PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Staples

Publications and source records attributed to M Staples.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer in southern Australia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In retrospective studies of non-melanoma skin cancers, the recurrence rates were relatively high. This study had as its aim to determine the recurrence rate of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and prospectively, risk factors for recurrence in southern Australia. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study of outpatients with histologically confirmed NMSC. All patients seen by a dermatologist between November 1988 and November 1989 were entered into the study and followed for at least 3 years. Any recurrent NMSCS were removed and recorded. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were entered and 420 followed for at least 3 years. A recurrent NMSC developed in 8% (adjusted for losses). A multivariate analysis determined that the main risk factor for recurrence within the first 3 years of follow-up was the number of NMSC a patient had when entering into the study. Those with 3 to nine NMSC were five times more likely to develop a recurrence than those with less than three NMSC. Those with 10 or more NMSC were 25 times more likely to develop a recurrence. Age, sex, and types of skin cancers removed were not risk factors within the first 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients who have had multiple skin cancers require careful follow-up because of the risk of developing recurrences.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Multiple primary melanomas: an analysis of cancer registry data from Victoria and New South Wales.

All primary invasive cutaneous malignant melanomas (CMM) diagnosed in Victoria and New South Wales from 1985 to 1989 were obtained from the population-based cancer registries. Altogether 14,590 people with first CMMs were followed for at least 2 years, during which time 496 multiple primary CMMs were identified. Of the study population, 3.4% developed a second primary CMM and 0.3% developed three or more. It was estimated that 4.5% of people would develop a second CMM within 5 years of the first and that the risk was higher in males, particularly in men aged over 70 years. With regard to metachronous primaries, only age and thickness of the first primary were significant predictors of the thickness of the second: older people tended to have thicker CMMs and second CMMs were generally thinner than the first. Body site concordance was higher than expected by chance, particularly for synchronous diagnoses. The high degree of site concordance of metachronous primaries lent support to the hypothesis that skin adjacent to the first CMM might have undergone a 'field effect', rendering it at increased susceptibility to malignancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in southern Australia.

BACKGROUND: The frequency with which squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin metastasizes is a matter of dispute. Studies from private practices have reported much lower rates than hospital-based surveys, and one school of thought is that SCCs which arise in sun-damaged skin have a low risk of metastasis. METHODS: A prospective study of out-patients with histologically confirmed SCC was undertaken in southern Australia, a region with a very high incidence of skin cancer. RESULTS: Between November 1988 and November 1989, 481 patients were entered into the study and 420 followed for at least 3 years. An SCC was the initial diagnosis for 73 patients, 3 were immunosuppressed and 2 had an SCC of the lip, leaving 68 immunocompetent patients with SCC of the skin. Metastatic SCC developed in 2 patients (5.8% adjusted for losses) within 3 years. The SCCs were small and arose in sun-damaged skin. CONCLUSION: Patients with SCC of the skin need a careful follow-up because of the risk of metastasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The development of non-melanocytic skin cancers in people with a history of skin cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of new skin cancer formation in people who have had skin cancer removed. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of Melbourne out-patients with histologically confirmed non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). All patients with NMSC seen by one author (D.C.) between November 1988 and November 1989 were entered into the study and reviewed regularly. New skin cancers were removed and recorded. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were entered and 420 followed for at least 3 years. New NMSC developed in 60% (adjusted for losses) by the end of 3 years. A multivariate analysis determined that the main risk factor for new NMSC formation was the number of previous skin cancers that a patient had. Those who had had multiple skin cancers (3 or more) were at significantly greater risk than those with less than 3. Age, sex and type of NMSC were not risk factors for new skin cancer formation. CONCLUSION: Patients with NMSC require long-term follow-up because of the risk of new skin cancer formation. Those with multiple NMSC need more careful follow-up, and possibly more frequent examinations, because they are at greater risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Psychological consequences of screening mammography.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychological consequences at a number of stages in the screening process for women attending a screening mammography programme. SETTING: A pilot mammographic screening programme in Melbourne, Australia. METHOD: The psychological consequences questionnaire (PCQ; a reliable and valid measure of the psychological consequences of screening mammography) was used to measure the emotional, social, and physical functioning of women in a mammographic screening programme and a control community sample. A screening group (in whom no abnormality was detected at initial screen; n = 142) had four measurements: at screening clinic; before results were received; one week after all-clear results were received; and eight months after initial visit. The recall group (who were recalled for further investigation which showed the detected abnormality to be benign; n = 58) had measurements at the same points as the screening group and an additional measurement while waiting at the recall assessment clinic. A randomly selected community control group (n = 52) had measurements one week, two weeks, three weeks, and eight months after consenting to participate. RESULTS: Emotional, social, and physical functioning of women in the screening group did not change over time and at no point differed significantly from that of community controls. The profiles of emotional and physical dysfunction of women in the recall group differed significantly from those of the screening and control groups. The level of emotional and physical dysfunction in the recall group was highest while waiting at recall assessment clinic, and scores were still significantly higher than scores obtained at comparable times from screening and control groups one week after obtaining notification that there was no sign of cancer (emotional P < 0.001; physical P < 0.05). This difference had disappeared eight months after the screening visit, when the level of emotional and physical functioning was similar to that of the screening and control groups. Social dysfunction scores did not change significantly over time and were similar for all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Given that up to 10% of women are recalled for further investigations on first round screening, significant numbers of women may have psychological consequences. This speaks for the necessity for accurate reading of mammograms to minimise the false positive recall rate, and for counselling services to be available at recall assessment centres.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1993

Trends in non-melanocytic skin cancer treated in Australia: the second national survey.

An Australia-wide survey in 1985 recorded the highest rates of medically treated non-melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) ever reported. We report the findings of a repeat survey conducted in 1990. This second survey confirmed the differences, by age, sex, body site, latitude, country of birth and skin reaction to strong sunlight, that were observed in 1985. Over the 5-year period certain changes were noted: the incidence of NMSCs increased by 19%, of basal-cell carcinomas (BCC) by 11% and of squamous-cell carcinomas (SCC) by 51%. With advancing age, men and women differed in their incidence, and this difference was greater for SCC than for BCC. Log-linear modelling, however, failed to detect either a cohort or a survey effect between the 2 surveys. The proportional distribution of BCCs and SCCs by body site indicated an increase in BCCs on the trunk in both men and women, and half the proportion of SCCs on the head and neck in women as compared with men. The latitudinal gradients observed in 1985 were even stronger in 1990; the population living north of 37 degrees S experienced a 30% increase in the incidence of treated NMSC between 1985 and 1990, while the population living south of 37 degrees S had a 25% decrease. The implications of these findings for cancer-control initiatives are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Primary tumors of the brain, cranial nerves and cranial meninges in Victoria, Australia, 1982-1990: patterns of incidence and survival.

This report presents for the first time a detailed analysis of the distribution of primary brain tumors in a population in Australia. Data on 3,575 cases of benign and malignant tumors of the brain, cranial nerves and cranial meninges diagnosed among residents of the state of Victoria from 1982 to 1990 are used to calculate incidence rates and survival by histologic type, age and sex and to compare incidence of birthplace, socioeconomic status and year of diagnosis. No sharp decline in incidence rates is seen among those over age 60 and only small increases in incidence over the 9-year period have been observed. The overall incidence rates, distributions by histologic type, and patterns of excess incidence among those born in Southern and Eastern Europe and the Middle East are similar to observations in other geographic areas. No clear trend relating incidence and socioeconomic status is observed. Survival after brain tumor diagnosis is better among women then men (52 vs. 37% survive 5 years); this difference is attributable to the greater frequency among men of the more aggressive tumor types. The most striking male over female excess is for medulloblastoma, a type that occurs predominantly in the pediatric age group. This excess coupled with the fact that this tumor occurs at a much younger age in males may suggest the presence of a genetic predisposition in some patients with this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Use of benzhexol hydrochloride to control drooling of children with cerebral palsy.

The use of benzhexol hydrochloride to control drooling was evaluated in a group of 20 children with cerebral palsy. Drooling was measured before treatment and then repeatedly until an optimal dosage of benzhexol hydrochloride was attained. 17 of the 20 children showed an improvement in drooling, and side-effects were minimal. This type of medication appears to be useful in the treatment of drooling.

Cerebral Palsy↗
PubMed1985

Demonstration of both immunologically unique and common antigenic determinants in Dirofilaria immitis and Toxocara canis using monoclonal antibodies.

Using an ELISA system, the immunological cross-reactivity between D. immitis and T. canis has been, for the first time, examined on an individual clone-by-clone basis. This study offers a definitive demonstration of the presence of immunologically distinguishable species-specific non-crossreactive antigens and the presence of cross-reactive antigens in antigenic extracts obtained from adult D. immitis and T. canis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Head impulses after unilateral vestibular deafferentation validate Ewald's second law.

To determine the relative contributions of ampullofugal (AF) and ampullopetal (AP) stimulation of the horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC) to the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (HVOR), 12 patients were studied 1 year after total unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD). Compensatory eye movement responses to impulses of horizontal head rotation were studied using magnetic search coils. The head impulses were rapid (up to 3000 deg/sec/sec) passive, unpredictable, step displacements of horizontal angular head position with respect to the trunk. The results from these 12 patients were compared with results from 30 normal subjects. An HVOR deficit was found to each side. The HVOR in response to head impulses toward the deafferented side, a response generated exclusively by ampullofugal stimulation of the single functioning HSCC, was severely deficient with an average gain of 0.25; the HVOR in response to head impulses toward the intact side, a response generated exclusively by ampullopetal stimulation of the single functioning HSCC, was mildly but significantly deficient compared with normal subjects. These results show that rapid, unpredictable head movements, unlike slow, predictable head movements, do demonstrate the AP-AF HVOR asymmetry, which could be expected from consideration of the behavior of single vestibular afferent neurons, an asymmetry that is expressed by Ewald's 2nd Law.

Eye Movements↗