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Biomedical subjects

W M Martin

Publications and source records attributed to W M Martin.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The spectrum of cancer in Papua New Guinea. An analysis based on the Cancer Registry 1979-1988.

Malignant tumors registered with the Tumour Registry of Papua New Guinea (PNG) from 1958-1988 were analyzed with emphasis on the variation of incidence with time and different regions. Cancer incidence was generally low in PNG. During this period, carcinoma of oral cavity, cervix, breast, and skin, hepatoma, and lymphoma were the most common types of malignant lesions detected. The incidence of carcinoma of the oral cavity has increased. Currently, it is more common in the Highlands region and is associated with the spread of betel nut chewing. A threefold increase in cervical carcinoma registration was observed nationally, with a sixfold increase in the Highlands region; this was attributed both to social changes and improved registration. The incidence of breast cancer has doubled, in keeping with better registration, but there is little interregional variation. The decline in registrations of hepatocellular carcinoma is artifactual. PNG is a high-incidence area for Burkitt lymphoma, but Hodgkin disease is rare. Both Burkitt and other non-Hodgkin lymphomas are uncommon in the Highlands. A decline in the incidence of squamous carcinoma of skin was observed that was associated with improved control of tropical ulcers. The incidence of stomach cancer is falling. The registered cancer incidence in PNG is low, even when compared with that in native people from other Pacific nations, such as Fijians and New Caledonian Melanesians. Preventive measures have been hitherto ineffective, with the exception of squamous carcinoma of skin.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effect of thiopental on neurologic outcome following coronary artery bypass grafting.

To determine if thiopental reduces the incidence of neurologic sequelae after coronary artery surgery, we prospectively studied 300 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients who had no history of neurologic or psychiatric illness were randomly assigned to receive either a thiopental infusion or a saline placebo infusion beginning with the administration of heparin and ending just after aortic decannulation. The patients received an opioid-relaxant anesthetic administered by an anesthesiologist who was not involved in this investigation and who was blinded to the test infusion. One of the investigators infused either saline or thiopental to produce an isoelectric electroencephalogram with 30-45 s between bursts. Standardized neurologic examinations were performed preoperatively and on the 2nd and 5th postoperative days by one of the blinded investigators. The group of patients receiving thiopental required a longer time for awakening (6.4 +/- 3.9 vs. 4.0 +/- 2.4 h, mean +/- SD, P less than 0.05) and for tracheal extubation (22.4 +/- 18.4 vs. 17.4 +/- 9.6 h, P less than 0.05), and a greater number of these patients were lethargic on the 2nd postoperative day. More patients receiving thiopental required vasoconstrictors during the thiopental loading and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) periods, while a greater number of patients receiving placebo required vasodilators. A greater number of patients receiving thiopental required inotropic drugs during separation from CPB. Despite the above differences, only 2 of the 151 patients in the placebo group (1.3%) and 5 of the 149 patients in the thiopental group (3.3%) experienced strokes (P = 0.2535).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Composition of pork carcasses by potassium-40 liquid scintillation detection: estimation and validation.

Liquid scintillation detection of potassium-40 was used to estimate pork carcass composition of 124 boars, barrows and gilts. Pigs were fed to five live weights (23, 45, 68, 91 and 114 kg) and 40K emissions were determined on live pigs in a whole body counter (WBC) equipped with a two-pi liquid scintillation detector. Then, pigs were slaughtered conventionally and the right side of each carcass was weighed, 40K emissions of this carcass side was determined in the WBC and total grams of potassium were calculated. The right side of each carcass was ground, sampled and analyzed for fat, protein, moisture and potassium. Fat, protein, moisture and overall potassium percentage means were 23.9 +/- 7.2, 16.5 +/- .94, 57.0 +/- 6.5 and .25 +/- .02, respectively. Whole body counter carcass potassium was highly correlated (P less than .01) to chemically determined carcass potassium (r = .70). Percentage of fat, protein and moisture prediction equations were formed by stepwise regression using the linear, quadratic and interactive effects of live animal and carcass side weight. Whole body counter live animal and carcass potassium and sex were utilized as independent variables. Carcass weight and 40K determined potassium of the carcass explained more of the variation in carcass composition than did live animal weight and 40K determined potassium of the live animal.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Radiotherapy and oncology in Papua New Guinea--how it differs from Western practice.

This article describes differences in professional oncology practice between Papua New Guinea and developed countries. The rugged terrain and tribalism have created the late persistence of a stone age culture with a low level of education and this in turn has caused the late presentation of tumours. Paradoxically the commonest cancers are those which are frequently cured in Western countries, yet the cure rates are low in PNG due to late presentation. Despite this very few metastasize--in contrast to cancers in developed countries. Difficulties in diagnosis are discussed. Differences in management arise due to lack of facilities such as electrons or iridium wires, but policy differences arise also due to the poor follow-up. Many patients cannot afford to return for follow-up and the government cannot assist. Many patients abscond and good pre-treatment counselling is essential. Chemotherapy is available but doses of the more marrow-toxic or expensive drugs are reduced in view of the poor support facilities. Problems of training staff and of Cancer Registration are discussed. Most of the above problems are non-medical and should gradually diminish with government determination to provide a Health Service to benefit the whole population.

Cultural Characteristics↗
PubMed1990

Ewing's sarcoma: fifteen years' experience at Angau Memorial Hospital.

A retrospective study was carried out on Ewing's sarcoma as seen between 1973 and 1987 at the Cancer Treatment Centre, Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae, Papua New Guinea. Some striking differences were observed in the epidemiological indices and the clinical picture of this disease here, when compared with other centres in the world. Most notably, Ewing's sarcoma, hitherto a rare tumour in this country, seems to be on the increase. In addition, among the flat bones, involvement of the scapula was disproportionately high. The early response to treatment was similar to findings elsewhere, although the long-term patient follow-up in this series was not satisfactory enough to allow proper estimates of long-term survival rates. The most recently advocated approach to the management of Ewing's sarcoma, which emphasizes surgery in preference to radiotherapy for local disease control, and adjuvant chemotherapy for micrometastases, is outlined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A randomized trial of intracavitary bleomycin and Corynebacterium parvum in the control of malignant pleural effusions.

Fifty-eight patients with malignant pleural effusions were entered into a prospectively randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of a local instillation of bleomycin or corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) in controlling fluid reaccumulation after simple needle aspiration (thoracentesis). The response was assessed at 30 days by chest X-ray and clinical examination. There were 44 evaluable patients; 18 of 25 (72%) of those receiving bleomycin and 9/19 (47%) of those who had C. parvum gained a complete or partial response. This difference in response rate was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). The majority of patients had an effusion from a primary breast carcinoma and the response in this group was almost statistically significant (p = 0.06) with 74% of bleomycin patients and 43% of C. parvum patients responding. Fever following instillation was more common with C. parvum (53% of patients compared with 24% after bleomycin, p = 0.02), whereas nausea was more common after bleomycin (28% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.16). Local chest pain after aspiration occurred in 52% of the bleomycin group and 47% of the C. parvum subjects. There was no significant difference between the groups in age, sex, tumour type, presenting symptoms, volume of aspirate, systemic therapy or number of previous aspirations. Both of these agents appeared to be active in the control of malignant pleural effusions although the response rate was higher with bleomycin and overall, both have acceptable levels of toxicity.

Bleomycin↗
PubMed1989

Total body potassium in aging humans: a longitudinal study.

Total body potassium (TBK) data calculated from longitudinal measurements over 18 y of 40K by whole-body counting of 564 male and 61 female healthy humans in a 2-pi liquid scintillation counter show little change in females younger than 50 y compared with males of those ages. Males show less TBK from 41 y onward as they age, with most rapid rate of loss between 41 and 60 y. Females have a rapid loss of TBK when they are older than 60 y; the loss is at a greater rate than that of males. Percent total body fat calculated from total body weight and lean body mass (LBM) derived from TBK document greater adiposity in females at all ages except ages 51-60 y when females are similar to males in change in percent fat per year per centimeter.

Adipose Tissue↗