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Biomedical subjects

H Parmar

Publications and source records attributed to H Parmar.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intramedullary tuberculomas. MR findings in seven patients.

PURPOSE: To describe the MR findings in intramedullary tuberculomas and to discuss the usefulness of MR in the management of this pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 7 patients from 21 to 60 years of age with clinical and radiological evidence of intramedullary tuberculomas was undertaken. Both T1- and T2-weighted images (WI) were obtained along with postcontrast T1WI. Signal intensities (SIs) of the granulomas were compared with SIs of the normal spinal cord. RESULTS: Six patients showed focus of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body. Six out of 7 showed fusiform swelling of the cord. Ill-defined iso-intensity (in 4 patients) to hyperintensity (in 3 patients) was seen at the site of granuloma on T1WI. On T2WI, 2 patients revealed a hypointense area (with disc enhancement). An iso-hypointense rim was seen surrounding a hyperintense centre in 5 patients (with rim enhancement). Adjacent oedema was seen in all patients. In 2 patients meningeal enhancement was also seen. In 2 patients the histopathology following surgical biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. In the remaining 5 patients, another known focus of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body and a marked response to antitubercular treatment was considered confirmatory for tuberculomas. CONCLUSION: Hypo- or iso-intensity on T2WI within the spinal cord with surrounding hyperintense oedema is suggestive of intramedullary tuberculomas. Central hyperintensities are also detected at times due to a variable amount of caseous necrosis with liquefaction. On T1WI, fusiform swelling of the cord is seen along with iso- to hyperintense foci, surrounded by hypointense oedema of the cord. Such findings should prompt a contrast-enhanced study, which may show single or conglomerate disc- or ring-enhancing lesions. MR thus plays an important role not only in detection and diagnosis, but also in deciding the treatment options and in the follow-up of those patients.

Adult↗

Phase I trial of subcutaneous recombinant human interleukin-12 in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated in a Phase I trial with escalating doses of recombinant human interleukin-12 (rHuIL-12) given on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle. Treatment in the initial dose scheme consisted of a fixed dose with dose levels of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 microg/kg given to cohorts composed of three or six patients. On the basis of the toxicity profile, a second scheme (up-titration) was undertaken wherein rHuIL-12 was escalated for each patient from week 1 to week 2, to a target dose given week 3 and thereafter; cohort target dose levels were 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 microg/kg. Fifty-one patients were treated: 32 (63%) had prior cytokine therapy and 19 (37%) had received no prior systemic therapy. The maximum tolerated dose for the fixed dose scheme was 1.0 microg/kg. Dose-limiting toxicities included increase in transaminase concentration, pulmonary toxicity, and leukopenia. The most severe toxicities occurred with the first injection and were milder upon further treatment. With the up-titration dose scheme, the maximum tolerated dose was reached at 1.5 microg/kg, and dose-limiting toxicity consisted of an increase in serum transaminase levels. At the maximum tolerated dose of 1.5 microg/kg, serum IL-12 levels increased to a mean peak level of 706 pg/ml. Serum levels of IFN-gamma increased to a mean peak level of about 200 pg/ml at 24 h after the first maintenance dose of 1.5 microg/kg. The best responses were as follows: one patient had complete response, 34 patients were stable, 14 patients showed progression, and 1 patient was inevaluable. In conclusion, rHuIL-12 was relatively well tolerated when administered by s.c. injection. The recommended dose according to the up-titration schedule of rHuIL-12 (microg/kg) for Phase II trials was as follows: cycle 1, 0.1 (day 1), 0.5 (day 8), 1.25 (day 15); cycle 2 onwards, 1.25. Phase II trials of rHuIL-12 were initiated in previously untreated patients with renal cell carcinoma and in patients with melanoma.

Adolescent↗

Autophor cementless total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthrosis secondary to congenital hip dysplasia.

The authors present a consecutive series of 38 arthroplasties for osteoarthrosis secondary to hip dysplasia. All arthroplasties were performed by a single surgeon using Mittelmeier II (Autophor, Osteo AG, Selzach, Switzerland) ceramic cementless components. Crowe grades of subluxation were 60% grade I, 16% grade II, 12% grade III, and 12% grade IV. In all cases, the acetabular component was seated in the true acetabulum. The mean follow-up period was 75 months (range, 40-122 months). By the time of review, six hips (16%) had required revision for aseptic loosening, mainly of the femoral component. Good or excellent results were achieved in only 63% of the patients. In the group of surviving arthroplasties, the median Charnley hip scores before surgery were: pain, 2; movement, 3; and walking, 3. After surgery, the scores were: pain, 5; movement, 5; and walking, 6. All improvements were significant. The mean postoperative Harris hip score was 84. Poor scores were associated with contralateral hip disease (2 cases) and spina bifida (2 cases), significantly affecting function. The Autophor prosthesis can produce satisfactory results in some of these young patients with hip dysplasia. However, femoral loosening is a major problem and because of this, the authors have since changed to a newer stem design.

Adult↗

Prednimustine (Sterecyt) versus cyclophosphamide both in combination with methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

153 women with advanced breast cancer were randomly allocated for treatment with SMF [prednimustine (Sterecyt) + methotrexate + 5-fluorouracil, 83 patients] or CMF (cyclophosphamide+methotrexate+5-fluorouracil, 70 patients). Prednimustine was administered orally 100 mg/m2 daily, for 5 days, and cyclophosphamide was administered orally 100 mg/m2, for 14 days, each, every 4 weeks. Methotrexate was given at a dose of 40 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil at 600 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8, every 4 weeks. Leucovorin was used in 39 patients to alleviate mucositis. The two treatment groups were balanced in terms of age, performance status, lymph node status, histology, menopausal status and previous therapy. Response was evaluated in 140 patients. Of 76 patients treated with SMF, 4 had a complete and 21 a partial response (CR+PR = 33%), 40 had no change (NC) and 11 had progressive disease (PD). Of 64 patients treated with CMF, 3 had a complete and 18 a partial response (CR+PR = 33%), 30 had no change (NC) and 13 had progressive disease (PD). Time to treatment failure and survival were similar in both groups. A relationship between haematological and gastrointestinal toxicity and therapeutic efficacy was demonstrated with a superior survival and response rate recorded for patients with such toxicity than in patients without. Haematological toxicity was, in general, mild to moderate with no difference between the two groups. Alopecia (P = 0.008), nausea/vomiting (P = 0.02) and euphoria (P = 0.03) were more common in the CMF-treated group. Diarrhoea was more common in the SMF group (P = 0.03). In conclusion, SMF seems to be as efficient as CMF with regard to response rate, time to treatment failure and survival. However, SMF was tolerated better than CMF.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Therapeutic response to somatostatin analogue, BIM 23014, in metastatic prostatic cancer.

Metastatic prostate cancer is well known to respond to hormonal manipulations, but once progression occurs new treatment modalities are required. Specific and systemic antitumour therapy is preferable to local treatments such as radiotherapy in such patients. The finding that somatostatin analogue, BIM 23014, inhibits prostatic tumour growth in animal models is of great interest. We treated 25 poor risk patients with progressive metastatic prostate cancer. Sixteen had also failed to respond to 'total androgen blockade'. Two patients have achieved a partial remission, one of which is maintained at over 30 months, and three had stable disease for over 6 months. Side effects have consisted of mild diarrhoea and abdominal cramp in the first few days of treatment in a minority of the patients. These results are encouraging and further randomized studies are in progress.

Aged↗

[Somatostatin analogs in oncology].

Somatostatin octapeptide analogues have a longer half-life and are more potent than natural somatostatin (SS-14). Somatostatin analogues are presently approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) endocrine cancers such as carcinoids, vipomas and glucagonomas. They are also effective in the treatment of inoperable or relapsing acromegaly. Although symptomatic relief is marked and rapidly induced, the inhibitory effect on tumor growth is modest. However, prolonged stabilizations are frequent. Somatostatin analogues may have wider therapeutic indications. Somatostatin octapeptide analogues are also known to interact with growth factors such as epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor, and have shown cytostatic activity in vitro and in vivo in various experimental models of breast, prostate, lung and GI cancers. Neuroendocrine tumors often express somatostatin receptors. Labelled analogues may be useful for tumor assessment and for the prediction of tumor response to therapy. The role of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of the most frequent cancers is currently under investigation.

Adenoma↗

How would you like to have an orchidectomy for advanced prostatic cancer?

One hundred thirteen patients were randomized for the study. There was no significant difference between the groups for response or survival. The incidence of side effects related to the reduction of testosterone was similar in both groups. Disease "flare" was seen in three patients treated with long-acting D-Trp-6 LH-RH. All symptoms resolved by the end of 8 weeks. There was less psychological morbidity in the D-Trp-6 LH-RH group but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Our results indicate that long-acting D-Trp-6 LH-RH offers a safe and effective alternative to surgical orchidectomy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Therapy of advanced ovarian cancer with D-Trp-6-LH-RH (decapeptyl) microcapsules.

Forty-one patients with advanced ovarian cancer (FIGO stage III or IV) who had relapsed following conventional treatment were treated with long acting depot preparation of D-Trp-6-LH-RH once a month. There were no exclusion criteria and patients of any age or performance status were eligible. Thirty patients continued to progress following therapy. Twenty-six patients died within the first 16 weeks from onset of therapy. Five patients remained stable (SD) on D-Trp-6-LH-RH with no change in tumor size. Six patients had evidence of clinical and/or radiological partial remission (PR) where the tumor size decreased by more than 50%. The remissions in the responding patients were maintained for a mean duration of 10 months (range 6-18 months). Thus 11 patients (6 PR + 5 SD) have had remission or stabilization of disease which has been clinically worthwhile. Clinical benefit of therapy with microcapsules of slow-release D-Trp-6-LH-RH in about 26% of patients is highly encouraging. Treatment with D-Trp-6-LH-RH offers an important non-toxic alternative in patients who do not tolerate chemotherapy or who have progressive disease following chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Orchiectomy versus long-acting D-Trp-6-LHRH in advanced prostatic cancer.

One hundred and four patients were randomised for the study. Fifty-five were entered into the D-Trp-6-LHRH group and 49 into the orchiectomy group. All pre-treatment patient characteristics were similar and testosterone levels at 1 month or later were in the castrate range in both groups. Forty-six patients (83%) in the D-Trp-6-LHRH group and 40 (82%) in the orchiectomy group had a partial remission or stable disease at 3 months or later. There was no significant difference between the groups for response or survival. Three patients in the D-Trp-6-LHRH group had a disease "flare" in the first 10 days of treatment. The flare symptoms resolved by the end of 4 to 8 weeks. The incidence of flushing, decreased libido and impotence was similar in both groups. Although there was less psychological morbidity in the D-Trp-6-LHRH group the difference did not reach statistical significance. Our results indicate that long-acting D-Trp-6-LHRH offers a safe and highly effective alternative to orchiectomy.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗