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Biomedical subjects

D Bowman

Publications and source records attributed to D Bowman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

3-D reconstruction of Ir-192 implant dosimetry for irradiating gingival carcinoma on the mandibular alveolar ridge.

A recurrent cancer in the gingiva has been treated by specially fabricating a dental acrylic appliance. This replica of the floor of the mouth, gums, and teeth was constructed with the use of a vinyl polysiloxine impression material. The tumor boundaries were marked in the fabricated appliance with four metal wires to localize the surface and periphery of the tumor. The appliance was molded to hold Ir-192 wires in near contact with the target surface and to allow afterloading. A specially designed lead shield was imbedded onto the dorsal surface of the appliance so as to reduce dose to the tongue and maxillary structures of the mouth. Simulation films and 3-D treatment planning were used to generate isodose distributions and to allow preplanning. The dose calculation algorithm was modified to account for the attenuation in the lead shield represented in three dimensions. The Ir-192 mold was successfully applied for 38 hours in two sessions 1 week apart.

Aged

Novel pharmacological sensitivity of the presynaptic calcium channels controlling acetylcholine release in skate electric organ.

The presynaptic terminals of skate (Raja montagui) electric organ were tested for their sensitivity to calcium channel antagonists. Acetylcholine (ACh) release and the elevation of intraterminal Ca2+ concentrations triggered by K+ depolarisation were studied. ACh release was measured as 3H efflux from slices of organ prelabelled with [3H]choline. Depolarisation caused a marked, Ca(2+)-dependent increase in 3H efflux that was completely blocked by 100 microM Cd2+ and by 300 nM omega-conotoxin-MVIIC (MVIIC). Inhibition by MVIIC was concentration dependent (IC50 of approximately 20 nM) and reversible. No inhibition was seen with nifedipine (5 microM) or the two other peptide antagonists studied: omega-conotoxin-GVIA (GVIA) at 5 microM and omega-agatoxin-IVA (Aga-IVA) at 1 microM. In a "nerve plate" preparation (a presynaptic plexus of nerve fibres, Schwann cells, and nerve terminals) changes in intraterminal Ca2+ concentrations were measured by microfluorimetry using fluo-3. An increase in fluorescence, indicating a rise in the free [Ca2+], rapidly followed K+ depolarisation, and this change was restricted to the nerve terminals. This response was insensitive to nifedipine (5 microM), GVIA (5 microM), and Aga-IVA (300 nM) but almost completely abolished by MVIIC (1 microM). MVIIC inhibition was concentration dependent and partially reversible. These results show that the nerve terminals in skate electric organ have calcium channels with a pharmacological sensitivity that is markedly different from the established L, N, and P types in other systems but shares some, but not all, of the features of the recently described Q type.

Acetylcholine

A full likelihood procedure for analysing exchangeable binary data.

A full-likelihood procedure is proposed for analyzing correlated binary data under the assumption of exchangeability. The binomial and beta-binomial models are shown to occur as special cases correspondingly, respectively, to the choice of degenerate and beta-mixing distributions. For a finite exchangeable binary sequence of random variables, expressions for the joint distribution, moments, and correlations of all orders are derived. Maximum likelihood estimates of the moments of all orders are computed and used to estimate correlations and the distribution of the number of responses in a cluster. In an application to developmental toxicology data analysis, the procedure introduced is compared with a beta-binomial and a generalized estimating equation procedure in which mean response and intralitter correlation are linked to dose.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

Omega-conotoxin MVIIC reversibly inhibits a human N-type calcium channel and calcium influx into chick synaptosomes.

We have investigated the effects of omega-CmTX MVIIC on the recombinant alpha 1B-mediated calcium channel expressed in HEK 293 cells and on the predominantly N-type calcium channel in chick synaptosomes. omega-CmTX MVIIC potently and reversibly inhibited the calcium current through alpha 1B-mediated calcium channels and inhibited KCl-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i in chick synaptosomes in a concentration-dependent manner.

Action Potentials

Growth of tumor derived activated T-cells for the treatment of cancer.

This report describes the production of Tumor Derived Activated Cell cultures (TDAC, also called tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) from patient tumor biopsies and our preliminary experience growing these cells to therapeutic levels using artificial capillary bioreactor cultures. TDAC were successfully grown in medium containing Interleukin 2 from 80% of the 113 tumor biopsies tested. There was no significant difference in success (growth to 1 x 10(9) cells) comparing primary and metastatic tumors. Many of the tumors were shipped to the laboratory from distant sites. Success rate did decrease with the length of time for tumor transport. Interleukin 4 was beneficial in the development of 1 of 4 TDAC cultures which did not grow with IL-2 only. Seventy-seven bioreactor cultures were initiated for 31 patients. On the average, 1.9 x 10(9) TDAC were inoculated per bioreactor; 3.3 x 10(10) were harvested in 22 days. Twelve liters of medium were required per 1 x 10(10) TDAC produced. TDAC cultures contained T cells with variable ratios of CD4 to CD8 cells. Secreted granulocyte monocyte colony stimulating factor, interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor were measured in the bioreactor cartridge conditioned medium. Twenty three patients were evaluated. Partial responses were observed in 4 patients including a dramatic remission of scalp nodules in a patient with renal cancer. Results showed that therapeutic amounts of TDAC cells may be produced in a reasonable and cost effective manner using artificial capillary bioreactor cultures.

Biopsy

Variations in bracket placement in the preadjusted orthodontic appliance.

This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of bracket placement with the direct bonded technique. Ten orthodontic faculty members bonded a preadjusted orthodontic appliance on models of five cases of malocclusion in a simulated clinical situation (mannequin). A total of 50 sets of models served as the population of the study. Photographs of the models were measured to determine vertical and angular discrepancies in position between adjacent bracket pairs from a constructed reference line. Variations are evaluated with respect to the classification of malocclusion, specific tooth type, and intra/inter operator differences. A mean of 0.34 mm for the vertical discrepancies and a mean of 5.54 degrees for the angular discrepancies are found in placement of the orthodontic brackets.

Analysis of Variance

The influence of extraction and nonextraction orthodontic treatment on brachyfacial and dolichofacial growth patterns.

The effects of extraction and nonextraction orthodontic treatment mechanics on patients with dolichofacial and brachyfacial growth patterns between one and two standard deviations were studied. Groups underwent treatment of either nonextraction or extraction of four premolars with the appropriate mechanics for the facial type. Changes in the facial axis and correlation between maxillary molar movement and facial axis change were measured. A positive correlation was found between the amount of anteroposterior movement of the upper molar and change in the facial axis in brachyfacial and dolichofacial patients undergoing nonextraction treatment. A weak correlation was found in the extraction treatment groups. No statistically significant difference was found in the facial axis change among any of the groups studied, regardless of facial type or plan of treatment. There were indications of a more severe opening of the facial axis (Ba-Na plane to constructed gnathion) with greater degrees of maxillary molar distal movement in both facial patterns studied.

Adolescent

Establishment and characterization of SV40 T-antigen immortalized human esophageal epithelial cells.

Normal human esophageal autopsy tissue was explanted in serum-free medium. The epithelial outgrowths were subcultured and then transfected by strontium phosphate coprecipitation with plasmid pRSV-T consisting of the RSV-LTR promoter and the sequence encoding the simian virus 40 large T-antigen. The transfected cells, but not the sham-transfected controls, formed multilayered colonies within 3-4 weeks, after which the colonies were transferred and cell strains (HE-451 and HE-457) developed. Both cell strains grew exponentially for 8-10 weeks and then senesced. After a "crisis" of 6-8 months, growth resumed in isolated colonies. One line, HET-1A from HE-457, was developed and has now undergone more than 250 population doublings. This line has retained epithelial morphology, stains positively for cytokeratins and the simian virus 40 T-antigen gene by immunofluorescence, and has remained nontumorigenic in athymic, nude mice for more than 12 months. Karyotypic analysis by Giemsa banding has shown that HET-1A is hypodiploid (34-40 chromosomes). Growth factor studies have shown that HET-1A is stimulated by Ca2+, and inhibited by fetal bovine serum, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and transforming growth factor-beta 2. This serum-free immortalized esophageal cell system will be useful for investigating the action of putative esophageal carcinogens.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming

Effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate on the metabolism of tobacco-specific nitrosamines by cultured rat oral tissue.

The effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on the metabolism of N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) by cultured rat oral tissue was investigated. Two protocols were used. In one, oral tissue from untreated rats was cultured in the presence of 10 or 50 microM PEITC and either NNN or NNK. The levels of NNN and NNK metabolites released into the culture media were determined by HPLC analysis. The presence of 10 microM PEITC inhibited the formation of all NNN metabolites from 45 to 70% when the concentration of NNN was 1 microM or 10 microM. When the concentration of PEITC was 50 microM the extent of inhibition was from 70 to 90%. alpha-Hydroxylation of NNK was inhibited 70 to 90% and N-oxidation of NNK was inhibited 80 to 90% by 10 microM PEITC. Carbonyl reduction of NNK to NNAL was unaffected by 10 microM PEITC and only slightly inhibited by 50 microM PEITC. In the second protocol, rats were fed NIH-07 diet containing 3 mumol PEITC/g for 1-14 days. The metabolism of NNN by cultured oral tissue from these rats was decreased from 40 to 90% relative to that by tissue from control rats. NNK metabolism was inhibited 40 to 60%. The extent of inhibition was the same when rats were fed PEITC containing diet for 1 or 14 days. NNN and NNK are the only tobacco constituents which induce oral cavity cancer in an animal model. The results of this study suggest the possibility that PEITC may be useful as a chemopreventive agent for oral cavity cancer.

Animals

Iatrogenic transmission of Cytauxzoon felis from a Florida panther (Felix concolor coryi) to a domestic cat.

A laboratory cat died 12 days after intraperitoneal inoculation of a 1 ml suspension containing 1.5 x 10(6) blood mononuclear cells from a Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi). Gross, histologic and ultrastructural investigations revealed the cause of death to be infection by Cytauxzoon felis, a protozoal parasite known to cause a rapidly fatal disease (cytauxzoonosis) in domestic cats. The bobcat (Felis rufus) has been identified as a natural host for C. felis. This report implicates the Florida panther as another possible host for C. felis.

Animals

Postoperative chemotherapy and tamoxifen compared with tamoxifen alone in the treatment of positive-node breast cancer patients aged 50 years and older with tumors responsive to tamoxifen: results from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-16.

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) conducted a randomized clinical trial to determine whether tamoxifen (TAM) plus chemotherapy is more effective than TAM alone in improving disease-free survival (DFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and survival (S) of positive-node, TAM-responsive patients aged greater than or equal to 50 years. Women were randomized among three treatment groups: (1) TAM alone, (2) Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), cyclophosphamide, and TAM (ACT), or (3) melphalan (L-PAM), fluorouracil (5-FU), and TAM (PFT). The PFT arm was later modified so that new patients also received Adriamycin (PAFT). Findings from 1,124 eligible patients through 3 years of follow-up indicated a significantly better DFS for ACT-treated patients than for those receiving TAM alone (84% v 67%; P = .0004). An advantage in DDFS and S was also observed after ACT therapy (83% v 73% [P = .04 in the former] and 93% v 85% [P = .04 in the latter]). Both the DFS and DDFS of PAFT-treated patients were better than in those treated by TAM alone (83% v 66%, P = .0002 and 85% v 73%, P = .003). PFT patients also fared better in DFS and DDFS than TAM patients (81% v 72%, P = .07 and 85% v 74%, P = .02). Odds ratios consistently favored the three TAM-plus-chemotherapy groups. No significant S advantage is as yet evident in favor of the PAFT or PFT groups. Of importance is the failure of these studies to demonstrate an unfavorable interaction between the drug regimens used and the TAM, which was administered simultaneously. The findings related to the use of PAFT and PFT are of more biologic than clinical significance since L-PAM is rarely used in the treatment of breast cancer. The major conclusion from this study is the observance of a better outcome in positive-node breast cancer patients aged greater than or equal to 50 years from the use of postoperative prolonged TAM and short-course AC therapy (completed in 63 days) than from prolonged TAM therapy alone.

Aged

Two months of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide with and without interval reinduction therapy compared with 6 months of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil in positive-node breast cancer patients with tamoxifen-nonresponsive tumors: results from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-15.

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) implemented protocol B-15 to compare 2 months of Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) and cyclophosphamide (AC) with 6 months of conventional cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) in patients with breast cancer nonresponsive to tamoxifen (TAM, T). A second aim was to determine whether AC followed in 6 months by intravenous (IV) CMF was more effective than AC without reinduction therapy. Through 3 years of follow-up, findings from 2,194 patients indicate no significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS, P = .5), distant disease-free survival (DDFS, P = .5) or survival (S, P = .8) among the three groups. Since the outcome from AC and CMF was almost identical, the issue arises concerning which regimen is more appropriate for the treatment of breast cancer patients. AC seems preferable since, following total mastectomy, AC was completed on day 63 versus day 154 for conventional CMF; patients visited health professionals three times as often for conventional CMF as for AC; women on AC received therapy on each of 4 days versus on each of 84 days for conventional CMF; and nausea-control medication was given for about 84 days to conventional CMF patients versus for about 12 days to patients on AC. The difference in the amount of alopecia between the two treatment groups was less than anticipated. While alopecia was almost universally observed following AC therapy, 71% of the CMF patients also had hair loss and, in 41%, the loss was greater than 50%. This study and NSABP B-16, which evaluates the worth of AC therapy in TAM-responsive patients, indicate the merit of 2 months of AC therapy for all positive-node breast cancer patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Systemic therapy in patients with node-negative breast cancer. A commentary based on two National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether in the previous National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) studies of node-negative breast cancer there were either cohorts of patients with a prognosis favorable enough to preclude using systemic therapy or subsets of patients who failed to benefit from the treatments. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trials with stratification after surgery. SETTING: NSABP trials at institutions in the United States and Canada. PATIENTS: Data were collected on 731 eligible patients (Protocol B-13) with estrogen-receptor-negative tumors who randomly received either no therapy after surgery or sequential methotrexate and fluorouracil (M----F) followed by leucovorin. Data were also collected on 2834 patients (Protocol B-14) with estrogen-receptor-positive tumors who randomly received either placebo or tamoxifen treatment. The percentage of patients surviving disease-free was determined through 4 years of follow-up using life-table estimates. INTERVENTIONS: Protocol B-13 patients received 12 courses of M----F given intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 4 weeks. Leucovorin therapy was begun 24 hours after M----F administration. Protocol B-14 patients received 5-year treatment with either tamoxifen (10 mg twice daily by mouth) or placebo. RESULTS: When the outcome of untreated patients in either trial was related to the stratification variables, women were found to have a disease-free survival of less than 80% through 4 years of follow-up. This percentage is apt to decrease because the probability of treatment failure increases with time. In both trials, all subsets of women benefited from M----F or tamoxifen therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The disease-free survival of all cohorts of node-negative patients with estrogen-receptor-negative or estrogen-receptor-positive tumors was poor enough to justify systemic treatment. The benefits of the therapies used are insufficient to eliminate the need for assessing putatively better regimens.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

A randomized clinical trial evaluating sequential methotrexate and fluorouracil in the treatment of patients with node-negative breast cancer who have estrogen-receptor-negative tumors.

We evaluated the postoperative use of sequential methotrexate and fluorouracil followed by leucovorin in 679 patients with primary breast cancer, histologically negative axillary nodes, and estrogen-receptor-negative (less than 10 fmol) tumors. No survival advantage was observed with this therapy as compared with no postoperative therapy during four years of follow-up (87 percent vs. 86 percent; P = 0.8). However, there was a significant prolongation of disease-free survival among women who received this therapy as compared with those who did not (80 percent vs. 71 percent; P = 0.003). An advantage was observed in both the patients less than or equal to 49 years old and those greater than or equal to 50. At four years, treatment failure was reduced by 24 percent in the younger group and by 50 percent in the older group. The rates of both local and regional and distant metastases were decreased. These benefits, achieved without the use of an alkylating agent, were associated with tolerable side effects. Multivariate analysis testing for potential interactions failed to identify subgroups of patients who did not benefit from the therapy. These results, although promising, do not obviate the need for additional trials to evaluate potentially better regimens of therapy, but they do suggest that sequential methotrexate-fluorouracil should be used in the control arm in such studies. Their use is also justified for the treatment of patients who refuse to participate in clinical trials, provided the patients meet the eligibility criteria of the present study. Since women with tumors too small for conventional analysis of estrogen-receptor and progesterone-receptor concentrations were not included in this study, we do not recommend systemic treatment for them outside of a clinical trial.

Aged

A randomized clinical trial evaluating tamoxifen in the treatment of patients with node-negative breast cancer who have estrogen-receptor-positive tumors.

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of postoperative therapy with tamoxifen (10 mg twice a day) in 2644 patients with breast cancer, histologically negative axillary nodes, and estrogen-receptor-positive (greater than or equal to 10 fmol) tumors. No survival advantage was observed during four years of follow-up (92 percent for placebo vs. 93 percent for tamoxifen; P = 0.3). There was a significant prolongation of disease-free survival among women treated with tamoxifen, as compared with those receiving placebo (83 percent vs. 77 percent; P less than 0.00001). This advantage was observed in both the patients less than or equal to 49 years old (P = 0.0005) and those greater than or equal to 50 (P = 0.0008), particularly in the former, among whom the rate of treatment failure was reduced by 44 percent. Multivariate analysis indicated that all subgroups of patients benefited. Tamoxifen significantly reduced the rate of treatment failure at local and distant sites, tumors in the opposite breast, and the incidence of tumor recurrence after lumpectomy and breast irradiation. The benefit was attained with a low incidence of clinically appreciable toxic effects. The magnitude of the improvement obtained does not preclude the need for future trials in which patients given tamoxifen could serve as the control group in an evaluation of potentially better therapies. Tamoxifen treatment is justified in patients who meet the eligibility criteria of the present study and who refuse to participate in those trials. Since patients with tumors too small for conventional analysis of estrogen-receptor and progesterone-receptor concentrations were not eligible for this study, no information is available to indicate that such patients should receive tamoxifen.

Adult

A cephalometric study of Korean adults.

A cephalometric study of 18-year-old Korean subjects with acceptable profile and occlusion was carried out by means of the Downs, Steiner, Ricketts, and vertical analyses. The subjects in the study sample consisted of 35 men and 45 women. Means and standard deviations of the Korean subjects were established. Statistical analyses were performed to compare Koreans to Caucasians.

Adolescent

Doxorubicin-containing regimens for the treatment of stage II breast cancer: The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project experience.

Despite numerous reports of findings obtained following the use of doxorubicin (Adriamycin [A]; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) for the postoperative treatment of patients with primary breast cancer and positive axillary nodes, no clear consensus exists regarding its worth when used in that setting. In June 1981, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) implemented two randomized clinical trials aimed at evaluating the worth of doxorubicin when administered in conjunction with melphalan (L-PAM) and fluorouracil (5-FU) (PF). A prior NSABP study identified cohorts of patients who did or did not benefit from tamoxifen (TAM, T) when used with chemotherapy. That information was employed in the design of the present studies. Women considered responsive to TAM (1,106) were randomized between PFT and PAFT, and those nonresponsive to TAM (707) were randomized between PF and PAF. Findings through 6 years of follow-up (mean duration of potential time on study, 64 months and 63 months, respectively) indicate that non-TAM-responsive patients who received PAF had a significantly better disease-free survival (DFS) (P = .003) and survival (P = .05) than did those receiving PF. By contrast, there was no significant difference in DFS (P = .6) or survival (P = .7) between PFT- and PAFT-treated patients. No disparity in the amount of drug received, whether related to the median amount or to dose-intensity, is present to account for the difference in findings between the studies. Aside from alopecia and emesis, the toxicity from the doxorubicin-containing regimens was similar to those in which doxorubicin was omitted. Cardiomyopathy was not a significant finding; there were no deaths from cardiac toxicity. The incidence of arterial and venous complications in patients receiving TAM was less than reported by others.

Aged