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Biomedical subjects

P Easterbrook

Publications and source records attributed to P Easterbrook.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Reasons given by patients for "non-progression' in HIV infection.

Identification of the reasons for long-term survival in HIV infection is an area of current intense research. The objective of this study was to determine the perceptions among patients with different rates of disease progression as to the reasons for a good outcome with HIV. In a case-control study of 134 long-term (> or = 8 years) HIV-infected participants, 62 were defined as non-progressors; current CD4 cell count > or = 500 x 10(6)/L and asymptomatic or only mildly symptomatic. Two groups of control patients were identified: intermediate progressors who also had been HIV-infected for > or = 8 years, but whose current CD4 cell count was < 500 x 10(6)/L (n = 61), and a group of rapid progressors who had developed AIDS within 5 years of HIV infection (n = 11). Non-progressors were asked 'what do you feel are the reasons for your good outcome with HIV-infection?' and intermediate and rapid progressors were asked 'what do you feel are the reasons for a good outcome with HIV infection?'. Mental attitude, and in particular a positive outlook was the reason most frequently given for a good outcome among both non-progressors (NP) 42%, and progressors (P) 40%, followed by lifestyle measures and personal action (NP 31%, P 35%). Medical treatments such as anti-retroviral drugs were rarely suggested (< 3%). No significant differences were observed in the frequency of the different reasons given by non-progressors and progressors. The belief among our long-term HIV-infected individuals, that a positive outlook, lifestyle and personal action are important determinants of a good prognosis, is in sharp contrast to the biomedical model of disease progression that prevails among the medical and scientific research community.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

AIDS: clinical and scientific issues past, present and future.

The time from the recognition that AIDS was an infectious disease, to the discovery of HIV as the causative agent and the identification of the first specific antiviral agent that showed some clinical benefit, was impressively short. Over the last few years it would appear that progress against AIDS has slowed down considerably. Neither new treatments nor vaccines have given much grounds for optimism and back to basics has been the main battle cry. However it is easy to overlook the tremendous improvements that have taken place in the management of HIV disease in the absence of a curative treatment. Many of the opportunistic infections that used to kill patients are not only treatable but are able to be treated prophylactically. This has altered the clinical spectrum of disease with many patients surviving several years with virtually no CD4 lymphocytes only to succumb to other HIV related disease such as non Hodgkins lymphoma. This review identifies the major advances that have occurred in our understanding of AIDS and identifies the major problems to be overcome in the next few years at both the clinical and basic levels.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Meta-analysis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Bias↗
PubMed1991

The natural history of low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the impact of a no initial treatment policy on survival.

The natural history of low grade lymphoma and the influence of a 'no initial treatment' policy on survival were studied retrospectively in a group of 153 patients with stage II-IV low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The median follow-up was 85 months (range 45-229 months) and median survival of 50 months (range 14-220 months). Favourable outcome was significantly associated with the absence of B symptoms and a centroblastic/centrocytic (cb/cc) diffuse and follicular histological subtype and was inversely associated with increasing age. No significant differences in survival were found according to patient gender, site or stage of disease or whether the patients were participants in a clinical trial. Importantly, there was no survival disadvantage amongst the 56 patients who were initially untreated compared to those receiving other treatment modalities: initially untreated patients had a median survival of 75 months; 56 per cent were alive at 5 years and the median treatment free interval was 33 months. This favourable outcome persisted even after adjustment for other important prognostic variables. Further studies are needed to identify the characteristics of those patients with indolent disease in whom treatment may be deferred without adversely affecting survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Neoplastic angioendotheliosis--further evidence supporting a lymphoid origin.

Neoplastic angioendotheliosis is a rare condition, most commonly presenting with a bizarre neurological illness associated with multifocal cerebral infarction due to the occlusion of small blood vessels by neoplastic cells. The histogenesis of the malignant cells is controversial with previous suggestions of an endothelial, epithelial or lymphoid origin. We have studied a case immunohistologically using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies recognizing a range of lymphoid, endothelial and epithelial antigens. The results indicate that the malignant cells were of B-lymphoid origin. We also report a second case in which a patient with a high grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed multiple painful skin nodules which showed the histological features of neoplastic angioendotheliosis. These findings support the view that neoplastic angioendotheliosis is a lymphoma with a propensity to localize and proliferate in small blood vessels throughout the body.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

The radiologic investigation of temporal lobe epilepsy. Value of high resolution CT with temporal orientated sections.

The value of high resolution computed tomography of the temporal lobes using temporal lobe orientated sections and intrathecal contrast is described. The results of this technique are correlated with the pathologic findings in 13 patients subsequently proven to have temporal lobe gliomas. These patients all presented with drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and underwent temporal lobectomy. This technique was successful in detecting the tumours in 11 of 13 patients. The average size of the tumours was just over 2 cm. The importance of detecting these small tumours is emphasised because of the profound effect this has on management.

Brain↗