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Biomedical subjects

I G Finlay

Publications and source records attributed to I G Finlay.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The relation of ras family oncogene expression to conventional staging criteria and clinical outcome in colorectal carcinoma.

The elevated levels of ras-related cellular RNA in a series of colorectal carcinomata (n = 12) was correlated with conventional staging criteria (tumour morphology and Dukes' staging) and with clinical outcome with particular reference to the development of metastatic disease. No direct relationship was evident between these parameters suggesting that although abnormal expression of ras oncogenes may be critical in the development of malignancy, variations in the level of their expression do not appear to be directly related to clinically evident phenotypic differences.

Aged↗

House officers' attitudes towards terminal care.

This study examined the change in doctor's knowledge, attitudes and management of the terminally ill during the pre-registration year. There was a slight improvement in the factual knowledge of most house officers, but some showed a deterioration in their understanding of the problems of the terminally ill. There were marked deficits in knowledge of symptom control. The house officers' own experience of serious illness or bereavement did not alter their measured knowledge or attitudes to the patients.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

A prospective comparison of gentamicin and metronidazole and moxalactam in the prevention of septic complications associated with elective operations of the colon and rectum.

Bacteriologic evidence suggests that Latamoxef (moxalactam) is effective against colonic bacteria which cause infection during colonic and rectal operations. In a prospective comparative study, 86 patients undergoing colorectal operations were randomized to receive intravenously 24 hour antibiotic cover with either gentamicin and metronidazole or moxalactam. Six patients (13 per cent) in the gentamicin and metronidazole group and five (12 per cent) in the moxalactam group had wound sepsis develop. Perineal wound sepsis (31 per cent) was significantly more common than abdominal wound sepsis (7 per cent). No complications were noted from the use of moxalactam. No clinical evidence of abnormal bleeding was seen and the results of studies on coagulation and platelet function postoperatively were normal. The results suggest that moxalactam provides effective, safe prophylaxis comparable with established antibiotic combinations in patients undergoing colorectal operations.

Adult↗

Care of the dying in general practice.

The hospice movement has improved the care for the dying patient. But can the hospice experience be easily applied to general practice? In one year in this practice 10 patients were terminally ill, and three of these died at home. The clinical problems encountered over four years are described to illustrate the factors that affect prescribing, which makes caring for a dying patient at home different from that in hospital or even in a hospice.

Aged↗

Role of carcinoembryonic antigen in detection of asymptomatic disseminated disease in colorectal carcinoma.

Fifty one patients were studied prospectively to evaluate the role of sequential determinations of the carcino-embryonic antigen concentration in the detection of asymptomatic disseminated disease after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma. Computed tomography of the liver was performed during the immediate postoperative period in all patients. Serum concentrations of the antigen were estimated at three month intervals for a minimum of two years. Computed tomography at the time of operation detected occult hepatic metastases in 12 patients. Of the remaining 39 patients, six developed local recurrence alone, two developed disseminated disease in the absence of hepatic metastases, and one developed hepatic disease at 10 months, as detected by sequential computed tomography. Of all 13 patients with asymptomatic hepatic metastases, only eight developed an increase in serum carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations before death. The median interval between detection by computed tomography and rise in antigen concentrations was 7.5 months. The corresponding median interval from increase in concentration to death was only 5.5 months. Of the six patients who developed local recurrence alone, only two had raised concentrations of the antigen. These results suggest that increase in the serum carcinoembryonic antigen concentration occurs late in colorectal carcinoma.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗

Randomized controlled trial of physiotherapy for postoperative pulmonary complications.

A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy to assess the value of routine chest physiotherapy. One hundred and two patients entered the study: 47 patients developed no pulmonary complications, 29 had pulmonary atelectasis and a further 26 developed chest infection. The pattern of changes in arterial oxygen tension in the period after operation supported the clinical allocation of the patients. Of 51 patients not receiving physiotherapy, 11 developed atelectasis and 19 chest infection. Of 51 treated patients, 18 developed atelectasis and seven chest infection. Routine prophylactic postoperative chest physiotherapy decreased significantly the frequency of chest infection (P less than 0.02).

Adult↗

Effect of occult hepatic metastases on survival after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma.

Computed tomography and ultrasonography of the liver were performed during the immediate postoperative period in 35 consecutive patients undergoing apparently curative resection for colorectal carcinoma. On the basis of these investigations, occult hepatic metastases were detected and confirmed by sequential imaging in 11 patients. All patients were followed for a minimum of 3 yr. Of these 35 patients, 2, 10, and 23 were allocated to the traditional Dukes' stages A, B, and C, respectively. The corresponding 3-yr survival was 100%, 70%, and 57%. The 11 patients with occult hepatic metastases at the time of surgery were allocated to the Dukes' B group in 2 cases and the Dukes' C group in 9 cases. When these 11 patients are excluded from the traditional Dukes' staging, the corrected survival of the A, B, and C groups was 100%, 88%, and 86%, respectively. Only 1 of the patients with occult hepatic metastases survived 3 yr. These results show that the presence of occult hepatic metastases predominantly explains the pattern of early death after apparently curative resection for colorectal carcinoma.

Carcinoma↗

Prospective double-blind comparison of buprenorphine and pethidine in ureteric colic.

In a double-blind prospective trial 26 consecutive patients with proved ureteric colic were allocated at random to receive 100 mg pethidine or 0.3 mg buprenorphine by intramuscular injection. Pain relief was assessed by standard linear analogue and ordered categories scales. The mean pain relief on the linear analogue scale was 3.80 +/- SEM 0.64 in patients receiving pethidine and 6.86 +/- 0.40 in those receiving buprenorphine (p less than 0.001). The corresponding values for mean pain relief in the ordered categories scale was 1.78 +/- 0.26 v 2.76 +/- 0.20 (p less than 0.01). These observations suggest that buprenorphine is superior to pethidine as analgesia in ureteric colic.

Adult↗

Incidence and detection of occult hepatic metastases in colorectal carcinoma.

Isotope liver scan, ultrasonography, and computed tomography of the liver were performed during the postoperative period in 43 consecutive patients undergoing laparotomy for colorectal carcinoma. Obvious hepatic metastases were detected in six patients at the time of surgery. Eleven patients considered to have a disease-free liver at laparotomy developed hepatic metastases during the two-year follow-up period. These patients were considered to have had occult hepatic metastases at the time of surgery. Postoperative isotope liver scan, ultrasonography, and computed tomography detected the presence of overt metastases in four, five, and six patients respectively. Of the 11 patients with occult metastases, isotope liver scan, ultrasonography, and computed tomography detected one, three, and nine respectively. These observations suggest that 29% of patients undergoing apparently curative resection for colorectal carcinoma possess occult hepatic metastases and that computed tomography is superior to ultrasonography and isotope liver scan in detecting them.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

The identification of patients at high risk following curative resection for colorectal carcinoma.

Thirty-five consecutive patients undergoing apparently curative resection for colorectal carcinoma were staged by conventional methods (Dukes', degree of tumor differentiation and pre- and postoperative CEA). In addition, the presence or absence of occult hepatic metastases at the time of surgery was determined by sequential CT scanning. Thirteen patients died within 30 months of surgery. Conventional prognostic indices failed to define clearly those patients who died. In contrast, the presence or absence of occult hepatic metastases at the time of surgery clearly defined two groups of patients. Only 9 per cent of patients who possessed occult hepatic metastases survived 30 months compared with 88 per cent of patients in whom these metastases were not detected. The clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗

Microbial flora in carcinoma of oesophagus.

The microbial flora associated with carcinoma of the oesophagus was studied in 12 patients. Oesophageal mucosa was biopsied at thoracotomy and cultured under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A heavy mixed growth of aerobic and anaerobic organisms was obtained in all patients. One-third of isolates were anaerobic. The flora was of oral origin. The most appropriate antibiotic combination in this study was ampicillin or penicillin with gentamicin and metronidazole.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Remote Control Systems' Radiotelemetry Receiver 7060: its use in clinical colonic motility measurement.

A new radiotelemetry receiver type 7060 for use with radiopills is described. Its performance under laboratory conditions was assessed and its use for clinical colonic pressure measurements evaluated. The receiver, which resembles a small microcomputer, was easy to set up and worked reasonably well under ward conditions. Difficulties were experienced with the belt aerial supplied with the receiver, which did not reliably pick up signals from a freely moving radiopill. The receiver is not suitable for ambulatory applications. Its main clinical use is in situations where frequent sampling of the radiopill's signal over a long period of time is essential (e.g. colonic pressures). The large quantity of data generated can be fed from the receiver's analogue or digital output on line to a recorder.

Biomedical Engineering↗

Biomechanical evaluation of an artificial anal sphincter prosthesis.

An artificial anal sphincter was designed to reproduce the normal physiology of the ano-rectum by flattening and angulating the bowel without causing crenation. It was shown in the laboratory that by eliminating crenation, occlusion pressure was evenly distributed without localized high pressure points under the device. Further, the design facilitates the creation of angulation of the bowel in a relatively large area of distribution of the occlusion pressure, allowing the device to be set at lower operating occlusion pressures than that required for circular designs yet still achieve continence. Each of the components of the device was studied separately and the whole system was assessed in an acute and survival animal model.

Anal Canal↗