Biomedical subjects

J V Pledger

Publications and source records attributed to J V Pledger.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1988

Intestinal permeability during chemotherapy for childhood tumours.

The intestinal permeability to mannitol and lactulose was measured in 29 children receiving treatment for solid tumours. At the time of study they had no gastrointestinal symptoms and appeared clinically well. However, there was a significant reduction in the absorption of mannitol when compared to normal children. This small bowel dysfunction may result in malabsorption of nutrients and drugs. There was a significant correlation between decreased mannitol absorption and low nutritional status.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

X-ray sensitivity of fibroblasts from patients with hereditary retinoblastoma and their families.

The in vitro response to X-irradiation of cultured human fibroblasts was studied using a colony forming assay. A comprehensive reference range was established, giving a median D0 value of 98.5 cGy with an interquartile range of 86.5-110.5 cGy. Cells from 3 retinoblastoma family pedigrees were studied and the cell survival after exposure to X-rays was compared between affected (11 samples) and unaffected (26 samples) family members. No significant differences in response to ionising radiation were found between the controls, the affected and the unaffected members of the 3 families. The affected members had a median D0 of 97.5 cGy (interquartile range 87.5-107.5 cGy) and the unaffected members had a median D0 of 102 cGy (interquartile range 93-111 cGy). Thus radiosensitivity is not a useful marker for the detection of the retinoblastoma gene.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Small bowel function in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Small bowel function before, during, and after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was studied in 26 children. A significant impairment of D-xylose absorption was found during treatment. Permeability studies showed a significant decrease in mannitol and a significant increase in lactulose concentrations; five of 20 children tested had evidence of lactose malabsorption, three of whom were symptomatic. Intestinal function abnormalities were greater in children whose methotrexate treatments were separated by 7 day than by 16 day intervals. Only five (19%) children had no abnormal tests. Abnormalities of small bowel function may be treatment induced and this has implications for morbidity from gastrointestinal symptoms, impairment of the mucosal barrier, and malabsorption of both nutrients and drugs leading to malnutrition and suboptimal drug concentrations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Peripheral, mucosal, and tumour-infiltrating components of cellular immunity in cancer of the large bowel.

A reliable technique has been devised for the preparation of colorectal tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). The immune capacity of these lymphocytes has been assessed in vitro and compared with that of lymphocytes infiltrating the lamina propria of adjacent normal mucosa (LPL) and with autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Assay of a natural killer (NK) cell function revealed the absence of such activity in TIL and LPL depsite the presence of normal levels in PBL. Antibody-dependent (K cell) cytotoxic activity was also absent in TIL and LPL. Both TIL and LPL showed significant mitogen-induced cytotoxic responses, although higher levels were detected in PBL. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes revealed depressed levels of spontaneous DNA synthesis, but mitogen stimulation of TIL was equivalent to that of LPL. T-cell proportions in TIL preparations were equivalent to those in PBL, but LPL comprised significantly fewer T cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗