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Biomedical subjects

G Sarna

Publications and source records attributed to G Sarna.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Effect of in vivo administration of interferon on human monocyte function.

We studied the function of peripheral blood monocytes in patients receiving interferon. Patients received i.m. injections of Wellferon at doses ranging from 0.75 to 50 X 10(6) U every 12 h for 7 days. Monocyte function was evaluated prior to and 7-28 days following the institution of interferon therapy. As a group, these patients showed some rise in chemokinesis, but evaluation of phagocytosis, adhesion, spreading, chemotaxis, microbial killing, and tumor cytotoxicity failed to demonstrate clear evidence of monocyte activation. About half of the patients did show a significant rise in their monocyte count, Candida killing, and chemotaxis following interferon therapy. More patients demonstrated a rise in monocyte count and chemokinesis with higher doses of interferon, but other functional assays were either unaffected or had fewer patients demonstrating activation with the higher doses. Patients whose tumors showed stabilization or partial response after interferon were more likely to exhibit a rise in monocyte count, Candida killing, spreading, and tumor killing than were patients whose disease progressed.

Chemotaxis↗
PubMed1983

Suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in the peripheral blood of patients receiving interferon therapy.

Lymphoblast interferon (IFN-alpha) was administered to patients with advanced stages of cancer in a phase I drug toxicity trial. IFN-alpha was given i.m. twice daily at 12-h intervals over a 7-day course of therapy in dosages ranging from 1.5 to 100 X 10(6) U/day. A total of 28 patients was studied, including 9 with breast carcinoma, 11 with other solid tumors, and 8 with lymphoid malignancies. Immune cell parameters were determined for each patient before, during, and up to 20 days after therapy. Leukopenia was evident after 1-2 days of IFN-alpha administration, became maximal after 6-7 days of therapy, and then returned to baseline values by day 13 post-therapy. Circulating natural killer (NK) cell activity was found to increase significantly by 2 h after the initial IFN injection, especially in patients receiving the higher dosages. However, most subjects demonstrated a return to baseline NK levels at 24 h despite the continued presence of elevated serum concentrations of IFN. By day 7 of therapy, NK-cell function was markedly depressed. Following cessation of IFN, NK levels rapidly returned to pretherapy baseline values. Changes in K-cell cytotoxic function (ADCC) tended to parallel those of NK-cell function. Although NK/K-cell function was affected by IFN therapy, no change in the percentage of circulating Fc receptor-bearing cells was found. This indicates that the cytotoxic cells were probably present in the circulation, but were not able to express their lytic function.

Blood Cells↗
PubMed1983

Phase II trial of alpha (human leukocyte) interferon administered daily in adenocarcinoma of the colon/rectum.

Nineteen patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum were treated with alpha (human leukocyte) interferon (alpha IFN). Patients received 3 X 10(6) IU/day of interferon im 5 days/week. Eighteen patients are evaluable for response and toxicity. There were no objective responses. All evaluable patients demonstrated progression of disease during therapy. Toxicity consisted primarily of mild granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, weakness, and fever. This trial demonstrates that while alpha IFN can be administered safely as scheduled, this regimen has no activity against adenocarcinoma of the colon/rectum.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Cannabis and cancer chemotherapy: a comparison of oral delta-9-THC and prochlorperazine.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and prochlorperazine (Compazine) were found to be equally efficacious in reducing nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy across a wide range of chemotherapeutic regimens and tumor types. Both drugs were administered orally one hour before chemotherapy, then every four hours for a total of four doses. Compazine was administered in a fixed dose of 10 mg; THC was administered by body surface area (BSA): BSA less than 1.4 m2 = 7.5 mg; BSA 1.4-1.8 m2 = 10- mg; and BSA greater than 1.8 m2 = 12.5 mg. Two hundred and fourteen subjects (75% of whom had previously received Compazine with varying results) were evaluated employing a double-blind, crossover design. Additional parameters evaluated were study drug effects on appetite, food intake, mood, activity, relaxation, interaction, and concentration. There were significant drug effects with THC: less ability to concentrate (P less than 0.01), less social interaction (P less than 0.05), and less activity (P less than 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two drugs in the level of food intake or appetite. Patients of all ages did equally well on both drugs. Neither past marijuana use nor past Compazine use were related to study the drug efficacy. Those patients who correctly identified their THC cycle did better on THC versus those who could not correctly identify which antiemetic they had received (P less than 0.05). There were more drug-related effects associated with THC, but these did not reduce the patients' preference for the drug, and were associated with nausea reduction (P less than 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

A clinical trial of amygdalin (Laetrile) in the treatment of human cancer.

One hundred seventy-eight patients with cancer were treated with amygdalin (Laetrile) plus a "metabolic therapy" program consisting of diet, enzymes, and vitamins. The great majority of these patients were in good general condition before treatment. None was totally disabled or in preterminal condition. One third had not received any previous chemotherapy. The pharmaceutical preparations of amygdalin, the dosage, and the schedule were representative of past and present Laetrile practice. No substantive benefit was observed in terms of cure, improvement or stabilization of cancer, improvement of symptoms related to cancer, or extension of life span. The hazards of amygdalin therapy were evidenced in several patients by symptoms of cyanide toxicity or by blood cyanide levels approaching the lethal range. Patients exposed to this agent should be instructed about the danger of cyanide poisoning, and their blood cyanide levels should be carefully monitored. Amygdalin (Laetrile) is a toxic drug that is not effective as a cancer treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Prevention of graft rejection following bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling is increasingly used in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia. One major problem with this approach is graft rejection that occurs in 25%-60% of patients conditioned for transplantation with cyclophosphamide. At most transplant centers it has been difficult to accurately identify patients at high risk for graft rejection. We studied a conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide (200 mg per kg) and low-dose total body irradiation (3 Gy; equivalent to 300 rad) in 23 consecutive unselected patients with aplastic anemia followed for a minimum of 6 mo. There was only one episode of graft rejection. Graft-versus-host disease and interstitial pneumonitis were not increased by the more intensive conditioning regimen. Actuarial survival was 61% at 1 yr and 49% at 2.5 yr. Cyclophosphamide and low-dose total body irradiation is an effective conditioning regimen in patients with aplastic anemia. It may be particularly useful when accurate predictive tests of graft rejection are not available as is the case in most transplant centers.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1980

Amphotericin B plus combination chemotherapy for extensive non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.

Sixteen patients with extensive non-small carcinoma of the lung were treated with methotrexate, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and adriamycin. Cyclophosphamide and adriamycin were administered after pretreatment with amphotericin B. Amphotericin B-related toxicity was mild; cytotoxic chemotherapy-related toxicity was tolerable. The partial response rate was 12.5% and median survival was between 19 and 20 weeks. Response rate and survival were not superior to those of a similar drug combination lacking amphotericin B.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1979

Marked hypodiploidy in a case of acute undifferentiated leukemia.

A-29-year-old white man with acute undifferentiated leukemia had bone marrow cells with predominantly 42 chromosomes including several rearrangements. Following a brief induced "complete" remission, during which normal chromosomes were observed, bone marrow cells with 42 chromosomes but a different karyotype than before remission were found. Evaluation of that karyotype indicates not only a reduced chromosome count but also a reduced quantity of chromosome material.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

Bone-marrow transplantation in acute leukaemia.

Survival in 33 patients with resistant leukaemia treated by marrow transplantation was compared with that of 37 matched patients treated by conventional and experimental chemotherapy. All patients in the transplant group were rendered free of detectable leukaemia for periods of from 36 days to more than 2 1/2 years, while only 6 patients in the chemotherapy group achieved a haematological remission. Overall survival in both groups was poor; however, 5 patients (15%) in the transplant group remain alive and in haematological remission 1--2 1/2 years after transplantation, while no patient in the chemotherapy group survived longer than 13 months. Bone-marrow transplantation appears to offer a small but distinct possibility of long-term survival in patients with acute leukaemia resistant to conventional therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Experience with incompatible maternal donors for bone marrow transplantation.

Marrow transplantation in aplastic anemia and leukemia has generally been limited to siblings who have been histocompatible at both the serological (A and B) and lymphocyte determined (D or MLC) loci of the HLA system. We studied three male patients, two with aplastic anemia and one with acute myelogenous leukemia, who received transplants from their histoincompatible mothers. MLC studies between donors and recipients showed varying degrees of stimulation. Definite engraftment occurred in one patient and transient engraftment in another. Engraftment in the third patient could not be evaluated. In the patient with sustained engraftment, there was clinical evidence of severe graft versus host disease (GVHD) however, this was not substantiated by histologic findings. This preliminary study suggests that MLC incompatibility may be more of an indicator of the risk of GVHD than of bone marrow rejection. If more effective control of GVHD can be accomplished, marrow transplantation between MLC-reactive individuals may become feasible.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Multiple neoplasms in two siblings with a variant form of Fanconi's anemia.

Two siblings with a variant form of Fanconi's anemia developed multiple neoplasms after prolonged survival and treatment with androgens. One of the siblings developed two separate oral squamous cell carcinomata, and the other developed acute leukemia and hepatoma. Androgens may have had a carcinogenic role in the appearance of the hepatic neoplasm. There is an increased incidence of neoplasm associated with Fanconi's anemia. This may be related to frequent spontaneous chromosomal abberations and/or to increased cellular susceptibility to viral transformation.

Acute Disease↗