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Biomedical subjects

H Reid

Publications and source records attributed to H Reid.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Intradural bronchogenic cysts.

The pathological findings of an intradural and extramedullary cyst in the mid cervical spinal canal are described in a 55 year old woman who presented with a short history of pain and paraesthesia of the right arm. Intradural well defined solitary cystic lesions in the spinal canal are uncommon, their pathogenesis is poorly understood, and their nomenclature is confusing. In this case the cyst was a bronchogenic cyst; these are a rare form of such cysts and they are thought to be a malformation arising from a split notochordal syndrome and not a teratoma.

Bronchogenic Cyst

Primary choroid plexus papilloma of the cerebellopontine angle: magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomographic and angiographic appearances.

The computed tomographic, angiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances of a benign primary choroid plexus papilloma of the cerebellopontine angle are reported. Although benign, this tumour showed local invasion of the petrous temporal bone and mastoid air cells. The differential diagnosis of cerebellopontine angle lesions is discussed. Papilloma is suggested by the presence of a vascular, calcified, enhancing extra-axial mass in or around the cerebellopontine angle. MRI may show evidence of high vascularity and internal haemorrhage. Differentiation from other cerebellopontine tumours, most particularly meningioma, may not be possible on radiological features.

Adult

Postoperative hyperfibrinogenemia in gastrointestinal surgery.

Fibrinogen titres were determined in two groups of patients undergoing major abdominal and thoracic surgical operations. Patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgical procedures had higher fibrinogen levels than those subjected to other appropriate thoracic surgical procedures. Fibrinogen titre elevation in patients with gastrointestinal abnormalities were significant on the 3rd, 5th and 7th days after surgery compared with the other group of patients. This higher response in fibrinogen could be attributable to the greater smooth muscle content in the gastrointestinal system than in the other tissues considered in this study. Smooth muscle tissue inflammation may lead to acute circulatory problems through postoperative increase in fibrinogen concentration.

Adolescent

Descriptive epidemiology of primary central nervous system tumours in children: a population-based study.

This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence, outcome and referral patterns of central nervous system tumours in a defined childhood population over a recent 5-year period. The study incorporated pathological review of all available diagnostic material and follow-up assessed survival at a minimum of 5 years from diagnosis. One hundred and forty-seven cases were reviewed, representing an annual incidence of 26.5 per million children aged less than 15 years. The distribution of individual diagnoses by age, sex and anatomical site was similar to comparable data collected previously in the United Kingdom and North America, but the inclusion of 28 cases (19%) without biopsy suggested that the wider use of computed tomography might account for a small increase in incidence over previous estimates. Analysis of referral to the Regional Paediatric Oncology Unit showed that the patients referred were younger than those not referred and were over-represented amongst the diagnoses of medulloblastoma, ependymoma and brain stem glioma, which carry the worst prognosis. Survival for all diagnoses together was 51% at 5 years, ranging from 13% for unbiopsied brain stem gliomas to 100% for juvenile astrocytomas. Referral to the Regional Unit appeared to have some survival advantage for children with medulloblastoma, although this was not statistically significant. Accurately reviewed data such as these are essential in order to assess current workload and treatment success, in addition to enabling investigation of future diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Adolescent

The effect of external pituitary irradiation on elevated serum prolactin levels in patients with pituitary macroadenomas.

The response of serum prolactin to external radiotherapy was studied in 58 patients (32 women) with pituitary tumours, aged between 16 and 75 years. Forty-four patients underwent pituitary surgery before radiotherapy. Six patients were irradiated with a regimen of 20 Gy in eight fractions over 10-11 days and the remainder received 35-42.5 Gy in 15 fractions over 20-22 days. Following radiotherapy, 44 patients received additional treatment with dopaminergic agonists. Prolactin levels ranged from 1078 to 491,000 mU/l (median 11,750 mU/l) before radiotherapy and all but three patients showed a fall in serum prolactin (measured 4 weeks after stopping bromocriptine in those on dopamine agonist therapy) during observation over periods of up to 154 months. All patients had evidence of pituitary fossa erosion or expansion at presentation and large tumours (Hardy-Vezina Grade 3-4) were more common in male patients (chi 2 = 10.08, p less than 0.01). The rate of fall of serum prolactin levels was greater in patients with true prolactin-secreting tumours when compared with those who had stalk or hypothalamic damage (p less than 0.005). The rate of decline of serum prolactin was also significantly related to the pre-radiotherapy value (rho = 0.519, p less than 0.01). A serum prolactin level less than 500 mU/l was achieved in 31 out of 44 patients treated with radiotherapy and dopaminergic agonist but only nine remained normoprolactinaemic when medication was discontinued for 4 weeks or more. The serum prolactin level fell permanently to less than 500 mU/l in two of 14 patients treated with radiotherapy only. Actuarial analysis of data from all patients indicated a 50 per cent probability that prolactin would be reduced to less than 500 mU/l by 10 years; this increased to 58 per cent for patients with smaller tumours (Hardy-Vezina grade 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenoma

Disseminated zygomycosis associated with erythroleukaemia: confirmation by lectin stains.

Zygomycosis is not often diagnosed in the United Kingdom, and so the possible importance of the findings in a patient with disseminated zygomycosis who had been treated with chemotherapy for erythroleukaemia was not appreciated until histological examination of specimens obtained at necropsy provided a presumptive diagnosis. No attempt had therefore been made to identify the organism by culture, and lectin binding methods were used to try to compensate for this. The characteristics of the hyphae on staining with lectins were similar to those previously shown in Rhizopus oryzae and were unlike those of a wide range of other hyphal fungi. Although definite speciation of the fungus was not achieved, these findings confirm that this was a case of zygomycosis and would seem to represent the first such reported confirmation in the absence of culture.

Aged

An evaluation of the phytate, zinc, copper, iron and manganese contents of, and zn availability from, soya-based textured-vegetable-protein meat-substitutes or meat-extenders.

1. A study has been made of the zinc, copper, iron, manganese, protein (nitrogen X 6.25) and phytic acid contents of nineteen soya-bean-based textured-vegetable-protein (TVP) meat-extenders and meat-substitutes and of three "ready-prepared" canned meals containing TVP. 2. Phytate analysis was performed using a newly-developed method based on Holt's (1955) procedure. This method enabled the phytate content of milligram quantities of TVP to be estimated, with an SD for six replicates of 3%. 3. The Fe, Cu and Mn contents (mg/kg) of the meat extenders or meat-substitutes varied, with values of 59.4-144, 14.1-19.7 and 19.5-29.1 respectively. The protein content of these products was approximately 500 g/kg. 4. The phytate content of the meat-extenders and meat-substitutes ranged from 11.0 to 20.2 g/kg and the Zn content from 35.0 to 49.4 mg Zn/kg. The calculated molar ratio, phytate: Zn varied from 25 to 42. 5. The trace element, phytate and protein contents of the "ready-prepared" canned meals were 30-50% lower than the meat-extenders and meat-substitutes. 6. Cooking the "ready-prepared" meals as specified by the manufacturers was without effect on the trace element or phytate content. 7. When TVP was fed to rats as the only protein source, they had significantly lower growth rates and plasma Zn concentrations than rats given an egg-albumen-based diet of similar Zn content (14.5 mg Zn/kg). Supplementation of the TVP diet with Zn (100 mg Zn/kg) significantly increased growth rate and plasma Zn concentration whereas Zn supplementation of the albumen diet was without effect. 8. The possible implications of consumption of TVP products in relation to Zn status of the human population is discussed.

Animals

Eosinophilic granuloma of lymph nodes.

Two examples are reported of eosinophilic granuloma presenting as lymphadenopathy and being apparently confined to lymph nodes. The affected nodes were characterized by a striking sinus histiocytosis, a heavy infiltration with mature eosinophils and retention of normal lymphoid follicles. The differential diagnosis of this histological picture is discussed and the prognosis considered.

Adult

Myasthenia gravis: clinical and histological features in relation to thymectomy.

The clinical and thymic histological features of 23 patients who underwent thymectomy for myasthenia gravis have been examined and compared. Eighty-two per cent of patients with a non-neoplastic gland containing numerous germinal centres improved postoperatively, whereas 83% of patients with a non-neoplastic gland containing no germinal centres deteriorated or died. Glands with only slight involution and containing numerous germinal centres were more commonly seen in young female patients. The evidence relating thymic histological appearances with the postoperative progress of patients with myasthenia gravis is reviewed.

Adolescent

Fluorescent location of brain tumour cells in wax embedded sections.

Tumour cells and certain normal cells in wax embedded brain sections possess active isoenzymic forms of a cell surface protease. The normal isoenzymic forms are recognised by protease inhibitors present in normal serum; the tumour isoenzyme remains active after exposure to serum. Fluorescent location of cells possessing active isoenzyme after serum treatment reveals the tumour cells in these sections.

Astrocytoma