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Biomedical subjects

S Holt

Publications and source records attributed to S Holt.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Radiolabelled peanut lectin for the scintigraphic detection of cancer.

To investigate the role of intravenously administered, radioiodinated peanut lectin (131I-PNA) in the non-invasive detection of cancer, the pharmacokinetics and scintigraphic distribution of this novel tumor-seeking compound were studied in 8 patients with metastatic cancer of the colon, breast or lung. Scintigraphic localization of 131I-PNA was apparent at certain anatomical sites of known metastases in 2 patients and in a further 2 patients an adjacent malignant pleural effusion was visualized. The rapid clearance of radioactivity from the whole body and plasma with marked renal concentration and rapid urinary excretion of significant amounts of intact 131I-PNA (mol. wt. 107,000, pI 5.95) implied that this molecule was excreted selectively by the renal tubules. PNA or other lectins may find a role in the scintigraphic detection of selected types of cancer.

Arachis↗
PubMed1984

Effect of age and gene dosage on brown adipose tissue of Zucker obese fa/fa rats.

Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of age and genotype on brown adipose tissue thermogenesis in Zucker rats. Specific [3H]GDP binding to interscapular brown adipose tissue mitochondria ( IBATM ) was reduced in 14-day-old preobese fa/fa rats and remained lower after weaning. A gene-dosage effect of the recessive fa gene was observed in 8- to 10-wk-old rats in both IBATM [3H]GDP binding and the thermic effect of a balanced meal (50 kJ Complan ), measured by indirect calorimetry. In each case the heterozygote (Fa/fa) group had a value intermediate between those of obese (fa/fa) and the homozygous lean (Fa/Fa) groups. Norepinephrine increased IBATM [3H]GDP binding to similar levels in lean (Fa/fa) and obese (fa/fa) rats and induced similar increases in oxygen consumption in Fa/Fa, Fa/fa, and fa/fa rats. It is concluded that the impaired, diet-related brown adipose tissue thermogenesis is closely related to the primary gene defect in the obese rat. This defect may result from misregulation of the autonomic nervous system.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

Identification of alcohol abuse using laboratory tests and a history of trauma.

In a study involving 68 ambulatory patients with known alcohol problems and 68 social drinkers matched for age and sex, a questionnaire about the patients' history of trauma identified 7 out of 10 subjects with drinking problems. In contrast, abnormal values for gamma-glutamyl transferase, mean corpuscular volume, or high-density lipoproteins had only moderate sensitivity (26% to 40%) for identifying alcohol problems but excellent specificity (88% to 99%) for ruling out cases. Similar rates of sensitivity and specificity were found among 61 family practice patients. Diagnostic accuracy was improved by combining tests results, using computer-based logistic regression analysis. This study suggests that a brief questionnaire on history of trauma is valuable for the earlier detection of problem drinking in ambulatory populations, in contrast to laboratory tests, which appear to have high sensitivity only with more chronic alcoholics.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Gastroesophageal reflux and transit scintigraphy: a comparison with esophageal biopsy in patients with heartburn.

A method for combining scintigraphic studies of esophageal transit and gastroesophageal (GE) reflux is presented. Thirty-two patients with symptoms of GE reflux were studied. The severity of their symptoms was compared to nuclear medicine studies and esophageal mucosal biopsy. Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied as a control group for scintigraphy. The sensitivity of reflux scintigraphy to detect GE reflux as determined by esophageal histology was 70% and its specificity 87%. No relationship was observed between the magnitude of symptoms and the volume of GE reflux. A higher incidence of esophageal transit abnormalities was observed in those patients with histologic features of GE reflux than in those with normal histology. The combination of esophageal reflux and transit scintigraphy provides a way of studying some of the esophageal motor abnormalities associated with GE reflux. For clinical purposes GE reflux scintigraphy seems unsuitable as a single screening test.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Esophageal transit scintigraphy--a cautionary note.

Esophageal transit scintigraphy and esophageal manometry were compared in forty-two patients with symptoms of esophageal disease. Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied as a control group for the scintigraphic investigation. Agreement between the tests was present in 79% of patients. In all the five patients in whom the esophageal manometry was abnormal and the esophageal transit study was normal, the manometric finding was "giant esophageal contractions." In four of the control group an abnormal transit pattern was observed on one of two esophageal studies. Esophageal transit scintigraphy has some limitations as a screening test for esophageal motor dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The effects of corticosterone, cold exposure and overfeeding with sucrose on brown adipose tissue of obese Zucker rats (fa/fa).

GDP binding to brown-adipose-tissue mitochondria was decreased in obese Zucker rats. Adrenalectomy restored both GDP binding and serum tri-iodothyronine of obese rats to values observed in lean rats. The effects of adrenalectomy on GDP binding and serum tri-iodothyronine were reversed by corticosterone. Decreasing food intake had no effect on brown-adipose-tissue GDP binding in obese rats. Young (5-week-old) obese rats showed a normal increase in brown-adipose-tissue mitochondrial GDP binding after housing at 4 degrees C for 7 days, but this response was attenuated in 10-week-old obese rats. Overfeeding with sucrose increased brown-adipose-tissue thermogenesis in lean, but not in obese, rats. After adrenalectomy, overfeeding with sucrose enhanced brown-adipose-tissue mitochondrial GDP binding in obese rats.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
PubMed1983

Vagotomy by chemoneurolysis: an experimental study in the rat.

In the pylorus ligated rat vagotomy has been attempted by chemoneurolysis with alcohol. Surgical truncal vagotomy reduced the intragastric acid produced in a five-hour period from 310 +/- 17.6 (SD) mumol to 5.4 +/- 2.4 mumol with a marked reduction in the ulcer score. Injection of 30% alcohol in the region of the vagal trunks at the level of the lower oesophagus produced a marked reduction in gastric acid secretion (7.6 +/- 3.7 mumol). Injection of solutions of alcohol in concentrations over 10% along the lesser curvature reduced gastric acid output to less than 10 mumol with a corresponding reduction in the ulcer score. Four months after the injection of 30% alcohol along the lesser curvature the acid output was 23.0 +/- 5.7 mumol and no gastric ulceration occurred.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Early intervention for alcohol problems.

Despite awareness of the wide variety of clinical and laboratory abnormalities associated with alcohol abuse, drinking problems often remain undetected in clinical practice. There is increasing evidence that problem drinking can be successfully treated by brief intervention. The general practitioner is in a good position to identify patients who drink excessively, and to intervene with brief counselling at an early stage when prognosis is more favourable. A practical strategy is described for diagnosis and intervention that could be readily implemented in clinical practice.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1983

Clinical spectrum of "solitary ulcer" of the rectum.

A review of 40 patients with "solitary ulcer" of the rectum confirmed by rectal biopsy has provided information about the natural history of this unusual condition. At presentation, symptoms usually were the passage of blood and mucus per rectum, alteration in bowel habits, and anorectal pain. Solitary or multiple ulcers were found within 13 cm of the anal margin in 27 patients and were usually sited anteriorly; in 13 patients macroscopic ulceration was absent, though the histopathology of the rectal biopsy specimens was otherwise similar. Rectal mucosal prolapse was found in 25 of 29 patients examined specifically for this. Thirty-one patients were followed-up for a mean period of 4.8 yr (range 1-15 yr). In 22 patients, rectal ulceration was observed at presentation. In 14 of these patients, ulceration persisted despite treatment. In 9 patients presenting without macroscopic ulceration, rectal ulcers were not observed during follow-up; thus two patient groups were apparent. Neither medical nor local surgical treatment consistently achieved relief of symptoms or healing of the lesion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Gastric emptying of solids in man.

The influence of the type and size of solid particles on their emptying from the stomach was studied using isotopically labelled chicken liver and inert particles in normal subjects and in patients who had undergone gastric surgery. In normal subjects, initial emptying of the liver was slower than that of inert particles both for large liver cubes (1 cm) and small cubes (0.3 cm). Liver emptying subsequently accelerated to be faster than emptying of the inert particles. Overall emptying of the liver given as small cubes was faster than large cubes; 50% emptied in 50 minutes and 70 minutes respectively. In the postoperative subjects, emptying of the liver and of the inert particles was identical. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that solid foods such as liver are ground down and 'liquified' by the action of gastric peristalsis before being discharged to the duodenum. Ingested particle size appears to influence the rapidity of this process, which should be distinguished from the propulsive function of the stomach where small solid particles are concerned.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Coronary embolism in valvular heart disease.

Coronary embolism is considered to be rare but recent evidence suggests that it may be underdiagnosed, and implicated in acute myocardial infarction associated with angiographically normal coronary arteries. Twenty-six patients were studied. In six, coronary embolism was a primary cause of death confirmed at autopsy. In 20 patients, 23 episodes of coronary embolism were diagnosed clinically. The left coronary system was occluded in 65 per cent, transient electrocardiographic changes occurred in 30 per cent, and either no history or an atypical history of acute myocardial infarction occurred in 29 per cent. Other systemic emboli occurred in 25 per cent. Aortic valve lesions were present in 70 per cent and combined mitral and aortic valve disease in 55 per cent of the patients. The incidence of coronary risk factors was low. Sequelae included increased dyspnoea (35 per cent), ventricular aneurysm (25 per cent) and cardiac failure (12 per cent). Angina rarely followed acute myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Oestrogen receptors and survival in early breast cancer.

Oestrogen receptor status was related to survival in 414 patients with primary breast cancer. Women with oestrogen receptors in their tumours survived significantly longer than those without receptors; this was true for both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and also when the patients were subdivided into those with and without axillary metastases. Patients with axillary metastases and no oestrogen receptors in their tumours had the worst prognosis, while women with axillary metastases and oestrogen receptors had a death rate similar to that of women with no axillary metastases and no receptors. Patients without oestrogen receptors and with no axillary metastases were identified as a high-risk group, and it would seem appropriate to include such patients in future trials for adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1981

Early identification of alcohol abuse: 2: Clinical and laboratory indicators.

Despite awareness of the wide variety of clinical and laboratory abnormalities associated with alcohol abuse, drinking problems often remain undetected in hospital and in general medical practice. The diagnosis of alcohol abuse has been emphasized repeatedly in the literature but far less attention has been paid to indicators that would permit detection of excessive drinking at a stage when intervention might be more effective and less costly. The search for indicators of early alcohol abuse is complicated since many of the medical sequelae of alcoholism are nonspecific and may only be manifested after a number of years of excessive drinking. Part 2 of this two-part series considers various clinical and laboratory features related to alcohol abuse and highlights items that are potentially more sensitive for detecting early stages of problem drinking. Use by physicians of a composite profile of both biomedical and psychosocial indicators of excessive alcohol consumption is recommended for early identification of this problem.

Alcoholism↗