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Biomedical subjects

M Hussain

Publications and source records attributed to M Hussain.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Southwest Oncology Group strategies in prostatic carcinoma.

The Southwest Oncology Group Genitourinary Committee evolved in 1978 from a combined gynecologic-urologic cancer committee. A significant catalyst in this development was the growing interest in prostatic carcinoma, with an initial focus on hormone refractory disease. Clinical studies have expanded into combined androgen blockade, untreated metastatic disease and localized prostate cancer. Since 1978, more than forty trials in prostatic carcinoma have been conducted. Currently, seven are in progress or under development. Conclusions and future directions are reviewed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Occupational exposure of grain farmers to carbofuran.

Six prairie grain farmers were monitored for pesticide exposure and related adverse effects while they mixed and/or sprayed carbofuran (Furadan 480F) with ground rig application equipment to control grasshoppers in southern Alberta, Canada. Dermal exposure was estimated with Tegaderm patches placed at seventeen locations on the skin beneath the work clothes. Hand and wrist exposure was determined by the amount of chemical found in hand rinses and on wrist patches. Potential inhalation exposure was measured with an air sampler using polyurethane foam as the adsorbent. Urine samples were collected at 24-hr intervals after exposure and monitored for carbofuran. Blood samples were analyzed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), pseudocholinesterase (ChE) and several other blood parameters. The results indicated that during the mixing and/or spraying operation, a farmer could potentially be exposed to a total of 1,264 micrograms carbofuran per kg of active ingredient (a.i.) used. Of this amount, 1,262 micrograms/kg (or 99.8%) was dermal and 2 micrograms/kg (or 0.2%) could be through the inhalation route. Hand and wrist exposure was about 1,100 micrograms/kg a.i. (or 87% of total exposure). Excretion of the chemical in the urine amounted to 28 micrograms/kg a.i. No ChE inhibition was observed. Other blood measurements were within normal ranges. The farmers showed no acute adverse effects during exposure and for four days after exposure. These results are discussed in relation to the mammalian toxicity of carbofuran.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sphincter-sparing treatment for distal rectal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that the anal sphincter can be preserved in some patients with distal rectal adenocarcinoma (DRA), but this has not been validated in any prospective multi-institutional trial. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that the anal sphincter can be preserved in some patients with DRA, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B and collaborators reviewed 177 patients who had T1/T2 adenocarcinomas < or = 4 cm in diameter, which encompassed < or = 40% of bowel wall circumference, and were < or = 10 cm from the dentate line. Of the 177 patients, 59 patients who were eligible for the study had T1 adenocarcinomas and received no further treatment; 51 eligible T2 patients received external beam irradiation (5400 cGY/30 fractions 5 days/week) and 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m2 IV d1-3, d29-31) after local excision. RESULTS: At 48 months median follow-up, 6-year survival and failure-free survival rates of the eligible patients are 85% and 78% respectively. Three patients died of unrelated disease. Two patients were treated for second primary colorectal tumors; both remain disease free (NED). Another eight patients died of disease, four with distant recurrence only. One T1 patient is alive with distant disease. Two T1 and seven T2 patients experienced isolated local recurrences; all underwent salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR). After APR, one T1 and four of seven T2 patients were NED at the time of last visit (2-7 years). One T1 patient died of local and distant disease. Three of seven T2 patients died with distant disease. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that sphincter preservation can be achieved with excellent cancer control without initial sacrifice of anal function in most patients. After local recurrence, salvage resection appears effective, but longer follow-up time of local and distant disease-free survival is advised before extrapolation to patients with T3 primaries.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful medical treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

PURPOSE: To describe the outcome of a series of Acanthamoeba keratitis treated with a similar regimen. METHODS: All cases diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis in a referral centre from June 1994 through June 1997 were included. Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis was based in clinical presentation and laboratory results. Positive laboratory identification of Acanthamoeba from corneal scraping or contact lens was required, unless the patient had very characteristic symptoms (severe pain) and signs of the infection, including perineural infiltrates. Initial intensive treatment included topical polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) 0.02%, propamidine isothionate 0.1% and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The treatment was gradually tapered. After documented response to anti-acanthamoeba therapy, topical steroids were introduced; they were discontinued before cessation of the anti-Acanthamoeba regimen. RESULTS: Six males and four females, with a mean age of 30.0 +/- 7.4 years were included in this study. All cases wore contact lenses. On presentation all cases had severe pain, and epitheliopathy was associated with stromal infiltrate in most (seven of ten) cases. Four patients had anterior uveitis. Perineural infiltrates were present in three cases and ring infiltrate in one patient. Anti-amoebic treatment was started 12.7 +/- 7.2 days after beginning of symptoms. The clinical response to therapy was very satisfactory in all patients. Within two to three weeks all patients had remarkable lessening of pain and photophobia, and improvement of clinical signs. At two to three months, visual acuity had improved in all patients. Two patients required penetrating keratoplasty for visual rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The use of PHMB and propamidine cured all cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Cautious introduction of steroids was associated with expedited resolution of inflammation and provided symptomatic relief.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMedDate not supplied

alpha- and beta-blockade with labetalol in acute myocardial infarction.

On the hypothesis that the addition of alpha-blockade would mitigate the haemodynamic disadvantages of beta-blockade alone in the early stages of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, 15 patients were studied during the intravenous infusion of labetalol (0.5 mg/kg/h). The mean systemic arterial pressure was reduced by an average of 15 mm Hg. In the nine patients haemodynamically evaluated, the cardiac output (thermal dilution) was reduced without change in the heart rate or left heart filling pressure (pulmonary artery occluded pressure); left ventricular stroke work was significantly decreased. The reduction in these major determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption suggests that the combination of alpha- and beta-blockade may be haemodynamically advantageous in normotensive patients in the early stages of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arteriolar or venous dilatation in left ventricular failure following acute myocardial infarction: a haemodynamic trial of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate.

We undertook a randomised between-group comparison of the haemodynamic effects of arteriolar dilatation and venodilatation in 20 males, following acute myocardial infarction, with persisting left ventricular failure after pretreatment with intravenous frusemide. All had radiographic pulmonary oedema and a pulmonary artery occluded pressure (PAOP) exceeding 15 mm Hg. The average cardiothoracic ratio was 52% (range 48-65%). Following control haemodynamic measurements, 10 patients received intravenous hydralazine (0.15 mg/kg) and 10 received intravenous isosorbide dinitrate infusion (50-200 micrograms/kg/h). Subsequent measurements were made at 30, 60, and 90 min. Isosorbide dinitrate reduced the PAOP by 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.01) and the mean systemic arterial pressure by 9 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) without significant change in the heart rate, cardiac output, or systemic vascular resistance. In contrast, hydralazine reduced the PAOP and systemic arterial pressure by a similar amount, but this was accompanied by a reduction in the systemic vascular resistance (p less than 0.01) and an increase in the cardiac output (p less than 0.01), heart rate (p less than 0.01), and stroke volume (p less than 0.01). This randomised study defines the contrasting haemodynamic results of arteriolar dilatation and venodilation in patients with resistant left ventricular failure following acute myocardial infarction. The different pharmacodynamic effects of these two methods of circulatory manipulation suggest that they are not mutually exclusive and together may offer therapeutic advantages.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomised study of the haemodynamic changes induced by venodilatation and arteriolar dilatation singly and together in left ventricular failure complicating acute myocardial infarction.

A randomised between-group study of the immediate haemodynamic effects of venodilatation by intravenous isosorbide dinitrate infusion (50-200 micrograms/kg/h) and arteriolar dilatation by intravenous hydralazine bolus (0.15 mg/kg) given either in random sequence (Groups 1 and 2; n = 12) or simultaneously (Group 3; n = 6) was undertaken in 18 men with radiographic and haemodynamic evidence (left ventricular [LV] filling pressure greater than 20 mm Hg) of LV failure 6-19 h following acute myocardial infarction. Control measurements (1 h) preceded either two consecutive 90-min treatment periods (Groups 1 and 2) or a single 90-min period (Group 3). Given independently, both drugs reduced systemic arterial pressure and vascular resistance, whereas only isosorbide dinitrate reduced LV filling pressure and only hydralazine increased cardiac output and stroke volume. Isosorbide dinitrate/hydralazine in combination significantly reduced LV filling pressure, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, and total systemic vascular resistance. Cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate were increased. In conclusion, combined arteriolar dilatation and venodilatation appears to be of greater haemodynamic benefit than either alone, if the fall in mean systemic pressure does not compromise peripheral perfusion.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Haemodynamic advantages of a combined inotropic/venodilator regimen over inotropic monotherapy in acute heart failure.

The haemodynamic influence of positive inotropic therapy with dobutamine, both alone and when combined with isosorbide dinitrate, was evaluated in 10 consecutive patients admitted to Coronary Care with acute left ventricular failure (pulmonary artery occluded pressure greater than 20 mm Hg) complicating myocardial infarction. Dobutamine increased systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rate without reduction in the left heart filling pressure; cardiac index (+0.9 L/min/m2; p less than 0.01) was substantially increased. Thus, consequent on these effects, dobutamine could increase myocardial oxygen requirements. The addition of intravenous isosorbide dinitrate reduced systemic arterial pressure and left heart filling pressure; the augmented cardiac index following therapy with dobutamine alone was maintained. Combined dobutamine/nitrate therapy, therefore, appeared haemodynamically superior to dobutamine monotherapy, in that it improved cardiac stroke volume at a normalised left ventricular filling pressure. These data suggest that combined dobutamine/nitrate therapy may prove useful as an adjunct to the treatment of normotensive heart failure complicating acute myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suggested new directions for research for the second phase of Health Canada's Great Lakes Health Effects Program: conclusions from a workshop.

Health Canada sponsored a workshop on March 1-3, 1994, in Aylmer, Québec. The objectives of the workshop were to present the research findings of the department's five-year Great Lakes Health Effects program, to identify key conclusions from the research, and to define future research priorities. About one hundred researchers from various disciplines such as monitoring, exposure, general toxicology, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, reproduction, teratology, neurotoxicology, immunotoxicology, risk perception, and environmental sociology participated in the workshop. Future objectives, to be achieved by the year 2000, were recommended by the participants for the second phase of the Great Lakes program. These included: obtaining additional monitoring data on fish, wildlife, wild birds' eggs, water, and sediment for the "critical" contaminants in the Great Lakes; establishing a human tissue bank to assess trends in the levels of such contaminants in humans; using models to assess human exposure to these contaminants from various biota; identifying groups that are highly exposed to the chemicals in the Great Lakes; identifying individuals who are overly sensitive to chemicals in the Great Lakes; increasing research on the influence of environmental contaminants on male fertility; continuing work on mixtures of the critical contaminants as well as on individual contaminants, and increasing research on the changes in public perception, values, attitudes, and behavior as a consequence of environmental pollution.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical utility of serum HER-2/neu testing on the Bayer Immuno 1 automated system in breast cancer.

UNLABELLED: The clinical utility of automated serum HER-2/neu measurements in breast cancer run on the Bayer random analyzer Immuno 1 was analyzed in several steps: [a] The reference interval was determined for 242 normal healthy pre- and postmenopausal females. [b] The clinical specificity of serum HER-2/neu to separate healthy controls from 210 patients with non-malignant breast--and non-breast diseases was calculated. [c] The clinical sensitivity of cross-sectional serum HER-2/neu values for 204 patients (pts) with stage I-IV breast cancer was established. [d] Specimens from 103 stage IV breast cancer pts were tested for their parallel between serial serum HER-2/neu results and disease course. RESULTS: [a] The value of 13.03 ng/ml exceeded 95% of the results from the healthy female population. Based on the mean +2 standard deviations value of 14.7 ng/dl, the upper limit of normal was established at 15 ng/ml. [b] The specificity for benign breast diseases and other benign non-breast diseases was 98.0% and 94.6%, respectively. [c] The correlation of increased serum HER-2/neu levels and stage of breast cancer revealed the best sensitivity of 40% for stage IV disease. [4] Thirty-eight (36.9%) of 103 stage IV patients had initial HER-2/neu values > 15 ng/ml, 33 of whom showed longitudinal HER-2/neu concentrations which paralleled the clinical course of the disease giving a sensitivity of 86.8%.

Automation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How government policy decisions affect seniors' quality of life: findings from a participatory policy study carried out in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto seniors explored how government policy decisions were influencing their health and well-being. In this participatory policy study, emphasis was upon the lay and critical knowledge of highly informed seniors. Focus groups and interviews revealed that all three levels of governments were seen as not listening to seniors' voices. In nine key policy areas identified as influencing seniors' quality of life--hearing seniors' voices, housing, acute illness care, long-term care, income supports, transportation and mobility, promoting healthy lifestyles, access to information, and hearing voices from cultural communities--many concerns were raised. The gap between government rhetoric and government action on seniors' issues merits public health attention.

Aged↗