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Biomedical subjects

L J Hixson

Publications and source records attributed to L J Hixson.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Prospective study of the frequency and size distribution of polyps missed by colonoscopy.

An important determinant in interpreting the results of colorectal polyp chemoprevention trials is the rate of polyps missed during colonscopic examination. We prospectively examined 90 patients by tandem colonoscopy performed by two alternating examiners. In 69 (76.7%) patients, 221 neoplastic lesions were documented histologically. Of a total of 58 lesions detected in 31 patients, no neoplastic lesion greater than or equal to 10 mm in size was missed; 16% of diminutive (less than or equal to 5 mm) neoplastic polyps and 12.3% of medium-sized (6-9 mm) neoplastic polyps were missed by the first examiner. We conclude that an experienced colonoscopist will miss about 15% of colorectal neoplastic polyps less than 10 mm in size in the setting of adequate bowel preparation. Large (greater than or equal to 10 mm) polyps were rarely missed, however, with the "miss" rate in our study equal to 0, with a 95% confidence limit of 4.64%.

Adult↗

Limitations of combined flexible sigmoidoscopy and double contrast barium enema in patients with rectal bleeding.

Eighty-seven outpatients with non-massive rectal bleeding or asymptomatic positive fecal occult blood were evaluated with 35 cm flexible sigmoidoscopy, double contrast barium enema (DBCE) and colonoscopy. 82% had hemorrhoids and 35% harbored colorectal neoplasia. The combination of flexible sigmoidoscopy and DCBE missed none of 7 malignant lesions. However, 36% of benign polyps greater than or equal to 1 cm and 60.25% of those less than 1 cm were not detected by this combination. The presence of hemorrhoids should not prevent a search for colon neoplasia and colonoscopy is the preferred method.

Adult↗

False-positive secretin-KABI provocation test associated with achlorhydria.

Two patients with chronic abdominal pain and fasting hypergastrinemia had increases in serum gastrin of 440 and 300 pg/ml after injection of 2 U/kg Secretin-KABI. Both subsequently proved to have pentagastrin-fast achlorhydria. Intragastric instillation of 0.1 N HCl suppressed serum gastrin concentration by greater than 60%. In both, the pancreas was normal by sonography or computed tomography (CT) scan and at laparotomy in one. Both are currently asymptomatic 12 and 18 months later. We conclude that achlorhydria may be associated after injection of Secretin-KABI with a false-positive rise in fasting serum gastrin concentration of greater than 200 pg/ml and that gastric analysis for hypochlorhydria should be performed before secretin provocation testing.

Achlorhydria↗

Prospective blinded trial of the colonoscopic miss-rate of large colorectal polyps.

We prospectively studied the colonoscopic miss-rate of large colorectal polyps in a blinded trial featuring tandem colonoscopy. Sixty-three lesions greater than or equal to 1 cm in size were discovered and none were missed. Confidence intervals of 95% are a miss-rate of 0 to 4.6%. We conclude that less than 5% of large colorectal polyps are missed during the index colonoscopic examination in a well-prepared colon.

Aged↗

Gastric intestinal metaplasia in ethnic groups in the southwestern United States.

The incidence of gastric cancer has declined dramatically in the United States during this century. However, the incidence of gastric cancer among Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans remains 2-3-fold higher than among Whites in this country. Populations with an increased risk of gastric cancer have predominantly the "intestinal" type of gastric cancer, and intestinal metaplasia is regarded as a histological precursor lesion of this type of gastric cancer. We sought to establish the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia, identify associated epidemiological factors, and improve detection of this lesion in a patient population undergoing clinically indicated endoscopy in the Southwestern United States. Among the 440 patients studied, we observed an overall crude prevalence of intestinal metaplasia of 19%. However, the crude prevalence among Hispanics and Blacks was found to be markedly higher than among non-Hispanic Whites (50% versus 13%). Two biopsy protocols (two biopsies versus four biopsies) were used during this study, with a significantly higher rate of intestinal metaplasia detection under the four-biopsy protocol. Adjusting for protocol, we found that age and ethnicity were significantly and independently associated with the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia. The odds of intestinal metaplasia diagnosis was significantly higher in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites (P < 0.001), and the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia increased with advancing age (P = 0.01). The presence of Helicobacter pylori was also significantly associated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.02), although the direction of the association differed between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites.

Adult↗

Antiproliferative effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs against human colon cancer cells.

Several lines of evidence suggest that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may be effective in preventing colorectal cancer. These include animal experiments, case-control studies, and clinical experience with sulindac in promoting the regression of adenomatous colon polyps in adenomatous polyposis coli. We determined the antiproliferative activity of various nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, including two sulindac derivatives, against human colon cancer cells in vitro. Ht-29, SW480, and DLD-1 cells were continuously incubated with serial drug dilutions for 6 days prior to fixation. Cell number was determined using the sulforhodamine B assay, and drug concentrations which inhibited cell growth by 50% were estimated for each agent by interpolation. All drugs exhibited antiproliferative activity against Ht-29 and DLD-1 cells, and most inhibited SW480 cells. For Ht-29 cells, the 50% inhibitory concentration varied from 55 microM for diclofenac to 2100 microM for 5-aminosalicylic acid, with three drug groups of high, intermediate, and low potency evident. Inhibition of cell growth by sulindac sulfide was reversible following drug removal. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs exert an antiproliferative effect against human colon cancer cells with a wide range of potencies. A cytostatic response was demonstrated with sulindac sulfide. These data further support the potential role of these agents for chemoprevention of colorectal neoplasia.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines in colorectal neoplasia and mucosa.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and polyamines are intimately involved in normal cellular proliferation and are likely to play a role in carcinogenesis. ODC activity and polyamine content were measured in tissue samples obtained during colonoscopy from 48 benign neoplastic polyps (20 tubular adenomas; 28 villous adenomas), 18 cancers (including 5 malignant polyps), and adjacent mucosa. ODC activity in polyp and cancer tissue specimens was higher than in adjacent mucosa in 75 and 83% of pairs, respectively. Similarly, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine contents were higher in the majority of polyps and cancers compared to adjacent mucosa. ODC activity and polyamine content in colonic mucosa from 10 patients without a history of colorectal neoplasia were not different from adjacent mucosal values in the patients with neoplasia. In conclusion, ODC and polyamines are elevated in the majority of colorectal neoplasms, but amounts in normal mucosa do not differentiate between patients with cancer, benign neoplastic polyps, and normal subjects.

Adenoma↗

Plasma selenium concentration predicts the prevalence of colorectal adenomatous polyps.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether plasma selenium concentration predicts the prevalence of adenomatous polyps of the colon and rectum. The source population for the study was 101 patients undergoing sequential colonoscopies at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. The study population was then limited to the 48 patients (all male) undergoing their initial colonoscopy who did not have a diagnosis of colorectal cancer. For each of these patients, a prediagnostic fasting plasma selenium concentration was determined. The data from this study suggest that fasting plasma selenium concentrations may be an important risk factor for colorectal adenomas. Patients with fasting plasma selenium concentrations below the median (< 128 mcg/liter) were significantly more likely to have one or more adenomatous polyps (prevalence odds ratio 4.2) and more adenomatous polyps (3.5 times) per patient. There was also a suggestion of a more proximal distribution of adenomatous polyps in the patients with a lower level of selenium. These associations were not confounded by age or smoking. The results of this study are consistent with the experimental animal studies, geographic mortality studies, and prospective cohort studies of selenium and colorectal cancer.

Adenoma↗