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Biomedical subjects

N Miller

Publications and source records attributed to N Miller.

246 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The potential role of HSP70 as an indicator of response to radiation and hyperthermia treatments for recurrent breast cancer.

Twenty-three patients with recurrent breast cancer participating in a Phase III trial evaluating radiotherapy (XRT) with or without hyperthermia (HT) were included in a parallel study of heat shock protein (hsp) expression. The patients had core biopsies and/or fine needle aspirates (FNA) performed on their tumours, before and after treatment. These were analysed for hsp content using immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to the inducible form of hsp 70. The proportion of samples containing identifiable cancer cells was greater for the core biopsy specimens (80%) than with FNA (60%). Staining intensity was analysed using either the majority score, i.e. the staining intensity (on a relative scale from 0 to 3) for the largest proportion of tumour cells, or the arithmetic score, which is the sum of the product of percentage of tumour cells and their staining intensity. The staining intensity for hsp's after treatment correlated inversely with the probability of attaining a complete response (CR). Specifically, the median and maximum scores for the biopsy specimens were significantly inversely related to the probability of attaining CR. The results suggest that this technique may be useful in predicting for thermotolerance development, though more data is needed to confirm the utility of the technique. Results from this study corroborate data from other clinical studies which suggest that tumours with elevated hsp levels may demonstrate resistant biologic behaviour.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Imaging-based dynamic liver testing--a computerized simulation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The mechanisms for maintaining liver function are complex and currently used liver function tests give limited and often nonspecific and insensitive results. The aim of the study was to demonstrate a dynamic liver test with a tomographic imaging modality as sampling method by means of a computer simulation. METHODOLOGY: A virtual three-dimensional liver model, consisting of parenchyma and bile ducts, was created using computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing software. An intravenously administered, bile excreted test substance was simulated in the model by awarding changing densities to the parenchyma and bile ducts in 12 identical sets of the model. RESULTS: Imaging-based density measurements enabled the creation of time-density curves reflecting the transport of the simulated test substance in the parenchymal mass and bile ducts. By means of quantitative analysis of the curves, parenchymal uptake and excretion and intrahepatic bile flow could be assessed independently. CONCLUSIONS: The method enables comparison of function in different liver segments and may have particular value in investigating diseases that affect the liver in a non-homogeneous fashion, for example primary sclerosing cholangitis. Imaging sampling can theoretically be applied with any tomographic imaging technique for which a suitable test substrate exists, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or single photon emission tomography.

Bile↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dual function of the distal arteriovenous fistula for maintenance of arterial and venous prosthetic graft patency in the lower extremity.

Venous hypertension, severe swelling, and tissue necrosis occurred in a limb previously subjected to distal arterial bypass plus adjunctive arteriovenous fistula. Occlusion of the popliteal vein had not been recognized during the early treatment period. Subsequent to identification of this mechanism, limb salvage was achieved with an interposition graft of the popliteal vein using externally supported PTFE. The prereconstruction venous pressure gradient of 29 cm H2O was virtually abolished immediately after reestablishing venous outflow. The distal arteriovenous fistula, initially established to maintain prosthetic arterial graft patency, now serves, in this case, a dual function by additionally maintaining prosthetic venous graft patency. An intact deep venous system is critical for achieving successful arterial reconstruction and to avoid the complications associated with an occluded outflow tract in the face of augmented inflow.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of aflatoxins in vegetable oils.

A simple method is proposed for determination of aflatoxins in vegetable oils. The method was successfully applied to both crude and degummed oils. The oil sample, dissolved in hexane, was applied to a silica column and washed with ether, toluene, and chloroform; aflatoxins were eluted from the column with chloroform-methanol (97 + 3). As quantitated by thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography, the oils analyzed contained aflatoxin B1 at levels of 5-200 micrograms/kg. Recoveries of aflatoxin B1 standards added to aflatoxin-free oils were between 89.5 and 93.5%, with coefficients of variation of 6.3-8.0%.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arterial complications of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Two patients considered to be examples of the Type IV or "arterial" variety of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) are presented. In case 1 there seems to be little doubt about the diagnosis. Case 2, which is currently under treatment also appears to be an example of EDS, Type IV. The multiple arterial aneurysms and the findings on the skin biopsy appear to substantiate the diagnosis. These two cases demonstrate some of the features of the Type IV variety of EDS. In the first case visceral artery aneurysms dominated the clinical picture and in the second case peripheral arterial aneurysms were dominant. In neither case were the classical manifestations of the disorder, skin hyperelasticity and joint hypermobility, prominent.

Adult↗