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Biomedical subjects

H F Starnes

Publications and source records attributed to H F Starnes.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Whole body lipid and energy metabolism in the cancer patient.

The relationship between whole-body energy and lipid kinetics in eight cancer patients was investigated after an overnight fast. Respiratory gas exchange and indirect calorimetry were used to obtain resting energy expenditure (REE) and net substrate oxidation rates. Free fatty acid (FFA) turnover, oxidation, and clearance rates were obtained after a primed-constant infusion of albumin bound 1-14C-Na palmitate. This was followed by a primed-constant, two-stage infusion of unlabeled glycerol to measure plasma glycerol turnover and clearance. The REE was 1.3 times the predicted (by the Harris-Benedict equation) basal energy expenditure. FFA and glycerol, plasma concentrations, and turnover rates were higher in these depleted but hypermetabolic cancer patients, compared to reported values for healthy normals. The ratio of FFA turnover to glycerol turnover was 3.14 +/- 0.38, which is close to the theoretical value of 3, suggesting complete hydrolysis of triglycerides and the absence of any extensive reesterification of FFA in adipose tissue. The net fat oxidation accounts for 53 +/- 5% of fat mobilized and 29 +/- 3% of the FFA turnover was converted to CO2 in the process of supplying energy in cancer patients. The results suggest that fat is efficiently mobilized and utilized as a fuel source in hypermetabolic cancer patients in the postabsorptive state.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Modulation of endogenous hormone action by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been implicated in the toxic manifestations of overwhelming bacterial infection and in the tissue wasting that often accompanies prolonged infections and malignancy. We have examined a possible role of TNF in the early metabolic alterations following acute tissue injury or sepsis. Recombinant human TNF stimulated rat liver amino acid uptake up to 5-fold in vivo and there was a concomitant increase in plasma glucagon. In vitro TNF had no direct effect on hepatocyte amino acid uptake, but it markedly enhanced the stimulation of amino acid transport by glucagon, without an alteration in binding of glucagon to hepatocytes. This permissive effect of TNF on glucagon action represents an interrelationship between the immune and endocrine systems, and it may help to explain the mechanism of hormonal regulation of both the anabolic and catabolic responses to acute injury.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1987

Splenic enlargement and hyperfunction as indications for splenectomy in chronic leukemia.

The chronic leukemias are associated with significant morbidity from splenic enlargement and hyperfunction. Although some patients with chronic leukemia benefit from splenectomy, the indications for operation are unclear. To identify those patients who benefit most from splenectomy, nine patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and eight patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) who had splenectomy to palliate the symptoms of massive splenic bulk or to improve the hematologic sequelae of splenic hyperfunction were studied. Splenectomy for bulk symptoms provided good palliation of symptoms, but the duration of the benefit was limited by the stage of the disease. Five of eight patients with CGL with bulk symptoms died within 6 months of operation. Splenectomy for hyperfunction was limited to a short-term hematologic response. In three of four patients with CLL who were Coombs positive, the presence of autoantibodies correlated with a recurrent transfusion requirement within 3 months of splenectomy. Thus, the benefit of splenectomy for bulk symptoms must be weighed against the risk of surgery and the patient's limited life expectancy. The benefit of splenectomy for treatment of splenic hyperfunction depends on the stimulus to hyperfunction and may not be beneficial for patients with refractory autoimmune anemias.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Protein synthesis in hepatocytes isolated from patients with gastrointestinal malignancy.

To investigate the effect of remote and proximate cancer on hepatic protein metabolism, we determined rates of total protein synthesis by hepatocytes (HPS) isolated from 31 patients undergoing liver wedge biopsy: 7 patients with benign disease, 14 with gastric cancer, and 10 with colorectal cancer (5 of whom had liver metastases). Patients with malignant disease without weight loss had a threefold higher rate of total HPS (4,980 +/- 814 pmol/h per 10(5) viable cells) than patients with benign disease without weight loss (1,278 +/- 318 pmol/h per 10(5) viable cells, P less than 0.001). Among the patients with gastric cancer, eight with preoperative weight loss had lower rates of HPS (380 +/- 90 pmol/h per 10(5) viable cells) than those without weight loss (4,061 +/- 401 pmol/h per 10(5) viable cells, P less than 0.002). The highest rates of HPS were seen in patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases (8,005 +/- 1,975 pmol/h per 10(5) viable cells) vs. colorectal cancer patients without liver metastases (3,060 +/- 575 pmol/h per 10(5) viable cells, P less than 0.03). These data indicate that modulation of hepatic protein synthesis occurs in malignancy in man. However, the stimulatory influence of the tumor-bearing state may be overridden by the inhibitory effects of cachexia.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Clinical pharmacology of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in patients with advanced cancer.

Twenty-six patients with advanced cancer refractory to standard therapy were treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) in a study aimed at determining the toxicity and tolerance of rTNF and at seeking evidence of antitumor activity. The study design involved two treatments per week for 4 weeks with alternating subcutaneous and intravenous (IV) administration, and weekly dose escalation through four levels in each patient. The dose range was 1 to 200 micrograms/m2 for IV bolus injection, and 5 to 250 micrograms/m2 for subcutaneous injection. Thirteen patients completed the full course. Early discontinuation of treatment was related to rTNF toxicity in seven cases. The major side effects were rigors, fever, headache, fatigue, and hypotension. Acute changes in granulocyte, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts, changes in serum zinc levels and plasma cortisol levels consistent with an acute phase response, and inflammation at the site of subcutaneous injection were also seen. At doses of 125 to 250 micrograms/m2, inflammation at the subcutaneous injection site was unacceptably severe. Minor changes were seen in hemostatic parameters. Hypotension was corrected by fluid administration and did not require treatment with vasopressors. Initial serum concentrations of rTNF were measured at five minutes after IV administration and were found to range from 2.5 ng/mL after a dose of 35 micrograms/m2 to 80 ng/mL after a dose of 200 micrograms/m2. The half-life of rTNF in the blood was 20 minutes. A decrease in lymph node size was observed in a patient with B cell lymphoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Abdominal pain in neutropenic cancer patients.

A review of 58 patients with malignancies (age range, 14-73 years), who required surgical consultation for acute abdominal pain in the setting of neutropenia (granulocyte count less than 1000/mm3) after chemotherapy was conducted. Ninety percent had fevers greater than 37.8 degrees C, 30% had diarrhea or melena, and 25% had diminished bowel sounds. Five of the 29 patients (17%) with localized pain had surgical intervention; 3 of 29 patients (10%) with generalized pain underwent operations (2 for x-ray findings). All eight of these surgically treated patients survived to leave the hospital. Eighteen of the 29 patients with generalized pain were believed to have a similar syndrome of diarrhea (occasionally heme positive) and diffuse abdominal tenderness (some with peritoneal signs and distension), which was termed "neutropenic enteropathy." Eleven of these 18 patients had their symptoms resolve with antibiotic therapy, aggressive fluid replacement, and a return of their granulocyte count to normal. The other seven died of pneumonia (two), unknown causes (one), and diffuse enterocolitis throughout the intestinal tract (four documented at autopsy). The overall 30-day mortality rate in this series was 34%. Several factors correlated significantly with mortality: hypotension at the onset of pain (80% mortality), bacteremia (63% mortality), and fungemia (100% mortality). Absolute leukocyte count and absolute platelet count did not correlate with mortality. This study reaffirms that patients with neutropenic enteropathy are best treated conservatively. Patients with surgically correctable disease were identified by specific focal findings on examination or x-ray.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1985

Surgery for thyroid carcinoma.

The cases of thyroid carcinoma treated at this hospital during the period 1948 to 1981 were reviewed retrospectively. Nine hundred eighty-six patients with thyroid nodules were operated on. One hundred fifty-two were thyroid carcinoma (59 papillary, 36 mixed papillary-follicular, 30 follicular, 20 anaplastic, 5 medullary, and 2 Hurthle cell tumors). There was a 92% follow-up for a mean of 10 years. In the last decade, patients presented at a younger age, the female predominance was diminished, and 15% had had previous neck irradiation. Surgery consisted of total (27) or subtotal thyroidectomy (89), lobectomy or nodulectomy (24), and biopsy (12). Total thyroidectomy had an incidence of postoperative complications that was 20 times higher than that with partial thyroidectomy (P less than 0.001). Disease-related death, recurrence, and survivor status were discussed. There was no significant difference between total versus subtotal thyroidectomy. This study reaffirms the usefulness of subtotal resection and the avoidance of morbidity of more radical total thyroidectomy surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

Surgery for diverticulitis in renal failure.

Twenty-five patients were operated on at the Brigham and Women's Hospital for colonic diverticulitis complicating treated renal failure during the period 1951 to 1983. Twelve patients had functioning renal allografts (eight cadaver, four living-related); 13 were on dialysis therapy. Six patients had polycystic kidney disease. The majority of patients had acute abdominal pain. Four had histories of chronic abdominal pain; nondiagnostic exploratory laparotomies were performed on two of these patients, who developed localized tenderness. The overall mortality in this series was 28 percent, with sepsis being the most common cause of death. Six of seven patients who died had free colonic perforations at surgery. Mortality correlated with age, with six of 14 patients (43 percent) over age 50 dying, as compared with one of 11 patients (9 percent) under age 50. There was no correlation between survival rate and type of surgery performed, dose of prednisone or azathioprine used, or type of treatment received for renal failure.

Aging↗
PubMed1985

Head and neck oncology--1985. Reflections on changing times.

The field of head and neck oncology is keeping pace with the dramatic shift in cancer treatment modalities occurring during this period of medical history. Having achieved a level of surgical elegance, the head and neck oncologist has the future to rely upon for more biological methods of management of this disease. Biochemistry, immunology, and virology occupy much of the research interest pertaining to malignancies of these body systems and it is within this research that the answers will probably be found.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Recurrent varicose veins: a radiological approach to investigation.

Superficial venography was used in nine lower limbs of eight patients with recurrent varicose veins occurring after high ligation or stripping. This technique demonstrated four different types of recurrence and identified the cause in individual patients. The most common type of recurrence was not a missed tributary of the long saphenous or a missed perforating vein, but a tortuous leash of recanalised vein reconnecting the long saphenous and femoral veins. Implications for treatment of primary varicose veins are discussed.

Adult↗