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Biomedical subjects

L Steele

Publications and source records attributed to L Steele.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A comparative trial of cefazolin and moxalactam as prophylaxis for preventing infection after abdominal hysterectomy.

In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 208 women who underwent abdominal hysterectomy received either cefazolin (N = 108) or moxalactam (N = 100) as perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. There were no differences between the two groups in rates of serious infection, minor wound infection, standard febrile morbidity, duration of hospitalization, proportion receiving other postoperative antibiotics, or rates of rehospitalization. Women who received moxalactam had significantly more urinary tract infections, 87% of which were caused by the enterococcus. It is concluded that perioperative prophylaxis with third-generation cephalosporins is not justified at this time.

Adult↗

Sterilization of dehydrated potato granules with propylene oxide.

Results were provided for propylene oxide "cold sterilization" of dehydrated mashed potato granules that contained 7% moisture and 0.044% chloride. Treatment with an optimum concentration of 0.1% w/w sterilant for 6 days at 22 degrees C gave a bacterial count reduction from 3.4 X 10(5) to less than 5 X 10(3), a low glycol residue of 29 ppm, and 12 ppm of chlorohydrin, with the 1-chloro-2-propanol isomer constituting 94% of the total. This indicated that, in spite of the granule pH of 5.62, nucleophilic attack in dehydrated granules involves nonprotonated propylene oxide. Based on NMR analysis, evidence was given that such sterilization does not result in detectable etherification of starch, even though its content of 83% on a dry basis places it as the major potentially reactive constituent.

Epoxy Compounds↗

The contribution of serum enzymes and carcinoembryonic antigen to the early diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer.

The evolution of metastatic colorectal cancer in patients who have had surgical treatment for a primary lesion was studied in relation the progressive changes in the blood levels of carcinembryonic antigen (CEA), to gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and routine liver function tests (LFTs). Involvement of the liver could ofter be reliably predicted many weeks in advance of clinical diagnosis while metastases to other sites were less likely to be detected early by this test. The association of the extent of disease with the patterns of biochemical changes is discussed with reference to several illustrative examples.

Aged↗

Blood muramidase activity in colorectal cancer.

The serum muramidase levels were measured in 128 patients with primary or metastatic colorectal cancer, 166 tumour-free patients after resection of a colorectal cancer, and 172 controls. Muramidase levels over 10 mug/ml were detected in 30%-39% of the tumour-bearing patients, in 8.2% of the tumour free, and in only 1.7% of the controls (normal level 6.68 +/- 1.42 mug/ml). Long-term follow up indicated that raised levels may occur as a transient phenomenon in recurrent or metastatic disease. The likely relation of abnormal serum muramidase activity and stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Combination of carcinoembryonic antigen and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in the study of the evolution of colorectal cancer.

Plasma CEA values and serum γ glutamyl transpeptidase activities have been compared in control subjects and 109 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 35 with non-malignant hepatic disease. CEA values alone differentiate hepatic metastases from non-malignant hepatic disease with a high degree of certainty. While CEA may be elevated with metastases, irrespective of site, γGT is elevated mainly in association with hepatic metastases. The combination of CEA and γGT is helpful in identifying hepatic metastases and in their differentiation from local recurrences or metastases to other sites.

Adult↗