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Biomedical subjects

J P Smith

Publications and source records attributed to J P Smith.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Binocular accommodative facility testing reliability.

This study evaluated the reliability of the 1-min binocular accommodative facility test by extending the testing period for 2 additional minutes. Subjects, ages 8 to 12 years, were tested for an initial 1-min period, to identify 2 groups, high fail (greater than 3, but less than 8 cpm, N = 30) and low fail (less than 3 cpm, N = 30), and then tested for an additional 2 min. The low fail group had greater test-retest reliability in both minutes 2 and 3. Both groups improved (high fails mean = 0.93 cpm, low fails mean = 0.37 cpm), but no clear statistical difference was found between groups. When diagnostic classification was monitored over the 3 min, 40% of high fails passed, whereas no low fails passed. The 1-min testing method appears reliable if the initial rate is less than 3 cpm. For patients whose initial rate is between 3 and 8 cpm, extended testing (1 to 2 additional minutes) may be needed to arrive at an accurate diagnosis, especially if presenting symptoms are absent.

Accommodation, Ocular

Trophic effects of unsulfated cholecystokinin on mouse pancreas and human pancreatic cancer.

The effect of unsulfated cholecystokinin on pancreatic growth was evaluated in two experimental models in vivo and in vitro. Mice were injected with sulfated cholecystokinin (CCKs) or unsulfated cholecystokinin (CCKu) (10 or 20 micrograms/kg) or vehicle twice daily for 15 days. Animals were then killed and pancreatic weights, protein, amylase, and DNA content were evaluated. In vitro, growth was evaluated by DNA synthesis and viable cell counts. MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cells were treated with CCKs or CCKu (10(-12) to 10(-9) M) for 48 or 72 h in the presence of [3H]thymidine to evaluate DNA synthesis. Viable cell counts were performed on both cell lines grown in the presence or absence of unsulfated CCK (10(-12) to 10(-9) M) for 96 h. Pancreatic weight, protein, amylase, and DNA were significantly increased in animals treated with either CCKs or CCKu. However, pancreatic weight, protein, and amylase were significantly higher in mice treated with CCKs compared to CCKu (p less than 0.005). DNA content and index of hyperplasia were the same whether mice were treated with CCKs or CCKu. CCKu was as potent a stimulus for DNA synthesis as CCKs in MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells. Finally, CCKu increased cell counts in both pancreatic cancer cell lines. These data suggest that the mechanisms responsible for CCK-induced growth of normal pancreas and pancreatic cancer may differ from those that regulate secretion.

Amylases

Effects of fat and fiber on human colon cancer xenografted to athymic nude mice.

The effects of unsaturated fat and fiber (cellulose) on the growth of human colon cancer explanted to athymic nude mice was evaluated. Eighty-seven male nude mice bearing xenografts of human HT29 or WiDr colon cancer were divided into three groups of equal weight and tumor volume. Each group was fed one of three diets: normal fat/no fiber (N/N), high fat/no fiber (H/N) or high fat/high fiber (H/H). To equalize caloric intake, animals in the H/N group received 4 g of food per day and the other animals were fed 5 g of food per day. At sacrifice tumor volume and weight was recorded, and tumors were analyzed for protein and DNA content and ornithine decarboxylase activity. Tumor volume, weight, and protein were greater in the H/N group compared to the N/N group for both colon cancer cell lines. Tumor DNA content was greater in the HT29 H/N group compared to the N/N group (P less than 0.05) and tumor ornithine decarboxylase activity in the WiDr H/N group was greater than the N/N animals (P less than 0.002). The tumor growth-promoting effects of the high unsaturated fat diet were attenuated by the addition of fiber. Animal weight was higher in the H/N group compared to the N/N and H/H groups. This study suggested that a high-fat diet stimulated and fiber decreased the growth of human colon cancer explanted to athymic nude mice. The growth-promoting effects of a high-fat diet in colorectal cancer may be due in part to a circulating trophic factor since these tumors were remote from the large intestine.

Animals

Rewiew of ovarian cancer at the University of Texas Systems Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute.

The records of 2,115 patients with ovarian cancer who were treated at the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston, Texas, during the 30 year period from 1944 to 1973 were reviewed. Ninety percent of the patients had an epithelial cancer of the ovary. The important prognostic factors include stage and grade of tumor and the presence or absence of ascites. Probably the most important prognostic factor, however, was the size of the largest tumor mass that remained after initial surgery. The patient's age and socioeconomic level were also influencing factors in the survival rate in this series of patients. Most of the patients had advanced disease when first examined and received some type of adjunctive postoperative treatment. The survival of patients who received postoperative irradiation, when compared by stage and size of the largest residual tumor mass, was improved over those who received chemotherapy.

Adult

Oxygen concentration from room air. A new source for oxygen therapy in the home.

Most oxygen concentrators use molecular sieves that selectively adsorb molecules according to their size and polarity. Their present rental cost is about half that of the traditional oxygen tanks or liquid-oxygen systems. Two concentrators have been tested. They are able to produce both high oxygen concentrations (95% oxygen at 2 L/min) and high flow rates (10 L/min with 40% oxygen), which remained stable for one week. After 24 hours of continuous use, neither machine concentrated toxic gases from room air in a city. Both were suitable for use with 24% and 28% Venturi masks.

Chronic Disease

Hexamethylmelamine: an evaluation of its role in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Hexamethylmelamine (HMM), NSC 13875, a synthetic agent structurally related to triethylenemelamine, has clinical antitumor activity and a role in the treatment of ovarian cancers of epithelial origin. Fifty-four patients, with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage III or IV carcinomas, previously untreated with chemotherapy or irradiation therapy, were treated with HMM (8 mg/kg/day) as a single agent at the M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston, Texas, between January, 1973, and May, 1976. The response end points analyzed were complete plus partial response rate, duration of remission, and survival time. The complete and partial responses were verified whenever possible by "second-look" operation. Seventeen patients (31.8%) responded to HMM and three had no evidence of cancer, determined by multiple biopsies at second-look operation. Gastrointestinal, hematologic, and nervous system toxic effects were severe in 10 patients, requiring discontinuation of HMM. This study shows that HMM can induce a complete response and provide an extended disease-free interval without maintenance chemotherapy.

Adult

Impact of government regulations on two management and clinical information systems in a medical school environment.

Administrative and legal requirements and, in particular, federal and state government health care assistance and social services program regulations all combine to add complexity to the management and operation of ambulatory and inpatient health programs. This paper describes how constantly changing government regulations and differences in interpretations and definitiions have been expensive, time-consuming and sometimes detrimental to health care delivery for two large management and clinical computer-based information systems.

Computers

Government regulations and other influences on the medical use of computers.

This paper presents points brought out in a panel discussion held at the 12th Hawaiian International Conference on System Sciences, January 1979. The session was attended by approximately two dozen interested parties from various segments of the academic, government, and health care communities. The broad categories covered include the specific problems of government regulations and their impact on specific clinical information systems installed at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, opportunities in a regulated environment, problems in a regulated environment, vendor-related issues in the marketing and manufacture of computer-based information systems, rational approaches to government control, and specific issues related to medical computer science.

Computers