Biomedical subjects

B K Lockett

Publications and source records attributed to B K Lockett.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Thick malignant melanoma is a long-term problem.

AIMS: To investigate changes in incidence of in-situ, 'thin' (< 0.76 mm) and 'thick' (> 0.76 mm) melanoma. To explore the relationship of melanoma depth with the patient's age at diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective case series of melanoma was taken from pathology records in Palmerston North between 1983 and 1994. The denominator population was estimated, for each year, from published 1986 and 1991 census figures. RESULTS: Over the 12 years, the diagnostic rate of in-situ and invasive melanomas increased annually by 16% and 5%, respectively (Poisson regression, p < 0.0001). This analysis did not show a difference between the overall rate of increase in 'thin' and 'thick' invasive melanomas. After excluding Hutchinson's melanoma, the mean age at diagnosis for 'thin' and 'thick' melanomas was 49.0 and 55.4 years, respectively (p < 0.0001); the peak number of 'thin' and 'thick' melanomas were in the 30-39 and 60-69 age groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence for progression from 'thin' to 'thick' melanoma over a 6-to 30-year period. Poor prognosis 'thick' melanomas are currently increasing. Providing removal of 'thin' melanomas is sustained, a decline in 'thick' melanomas is expected but may take decades.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

SIDS or murder?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Asphyxia↗

PubMed1997

Intra-alveolar pulmonary siderophages in sudden infant death: a marker for previous imposed suffocation.

Staining for iron showed previously overlooked intra-alveolar siderophages widely distributed in the lungs of two pairs of siblings, all of whom had hospital admissions for apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) before dying suddenly at home. A mother and babysitter were convicted of their murder and manslaughter respectively. There were no siderophages in the lungs of a fifth infant whose death was included in the murder charge but who had no ALTEs. Bleeding from mouth or nose was observed during six of ten previous ALTEs suffered by these children and three unrelated infants in the same care. Such external hemorrhage is well described in imposed infant suffocation which may be one aspect of "Munchausen syndrome by proxy" child abuse. Our findings imply that there may also be intrapulmonary hemorrhage and that intra-alveolar siderophages can be a marker for previous abuse. Retrospectively we found diffusely distributed intra-alveolar siderophages in the lungs of seven of 158 infants with diagnoses of SIDS. Siderophages in such numbers demand an explanation and if this is not provided by clinical history or other necropsy findings should cause suspicion of previous imposed suffocation and infanticide and require further enquiry. The lungs should be stained for iron in all cases of sudden infant death.

Asphyxia↗