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Biomedical subjects

J Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to J Ferguson.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Doxorubicin in advanced breast cancer: influence of schedule on response, survival and quality of life.

The influence of scheduling of doxorubicin on response, survival and quality of life was assessed in a randomised trial in patients with advanced breast cancer, none of whom had previously received cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced disease. 28 patients received 75 mg/m2 doxorubicin every 3 weeks for four courses (arm 1) and 31 patients received 25 mg/m2 weekly for 12 courses (arm 2). Response rates and median time to progression were similar in the two arms and median survival was 8 months in both arms. However, amongst patients receiving treatment every 3 weeks, psychological distress measured using the Rotterdam symptom checklist fell significantly over the course; no such change was observed in those treated weekly. Physical symptoms related to cancer improved during treatment similarly for both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Computerized measurement of heart rate variation in fetal anemia caused by rhesus alloimmunization.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fetal heart rate variation and fetal hematocrit. STUDY DESIGN: In 36 red-cell alloimmunized pregnancies (mean gestational age 30, range 25 to 36 weeks) 65 computerized fetal heart rate recordings were obtained before ultrasonographically guided fetal blood sampling for the measurement of fetal hematocrit. The recordings were captured and analyzed by a microcomputer on-line. Fetal heart rate variation in anemic fetuses was accurately measured. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations between short-term or long-term heart rate variation and fetal hematocrit have been demonstrated even after adjusting for the effect of gestation (r = 0.60, n = 65, p less than 0.01, y = 19.264 + 0.913x - 0.003x2; r = 0.52, n = 65, p less than 0.01, y = 21.13 + 0.858x - 0.003x2, respectively). The relationship was best described by a quadratic model. When short-term variation was less than 5 milliseconds or long-term variation was less than 30 milliseconds, the positive predictive values for fetal hematocrit of less than 30 were 85% and 90%, and the negative predictive values 56% and 57%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Computerized recording and analysis of fetal heart rate variation may prove to be a useful noninvasive tool for assessing fetal anemia in red-cell alloimmunization.

Anemia↗
PubMed1992

A case-control study of late recurrence of malignant melanoma.

Late recurrence of malignant melanoma is uncommon but appears to be a growing problem. It is unclear whether late recurrence has a better prognosis than early recurrence. Since the answer may influence treatment, we compared recurrence sites and subsequent survival in 35 patients with disease-free intervals of 72 to 240 months (median: 127 months) with 35 case-controls who had relapse at 4 to 56 months (median: 26.7 months). The distribution of recurrence sites in early relapse was 66% in regional nodes or soft tissue and 34% in distant soft tissue or viscera. In late relapse, this distribution was 49% in regional nodes or soft tissue and 51% in distant soft tissue or viscera (no significant differences). Median survival for patients with early and late recurrences in regional nodes or soft tissue was 26 and 44 months, respectively (no significant differences); 5-year survival was 27% and 33%, respectively (no significant differences). Median survival was similar for early or late relapse in distant soft tissue or viscera (8 and 10 months, respectively), as was 5-year survival (0% and 6%, respectively). These results suggest that the metastatic pattern and survival after recurrence are similar for patients with early and late recurring melanoma.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1992

A comparison of the efficacy and relapse rates of narrowband UVB (TL-01) monotherapy vs. etretinate (re-TL-01) vs. etretinate-PUVA (re-PUVA) in the treatment of psoriasis patients.

Forty-five patients with extensive chronic plaque or guttate psoriasis were treated with either narrowband (TL-01) phototherapy, etretinate TL-01 combination therapy (re-TL-01) or etretinate and PUVA (re-PUVA) (15 patients in each group). Re-PUVA was the most effective therapy with 100% satisfactory clearance rate. TL-01 monotherapy had an 80% success rate; the relapse rate compared favourably with re-PUVA (50% in remission after 6 months). In the etretinate-TL-01 group, there was a 93% success rate and a one-third reduction in the total irradiation dose (8.0 J/cm2 vs. 12.7 J/cm2) but the relapse rate was higher, only 33% remaining in remission after 6 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in maternal and fetal blood, and amniotic fluid in second trimester pregnancies complicated by neural tube defects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate maternal and fetal folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in pregnancies affected by neural tube defects (NTD). DESIGN: Measurement of folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in amniotic fluid, fetal blood and maternal blood samples in midgestation. SUBJECTS: 32 women undergoing termination of pregnancy at 14-21 weeks gestation for social reasons (n = 24) or for fetuses with neural tube defects (n = 8). INTERVENTIONS: Fetoscopy before intra-amniotic injection of prostaglandins. RESULTS: In normal pregnancies there was a positive correlation between maternal and fetal serum folate, and the fetal serum and red blood cell folate concentrations were higher than the maternal. There were no differences in amniotic fluid, maternal blood or fetal blood folate concentrations between pregnancies with NTD and normal pregnancies. Although amniotic fluid vitamin B12 was lower in pregnancies with NTD, maternal serum vitamin B12 concentration was not reduced. CONCLUSION: In this small group of pregnancies with NTD at mid-gestation there is no evidence to suggest folate or vitamin B12 deficiency.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1992

Investigation of the photosensitive child.

Photosensitivity disorders in childhood frequently can be diagnosed and managed in the general dermatology clinic. Occasionally, when diagnostic doubt exists, referral to a specialist unit is required for diagnostic phototesting. Light testing equipment is fickle by nature, making such units uncommon. Phototesting using monochromator or provocation systems takes approximately 45 minutes. Immediate and delayed readings over the following 48 hours as appropriate are required to cover the diagnostic possibilities. Individual diseases are characterized by particular patterns of wavelength dependency and evolution of the abnormal response. Other investigations that may be required are autoantibodies to exclude lupus erythematosus, a porphyrin scan leading to full studies and, on occasion, cell mutation or survival, and chromosome studies for the rarer genophotodermatoses. Good investigative data frequently help clarify the common clinical variants.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of a novel assay for breast cancer mucin to CA15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen.

PURPOSE: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of an automated microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) for breast cancer mucin (IMx BCM; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL) to that of CA15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for detecting and monitoring breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IMxBCM was compared to assays of CA15-3 and CEA in 630 serum specimens from healthy women, and from women with breast cancer, other malignancies, benign breast conditions, or other benign diseases. RESULTS: Analysis of the log-transforms for the three markers in all specimens showed a high correlation of IMxBCM with CA15-3 (r = .78), but not with CEA (r = .25). Based on a receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC)-curve analysis for any given specificity, IMxBCM was found to be a more sensitive marker than either CA15-3 or CEA for distinguishing 105 women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer from 89 healthy women (P = .003 and P = .04, respectively), from 98 women with benign breast conditions (P = .02 and P = .002), or from 191 women with benign diseases (P = .03 and P less than .0001). At 95% specificity, the sensitivities of IMxBCM, CA15-3, and CEA for detecting advanced or metastatic breast cancer were 69%, 51%, and 30%, respectively. Serial serum samples (n = 177) were analyzed in 20 additional metastatic breast cancer patients with measurable disease. Serial IMxBCM levels corresponded with the clinical course of disease in 80%, CA15-3 in 65%, and CEA in 60% of the 20 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Increased sensitivity of IMxBCM, despite a high correlation with CA15-3, suggests that IMxBCM and CA15-3 may recognize distinct epitopes on the same molecule. Although further research is indicated, IMxBCM may provide a promising marker in the clinical management of breast cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Potential lead exposures from lead crystal decanters.

We measured the concentrations of lead leached into 4% acetic acid, white port, and a synthetic alcoholic beverage that were stored in lead crystal decanters for 1-, 2-, and 10-day periods at room temperature. In decanters from 14 different manufacturers, measured lead concentrations ranged from 100 to 1800 micrograms/L. The pH of the leaching medium is probably the dominant factor determining the extent of lead leached, with greater leaching occurring at lower pH values. The consumption of alcoholic beverages stored in lead crystal decanters is judged to pose a hazard.

Acetates↗
PubMed1992

Liquid formulations of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and 5-MOP: a prospective double-blind crossover assessment of acute non-phototoxic adverse effects.

Thirty-nine patients with psoriasis undergoing PUVA participated in a prospective double-blind study of acute non-phototoxic adverse effects comparing the liquid formulations of 8-methoxypsoralen (0.6 mg/kg) and 5-methoxypsoralen (1.2 mg/kg). A much higher number of patients experienced nausea (8-MOP = 51.3%, 5-MOP = 7.7%) and pruritus (8-MOP = 71.8%, 5-MOP = 43.6%) than has been reported for crystalline tablets. No attempt was made to compare therapeutic efficacy between liquid and crystalline tablet formulations or between 8-MOP and 5-MOP, which both appeared to be effective. The high incidence of adverse effects suggests that current dosage recommendations be reviewed.

5-Methoxypsoralen↗
PubMed1991

Incremental prognostic value of exercise hemodynamic variables in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease or to dilated cardiomyopathy.

To determine the prognostic value of hemodynamic variables at rest and during exercise, 49 patients with chronic congestive heart failure undergoing hemodynamic evaluation at rest and during symptom-limited exercise were followed for 1 year. One-year mortality rate was 33%. On univariate analysis, nonsurvivors differed significantly from survivors in pulmonary arterial wedge pressure at rest (22 +/- 10 vs 15 +/- 10 mm Hg; p = 0.01) and during exercise (32 +/- 9 vs 24 +/- 9 mm Hg; p = 0.003), stroke work index at rest (19 +/- 6 vs 25 +/- 9 g-m/m2; p = 0.03) and during exercise (20 +/- 7 vs 32 +/- 14 g-m/m2; p = 0.001) and exercise-induced increment in stroke work index (0.5 +/- 0.4 vs 7 +/- 8 g-m/m2; p = 0.004), but not with respect to left ventricular ejection fraction, exercise duration, peak oxygen consumption or peak left ventricular hydraulic power. Patients with a peak exercise stroke work index less than 20 g-m/m2 had a 66% mortality rate compared with a mortality rate of 13% in patients with a peak exercise stroke work index greater than 20 g-m/m2 (p = 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified pulmonary arterial wedge pressure at rest and peak exercise stroke work index as the only independent predictors of mortality. A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that peak exercise stroke work index provided significant incremental prognostic information over the resting hemodynamic variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1991

Community pharmacist.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Community Pharmacy Services↗
PubMed1991

Mid-trimester termination of pregnancy with 16,16-dimethyl-trans-delta 2 PGE1 vaginal pessaries: a comparison with intra- and extra-amniotic prostaglandin E2 administration.

PGE1 analogue (gemeprost) vaginal pessaries administered three hourly for three doses has been compared with a single extra- or intra-amniotic injection of PGE2 for mid-trimester termination of pregnancy in 450 women between 13 and 20 weeks gestation. The mean (SD) induction-abortion interval (IAI) in the vaginal pessary group of 19.5 (8.4) h was significantly longer than the respective intervals of 14.4 (9.3) and 16.1 (6.8) h in the patients treated extra- or intra-amniotically (P less than 0.001). Seventy-three percent treated with gemeprost aborted within 24 h of initial treatment compared with 84% and 87%, respectively in the extra- and intra-amniotic groups (P less than 0.05). Patients treated with gemeprost were more likely to need further prostaglandin treatment and had an increased incidence of gastrointestinal side effects. Despite these differences vaginal gemeprost pessaries provide a safe, effective, easy to administer method for midtrimester termination of pregnancy.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1991

Dronabinol and prochlorperazine in combination for treatment of cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Dronabinol (Marinol, Roxane Laboratories, Columbus, OH) and prochlorperazine were tested alone and in combination in a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, multicenter study. Patients were randomized to receive either 1) dronabinol 10 mg every 6 hr plus placebo; 2) placebo plus prochlorperazine 10 mg every 6 hr; or 3) dronabinol and prochlorperazine, each 10 mg every 6 hr. Antiemetic treatment was begun 24 hr prior to and continued for 24 hr after the last dose of chemotherapy; all was given orally. Only 29% of patients in group 3 versus 47% in group 1 and 60% in group 2 experienced nausea after chemotherapy. In addition, the median duration per episode and severity of nausea were significantly less with combination therapy. Vomiting occurred after chemotherapy in 41%, 55%, and 35% of patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The median duration per episode of vomiting was 1 min in group 3 versus two in group 1 and four in group 2. Side effects, primarily CNS, were more common in group 1 than in group 2; addition of prochlorperazine to dronabinol appeared to decrease the frequency of dysphoric effects seen with the latter agent. The combination was significantly more effective than was either single agent in controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Adult↗