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Biomedical subjects

P Dervan

Publications and source records attributed to P Dervan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

The effect of prednisolone in Refsum's disease.

A 16 year old schoolgirl with an established peripheral neuropath (motor conduction velocity in peroneal nerve of 5 metres/sec., absent sural nerve potential and CSF protein of 160 mg%) presented with a progressive worsening to the point of physical incapacitation over the course of 23 days. Serum phytanic acid was 33 mg/100 ml. Following the exhibition of prednisolone she was discharged walking well after 5 days. After 3 weeks the steroid medication was stopped and a phytanic acid free diet instituted. Despite continued abnormal electrophysiological findings, (e.g. motor conduction velocity in peroneal nerve 3 metres/sec., and in ulnar nerve 8 metres/sec), she remains well three years later. It is probable that the steroid medication had a pronounced beneficial effect, though the mechanism of action remains unexplained.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Pathophysiological sequelae of hepatic artery ligation: an experimental study.

The effects of ligation of the proper hepatic artery were studied in 40 rats. The serum transaminase and bilirubin levels were elevated significantly at 24 h following surgery but had returned to normal by the 7th postoperative day. The serum albumin level was significantly reduced at 24 h and remained low for a further 2 weeks. There was no histological abnormality in the liver following hepatic artery ligation. It would appear that there is an early return to normal function following hepatic artery ligation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Diagnostic and prognostic problems in early gastric cancer.

Although common in Japan, early gastric cancer is rarely seen in Western countries and generally accounts for only 7 to 10 percent of all gastric malignancies. Eleven patients with early gastric cancer seen over a 10 year period have been reviewed for clinical and pathologic features, method of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. The symptoms usually consisted of vague epigastric pain or dyspepsia, but anorexia, weight loss, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia were not commonly seen. Barium meal examination was not helpful in the diagnosis in 50 percent of the patients. The diagnosis was made by endoscopic biopsy of abnormal areas of the stomach, although in 6 of 11 patients, there was no macroscopic suspicion of malignancy. All patients were treated by surgical resection. The tumor was confined to the mucosa in five patients and had infiltrated the submucosa in six patients. The lymph nodes were free of tumor in every patient. At last follow-up, seven patients had survived more than 5 years after operation and were well, although recurrent tumors developed in two patients 3 and 4 years postoperatively but were detected early by endoscopic surveillance. Early gastric cancer has a good prognosis after surgical resection, but the symptoms are vague and the diagnostic tests can be misleading. A vigorous approach to investigation, treatment, and follow-up is necessary to achieve satisfactory results.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1987

Hereditary amyloid polyneuropathy in north west Ireland.

Seven cases of chronic sensorimotor polyneuropathy due to amyloidosis, from 7 different families, are described, in addition to the pathology in a sibling of 1 case. The age of onset ranged from 55 to 72 years. Cardiac involvement, intermittent diarrhoea and syncopal attacks were a frequent occurrence. Motor conduction velocity showed a moderate degree of slowing in 5 of 6 cases studied and marked slowing in 1. Amyloid deposits were seen in nerve biopsy material of all 8 subjects and in rectal mucosa from 1. Immunohistochemical identification revealed AF (transthyretin-derived)--amyloid in all 8 instances, confirming the presence of type 1 familial amyloid neuropathy. The genealogical data supported this analysis. Six of the 8 cases originated in a small area of the north-west coast of County Donegal in Ireland. The remaining cases also originated in the same county.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The use of monoclonal antibodies for the histopathological detection of mammary axillary micrometastases.

We have studied the clinical value of immunohistochemical techniques in detecting occult axillary metastases from breast carcinoma in forty patients, all of whom had been assessed as free of nodal metastases by routine histology 5 years earlier. The same sections were restained using monoclonal antibodies against Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA). In four patients, occult metastases were detected, giving an increase in diagnostic accuracy of 10%. At 5-year follow-up 12 (30%) patients had developed tumour recurrence, of whom three were detected on immunohistochemical testing, while the other nine patients were reported as free of nodal metastases on staining with Anti-EMA. We conclude that routine application of immunohistochemical staining would further increase the diagnostic yield of axillary metastases from breast carcinoma, but this increase would not be of significant clinical value.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Osteoid osteoma: excision with scintimetric guidance.

The definite diagnosis of osteoid osteoma relies on the demonstration of the nidus, best shown by CT, which also provides precise preoperative localization of the nidus. While bone-block excision to remove the nidus is feasible in the long bones, there may be unacceptable sequelae in the vertebral column and small bones of the hands. By precisely localizing the nidus, radionuclide scintimetry permits excellent therapeutic results, with minimal morbidity.

Adolescent↗