PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Metz

Publications and source records attributed to R Metz.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha on a human renal cell carcinoma xenotransplanted into nude mice: comparison of intravenous and intraperitoneal injection.

The effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) on tumor growth and tumor cell proliferation of a human renal cell carcinoma transplanted into nude mice as well as on the body weight of the tumor-bearing animals has been studied. Due to differences of the effect of TNF-alpha after intravenous and intraperitoneal injection reported in the literature the influence of the two routes of application was presently studied. There was no effect on tumor growth with either route of application. Only the mode of growth showed a tendency to an increased rate of growth at the beginning of the treatment and a following increased growth deceleration. A slight change of the 3H-thymidine labeling index and the mitotic index was observed only after intraperitoneal injection of TNF-alpha indicative of a more cytostatic than cytotoxic effect of the drug. This is supported by the lack of an increase of necrotic cells. Although a rather high dose of TNF-alpha was applied, no effect on the body weight of the animals, i.e. no toxic effect of the treatment, has been found.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Carotid endarterectomy in octogenarians with symptomatic high-grade internal carotid artery stenosis: long-term clinical and duplex follow-up.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and duplex outcome after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in recently symptomatic patients aged 80 years or older. Information was assembled from a prospective data collection of all CEAs performed from January 1986 to December 1999. Included were all patients with recently symptomatic carotid artery stenosis who were aged 80 years or older at time of operation. Thirty-two patients, with a mean age of 82 years, were included. Outcome events were stroke, death, and restenosis (more than 50% diameter reduction) during routine duplex scan follow-up. Conventional surgical technique was used regarding anesthesia and selective shunting or patching. None of the operated-on patients suffered a stroke at any time during follow-up. One patient (3.1%) died in the early postoperative phase (<30 days). An additional 8 patients died during follow-up. None of these deaths were of cerebrovascular origin. Survival at 3 years was 73% (life table analysis). Routine duplex scan follow-up showed 2 patients with a diameter reduction of more than 50%, both 3 months after CEA. Restenosis rate on duplex scan was 7.4% after 1 year. The authors conclude that there seems to be no reason to deny the very elderly the benefits of CEA. Stroke-free survival and survival rates show that carotid surgery is a safe procedure in patients aged 80 and over who are in apparently good health. These findings are supported by a low incidence of restenosis on duplex scan follow-up, indicating a durable repair.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Flocculation and loss of potency of human NPH insulin.

In late 1986, several vials of Humulin N (NPH human insulin, recombinant DNA origin) came to our attention because of a clumped, white coating on the inside of the vials. To determine the frequency of this phenomenon, we surveyed 100 consecutive patients who used Humulin N. Ten patients had encountered 21 vials of flocculated insulin in the previous 12 mo, reflecting an incidence of 1 per 72 vials. Insulin drawn from affected vials was markedly reduced in potency: 20.9 +/- 3.4 U/ml vs. the labeled potency of 100 U/ml. Several patients reporting flocculated insulin, including one hospitalized with ketoacidosis, experienced unusual and unexplained elevation in blood glucose concentration for several days before flocculation was observed. Patients who use NPH human insulin should be aware of this phenomenon and carefully inspect their vials for evidence of insulin precipitation before each injection.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mitoxantrone combined with vincristine, cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil for advanced breast cancer. A study of short-term response rate.

50 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with the combination of Mitoxantrone 10mg/m2 IV day 2, 5-Fluorouracil 400mg/m2 IV and Cyclophosphamide 300mg/m2 IV day 3, 4, 5, 6 of each monthly cycle. 49 patients are evaluable for toxicity and 47 for efficacy after three months of treatment. Hematologic toxicity was substantial and dose-limiting, with one toxic death early in the trial. Other toxicities were moderate and manageable in this short-term study. The response rate after three cycles was 53% +/- 14% with 4 complete remissions, 21 partial remissions, 16 stable disease and 6 progressions. Using the fixed response rate hypothesis of Gehan generalised by Lee and Wesley, with an expected response rate of 60% consistent with the reported response rate of advanced breast cancer to Adriamycin containing regimens, we conclude that the combination studied is not less efficient for the induction of remissions in advanced breast cancer than comparable combinations with Adriamycin. As there is now substantial experimental and clinical evidence of reduced toxicity, mainly on the cardiac muscle, of Mitoxantrone as compared to Adriamycin, we feel that the routine substitution of the latter by the former in chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer is justifiable.

Adult↗