Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F D Brodkey.
Blunt chest impact-induced cardiac arrest on the athletic field (commotio cordis) is not necessarily fatal. The 3 survivors reported here emphasize the importance of recognizing this syndrome so that emergency resuscitative measures are more likely to be implemented promptly, and such catastrophes avoided.
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An intensive study of the family history of cancer in 4,515 patients screened consecutively by a multiphasic mobile cancer detection unit showed, after age correction, that cancer had developed in 8.9% of the probands when there was one cancer in a single first-degree relative, 16.2% had cancer with two family members affected, and 27.4% had cancer when three or more family members had been affected. This constituted a significant correlation between family and personal histories of cancer in these patients. Extrapolation to the United States population with cancer-control implications are given.
Individuals with early cancer rarely have symptoms, through it is at this state that the best prognosis can be afforded. 22 out of 5,232-patients screened in a Mobile Cancer Detection Unit (MCDU) received cancer diagnosis (exclusive of skin cancer). These patients have enjoyed much greater survival than expected. For instance, only three have died versus and expected 7.5. Calculations show that if all cancer patients in the United States had a similar increase in survival, then the lives of at least 120,000-persons could be extended each year. These limited data must be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, they do hold promise since only a few percentage points increase in survival when measured against the full impact of the cancer problem will show significant patient benefit.
Carcinoma of the colon was studied in Omaha-Douglas County, Nebraska (population 345,000). A total of 154 cases of colon cancer were diagnosed in 1964 (44.7/100,000). The frequency distribution of these patients in specific census tracts of this community was determined. Statistical analysis of the data showed a greater frequency of colon cancer in patients living in census tracts with higher average income. Colon cancer appears to be nonrandomly distributed with respect to the income and socioeconomic status of its victims, suggesting that hypotheses consistent with environmental variables--particularly those characterizing extremely high versus extremely low socioeconomic groups, including occupation, diet and other life patterns--should be pursued. All of these data have implications for cancer epidemiology, cancer control, and carcinogenesis.