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Biomedical subjects

R A Cooke

Publications and source records attributed to R A Cooke.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Angiosarcoma associated with foreign body material. A report of three cases.

The production of tumors through solid-state mechanisms has been demonstrated in experimental animals, but foreign body tumorigenesis has not been proven definitively in man. The authors report three patients with angiosarcoma that occurred in intimate association with foreign material retained for prolonged periods. Although several etiologic factors have been defined in angiosarcoma, foreign bodies generally are not appreciated to have this potential. Review of the literature disclosed six cases of angiosarcoma and 40 cases of sarcomas of other histologic types associated with foreign material, with latency periods of from 4 months to 63 years. Implanted foreign material thus should be considered capable of inducing virtually any form of sarcoma in humans.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Enteritis necroticans among Khmer children at an evacuation site in Thailand.

A severe illness characterised by bloody diarrhoea and intestinal dysfunction was recognised at an evacuation site on the Thai-Kampuchean border. From June, 1985, to July, 1986, the illness occurred in 62 Khmer children aged 10 months to 10 years (mean 4 years); it was characterised by bloody diarrhoea (94%), fever (90%), and abdominal pain (78%). The overall mortality rate was 58%. Among 16 children who died and underwent necropsy, small-intestinal necrosis of varying severity was found; in 5 of these children small-intestinal lesions with areas of full-thickness necrosis were seen that histologically resembled those in cases of enteritis necroticans (pigbel) in Papua New Guinea. Beta-toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens type C was isolated from 2 of 23 children from whom specimens for anaerobic cultures were collected, and antibodies to beta toxin were detected in 5 of 9 survivors but not in 10 healthy, age-matched control children. These cases show that enteritis necroticans can cause substantial morbidity and mortality outside Papua New Guinea.

Adult↗

Scapuloperoneal myopathy.

Two members of a family are described with muscle weakness and wasting affecting distal muscles of the lower limbs and muscles of the shoulder girdles. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance is suggested with involvement of a 39-year-old female and her 15-year-old daughter. The disease in the mother has taken a relatively benign course with slow progression while the daughter has a short history of mild weakness. In both, the symptoms in the legs developed first, with foot-drop and a gait disturbance, and shoulder girdle weakness developed at a later stage. The facial muscles were mildly affected in the mother only. Results of electromyography and muscle biopsy in both these cases support a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. The scapuloperoneal pattern of muscle involvement occurs in a number of pathological and genetic entities. The differential diagnosis includes scapuloperoneal syndrome with distal sensory loss in the limbs (Davidenkow's syndrome). The nosology of this disorder is discussed in relation to the cases presented.

Adolescent↗

Malaria in southeast Queensland in 1979.

The incidence of malaria in Australia is increasing. With the emergence of strains of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to chloroquine there are new lessons to be learned by laboratory workers in the species diagnosis; by clinicians in the clinical manifestations, the treatment of prophylaxis; and by members of the public about the dangers of malaria, and how it can be prevented. At the same time, old knowledge must not be forgotten. This paper reports some recent experience with a sizeable number of cases.

Adolescent↗

Nuclear diameter in parathyroid adenomas.

Nuclear diameter was measured in 55 parathyroid chief-cell adenomas to determine its value in histological diagnosis and to assess its relationship to other features of primary hyperparathyroidism. Mean nuclear diameter for the whole group of adenomas was significantly greater than that for the accompanying normal glands. Mean nuclear diameter in individual adenomas was significantly greater than that in the accompanying normal gland in 27 out of 34 cases. Nuclear diameter was correlated with tumour weight and with plasma calcium but was not correlated with duration of history. It was significantly greater in the group of patients with overt bone disease than in those with kidney stones and in those with neither kidney stones nor overt bone disease. Assessment of nuclear diameter is of value in histological diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma. The rate of growth of the adenoma may be a factor determining nuclear diameter.

Adenoma↗

Pig Bel.

Pig Bel is a form of acute, segmental, necrotizing enteritis presenting as a common and life-threatening disease among the people (particularly the children) of the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. It relates to the consumption of pig meat and is thought to be caused by Clostridium welchii type C (an organism not usually present in the human intestine), the organism being transmitted to man by means of contaminated pig meat. Pig Bel resembles the diseases called "Darmbrand" which occurred in Northern Germany in the years that immediately followed World War II. Darmbrand was associated with a Clostridium welchii infection, possibly precipitated by malnutrition. It disappeared within a few years of its recognition. Conditions that closely resemble the clinical and pathological features of Pig Bel have been reported from Uganda and Thailand. In these countries, only a few cases have been encountered and they have not been associated with the eating of pig meat or with a clostridial infection.

Adolescent↗

Research involving human subjects.

This article reports a study of the activities and performance of institutional review boards to protect human research subjects. Researchers and institutional review board members were generally supportive of the review system, although substantial criticisms were also heard. Institutional review boards had some direct impact on half of the proposals reviewed by requiring either modification of or additional information about proposed research. The data, however, raise questions about the effectiveness of some review board actions, for example, with regard to informed consent. Some policy implications of the study are presented.

Attitude↗

A comparison of the antifertility effects of alkylating agents and vinca alkaloids in male rats.

1 The anti-fertility effects of cyclophosphamide, nitrogen mustard, vincristine and vinblastine were studied and compared in male rats. 2 The effects of the drugs on body weight and haematological values were used to monitor the pharmacological actions of the drugs. 3 All four drugs impaired fertility, the severity of the impairment depending on dose and duration of treatment. 4 Testicular size and histological appearances remained mostly normal, even in infertile animals, but seminiferous tubules were fewer in number and maturation arrest at the spermatid level was evident in some sections. 5 Recovery of drug-induced infertility occurred in 64% of treated animals, 9 to 40 weeks after cessation of treatment. 6 Morbidity and mortality were much higher with alkylating agents than with vinca alkaloids for approximately similar degrees of impairment in fertility.

Alkylating Agents↗

Burkitt's lymphoma in Australia.

An Australian case of Burkitt's lymphoma is reported. The clinical features of large ovarian masses and subsequent bone marrow invasion, as well as the results of investigations related to the Epstein-Barr virus, were more consistent with the American than the African type of Burkitt's lymphoma. After a good initial response to cyclophosphamide and vincristine, the tumour rapidly became resistant to these and other therapeutic measures and the patient died 10 months after diagnosis.

Australia↗