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Biomedical subjects

K G MacLeod

Publications and source records attributed to K G MacLeod.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of human recombinant interferon-alpha on the activity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) in human non-small cell lung cancer xenografts.

Interferons (IFNs) augment the effect of some antitumor agents, including cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cDDP), in experimental systems. The effect of human recombinant interferon-alpha 2b (rIFN alpha) on the cDDP-dependent growth delay of a human non-small cell lung cancer established as a xenograft in nude mice (NX002) has been investigated. IFN (10(5) IU/mouse, s.c.) as a single agent had no effect on the growth of the xenograft. cDDP (4.2 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a specific growth delay of 0.42, and this delay was significantly enhanced (to 1.08) by concomitant dosing with the otherwise inactive IFN. Possible mechanisms for this supra-additive relationship between IFN and cDDP have been investigated: increased intratumoral accumulation of platinum was seen at late time points (maximally at 36 hr) during the pharmacokinetic beta-phase of cDDP elimination from the plasma of the nude mice. Tumor:plasma platinum concentration ratios at 36-48 hr indicated significantly increased accumulation of platinum in tumors from IFN-treated mice compared to controls (p < 0.05). Scheduling experiments suggest that this IFN-mediated effect can persist for 4 hr. These differences may account for the enhanced antitumor activity of cDDP when coadministered with IFN.

Animals↗

Comparison of desflurane and fentanyl-based anaesthetic techniques for coronary artery bypass surgery.

We have compared, in 51 ASA II and III patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, an inhaled anaesthetic technique based on desflurane, supplemented with low-dose (10 micrograms kg-1) fentanyl, with an i.v. technique using high-dose (50 micrograms kg-1) fentanyl with midazolam for induction. Satisfactory records were available for analysis in 50 patients. There were no differences between groups in operating time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time or duration of stay in the intensive care unit after surgery. Desflurane maintained mean systemic arterial pressure at the awake level during incision and sternotomy (end-tidal concentrations 3.7% and 4.6%, respectively) but decreased it significantly at all other times. With fentanyl, mean systemic arterial pressure was unchanged from awake values during induction and laryngoscopy but increased significantly at incision and sternotomy by 8% and 12.8%, respectively, to exceed the desflurane group at sternotomy by 20 mm Hg (P < 0.001). With desflurane, heart rate remained at 60-67 beat min-1 at all times before cardiopulmonary bypass. This was always lower than the fentanyl group by 5-15 beat min-1 and the difference was significant at induction, during skin preparation and before aortic cannulation. In comparison with the desflurane group, cardiac index was significantly greater in the fentanyl group at induction, laryngoscopy and during skin preparation, but was significantly less before aortic cannulation. The need for vasodilator intervention was significantly more common in the fentanyl group before, during and after cardiopulmonary bypass and for beta adrenoceptor block before cardiopulmonary bypass.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Australia (hepatitis-associated) antigen in patients attending a venereal disease clinic.

A total of 1,650 patients attending the venereal disease department at St. Mary's Hospital, London, have been tested for Australia antigen. Twenty-three positive results were obtained, or 1.39%, which is more than 10 times the rate noted by others in blood donor populations in the U.K. and U.S.A. The positive rates among female patients and European male heterosexual patients were 0.36% and 0.19% respectively. High rates were obtained for homosexual patients (3.8%) and non-European heterosexual patients (3.1%). The reasons for the higher rates found in these groups merit further study.

Adult↗