Influence of measurement error on response rates.
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
Biomedical subjects
S McKinney
Publications and source records attributed to S McKinney.
Differences in the mean fat cell diameter of males between 1 and 48 months of age.
The mean fat cell diameter was determined from measurements of abdominal adipose cells, obtained during inguinal hernia repair, of 126 white and 95 black males ranging in age from 1 through 48 months of age. The mean diameters of black and white subjects did not differ significantly, suggesting that differences in fatness among adults of these two ethnic groups have their origin beyond the age range of this study. The mean fat cell diameter increased through the 6-8 month age group, decreased until the end of the first year, and then levelled off through 48 months of age. Comparison of this curve with those for the triceps, subscapular, abdominal, and suprailiac skinfolds of the same subjects showed generally parallel courses except for the triceps, which continued to increase in size after the means of fat cell diameters and the other skinfolds had levelled off. Our data indicate that changes in body fatness on the trunk at least in the first 4 years of life may be accounted for by changes in fat cell size.
Abdominal Muscles↗
Use of monoclonal antibodies as sensitive and specific probes for biologically active human gamma-interferon.
Mouse monoclonal antibodies B1 and B3 are specific for natural and Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). The two antibodies recognize different epitopes of the IFN-gamma molecule and do not compete with each other's binding. We have used these two antibodies to construct a solid-phase, sandwich immunoradiometric assay for human IFN-gamma. Purified antibody B1 was coated on polystyrene beads (0.64 cm in diameter) and used as the solid-phase immunoadsorbent and antibody B3 was labeled with 125I and used as tracer. This assay can be completed in about 4 hr and is capable of detecting IFN-gamma levels in human serum or tissue culture fluids as low as 0.1 NIH reference unit/ml. Recombinant human IFN-gamma derived from E. coli was detectable at a concentration of 0.02 ng/ml. The assay appears to be specific for the biologically active forms of IFN-gamma, since after exposure to pH 2, 37 degrees C, or 56 degrees C, biological activity and reactivity in the immunoradiometric assay decreased in parallel. The immunoradiometric assay can be employed for the analysis of the structural characteristics of the human IFN-gamma molecule.
Animals↗
Influence of measurement error on assessment of response to anticancer chemotherapy: proposal for new criteria of tumor response.
The decision to use a given type of chemotherapy to treat cancer patients is often based on the prior demonstration that a proportion of similar patients has "responded" in a clinical trial. Most responses are recorded as a partial shrinkage of tumor, defined usually as a greater than 50% shrinkage of the sum of cross-sectional areas of index lesions for at least one month. The errors in categorization of response have been estimated by comparing measurements of several physicians on real or simulated malignant lesions. False categorization of partial response based on a comparison of two measurements of the same lesion was 1.3% and 12.6% for large and small simulated nodules, respectively, 13.1% for malignant neck nodes, and 0.8% for metastatic lung nodules. Partial response for hepatic lesions has been defined by a 50% or 30% decrease in liver span below the costal margin; these definitions led to a false categorization of partial response of 8.5% and 18.4%, respectively. Larger errors are evident when using the current definition of disease progression that requires only a 25% increase in area. False categorization of response is increased by comparing any of serial measurements with the initial lesions, as is usually done clinically. Many published trials have used criteria for response that are subject to large errors; an uncritical interpretation of their results may lead to inappropriate treatment of patients. Based on the results, new criteria for evaluating tumor response are proposed.
Analysis of Variance↗
Heart rate and sleep time: their relationship with growth and adiposity in male infants.
In a clinical trial based on the direct relationship between heart rate activity and energy expenditure during awake and asleep states, 21 healthy 18-month-old infants had their heart rate monitored over a period of 24 h and correlated with their nutritional intake, growth parameters, and measurements of adiposity (fat cell size and skinfold thickness). Infants with higher 24-h and asleep heart rates had smaller fat cells (r = -0.50) and skinfold thickness (abdominal r = -0.70, suprailiac r = -0.80, triceps r = -0.67). Infants with higher relative weight had higher heart rates during awake periods (r = 0.60). Infants sleeping for longer periods had higher weight gain velocity from birth (r = 0.51) and higher relative weight (r = 0.54). This study demonstrates the heart rate activity and duration of sleep are related to growth and adipose tissue deposition during infancy.
Adipose Tissue↗
RECPAM: a computer program for recursive partition and amalgamation for censored survival data and other situations frequently occurring in biostatistics. I. Methods and program features.
The methodology of recursive partition and amalgamation in biostatistics is presented and a FORTRAN program for its implementation, RECPAM, is described. RECPAM can be used to obtain classifications of patients according to several criteria commonly occurring in clinical biostatistics: an example is prognostic classification based on survival data. Classes are defined by simple statements, expressed in clinical terms, about predictor variables (e.g. prognostic factors). Special features of RECPAM are: the possibility of implementing a variety of classification criteria, the integration of recursive partition and amalgamation, and the availability of several strategies for constructing classification trees. A simple example to illustrate input and output features is given. The scope and flexibility of RECPAM will be illustrated in greater detail in a subsequent paper.
Algorithms↗
An HTLV-III peptide produced by recombinant DNA is immunoreactive with sera from patients with AIDS.
Human T-cell lymphotropic retrovirus type III (HTLV-III), also called lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), has been identified as the aetiological agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The sera of most patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complexes, and of asymptomatic individuals infected with HTLV-III, contain antibodies against antigens of HTLV-III. The characterization of these antibodies and their corresponding viral antigens is important not only for understanding immunity against HTLV-III and the pathology of AIDS, but also for the development of diagnostic methods and preventive vaccine for AIDS. Following the successful establishment of a long-term T-cell line permissive for HTLV-III replication, large quantities of virus have been produced, facilitating the purification of viral proteins and the development of mouse monoclonal antibodies against several viral antigens. More recently, the structure of HTLV-III proviral DNA has been elucidated. We now report the production, by genetic engineering methods, of a peptide encoded by a gene segment of HTLV-III. A 1.1-kilobase (kb) EcoRI DNA segment from an isolate of HTLV-III was inserted into a lpp and lac promoter-coupled expression vector, pIN-III-ompA. Escherichia coli transformants of this plasmid produced a peptide of relative molecular mass (Mr) 15,000 (15K) which was strongly immunoreactive with anti-HTLV-III antibodies present in sera from AIDS patients. Lysates of the clones expressing this 15K peptide inhibited the reactivity of the p31 virion protein with AIDS sera, suggesting that it is a fragment of the viral p31 protein. The peptide reacted with sera from all 20 AIDS patients but none of the 8 normal controls tested. These results suggest that the peptide may be useful for detecting anti-HTLV-III antibodies in blood samples.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Wheat bran decreases aberrant crypt foci, preserves normal proliferation, and increases intraluminal butyrate levels in experimental colon cancer.
BACKGROUND: Dietary wheat bran protects against colon cancer, but the mechanism(s) of this effect is not known. Butyrate, produced by colonic bacterial fermentation of dietary polysaccharides, such as wheat bran, induces apoptosis and decreases proliferation in colon cancer cell lines. Whether similar effects occur in vivo is not well defined. We hypothesized that wheat bran's antineoplastic effects in vivo may be mediated in part by butyrate's modulation of apoptosis and proliferation. METHODS: Male F344 rats were fed wheat bran-supplemented or an isocaloric, isonitrogenous fiber-free diet. Rats were treated with one dose of the carcinogen azoxymethane or vehicle with sacrifice after 5 days (tumor initiation); or two doses (days O and 7) with sacrifice after 56 days (tumor promotion). Study variables included fecal butyrate levels and the intermediate biomarkers of colon carcinogenesis, aberrant crypt foci (ACF), and changes in crypt cell proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS: During tumor initiation, wheat bran produced greater apoptosis (p = .01), a trend toward less proliferation, and preserved the normal zone of proliferation (p = .01). At tumor promotion, wheat bran decreased the number of ACF (proximal colon, p = .005; distal colon, p = .047) and maintained the normal proliferative zone. The fiber-free diet shifted the zone of proliferation into the premalignant pattern in both studies. Wheat bran produced significantly higher fecal butyrate (p = .01; .004, .00001) levels than the fiber-free diet throughout the tumor promotion study. CONCLUSIONS: Wheat bran increased apoptosis and controlled proliferation during tumor initiation and resulted in decreased ACF. Wheat bran's antineoplastic effects occurred early after carcinogen exposure, and were associated with increased fecal butyrate levels.
Animals↗
Nuclear changes in cytologic specimens obtained by CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsies.
A light and electron microscopic study was conducted to investigate nuclear changes observed in specimens obtained from various sites by computed tomographic (CT)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. These changes, which consisted of a disappearance of the nuclear chromatin and a disruption of the nuclear membrane, were found in 70% of 10 FNA specimens obtained with CT guidance, in 26% of 15 specimens obtained with fluoroscopic guidance and in 0% of 10 specimens obtained without x-ray imaging techniques. Although the number of cases studied was small and the mechanisms responsible for these changes are not clear, cytopathologists should be aware of alterations in evaluating FNA specimens obtained with the guidance of x-ray imaging techniques.
Biopsy, Needle↗
Aspiration cytology of metastatic chordoma. A case report.
A patient with previously diagnosed sacrococcygeal chordoma presented with multiple skin nodules. Cytologic examination of an aspirate from one of these nodules showed syncytial clusters of hyperchromatic cells surrounded by extracellular mucin. The characteristic physaliphorous cells, although present in a biopsy of the primary sacrococcygeal tumor, were not observed in the aspirate or on histopathologic examination of three excised skin metastases. That chordoma metastases may lack physaliphorous cells should be recognized.
Biopsy, Needle↗