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Biomedical subjects

D M Mehta

Publications and source records attributed to D M Mehta.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A combination of intraarterial chemotherapy, preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy, and surgery as limb-saving treatment of primarily unresectable high-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities.

The localization and size of a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of an extremity are generally the limiting factor in limb-saving surgery. Since 1982 nine patients with a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of an extremity, which usually requires amputation, have been treated by intraarterial chemotherapy, preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy, and surgery. The limb was saved in eight patients (89%). During a median follow-up of 24 months (mean follow-up 32 months, range 12 to 64 months) one local recurrence and four distant metastases were diagnosed. Three patients developed complications due to the intraarterial chemotherapy, a motor and sensory neuropathy of the sciatic nerve was diagnosed in one patient, and two patients developed a flexion contracture of the knee. The results obtained in this small series show that the combination of intraarterial doxorubicin, preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy, and surgery is feasible in limb-saving treatment of primarily "unresectable" high-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities without increasing the risk of a local recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effect of chlorhexidine rinsing on the oropharyngeal ecology in patients with head and neck cancer who have irradiation mucositis.

Oral flora is thought to contribute to irradiation mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Neglect of oral hygienic care may also contribute to mucositis. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine 0.1% mouthrinses on oral flora and irradiation mucositis. This study included 30 patients with head and neck cancer who had comparable irradiation portals. One group (N = 15) rinsed four times daily with chlorhexidine 0.1%, the other group (N = 15) with a placebo. The oral flora was cultured (oral washing technique) twice before and three times per week during the period of radiotherapy. On the same days, the severity of mucositis was determined. The colonization index of viridans streptococci was significantly reduced only after 5 weeks of chlorhexidine 0.1% treatment. The colonization patterns of Candida species, Streptococcus faecalis, staphylococci, and Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Acinetobacter species were not influenced by 5 weeks of use of chlorhexidine rinses when compared with the placebo. No differences were seen between the two study groups in the development and severity of mucositis. In conclusion, suppression of oral flora and a lowering of the severity of mucositis by means of disinfecting mouthrinses were not successful.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Scoring irradiation mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.

Irradiation mucositis is defined as an inflammatory-like process of the oropharyngeal mucosa following therapeutic irradiation of patients who have head and neck cancer. Clinically, it is a serious side effect because severe mucositis can cause generalized problems (weight loss, nasogastric tube feedings) and interferes with the well-being of the patient seriously. Grading mucositis is important for the evaluation of preventive and therapeutic measures. The object of this study was to develop a scoring method based on local mucositis signs only. Four clinical local signs of mucositis were used in this score: white discoloration, erythema, pseudomembranes and ulceration. Mucositis of the oral cavity was calculated during conventional irradiation protocol for 8 distinguishable areas using the 4 signs and their extent. A prospective evaluation of this method in 15 irradiated head and neck cancer patients displayed an S-curve reflecting a symptomless first irradiation week, followed by a rapid and steady increase of white discoloration, erythema and pseudomembranes during the second and third week. Oral candidiasis, generalized symptoms such as weight loss and the highest mucositis scores were seen after 3 weeks irradiation. The novel mucositis scoring method may be of value in studying the effect of hygiene programs, topical application of disinfectants or antibiotics on oral mucositis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Is adjuvant intra-operative radiotherapy (IORT) for resectable and unresectable pancreatic carcinoma worthwhile?

The hitherto limited experience with IORT has demonstrated that the combined treatment modality of surgery and IORT with or without EBRT is feasible in resectable and unresectable pancreatic cancer. IORT in combination with EBRT has not significantly improved median or overall survival, but local tumor control and pain control rates have increased. The major complication of IORT in unresectable pancreatic cancer is hemorrhage from the upper gastrointestinal tract in 20% of the patients. Hence, prophylactic by-passes should be performed after IORT treatment. The exact value of IORT in the treatment of pancreatic cancer is still to be defined. A prospective randomized phase III trial is necessary to evaluate the true value of IORT in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1989

Intraoperative radiation therapy-induced sarcomas in dogs.

In a canine model the tolerance of normal and surgically manipulated tissue to intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) was investigated to provide guidelines for the clinical use of IORT in human cancer patients. A dose of 20 Gy IORT, with or without external beam radiotherapy, was generally well tolerated without significant increased treatment morbidity. Higher doses of IORT (over 30 Gy) have produced radiation-induced sarcomas in some animals followed over a long period. Therefore IORT should be used only in human cancer patients in well controlled studies, in which complications are well documented, and the possibility of radiation-induced malignancies in long-term survival should be considered.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The effect of X-ray irradiation on the demineralization of bovine dental enamel. A constant composition study.

In this study the effect of X-ray irradiation on demineralization of bovine dental enamel in vitro was investigated. Enamel specimens were irradiated with 72 Gy and subsequently demineralized (140 h) under reproducible constant composition conditions at pH = 5 in the presence of methylhydroxydiphosphonate (MHDP). Microhardness measurements after demineralization without MHDP showed significant differences (p less than 0.001) between irradiated and nonirradiated enamel specimens; no significant differences were found in the presence of MHDP. Quantitative microradiography showed that both mineral loss and lesion depth were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) for the irradiated enamel specimens compared with the nonirradiated ones. Surface layer formation was observed in irradiated enamel demineralized in a solution without MHDP. It was shown that X-ray irradiation decreased the enamel acid solubility in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Staging laparotomy for inoperable or borderline operable cancer of the rectum.

The authors report their experience with the staging laparotomy as a means of identifying and preparing patients for high-dose preoperative radiotherapy. Twelve patients had clinically unresectable cancers of the rectum. The goal of the staging laparotomy is to assess mobility and tumor size by means of bimanual palpation, to stage the abdominal cavity, and to fashion an end colostomy at the level of the descending colon. Eight patients ultimately underwent radical resection. Three died during follow-up due to hematogenic metastases without recurrent pelvic disease. Five patients are alive with no evidence of disease and have been followed for an average of 34 months (range, 20 to 64 months).

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Unexpected cure in metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma.

A 3 year old boy presented with a presumably incurable form of rhabdomyosarcoma. Conventional treatment for advanced stage rhabdomyosarcoma (chemotherapy plus radiotherapy) was not used and intensive chemotherapy alone was given, resulting in an apparent cure. Our treatment rationale is discussed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1983

Synchronous bilateral primary germ cell tumors of the testis: a case report and review of the literature.

Synchronous bilateral primary germ cell tumors of the testis are exceedingly rare. The most common synchronous testicular tumors are seminomas, followed by embryonal carcinomas, teratocarcinomas, and choriocarcinomas. In a series of 385 patients we found nine with bilateral primary germ cell tumors of the testis (2.3%), including one with synchronous involvement of both testes. The treatment of synchronous bilateral primary germ cell tumors of the testis is in principle the same as that of solitary testicular primary germ cell tumors, and is based on tumor histology and tumor metastasis.

Castration↗
PubMed1979

A peculiar brain scan pattern in necrotizing leukoencephalopathy after treatment for CNS-leukaemia.

Two patients with CNS-leukaemia who developed a leukoencephalopathy after cranial irradiation and methotrexate administration are described. Conventional brain scanning with 99m TC-pertechnetate showed a peculiar pattern which suggested the presence of radio-activity within enlarged ventricles, but were later interpreted as accumulation in the periventricular white matter. The brainscan pattern correlated well with the neuropathological findings in the case where autopsy was performed. This brain scan pattern is for unknown reasons only rarely mentioned in literature. It seems a useful tool in diagnostic procedures in similar patients.

Brain↗