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Biomedical subjects

P Dey

Publications and source records attributed to P Dey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The impact of psoriasis guidelines on appropriateness of referral from primary to secondary care: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with psoriasis have limited disease which can be managed effectively in primary care. There is a marked variation in the frequency of referrals between practices reflecting, in part, inadequate training of general practitioners (GPs) in the management of psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of guidelines and training sessions on the management of psoriasis in reducing inappropriate referrals from primary care. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or over with psoriasis were eligible for the cluster-randomized, randomized controlled trial if they were referred by their GP between 9 September 2002 and 31 December 2003 to one of four hospital dermatology departments in Greater Manchester, North-West England. All GPs from 165 health centres were invited to a lecture by a local dermatologist on the diagnosis and management of psoriasis. Health centres in the intervention arm received guidelines on the management of psoriasis in primary care, developed by local dermatologists, supplemented by the offer of a practice-based nurse-led training session; those in the control arm received neither guidelines nor training sessions. RESULTS: Eighty-two health centres were randomized to the intervention arm and 83 to the control arm. Outcome data were available for 188 of the 196 eligible patients referred during the study period. Patients in the intervention arm were significantly more likely to be appropriately referred in comparison with patients in the control arm [difference = 19.1%; odds ratio (OR) 2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-4.68; intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0]. Only 25 (30%) health centres in the intervention arm took up the offer of training sessions. There was no significant difference in outcome between health centres in the intervention arm that received a training session and those that did not (OR 1.28, 95% CI 0.50-3.29, ICC = 0). CONCLUSIONS: Dissemination of guidelines on the management of psoriasis in primary care can significantly enhance the appropriateness of referral of patients to secondary care.

Adolescent↗

Role of ancillary techniques in diagnosing and subclassifying non-Hodgkin's lymphomas on fine needle aspiration cytology.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are tumours of the lymphoid cells. During the process of development of lymphoid cells, neoplasia may evolve at any point. Neoplastic cells usually carry the imprint of cell of origin at the stage of origin. Various types of NHL may have similar morphology with wide variation in origin, immunophenotype and other biological features. Different ancillary laboratory techniques may help to overcome the limitations of morphology in this aspect. The commonly used ancillary techniques in lymphomas are immunocytochemistry (IC), flow cytometry, Southern blot (SB) technique, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In addition, laser scanning cytometry (LSC) and DNA microarray technologies are in the research phase. Various laboratory techniques are used for immunophenotyping, demonstration of monoclonality, identification of chromosomal translocation, assessment of cell kinetics and expression of mRNA in the tumour cells. Flow cytometry helps in rapid immunophenotying of NHL and it has an added advantage over IC in recognizing the co-expression of CD markers. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) combined with flow immunophenotyping may help us to diagnose and subclassify certain NHLs, such as follicular lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, which were previously recognized as pure morphological entities. Loss of morphology is one of the important limitations of flow cytometry. LSC can overcome this limitation by studying morphology along with the immunophenotyping pattern of individual cells. Chromosomal changes in NHL can be identified by SB, PCR and FISH. Molecular diagnosis of NHL helps in diagnosis, subclassification, prognostic assessment and even in planning of therapy. DNA microarray is a relatively newer and promising technology. It gives information about the expression of several thousands of genes in a tumour in a single experiment. In the near future, FNAC combined with ancillary techniques may play a major role in diagnosis, subclassification and management of lymphomas.

Biopsy, Fine-Needle↗

Is stroke unit care portable? A systematic review of the clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: It is not known if mobile stroke teams can achieve the good results seen in trials of geographically discrete stroke wards (stroke units). OBJECTIVE: To establish the effectiveness of mobile stroke teams. DESIGN: Systematic review of controlled clinical trials that compared peripatetic systems of organised stroke care (stroke team care) with alternative hospital services. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis (using Cochrane Collaboration methodology and involving the primary trialists). Clinical outcomes included death, dependency, the need for institutional care and measures of the process of care such as the delivery of key investigations and treatments. RESULTS: Six clinical trials (1,085 patients) were identified; five (781 patients) compared some form of stroke team care with conventional care in general medical wards and one (304 patients) compared team care with a comprehensive stroke unit. Compared with care in general wards, stroke team care improved some aspects of the process of care, but clinical outcomes were similar. Compared with a comprehensive stroke unit, stroke team patients were significantly less likely to survive (P <0.001), return home (P < 0.001) or regain independence (P < 0.0001). Most aspects of the process of care were also poorer than in the stroke unit. CONCLUSIONS: Care from a mobile stroke team had no major impact on death, dependency or the need for institutional care.

Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Comparison of cytologic features of giant-cell tumor and giant-cell tumor of tendon sheath.

The cytologic features in twelve cases of giant-cell tumor (GCT) and five cases of giant-cell tumor of tendon sheath (GCTTS) diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) are described. All of these cases were histopathologically confirmed. The aspirates of GCT are composed of a dual population of mononucleated spindle cell and multinucleated giant cells. The peripheral adherence of giant cells to the spindle cell is the feature of diagnostic significance in GCT. In GCTTS, the aspirate consists of a polymorphic population composed of mononuclear histiocyte-like cells, hemosiderin laden macrophages, foamy macrophages, and a few multinucleated giant cells. FNAC can be used as a diagnostic tool for an early and accurate detection of these two giant cell-rich lesions, since the cytologic features when evaluated in conjunction with the clinical and radiologic features are sufficiently diagnostic.

Adult↗

Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours and tumour-like lesions.

In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours. We have also assessed the various pitfalls of FNAC of soft tissue tumours. This was a retrospective study and here we analysed only 82 histopathology proven cases of FNAC of soft tissue tumours diagnosed in a five and half year period. On histopathological examination, 55 of these cases were malignant and 27 were benign. There was a total of 15 recurrences and histopathology was available prior to FNAC in only eight of these cases. Therefore, excluding these eight cases, malignant tumours were primarily diagnosed by FNAC in 47 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of FNAC in diagnosis of soft tissue tumours were 91.5%, 92.5% and 95.5%, respectively. Only 22 of 47 cases (46.8%) were correctly categorized. There were two false-positive and four false-negative cases. One case each of fibromatosis and schwannoma were reported as sarcoma. False-negative cases were fibrosarcoma (1), malignant nerve sheath tumour (2) and haemangiopericytoma (1). FNAC was very useful in distinguishing benign from malignant soft tissue tumours. However, it was not so effective in exact categorization of tumours.

Biopsy, Fine-Needle↗

Aneuploidy and malignancy: an unsolved equation.

Aneuploidy is frequently noted in malignant tumours. There is much controversy about its cause and effect in relation to malignant tumours. Failure of the spindle checkpoint caused by mutation of the responsible genes may be one of the important factors for the development of aneuploidy. Telomere dysfunction may also be a possible source of failure of cytokinesis resulting in aneuploidy. Evidence such as tumour specific aneuploidy, presence of aneuploidy in various preneoplastic conditions, increased frequency of genetic instability in aneuploid cell lines compared with diploid cells, and mutation of mitotic checkpoint genes suggests that aneuploidy possibly plays an active role in carcinogenesis. In this brief review, the various aspects of aneuploidy with special emphasis on its mechanism of development and impact on progression of cancer are discussed.

Aneuploidy↗

Fine needle aspiration cytology of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid.

In this retrospective study, we tried to ascertain the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) features of six histopathologically proven cases of the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid (FVPCT). These proven cases were diagnosed from 1998-2000. May-Grunwald-Giemsa and haematoxylin & eosin stained FNAC smears were studied independently by two observers (MP and PD) for detailed cytological features. A comparison of the cytological features was undertaken with those reported in the literature. There were six cases of which only one case was diagnosed as FVPCT while the other five cases were diagnosed as follicular neoplasm (four cases) and neoplasm unclassifiable (one case) on FNAC smears. All these cases showed abundant cellularity with a prominent follicular pattern. No papillae were identified in any of the cases. Syncytial clusters (five cases), nuclear grooves (six cases), nuclear inclusions (one case) and chewing gum colloid (three cases) were noted in variable proportions. We suggest that a differential diagnosis of FVPCT should be considered if the cytology smears show abundant cellularity, syncytial clusters and follicular arrangement along with thick colloid.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Serous effusions: diagnosis of malignancy beyond cytomorphology. An analytic review.

In this brief review, the role of various ancillary techniques to detect malignancy in effusion fluid are evaluated and discussed. The data were collected from a large number of research articles published in various medical journals. The role of these techniques to increase the diagnostic accuracy in serous effusions is emphasised.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Metastatic tumours of the ovary: a clinico-pathological study.

The ovary is a frequent site of metastasis. However the incidence of metastatic tumours to the ovary is not exactly known. The reported incidence in the literature varies from 2.95 to 27.8%. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the breast have been reported to be the frequent primary sites of the metastatic deposits in the ovary. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of metastatic ovarian tumours and analyse their detailed morphologic features. All the metastatic ovarian neoplasms diagnosed in the Department of Cytology and Gynaecologic Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh from 1996 to 2000 were included in the study. Nineteen metastatic tumours out of a total of 363 ovarian neoplasms (5%) were identified. The patients frequently presented with abdominal distension and mass. The age ranged from 17 to 75 years. The primary site was unknown in ten cases. Uterus was the most common site (4 cases) followed by GIT (3 cases). Six Krukenberg's tumours were identified. In cases simulating the primary ovarian tumours, the following features were helpful to suggest the metastatic deposit in the ovary: bilaterality, no significant ovarian enlargement, vascular emboli, a Krukenberg's morphology, no omental deposits and the absence of transition from benign to malignant epithelium.

Adolescent↗

Radiotherapy versus open surgery versus endolaryngeal surgery (with or without laser) for early laryngeal squamous cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy, open surgery and endolaryngeal excision (with or without laser) are all accepted modalities of treatment for early stage glottic cancer. Case series suggest that they confer similar survival advantage. Opinions on optimal therapy vary across disciplines and between countries. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of open surgery, endolaryngeal excision (with or without laser) and radiotherapy in the management of early glottic laryngeal cancer SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic search of MEDLINE (from 1966 to October 2000), EMBASE (from 1980 to October 2000), CINAHL (from 1982 to October 2000) and CancerLit (from 1963 to October 2000) databases and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing open surgery, endolaryngeal resection and/or radiotherapy DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed RCTs identified from the electronic searches for eligibility and methodological quality. All authors of the review discussed the results of these assessments. MAIN RESULTS: Only one RCT was identified which compared open surgery and radiotherapy among a substantial number of patients with early glottic laryngeal cancer. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is currently insufficient evidence to guide management decisions on the most effective treatment. Interpretation of the only large scale RCT comparing open surgery and radiotherapy in patients with early glottic cancer is limited because of concerns about the adequacy of treatment regimens and deficiencies in the reporting of the study design and analysis. Endolaryngeal resection of early glottic tumours is becoming more common and a well designed multicentre RCT is warranted.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗