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Biomedical subjects

W M Sikov

Publications and source records attributed to W M Sikov.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Splenosis presenting as occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

A 48-year-old man presented with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia. Routine endoscopic evaluation was nondiagnostic. Angiography demonstrated multiple apparent arteriovenous malformations. Exploratory laparotomy revealed numerous splenic implants along the small and large bowels, some of which had apparently eroded through the bowel mucosa and bled. Excision of these penetrating lesions prevented further bleeding. An incidentally noted renal cell cancer was also resected. The patient's splenosis was the result of childhood trauma that caused splenic rupture and precipitated splenectomy. Splenosis develops frequently following traumatic splenic rupture. Experimental evidence suggests that the presence of an intact spleen suppresses the growth and development of splenic implants. Following splenectomy, splenules may replace some of the "housekeeping" and immunologic functions of the spleen, but even patients with documented splenosis should be considered functionally hyposplenic. While in most cases splenules cause no symptoms, splenosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of previously splenectomized patients who present with unexplained masses or occult bleeding.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

Multicentric warfarin-induced skin necrosis complicating heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Two patients developed catastrophic multicentric skin necrosis while receiving warfarin to treat venous thromboembolism complicated by immune-mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Patient 1 developed skin necrosis involving the breasts, thighs, and face, as well as venous limb gangrene and bilateral hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal glands, resulting in death. The second patient developed bilateral mammary necrosis necessitating mastectomies, as well as skin necrosis involving the thigh. Neither patient had an identifiable hypercoagulable syndrome, other than HIT. HIT may represent a risk factor for the development of multicentric warfarin-induced skin necrosis (WISN).

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1999

Spontaneous venous thrombosis in a young patient with combined factor V Leiden and lupus anticoagulant.

We describe a case of a 28-year-old man who developed an extensive spontaneous deep venous thrombosis. Testing revealed heterozygotic factor V Leiden mutation, and the presence of both lupus anticoagulant (LA) and elevated IgM anticardiolipin antibody (ACA). Several family members were found to be heterozygous for factor V Leiden. A paternal aunt had the factor V Leiden mutation, an elevated plasma homocysteine and a borderline increased IgG ACA level. No other family member had a history of a venous thrombotic event. This case illustrates that evaluation of young patients who present with venous thrombosis should be performed for both hereditary and acquired thrombophilic defects. The family studies suggest that the presence of a lupus anticoagulant may be more clinically significant than elevated ACA in risk assessment. Although screening family members when the proband carries factor V Leiden is controversial, psychological reassurance of those who test negative and simple advice on occupations or social habits (e.g., smoking) for those who test positive may be important benefits.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Web alert.

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Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed1997

Weekly paclitaxel as a radiation sensitizer for locally advanced gastric and pancreatic cancers: the Brown University Oncology Group experience.

Many patients with cancer of the stomach or pancreas have locally advanced, unresectable disease at diagnosis or will develop an early local or regional recurrence despite potentially curative surgery. Effective local treatment could increase the proportion of patients able to undergo surgery and decrease locoregional recurrences, which should improve overall survival. External beam radiation (RT) by itself has little effect. Standard treatment, such as RT with concurrent administration of 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy as a radiation sensitizer, has, at best, a modest impact on locoregional recurrences and survival. The use of a more effective radiosensitizer might improve the efficacy of local treatment. Paclitaxel synchronizes cells at G2M, the phase of the cell cycle during which cells are most sensitive to the effects of ionizing radiation, and has been demonstrated to sensitize a variety of human cell lines to the effects of RT. In patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the Brown University Oncology Group (BrUOG) has demonstrated a high response rate to low-dose weekly paclitaxel with concurrent RT. In addition, we demonstrated that the response to paclitaxel/RT was not affected by mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. This suggested that paclitaxel/RT would be a rational treatment approach for other malignancies with a high frequency of p53 mutations, such as gastric and pancreatic cancers. We have completed a phase I study of weekly paclitaxel and concurrent radiation for locally advanced gastric and pancreatic cancers. The maximum tolerated dose of paclitaxel was 50mg/m2/week for six weeks with 50 Gray (Gy) abdominal radiation. The dose limiting toxicities were abdominal pain, nausea and anorexia. Preliminary response data from ongoing phase II studies suggest that preoperative paclitaxel/RT has substantial activity in patients with locally advanced gastric and pancreatic cancers, though whether this will translate into improved disease-free and overall survival in these patients is not known.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Weekly high-dose paclitaxel in metastatic and locally advanced breast cancer: a preliminary report.

The optimal dose and schedule for paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer are not known. Based on our phase I study in non-small cell lung cancer, in which the dose intensity of paclitaxel was successfully escalated by using a weekly schedule, we initiated a phase II study of weekly paclitaxel in previously untreated patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Treatment consists of weekly paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 intravenously over 3 hours for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week break. Doses are modified for neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1,500/microL), bilirubin levels greater than 1.5 times normal, or greater than grade 1 neuropathy. Patients with MBC continue treatment until disease progression. Patients with LABC receive one to two cycles before proceeding to surgery if resectable. Thus far, 15 patients, eight with MBC and seven with LABC, are assessable for response and/or toxicity. Most patients have required dose modification, with median delivery of 75% (cycle 1) and 50% (cycle 2) of the planned dose of paclitaxel. Neutropenia has been the most common cause of dose reductions, although only one patient required treatment for neutropenic fever. Six patients have developed grade 2/3 peripheral sensory neuropathy, but with dose reductions many have continued treatment with stable or improving neurologic symptoms. Objective responses have been seen in 12 of 14 assessable patients, including six with MBC (one complete response, five partial responses) and six with LABC (two complete responses, four partial responses), for an overall response rate of 86% (95% confidence interval, 66% to 96%). All responding LABC patients have been rendered free from disease at surgery. These preliminary results are very encouraging. Accrual to the study continues.

Adult↗