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Biomedical subjects

D J Adelstein

Publications and source records attributed to D J Adelstein.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Combination chemotherapy prior to definitive local therapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

30 patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were given chemotherapy with methotrexate, bleomycin and cis-Platinum prior to planned definitive surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy was well tolerated and 90% of patients responded. Of 14 initially unresectable patients, 6 became operable after chemotherapy. After definitive therapy 70% of patients were considered complete responders, and 43% of the entire cohort remain disease-free. All partial responders have died. Patients receiving chemotherapy, surgery and radiation had a significantly greater likelihood of achieving a complete response than those receiving chemotherapy and radiation alone. Although this initial chemotherapy is highly active in this disease its contribution to ultimate survival is unclear. Overall treatment success is determined by the results of definitive therapy.

Adult↗

Esophageal carcinoma. A six-year review of the Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital experience.

The records of 51 patients with esophageal carcinoma were reviewed. Twenty-two patients underwent attempted curative resection with a mean survival of 7.7 months. Twenty patients underwent primary radiotherapy (mean survival, 4.3 months). Nine patients received palliative therapy alone (mean survival, 2.8 months). Surgical mortality was 27%, but symptomatic palliation was complete in 59% of the surgical patients. Only 5% of the radiotherapy group, and 11% of the palliative group were completely palliated. There is only one long-term survivor (21 + months). Lesions in the middle third of the esophagus, and the presence of clinical evidence of metastatic disease were predictive of a shorter survival. Patients with metastatic disease at presentation had a mean survival of only 2.5 months from diagnosis. It is concluded that surgery should be considered a palliative, not curative procedure, and that it should be attempted only in those patients without clinical evidence of metastatic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Long-term survival of patients with multiple myeloma and acute renal failure at presentation.

Eight patients presented with simultaneous multiple myeloma and acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis. Patients had no known pre-existing renal disease nor exposure to nephrotoxic agents or x-ray contrast dye. Renal failure was attributed to light chain nephropathy in all cases. In 4 of these patients the diagnosis of myeloma was initially unsuspected. Renal biopsies in 3 of these patients, and post-mortem material in a fourth revealed the changes of "myeloma kidney." No patient regained renal function and all required chronic hemodialysis. Among these eight patients, three survived for periods greater than 21 months.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Studies on a family with combined functional deficiencies of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors.

Two siblings with m ild hemorrhagic symptoms had combined functional deficiencies of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. Prothrombin (0.18-0.20 U/ml) and Stuart factor (Factor X, 0.18-0.20 U/ml) and Stuart factor (Factor X, 0.18-0.20 U/ml) were most severely affected. Antigenic amounts of affected coagulation factors were normal and normal generation of thrombin activity occurred in the patients' plasmas after treatment with nonophysiologic activators that do not require calcium for prothrombin activation. Hepatobilary disease, malabsorptive disorders, and plasma warfarin were not present. Both parents had normal levels of all coagulation factors. The patients' plasmas contained prothrombin that reacted both with antibody directed against des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin and native prothrombin. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of patients' plasmas and studies of partially purified patient prothrombin suggested the presence of a relatively homogeneous species of dysfunctional prothrombin, distinct from the heterologous species found in the plasma of warfarin-treated persons. These studies are most consistent with a posttranslational defect in hepatic carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent factors. This kindred uniquely possesses an autosomal recessive disorder of vitamin K-dependent factor formation that causes production of an apparently homogeneous species of dysfunctional prothrombin; the functional deficiencies in clotting factors are totally corrected by oral or parenteral administration of vitamin K1.

Adolescent↗

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone after infusional vincristine.

A 77-year-old woman with refractory multiple myeloma was treated with a 4-day continuous intravenous infusion of vincristine and doxorubicin and 4 days of oral dexamethasone. Nine days after her second cycle she presented with lethargy and weakness associated with hyponatremia. Evaluation revealed the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, which was attributed to the vincristine infusion. After normal serum sodium levels returned, further doxorubicin and dexamethasone chemotherapy without vincristine did not produce this complication.

Aged↗