Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L C Fuith

Publications and source records attributed to L C Fuith.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Effects of interferon-alpha on macrophage activation in patients with ovarian carcinoma and cervical dysplasia.

Patients with progressive ovarian carcinoma and patients with dysplasia of the uterine cervix were studied in order to compare clinical efficacy, hematological toxicity and effects on macrophage activation of administered interferon-alpha for both patient groups. One of three patients with ovarian carcinoma showed a minor response. Four of six patients with cervical dysplasia had slight improvements of PAP-smears. Moderate hematological toxicity was observed in the former patient group while side effects were much more pronounced in the latter patients group. However, changes of hematological parameters were not statistically different. Interestingly, the administered interferon-alpha caused the same activation of macrophages in both patients groups as indicated by raised neopterin levels. This activation does not result in clinical improvement but appears to play a role for the hematological toxicity observed during therapy of patients with ovarian carcinoma. It has been suggested that suppression of hematopoiesis is mediated by interferon-gamma. The present neopterin data propose that this lymphokine is continuously produced through influence of the tumor and enhanced by interferon-alpha.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Combination chemotherapy with epirubicin and cisplatin in ovarian carcinoma.

Combination chemotherapy with epirubicin-cisplatin was employed after surgical treatment in 67 women with ovarian carcinoma. 50 mg/m2 of epirubicin and cisplatin each were administered at monthly intervals. The response rate was correlated with the clinical stage and the residual disease. Tumor regression (CR + PR) was observed in 63.6% of patients with stage III disease, and in 50% of those with stage IV disease. Furthermore, complete or partial responses were obtained in 86.4% of patients with a residual deposit of 2-5 cm, and in 33.3% of women with a residual deposit exceeding 5 cm in diameter. Anemia occurred in 47.8%, leukopenia in 43.3%, and thrombocytopenia in 4.5% of the patients. No cardiotoxicity was recorded.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Multiple cancers in gynecologic oncology].

An analysis of 97 patients with multiple primary gynaecological neoplasms (90 double-, 6 triple- and 1 quadruple carcinomas) was done at the Gynaecological Department of the University of Innsbruck. Two thirds of the tumour combinations were located in the female genital tract including the breast. Concerning the early detection of simultaneous or subsequent malignancies of the cervix or corpus uteri, one should pay attention to the mamma being involved in the treatment or aftercare of such cancers. In the same way the inner female genital tract has to be observed in breast cancer patients. Regular colposcopic and cytological examinations of the cervical portio as well as a systematic prevention of endometrial cancer (pistolet in local anaesthesia) is highly recommended. The prognosis of the "highly malignant" tumour does not worsen as a result of a second malignant cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Safe use of propofol in a patient with acute intermittent porphyria.

On two occasions a patient suffering from acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) was anaesthetized with propofol as the sole agent. The concentrations of urinary porphobilinogen, porphyrins and porphyrin precursors did not exceed preoperative values, and no exacerbation of the disease was noted.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix.

The serum concentrations of the tumor-associated antigen SCC were determined in 62 patients with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Antigen values above 2.0 ng/ml were considered as slightly positive, and those above 4.0 ng/ml as highly positive. Pretherapeutic levels were elevated (greater than 2.0 ng/ml) in 68% of the patients with cervical carcinoma. In 49 patients with carcinoma in situ, 18% of the SCC values were above the normal range. The greatest incidence of positive SCC titers (84%) was observed in women with recurrent cervical carcinoma. Only 6.7% of women in remission had elevated titers. Five of 24 cases (21%) with invasive endometrial carcinoma had SCC values exceeding 2.0 ng/ml. Slightly positive levels of tumor antigen were seen in 1.8% (1/56) of the control subjects. Serial SCC determinations revealed a correlation with the clinical course of disease in 84%. The determination of SCC is useful for the surveillance of patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1988

Correlation between steroid hormone receptors, histological and clinical parameters in ovarian carcinoma.

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in ovarian tumors of 62 patients (51 carcinomas, 11 benign tumors) were estimated by the dextran-coated charcoal method using Scatchard plot analyses. 63% of carcinomas were ER-positive (greater than 10 fmol/mg cytosol), 38% were PR-positive (greater than 25 fmol/mg cytosol), whereas in benign tumors only 45% were ER-positive and 36% were PR-positive. We found no statistically significant correlation between receptor content and stage of disease, menopausal status or age of the patient. The highest concentration of ER and PR was observed in patients between 61 and 70 years of age. Life table analysis for patients with advanced ovarian carcinomas showed no significant difference in survival time in the group with higher ER and PR content. This study also reports the results obtained in a group of patients with receptor-positive ovarian carcinomas treated with a combination of chemotherapy and antiestrogen therapy. In comparison to treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy alone, no significant difference in the time of survival or duration of remission could be found.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Preactivated T cells in cancer patients with poor prognosis.

We investigated the outcome of disease in correlation with pretherapeutic urinary neopterin levels in 161 patients suffering from cervical carcinoma and 51 patients suffering from ovarian cancer. Neopterin is produced by human macrophages upon stimulation with interferon gamma and is therefore a measure for activated T cells. In both types of cancer, neopterin levels before therapy were of predictive significance. Patients with pretherapeutically high neopterin levels were more likely to die earlier. Even 12-18 months after the start of therapy this effect was significant. The data indicate that primary events in the immune surveillance are intact in those patients but effector mechanisms might be diminished. Persistent activation of cell-mediated immunity appears to be unfavorable in cancer patients.

Biopterins↗
PubMed1987

Clinical significance of neopterin for prognosis and follow-up in ovarian cancer.

Neopterin, a pyrazinopyrimidine compound, is a marker of activation of cell-mediated immunity. The prognostic value of pretherapeutically and of serially measured urinary neopterin levels in patients with ovarian cancer was assessed, in a blinded manner, by analysis of 658 urine specimens from 74 women. The specimens were collected during a 5-year period (January 1981 to January 1986). Thirty-one deaths due to cancer were observed during the study period. By statistical analysis, a significant predictive value of pretherapeutic neopterin levels was found and compared with that of other possible prognostic clinical and laboratory findings. Multivariate analysis, using stratification by tumor stage, demonstrated that this predictive information was independent of other variables. A significant association was found between serial neopterin measurements and the current risk of death during follow-up (P less than 0.0001). In addition, current death risk was correlated with neopterin levels measured 6 months previously (P = 0.026). The histological outcome at surgical reexamination was correlated with the current neopterin levels (P = 0.016). Further, normal neopterin levels in women with evidence of tumor at surgical reexamination were shown to be a sign of better prognosis than elevated levels. Measurement of urinary neopterin levels during follow-up of women with ovarian cancer appears to be a valuable adjunct to conventional techniques, particularly in patients refusing explorative surgery.

Biopterins↗
PubMed1987

CA 125 in the serum and tissue of patients with gynecological disease.

Serum levels of CA 125 were determined in 239 patients suffering from gynecological malignancies. The upper limit for normal was 35 U/ml. Raised levels were found in 82% of patients with primary ovarian carcinoma, and in 29% of those with benign ovarian tumors. The values from patients with ovarian carcinomas in partial or complete remission were compared with those from patients with progressive disease. The former group had elevated levels in 19% compared to 89% in the latter group. Fifty-four percent of the values in progressive cervical carcinoma and 41% of the levels in progressive endometrial carcinoma were greater than 35 U/ml. High CA 125 levels were found in the cytosol of placenta, ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, and in ascitic fluid; correlation with serum levels was satisfactory. Even though CA 125 is of limited specificity for ovarian cancer, serum levels are important for follow up care and for the early detection of recurrences.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1987

[Fetal erythroblastosis in Kell incompatibility].

The case study reported here concerned an intrauterine death as a result of a Kell erythroblastosis. Allergization had been caused by the administration of Kell-positive banked blood. Irregular antibodies are on the increase as a result of the increasing number of blood transfusions. It is recommended that the Kell system be considered in the selection of banked blood for girls and women of childbearing age--a practice that has been followed at the Innsbruck University Clinics for almost four years now. The indirect Coombs' test should be performed in order to establish Kell antibodies and other clinically significant antibodies. The enzyme test is recommended as a supplementary examination, but should never be used as the sole antibody test. As with rhesus incompatibility, and insofar as the determination of the father's Kell characteristics show him to be an antigen carrier, monitoring of allergized pregnant women must be carried out with the help of antibody titer follow-ups, amniocenteses, and ultrasonographic examinations at short notice.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Lesion of the brachial plexus, caused by wrong positioning during surgery].

We report three patients, which showed plexus palsies after routine operations. Compression and stretch of the nerves despite pads leaded to nerve injury in patient A. Abduction of the arm, fixed wrist, hypotension in steep Trendelenburg position and a preexisting shoulder-arm-syndrome were the causes in patient B. Hyperreclination of the head in semisitting position caused the lesion in patient C. The anaesthetist should know the risks of positioning to prevent nerve injuries.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Determination of neopterin in serum and urine.

Concentrations of neopterin, a product of activated macrophages, in serum from 662 apparently healthy individuals (ages 1 to 97 years, median 22 years) were measured by radioimmunoassay and the results statistically analyzed. Consistent with prior investigations on the urinary excretion of neopterin, we found no significant sex dependence, but values for subjects younger than 18 or older than 75 years were significantly higher. Renal clearance of neopterin in nine healthy individuals was 218 (SD 44) mL/min, which suggests that the kidneys have an active role in neopterin excretion. Results for neopterin concentrations measured in serum by RIA and "high-performance" liquid chromatography (HPLC) are consistent, but for urinary neopterin the concordance between methods was weak. Therefore, the RIA should be used only for measuring neopterin in serum. In comparison of the clinical utility of serum neopterin and urinary neopterin/creatinine concentrations, in patients with gynecological tumors, the latter values (measured by HPLC) discriminated slightly better between patients with favorable and unfavorable prognoses.

Adolescent↗