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Biomedical subjects

J Connors

Publications and source records attributed to J Connors.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin (Caelyx) in the treatment of relapsed aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a phase II study.

Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, can be cured in approximately 50% of cases, but those cases that recur and are not amenable to high-dose chemotherapy rely on palliative chemotherapy to improve symptoms and prolong life. Anthracyclines are associated with a high response rate in aggressive NHL but extended treatment results in cardiotoxicity. Liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin has been shown in other tumor types to allow for extended treatment with doxorubicin, but is associated with a low cardiac risk. The present study aimed to assess the response rate, survival and cardiac risk of patients with relapsed aggressive NHL treated with liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin. Eighteen patients with relapsed aggressive NHL were treated with liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin (40 - 50 mg/m2) for a planned six cycles. Some 83% of patients had diffuse large B-cell or mantle cell NHL. Four patients had a partial response (23%), whereas five patients had stable disease. None had a complete response. Eight patients progressed when receiving the liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin therapy. The median survival time was 34 weeks, and the median progression-free survival was 15.7 weeks. Overall survival was 50% at 6 months and 39% at 12 months. Progression-free survival was 33% at 6 months and was 28% at 12 months. The mean ejection fraction pre- and post-liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin treatment remained the same. Only one patient had a drop in ejection fraction to <50%. Liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin offers another choice to patients seeking palliation from their lymphoma recurrence with a response rate of 23% that was well tolerated and had a minimal cardiotoxic risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Treatment of hairy cell leukemia with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine via the Group C protocol mechanism of the National Cancer Institute: a report of 979 patients.

PURPOSE: To provide cladribine (CdA) to physicians for the treatment of patients with previously treated or untreated hairy cell leukemia (HCL), and to determine the response rate, response duration, survival, and toxicity with this agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This Group C phase II study was open to all eligible patients whose primary physician obtained written permission from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to register patients onto this protocol. Of 979 patients registered, 861 were assessable for response and 895 for toxicity. RESULTS: The complete remission (CR) rate was 50% and the partial remission (PR) rate was 37%. At a median follow-up of 52 months, 12% of patients were reported to have progressed and 62 (7%) have died of disease. CONCLUSION: This large experience confirms the excellent response rates and remission duration of CdA in patients with HCL. Nevertheless, the response rates in this setting, which approximates general clinical practice, were lower than in other series. In general, CdA was well tolerated, but the potential increased risk for secondary malignancies requires additional follow-up evaluation. CdA can now be considered as one of the best agents for the treatment of HCL.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Splenectomy vs. alpha interferon: a randomized study in patients with previously untreated hairy cell leukemia.

Twenty patients with previously untreated hairy cell leukemia were randomized to undergo either splenectomy or to receive interferon alfa-N1, a highly purified natural alpha interferon, as primary therapy. A response in the peripheral blood elements to a hemoglobin greater than 110 gm/l, a granulocyte count greater than 1 x 10(9)/l, and a platelet count greater than 100 x 10(9)/l (Catovsky criteria) was noted in all ten patients receiving alpha interferon but in only three of the patients undergoing splenectomy (P = less than .01). Median time to response was longer in the ten interferon patients (153 days) than in the three splenectomy responders (20 days). Median time to treatment failure was significantly greater in the alpha interferon patients (greater than 18 months) than in the splenectomy patients (less than 1 month). Survival was no different since patients relapsing following splenectomy subsequently responded to alpha interferon. A significant decrease in leukemic bone marrow infiltration was observed in seven of ten patients receiving alpha interferon and in none of the patients undergoing splenectomy. Side effects, primarily infections, were more frequent in patients receiving interferon. Alpha interferon is preferable to splenectomy as initial treatment for hairy cell leukemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Determination of DNA ploidy in archival tissue from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using flow and image cytometry.

Paraffin-embedded tissue from a series of 40 cases of diffuse, large cell lymphoma was analyzed by both flow and image cytometry to compare the ability of these techniques to detect DNA aneuploid populations. Image cytometry (ICM) was performed both on nuclear suspensions and tissue sections. Twenty cases (50%) were non-diploid by at least one method of analysis. Twenty-five percent of the cases were aneuploid by flow cytometry (FCM) alone. The majority of these cases were near-diploid tumors which could not be resolved by ICM. Peri-tetraploid peaks were identified by ICM of tissue sections alone in 15% of the cases. There was an apparent loss of these peri-tetraploid cells during the preparation of the nuclear suspensions. The remaining cases showed a good correlation between all three methods in the determination of DNA ploidy. Flow and image cytometry are complimentary techniques when applied to archival tissue, however aneuploid populations may be missed if ICM is not performed on tissue sections.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed1991

A randomized comparison of two doses of human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha in hairy cell leukemia. Wellcome HCL Study Group.

One hundred thirty-eight patients with hairy cell leukemia were randomized to receive either a dose of 2.0 megaunits (MU)/m2 or a 10-fold lower dose of 0.2 MU/m2 of a highly purified natural alpha-interferon, administered daily for 28 days followed by a three times a week schedule. Ninety-seven of these patients had previously undergone splenectomy, but otherwise none of the patients had received prior therapy for their leukemia. The two doses were comparable in their effect on improving the neutrophil and platelet count, whereas the higher dose had a greater beneficial effect on the hemoglobin level and a greater antileukemic effect on the marrow. Acute toxicity in the form of a flu-like syndrome, neurologic side effects, neutropenia, and the need for platelet transfusions was observed less frequently in the low-dose group, as was the chronic fatigue syndrome. No neutralizing antibody activity was seen in the sera from 61 patients examined. Because of its beneficial effect on the neutrophil and platelet count and a lower degree of toxicity (ie, a superior therapeutic/toxicity ratio), the low dose is recommended as initial therapy in patients with hairy cell leukemia. This therapy may be followed by dose escalation once clinical improvement is observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Platelet aggregation in hyperapobetalipoproteinemia.

Hyperapobetalipoproteinemia (HyperapoB) is a lipid disorder characterized by premature coronary disease, although the mechanisms have not been elucidated. Because abnormalities in platelet function may represent an enhanced susceptibility to coronary thrombosis, the aggregability of platelets was examined in hyperapoB subjects. Compared to controls, there were no significant differences in either platelet lipid composition or in aggregation to epinephrine, ADP, or collagen. In contrast to other dyslipidemias, platelet function does not appear to be abnormal in this well defined lipid disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Structure and demographic correlates of attitudes toward AIDS sufferers.

Two studies investigated the structure and demographic correlates of attitudes toward AIDS sufferers among adult Australians 18 to 75 years of age. Attitudes were found to be multidimensional, with similar dimensions being identified in both samples. In both samples, men were found to be more prejudiced than women.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Women, drug control and the law.

Legal regulation of drugs in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has tended to centre on the criminalization of the production, supply, possession, purchase, use and abuse of drugs, in which women and men are generally treated similarly. Women have, however, received differential legal treatment in the context of their role as mothers, where drug use can result in what may be considered the ultimate sanction against drug use for a woman: the loss of custody of a child vis-à-vis another parent or guardian, an adopter or even the State. Even drug use prior to the birth of the child can be relevant.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Lack of stability in neonatal adrenocortical reactivity because of rapid habituation of the adrenocortical response.

The purpose of the study was to examine the stability of the adrenocortical response to stimulation in the human neonate. Forty-nine healthy newborns were examined twice responding to discharge examinations performed on two consecutive days. The dependent measures were salivary and plasma cortisol and behavioral state. Little evidence of stability was obtained. Instead, the results showed significant elevations in cortisol only in response to the first discharge examination. No significant elevation in cortisol was noted to the second discharge examination although the newborns continued to exhibit behavioral distress. Time since delivery was not a significant factor in producing these results. The findings are discussed with regard to neonatal coping processes and the importance of novelty in regulating increases in adrenocortical activity.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1988

Adrenocortical activity and behavioral distress in human newborns.

The association between behavioral distress and adrenocortical activity was examined in two experiments with human newborns. In Experiment 1, behavioral and adrenocortical responses to 4 events (circumcision, blood sampling, weighing and measuring, and discharge examination) were compared using a between-subject design. All 4 events elicited fussing and crying and elevations in plasma cortisol; however, differences in behavioral distress among conditions did not reliably predict differences in plasma cortisol. In Experiment 2, nonnutritive sucking was used to effectively reduce behavioral distress, but was not associated with a reduction in the adrenocortical response to stimulation. Finally, using data from both experiments, correlations were computed between behavioral distress and cortisol. Both positive and negative associations were found as a function of the type of stressor and the biomedical status of the newborn.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1988

Carney's triad.

A 26 year old female presented with partial expression of Carney's triad. This is the first Australian report of the condition. The role of surgery and the need for vigilance to detect the occurrence of the complete triad are stressed.

Adult↗