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Biomedical subjects

A Sarris

Publications and source records attributed to A Sarris.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Primary lymphoma of the prostate: good outcome with doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy.

Primary lymphoma of the prostate was diagnosed in 3 patients corresponding to 0.1% of those with previously untreated lymphoma and 0.09% of those with previously untreated prostatic malignancy presenting to our cancer center between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1993. All 3 patients had prostatism at presentation that caused renal failure in 2. After treatment with doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy appropriate for the stage and the specific histological subtype, all 3 patients achieved a complete remission and remained free of disease after a minimum followup of 3 years. Our results suggest that primary prostatic lymphoma is not necessarily associated with a poor outcome. Review of the literature suggests that the poor prognosis reported for prostatic lymphoma might be explained by treatment that was acceptable at the time but would be considered suboptimal by current criteria. We recommend thorough staging in all patients with prostatic lymphoma and treatment with a doxorubicin-based regimen according to disease stage and histological classification.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Cyclosporin plus doxorubicin, vincristine and etoposide in the treatment of refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a phase II study.

In an attempt to circumvent clinical multidrug resistance, we conducted a Phase II trial of cyclosporin plus combination chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Thirteen patients, all of whom had been previously treated with a doxorubicin-containing regimen, received doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 intravenous continuous infusion (IVCI) over 96 h (days 1-4), vincristine 2 mg i.v. (day 1), and etoposide 75 mg/m2 i.v. daily for 4 days (days 1-4). Four days prior to chemotherapy, patients received a loading dose of cyclosporin (0.88 mg/kg i.v. over 2 h), followed by a maintenance dose (1.8 mg/kg per day IVCI for 9 days). Cyclosporin dose escalation was permitted, conventionally defined therapeutic levels of cyclosporin were achieved; this drug was well tolerated at these doses. The study was closed due to a poor response rate; only one patient achieved a complete remission of 33 weeks' duration. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities included gastrointestinal haemorrhage (one patient), sensory neuropathy (two patients), stomatitis (two patients), and transaminase elevation (one patient). Asymptomatic grade 1-2 toxicities (elevated creatinine and transaminase levels) occurred in 33% of patients. There were no treatment associated deaths. Prolonged neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the primary haematological toxicities. Although the addition of cyclosporin at this dose and schedule did not improve response rates in this patient group, future trials using higher doses of cyclosporin with combination chemotherapy may warrant further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Three-hour paclitaxel infusion in patients with refractory and relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Princeton, NJ) is a novel antimicrotubule agent with anti-tumor activity against ovarian and breast carcinomas. Its activity when administered as a 3-hour intravenous infusion in patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has not been studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with relapsed NHL were treated with a 3-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2 of Taxol every 3 weeks in an outpatient setting. All patients received premedication (dexamethasone, diphenhydramine, and cimetidine) to prevent allergic reactions. Responses were assessed after two courses of therapy, and patients who achieved at least partial remission (PR) continued to receive Taxol for a maximum of eight courses. RESULTS: Of 60 eligible patients, 54 (90%) were assessable for treatment toxicity and 53 (88%) were for treatment response (22 with primary refractory and 31 with relapsed disease). Twelve patients (23%) achieved a PR (n = 6) or complete remission (CR; n = 6) (95% confidence interval, 12% to 36%). Responses were observed in intermediate-grade (31%), low-grade (14%), and mantle-cell (17%) lymphomas. In the intermediate-grade lymphomas, there was a trend for a higher response rate in relapsed versus primary refractory disease (54% v 13%; P = .08). Treatment-related toxicity included alopecia (100%), peripheral neuropathy (37%), myalgia or arthralgia (25%), and neutropenic fever (11%). None of the patients had allergic reactions or cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSION: At this dose and schedule, Taxol is an active agent in patients with relapsed NHL and can be safely administered in an outpatient setting. Combination programs with Taxol should be investigated for treatment of NHL.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Intensive conventional-dose chemotherapy for stage IV low-grade lymphoma: high remission rates and reversion to negative of peripheral blood bcl-2 rearrangement.

BACKGROUND: Advanced-stage low-grade lymphoma is characterized by initial responsiveness to many conventional therapies but ultimate relapse. Intensive therapy approaches with non-cross-resistant regimens have not been extensively explored. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to monitor for the presence of cells with rearrangement of bcl-2, and provides a sensitive and stringent parameter of disease activity and treatment response that may have clinical utility. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1988 to 1992, 138 evaluable patients were treated with 3 sequential chemotherapy regimens, as well as with interferon alfa 2b (IFN) in combination with corticosteroids. Nineteen patients had serial PCR monitoring for bcl-2 rearrangement. RESULTS: Among a subset of 58 patients who had an initial phase of IFN plus prednisone, the response rate was 59%, mostly partial remissions (PR). With the chemotherapy program, 65% have achieved complete remission to date, and 30% PR. By PCR analysis, 13 of 19 tested achieved negative status ('molecular remission'), a much higher frequency of molecular remission than has been seen with standard therapies, and these molecular remissions appear to correlate with a lower likelihood of relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive conventional-dose chemotherapy can achieve high rates of remission, even when monitored by the stringent PCR technique.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The effect of computer-assisted interviewing on the clinical assessment of children.

This study investigated the effect of providing clinicians with a report from a computer-assisted interview conducted prior to the clinical assessment of children referred to a mental health service. The results suggest that the availability of reports from computer-assisted interviews influenced the type of problems identified by clinicians and the services that they recommended to manage the children's problems. It is suggested that reports from computer-assisted interviews could assist clinicians by collecting a broad range of clinical information describing the problems of clinic-referred children. It is also suggested that considerably more research is needed into the possible benefits of computer technology in child and adolescent mental health services.

Achievement↗
PubMed1991

A phase II trial of cyclosporin A in the treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

Cyclosporin A (CSA) is an immunosuppressive agent that in experimental models has antiproliferative activity against colon cancer and other human neoplasms. A phase II trial was conducted to evaluate CSA in refractory colorectal malignancies. CSA was administered at a starting dose of 7.0 mg/kg twice daily (total dose, 14 mg/kg/day) and escalated to tolerance. Of 18 patients with measurable disease, 17 were evaluable. All had been treated with one fluorouracil-containing regimen. The European Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was 0 or 1 in 17 of the 18 patients. No objective responses were seen. Four patients maintained stable disease lasting from 10 to 75+ weeks. Significant toxicity occurred in 9 of 17 (53%) patients. Dose reduction was necessary in 10 of 17 (59%). Sustained escalation beyond the initial dose was possible in only two cases. Toxicities included nausea and vomiting (71%), nephrotoxicity (41%), fatigue (35%), flu-like symptoms (29%), and neurotoxicity (18%). In the dose and schedule employed in this trial, CSA is ineffective in refractory colorectal cancer and produces significant toxicity.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

The use of a computer-assisted interview to administer the Child Behavior Checklist in a child psychiatry service.

This study describes the use of a computer-assisted interview to administer the Child Behavior Checklist to the parents of children referred to a child psychiatry service. The scores from the computer-assisted interview varied little from the scores obtained using the standard written checklist. Information collected by means of computer-assisted interviews with parents and children has the potential to facilitate the diagnostic assessment of individual children with emotional and behavioral problems, to provide a more comprehensive description of the work of child psychiatry services, and to encourage new clinical research by mental health professionals working in child psychiatry services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The attitude of parents to the use of computer-assisted interviewing in a child psychiatry service.

Before undergoing interview, parents reported that a computer-assisted interview would lack the friendly and personal approach of one conducted by a clinician but, after completing the interview, parents showed more acceptance of the procedure. Computer-assisted interviewing has the potential to play an important role in the collection of clinically relevant information from both parents and children referred to child psychiatry services.

Attitude to Computers↗
PubMed1990

The prevalence of emotional and behaviour disorders and patterns of service utilisation in children and adolescents.

This study compared the prevalence of emotional and behavioural disorders in children attending schools of different socio-economic class. In addition, the study compared the rate of service utilization by children with and without disorders. Using cutoff scores recommended for use with Australian children, the prevalence of disorders in schools of different socio-economic class ranged from 2.3 +/- 2.2 to 13.9 +/- 5.3 per 100 children, with the highest prevalence being found in the lower socio-economic class schools. Although few children with disorders had been seen in a mental health clinic, advice had been sought from other services with regard to 66% of these children. This high rate of service utilization by children with disorders highlights the key role that general practitioners, school guidance officers and hospital services could play in facilitating the early identification and management of children with emotional and behavioural disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Early childhood development: a comparative study of beliefs held by adolescents, medical students and mothers.

This study examined beliefs about the normal development of preschool children held by adolescents, medical students and mothers. A consistent pattern was identified, with adolescents estimating that young children can do the least, medical students' estimations lying between those of adolescents and mothers, and mothers estimating that the children can do the most. In addition, medical students were found to change their beliefs during the time that they participated in their paediatric teaching programme. It is suggested that paediatricians and other child health professionals take into account the varying beliefs held by different groups in the community when providing advice or teaching about early child development.

Adolescent↗