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Biomedical subjects

G L Irvin

Publications and source records attributed to G L Irvin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Parathyroid metabolism after operative treatment of hypercalcemic (primary) hyperparathyroidism.

Parathyroidectomy is usually followed by a decrease in serum calcium, a lessening of symptoms, and a normocalcemic state that continues for years. Evaluation of parathyroid gland function after parathyroidectomy over a protracted period showed a continued hypersecretory state in many normocalcemic patients and is reported here for the first time. Patients identified with parathyroid hyperplasia (more than one gland excised) and patients who later developed mild renal failure were excluded. Seventy-seven patients undergoing parathyroidectomy with only one enlarged gland removed and the other normal-sized glands viewed or examined by biopsy were followed up from 5 to 16 years. Two patients developed recurrent hypercalcemia at 4 and 9 years after surgery. Seventy-five patients are considered "cured" and have normal serum calcium values. However, 28 (37%) of these normocalcemic patients have persistent elevations of parathyroid hormone. This increased parathyroid gland function suggests a continuing stimulation of the remaining glands. The rarity of clinical recurrence may be related to effective adaptations that prevent overt hypercalcemia. Many parathyroid adenomas appear to represent nonneoplastic disease.

Calcium↗

Cell kinetic effects of incorporated 3H-thymidine on proliferating human lymphocytes: flow cytometric analysis using the DNA/nuclear protein method.

Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes incorporating high concentrations of 3H-thymidine accumulate in G2 and show a consequent reduction in the number of cells entering M (division delay). The simultaneous flow cytometric analysis of DNA content (propidium iodide fluorescence) and nuclear protein content (fluorescein isothiocyanate fluorescence) allows for the accurate quantitation of these events; G2 and M are separated in the bivariate distributions. A good correlation was observed between mitotic indices, quantitated by manually counting mitotic cells, and integration of the M area in DNA/nuclear protein histograms. Moreover, significant differences in G2 nuclear protein levels were found between untreated and 3H-thymidine-treated lymphocytes. In order to characterize this effect, G2 was empirically divided into low nuclear protein (G2A) and high nuclear protein (G2B) compartments. 3H-thymidine caused an initial accumulation of lymphocytes in G2A, followed within 3-6 h by a gradual movement of some cells into G2B, with a subsequent accumulation of cells in G2B. The results suggest that the distribution of cells in G2 (G2A and G2B), the average nuclear protein content of G2B cells, and the proportion of cells in M are parameters that when used in combination provide a unique description of radiobiological effects.

Cell Cycle↗

Tumor progression in serial passages of the Dunning R3327-G rat prostatic adenocarcinoma: growth rate response to endocrine manipulation.

Serial passages of the poorly differentiated, androgen-sensitive R3327-G prostatic adenocarcinoma were used to study the progressive changes that occur in tumor growth rate and androgen sensitivity. Different in vivo transplant generations (21st to 28th) were compared. The tumor doubling and animal survival times resulting from the implantation of the 21st to 22nd generation (21-22G) tumor cells in intact male rats were significantly greater than those resulting from the implantation of 23-28G tumor cells. The most dramatic difference between early (21-23G) and late (26-28G) tumor generations, however, was in androgen sensitivity. The 26-28G tumors displayed androgen sensitivity only when implanted into animals castrated 2 to 7 days previously. Tumors grown in the pretreated castrates grew at a significantly slower rate than those in intact rats and the pretreated castrates had longer survival times than the intact rats. When 26-28G tumors were allowed to grow in intact rats to approximately 1 cu cm and then the rats were castrated, no significant difference in the growth rate between these tumors and tumors grown in intact rats was observed. In contrast, the androgen sensitivity of 21-23G tumors could be demonstrated, regardless of whether treatment was started before or after implantation. The fact that androgen sensitivity was still evident under certain conditions in late-generation R3327-G tumors demonstrates that the basic mechanism involving androgen response was still present, although functioning at a much reduced level.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Operative risks in patients with colorectal cancer.

This study emphasizes the risks in the operative treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. In dissecting our overall operative mortality of 7.4 per cent in consecutive patients over a 5-year period, three factors influencing the outcome were identified. These were the age of the patient, the stage of the disease, and the availability of preoperative bowel preparation by mechanical cleansing and antibiotic suppression of the colonic bacterial flora. Earlier diagnosis and elective resection of prepared bowel offers marked improvement in the operative risk for patients with colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Quantitation of cell kinetic responses using simultaneous flow cytometric measurements of DNA and nuclear protein.

A rapid procedure was developed for the simultaneous flow cytometric analysis of nuclear protein using fluorescein isothiocyanate, and DNA using propidium iodide in isolated nuclei. The staining procedure did not involve centrifugation and was easily adapted to the staining of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, EL4 murine lymphoid tumor cells in suspension culture, and R3327-G rat prostatic adenocarcinoma solid tumor specimens. Histograms of unstimulated and PHA-stimulated HPBL perturbed by actinomycin D, hydroxyurea, 3H-TdR, colcemid, or hydroxyurea + colcemid showed that 1) resting, noncycling G1 (G1Q) cells are distinguished from late G1 (G1AB) cells, 2) early G2 (G2A) cells are distinguished from late G2 (G2B) cells, and 3) mitotic cells are distinguished from G2 cells. Treatment with hydroxyurea resulted in a build-up of cells having high nuclear protein content and 2C DNA content (G1AB), while incubation with 3H-TdR caused an increase in the number of cells with high nuclear protein content and 4C DNA content (G2B). Colcemid-blocked mitotic cells were identified as having low nuclear protein content (lower than G2A nuclei) and 4C DNA content. The nuclear DNA/protein histograms of untreated and colcemid-treated log-phase EL4 cells provided information concerning G1A, G1B, S, G2A, G2B, and M. The method was also used to quantitate the response of androgen-sensitive rat prostatic R3327-G tumors to androgen deprivation following castration. Sample preparation and staining for correlated nuclear DNA/protein measurements takes approximately the same amount of time as for single parameter nuclear DNA measurements.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Effects of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist [D-leu6, desgly-NH2(10), proethylamide9]-GnRH (leuprolide) on R3327-G rat prostatic tumor growth.

The synthetic gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist [D-leu6, desgly-NH2(10), proethylamide9]-GnRH (leuprolide) was tested for its ability to inhibit androgen-sensitive R3327-G rat prostatic tumor growth in Copenhagen X Fischer F1 male rats. The chronic administration of leuprolide at 50 micrograms per kg. body weight or 1000 micrograms per kg. body weight significantly reduced serum testosterone levels and testis weights. Only chronic leuprolide administration at high concentration (1000 micrograms per kg.) compared with orchiectomy in reducing the rate of tumor growth, prolonging survival, and affecting changes in DNA content per cell as quantitated by flow cytometry. The DNA content changes and cell kinetic responses of R3327-G tumors to these treatments were related to the extent to which serum testosterone levels were reduced. The data suggest that for some prostatic cancers gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist administration must reduce serum testosterone levels to those achieved by orchiectomy for maximal growth rate inhibition.

Animals↗

The morbidity and mortality of emergent operations for colorectal disease.

p6 participants in the Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies Program investigating antibiotic prophylaxis in colorectal operations, 693 consecutive patients (1978-1981) from three hospitals were studied. This report concerns 20% of these patients who presented with either perforation, obstruction, or hemorrhage necessitating emergent surgical intervention on unprepared bowel. The 30-day, in-hospital mortality of the 138 patients undergoing emergency operations was 28%. Elective colorectal procedures during the same period had a six per cent mortality rate. There is a striking difference in the cause of death in prepared patients and those needing emergent surgery. Death in prepared patients was usually of a vascular etiology, while septic-related mortality was present in only one per cent. On the other hand, despite massive doses of antibiotics, fecal diversion, surgical drainage and lavage, abdominal sepsis was documented in 20% and septic related mortality was present in 17% of patients undergoing emergency operations. Early, elective treatment and prevention of obstruction and perforation will improve our results in colorectal disease.

Aged↗

In vivo selection of androgen-insensitive cells in R3327-G rat prostate tumors: diethylstilbestrol diphosphate treatment versus orchiectomy.

Tumors grown in diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES)-treated rats grew significantly more slowly than tumors grown in orchiectomized animals, and tumors grown in orchiectomized animals grew significantly more slowly than tumors grown in controls (intact male rats). When these tumors (phase I) were dispersed and reimplanted into DES-treated, orchiectomized, or control rats in all possible combinations (phase II), a partial selection of androgen-insensitive cells was observed in tumors grown in DES-treated animals. Tumors grown in DES-treated phase I animals responded significantly less to DES treatment or orchiectomy in phase II. In contrast, tumors from phase I orchiectomized animals showed the same responses to orchiectomy in phase II. Since the administration of exogenous testosterone propionate prevented the growth rate inhibitory effects of both DES treatment and orchiectomy, the added effect of DES seemed to be antiandrogenic.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Familial pheochromocytoma.

During a 15-year period, 24 patients were treated operatively for pheochromocytoma at this medical center. In this group a father and three daughters were recognized to have the familial variety of this disease. Malignant hypertension, which began at an early age, was the most prominent characteristic. Operative treatment of the three sisters occurred at the ages of 9, 15, and 17 years. All pheochromocytomas were bilateral and were confined to the adrenal glands except for hepatic extension in the father. In contrast to most recent reports of familial pheochromocytoma, there was no evidence of multiple endocrine adenomatosis in this family. Total adrenalectomy was performed in only the youngest patient and, although normotensive, she requires close observation and steroid replacement. Three patients underwent a controversial partial adrenalectomy after excision of bilateral tumors. The father has remained hypertensive for 8 years and has evidence of a residual tumor in the liver. The two daughters who have had subtotal adrenalectomies remain normotensive, require no medication, and have normal urine catecholamine values 7 and 3 years after operation. These results show that removal of bilateral pheochromocytomas without total adrenalectomy may allow normal adrenal function free of recurrence for several years in patients without multiple endocrine adenomatosis.

Adolescent↗

Flow cytometric analysis of RNA content in different cell populations using pyronin Y and methyl green.

Pyronin Y (PY) was used, in flow cytometric (FCM) systems, to estimate the RNA content per cell in formalin fixed EL4 leukosis tumor cells, enzyme dispersed R3327-G rat prostatic adenocarcinoma cells, mouse spleen cells stimulated with concanavalin A, and human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin. Preincubation of the cells with methyl green (MG) blocked PY binding to DNA such that the intracellular fluorescence from MG-PY was due primarily to its binding to RNA. Treatment of the cells with ribonuclease resulted in a 3- to 5-fold reduction in the fluorescence intensity of intracellular MG-PY. Mitogen stimulation of either mouse or human lymphocytes resulted in an increase in DNA (propidium iodide fluorescence) and RNA (MG-PY fluorescence) content per cell over resting levels. Further, the changes in stimulated human lymphocyte DNA and RNA contents following 24, 48, and 72 hr of cell culture were monitored. The results showed that RNA levels were significantly increased prior to that of DNA. Also, the effects of different cell cycle phase specific blocking agents on lymphocyte cell cycle traverse were investigated. We found that: a) actinomycin D inhibited the increases in cellular RNA and DNA; b) hydroxyurea inhibited the increases in cellular RNA were only slightly reduced; c) tritiated thymidine caused an accumulation of cells having high DNA and RNA contents; and d) Colcemid promoted an accumulation of cells having high DNA contents while causing a reduction of cells having high RNA contents. These results were nearly identical to reports by other investigators using the metachromatic dye acridine orange to quantitate RNA per cell. Thus, the MG-PY technique described is indicated to provide a stable and accurate measure of RNA content per cell.

Animals↗

Flow cytometric analysis of R3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma grown in vivo and in vitro.

The Dunning R3327 transplantable prostate adenocarcinoma in the Copenhagen rat is an acceptable model for the human disease. The G-subline (a rapidly growing carcinoma) and the H-subline (a slow-growing, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma) represent the extremes of differentiation and growth rate of this tumor. Both sublines were found to have one population that was diploid and a second aneuploid population that was hyperdiploid in DNA content. The percentage of hyperdiploid cells was significantly higher in R3327-G tumors than in R3327-H tumors. The tumor cell population ratios were stable in vivo, but the in vitro culture conditions supported only cells with diploid DNA content following four to five subcultures. These predominantly diploid cultured cells, when injected into intact male rats, resulted in tumors that had both diploid and aneuploid cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Hormone sensitivity of the R3327-G rat prostate adenocarcinoma: growth rate, DNA content, and hormone receptors.

The growth of the R3327-G rat prostatic adenocarcinoma was significantly reduced when implanted in orchiectomized male rats (ORCH tumors). Tumors grown in intact animals (control tumors) had a doubling time of 7.4 days as compared to 9.2 days in ORCH tumors. A computer-based analysis of flow cytometric DNA histograms also detected significant differences between control and ORCH tumors. ORCH tumors were found to have 25% fewer cells with hyperdiploid DNA than control tumors (p less than 0.01). This androgen sensitivity in growth rate and the proportion of hyperdiploid cells were further reflected in the binding of [3H]methyltrienolone ([3H]-R1881) to cytoplasmic (cytosol) and nuclear tumor extracts. ORCH tumor cytosols had a [3H]R1881 binding capacity which was 70% lower than controls (6071 fmol/g tumor tissue). Nuclear [3H]R1881 binding in ORCH tumors was undetectable in seven of eight samples while in control tumors, binding was detectable in five of six preparations. Sucrose density gradient analysis showed that cytosolic [3H]R1881 receptors sedimented at 8.1 S in low salt and 4.6 to 3.3S in high salt. Nuclear [3H]R1881 receptors in high salt sedimented at 4.1 to 3.3S. Competition experiments using [3H]R1881 showed that [3H]-R1881 receptors were primarily androgenic, although some displacement by estradiol did occur. In contrast, [3H]estradiol binding was found to be highly specific. The binding capacity of [3H]estradiol in ORCH tumor cytosols was 30% higher than controls (962 fmol/g tumor issue), while binding to ORCH and control nuclear extracts was similar. These data suggest that the inhibition of androgen-sensitive R3327-G tumor cells was related to the concentration of androgen receptors and that this in turn was expressed as a reduction in the proportion of hyperdiploid cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Flow cytometric analysis of the response of the R3327-G rat prostatic adenocarcinoma to endocrine manipulation.

The technique of flow cytometric DNA histogram analysis (FCM) shows there to be two distinct cell populations (diploid vs aneuploid) in the poorly differentiated R3327-G rat prostatic adenocarcinoma. The following study compares tumor weight measurements with several FCM computer-based methods designed to determine rapidly the proliferative status of tumors. Hypophysectomy, bilateral adrenalectomy, orchiectomy, sham operations, or diethylstilbestrol treatments were initiated when the tumors were palpable (day 21) and continued until the tumors were excised (day 52). Hypophysectomy, orchiectomy, adrenalectomy, and diethylstilbestrol treatments all resulted in significant inhibition by tumor weight. Quantitation of the percentage of mid-S phase aneuploid cells by summation gave the best correlation with tumor weight. Tumors grown in hypophysectomized, orchiectomized, adrenalectomized, or diethylstilbestrol-treated animals showed a significant reduction in the proportion of mid-S phase cells as compared with controls. The calculation of the percentage of all aneuploid cells was significantly reduced in hypophysectomy, orchiectomy, and diethylstilbestrol-treated animals. However, tumors grown in adrenalectomized animals were not significantly different from controls by this method. Adrenalectomy was found to be the least effective form of therapy, and this was reflected in all of the parameters measured. These data show that FCM analysis may be useful in the quantitation of prostatic carcinoma response to therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Flow cytometric monitoring of R 3327 rat prostate carcinoma.

The R 3327 G tumor responds to estrogen in early stages, but relapses when estrogen therapy is continued beyond 50 days postimplantation. Measurement of DNA content per cell by flow cytometric analysis revealed two populations of cells in the tumors with ploidies of 2 c and 3.2 c. The proportion of aneuploid cells (3.2 c), determined from the flow cytometric DNA distributions, correlated well with tumor weight and age in control and estrogen treated animals. The simple parameter of per cent aneuploid cells thus adequately reflected the responsive and unresponsive states of tumors under hormonal therapy.

Aneuploidy↗

The kinetics of the formation of a G2 block from tritiated thymidine in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes.

Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to monitor the radiation effects promoted by incorporated tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) on phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes stained with propidium iodide (PI). Lymphocyte microcultures were continuously labeled or pulse-labeled for various periods of time with different 3H-TdR concentrations. Two types of DNA histogram analyses were performed on unperturbed and 3H]TdR perturbed lymphocytes. The data analyses consisted of statistical analyses between averaged groups of histograms (nonparametric analysis) and cell cycle analyses (parametric analysis) to determine the percentages of cells in G0 + G1, S and G2 + M. The results showed that (a) 3H-TdR when added to proliferating lymphocytes under certain conditions (both short-term continuous and pulse-labeling) caused a highly significant increase in the proportion of tetraploid (4C) cells by FCM, (b) the increase in the proportion of 4C cells represented a block in G2 and (c) the relative increase in the percentage of 4C cells was proportional to 3H-TdR incorporation which was proportional to labeling time and concentration. Therefore, it was concluded that short labeling times be used to minimize adverse radiation effects when 3H-TdR is used to assay substances affecting lymphocyte proliferation or in the estimation of cell cycle time.

Adolescent↗