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Biomedical subjects

I MacIntyre

Publications and source records attributed to I MacIntyre.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Biochemical markers in bronchial carcinoma.

A total of 107 patients with bronchial carcinoma have been studied for the presence of potential circulating tumour markers which might be used as indicators of recurrence after primary treatment. Plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were estimated in every patient and, after a preliminary hormone screening study, plasma calcitonin (CT) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were assayed in 66 patients. Oat-cell tumours proved to be of particular interest in that CEA levels greater than 40 microgram/l were measured (initially or subsequently) in 40.6 percent and CT levels were elevated in 75 percent. Longitudinal studies point towards the possible use of elevated marker levels as guides to therapy when all other features of recurrent disease are lacking. It is clear that no ideal tumour marker exists for bronchial carcinoma but in an individual case an abnormal level of one or more marker substances may provide a valuable aid to treatment.

Bronchial Neoplasms

A comparison of radiography and radioisotope scanning in the detection of Paget's disease and in the assessment of response to human calcitonin.

In eight patients with symptomatic Paget's disease, radiographs and radioisotope bone scans have been compared before treatment by high dose synthetic human calcitonin (CIBA 47175-Ba) and three months and 12 months later. In six patients quantitative radioisotope scans allowed calculation of relative radioactivity in normal bone, Paget's disease and bone adjacent to osteoarthritic joints. Comparison of radiographs and scans showed 69 sites diagnosed as Paget's disease on both examinations; nine sites showed radiographic changes of Paget's disease but had negative radioisotope scans and two sites were abnormal on the scan but radiologically normal. One of these two reverted towards normal during treatment with calcitonin. Comparison of analogue scans done at three months and 12 months with initial scans showed diminished uptake in Paget's disease compared with normal bone, and quantitation showed this was due to decreased absolute uptake in Paget's disease and a slight increase in normal bone. Osteoarthritic bone showed no significant response to calcitonin.

Aged

Calcitonin treatment in hereditary bone dysplasia with hyperphosphatasemia: a radiographic and histologic study of bone.

Two children with bone dysplasia with hyperphosphatasemia (juvenile Paget's disease) were treated with synthetic human calcitonin. The progress of bone disease was monitored radiographically and histologically. Pretreatment radiographs showed markedly abnormal bone, characterized by lack of discrete cortex and absence of normal modeling. During treatment a discrete cortex was formed composed of compact bone, and more normal modeling occurred. This coincided with a histologic change from woven bone before treatment to a more lamellar type during treatment.

Alkaline Phosphatase

Regulation of vitamin D: an evolutionary view.

The regulation of vitamin D metabolism by the kidney is now known to be multifactorial. Three regulatory factors are discussed: 1,25(OH)2D3 itself; parathyroid hormone, and phospate. The influence of 1,25(OH)2D3 probably depends on new protein synthesis, while the mode of action of phosphate is unknown. Parathyroid hormone is not essential for regulation but may have an important biological role. The direction of its effect varies, perhaps due to a complex interrelation of changes in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and the level of kidney adenyl cyclase activity.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase

Hereditary bone dysplasia with hyperphosphatasaemia: response to synthetic human calcitonin.

Four cases of familial bone dysplasia with hyperphosphatasaemia were treated with synthetic human calcitonin. Prior to therapy, all four cases were characterized by marked bone deformity, pain, tenderness and elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline. Treatment with calcitonin produced in each case a striking clinical, biochemical and radiographic remission. Pain and tenderness was greatly diminished and urinary hydroxyproline and serum alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly decreased. Radiographic regression of the bony abnormalities was apparent as early as 4 1/2 months after the start of treatment. Prior to therapy bones exhibit no real organization. After calcitonin treatment, the radiographic appearance of a normal cortex and medullary cavity was clearly evident for the first time.

Adolescent

The ectopic secretion of calcitonin by lung and breast carcinomas.

Many patients with advanced non-thyroid malignancies have elevated plasma immunoreactive calcitonin concentrations. Breast and bronchial carcinomas contain immunoreactive calcitonin and an epidermoid bronchial carcinoma has been shown to produce immunoreactive calcitonin in vitro. We have established monolayer cultures of breast carcinomas and eight out of fifteen consecutive carcinomas released immunoreactive calcitonin; some released HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) or CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen). In addition, a primary human breast carcinoma has been shown to release and contain calcitonin after being passaged in 'nude' mice over 1 year. Chromatography of extracts and culture media of a bronchical carcinoma demonstrated that, in contrast with the other tumours, it secreted a form or forms of calcitonin having size, charge and immunological differences when compared to calcitonin M. Preliminary evaluation of plasma immunoreactive calcitonin estimations in patients with breast carcinoma showed that twenty-three out of twenty-eight patients with metastatic disease had elevated plasma calcitonin concentrations, whereas only one out of thirteen with localized disease had high levels.

Animals

Whisky: a new provacative test for calcitonin secretion.

Oral whisky is a potent stimulus of calcitonin secretion. Peak increments of immunoreactive calcitonin are observed within 15 min after the ingestion of 50 ml of whisky; the magnitude of the response is similar to that observed during a four-hour calcium infusion. This procedure has several advantages over standard methods of stimulating calcitonin release in patients at risk of developing medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, and this is shown by a study in a large family with familial chromaffinomatosis.

Adolescent

Calcitonin in breast and lung cancer.

Immunoreactive calcitonin was found in extracts of seven out of eight consecutive breast carcinomas and four selected lung carcinomas, but not in extracts of benign breast lesions or normal tissues. This suggests that the high plasma calcitonin levels observed in patients with a wide variety of cancers reflect ectopic production of calcitonin by cancer tissue, and that the radioimmunoassay for calcitonin could prove to be of value in the detection and management of malignant disease, particularly breast cancer.

Animals