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Biomedical subjects

J Cassar

Publications and source records attributed to J Cassar.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Further studies on streptozotocin therapy for a multiple-hormone-producing islet cell carcinoma.

A patient with a multiple-hormone-producing islet cell carcinoma, who had previously been successfully treated with streptozotocin, was given three further infusions of this drug because of the redevelopment of gastric hypersecretion. Although some evidence of damage to the gastrinsecreting cells was obtained, the fasting plasma gastrin was not significantly altered and the patient died from a perforated duodenal ulcer. Serum insulin levels were considerably reduced and the patient became mildly diabetic but the main complication of treatment was a severe though reversible renal tubular defect. At necropsy considerable quantities of gastrin, but low levels of insulin and glucagon were extracted from a tumour metastasis.

Acetoacetates↗

Glucose tolerance and serum insulin in identical twins of diabetics.

Glucose tolerance with serum insulin assay has been carried out in 24 apparently unaffected identical twins of diabetics. Glucose values were significantly higher and insulin values significantly lower than in control subjects, but there was considerable individual variation and in half the cases glucose tolerance was normal. There was no case of increased insulin response. In these twins glucose tolerance and insulin response were not correlated with weight, family history of diabetes, age at diagnosis of diabetes in the affected twin, time since that diagnosis, nor with age at testing the unaffected twin. On retesting 12 of the twins after two years no significant differences were found from the first testing.We conclude that not all these twins are likely to develop diabetes, that the assumption that identical twins of diabetics are necessarily "prediabetic" is probably erroneous, and that factors other than genetic ones are important in the aetiology of diabetes.

Adolescent↗

From zero to one hundred million in six months: the treatment of azoospermia in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

In the majority of the 25% of couples in which a male factor is responsible for their infertility, no identifiable pathology is found. It is unusual to be faced with an etiology that is readily amenable to successful treatment without the eventual dependence on assisted reproductive techniques for pregnancy. The diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia has variable implications on fertility. A case is presented of azoospermia in a man diagnosed with classical non-salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Within 9 months of treatment with dexamethasone, his sperm count had risen to above 100 million per milliliter, enough to overcome very poor morphology and a naturally conceived pregnancy ensued. The pregnancy is ongoing. Although an increase in sperm count has been shown in such cases, the degree of improvement in semen parameters is unique, especially in an azoospermic patient.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗