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Biomedical subjects

P Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to P Kennedy.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Successful imaging of human cancer with indium-111-labeled phospholipid vesicles.

Twenty-four patients with proven primary and/or metastatic cancer received single intravenous injections of phospholipid vesicles containing 0.5 mCi of Indium-111. Gamma camera scintigraphy 1 to 72 hours later visualized tumors in 22 patients (92%), including carcinomas of breast, lung, colon, prostate, kidney, cervix, thyroid, and soft tissue sarcoma, lymphoma, and melanoma. Tumor sites that were identified included soft tissues, bone, lung, liver, lymph node, and spinal cord. There were only two false-positive images in metastatic sites and four false-negative images in metastatic sites. Overall sensitivity for tumors in 97 individual sites was 85%, whereas specificity was 96%. Unsuspected areas of malignancy were seen in the lumbar subdural space, pleura, liver, thyroid, and lung. Besides tumor accumulations, homogeneous uptake was observed in normal liver and spleen. Radiation doses to these two organs were 2.2 and 2.9 cGy/0.5 mCi In-111, respectively. Whole body radiation dose was 0.3 cGy/0.5 mCi. The use of Indium-111-labeled vesicles permits a wide variety of human tumors in primary and metastatic sites to be imaged without toxicity and with radiation doses comparable to other radionuclide scanning techniques.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Direct detection of groups A, C and G streptococci in clinical specimens by a trivalent colour test.

A simple trivalent colour test, developed for the rapid detection and identification of streptococci belonging to Lancefield groups A, C and G, was evaluated for sensitivity and specificity with cultures and when directly used with wound and throat swabs. In tests performed on cultures, all of 94 group A, 78 group C and 94 group G cultures were correctly identified. In direct tests on wound swabs, 49 of 52 group A, 17 of 19 group C and 48 of 51 group G streptococci were detected and correctly identified; no false positives were observed. With throat swabs from pharyngitis patients 34 of 36 group A, 3 of 6 group C and 5 of 8 group G streptococci gave positive results. Almost 10% of these swabs gave false positive reactions with the group C component of the test system. Samples taken from uninfected individuals indicated that the false positives were probably associated with blood group A. The test system gives rapid and reliable results with streptococcal cultures, but when directly applied to clinical samples the results must be interpreted with caution, particularly if the patient's blood group is not known.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1988

Ecological evaluation of a rehabilitative environment for spinal cord injured people: behavioural mapping and feedback.

A behavioural mapping procedure was used to describe the behavioural profile, pattern of interaction and location of patients and staff in a rehabilitation unit for traumatically spinal cord injured people. Naturalistic observations were randomly obtained by trained observers during two observational periods, using 10 behavioural categories drafted from the observational literature. Feedback of the results was given to staff between the observational periods. Results suggested that patients spent a considerable proportion of their time in solitary and disengaged behaviours. Analysis of the behavioural profile of patients revealed little difference between the therapeutic day and the evening. Patients were also observed to spend large amounts of time in the ward area during the day. These results are at variance with the concept of active rehabilitation, and also raise questions concerning institutionalization. The efficacy of feedback in initiating institutional change is also examined. Comparison is made with previous research and strategies for change are suggested.

Environment↗
PubMed1988

Doctors and alcohol screening--the gap between attitudes and action.

The failure of doctors to identify patients who drink to excess has been attributed to inadequate education, negative attitudes towards problem drinkers and pessimism about treatment. As part of an early intervention programme at the York District Hospital, doctors were given brief alcohol education and encouraged to screen patients for alcohol problems. At subsequent evaluation doctors were well-informed about the nature and extent of alcohol problems and had positive attitudes to screening patients. Their performance did not reflect their views, however, with only 29 per cent of patients being screened. It is suggested that it is not unfavourable attitudes towards alcohol problems but doctors' perception of their role which determines their treatment of problem drinkers.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1987

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in AIDS.

A patient with multiple infections whose serum had antibodies to a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) developed a T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T11+, Leu-1+, Leu-3a+, TdT+, B1-, common ALL-). Antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I) were absent. T-cell leukemia-lymphoma may be associated with HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Novel color test for rapid detection of group A streptococci.

A novel color test for the rapid detection of group A streptococci has been developed. The test, designed to be suitable for use in clinical laboratories as well as by less experienced personnel, incorporates the simplicity of latex tests with a color change to indicate the presence of group A streptococcal antigen. The test, which takes 5 min, was evaluated with 646 throat swabs, with a 15.6% incidence of group A streptococci; for swabs which yielded 10 or more group A streptococcal colonies in cultures, the sensitivity was 96.8%, and the specificity was 99.1%. In addition, the color test was 100% sensitive and specific when used to detect group A streptococcal antigen in beta-hemolytic colonies from culture plates.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1987

How effective is cytotoxic chemotherapy for disseminated prostatic carcinoma?

Most of the chemotherapeutic agents available for clinical practice have been employed against prostatic cancer, either alone or in combination. Evaluation of the results has been complicated by various factors, not the least of which relates to the nature of the disease itself. In this comprehensive review of the literature, the authors have compiled the results to date.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1986

Amnesia can facilitate memory performance: evidence from a patient with dissociated retrograde amnesia.

A case is reported of a patient who experienced numerous episodes of transient global amnesia (TGA) during which anterograde amnesia was less prominent than usual, and who developed a permanent selective retrograde amnesia. On formal testing, he performed well on traditional verbal memory tests, but showed marked retrograde amnesia for verbal material, including items on a famous voices recognition test. He was administered a paired-associate learning test where the names of famous personalities for which he was amnesic were associated with incongruous activities (e.g. John Newcombe-singing). Our patient performed better on this task than a group of five matched control subjects. Our observations indicate that in the organization of human memory retrograde amnesia may be fractionated from anterograde amnesia and that in certain situations specific types of amnesia can produce a facilitation effect compared to the performance of control subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Involvement of the central nervous system by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults. A review of 36 cases.

Thirty-six (10.1 per cent) of a total of 355 adult patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma seen over a seven and a half year period developed compression or infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS). In nine patients (2.5 per cent) extradural tumour masses compressed the spinal cord or brain. Five of these patients, all previously untreated, responded well to treatment, with excellent recovery of CNS function and survival in the long term. The prognosis for the four patients with advancing drug-resistant systemic disease at the time of CNS compression was poor. In 27 patients (7.6 per cent) a clinical or cytological diagnosis of meningeal infiltration was made (on cerebrospinal fluid). Meningeal disease was seen most frequently in patients with high-grade lymphoma, either at presentation or during subsequent progression of systemic disease. All of these patients have died of systemic and/or CNS disease less than 20 (median 3) months from diagnosis of meningeal disease. Meningeal infiltration represents a significant clinical problem for which new approaches to prophylaxis and treatment are required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after administration of human growth hormone.

A 2-year-old girl had a craniopharyngioma removed in 1964. She received human growth hormone (HGH) twice a week from July, 1972, until July, 1976. In March, 1984, a subacute dementing illness developed with neurological signs that included pronounced cerebellar ataxia. A clinical diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was made. The patient died in February, 1985. Necropsy revealed a spongiform encephalopathy compatible with the transmissible form of CJD. HGH administration may be implicated in the transmission of the disease in this case.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1985

Rapidly progressive fatal pulmonary infiltration by lymphoma.

Two patients with diffuse lymphoma, one diffuse large cell and the other diffuse mixed, large and small cell, developed an illness characterised by a high swingeing fever and a pulmonary infiltrate. In both patients there was clinical evidence of chemotherapy-induced tumour response elsewhere at the time lung infiltrates progressed. Blood and sputum cultures, bronchial washings, and, in one case, trans-bronchial lung biopsy did not establish a diagnosis and there was progressive clinical deterioration. Post mortem examination showed widespread involvement of both lungs with lymphoma. The differential diagnosis of fever and pulmonary infiltrates in patients with diffuse lymphoma is discussed, in particular the possibility of this being due to rapidly progressive lymphoma.

Adult↗