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Biomedical subjects

J Laurie

Publications and source records attributed to J Laurie.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

A comparison of remote afterloading and manually inserted caesium in the treatment of carcinoma of cervix.

Between 1982 and 1985, 240 patients with carcinoma of cervix were treated by radical radiotherapy, 140 using the selectron at the Royal Beatson Memorial Hospital (RBMH) and 100 with conventional caesium at the Western Infirmary. To allow for the increased dose rate to point A (1.2-1.4 Gy/h) during selectron treatment the overall intracavity dose was reduced by a mean value of 25%. Local recurrence rates were similar: 15% (selectron) against 14% (conventional). Three-year survival with local control was somewhat worse in the selectron group (77% against 81%) mainly because of an increased frequency of metastatic disease with local control (19.3% against 12.0%. The use of remote afterloading has not increased late morbidity (15.7% selectron, 15.0% conventional). The introduction of the selectron has brought about a marked reduction in staff radiation exposure. At the RBMH the mean recorded dose to nurses fell from 19 mSv in 1981 to 2.4 mSv in 1985.

Brachytherapy

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles, niosomes, as a delivery system for the anti-leishmanial drug, sodium stibogluconate.

Liver and serum concentrations of antimony in the mouse have been determined after administration of sodium stibogluconate in the free, liposomal and niosomal form. High liver and low serum values were attained by the use of both vesicular formulations. Niosomal sodium stibogluconate was shown to be more active than free drug against experimental murine visceral leishmaniasis, an effect apparently dependent on maintaining high drug levels in the infected reticuloendothelial system.

Animals

Randomized phase II studies in advanced colorectal carcinoma: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group study.

5-FU, semustine (MeCCNU), triazinate (TZT), and razoxane (ICRF-159) have each shown activity against advanced colorectal cancer in studies by at least two investigative groups. Objective response rates, however, have been low, without evidence of increased patient survival. The hope of this study was that enhanced activity might result from giving these agents in two-drug combinations. There were 167 eligible and evaluable patients randomized among the programs: 5-FU at a dose of 500 mg/m2/day by iv push X 5 (F); 5-FU at a dose of 400 mg/m2/day iv X 5 plus TZT at a dose of 175 mg/m2/day iv X 3 (FT); 5-FU at a dose of 400 mg/m2/day plus ICRF-159 at a dose of 600 mg/m2/day orally X 3 (FI); MeCCNU at a dose of 150 mg/m2/day orally plus TZT at a dose of 200 mg/m2/day iv X 3 (MT); MeCCNU at a dose of 150 mg/m2 orally plus ICRF-159 at a dose of 500 mg/m2/day orally X 3 (MI); and ICRF-159 at a dose of 425 mg/m2/day orally X 3 plus TZT at a dose of 125 mg/m2/day iv X 3 (IT). Patients with limiting conditions (serum creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dl or elevated bilirubin) were randomized among programs F, FI, and MI. Objective response rates by treatment arm were: F--13% (four of 31 patients); FT--13% (four of 31); FI--15% (four of 27); MT--11% (three of 28); MI--13% (four of 32); and IT--6% (one of 17). Response rates of combination arms were not significantly larger than those of 5-FU alone. With regard to survival, patients initially treated with 5-FU alone had the most favorable experience (median, 10.8 mos). Multivariate analysis showed the following factors to have a significant and independent influence on survival: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score, grade, site of indicator lesion, and the presence of 5-FU in the treatment regimen. Toxic effects most frequently seen were nausea, vomiting, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, diarrhea, stomatitis, alopecia, and dermatitis. The incidence and severity of toxicity were roughly comparable among the six treatment arms.

Adult

Fine structure of a radiation-induced osteogenic sarcoma.

An osteogenic sarcoma arose in the right orbit of a 7-year-old boy some 5 years after the right orbit had been treated by four courses of radiotherapy (total dose approximately 13,000 rads) for a multicentric retinoblastoma. Death occurred 6 months after the orbital tumor was first detected. Study of the orbital tumor by electron microscopy revealed a cell population of varied morphology in which two main types were identified. In one group, the cells were large with radiolucent cytoplasm, which contained long branching segments of rough endoplasmic reticulum. In the second group, the cells were smaller with irregular nuclei and an electron-dense cytoplasm, which contained short segments of dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and numerous mitochondria. The first group of cells closely resembled osteoblasts, while the second group had some features of osteoclasts or their percursors. The branching processes of the tumor cells were separated by an amorphous ground substance, which contained collagen-like fibrils and hydroxyapatite crystals. Crystal deposition was in some instances in close relation to extracellular membrane-bound vesicles.

Cell Nucleus