 M (26.9 vs 13.3% mean motile spermatozoa; P < 0.001). Five concentrations of adonitol (0, 150, 300, 450, 600 mM) were examined in diluents containing 5 concentrations of glycerol (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0% v/v). There was an additive effect of incorporation of 1.5% v/v glycerol with up to 450 mM adonitol (P < 0.001), but at higher levels of glycerol the incorporation of adonitol was detrimental to motility. The acrosome integrity of spermatozoa in diluents containing 0, 150 and 300 mM adonitol was superior to those containing 450 and 600 mM adonitol (46.1 vs 35.1% mean intact acrosomes; P < 0.05). Among the high molecular weight polyols (HMWPs) examined, better recovery of spermatozoa was obtained in diluents containing sorbitol than mannitol or inositol (P < 0.001). Sorbitol or mannitol (300 mM) improved the motility of spermatozoa in diluents without glycerol (P < 0.001), but the incorporation of HMWPs was detrimental in diluents containing glycerol. All five polyols were examined in isotonic diluents containing 360:0, 300:55, 240:110, 180:165, 120:220mM (Tris:polyol; 360 mosmol) and 6.0% v/v glycerol. There was a linear decrease in motility and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa with increasing polyol concentration in the diluent (P < 0.001) except for inositol, which was not detrimental. We conclude that the polyols examined have a cryoprotective effect on pellet-frozen ram spermatozoa except for inositol. However, in our study, no combination of polyols and glycerol was superior in terms of post-thawing motility and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa to 6.0% v/v glycerol alone in Tris-glucose-egg yolk diluents.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

In vitro evaluation of zwitterion buffers in diluents for freezing ram spermatozoa.

Diluents based on the zwitterion buffers Tes, Hepes and Pipes titrated to pH 7.0 with NaOH or Tris were compared with Tris-citrate diluents by assessment of post-thawing motility and acrosome integrity of frozen ram spermatozoa. Varying buffer osmolalities between 300 and 360 mosmol had no effect but there was a decrease (P < 0.001) in motility between 360 and 420 mosmol. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.001) on motility of increasing glucose concentration in the diluent (30, 85, 140, 195 and 250 mM) with a maximum at 85 mM. At this sugar concentration, motility was higher (P < 0.001) for diluents containing glucose and fructose than lactose, sucrose or trehalose. Inclusion of egg yolk (optimum at 13.5% v/v; P < 0.05), centrifugation of the diluents (P < 0.01), use of low dilution rates (3 or 6-fold; P < 0.05) and freezing in pellets rather than minitubes or straws (P < 0.001) improved both the motility and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa in the zwitterion diluents. It is concluded that zwitterion buffers are superior to Tris-citrate in ram semen freezing diluents.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Superovulation and embryo recovery in ewes treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist and purified follicle-stimulating hormone.

Chronic treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist eliminates luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses and inhibits maturation of Graafian follicles in sheep. Since the presence of 'dominant' follicles may inhibit superovulatory responses, an experiment was conducted to determine whether a GnRH agonist could be used in conjunction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to induce a superovulatory response with production of normal embryos. Twenty-four Welsh Mountain ewes were chronically treated with GnRH agonist by means of a subcutaneous minipump. Twelve of the ewes were given 12 mg progesterone intramuscularly (i.m.) twice daily for four days; all ewes were then given 672 micrograms (total) of highly purified FSH continually infused intravenously for either 72 h (Group A) or 96 h (Group B) in a 2 x 2 experimental design (n = 6). Ovulation was then induced with 750 I.U. human chorionic gonadotrophin injected i.m. (Day 0) and all ewes were inseminated into the uterus with > 100 x 10(6) fresh sperm on Day 0. Embryos were flushed from the uterus, and ovaries were inspected at laparotomy on Day 5. Pretreatment with progesterone did not affect any of the parameters measured and data were pooled accordingly. There were no differences between Groups A and B in the number of ovulations or the number of embryos recovered, although there were more large unruptured follicles in Group A animals (8.8 +/- 0.8 v. 3.1 +/- 0.7, P < 0.001). The embryo recovery rate was higher in Group A ewes (52.5 v. 26.4, P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Ovulatory activity, hormonal induction of ovulation and fertility of young Cashmere and Angora female goats in a temperate environment.

Reproductive parameters of young Cashmere and Angora goats born between 1988 and 1990 and grazed on temperate pastures in southern Australia were examined with a view to reducing the age of first breeding. Females born in August or October of 1989 and 1990 were examined each month by laparoscopy to determine natural ovulatory activity when 6-19-months old. Cashmeres commenced ovulating as young as 7 months of age or as light as 12 kg. Almost all Cashmeres were ovulating by 8-10 months of age at a liveweight of at least 18 kg, and their breeding season extended from April to October. By comparison with Cashmeres, Angoras grew more slowly, fewer ovulated, they commenced ovulation later, their ovulation rates were lower and their breeding season was shorter. A stratified sample of these females was injected with 200 I.U. or 400 I.U. of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) after treatment with controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices for 16-18 days to induce ovulation at 6, 9, 12, 15 and 19 months of age. Ovulation rates after CIDR-PMSG treatment were higher for Cashmeres than for Angoras and tended to be higher for females injected with 400 I.U. PMSG than 200 I.U. PMSG. The proportion of females remaining anovulatory after exogenous hormonal treatment was higher for Angoras than for Cashmeres (38% and 10% respectively) but it was not affected by the dose of PMSG or age. For kids born in 1989, the kidding rates to insemination (with follow-up mating) after CIDR-PMSG treatment for 8-month-old and 20-month-old Cashmeres (in the breeding season) were similar (75.0% and 83.8% respectively) but the rate for 14-month-old Cashmeres was only 10.0% (in the non-breeding period). The kidding rates for Angoras bred at 8, 14 and 20 months of age were 8.4%, 20.0% and 30.0% respectively. Ovulatory activity and fertility in the non-breeding period, with or without CIDR-PMSG treatment, did not improve with melatonin treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Detailed mapping of germline deletions of the von Hippel-Lindau disease tumour suppressor gene.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome characterised by the development of retinal angiomatosis, cerebellar and spinal hemangioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, phaeochromocytoma and pancreatic tumours. A cDNA (g7) which detects frequent genomic rearrangements in VHL disease patients on Southern analysis, and contains the partial coding sequence of the VHL gene has been isolated recently. To characterise the nature of the genomic rearrangements in VHL disease we initially screened 116 patients with VHL disease and identified 22 patients (19%) with abnormal fragments in EcoR1 digested DNA probes with g7. We then established that the coding sequence contained within g7 is represented in 3 exons, and design exon specific probes to investigate the 22 patients with genomic rearrangements. All 22 patients were demonstrated to have germline deletions, but the deletions were heterogeneous with 7 patients having deletions confined to the 5' exon 1, and 8 with nonoverlapping deletions of exon 3. In 7 unrelated patients, including 2 new mutations, the germline deletions were similar in size and position. There was no relationship between the clinical phenotype and the deletion of individual exons. Although phaeochromocytoma was less frequent in kindreds with germline deletions than those without detectable deletions, the difference was not statistically significant (1/19 versus 16/72 respectively, chi 2 = 1.84 p > 0.1).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Herpes simplex encephalitis in the temporal cortex and limbic system after trigeminal nerve inoculation.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 causes an encephalitis in humans that is primarily restricted to the temporal lobe and limbic system. The distribution of lesions suggests that virus enters the brain from a single site and then spreads transneuronally to infect connected structures. Two obvious sites of potential viral entry are the olfactory and trigeminal nerves. Trigeminal nerve entry is more likely because it innervates the oral cavity, a common site of initial infection, and the trigeminal ganglion is the most common site of viral latency. In previous reports, however, experimental trigeminal nerve infection has never led to the pattern of disease observed in humans. By directly inoculating virus into the murine tooth pulp, the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve was selectively infected. This division, which innervates the oral cavity, is the one most commonly infected in humans. Intrapulp inoculation led to an encephalitis primarily affecting the temporal cortex and limbic system. Thus, spread via the trigeminal nerve provides an explanation for the distribution of herpes simplex virus observed in the human encephalitis.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Assessing the impact of the All-Wales Mental Handicap Strategy: a survey of four districts.

The All-Wales Mental Handicap Strategy (AWS) pledged government leadership and additional resources for the task of developing community based residential, domiciliary, respite, daycare and professional services for people with mental handicaps and their families throughout Wales. Ultimately, the authors of the AWS sought to affect for the better the extent to which people with mental handicaps experience typical community life. A large random sample of people with mental handicaps in four diverse districts was used to track changes in services received, professional input, involvement in individual planning, the number of community activities pursued, and the size and range of individuals' social networks across the middle 4 years of the AWS. The balance between private housing and service residence remained unchanged although, with the ageing of the cohort, there was a decrease in the proportion living with parents and an increase in those living independently or in another family situation. There was an increase in the availability of residential services in the form of ordinary housing and an associated contraction in large congregate care facilities. However, not all moves were towards more ordinary living. Some people moved from large statutory sector specialist facilities to other atypical forms of residence, as did some people from family homes. Family support services in the form of family aides and short-term care increased significantly, but indicators still suggest that an expansion of these services is merited. Day services diversified slightly, but without affecting the major role of the traditional centre. There was a decrease in the numbers receiving a fulltime service. Only a third of the sample received regular individual plan reviews of the services they received and the developmental goals set in their name. In general, individuals were involved in a greater number of community activities that brought them into contact with other citizens. However, such an increase has not led to significant changes in the size or composition of people's friendship networks. Overall, the changes in service provision and family and user experience have been in line with the direction set by the AWS. However, the degree of change still required before the new pattern of services envisaged by the AWS is substantially in existence, or the experience of people with mental handicaps conforms with the guiding principles which underpin it, is considerably greater than that achieved after 7 of its initial 10 years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Arterial enlargement in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) cohort. In vivo quantification of carotid arterial enlargement. The ARIC Investigators.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relation between arterial wall (intimal-medial) thickness and lumen narrowing is complex and has previously been studied predominantly at autopsy. B-mode ultrasound affords the opportunity to visualize both wall and lumen of the extracranial carotid arteries in vivo. Several studies have quantified the relation of various independent variables to wall thickness of carotid arteries in population-based samples, but the relation of age and wall thickness to interadventitial and lumen diameter has not previously been investigated in these samples. METHODS: We used B-mode ultrasound to quantify the relation of arterial lumen diameter to age, arterial wall thickness, and arterial size (interadventitial diameter) of the extracranial carotid artery in 13,711 members of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort. RESULTS: Men had greater interadventitial diameters, thicker walls, and wider lumens than women. Wall thicknesses of the common carotid artery were greater by 21% in men and 22% in women aged 60 to 64 years compared with those aged 45 to 49 years (P < .001). However, lumen diameters were also greater in older individuals because interadventitial diameters were greater. Wall thickness of the internal carotid artery was also associated positively with age, but the lumen diameter of the internal carotid artery was smaller in older individuals. Diameters of the carotid artery segments also differed in their relation to arterial wall thickening. The lumen of the internal carotid artery was uniformly progressively narrower with increasing wall thickness. For the common carotid artery greater wall thickness bore only a small correlation with narrower lumen diameter for thickening of the arterial wall up to 1.2 mm, but the association was more marked for the range of thicknesses between 1.2 mm and 2.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: When arterial enlargement accompanies increased wall thickness, less lumen constriction results than expected. Quantification of these complex relations in vivo may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of symptoms related to vascular disease. Narrowing of the internal carotid artery lumen associated with thicker walls is consistent with the observation that stenosis develops in this region and often leads to symptoms.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

The effects of raloxifene on tibia histomorphometry in ovariectomized rats.

Tissue-specific estrogen agonists may be useful in protecting against osteoporosis and the increased risk of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women with minimal undesired effects on reproductive tissues. The actions of the mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist raloxifene on selected estrogen target tissues were determined in ovariectomized (OVX) rats immediately postovariectomy. Five groups of 75-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were studied; baseline controls, sham-operated controls, OVX controls, OVX animals treated with estrogen (0.1 mg 17 alpha-ethynyl estradiol/kg.day), and OVX animals treated with raloxifene (3 mg/kg.day). Fluorochrome labels were given on days 1, 28, and 34. The baseline controls were killed on day 2, and the remaining groups on day 35. Ovariectomy increased tibial longitudinal growth rate as well as measurements related to radial growth and cancellous bone turnover. Ovariectomy decreased cancellous bone area and uterine weight, and increased serum cholesterol, bone elongation, and radial bone growth. Estrogen treatment prevented these changes in OVX rats. Raloxifene prevented cancellous osteopenia as well as the changes in radial bone growth, bone resorption, and blood cholesterol, but was less effective in reducing cancellous bone formation and did not prevent uterine atrophy. These findings suggest that raloxifene is a target-specific, mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist. At the concentration studied, raloxifene had potent estrogenic activity on bone resorption and serum cholesterol, a lesser effect on bone formation, and minimal activity on uterine wet weight.

Aging↗

PubMed1994

Changes in progesterone secretion following treatment with transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) during the follicular phase of the sheep oestrous cycle.

The effects of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) on ovarian steroid secretion were investigated. Three crossbred ewes synchronized for oestrus with ovarian autotransplants were infused with TGF-alpha (30 micrograms in 12 h) via the ovarian artery for 12 h before withdrawal of progestagen pessary. Three ewes were used as controls. Jugular and ovarian venous blood samples were taken at intervals of 10 min at two stages during the follicular phase (21-27 h and 38-42 h after pessary withdrawal) and every 2 h from 44 to 86 h. Plasma LH and FSH concentrations, and ovarian secretion rates of inhibin, androstenedione, oestradiol and progesterone were determined using radioimmunoassays. LH pulse amplitude increased in ewes treated with TGF-alpha in the early follicular phase (0.92 +/- 0.25 micrograms l-1 in controls versus 3.10 +/- 0.35 micrograms l-1 in TGF-alpha treated ewes; P < 0.05) and remained high in the late follicular phase. Plasma FSH concentrations were high during the follicular phase in ewes treated with TGF-alpha (P < 0.05). The infusion of TGF-alpha had no significant effect on the ovarian rate of secretion of androstenedione and, although the secretion rates of oestradiol and inhibin were consistently lower in TGF-alpha-infused ewes, the differences were not significant. The ratio of secretion of androstenedione to oestradiol was greater during the follicular phase in TGF-alpha-treated ewes (P < 0.05), suggesting that the efficiency of aromatization had been impaired.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Androstenedione↗

PubMed1994

Intermittent claudication due to spinal stenosis in a vascular surgical practice.

Intermittent claudication can be due to spinal canal stenosis. In order to define the frequency with which this condition presents to a vascular surgeon a review of 271 patients referred with claudication was carried out. Twenty-one (8%) were ultimately diagnosed as having spinal stenosis. There were no significant differences with regard to age or sex between these patients and those with true vascular claudication. There was, however, a significantly lower number of smokers in the spinal stenosis group. When the presenting features of the spinal stenosis group were analysed 62% (13/21) reported sensory symptoms such as numbness or parasthesiae, 38% (8/21) back pain and 67% (14/21) true pain in the legs on walking. In 71% (15/21), symptoms were reported as being bilateral and 29% (6/21) had reduced Doppler pressures. It is stressed that vascular surgeons need to maintain a high index of suspicion for spinal stenosis especially as the condition may coexist with vascular disease, making diagnosis difficult.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Familial site-specific ovarian cancer is linked to BRCA1 on 17q12-21.

In a study of nine families with "site-specific" ovarian cancer (criterion: three or more cases of epithelial ovarian cancer and no cases of breast cancer diagnosed at age < 50 years) we have obtained evidence of linkage to the breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1 on 17q12-21. If the risk of cancer in these families is assumed to be restricted to the ovary, the best estimate of the proportion of families linked to BRCA1 is .78 (95% confidence interval .32-1.0). If predisposition to both breast and ovarian cancer is assumed, the proportion linked is 1.0 (95% confidence interval .46-1.0). The linkage of familial site-specific ovarian cancer to BRCA1 indicates the possibility of predictive testing in such families; however, this is only appropriate in families where the evidence for linkage to BRCA1 is conclusive.

BRCA1 Protein↗