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Biomedical subjects

R Birch

Publications and source records attributed to R Birch.

205 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The relative contribution of body fat and fat pattern to blood pressure level.

Although the association between body weight and blood pressure is irrefutable, body fat mass and blood pressure level may not necessarily be directly related. To clarify the relative contribution of fat mass to blood pressure level, we analyzed data on 399 adults consecutively entering a weight control program. Although most subjects were notably overweight (mean ideal body weight 177%), the population represented a wide spectrum of body weights and blood pressure levels. Study parameters included body fat mass (by total body water, 40K, and Steinkamp formula), lean body mass, body build (chest to height ratio), fat cell number and size from bilateral buttock biopsy specimens, upper fat pattern by arm to thigh circumference ratio, and central fat pattern by subscapular to triceps skinfold ratio. Our results concurred with previously noted correlations between obesity and blood pressure (as mean arterial pressure): weight (r = 0.44), percentage of body fat (r = 0.19), and absolute fat mass (r = 0.38; all p less than 0.01); however, lean body mass, age, and body build correlated highly with both fat mass and mean arterial pressure, thereby confounding this relationship. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the relative contribution of fat mass to mean arterial pressure in the presence of these and other potentially confounding variables. Lean body mass, age, body build, and an upper body fat pattern were found to contribute significantly to the variation in mean arterial pressure (p less than 0.01). In their presence, percentage of body fat, absolute fat mass, central fat pattern, fat cell characteristics, and age of onset of obesity did not significantly improve the predictability of mean arterial pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Individually specified drug immunoconjugates in cancer treatment.

Forty-three patients with disseminated refractory malignancies each received an individually-specified combination of either Adriamycin (24 patients) or mitomycin-C (19 patients) conjugated murine monoclonal antibodies. Tumors were typed using a panel of antibodies with both immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Cocktails of up to six antibodies were selected based on binding greater than 80% of the malignant cells in the biopsy specimen. These monoclonal antibody cocktails were drug conjugated and administered intravenously. Seventeen out of twenty-four patients had reactions to the administration of Adriamycin immunoconjugates, but these were tolerable in all but two patients. Fever, chills, pruritus and skin rash were by far the most common transitory reactions. All were well controlled with premedication. In several patients it was demonstrated that there was limited antigenic drift among various biopsies within the same patient over time. Up to 1 gram of Adriamycin and up to 5 grams of monoclonal antibody were administered. The limiting factor appeared to be a variable dissociation of active Adriamycin from the antibody which unpredictably caused hemopoietic depression. Similar findings were noted in 19 patients with mitomycin-C conjugates. Thrombocytopenia at a 60mg dose of mitomycin-C in this schedule was dose limiting. Preliminary serological evidence suggests that the development of an IgM antibody which is specific against the mouse monoclonal antibody has the specificity and sensitivity to predict clinical reactions. These antibodies were quantitatively less in mitomycin-C patients. Selected patients were re-treated. One patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had re-treatment on three occasions and demonstrated regression of peripheral lymph nodes. Two patients with breast carcinoma had definite improvement in ulcerating skin lesions and two patients with tongue carcinoma had shrinkage of their lesions. No responses were seen with mitomycin-C conjugates but binding was noted to tumors and colon with likely drug induced colitis seen after colon binding. This study demonstrates the feasibility and illustrates technical considerations in preparing drug immunoconjugate cocktails for patients with refractory malignancies. Cocktail formulation and antibody delivery was accomplished. The major technical hurdle appears to be the selection of effective conjugation methods that can be used to optimally bind drugs to monoclonal antibodies for targeted cancer therapy.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phase II study of hexamethylmelamine in refractory Hodgkin's disease, other lymphomas, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A long-term daily dose of hexamethylmelamine was tested in patients with Hodgkin's disease, nodular and diffuse lymphomas, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia who had failed conventional treatment. There were no responses among 20 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 12 with nodular lymphomas, and 11 with diffuse well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphomas. However, five of 24 patients with Hodgkin's disease (21%) responded and seven of 36 (19%) with diffuse lymphomas other than diffuse well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphomas responded. This new agent is active in selected histologic types of lymphoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phase II randomized study of doxorubicin, vincristine, and 5-FU versus cyclophosphamide in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Sixty-one evaluable patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were treated in a randomized fashion with either doxorubicin, vincristine, and 5-FU in combination (AVF) or with cyclophosphamide (CTX). Of 31 patients treated with AVF, only three (10%) responded (one complete response and two partial responses). Of 30 patients treated with CTX, there were two (7%) with partial responses. Two patients responded to AVF after failing CTX; one patient responded to CTX after failing AVF. Neither of these regimens was predictably useful in our patient population.

Antineoplastic Agents↗