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J Catalano

Publications and source records attributed to J Catalano.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Haematological effects of betamethasone treatment in late pregnancy.

To assess the maternal haematological effects of betamethasone administered in late pregnancy, an automated full blood count was performed before and daily for 5 days after betamethasone in 25 women with a singleton pregnancy between 23 and 33 weeks' gestation. From a mean (+/- SD) baseline level of 11.0+/-2.2 x 10(9)/L, the total white cell count increased significantly to 13.2+/-2.9 x 10(9)/L and 13.5+/-3.1 x 10(9)/L on the first and second day after treatment respectively, returning to baseline on day 3 (p<0.0001, ANOVA). These changes represented a mean increase in the neutrophil count of 35% and a mean decrease in the lymphocyte count of 23%. While there was considerable intersubject variation in the extent of the changes, this study has quantified the leucocytosis induced by betamethasone in late pregnancy, information that may assist with the clinical evaluation of a woman at risk of preterm delivery.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Feasibility and efficacy of maintenance chemotherapy following autologous bone marrow transplantation for first remission acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Thirty-eight patients with poor risk ALL in first remission received maintenance chemotherapy following ABMT. Patients were conditioned for ABMT with high-dose melphalan and single fraction total body irradiation. Maintenance chemotherapy was commenced in a total of 26 patients and was tolerated to a median daily dose of 6-mercaptopurine of 40.5 mg/m2 and a median weekly dose of MTX 8.3 mg/m2. Twenty patients remain alive in first remission with a projected disease-free survival of 50% and a median follow-up in survivors of 200 weeks (range 48-387 weeks). Eleven patients have relapsed at a median of 4.5 months from ABMT. These patients were compared with remission patients with ALL receiving conventional chemotherapy on the United Kingdom Medical Research Council trials UKALL X and XA. After stratifying for major risk factors and allowing for the delay from remission to transplant, we have shown a significant reduction in the risk of relapse after ABMT (p = 0.04). Disease-free survival was not significantly increased due to transplant-related toxicity. This study suggests that maintenance chemotherapy to prevent relapse after ABMT for ALL is well tolerated and warrants assessment in a formal controlled trial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Results of a double blind placebo controlled study of ondansetron as an antiemetic during total body irradiation in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Total body irradiation (TBI) is a highly emetogenic component of the majority of conditioning regimens in use for bone marrow transplantation. Conventional antiemetic therapy fails to control nausea and vomiting induced by single fraction TBI in as many as 50% of patients. In a double blind study of 20 patients undergoing marrow transplantation, a single 8 mg ondansetron dose was compared with placebo given immediately prior to TBI. Our routine premedication of phenobarbitone and corticosteroid was also administered to all patients. All patients had received high dose melphalan the previous evening. Only 1 of the 10 patients in the ondansetron group experienced an emetic event compared with 5 of the 10 in the comparison group (p = 0.029). No significant adverse events were observed. Ondansetron appears to have extremely useful antiemetic activity during single fraction low dose rate TBI.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Tumour lysis following hydrocortisone prior to a blood product transfusion in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The acute tumour lysis syndrome is a well recognised complication of chemotherapy for lymphoid malignancies. There are few reports, however, of this complication after corticosteroid therapy alone. We report a case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who developed the biochemical picture of tumour lysis after two doses of hydrocortisone given prior to platelet transfusion. Prophylactic corticosteroids prior to blood product infusion should be reserved for patients who have experienced febrile or allergic reactions in the past and it is suggested that they should only be administered to patients with active lymphoid malignancies with due caution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

No increase in relapse in patients with myeloid leukaemias receiving rhGM-CSF after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Twenty patients with leukaemia received recombinant human GM-CSF (rhGM-CSF) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in a double blind controlled trial, with a significant promotion of granulopoiesis when compared with 20 control patients. The follow-up in survivors is now sufficiently long to assess the potential for promotion of relapse in the patients with myeloid leukaemias. Six patients with myeloid leukaemias are alive 22-38 months after transplantation. Eight other patients with myeloid leukaemias died within 12 weeks of transplantation without active active disease. None of these 14 patients with myeloid leukaemias have relapsed. This study supports the view that rhGM-CSF does not increase the probability of relapse after allogeneic BMT in patients with myeloid leukaemia.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1983

Recollections of menarche and women's subsequent experiences with menstruation.

Seventy college women aged 18 to 22 and 67 older women aged 30 to 45 completed a questionnaire comprised of multiple choice and open-ended questions covering recollections of menarche, preparation for menstruation, menstrual symptoms, and current attitude. The hypothesis that menarche was a significant developmental event that would be readily recalled by a majority of women regardless of age was confirmed. Almost all of the women remembered their first menstruation and the early experiences described by both groups were similar. Most women felt they were adequately prepared and a significant relationship was found between adequacy of preparation and positive reaction to menarche among the college women. Both groups reported a similar incidence of menstrual pain, bleeding, and amenorrhea. However, the incidence of menstrual symptoms in adult women was not significantly related to preparation for menstruation or to whether or not menarche was a positive event.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fracture patterns in children and young adults who fall from significant heights.

Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for children and young adults. When all causes of trauma are considered, falls are the most common mechanism of injury. To address specifically age-related fracture patterns in children who fall, we identified 125 consecutive patients, 21 years old or younger, who fell from a height of 10 feet or greater. The medical records and radiographs for 110 of these patients were available for review. Patients were divided into three groups based on age: there were 25 infant/toddlers (0-2 years), 55 children (3-10 years), and 30 adolescent/young adults (11-21 years). We found statistically significant differences in fracture distribution between the groups. The adolescent/young adult group sustained a greater number of vertebral fractures (p<0.003) and total fractures per fall (p<0.015). The children, in contrast, had a greater number of long bone fractures (p<0.05). Knowledge of age-related fracture patterns could result in improved diagnosis and treatment of these injuries.

Accidental Falls↗