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Biomedical subjects

I D Ramsay

Publications and source records attributed to I D Ramsay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The importance of adequate serum ferritin levels during oral cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol treatment of diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia in women.

OBJECT: To evaluate the treatment with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol of diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia in women. DESIGN: Twenty women were treated for a period of 12 months in a reverse sequential regimen employing cyproterone acetate (CPA, 50 mg once daily from Day 5 to Day 15) and ethinyl oestradiol (EE2, 30 micrograms once daily from Day 5 to Day 24 of the menstrual cycle), and 20 were left untreated and acted as controls. Half of each group had serum ferritin concentrations above or below 40 micrograms/l. PATIENTS: Forty Caucasian premenopausal women aged between 18 and 47 years, presenting with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia, were enrolled into this study. MEASUREMENTS: Hair variables were assessed initially by the unit area trichogram and again in the same sites 12 months later. Biochemical investigations were performed before treatment and after 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: In the treated group, a significant (P less than 0.01) mean increase in total hair density (hair/cm2) and meaningful hair density (non-vellus hair/cm2) was found in patients in whom the serum ferritin was above, but not below 40 micrograms/l. However, in the control group a significant (P less than 0.05) mean decrease in total hair density and meaningful hair density was observed after 12 months. No correlation between serum ferritin levels and the degree of hair loss within this group could be established. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol respond best when serum ferritin is above 40 micrograms/l.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Natural progression of male pattern baldness in young men.

Twenty-six men who presented with male pattern baldness (androgen-dependent alopecia), were quantitatively evaluated for scalp hair variables and compared with 13 age-matched controls. Compared to controls, significant mean differences for hair variables were found in the frontal-vertex area, while in the occipital area, a reduction in total hair density (hairs/cm2) was the only significant (P less than 0.05) finding. A large proportion (48.5%) of meaningful hair (non-vellus hair) was less than or equal to 40 mm in length, yet had diameters similar to hairs growing much longer. In controls, these hairs accounted for only 12.2% of the total population. Compared to baseline, mean values from the frontal-vertex area of subjects with androgen-dependent alopecia were significantly lower for total hair density, meaningful hair density (non-vellus hairs/cm2) and percentage of hair in the anagen growth phase, 12 and 24 months later. During this time, total hair density decreased by 6.5% after 12 months and by 11.9% after 24 months. Similarly, meaningful hair density declined at 12 months by 10.8% and by 22.7% after 24 months. No change in any hair variable was detected in controls after 12 or 24 months. Our findings suggest that medications capable of maintaining the existing hair population should be regarded as effective treatments for this condition. Left untreated androgen-dependent alopecia progressively deteriorates. The induction of non-vellus hairs less than or equal to 40 mm in length to grow longer, would substantially improve the aesthetic profile without the need to generate new hair.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Biochemical and trichological characterization of diffuse alopecia in women.

One hundred women who presented with diffuse alopecia, were quantitatively evaluated for hair variables and compared with 20 controls. Fifty were selected for biochemical and haematological investigations, 44 of whom also underwent endocrine evaluation. Compared to controls, significant changes in hair values were found in the frontal area of all subjects, while 84% had significant changes in the occipital area. A biphasic distribution of hair diameter was evident in subjects who had percentages of vellus hair and telogen hair less than or equal to 30 mm in length that were above the control ranges. No significant difference between the mean hormonal values of women with diffuse alopecia and controls could be found. No correlation between hair values and individual or combined hormonal levels could be established. In 18 subjects (40.9%) hormonal values were within the control ranges and these apparently normal findings were often associated with adverse hair profiles. A raised dihydrotestosterone was found in 13 subjects (29.5%) and was the most frequently elevated androgenic finding. Seventeen (34.0%) had changes in iron metabolism, while in 36 (72.0%) serum ferritin levels were below the lowest control value. All had a decrease in the percentage of hair in the anagen growth phase compared to controls. The hair changes were similar to those observed in genetic hair loss in men, a proven androgen-dependent condition. We propose that diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia is the appropriate name to describe this condition in these women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Reduced serum vitamin B12 levels during oral cyproterone-acetate and ethinyl-oestradiol therapy in women with diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia.

In a group of healthy, non-vegetarian females currently being treated for diffuse androgen-dependent alopecia with 50 or 100 mg of oral cyproterone acetate for 11 days and 30 or 40 micrograms of ethinyl oestradiol for 20 days of the menstrual cycle, significant decreases in mean serum vitamin B12 (P less than 0.0001), haemoglobin (P less than 0.003) and haematocrit (P less than 0.004) values, were observed after 6 months. Serum folic acid, red-cell folate and mean cell volume remained unchanged within the normal range during this time. All patients responded to oral cyanocobalamin, or intramuscular injections of hydroxocobalamin. In patients with baseline serum vitamin B12 levels below 350 ng/l, we would suggest prophylactic cyanocobalamin concurrent with cyproterone-acetate-ethinyl-oestradiol (CPA EE2) therapy. Studies involving other dose regimens of CPA EE2 (Dianette) or cyproterone acetate alone (Androcur, Cyprostat), may require evaluation of the vitamin B12 status if treatment is to be given for periods of longer than 3 months.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Effect of preoperative iodine in patients with Graves' disease controlled with antithyroid drugs and thyroxine.

Thirty-four patients with Graves' disease, first rendered euthyroid with antithyroid drugs (ATD) then given supplementary thyroxine (T4), were randomly allocated to three treatment groups. In Group I ATD and T4 were stopped 10 days before partial thyroidectomy and the patients were treated with Lugol's iodine alone. In Group II the patients were treated up to the time of operation with ATD and T4 alone. In Group III ATD and T4 were continued until the day of operation, but the patients also received 10 days' treatment with Lugol's iodine. Analysis of the results showed that pre-operative iodine therapy in patients with Graves' disease, already rendered euthyroid with ATD and T4, made no difference to the vascularity of the gland, operative blood loss or thyroid follicular size. Over a third of patients in Group I, treated with Lugol's iodine alone for 10 days pre-operatively, had subnormal levels of thyroid hormones at the time of operation and this was also the Group in which the complications of partial thyroidectomy tended to occur. It is concluded that the addition of iodine preoperatively is unnecessary in the patient who is already euthyroid on ATD and T4.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Myxoedema followed by TSAb-induced hyperthyroidism: report of 2 cases.

The development of spontaneous hyperthyroidism following primary hypothyroidism is an unusual occurrence. We report two cases of confirmed primary hypothyroidism who subsequently became hyperthyroid. Thyroid stimulating antibodies were present in the sera of both patients during the hyperthyroid state. The significance of this sequence of events is discussed and a possible explanation proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Glucagonoma without cutaneous manifestations.

A 63 year old man presented with features of the glucagonoma syndrome, that is thromboembolic disease, weight loss, raised sedimentation rate, diabetes mellitus, hypoproteinaemia and reduced plasma amino acid levels, but without necrolytic migratory erythema. The plasma glucagon level was raised and the tumour was demonstrated by abdominal CT scan. Immunofluorescent studies of the resected tumour confirmed the diagnosis. The normal tissue zinc status supports the view that necrolytic migratory erythema is related to zinc deficiency.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1981

Studies on apparent free cortisol and testosterone in plasma from patients with breast tumours.

The concentrations of cortisol and testosterone (total and apparent free) in peripheral venous plasma were measured in 147 women. The results showed that there were no significant differences in concentrations between women with normal breasts, those with histologically confirmed benign or malignant breast tumours and those with cancer at other sites. There was, however, a significant increase with age in the concentrations of total (P less than 0.005) and apparent free (P less than 0.02) cortisol.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The effect of low dose carbidopa/levodopa on prolactin and growth hormone concentrations in patients with breast cancer and in benign breast tumours.

1 Low doses of carbidopa/levodopa (12.5 mg 1-alpha-methyl-dopahydrazine, 125 mg levodopa) were administered orally to 29 patients with tumours of the breast (16 with breast cancer, 13 with benign breast disease). 2 Plasma dopa response curves were similar in all the patients studied. 3 Prolactin and growth hormone showed similar responses to carbidopa/levodopa irrespective of age or diagnosis. 4 Prolactin showed an unusual reponse in four patients which has not previously been recorded.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

The monocystic ovary syndrome.

Three patients with oligomenorrhoea and hirsutism thought to have the polycystic ovary syndrome were found to have only one ovarian cyst. Endocrine findings were similar to those found in the polycystic syndrome, but apart from the single cyst the ovaries were histologically normal; a biopsy specimen of a cyst showed normal follicular appearances and no evidence of luteinisation. These cysts may be the cause of this condition, producing abnormal amounts of ovarian steroids which modify the pituitary response. Further studies are needed, however, to determine this possibility.

Adult↗