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Biomedical subjects

R Lawrence

Publications and source records attributed to R Lawrence.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Amygdalin toxicity studies in rats predict chronic cyanide poisoning in humans.

Significant amounts of cyanide are released when amygdalin (Laetrile), a cyanogenic glycoside, is given orally or intravenously to rats. The amount of cyanide liberated following oral administration is dependent in part on the bacterial flora of the gut and can be suppressed by antibiotic pretreatment of the animals. Bacteria from human feces likewise hydrolyze amygdalin with release of cyanide. Humans taking amygdalin orally in the hope of preventing cancer are likely to be exposed to levels of cyanide in excess of that associated with the development of tropical ataxic neuropathy in people of underdeveloped countries where food containing cyanogenic glycosides is a staple part of the diet.

Amygdalin↗
PubMed1980

Immunological mechanisms in the maintenance of pregnancy.

Mmammalian pregnancy involves prolonged, intimate interactions between genetically dissimilar organisms. This dissimilarity evokes an immunological response in the gravida which promotes placental implantation and fetal viability. The nature of the immunological reactions, the factors moderating these responses and the signficance of abnormalities in the responses are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Eosinophilia in the hospitalized neonate.

The incidence of and clinical associations with eosinophilia in a cross-section of hospitalized newborns had not been studied previously. The medical records of 200 such infants less than 29 days of age were reviewed. Total eosinophil counts were calculated and associations with a variety of clinical factors were examined. Eosinophilia (adjusted for day of age) occurred at least once in 22% of the infants studied. No significant skew could be detected in the age of onset of eosinophilia. Statistical analysis revealed eosinophilia to be significantly associated (p less than .05) with length of hospitalization, number of days of antibiotic therapy and use of parenteral alimentation. A trend toward eosinophilia was noted in lower birth weight infants (0.05 less than p less than 0.10). Eosinophilia was not associated with sex, age, Apgar score at birth, Caesarian section delivery, transfusions, phototherapy, specific diagnoses or type of oral feeding. Multiple regression analysis showed a highly positive correlation (r = .81) of associated factors with hospitalized days as the dependent variable. Eosinophilia appears to be a non-specific finding in sick neonates and is related to the severity of illness and the number of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures performed.

Aging↗
PubMed1980

Burkitt's lymphoma: obstetric and gynecologic aspects.

A 17-year-old white patient with Burkitt's lymphoma occurring during pregnancy is reported. Although it is primarily a disease of children, Burkitt's lymphoma occurs in women of childbearing age. In nonendemic areas (including the United States) this disease most frequently presents as abdominal or pelvic masses, and may appear initially to be a primary gynecologic problem. Bilateral massive breast enlargement due to tumor metastasis is always seen if the disease occurs during pregnancy. Although 5 previously reported pregnant patients and the present patient died, survival may be enhanced by prompt diagnosis and combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Obstetric and gynecologic aspects of Burkitt's lymphoma are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Combination chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer: two regimens containing adriamycin.

Forty-eight women with advanced metastatic carcinoma of the breast were treated with one of two combination chemotherapy regimens: 1) adriamycin and cyclophosphamide or 2) adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. The response rate in the two-drug treatment group was 50% and in the four-drug treatment group, 55%. The median duration of response was ten months in both treatment groups. Dramatic responses were seen in patients with visceral metastases. Patients who responded to chemotherapy had a significantly longer survival than nonresponders (p less than 0.01). The long interval between adriamycin doses (six weeks) in the four drug regimen did not adversely effect the response rate--an important finding in view of the dose-related cardiac toxicity of this agent.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Reducing the pill swill: an audit of clinical pharmacy.

A drug surveillance programme involving pharmacists in a general medical ward has been shown to reduce the number of drugs prescribed to patients and also to reduce the number of dispensing errors. The evidence presented suggests that continuing involvement of pharmacists in patient care at the ward level is required to maintain the improved prescribing habits.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed1977

The effect of surgical resection of experimental "primary" adenocarcinoma of the colon of survival and incidence of metastases.

The effect of surgical resection of "primary" tumors classified by size at the time of resection has been studied in two tumor cell lines derived from dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic neoplasms in the Buffalo strain rat. Surgical treatment of colon cancer in the rat yields results similar to those for human carcinoma. Some of the smallest tumors resected were associated with metastases and this finding suggests a need for effective postoperative adjuvant therapy. The incidence of metastases and the size of the tumor were inveresely related to survival, e.g., the smaller the tumor or the sooner the excision, the greater the survival of the animal. The operated animal model studied here could prove to be very useful for evaluating various forms of systemic therapy for the control of micrometastases associated with colonic neoplasms.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1976

Oral contraceptive patient information. A questionnaire study of attitudes, knowledge, and preferred information sources.

A questionnaire was designed to assess attitudes, knowledge, and views and sources of drug information on oral contraceptives, with particular attention to the role of the patient-oriented package insert. An analysis of 828 completed questionnaires shows that many women are apprehensive about the safety of oral contraceptives. The impact of the patient-oriented oral contraceptive insert on the women surveyed appears to be positive. The present labeling is read and found useful by most oral-contraceptive users. Patients were variably informed about the correct use and side effects discussed in current labeling, suggesting a need for improved transmission of important drug information. Patients preferred information from health professionals and printed sources over media sources. Balanced label information about risks of oral contraceptives should be made available to improve the likelihood of sound risk-benefit judgments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1974

Assay of serum inorganic phosphate without deproteinisation: automated and manual micromethods.

Several current techniques for the determination of serum inorganic phosphate in the presence of proteins are shown to have important disadvantages. An improved manual micromethod is described in which proteins are kept in solution by the use of sodium lauryl sulphate and the phosphate determined by the molybdenum blue reaction. The procedure has been adapted for the Technicon AutoAnalyzer and the Vickers D-300 and M-300, and has been shown to give very good precision in routine use.

Autoanalysis↗