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Biomedical subjects

P Wells

Publications and source records attributed to P Wells.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma with subsequent laryngeal involvement.

Cutaneous lymphoma is uncommon and lymphomatous infiltration of the larynx, occurring either as primary disease or as a feature of multifocal disease, is rare. We report a case of cutaneous, high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with isolated relapse in the larynx. The laryngeal deposit was identical to the original cutaneous lymphoma, demonstrated histologically and using the polymerase chain reaction. Complete remission of the primary lesion was attained with local radiotherapy, and a second complete remission with chemotherapy. To date, no case of primary cutaneous lymphoma with subsequent involvement of the larynx has been reported, but the association is worth documenting, since symptoms referable to the larynx are easily overlooked. They may indicate incipient embarrassment of the airway, thus requiring urgent investigation and treatment, which is generally highly effective.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Parathyroid imaging with technetium-99m-sestamibi: preoperative localization and tissue uptake studies.

The accepted radionuclide method for imaging abnormal parathyroid tissue has been the combined use of [99mTc]pertechnetate 201Tl-chloride. Various problems with this approach, however, have suggested the need for an improved parathyroid imaging agent. This study examined the use of 99mTc-sestamibi as a parathyroid imaging agent compared with 201Tl-chloride. Fifty-seven patients were scanned with both 99mTc-sestamibi and 201Tl preoperatively. There were 40 adenomas, of which 37 were localized with 201Tl and 39 with sestamibi. Fifteen patients had hyperplastic glands, of which 29 glands were localized with 201Tl and 32 with sestamibi. Possible differences in uptake of the two agents by thyroid and parathyroid tissue were examined by administering 10 MBq of each agent to patients undergoing surgical exploration and biopsy. Preoperatively 20 patients were studied (13 adenomas and 7 with hyperplasia). Thallium-201 uptake was higher in both the parathyroid and thyroid tissue than sestamibi. However, the uptake per gram of parathyroid tissue of sestamibi was higher than the uptake per gram of thyroid tissue. This was not true for 201Tl. Technetium-99m-sestamibi was at least as effective as 201Tl in parathyroid localization. This may be partly due to a higher target-to-background ratio, but also to the superior physical characteristics of 99mTc.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1991

Diastolic potentials recorded by surface electrocardiographic signal averaging during sustained ventricular tachycardia: possible origin from the reentrant circuit.

ECG signal averaging can detect low amplitude diastolic potentials in sinus rhythm. We, therefore, recorded signal-averaged ECGs during eight episodes of inducible uniform sustained VT with coincident atrial pacing to look for continuous diastolic electrical activity. Simultaneous AV pacing in seven patients served as controls. The number of QRS complexes averaged (187 +/- 47 vs 183 +/- 63), the noise level (1.26 +/- 0.88 vs 1.39 +/- 0.47) and cycle length (385 +/- 52 vs 404 +/- 40) did not differ between VT and paced recordings. In each lead the difference in onset between the unfiltered surface recording and the filtered data (40 Hz bidirectional) was significantly greater in VT than the paced recordings (25 +/- 16 vs 11 +/- 8 msec, P = 0.0012). These late diastolic (pre-QRS) potentials were greater than 15 msec duration in 65% of the leads in VT versus 20% of paced recording (P = 0.021). The maximum value was greater than 20 msec in six VT (75%) versus one (14%) paced recording (P = 0.019). The earliest filtered onset in any lead preceeded the earliest surface activity by greater than 12 msec, in 6 VT versus one paced recording (P = 0.019). Early diastolic (post-QRS) potentials were also longer in VT than pacing (49 +/- 40 versus 5 +/- 20, P = 0.001) and exceeded 38 msec in seven of the VTs but none of the paced recordings (P = 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Atrioventricular Node↗
PubMed1990

Multicentre controlled trial of indoramin in the symptomatic relief of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

A group of 139 patients with symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hypertrophy were entered into a double-blind, parallel group, multicentre study of 2 doses of indoramin versus placebo. There were 18 withdrawals or exclusions, leaving 121 patients for analysis. After 8 weeks, mean peak flow rates increased more in patients treated with indoramin 20 mg bd than in those with placebo. The difference between indoramin 20 mg nocte and placebo was not significant. The change in mean peak flow rate for the higher dose of indoramin represented an increase of 50%. Both patients and investigators reported that the patients' symptoms had improved significantly on both indoramin 20 mg bd and 20 mg nocte; 9 patients were withdrawn because of adverse events, 5 taking placebo and 2 in each of the treatment groups. It was concluded that indoramin 20 mg bd was both effective and well tolerated in the management of symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Age of menarche and genetic blood markers].

In 160 girls from low and middle socio-economic class of Santiago we correlated the age at menarque with genetic markers such as ABO blood group, Rh, MN, Xg, haptoglobins, Esterase D and Phosphoglucomutase. No significant association of these markers and age at menarque was found.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The use of Streptococcus zymogenes for estimating tryptophan and methionine bioavailability in 17 foods.

As part of a cooperative study assessing amino acid bioavailability and/or protein quality, the provisional method of Boyne et al. (Brit J Nutr 21: 181-206) was used to assay 17 protein sources for methionine and tryptophan availability with S. zymogenes. Pronase was used as the predigesting enzyme. Product composition was found to affect reproducibility. The microbial assay results correlated positively with results from rat growth studies on the same foods (p = 0.05), and were generally accurate in identifying products of lower protein quality. Defatting four high-fat products increased microbial values in the methionine assay, but only the chicken franks and the sausage values in the tryptophan assay. Heating non-fat milk increased methionine values slightly. Low values for rolled oats were further reduced by finer grinding.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1989

Preliminary serological studies comparing immunofluorescence assay with radioimmunoassay.

We assayed serum from 12 patients with untreated cicatricial pemphigoid affecting the conjunctiva for circulating autoantibodies directed against the epithelial basement membrane zone. We employed a conventional indirect immunofluorescence assay, with monkey esophagus and human conjunctiva as substrates, and compared the results with those obtained employing a radioimmunoassay measuring antibasement membrane zone antibody binding to COLO-16 and to SCaBER tumor cell lines. The indirect immunofluorescence assay on normal human conjunctival substrate detected circulating antibodies to conjunctival epithelium in 6 of 12 CP patient serum specimens. Monkey esophagus failed to detect antibodies to the epithelial basement membrane zone. In contrast, autoantibodies were detected in all 12 specimens by the radioimmunoassay. Specificity, as demonstrated by appropriate controls and assay of normal human serum, was 100%. These results demonstrate that radioimmunoassay employing COLO-16 or SCaBER cells is an exquisitely sensitive and specific assay for detection of circulating antibasement membrane antibodies in patients with cicatricial pemphigoid affecting the conjunctiva.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Modification of sweet acidophilus milk to improve utilization by lactose-intolerant persons.

Enhanced digestion of yogurt by lactose-intolerant individuals is believed to be due to inherent beta-galactosidase (lactase) in the culture organisms that aids in the hydrolysis of ingested lactose. However, sweet acidophilus milk, which contains lactase-rich organisms, does not enhance lactose digestion. Using breath-hydrogen measurements to indicate malabsorption in 14 human subjects, we compared utilization of: milk, yogurt, heated yogurt, yogurt plus lactose, heated yogurt plus lactase, sweet acidophilus milk (SAM), and SAM made with sonicated cells. Results indicate that both the reduction of lactose during fermentation and the presence of indigenous bacterial lactase are responsible for the increased ability to tolerate lactose in yogurt. Improved utilization of SAM by sonication suggests that intracellular lactase is not available during digestion and that sonication releases the lactase activity from the cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Comparative analysis of two rapid automated methods and a semiautomated version of the urease method for determining aminoglycoside concentrations in serum.

The Syva EMIT Autolab 6000 and the Abbott TDX automated methods for measuring serum aminoglycoside concentrations were compared with each other and with a new semiautomated version of the urease technique. Each was evaluated for accuracy, reproducibility, cost, and ease of use. All three methods gave satisfactory results, although the Abbott TDX was the most accurate. Both automated methods gave results within minutes, whereas the new urease method, which involved more initial manipulation, took 1.25 h to complete (mainly incubation time). There was no difference in accuracy of performance between experienced and inexperienced operators. The new urease method was much cheaper in terms of initial capital expenditure and in cost per test and needed no provision of manufacturer's back-up maintenance services. This could prove invaluable in situations where financial resources are at a premium. Otherwise, the Abbott TDX is currently our method of choice, and reasons for its preference to the EMIT system are listed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1985

Amelioration of the adverse effect of a gastrointestinal challenge with Salmonella enteritidis on weanling rats by a yogurt diet.

The response of yogurt-fed rats and the corresponding unfermented milk-fed rats to an infectious gastrointestinal challenge has been compared. After 1 (2 trials), 7 (4 trials), 14 and 21 (1 trial each) days on freeze-dried milk or yogurt diets, the rats were inoculated intra-gastrically by intubation per os with 4.5 X 10(10) +/- 0.7 colony forming units (mean +/- SEM) of Salmonella enteritidis. Challenged and control rats were monitored during the 3 weeks post-inoculation for viability, weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency. In general, challenged yogurt-fed rats exhibited significantly superior weight gain and feed efficiency (but not feed consumption) values in week 1 post-infection, but the differences were not significant in week 2 post-infection. Sick milk- and yogurt-fed rats convalesced in week 3. Pooled mortality data indicated that yogurt-fed rats survived better than milk-fed rats. Yogurt did not prevent salmonellosis per se but significantly reduced the mortality and weight gain deceleration.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Paraplegic body-support pressure on convoluted foam, waterbed, and standard mattresses.

Comparisons were made between body-support pressures obtained when 15 male paraplegics laid on waterbed, foam, and standard mattresses. The variables examined were mattress, bone prominence, and time. The major findings were that the waterbed, in comparisons with the other mattresses, yielded significantly lower occipital, scapular, and sacral pressures at 5, 20, and 35 minutes.

Adult↗