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Biomedical subjects

O H Gyde

Publications and source records attributed to O H Gyde.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Reduced erythropoietin levels as a cause of anaemia in patients with lung cancer.

Measurements of erythropoietin (Ep) levels in patients with the anaemia of chronic disorders due to malignant disease have given variable results. This variation may be due to the wide range of malignancies studied and the assay method (whole animal) used. In this study Ep levels were measured, using the foetal mouse liver assay, in 39 patients with lung cancer and 19 controls. Twelve patients had reduced haemoglobin levels (Hb less than 11.5 g/dl for males and 11 g/dl for females) and the features of the anaemia of chronic disorders. Their mean Ep level was 0.21 iu/ml. This was significantly lower than for the normal controls, whose mean value was 0.31 iu/ml (P less than 0.02). This data supports the concept that lack of an appropriate Ep response to anaemia is one factor in the genesis of anaemia in malignancy.

Anemia

Serum ferritin levels in small cell lung cancer.

Serum ferritin levels were measured before treatment, using an immunoradiometric method, in 39 patients with small cell lung cancer. In 11 patients serial estimations were also made. The median serum ferritin level for male patients was 660 micrograms/l (range 13-1329) and for females 306 (range 134-5300), the normal range being 32-501. This increase is significant (P less than 0.001). Serum ferritin levels were not related to metastatic, haematological or iron status. Serial ferritin levels did not reflect the clinical course of the disease. Patients with a pre-treatment serum ferritin of less than 600 micrograms/l had a significant prolongation of median survival compared to those with an initial serum ferritin of greater than 600 micrograms/l (P less than 0.02). Serum ferritin levels are not of value in staging small cell lung cancer nor in monitoring its progress. However, the initial serum ferritin is of prognostic significance.

Adult

Specific thromboxane synthetase inhibition and haemostasis in insulin-dependent diabetics.

Specific thromboxane synthetase inhibition is associated with a significant fall in abnormal albumin excretion rate in insulin-dependent diabetics (IDDs). This may be due to an effect on haemostasis or changes in renal blood flow. We have studied the effect of a specific thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, UK-38,485, on coagulation parameters in 15 IDDs, at -8, 0, 8 and 16 weeks after double blind administration of drug or placebo. Serum thromboxane B2 fell in the drug group (695 +/- 205 vs 134 +/- 180 pg/ml, n = 7, p less than 0.001), but not in the placebo group (713 +/- 409 vs 614 +/- 178 pg/ml, n = 8). The drug group showed significant reduction in adrenaline primary maximum (24 +/- 7 vs 37 +/- 7%, p less than 0.05) and ADP maximum (71 +/- 14 vs 81 +/- 7%, p less than 0.05) aggregation not seen in the placebo group. Dilute whole blood clot lysis time was, however, increased in the drug group (7.1 +/- 1.6 vs 6.25 +/- 2.4 hr, p less than 0.05) and no effect was observed in either group on in vivo parameters of platelet aggregation (beta-thromboglobulin, platelet factor 4 and platelet micro-aggregates). We conclude that specific thromboxane synthetase inhibition is probably not associated with an overall improvement in haemostasis and the clinical effects observed cannot be explained on this basis.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1

Zinc deficiency in senile purpura.

Fasting plasma zinc concentrations were lower in elderly people with senile purpura than in a control group matched for age. No significant difference was found in the mean serum concentration of albumin, which is the main binder of zinc. No other clinical or laboratory findings differentiated the two groups. As the cause of the low plasma zinc values has not been found it is suggested that further studies of the related factors including input, output, and binding should be made before a therapeutic trial is launched.

Aged

Platelet estimation in whole blood.

An application of particle size analysis is described for the estimation of platelet counts in whole blood based on a variable size threshold and baseline. The simplicity of the sample preparation for this technique may enable its automation as a semiquantitative screening method. Platelets, defined as particles to the platelet side and above the minimum point between the platelet and red cell distributions were counted on specially designed electronics. The system divides the normal size distribution from the smallest platelet to the smallest red cell into four equal windows and performs three integrations to calculate the best result. Correlation of results obtained using this technique with results form the sedimentation method produced a coefficient of 0.93. In the trial period of a week in which all the samples (132) normally undergoing platelet count were also counted on the system descirbed, only six false negative results were found, four at the lower end of normal (150000) and two at the upper end (400000). The advantages of an MCA computer-based system are also discussed.

Blood Cell Count

Androgen trial in renal anaemia.

A double blind cross-over trial of Nandrolone decanoate (Decadurabolin) was carried out in 27 patients with anaemia due to end stage renal disease, stabilised on regular haemodialysis. Sixteen patients completed the study, the other patients being excluded from the final analysis for a variety of reasons including side effects related to the androgen. There was no sustained significant rise in haemoglobin concentration or in red cell mass. Erythropoietin levels did not alter, they were within or below the normal range, but were lower than would be expected for the degree of anaemia. A majority of patients reported increased well-being including exercise tolerance, appetite and libido. Voice changes and hirsutism were noted, mainly in the females. Instability of anticoagulant therapy and abnormalities in liver function were found in some patients. The benefits, though real, were restricted essentially to the improvement in subjective findings and were unrelated to laboratory measurements. These effects might be obtained with a lower dosage of the drug.

Adult

G gamma delta beta thalassaemia and g gamma HPFH (Hb Kenya type): comparison of 2 new cases.

Two new cases of G gamma delta beta thalassaemia and G gamma HPFH (Hb Kenya type) have been characterised in detail and compared with regard to haematological data, globin chains biosynthesis, and intracellular distribution of Hb F. The similarities and differences between these two conditions are discussed in relation to the possible underlying defects at the molecular level and to the control of the gamma delta beta gene complex in general.

Adult