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C Metcalf

Publications and source records attributed to C Metcalf.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Screen-detected mucinous breast carcinoma: potential for delayed diagnosis.

AIM: To describe the imaging features of 34 screen-detected mucinous carcinomas lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The BreastScreen Western Australia (WA) database between January 1991 and December 2003 was searched. During this period, 214,507 women were screened and 2745 cases of invasive carcinoma and 45 cases of mucinous carcinoma were recorded. Case notes, radiology films and pathology reports of patients with mucinous carcinoma were reviewed. Thirty-four radiologically detected pure mucinous carcinomas are described. RESULTS: Of the pure mucinous carcinomas, the average age at diagnosis was 65 years (range 48-82 years), which was higher than that of other women with breast cancer (average age 60 years) screened at BreastScreen WA. Characteristic mammographic features of mucinous carcinoma are well-circumscribed masses with lobulated margins (26/34). Only 39% (11/28) of tumours were detected at ultrasound, as the smaller lesions less than 15mm in diameter were often isoechoic with normal fat. Where histological grade was reported at excision, most (25/26) were low to medium-grade tumours (Bloom, Richardson and Elston grade I and II). A significant number of lesions (13/34) were evident on the previous screening examination where they were misinterpreted as benign lesions. However, none of these cases had positive axillary lymph nodes at final diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Although mammographically benign appearances of mucinous carcinoma caused a delay in diagnosis in 38% of the present cases, mucinous breast carcinomas have a favourable prognosis, as they are often low-grade tumours and rarely metastasize. Delay in diagnosis for these tumours in a screening programme may not lead to a significant adverse outcome for most women.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed2001

The importance of performance appraisal and staff development: a graduating nurse's perspective.

This paper will discuss the importance of performance appraisal and staff development for graduate nurses. It argues that these strategies assist newly graduated nurses to enhance and consolidate knowledge and practice skills. Further, the net benefit for employers is improved quality outcomes, increased job satisfaction by staff and cost-effective usage of resources. The limitations of performance appraisal and staff development, however, occur when management and staff do not understand the principles of performance appraisal and the need for consultation with staff about staff development activity.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

Bacillus circulans endophthalmitis.

An 80-year-old woman presented with right endophthalmitis, characterized by chalky white deposits covering her posterior capsule. This occurred 17 months after uncomplicated right cataract surgery. A three-port pars plana vitrectomy and partial posterior capsulectomy isolated Bacillus circulans, and the patient made a rapid and full recovery on topical cephalothin and prednisolone acetate 1%. The case demonstrates that, unlike endophthalmitis due to other Bacillus spp., B. circulans endophthalmitis does not necessarily follow a fulminant course. It is the first report describing a subacute presentation, and response to posterior capsulectomy and simple antibiotic therapy It is also the first description of B. circulans causing white plaques in the posterior capsule, a finding characteristic of chronic endophthalmitis and previously considered pathognomonic of Proprionibacterium acnes endophthalmitis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Structure-based design of an osteoclast-selective, nonpeptide src homology 2 inhibitor with in vivo antiresorptive activity.

Targeted disruption of the pp60(src) (Src) gene has implicated this tyrosine kinase in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and as a therapeutic target for the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases. Herein we describe the discovery of a nonpeptide inhibitor (AP22408) of Src that demonstrates in vivo antiresorptive activity. Based on a cocrystal structure of the noncatalytic Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of Src complexed with citrate [in the phosphotyrosine (pTyr) binding pocket], we designed 3',4'-diphosphonophenylalanine (Dpp) as a pTyr mimic. In addition to its design to bind Src SH2, the Dpp moiety exhibits bone-targeting properties that confer osteoclast selectivity, hence minimizing possible undesired effects on other cells that have Src-dependent activities. The chemical structure AP22408 also illustrates a bicyclic template to replace the post-pTyr sequence of cognate Src SH2 phosphopeptides such as Ac-pTyr-Glu-Glu-Ile (1). An x-ray structure of AP22408 complexed with Lck (S164C) SH2 confirmed molecular interactions of both the Dpp and bicyclic template of AP22408 as predicted from molecular modeling. Relative to the cognate phosphopeptide, AP22408 exhibits significantly increased Src SH2 binding affinity (IC(50) = 0.30 microM for AP22408 and 5.5 microM for 1). Furthermore, AP22408 inhibits rabbit osteoclast-mediated resorption of dentine in a cellular assay, exhibits bone-targeting properties based on a hydroxyapatite adsorption assay, and demonstrates in vivo antiresorptive activity in a parathyroid hormone-induced rat model.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2000

Changing documentation to improve stoma care.

Care pathways set out the anticipated flow of care for a typical patient with a specific diagnosis. The pathway of care is a concept rather than a fixed method, which can be adapted and modified to suit the needs of a specific patient group. Use of patient cards allows routine patient teaching and information-giving to be recorded, while allowing more space and time for focusing on the needs of individual patients.

Critical Pathways↗
PubMed1998

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 2q: possibly a poor prognostic factor in head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) correlates with inactivated tumor suppressor genes. The aim of this study was to see if LOH on chromosomes 2q, 3p, 5q, 9p, and 17p correlated with survival in early squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). METHODS: A case control study was performed. Ten patients with stage I or II tumors who ultimately died of their disease were identified and matched with suitable controls. None of the controls had a local recurrence and at time of last follow-up were alive with no evidence of disease or had died of an unrelated illness. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from paraffin blocks, and LOH studies were performed using microsatellite markers. RESULTS: The respective incidence of allelic loss for the index and control patients was as follows: chromosome 2q, 75% and 20% (p = .03); chromosome 3p, 71% and 57%, respectively (not significant); chromosome arm 5q, 30% and 25% (not significant); chromosome arm 9p, 71% and 73% (not significant); and chromosome arm 17p, 75% and 46% (not significant). Therefore, loss on chromosome 2q strongly correlated with poor survival (odds ratio = 10.4). CONCLUSION: Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 2q may correlate with a poor prognosis in early-stage SCCHN.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Ultrasonography of breast hamartomas.

The authors present the breast ultrasound findings of nine women with mammographic abnormalities typical of breast hamartomas. Two of the mammographically detected hamartomas could not be identified at breast ultrasound. Six hamartomas were well-circumscribed masses of heterogeneous echogenicity with no posterior acoustic shadowing. One lesion was a well-defined hypo-echoic mass with no posterior shadowing. We conclude that many mammographically and clinically detected hamartomas can be clearly identified at breast ultrasound. The breast sonographer should be aware of the spectrum of appearances that may occur. When a breast abnormality has the characteristic mammographic appearances of a hamartoma, it may be counterproductive to perform an additional breast ultrasound.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Bartonella henselae is a causative agent of cat scratch disease in Australia.

We report the first isolation of Bartonella henselae from the blood and fleas of a cat of a patient with cat scratch disease (CSD) in Australia. A 49-year-old man presented with a history that 3 weeks after he had removed fleas from his cat he had developed fever, lethargy and anorexia for 3 days. This was followed by the appearance of axillary lymphadenopathy. There was no history of a bite or scratch and no primary lesion on the skin. Two fine needle aspirates of the axillary lymph node showed granulomatous lymphadenitis with no organisms seen by Warthin-Starry silver staining or electron microscopy. No organism was cultured from the patient's lymph node aspirates or blood cultures processed by lysis centrifugation. However, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using p24E and p12B primers gave a 280 bp band indistinguishable from Bartonella henselae when using DNA extracted from the lymph node aspirates and the patient's blood leucocytes. DNA sequencing of the PCR product from the patient's blood showed that the DNA was from Bartonella henselae. The patient's serum had a titre of 1024 in an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test for Bartonella henselae. Bartonella henselae was subsequently cultured from fleas and blood taken from the patient's cat. This case provides evidence that Bartonella henselae is a causative agent of CSD in Australia and supports a possible role for fleas in transmission of the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Design and feasibility of a national Medicaid Access Survey with state-specific estimates.

This article presents the results of a study to design and assess the feasibility of conducting a national Medicaid Access Survey to generate timely, state-specific estimates of access to care for Medicaid enrollees. State-specific data on Medicaid access is especially relevant because state programs and environments vary considerably and are changing rapidly in ways that could influence access. We analyze (1) basic survey design parameters and instrument content, (2) alternative sampling approaches and their feasibility, (3) pilot test results, (4) the feasibility of using existing national surveys to generate comparison estimates for state-based surveys, and (5) estimates of the required sample size and costs for such a national Medicaid Access Survey. We conclude that a survey generating timely, state-specific estimates of Medicaid access is both feasible and affordable if attention is paid to key design challenges while keeping objectives and design simple.

Budgets↗
PubMed1994

Mammographic features of adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast accounts for < 1% of breast malignancies. This case report describes the mammographic features and the pathology. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a well-circumscribed carcinoma that has a relatively good prognosis.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Extranodal Ki-1 lymphoma in a renal transplant patient.

THe Ki-1 (CD 30) antigen has been identified as a marker of a subset of large cell anaplastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that may have a more favourable prognosis. We describe an immunosuppressed renal transplant patient who developed primary extranodal large cell anaplastic Ki-1 lymphoma of T-cell phenotype confined to the sigmoid colon. The patient was treated with local resection of the sigmoid colon and reduction of immunosuppression and at two year follow-up remains free of recurrence. It is recognised that long term immunosuppression in post transplant patients increases the risk of certain malignancies. Localised gut lymphoma may be amenable to local resection as a curative procedure.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Missed opportunities for measles immunisation in selected western Cape hospitals.

Measles is still a major cause of childhood mortality and morbidity in South Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently recommended that greater attention be paid to opportunities for immunisation in the curative sector. This study quantified the extent of missed opportunities for measles immunisation in children attending primary, secondary and tertiary level curative hospitals in the western Cape. Exit interviews of 1,068 carers of children aged between 6 and 59 months inclusive showed that 2.4-40.7% of carers had been requested to produce a Road-to-Health card, and that 4.8-43.1% of carers had a card available. The proportion of children with documented evidence of measles immunisation available ranged from 4.8% to 40.0% between facilities. The study demonstrated that a considerable number of potential opportunities to immunise children against measles are currently being missed in children attending hospitals and day hospitals in the western Cape. The study documents the effect of a fragmented approach to health care, and indicates a need for rapid integration of preventive and curative components of health care into a metropolitan-based primary health care service.

Child, Hospitalized↗
PubMed1991

An outbreak of whooping cough in a highly vaccinated urban community.

In 1950 a whole-cell pertussis vaccine was introduced in Cape Town and was followed by a marked decline in reported whooping cough mortality and morbidity. This resulted in reduced awareness of whooping cough as a clinical problem and, in recent years, no routine diagnostic tests for Bordetella pertussis have been performed. An outbreak of whooping cough occurred in Cape Town between 1 June 1988, and 31 May 1989, with 292 children admitted to hospital for whooping cough during this period (hospital admission rate in children under 5 years of age = 187 per 100,000). In an investigation of 239 children attending four pre-primary schools in the city, the whooping cough attack rate was 33 per cent, while pertussis vaccine coverage was 95 per cent. In the latter part of the outbreak nasopharyngeal swabs and serology were performed in patients presenting to a children's hospital with suspected whooping cough. Bordetella pertussis was isolated from 3 out of 34 (9 per cent) children tested and the first isolate was serotyped as type 1,2,4. Available clinical and laboratory evidence indicated that the organism responsible for the outbreak was Bordetella pertussis. Coverage studies for pertussis vaccine in Cape Town indicated that between 81 and 93 per cent of children were fully immunized by 13 months of age. These findings suggest that, since its introduction, the whole-cell pertussis vaccine produced in South Africa has been highly effective in controlling whooping cough. However, it was not able to prevent a moderate scale outbreak, even in the presence of high vaccination levels.

Child↗