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Biomedical subjects

P Selby

Publications and source records attributed to P Selby.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Tumour necrosis factor in man: clinical and biological observations.

Eighteen patients with advanced cancer have been treated intravenously with human recombinant tumour necrosis factor (rhTNF). The drug produced febrile reactions at all doses although these were preventable by steroids and indomethacin. Doses at or above 9 x 10(5) units (400 micrograms)m-2 were associated with hypotension, abnormal liver enzymes, leucopenia and mild renal impairment in a substantial proportion of patients. RhTNF was cleared from plasma with a half life of approximately 20 minutes but non-linear pharmacokinetics lymphoma, improvements in their tumours were recorded. RhTNF was noted to produce rapid increases in serum C-reactive protein concentrations. Endogenous TNF levels were not found to be elevated in 72 cancer patients. TNF deserves further therapeutic evaluation and these observations support its biological importance as an endogenous pyrogen, mediator of acute phase protein responses, and a mediator of endotoxic shock.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Antiviral chemotherapy.

Specific antiviral chemotherapy now has an established role in the treatment of many virus infections, particularly those caused by herpesviruses. This change is one of the major medical developments of the last decade. There is reason to believe that further advances will occur, and we can look forward to a range of antiviral drugs comparable to those available for bacterial infections.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Mediastinal emphysema in marrow transplant recipients.

Six of 146 patients at our institution developed mediastinal emphysema following marrow transplantation. Five patients were the recipients of marrow from their HLA fully matched sibling donors and one patient had an autologous marrow transplant. Features common to all included single-dose total body irradiation and high-dose systemic adrenocorticosteroids. Five of the patients had clinical and radiological evidence of recent or active interstitial pneumonitis. The clinical implications and possible aetiologies of mediastinal emphysema developing in the post-transplant patient are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A515U: a prodrug of acyclovir with increased oral bioavailability.

The tolerance and pharmacokinetics of A515U, a xanthine oxidase-activated prodrug of acyclovir have been investigated in healthy volunteers and in two phase-I clinical studies in immunocompromised patients. In all cases the bioavailability of acyclovir following oral administration of A515U was substantially increased over that achieved in the same subjects with oral acyclovir itself. Plasma acyclovir levels were similar to those previously attainable only with intravenous acyclovir. This increase in bioavailability may permit reductions in the frequency of administration and extend the range of herpes virus infections amenable to oral therapy. A515U was very well tolerated, with no significant clinical adverse events being attributed to the drug.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1986

Methods of immunosuppression for study of growth and lung colony formation by human tumor cells in mice.

Mice that are immune-suppressed by thymectomy and by sequential treatment with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and whole body irradiation may be used as hosts for generation of human tumor xenografts. We have studied the effect of various additional methods of immune suppression on the formation of tumors after i.m. injection and on the formation of lung colonies after i.v. injection with the human MGH-U1 bladder cancer cell line. Success of transplantation was improved by treatment of immune-suppressed animals with either heterologous antilymphocyte serum or a monoclonal anti-Thy-1.2 antibody. Success of lung colony formation was also improved by antilymphocyte serum but not by monoclonal anti-Thy-1.2 antibody. Admixture of heavily irradiated cells (10(6)) to the viable inoculum of tumor cells in addition to antilymphocyte serum treatment improved the success of i.m. transplantation but not that of lung colony formation. Treatment with corticosteroids or treatment with carrageenan to suppress macrophage activity added toxicity and did not improve the success of xenografting. Immune suppression decreased the natural killer cell activity of normal mice and treatment with antiinterferon to further suppress natural killer cells may also enhance xenograft formation. Administration of cyclosporin A to normal mice allowed the growth of a single xenograft but was not a useful method for immunosuppression. The success of xenografting into immune-deprived mice was superior to that for two strains of nude mice maintained in our laboratory, and i.v. injection of tumor cells did not lead to lung colonies in these nude mice. Immune-deprived mice are a useful alternative to nude mice for the study of xenografts derived from human tumor cell lines and may allow the study of experimental lung metastases.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Measurement of the quality of life after cancer treatment.

Until treatment is totally effective and side effects nonexistent it is important that the quality of life of patients undergoing cancer treatment is properly evaluated. Such studies will improve clinical investigations and shift the emphasis away from disease activity to patient benefit.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1985

Long-term venous access using a subcutaneous implantable drug delivery system.

To facilitate long-term venous access in patients receiving chemotherapy, a subcutaneous totally implantable system (Port-a-Cath, Phamacia) has been used in 14 patients. The method of implantation and the advantages over conventional central venous catheters are discussed. The expense of the system necessitates careful patient selection.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1984

Amino (hydroxyethoxymethyl) purine: a new well-absorbed prodrug of acyclovir.

Acyclovir is an effective treatment for herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections, but it is somewhat limited by low oral absorption. 2-amino-9-[(2hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-9H-purine (BW A515U), a new prodrug of acyclovir, when evaluated in 10 patients with haematological malignancies, was well tolerated, excellently absorbed, and produced high plasma concentrations of acyclovir which were comparable to those with intravenous acyclovir. The plasma concentrations after oral BW A515U were much higher than those after oral acyclovir.

Acyclovir↗