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Biomedical subjects

J M Northover

Publications and source records attributed to J M Northover.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Fat clearance method versus manual dissection of lymph nodes in specimens of rectal cancer.

It is essential to submit all lymph nodes from specimens of rectal cancer for histological examination. In a prospective study we compared the traditional method of dissection with the fat clearance technique in 20 operative specimens of rectal cancer. There was no significant difference in the lymph node harvest obtained by either method. The fat clearance technique resulted in a modest saving in dissection time (mean 4 min), but was expensive (pounds 14.00 per specimen) and resulted in an unacceptable reporting delay (mean 3 days). The manual method was cheaper, as effective in identifying nodes and enabled much quicker reporting.

Adipose Tissue↗

Androgen receptors in rectal and colonic cancer.

To evaluate the potential effect of androgens on human colorectal cancer, the prevalence and concentration of cytosolic androgen receptors were analyzed in 23 rectal and 13 cecal adenocarcinomas by a hybrid radioligand assay. Androgen receptors were detected in nine of the rectal (39 percent) and five of the cecal tumors (38 percent). Androgen receptor levels demonstrated were low, ranging from three to 17 fmol/mg cytosol protein. Dissociation constants were 1 nM or less. The presence of androgen receptors was independent of age or sex of the patient, and of the state of histologic differentiation and Dukes' staging of the tumor. Androgen receptor prevalence was similar in mucosa adjacent to rectal and cecal adenocarcinomas and in mucosa from five of ten patients (50 percent) with diverticular disease. Our findings suggest that androgen dependency does not play a major role in endocrine control of the development of rectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The grading of rectal cancer: historical perspectives and a multivariate analysis of 447 cases.

The grade of a tumour is gauged on the subjective assessment of a number of histopathological parameters. The problems associated with this exercise were viewed from a historical perspective and survival analysis of 447 patients receiving surgery for rectal adenocarcinoma was undertaken. Only deaths from rectal adenocarcinoma were included as events in the survival analysis. Seven grade-related parameters were scored by one observer. A grading system was constructed using the Cox regression model. The variables in the best-fitting parsimonious model comprised lymphocytic infiltration, tubule configuration and pattern of growth. Scores were derived from the model and a four grade system was created in which the groups were of similar size. Good reproducibility of the selected histopathological parameters was demonstrated. Grade-related parameters were then allowed to compete with stage-related parameters in an overall model of pathological prognostic categories. The parameters selected in the best model were number of affected lymph nodes, the presence of lymphocytic infiltration and extent of spread through bowel wall. A set of five prognostic categories was developed from this model.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Abdominal tuberculosis: still a problem today.

Thirty cases of abdominal tuberculosis were diagnosed over an 18-year period, 26 being in immigrants; the mean age at presentation was 33 years. There were 25 cases of tuberculous peritonitis, two of tuberculous mesenteric lymphadenitis, and one each of gastric tuberculosis, colonic tuberculosis and tuberculous ischiorectal abscess. The presenting symptoms were of vague ill-health and not diagnostic, and the most common findings were of pyrexia, abdominal tenderness and ascites. The most common haematological abnormalities were raised ESR (22 patients) and mild anaemia (15 patients). Most commonly, diagnosis was made by formal laparotomy (19 cases) with biopsy (18 cases); histological examination gave a positive diagnosis in all 18 cases, but bacteriological examination yielded the tubercle bacillus in only 10 (56%). There were 2 deaths in the series, not directly related to the abdominal tuberculosis. In view of its infrequent and vague presentation, care is required to avoid overlooking the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis, particularly in the immigrant population.

Adolescent↗

Filophilia.

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Confidentiality↗

Healing of the bile duct anastomosis after transverse choledochotomy or transplantation of the liver in the pig.

A comparison was made in pigs of the tensile strength of the bile duct anastomosis after simple dochotomy and after hepatic autograft or allograft. It appears that tensile strength returned to normal levels within 15 days of simple dochotomy and indeed rose past normal at 50 days, but that after either form of hepatic grafting, tensile strength did not reach normal levels even by 50 days postoperation.

Animals↗

An ischemic basis for biliary strictures.

Three case reports reflecting a probable ischemic basis for biliary strictures are presented. A stricture occurring after biliary-enteric anastomosis following low division of the bile duct and another after relatively low division of the bile duct are explained on the basis of the tenuous blood supply to the supraduodenal bile duct from above. It is postulated that these strictures could have been avoided had the bile duct been divided at a higher level originally and had adequate back-bleeding from the transected upper bile duct been checked prior to performing the anastomosis. The stricture in the third patient probably occurred because the damaged duct segment was used for the anastomosis. The stricture could probably also have been avoided by higher transection of the duct.

Adult↗

Difficulties in the diagnosis and management of pyogenic liver abscess.

Thirty patients with pyogenic liver abscess were admitted to King's College Hospital between 1967 and 1978. The overall mortality was 43 per cent (13 patients). The diagnosis was often difficult and in 10 patients the correct diagnosis was not made until post-mortem. Of the 20 patients diagnosed and treated, 17 had a unilocular abscess, of whom 16 survived. The remaining 3 had a multicentric abscess, and only 1 of them survived. Difficulty in diagnosis was sometimes increased by misleading results fom special investigations. Clinical awareness leading to early diagnosis, drainage and broad spectrum antibiotic treatment remain the prerequisites for cure.

Adolescent↗

The investigation of small vessel anatomy by scanning electron microscopy of resin casts. A description of the technique and examples of its use in the study of the microvasculature of the peritoneum and bile duct wall.

Scanning electron microscopy of microvascular resin casts has revolutionised the study of small blood vessel anatomy in various animals. The present report is the first in which the technique has been used to study capillary networks in man and baboon. The microvasculature of human visceral peritoneum has been described for the first time and the small vessels within the bile duct wall of the baboon have been demonstrated using stereo pairs. The technique is a valuable tool that deserves wider application in both human and animal anatomical research.

Animals↗

A new look at the arterial supply of the bile duct in man and its surgical implications.

The blood supply of the human bile duct has been re-evaluated using high resolution resin casts prepared from 24 fresh human cadavers. The refined technique used yielded casts of all vessels, including capillaries, and produced a clear picture of the blood supply of the human bile duct for the first time. The arterial supply of the supraduodenal duct was shown to be axial, with the main vessels, which have been named the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock arteries, running along the lateral borders. The retroportal artery, which has not been described by previous workers, was present in all complete casts and was a major source of the axial blood supply to the supraduodenal duct in 32 per cent of them. The major importance of this new knowledge of bile duct blood supply may well lie in the understanding of the aetiology of postoperative bile duct strictures and in their prevention. An explanation is proposed for the long strictures sometimes seen after minimal surgical trauma to the bile duct, based on damage to the small vessels supplying the duct; guidelines to prevent such damage are presented. Ischaemia of the bile duct may also explain some of the biliary problems that have followed human liver transplantation and other procedures involving biliary anastomosis, such as Whipple's operation.

Arteries↗

A prospective evaluation of injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of acute bleeding from esophageal varices.

In a 25 month study of massive upper-gastrointestinal hemorrhage, 64 patients were shown to have esophageal varices on emergency endoscopy. Twenty-four patients were actively bleeding from varices and were treated with a Sengstaken tube, and in 22 this was followed by emergency injection sclerotherapy using a rigid esophagoscope and general anesthesia. These 22 patients were followed prospectively and had 51 episodes of endoscopically proven active bleeding from esophageal varices which required Sengstaken tube control of hemorrhage during 36 separate admissions. This group included our total experience of injection sclerotherapy in acute variceal bleeding. The majority (14 of 22 patients) had alcoholic cirrhosis. Definitive control of variceal bleeding during the period of hospitalization was achieved in 33 hospital admissions (92%), usually with a single injection (27 hospital admissions: 75%). The results were satisfactory in 26 hospital admissions (72%). There were nine deaths (41% overall patient mortality rate), but no patient died primarily of variceal bleeding, and exsanguinating variceal bleeding was no longer a problem. The mortality rate per injection was 18%, and the mortality rate per hospital admission was 25%. Injection sclerotherapy is proposed as the emergency treatment of choice for patients with proven bleeding esophageal varices who do not stop bleeding on initial conservative treatment.

Acute Disease↗