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Biomedical subjects

M Lawler

Publications and source records attributed to M Lawler.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Combination therapy for resectable and unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

The current report summarizes our experience with 77 patients with cancer of the pancreas treated over 3.5 years. Patients were not assigned to a definite group of therapy, but through the availability of different drugs and different types of treatment several comparable groups have evolved. All patients have received radiofrequency hyperthermia and chemotherapy, but in addition, some have received selective immune stimulation with one of two low-molecular-weight compounds. The data show that radiofrequency hyperthermia permits the use of a lower dose of chemotherapy, with an apparent response to treatment. This response is enhanced significantly by the addition of selective immune stimulation. A further, more rigorously defined study will be undertaken to confirm this data.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Hospital malnutrition: a 33-hospital screening study.

A collaborative study involving nutrition screening of 3,047 patients (excluding 125 pregnant women) at admission to 33 hospitals in and around the greater Chicago area was carried out to identify patients at nutritional risk. Information on sex, age, admitting diagnosis, serum albumin, hemoglobin, total lymphocyte count, and height and weight was collected from the medical chart within 48 hours of admission. Nutrition screening could not be completed for a larger number of patients (60%) because data at admission were not available. Of the remaining 40% of patients, more than 50% had below normal values for one or more of the variables studied: serum albumin, hemoglobin, and total lymphocyte count. A large number of the patients (40%) also were considered at nutritional risk as judged by the criteria of weight/height (measured only). Early nutrition intervention for high-risk patients cannot be implemented, nor can the efficacy of nutrition services be evaluated, unless nutrition screening is carried out on patients at admission.

Adolescent↗

Increased cholesterol in plasma in a young man during experimental copper depletion.

Signs of copper depletion were produced in a healthy man by an amount of dietary copper (0.83 mg/day) similar to that in some contemporary diets. Urinary and fecal loss of copper exceeded intake. Plasma copper, ceruloplasmin, and superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocytes decreased. Cholesterol in plasma increased, and hematologic indices were unchanged. Lipid metabolism may be a more sensitive index of copper nutriture than are changes in hematology. The findings support the hypothesis that inadequate copper nutriture or altered copper metabolism contributes to the occurrence of ischemic heart disease.

Adult↗

Aggressive treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in a community hospital.

A review of the clinical spectrum observed during the aggressive surgical treatment of 43 ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in a rural community hospital by one surgeon over 10 years is presented. Diagnosis frequently was delayed by other considerations. Although the patients had an average age of 70 years and 77% presented in shock, aggressive surgical treatment resulted in a 61% rate of survival with minimal complications. Prompt aortic control, graft replacement, and vigorous supportive care are required for successful treatment of this lethal and common abdominal emergency.

Aged↗

Thermolabile methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (C677T): frequency in the Irish population.

BACKGROUND: The genetic variation which underlies the thermolability and low enzyme activity of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR; C677T) has been extensively studied in many populations, including the Irish population. AIM: To describe the examination of the C677T substitution in two new control samples drawn from the Irish population. METHODS: A collection of 487 serum samples was obtained through the blood transfusion services of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and a further 115 samples from volunteers. RESULTS: In both samples, the frequency of the thermolabile/low enzyme activity allele (T) was higher than that previously reported for the Irish population. CONCLUSION: This finding thus supports the need for a greater use of internal control/family-based association studies, as opposed to the classic case control study design, when assessing the contribution of the MTHFR T allele to disease processes.

Adult↗