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Biomedical subjects

P J Taskinen

Publications and source records attributed to P J Taskinen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Misonidazole combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. A randomized double-blind trial.

Forty-one patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to receive irradiation therapy 45 Gy in ten fractions over eight weeks, plus either placebo or misonidazole 1.2 g/m2 orally on treatment day. The irradiated area was the primary tumour. Twenty-one patients received misonidazole and 20 received placebo. Minimal observation time for the study was 36 months. No clear difference was observed in the pattern of relapse between the groups. 43% of the patients in the misonidazole group attained a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) as compared with 65% in the placebo group. Median survival time was twelve months in the misonidazole group and 14 months in the placebo group.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[The Lukes-Collins classification and the Kiel classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas].

280 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were studied histologically according to the criteria of Lukes-Collins as well as Lennert's classifications. Nodularity was predominantly related to the SC and LC types according to the Lukes-Collins classification. Nodularity is indicative of better survival. The Burkitt and convoluted types were found to be predominantly related to childhood or to younger patients and the non-Burkitt type most frequently to the older groups. The Lukes-Collins classification separates well two clear prognostic groups--the favorable and the unfavorable one with overall median survivals of 44 and 11 months, respectively. Within the Kiel classification, nodularity was found mainly in the CB-CC type, but also in 27% of the CC cases. The relationship of the subtypes according to the Kiel classification and age resembles the same relation found with the Lukes-Collins classification, where according to the Kiel classification the Burkitt, convoluted and lymphoblastic types were related to children and adults. Three prognostic groups were identified with overall median survivals of 80, 38 and 13 months, respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Early cardiac changes related to radiation therapy.

To investigate the incidence and severity of possible radiation-induced cardiac changes, 21 women without heart disease were investigated serially by echocardiography and by measuring systolic time intervals before and up to 6 months after postoperative radiation therapy because of breast cancer. Radiation was associated with a decrease in fractional systolic shortening of the left ventricular (LV) minor-axis diameter, from 0.35 +/- 0.05 to 0.32 +/- 0.06 (p less than 0.005), and in the systolic blood pressure/end-systolic diameter ratio, from 4.4 +/- 1.2 to 3.9 +/- 0.9 mm Hg/mm (p less than 0.005). The mitral E point-septal separation increased, from 2.8 +/- 1.5 to 4.2 +/- 2.5 mm (p less than 0.005). The preejection period/LV ejection time ratio of systolic time intervals increased, but only the decrease within 6 months after therapy was significant (p less than 0.005). All these changes reflect slight transient depression of LV function, which became normalized within 6 months after therapy. Up to 6 months after therapy, a slight pericardial effusion was found in 33% of the patients. Hence, conventional radiation therapy appeared to cause an acute transient and usually symptomless decrease in LV function, and later, slight pericardial effusion in one-third of the patients.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1984

Chromosome aberrations in lymphocytes of nurses handling cytostatic agents.

In an evaluation of the possible chromosome damage caused by cytostatic agents 11 nurses with long-term exposure to such agents were studied. Five laboratory workers and 11 hospital clerks served as referents. The number of chromosomally aberrant lymphocytes was significantly higher in the group of nurses than in the group of laboratory workers or hospital clerks. The number of chromosome-type breaks was increased significantly among the nurses as compared to the reference groups. There was no significant difference in the number of chromatid-type breaks between the groups. The observed increase in chromosome-type aberrations may have been due to long-term occupational exposure to cytostatic agents.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Accuracy of computerized radiation treatment planning.

The accuracy of computerized dose planning depends essentially on the computer program. The quickest and simplest way to assess the accuracy of a commercial program is to compare the results of the computer calculations with measured values. The present report deals with the accuracy of the RADPLAN dose planning program in different situations easy to control. The test methods are also applicable to other corresponding systems.

Computers↗
PubMed1976

Immunosuppressive effect of radiotherapy on patients with lung cancer.

The immunoglobulins A, E, G and M of 25 patients with lung cancer were determined (by radial immunodiffusion) before, during and after radiotherapy. No significant change in any immunoglobulin were noticed overall. In the group with a poor prognosis (survival less than 12 months; 15 patients), there was a significant decrease of IgA and IgM one month after the irradiation. In the group of patients with pulmonary infection (14 patients), the level of IgA, IgG and IgM were lower than in the group without infection throughout the examination period. Cellular immunity measured by the PPD skin test, showed no significant differences between the groups by survival.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

The incidence and treatment of intestinal and urological complications after combined radiotherapy for uterine carcinomas.

OPNE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR PATIENTS WITH GYNECOLOGICAL CARCINOMAS (104 ca colli uteri, 60 cacorporis uteri) were examined retrospectively two to seven years after combined internal-external radiotherapy. Thirty-seven per cent of the patients displayed mild intestinal symptoms during the therapy. The frequency of symptoms remained unchanged after the termination of therapy, though they tended to become more severe. Twenty-five per cent of the patients had urological symptoms during the therapy. Their rate remained the same during the arly follow-up, but increased subsequently, because the frequencies of infections and hematuria had increased. Fourteen patients developed a complication requiring operative treatment five to fifty-seven months after the discontinuation of therapy. Three of them had both intestinal and urological complications, while six had only urological complications. The intestinal complications were repaired with smallgut resections and colostomies, while the urological complications (ureteral strictures) were repaired with different diversion operations with good operative results. Thirteen of the patients with serious complications are alive. One patient had died of profuse rectovaginal bleeding. The mean radiation doses employed were not different in the group with serious complications. Evleven of the patients with complications suffered from different concurrent diseases, which may have diminished their radiation tolerance. The radiotherapy of gynecological malignancies ought to be preformed individually noticing the intestinal reactions during the therapy and the concurrent disease. The value of renography in early detection of urinary tract complications is stressed.

Female↗
PubMed1975

A double-blind clinical study on long-term use of oxyphenbutazone and tolfenamic acid in connection with telecobalt therapy.

Thirty-one patients who suffered from various cancers in the pelvic region were treated in a double-blind clinical long-term study either with placebo, N-(2-methyl-3-chlorophenyl)-anthranilic acid (tolfenamic acid, Clotam) or oxyphenbutazone in order to diminish the local reactions after telecobalt therapy. The results were difficult to judge and no clear differences were seen between the groups. The side-effects were slight and unspecific, except gastrointestinal distresses, which occurred with both tolfenamic acid and oxyphenbutazone, but were more severe with the latter. No significant changes were seen in the blood counts, liver or kidney function tests with tolfenamic acid. In the oxyphenbutazone group S-ALAT, S-AFOS and direct bilirubin were slightly elevated. Blood in feces was more frequent in the drug-treated than in the placebo group. In the light of the present and earlier studies tolfenamic acid appears to cause less side-effects than oxyphenbutazone in prolonged treatment.

Adult↗