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Biomedical subjects

M L Wilkinson

Publications and source records attributed to M L Wilkinson.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

High serum vitamin B12 binding capacity as a marker of the fibrolamellar variant of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ten (9.3%) of 107 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had considerably increased serum unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity. All 10 were young (mean 12 years), had no serum alpha-fetoprotein, and no underlying cirrhosis; all had a longer survival compared with patients without increased serum unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity in the study. Seven of the 10 patients had fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a recently recognised histological variant, which was found in only one young patient without increased serum unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity and no alpha-fetoprotein among the remaining 97. This high degree of correlation between increased serum unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma has not been reported before. Increased serum unsaturated vitamin B12 binding capacity may be of considerable help in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring treatment of this well-defined group of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but no alpha-fetoprotein.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for sex hormone-binding globulin.

A simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) has been developed. Polyclonal antibody raised to SHBG purified to homogeneity was employed. The ELISA, which may be performed in under 4 h, shows no cross-reactivity with other serum proteins, has a sensitivity of less than 1.2 fmol per sample, demonstrates excellent correlation with ligand-binding techniques (r = 0.996; p less than 0.0001), and has intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of between 5-9% and 7-11% respectively.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sex-steroids and primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

The possible importance of sex-steroids in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is examined. Epidemiological data link both oestrogens and androgens to HCC. HCC tissue contains oestrogen and androgen receptors, although there have been many methodological problems. There is a build-up of a potent androgen in HCC tissue. Some clinical evidence suggests the androgen dependence of HCC, but the role of oestrogens may be synergistic. The importance of sex-steroids in growth and aetiology of HCC is unknown and may have been overemphasized. Further studies in vitro are suggested.

Androgens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating sex steroids and sex hormone binding globulin in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Circulating total testosterone is reported to be low in pancreatic adenocarcinoma but the free, more biologically important fractions of sex-steroid hormones remain unstudied. This study further elucidates the influence of pancreatic cancer on circulating sex steroids. Serum testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, oestradiol and androst-4-ene-3, 17-dione and the free fractions of these hormones were determined in 46 patients. Control groups comprised healthy people (40) and patients with tumours of other primary sites (45). Both total (p less than 0.001) and free (p less than 0.001) androgen fractions were markedly decreased, free testosterone by about 17-fold, and free dihydrotestosterone by about 35-fold; sex hormone binding globulin levels were elevated (p less than 0.001) in all male cancer patients. Total oestradiol was elevated 2-fold in pancreatic cancer (p less than 0.01) compared with controls or other primary malignancy patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endoscopy: throat spray or sedation?

Anxious patients tolerate endoscopy poorly. It was proposed that such patients might derive most benefit from sedation, while most non-anxious patients would prefer endoscopy with lignocaine throat spray alone. In a prospective study, 200 outpatients underwent diagnostic endoscopy after receiving one of two detailed information sheets which offered them either the choice between spray or sedation (n = 100) or the same choice but encouraged those who were anxious about endoscopy to choose sedation (n = 100). When given an informed choice, most non-anxious patients prefer not to be sedated most non-anxious patients prefer not to be sedated during diagnostic endoscopy. If patients who are anxious about the procedure are advised to choose sedation, those who nevertheless opt for topical throat spray alone find the endoscopy just as comfortable. If the endoscopy were to be repeated, 73% of the spray group and 77% of the sedation group would make the same choice again. Of 33 patients who chose spray but had been given only sedation for a previous endoscopy, 26 (79%) would choose spray again for a future endoscopy. The choice of spray or sedation should reflect the patient's view as well as that of the endoscopist.

Aerosols↗