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Biomedical subjects

P Vermeire

Publications and source records attributed to P Vermeire.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunoreactivity for P-170 glycoprotein in malignant mesothelioma and in non-neoplastic mesothelium of the pleura using the murine monoclonal antibody JSB-1.

The results of an immunohistochemical study of P-170 glycoprotein immunoreactivity in human non-neoplastic mesothelium (35 cases) and in malignant mesothelioma (33 cases) using the murine monoclonal antibody JSB-1 are reported. The majority of malignant mesothelioma cases exhibited cytoplasmic and membrane immunoreactivity in neoplastic cells. These findings are highly significant when compared with the absence of immunoreactivity in normal mesothelium.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

Chronic bronchitis: definition (or redefinition?).

Although a quite precise clinical definition was given to the term 'chronic bronchitis' in the early sixties, the terminology related to nonasthmatic, nonemphysematous obstructive airway disease remains a continuous source of confusion, as indicated by a recent international survey. Although histological studies point to the presence of widespread bronchial inflammation in this condition, preference should be given to simple and descriptive terminology in which the presence of airflow limitation is clearly and predominantly indicated, since it mostly affects prognosis. There would be no need to redefine 'chronic bronchitis', but simply replacing it by 'chronic mucus hypersecretion', to which it actually refers, would be the preferred solution.

Bronchitis

Calculation of half-life of carcinoembryonic antigen after lung tumour resection: a case report.

Since little is known about carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) half-life in humans, we followed changes in CEA levels after curative resection of a small bronchial adenocarcinoma in a 54 yr old man with an unusually high preoperative serum CEA level of 1,199 ng.ml-1. Serum CEA followed a four phase curve with an initial increase, attributed to release of CEA from the tumour, a rapid fall during four days (CEA half-life 3.2 days), a slower exponential decay to normal levels during almost three months (CEA half-life 11 days) and eventually maintenance of normal levels for 14 months. These results are consistent with data from animal experiments and a single report on CEA half-life in humans, but CEA half-life seems longer in man than in animals. This observation also suggests that a very high serum CEA level should not in itself preclude curative surgical resection of a primary bronchogenic carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar

Disseminated lung cancer or extragonadal germ cell tumour?

Two patients are reported in whom an initial diagnosis of disseminated non small cell bronchogenic carcinoma was subsequently changed into a final diagnosis of extragonadal germ cell tumour. The clinical importance of the differential diagnosis between these two malignancies is highlighted and the management of extragonadal germ cell tumours is discussed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Two years treatment with almitrine bismesylate in patients with hypoxic chronic obstructive airways disease.

Eighty nine patients with hypoxic chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) were enrolled into the 1 year Vectarion International Multicentre Study-VIMS in 4 centres, Sheffield (UK), and Antwerp, Liege and Namur (Belgium). At the end of the year the remainder were invited to continue taking placebo or almitrine bismesylate (100-200 mg daily) in the same double blind manner for a further 12 months. In the almitrine treated patients mean arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) at the end of the treatment period improved from 7.5 (0.5) kPa to 8.2 (1.3) kPa (p less than 0.01) and arterial carbon dioxide tension (Paco2) fell from 6.1 (0.8) kPa to 5.8 (0.9) kPa (p less than 0.01). Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and measurements of breathlessness were unchanged. In the placebo treated group changes in the above variables were not significant. Twenty nine patients withdrew from the almitrine group with seven deaths and six cases of peripheral neuropathy, and 22 patients withdrew from the placebo group with six deaths and two cases of peripheral neuropathy. Death rates between the groups were not significantly different. In conclusion, 2 yrs of almitrine treatment (100-200 mg daily) leads to a persistent slight improvement in PaO2 and PaCO2 but no benefit in survival was demonstrated. Patients in this study had a high incidence of drug related side-effects. Lower dose schedules should be investigated.

Almitrine

Spherocytosis and pulmonary hypertension coincidental occurrence or causal relationship?

A report is given on a 59 yr old man with hereditary spherocytosis and progressive shortness of breath on exertion, due to severe pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. An open lung biopsy was performed in order to exclude all known aetiologies of secondary pulmonary hypertension. Pathological examination revealed in situ thrombosis and asymmetric fibromuscular hyperplasia of small- and medium-sized pulmonary arteries. Both primary pulmonary hypertension and hereditary spherocytosis have a low incidence in the general population and their simultaneous occurrence has not been reported previously; the possibility that this was due to a causal relationship and not to coincidence cannot be ruled out, in view of some similarities with pulmonary hypertension complicating sickle cell anaemia.

Humans

Precise diagnosis of airflow obstruction - does it matter for treatment? An international questionnaire survey and its implications.

As emphasised by the recent international questionnaire survey, the absence of an agreed terminology in chronic non-specific lung diseases leads to much confusion and undoubtedly impairs communication between physicians. In each patient within the scope of CNSLD, the presence and combination of a number of basic features should be identified. The term bronchial asthma should be used when a number of features are present which are sufficiently characteristic to differentiate it from other forms of permanent airway obstruction. In non-asthmatic obstructive disease the term 'COLD' (or COPD), followed by some qualifying labels, seems preferable. Use of the term 'chronic bronchitis' should be restricted to refer as 'chronic mucus hypersecretion' or be abandoned.

Data Collection

Liquid crystal thermography: quantitative studies of abnormalities in carpal tunnel syndrome.

We performed liquid crystal thermography (LCT) in 38 normal hands and in 23 hands with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) documented by nerve conduction studies (NCS). Two of the authors unaware of the clinical situation read the 2 palmar thermograms taken at a 5-minute interval. They determined the absolute temperatures of the tip of digit 1 (D1), D2, D3, D4, D5, and of the thenar and hypothenar eminences. We calculated the temperature differences (absolute values throughout) between any 2 of these 7 sites, and computed the median index (MI = [D1 - D2] + [D1 - D3] + [D2 - D3]). Comparison of the control and CTS groups revealed greater temperature differences in CTS between D1 - D3, D1 - D4, D3 - D5, D4 - D5, and MI. There was a marked overlap between the 2 groups. Comparison of individual CTS hands with controls revealed definite thermographic abnormalities in 0 of 9 hands with mild NCS abnormalities, and in 7 of 14 hands with marked NCS abnormalities. These findings indicate that the sensitivity of LCT in CTS is low compared with NCS, and previous favorable reports concerning thermography in CTS may have been due to lack of control series or absence of quantitation.

Adult

Diagnostic labels applied to model case histories of chronic airflow obstruction. Responses to a questionnaire in 11 North American and Western European countries.

In Canada, USA and 9 Western European Countries, 121 respiratory physicians responded to an English language questionnaire asking them to state how they would investigate, treat and label four model patients, chosen to represent well-recognized patterns of clinical features of chronic airflow obstruction. Selection of further investigations appeared to be determined more by the probable diagnostic label than by the need to define selected characteristics in the whole range of such patients. Differences in recommended treatment between countries were less than others have reported for the treatment of asthma. Analysis of the diagnostic labels showed: the classic terms asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema still predominated in clinical practice and were considered to be better defined entities than any of the many terms introduced to describe chronic airflow obstruction in the last 30 yrs; the term chronic bronchitis was a source of confusion unless qualified to indicate presence or absence of obstruction; the use of combination terms such as chronic asthmatic bronchitis and chronic obstructive bronchitis showed large differences between countries; there were few differences related to national language. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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