Biomedical subjects

C Deacon

Publications and source records attributed to C Deacon.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

After the Aznalcóllar mine spill: arsenic, zinc, selenium, lead and copper levels in the livers and bones of five waterfowl species.

In April 1998, a holding lagoon containing pyrite ore processing waste, failed and released 5-6 million m3 of highly polluting sludge and acidic water. Over 2650 ha of the internationally important Doñana Natural Park became contaminated, along with < 100 ha of the more pristine Doñana National Park. In order to assess the affect of the spill on waterfowl from Doñana, bone and liver samples from 124 individuals have been analysed for As, Pb, Cu, Zn and Se. Five species have been studied, from the Rallidae (rails), Anatini (dabbling ducks) and Aythyini (pochards) families. Geometric mean bone concentrations 2-3 months after the spill were in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb > Se > As, while liver concentrations were in the order of Zn > Cu > Se > Pb > As. Dry weight bone concentrations ranged from n.d-1.76 mg kg(-1) As, 109.4-247.6 mg kg(-1) Zn, 0.06-1.27 mg kg(-1) Se, n.d-134.11 mg kg(-1) Pb, and 2.18-8.92 mg kg(-1) Cu. Wet weight liver concentrations ranged from n.d-0.34 mg kg(-1) As, 29.8-220.1 mg kg(-1) Zn, 0.15-0.85 mg kg(-1) Se, n.d-3.80 mg kg(-1) Pb, and 7.30-742.96 mg kg(-1) Cu. The most important factor related to the accumulation of these metals was commonly species; however, location and sex also had important effects on liver As levels, location and age affected Cu levels, while Zn and Pb were affected by age, sex and location. Birds from Natural Park areas were found to have significantly higher levels of bone Zn, Pb and Cu, and liver As and Cu than birds from National Park areas. Female birds had higher liver As, Zn and Pb than males; whilst adults appeared to have lower bone As and Zn but higher liver Pb than chicks/juveniles. Although metal concentrations were elevated in certain individuals, in the majority of birds studied, they did not reach levels widely considered to be toxic. However, it would appear that As and Cu liver levels (which may be indicative of short-medium term pollutant exposure) were elevated in waterbirds which died in the spill contaminated Natural Park, 2-3 months after the disaster.

Accidents↗

PubMed2004

Combined image guidance excision of non-palpable breast lesions.

When mammogramography detects a non-palpable lesion the surgeons may be called upon to establish a diagnosis. Various techniques are currently employed. We describe a technique, which can be used both for diagnostic and for therapeutic procedures. The technique essentially involves localising the tip of a guide-wire, placed under mammographic guidance, with ultrasound scanning. This minimises many of the problems encountered with wire guided excision. We conducted a prospective non-randomised study using our combined image guidance technique (CIG) for patients undergoing diagnostic (n = 24) and therapeutic biopsy (n = 13). We found that significantly smaller diagnostic biopsy weights were achievable using CIG, compared to non-CIG techniques. Reduced biopsy weights are recommended by current guidelines.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed2003

Seizure identification by clinical description in temporal lobe epilepsy: how accurate are we?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of the clinical history performed by epileptologists in the identification of seizures in patients with suspected temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS: The clinical and EEG telemetry (EEGT) monitoring data of 88 patients with suspected refractory temporal lobe seizures referred for evaluation of epilepsy surgery were prospectively evaluated. All clinical events obtained by history in these patients were adjudicated as being a seizure or not by two blinded (without access to EEG data) independent epileptologists. Each clinical event was then matched with the corresponding clinical event recorded with EEG telemetry in the epilepsy monitoring unit (gold standard). Sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, predictive value, and interrater agreement for the clinical assessment were obtained. RESULTS: Of 357 clinically different events, 175 (49%) were reproduced in the epilepsy monitoring unit. Only 10 events were misidentified by history as being a seizure or not, resulting in an overall clinical accuracy of 94%. Epileptologists' sensitivity for seizure identification was 96% (95% CI 92, 98%) but specificity was only 50% (95% CI 22, 79%). Accuracy for complex partial seizures and generalized seizures was higher than for simple partial seizures (SPS). Misidentification occurred only with SPS and nonepileptic events. Agreement beyond chance among epileptologists was good. CONCLUSION: In this selected group of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, seizure identification by clinical history is highly accurate. Epileptologists rarely miss seizures (high sensitivity) but more often overcall nonepileptic events as seizures (low specificity).

Adult↗

PubMed1998

On the treatment of diabetes mellitus with glucagon-like peptide-1.

As a therapeutic principle, the insulinotropic peptide, GLP-1, of the secretin-glucagon family of peptides, has turned out to possess some remarkably attractive properties, including the capability of normalizing blood glucose concentrations in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and promoting satiety and reducing food intake in healthy volunteers. Because of rapid and extensive metabolization, the peptide is not immediately clinically applicable and, as a therapeutic principle, GLP-1 is still in its infancy. Some possible avenues for circumventing these difficulties are the development of DPP-IV-resistant analogs, the inhibition of DPP-IV, enhancement of GLP-1 secretion, GLP delivery systems using continuous subcutaneous infusion or buccal tablets, GLP-1 absorption, and orally active, stable analogs. It seems likely that one or more of these approaches could result in a clinically useful development program.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1989