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Biomedical subjects

N Howard

Publications and source records attributed to N Howard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Use of calcium carbonate as a phosphate binder in dialysis patients.

Aluminum-containing phosphate (Al-binders) employed to control serum phosphorus in patients with chronic renal failure can be associated with the development of aluminum toxicity. To obviate the need for Al-binders, we examined the effectiveness of CaCO3 as a phosphate binder in 31 hemodialysis and 8 CAPD patients followed for 2 months while receiving Al-binders, and then, for 3-14 months while receiving CaCO3 (5.8 +/- 0.4 g/day). Monthly serum phosphorus averaged 5.4 +/- 0.2 mg/dl with Al-binders and 5.1 +/- 0.3 to 5.7 +/- 0.4 mg/dl with CaCO3 (p = NS). There were 25.2 episodes of hyperphosphatemia (serum phosphorus greater than 6.5 mg/dl) per 100 treatment months with Al-binders and 19.2 episodes/100 treatment months with CaCO3 (p = NS). Plasma aluminum levels, 105 +/- 21 micrograms/l during ingestion of Al-binders, fell to 34 +/- 11 micrograms/l after 8 months of therapy with CaCO3 (p less than 0.01). Monthly serum Ca averaged 9.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl during Al administration and was 8.9 +/- 0.8 to 10.0 +/- 0.2 mg/dl with CaCO3 (p = NS). Thirty-four episodes of hypercalcemia (serum Ca greater than 11.0 mg/dl) occurred in 14 patients ingesting CaCO3, but hypercalcemia did not occur with ingestion of Al-binders. Al-related bone disease was found on bone biopsy in 11 of 13 patients who developed hypercalcemia, compared to only 5 of the 11 biopsied patients who remained normocalcemic (p less than 0.01 by chi 2 analysis). Other side effects included diarrhea in 1 patient and constipation in 3 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Thyroid dysgenesis in monozygotic twins: variants identified by scintigraphy.

The unusual occurrence of neonatal hypothyroidism in monozygotic twins is reported. Scintigraphy demonstrated that permanent hypothyroidism in one resulted from an ectopic suprahyoid thyroid, while in the other, the transient hypothyroid state was associated with thyroid hemiagenesis. These findings suggest that the anomalies represent variants of the same developmental aberration.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗
PubMed1982

Endocrine complications of topical and intralesional corticosteroid therapy.

Four previously healthy children acquired skin problems that were treated with topical or intralesional fluorinated corticosteroids. Three developed signs that suggested Cushing's syndrome 1-4 months after initial treatment. Investigation showed low plasma cortisol levels and inadequate response to corticotrophin stimulation. After 7 months of treatment with topical steroids the fourth child presented with failure to thrive; during a febrile illness he had a convulsion followed by acute hypotension which responded to parenteral corticosteroid administration. Adrenal function was not studied in this patient. Although fluorinated corticosteroids seldom lead to overt adrenal suppression in children, they may impair pituitary-adrenal responses in some. Such patients should be given oral or parenteral steroid cover in the event of illness or trauma.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1982

Seventh interim progress report of the british institute of radiology fractionation study of 3F/week versus 5F/week in radiotherapy of the laryngo-pharynx.

A fresh analysis of the data entered into the multicentre BIR fractionation trial of 3F/week versus 5F/week in radiotherapy of the laryngopharynx has been undertaken. Completed records of the 732 patients initially entered into the trial have now risen from 687 at the last report to 706. The data have been analysed in a manner similar to that adopted previously so as to measure the effects of the two regimes on both tumour and normal tissues, and some additional analyses have now also been made. There have been some modifications in the results in the various sub-groups which may be due to an inadequate number of patients having been followed up for long enough at the time of the previous analyses. More data for late radiation damage to normal tissues and new radiobiological findings have suggested possible explanations for the differences which have emerged between the two groups. The apparent differences between the sub-groups containing patients with highly localized tumours, which were reported in our previous report, are now less marked and not statistically significant.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1981

Carcinoma of the prostate: the treatment of bone metastases by radiophosphorus.

Osseous deposits secondary to advanced carcinoma of the prostate are a common feature of the disease. These deposits are most often seen in the lumbar spine and pelvis and cause severe and intractable pain, often requiring large quantities of strong analgesia for alleviation of pain. Relief of pain can be achieved by external irradiation of these deposits, but this relief may not be permanent and the disease may be so widespread that it is impracticable to treat all the deposits by irradiation. Deposits from carcinoma of the prostrate are usually multiple and all may cause pain at the same time. A method of delivering the radiation to all the deposits at the same time has been sought. Previous studies have shown that radioactive phosphorus (P32) can be used to obtain this localisation of radioactivity at sites of osseous activity. In this study 24 patients with bone metastases from carcinoma of the prostate were treated with radiophosphorus and methyl testosterone, or radiophosphorus with parathormone and calcium. An overall response rate of 58% shows this to be an effective palliative treatment. The results suggest there is a greater response when P32 is used in conjunction with parathormone and calcium, than with methyl testosterone.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1980

Pheochromocytoma in children--an update.

Eight cases of pheochromocytoma in children were managed between 1958 and 1978. Headache, visual blurring, sweating, and hypertension were the most common findings. One patient presented with a hypertensive crisis during appendectomy. Three other children had a family history of pheochromocytoma and Hippel-Landau disease, thyroid carcinoma, and renal stones. The diagnostic approach was based on a high suspicion of the disease from the clinical picture. The most reliable laboratory investigations were urinary VMA, metanephrine, and catecholamines. I.V.P. and angiography were successful in localizing the tumor. In 4 cases, CT scan localized the tumor, although a second tumor was not seen in 1 case. Preoperative control of hypertension was achieved with phenoxybenzamine, propanolol, apresoline and reserpine in seven cases. The main anesthetic drugs used were pentothal, methoxyflurane, nitrous oxide, Innovar, and pancuronium. Tumors were located in the right adrenal in four, the left adrenal in two, both adrenals in one, and bilateral para-aortic sites in one. In two cases, hypertensive episodes during manipulation of the tumor were controlled with phentolamine. Ligation of the venous drainage from a tumor was associated with a sudden sustained fall in systemic blood pressure in six cases. In two, blood pressure remained elevated until a second tumor was found and removed. Hypotension was then corrected by the rapid infusion of fluid and blood, and vasopressors were not used. There were no postoperative complications and all children remained normotensive during the follow-up. The tumors of seven of the patients were benign. One tumor showed a low grade malignancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Sixth interim progress report of the British Institute of Radiology fractionation study of 3F/week versus 5F/week in radiotherapy of the laryngo-pharynx.

The results are reported of the multicentre BIR fractionation trial of 3F/week versus 5F/week in radiotherapy of the laryngo-pharynx. 687 patient records have been analysed with respect to survival rates, recurrence-free rates and laryngectomy-free rates. For the group as a whole these analyses show no difference between the two fractionation regimes. Analysis of the sub-group which had early disease confined to the vocal cords does, however, show a better recurrence-free and laryngectomy-free rate for those patients treated with 5F/week, though the survival rate for the two groups remains similar. Acute and late normal tissue reactions are reported for up to six years after treatment. It appears that treatment with 3F/week can be given safely to patients with advanced disease. The differences between the two treatment groups who had early disease of the vocal cords are discussed, but until more data become available in the future the problems raised cannot be resolved.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗