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Biomedical subjects

M Becker

Publications and source records attributed to M Becker.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Changing the way we practice: how to thrive and not just survive in veterinary medicine.

Today's veterinarians face unprecedented competition such as veterinary clinics on every corner; hobby veterinarians who "give it away;" human pharmacies promoting do-it-yourself pet vaccinations; and corporate megastores with sophisticated management, overpowering marketing, and veterinary wellness clinics. Many veterinarians are experiencing flat or decreasing practice growth and are facing a severe financial squeeze. So, what's the answer? Give up? Take whatever comes? Accept less? Swing blindly at the problems? Remain blinded to the opportunities? No! We have got to fight back "to win" with better skills, increased attention to detail, and the sense-of-urgency that comes from being threatened! Start "competing to win" by building on our traditional strengths with the latest tools! This article offers a look forward at the demographics, trends, problems, and opportunities that face veterinarians in these ultracompetitive, fast-changing, yet opportunity-laden times. It's your choice--"To Thrive Or To Survive." This article shares the ideas, principles, emotions and winning tactics used by the great achievers in veterinary medicine. These are not anecdotal "pie-in-the-sky" schemes. These are proven "in-the-trenches" techniques and systems that have helped craft several million dollar practices. Follow the leaders!

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Generation and analysis of 280,000 human expressed sequence tags.

We report the generation of 319,311 single-pass sequencing reactions (known as expressed sequence tags, or ESTs) obtained from the 5' and 3' ends of 194,031 human cDNA clones. Our goal has been to obtain tag sequences from many different genes and to deposit these in the publicly accessible Data Base for Expressed Sequence Tags. Highly efficient automatic screening of the data allows deposition of the annotated sequences without delay. Sequences have been generated from 26 oligo(dT) primed directionally cloned libraries, of which 18 were normalized. The libraries were constructed using mRNA isolated from 17 different tissues representing three developmental states. Comparisons of a subset of our data with nonredundant human mRNA and protein data bases show that the ESTs represent many known sequences and contain many that are novel. Analysis of protein families using Hidden Markov Models confirms this observation and supports the contention that although normalization reduces significantly the relative abundance of redundant cDNA clones, it does not result in the complete removal of members of gene families.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Smoking history-taking skills: a simple guide to teach medical students.

Many doctors rate themselves as ineffective smoking cessation counsellors. It is logical to initiate training efforts with medical students. We incorporated smoking history-taking in the physical diagnosis course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill using a simple method to teach smoking history-taking skills and to assess its effectiveness as an educational intervention. The principal intervention was the distribution of a one-sheet Smoking-History Taking and Counseling Guide, adapted from the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking for You and Your Family self-help manual. The second intervention was a single prompt for 50% of the course preceptors. Students' smoking history-taking skills were evaluated in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) at the end of the course. Students who received the guide did significantly better on the OSCE, even after controlling for having discussed taking a smoking history with their preceptors. A simple guide combined with a one-time prompting of preceptors has a positive effect on the acquisition of smoking history-taking skills by the medical students. This strategy may also be useful for teaching and evaluating smoking-cessation counselling skills, for which good smoking history-taking is a necessary basis.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1996

Computed tomographic evaluation of head diseases in the horse: 15 cases.

The rapid development of software and technology now allows a large amount of diagnostic information to be obtained from a computed tomographic examination. This imaging technique can also be usefully applied to the horse, given appropriate premises and a custom built table for accurate positioning. Computed tomography of the skull has considerable advantages over other techniques, as structures are viewed without superimposition. Fifteen cases are used to demonstrate how through high image quality (precise detail, reduction in artefacts) and objective measurement of density, various pathological changes can be analysed and exact diagnoses achieved. In particular, short measurement and examination times allow preoperative imaging under general anaesthesia giving significant information to assist subsequent surgery.

Abscess↗
PubMed1996

Judgments of quality of life of individuals with severe mental disorders: Patient self-report versus provider perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: This study was an investigation of judgments regarding quality of life of individuals with severe mental disorders from two different perspectives: patient self-report versus provider. METHOD: Judgments on several dimensions of quality of life were collected from a convenience sample of 37 schizophrenic patients and their primary clinicians by using the well-known Quality of Life Index of Spitzer et al. and the more recently developed Quality of Life Index-Mental Health. Both indexes capture judgments on a number of dimensions. Patterns of concordance for the patient-provider pairs were tested by using Cohen's kappa and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The results suggest that patients' and providers' judgments are more likely to coincide on clinical aspects, such as symptoms and function, than on social aspects. Specifically, there was moderate agreement on symptoms and function, less agreement on physical health, and little to no agreement on social relations and occupational aspects of quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Such differences support the notion that treatment strategies and mental health services should address a wide range of needs reflecting different aspects of quality of life perceived as important by different patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

The role of FDG-PET in the preoperative assessment of N-staging in head and neck cancer.

This prospective study based on 48 patients showed that FDG-PET has a significantly higher sensitivity for the detection of lymph node metastases compared with palpation and it appears that FDG-PET has a similar sensitivity to CT-scanning. According to our data, FDG-PET is a highly specific method in the evaluation of neck nodes. This new imaging technique allows a tridimensional study and is easy to interpret. Therefore, FDG-PET seems to be a valuable imaging technique for the detection of cervical lymph node metastasis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1996

Fundus-controlled examination of reading in eyes with macular pathology.

The ability to read is an important parameter for the optical rehabilitation of visually handicapped patients. For the choice of the best therapy, more detailed knowledge of the physiology of reading is required. We evaluated reading velocity as well as the number of saccades in and against the direction of reading for reading plates with different character sizes (10 steps from a letter height of 3-0.25 degrees) using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope in 20 healthy eyes and 30 eyes with central and paracentral scotomas. The number of characters read during each fixation increased with decreasing size of characters from 3.2 to 4.4 in normals. However, the reading velocity decreased from 14 to 11 digits/s when digits became very small. In patients' eyes the greatest reading velocity was reached at 6.1 digits/s for a 1 degree size, and the maximal number of digits read during one rest phase was 3.2 for a 0.75 degree size. In patients we observed a high number of saccades against the reading direction and different loci of fixation. Fundus-controlled examination allows for new insights into the physiology and pathophysiology of reading. Loss of the central visual field leads to an increase in the number of saccades because the number of digits perceived during each fixation decreases. The high number of regressions may be caused by the typical shift of the center of fixation following paracentral scotoma. Saccades directed toward the scotoma have to be corrected due to failure of exact positioning.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Surgical prevention of post-traumatic infection by immediate necrectomy of burn wounds].

Sepsis is the commonest cause of death following burn injuries. The main source of the bacteria which cause the onset of sepsis is the burn wound itself. We evaluated the question of whether immediate necrectomy versus early necrectomy leads to a decrease in septic complications, as well as posttraumatic lethality. We evaluated 66 patients, 33 of whom underwent immediate necrectomy (i.e., within the first 3 days posttraumatically, group 1); the remaining 33 patients underwent necrectomy in the early posttraumatic phase (from the fourth posttraumatic day, group 2). Following immediate necrectomy (group 1), septic complications developed in 12.1%, as compared to 33.3% in group 2 (p < 0.01). Lathality was significantly reduced in group 1 with 9.1% compared to 21.2% in group 2 (p < 0.01). In this study it was demonstrated that immediate necrectomy versus early necrectomy in young patients leads to a significant decrease of septic complications and lethality following burn injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Yttrium-90-labeled anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy of recurrent B-cell lymphoma.

A Phase I/II dose escalation study of 90Y-murine anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in patients with recurrent B-cell lymphoma was performed. The primary objectives of the study were: (a) to determine the effect of the preinfusion of unlabeled anti-CD20 mAb on the biodistribution of 111In-anti-CD20 mAb; (b) to determine the maximal tolerated dose of 90Y-anti-CD20 mAb that does not require bone marrow transplantation; and (c) to evaluate the safety and antitumor effect of 90Y-anti-CD20 mAb in patients with recurrent B-cell lymphoma. Eighteen patients with relapsed low- or intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated. Biodistribution studies with 111In-anti-CD20 mAb were performed prior to therapy. Groups of three or four patients were treated at dose levels of approximately 13.5, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mCi 90Y-anti-CD20 mAb. Three patients were retreated at the 40-mCi dose level. The use of unlabeled antibody affected the biodistribution favorably. Nonhematological toxicity was minimal. The only significant toxicity was myelosuppression. The overall response rate following a single dose of 90Y-anti-CD20 mAb therapy was 72%, with six complete responses and seven partial responses and freedom from progression of 3-29+ months following treatment. Radioimmunotherapy with </=50 mCi 90Y-anti-CD20 mAb resulted in minimal nonhematological toxicity and durable clinical responses in patients with recurrent B-cell lymphoma. Doses of </=40 mCi 90Y-anti-CD20 mAb were not myeloablative.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer with 90Y-CYT-356 monoclonal antibody.

A Phase I dose-escalation study using 90Y-CYT-356 monoclonal antibody was performed in 12 patients with hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma. Biodistribution studies using 111In-CYT-356 were performed 1 week before 90Y-CYT-356 administration. Of the 12 patients, 58% had at least one site of disease imaged after administration of 111In-CYT-356. The dose of 90Y ranged from 1.83-12 mCi/m2. Both 111In and 90Y-CYT-356 were tolerated well, without significant nonhematological toxicity. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity and occurred at dose levels of 4.5-12 mCi/m2. Of the patients receiving </=9 mCi/m2, 55% had grade 1 or 2 leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia. Two of three patients treated with 12 mCi/m2 experienced grade 3 thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. One patient treated with 12 mCi/m2 had grade 4 neutropenia. The maximum tolerated dose of 90Y-CYT-356 was 9 mCi/m2. Only one patient developed a human anti-mouse antibody 4 weeks after treatment. No patient attained a complete or partial response based on prostate-specific antigen and/or radiological criteria. Three patients had transient subjective improvement in the symptomatology of their disease. In addition, patients treated with 12 mCi/m2 of 90Y-CYT-356 had a slightly longer freedom from disease progression than patients treated with doses of 90Y-CYT-356 </=9 mCi/m2.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Multiple courses of high-dose total skin electron beam therapy in the management of mycosis fungoides.

PURPOSE: A retrospective analysis was undertaken to determine the indications for, the efficacy of, and the long-term complications of two courses of total skin electron beam therapy for mycosis fungoides. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective analysis of 15 patients with the pathologic diagnosis of mycosis fungoides treated in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Stanford University Medical Center between 1968 and 1990 was performed. All patients received two courses of high-dose electron beam therapy to the skin. The mean dose for the total skin treatment for the first course was 32.6 Gy and 23.4 Gy for the second course of treatment. RESULTS: Following the first course of total skin electron beam therapy, 11 of 15 had a complete response, with a mean duration of 11.6 months. All patients received adjuvant therapies between the first and second courses of high-dose total skin electron beam therapy. The mean interval between the first and the second courses of therapy was 41.3 months. Patients were restaged prior to commencement of their second course of high-dose total skin electron beam therapy, resulting in upstaging in six. The second course of therapy resulted in six complete responses and nine partial responses. Twelve of these patients have since died, 1 is lost to follow-up, and 2 are living with disease. The long-term side effects in the two living patients include pigmentation changes, alopecia, and diffuse xerosis. CONCLUSION: Delivery of two courses of total skin electron beam therapy is technically feasible, tolerable, and efficacious. The dose to the total skin was reduced for the second course of therapy in all cases. The criteria used to screen patients included initial good response to total skin electron treatment, long disease-free interval, exhaustion of other therapeutic modalities, and generalized skin involvement at relapse. Long-term toxicities were mild in severity and generally consisted of generalized xerosis, scattered telangiectasias, pigmentation changes, and partial alopecia.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Src phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor at novel sites mediates receptor interaction with Src and P85 alpha.

Following ligand binding, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) autophosphorylates itself on tyrosine residues located in its carboxyl terminus; in vitro, three sites are highly phosphorylated, while two other sites are phosphorylated to lesser extents. In the presence of the Src protein-tyrosine kinase, in vitro phosphorylation of the minor autophosphorylation sites was increased, and four additional residues were phosphorylated. Following EGF stimulation, two (Tyr-891 and Tyr-920) were found to be phosphorylated in a colorectal cell line (DLD-1) and in a breast tumor cell line (MCF7). The remaining in vitro sites were not found to be highly phosphorylated in vivo. The sequences surrounding Tyr-891 and Tyr-920 match the reported consensus binding sequences for the SH2 domains of Src and the regulatory domain of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p85 alpha), respectively. In vitro, both of these proteins were found to bind to Src-phosphorylated EGF-R with approximately 100-fold greater affinity than to autophosphorylated EGF-R, demonstrating that Src creates new sites for SH2 binding. Furthermore, Csk-inactivated Src was activated by interaction with Src-phosphorylated EGF-R but not by autophosphorylated EGF-R. Upon EGF treatment of MCF7 or three colorectal carcinoma cell lines (WiDr, DLD-1, and LS174T), the EGF-R coimmunoprecipitated with both p85 alpha and Src. Evidence is also presented that suggests that an EGF-R-related protein, ErbB2, may be involved in similar Src-mediated interactions. These data demonstrate that EGF-R is phosphorylated in vivo at non-autophosphorylation sites and that these novel sites can act as docking sites for Src, P85 alpha, and potentially other SH2-containing proteins. In addition, the data suggest a tyrosine phosphatase-independent mechanism for the elevation of Src activity in cells exposed to growth factors. Overexpression of Src, EGF-R, and/or ErbB2 in breast and colorectal tumor cells suggests the potential that such interactions may contribute to the transformed phenotype of these carcinomas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗