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Biomedical subjects

B G Stuckey

Publications and source records attributed to B G Stuckey.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Rapid, divergent changes in spinal and forearm bone density following short-term intravenous treatment of Paget's disease with pamidronate disodium.

Intravenous disodium 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate pentahydrate (pamidronate disodium) was used to treat 39 patients (22 males and 17 females, age range 48-85 years) with symptomatic Paget's disease. Patients were stratified into three groups based on the biochemical severity of the disease as assessed by fasting urinary hydroxyproline excretion (HypE, mumol/liter GF, glomerular filtrate): group I (n = 23), HypE < 5.0, treated with 120 mg total dose over 2 or 4 days; group II (n = 6), 5.0 < or = HypE < or = 10.0, 180 mg over 3 or 6 days; and group III (n = 10), HypE > 10.0, 240 mg over 4 or 8 days. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured before and 3 and 6 months following treatment in the spine (L1-4) using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and in the forearm at an ultradistal and a shaft site using single-photon absorptiometry. When groups I-III were combined, nonpagetic and pagetic lumbar spinal BMD had both risen significantly at 3 months compared with the pretreatment values (p < 0.001). In each group, lumbar spinal BMD in pagetic vertebrae rose markedly by 3 months, with no further significant change at 6 months. The percentage rises in the three groups were not different from each other at 3 or 6 months. Nonpagetic lumbar spinal BMD followed a similar and significant trend but with a significantly smaller rise than for pagetic bone. (For the combined groups, nonpagetic BMD rose 5.1 +/- 1.1% SEM, above pretreatment at 6 months; pagetic BMD rose 17.8 +/- 1.6%: significance of comparison = p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Fluoride treatment of osteoporosis: cyclical non-blinded or continuous blinded studies?

The future of sodium fluoride (NaF), the most potent osteoblast stimulator known to man, is in the balance. Of three recent randomized trials of continuous NaF only one found a significant in vertebral fractures in the NaF group. When data from the first year were excluded, two of the studies (those with the largest numbers) showed a significantly reduced risk of vertebral fracture on NaF. The effect of NaF on cortical bone is poorly documented. Two studies have shown reduced forearm cortical bone density with continuous NaF. A further two (histomorphometric) studies have shown the development of increased cortical porosity on continuous NaF treatment. In one, this was selectively at the external cortex and was linearly correlated with cancellous volume increase. Our pilot study using NaF administered cyclically has shown an encouraging (though non-significant) reduction in vertebral fracture rates (excluding year 1) and no fall in forearm cortical density. Another (US) cyclical study has shown no increase in cortical porosity. A current W. Australian randomized study of 50 patients is described where NaF dosage is varied proportional to the osteoblast response, and duration is dependent on densitometric and radiographic response. The future of NaF should involve cyclical administration, in cautious initial dosage (50-60 mg/day) of enteric-coated NaF, in conjunction with a potent inhibitor of resorption such as hormone replacement, bisphosphonates or calcitonin.

Aged↗

Late effects of childhood malignancies seen in Western Australia.

Eighty-nine pediatric oncology patients, in remission and off treatment for at least 4 years, were reviewed annually in the Late Effects Clinic of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Western Australia. Interval from time of diagnosis to follow-up ranged from 4 to 23 years (mean 10.8 years). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (40%) and Wilms' tumor (27%) were the most common primary malignancies in this group. Late sequelae included musculoskeletal abnormalities (23 children), growth hormone deficiency (11), second tumors (9), learning difficulties (7), puberty and fertility problems (4), and hypothyroidism (4). These complications were most often related to radiation therapy. The need for prolonged, regular follow-up of survivors of childhood malignancy for early detection of late sequelae and subsequent intervention is stressed.

Adolescent↗

Kinetics of intestinal calcium absorption in humans measured using stable isotopes and high-precision thermal ionization mass spectrometry.

Oral (44Ca: 0.13-0.20 mmol) and intravenous (42Ca: 0.02-0.037 mmol) isotopically enriched stable calcium (Ca) tracers were given together with an oral dose of 2.5 mmol of natural Ca to normal subjects. Blood and urine samples were collected up to 24 h after the tracer doses and atom fractions (AFs) of these tracers (relative to natural Ca) were measured by high-precision thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). The time-dependent fractional rate of oral dose absorbed and true fractional intestinal Ca absorption (alpha) were derived from the Afs by mathematical deconvolution. After 6 h, the ratio AF oral tracer/AF intravenous tracer in blood equalled that in urine and did not change thereafter. Reproducibility of the combination of chemical precipitation of Ca (from a urine standard) and subsequent TIMS measurements, in nine runs over 13 months, was 1.2% (coefficient of variation). This was in accord with the within-run reproducibility. An estimate of alpha derived from a single blood or urine measurement was 6-10% higher than the reference value obtained by deconvolution. This discrepancy could be explained by a correction factor depending, in part, on the elapsed time for peak Ca intestinal absorption rate. Instrumentally induced mass fractionation, as well as contributions from radiogenic Ca, had a significant effect on the accuracy and reproducibility of the ratio of AFs of tracers in blood and urine.

Administration, Oral↗

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia and pancreatitis: no causal link proven.

A case of a patient with pancreatitis and familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia is presented and the literature linking FHH and pancreatitis is reviewed. The case for a causal link between the two conditions is not proven and seems unlikely. In view of this we strongly challenge the recommendation of total parathyroidectomy in such cases.

Adult↗

Fasting calcium excretion and parathyroid hormone together distinguish familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia from primary hyperparathyroidism.

Routine estimation of plasma calcium has made the finding of asymptomatic hypercalcaemia a frequent occurrence. A high index of suspicion for familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) will lead to accurate diagnosis and avoidance of unnecessary parathyroid surgery. Four FHH kindreds with 16 hypercalcaemic members were found in an unselected referral population over 3 years. Differentiation from primary hyperparathyroidism (42 patients in the same period) was facilitated by analysis of fasting blood and urine for renal handling of calcium, phosphate and cyclic AMP. We found that a plot of serum PTH against fasting calcium excretion separated all cases of each disorder. The discriminatory power of these two variables was confirmed by multivariate discriminant function analysis. An elevated plasma chloride was found to be common to both diseases and of no value in differentiation.

Adult↗

Cardiac rheumatoid nodules.

Rheumatoid nodules in the heart are unusual specific manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. This paper describes three cases in which these nodules were found at necropsy. The patients were women with long histories of rheumatoid arthritis, two of whom had significant but unexplained congestive cardiac failure. The rheumatoid nodules were present in the patients' myocardium and in one patient's pericardium. We suggest that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with severe but unexplained cardiac failure, the possibility of rheumatoid nodules in the heart should be considered.

Aged↗