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Biomedical subjects

S Gore

Publications and source records attributed to S Gore.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Systemic cytokine administration alters the histology of the eruption of lymphocyte recovery.

The eruption of lymphocyte recovery occurs after marrow ablative antineoplastic chemotherapy, with the earliest reappearance of lymphocytes in the peripheral circulation. The typical histopathologic findings are not specific, consisting of a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the upper dermis with mild overlying epidermal changes. Since the initial report, 21 additional biopsy specimens from eruptions of lymphocyte recovery were obtained at our institution. Of these specimens, 18 displayed the expected findings while 3 specimens contained a relatively heavy lymphocytic infiltrate with nuclear pleomorphism and hyperchromasia. The majority of lymphocytes from the heavily inflamed tissues expressed CD3 and CD4; rare CD8+ cells were observed. The cells with large irregular nuclear contours displayed an "activated" phenotype, consisting of CD30, HLA-DR, and CD25, accounting for roughly 50% of the total infiltrate. The three patients from whom these specimens were obtained had received human recombinant cytokines in pharmacologic doses (2 granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, 1 interleukin-3). Three patients in this series also received human recombinant cytokines, but developed eruptions with the typical scant infiltrate of small lymphocytes. These findings extend the histologic spectrum of the eruption of lymphocyte recovery and suggest that the administration of human recombinant cytokines prior to marrow recovery may alter the appearance and phenotype of lymphocytes migrating into the skin.

Adult↗

Protective processes in adolescence: matching stressors with social resources.

Working within the "matching theory" of social supports, this research focuses on depressed mood and examines how resilience to stress during adolescence is shaped by developmental constraints on the use of support for coping with problems in the family, peer, and personal arenas. The sample is 1,036 adolescents systematically drawn from 3 community high schools in the Boston area. Predictions center on the efficacy of peer and family supports, and two intraindividual protective factors: sense of mastery and sense of social integration. Findings indicate little evidence of cross-domain stress buffering (where family support buffers the effects of peer stress on mood, and vice versa), suggesting that family and peer domains are more distinct during this stage of development. Protective effects for friendship stresses are evidenced, but boys are more able than girls to marshal their personal and support resources in managing friendship problems. Discussion centers on matching theory and the role of development in shaping coping responses to stress.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Depression and the social developmental context of adolescence.

This article examines the interrelations of personal and social factors in fostering longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms, using 3 waves of data from high school students in the Boston area. Previously depressed and nondepressed youths differed markedly in their emotional responsiveness to family and friend relations. Chronically depressed youths were unresponsive to family problems, but were highly reactive to peer relations. Among previously asymptomatic youths, family relations exerted greater effects on depressed mood than relations with peers. Further analyses suggest a process through which chronic family turmoil shapes long-term mental health while also intensifying the distancing from family and investment in peer relationships that typically occurs in adolescence. Findings illustrate the importance of modeling transactions between personal and environmental factors in research on adolescent mental health and development.

Adolescent↗

Regression of columnar lined (Barrett's) oesophagus with continuous omeprazole therapy.

Twenty-three adult patients with a columnar lined (Barrett's) oesophagus are being treated with long-term omeprazole, 40 mg daily. Twelve had never undergone anti-reflux surgery (Group 1), the other eleven having previously had insertion of an Angelchik anti-reflux prosthesis (Group 2). Endoscopy was carried out six months before, immediately before and six months, one year and two years into treatment. Multiple and standardized biopsies were taken at each endoscopy. Results from the two groups were similar. During the 6-month run-in period there was a statistically non-significant increase in the linear extent of the columnar mucosa, but this showed a progressive, statistically significant decrease during the two years of treatment. Other evidence for regression of the Barrett's mucosa includes the emergence of large numbers of macroscopic squamous islands within the abnormal mucosa, an increase in the number of microscopic squamous islands, and microscopic squamous encroachment of the abnormal mucosa at the squamo-columnar junction. Histological assessment showed a reduction in the proportion of sulphomucin-rich intestinal metaplasia, but this only achieved statistical significance in Group 1. The results substantiate the importance of acid in the pathogenesis of Barrett's oesophagus. Omeprazole may have a therapeutic role in bringing about regression of the metaplastic epithelium.

Adult↗

Prospective evaluation of unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation. The International Marrow Unrelated Search and Transplant (IMUST) Study.

The International Marrow Unrelated Search and Transplant (IMUST) Study has prospectively assessed outcome of unrelated donor BMT (UD-BMT) in comparison with a matched cohort of patients treated by HLA-identical sibling BMT (ID-BMT). We report an interim analysis of the first 165 UD-BMT and 368 ID-BMT. Eighty-two percent of UD-BMT pairs were matched by serology for HLA-A, B and DR, 10% were less well matched and HLA matching data was incomplete in 8%. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probability of survival until day 400 was 0.42 (95% confidence limits 0.33-0.51) after UD-BMT and 0.62 (0.56-0.68) after ID-BMT (p = < 0.001). Probability of engraftment by day 100 was 0.90 (0.85-0.95) and 0.95-0.99) after UD-BMT and ID-BMT, respectively (p = < 0.001). Cumulative probability of acute GVHD by day 100 was 0.52 (0.45-0.60) and 0.42 (0.37-0.47) after UD-BMT and ID-BMT, respectively (p = 0.009). After UD-BMT, 52% of patients with early disease survived until day 400 (40-64%) and 27% (14-40%) with advanced disease (p = < 0.001). Multifactorial analysis of survival showed success was related to the centre's experience of UD-BMT and this effect was modified by conditioning protocol. Increased probability of survival after UD-BMT in centres with most experience of the procedure is novel finding. We conclude UD-BMT is a more difficult procedure than ID-BMT but results are acceptable in patients with early disease and when UD-BMT is carried out in experienced centres.

Acute Disease↗

Quality of life measures in health care. I: Applications and issues in assessment.

Many clinicians remain unsure of the relevance of measuring quality of life to their clinical practice. In health economics quality of life measures have become the standard means of assessing the results of health care interventions and, more controversially, the means of prioritising funding; but they have many other applications. This article--the first of three on measuring quality of life--reviews the instruments available and their application in screening programmes, audit, health care research, and clinical trials. Using the appropriate instrument is essential if outcome measures are to be valid and clinically meaningful.

Clinical Protocols↗

Endoscopic crescentic fold disease of the sigmoid colon: the clinical and histopathological spectrum of a distinctive endoscopic appearance.

In this paper we describe an endoscopic appearance of the sigmoid colon characterised by mucosal swelling, erythema and haemorrhage strictly localised to the crescentic mucosal folds. In a 5-year period these changes were seen in 34 (1.42%) of 2380 colonoscopies and fibreoptic sigmoidoscopies. The majority of patients were middle-aged or elderly. Diverticular disease was present in most (82%) but the abnormalities were confined to the crescentic mucosal folds with sparing of the diverticular orifices. The majority of patients presented with a history of bleeding per anum. Histologically there was a spectrum of changes varying from minor vascular congestion to florid active inflammatory disease with crypt architectural abnormalities mimicking ulcerative colitis, but rectal biopsies were invariably normal. Three patients later progressed to typical distal ulcerative colitis and two other patients presenting to us with endoscopic crescentic fold disease had a previous histologically documented history of distal ulcerative colitis. In three patients the histological features were of mucosal prolapse. About half the patients required some form of therapy to control their symptoms. Steroids and/or sulphasalazine were of value although two patients subsequently underwent sigmoid resection, one to control bleeding and the second for a diverticulosis-associated stricture. Whilst endoscopic crescentic fold disease represents a specific endoscopic appearance the clinical and histological features indicate a wide spectrum of disease.

Adult↗

Social structure, life stress and depressive symptoms in a high school-aged population.

Data from a randomly selected sample of 1,208 high school-aged adolescents were used to examine the means through which life stress is associated with depressive symptoms. Analyses focus on family structure, socioeconomic status, and gender as background risks which directly and indirectly influence symptoms, as well as vulnerability contexts that shape differential responsiveness to stressful experiences. Findings indicate (1) significant gender differences in aspects of stress exposure and in additive models of stress effects, but stresses and supports do not explain the significant gender difference in depressive symptoms; (2) girls in low education backgrounds have the highest levels of depressive symptoms; (3) there are no gender differences in vulnerability to stress; (4) children in single-parent families have higher symptom levels, effects explained by economic conditions and stress exposure--they are no more vulnerable than others to the depressing effects of these stresses; and (5) both boys and girls in low SES backgrounds are more vulnerable to a wide range of stresses and support deficits.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Differences in the intracellular processing of the radiolabel following the uptake of iodine-125- and technetium-99m-neogalactosyl albumin by the isolated perfused rat liver.

Neogalactosyl albumin (NGA) is a synthetic ligand to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (hepatic binding protein), which has been proposed as a useful receptor binding radiopharmaceutical for the noninvasive assessment of liver function. We have compared the uptake and intracellular processing of iodine-125- (125I) and technetium-99m- (99mTc) NGA following its administration as a 1-min pulse (147 pmol) to the isolated perfused rat liver. Approximately 40% of a pulse of either 125I- or 99mTc-NGA were taken up first pass by the liver. Of the 125I taken up by the liver, 82% was released after 15-20 min at the sinusoidal pole of the hepatocyte, predominantly as small molecular weight metabolites. A further 8% of the 125I-associated radioactivity was secreted as intact NGA into bile by the non-lysosomal (direct) pathway while 6% remained in the liver 1 hr after the pulse. In contrast, of the 99mTc taken up by the liver, only 4% reappeared in the perfusate while 40% was secreted into bile by the lysosomal (indirect) pathway and 55% remained in the liver 1 hr after the pulse. Since labeled metabolites of 99mTc-NGA do not appear in plasma, this permits kinetic modeling with 99mTc-NGA without correction for labeled metabolites. Thus, 99mTc-NGA is an excellent candidate as a receptor-binding radiopharmaceutical.

Albumins↗

Circulating immune complexes correlate with remission duration in acute myeloid leukemia.

It has been suggested that circulating immune complexes (CIC) favor tumor progression by suppressing the host's immune response to malignant cells via blocking factors to cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We prospectively measured CIC by the C1q binding assay in 100 untreated patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) de novo. The median CIC level was 135, the range 0-1000, and the mean +/- standard error (SE) 175 +/- 18 micrograms/ml. Sixty-eight patients, termed abnormal, had C1q binding levels greater than 2SE above the mean of the normal population (61 +/- 15 micrograms/ml). There were no significant differences between the 32 patients with normal CIC and the 68 with abnormally elevated CIC in any pretreatment characteristic: gender, age, white blood cell count (WBC), platelets, leukemia cell mass, LDH, immunoglobulins, or fibrinogen. Abnormal CIC levels did not correlate with FAB morphology, the presence of a clonal chromosomal abnormality (76% of all patients), or with specific cytogenetic subgroups, although nine of 11 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and t(15;17) had abnormal CIC. There were no significant differences in complete remission (CR) rates after the first chemotherapy course (45 vs 40% for normal vs abnormal CIC) or after all courses of treatment (55 vs 65%). Survival from diagnosis was not significantly different for the normal and abnormal groups (9.3 vs 5.8 months, p = 0.24), but survival after achieving a CR was markedly longer for those with normal pretreatment CIC (33.8 vs 11.7 months, p = 0.0068). Pretreatment CIC strongly correlated with remission duration for the 59 patients who achieved CR (16.5 months for 17 normal patients vs 6.9 months for 42 abnormal patients, p = 0.0002). This was independent of age, WBC, leukemia cell mass, or FAB morphology. Within the lowest C1q quartile (less than 60 micrograms/ml), 43% of the patients have not relapsed with a minimum follow-up of 18 months compared to only 6-14% for the three higher quartiles. We conclude that host immunity as assessed by CIC levels has little effect on the initial response to therapy but may play a role in maintaining remission in AML.

Adolescent↗

Colonic transit in man is slowed by ondansetron (GR38032F), a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (type 3) antagonist.

Ondansetron (GR38032F) is a selective antagonist of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) type 3 receptors. This randomized, double-blind, cross-over study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the effect of ondansetron with placebo on gastrointestinal transit in 10 healthy male volunteers. There were no significant differences between the effects of placebo and ondansetron on gastric emptying or mouth-to-caecum transit time. However, significant differences in mean whole-gut transit time were observed, that is 54.8 h with ondansetron and 32.1 h with placebo. Therefore, 5-HT3 receptors may be involved in the regulation of colonic transit and ondansetron may prove useful as an anti-diarrhoeal agent.

Adult↗

Flow cytometric identification of intracellular antigens: detection of minimal residual leukemia.

Recent advances in preparation of cells for flow cytometric analysis have enabled the sensitive detection of intracellular antigens. We have examined the utility of two color flow cytometry for the detection of minimal residual T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) using a combination of expression of the pan-T cell marker CD5 and intranuclear terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). CD5+TdT+ cells can be sensitively detected above background in remission bone marrows (0.03% sensitivity). Possible extension of this technique to the detection of minimal residual B-lineage ALL, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and non-hematologic malignancies is discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Cross-correlation of cyclosporine concentrations and biochemical measures of kidney and liver function in heart and heart-lung transplant recipients.

Cross-correlation of cyclosporine concentrations with results of biochemical tests of renal and liver function, measured during the first three months post-operatively, was carried out retrospectively in 24 heart and eight heart-lung transplant recipients to assess the temporal relationship between cyclosporine treatment and the development of possible toxic side-effects. We found a statistically significant negative correlation (95% confidence interval of the mean correlation coefficient did not overlap zero) between the five-day mean concentration of cyclosporine in whole blood (but not plasma) as measured with nonselective (NSRIA) and selective radioimmunoassays (SRIA) and the mean reciprocal creatinine concentration measured in the subsequent five days. In 15 of 32 (47%) patients the negative correlation coefficient exceeded 0.7 (high susceptibility), whereas in 11 of 32 (34%) it was between 0.5 and 0.7 (medium susceptibility), and in only six of 32 (19%) was it less than 0.3 (low susceptibility). We found no consistent correlations between cyclosporine measurements and results of other renal-function tests or liver-function tests. This suggests that therapeutic doses of the drug are not hepatotoxic in most patients. There was, however, a significantly correlated decrease in the NSRIA/SRIA ratio and in serum bilirubin concentration with time post-operatively, reflecting improvement in hepatic function and clearance of the cyclosporine metabolites that are detected by NSRIA. Assays of cyclosporine in whole blood, but not in plasma, are of value in anticipating changes in renal function after heart and heart-lung transplantation.

Biomarkers↗

Campath-1M--prophylactic use after kidney transplantation. A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Campath-1M is a rat monoclonal IgM antibody that binds human complement and recognizes virtually all peripheral human mononuclear cells. It is known to be effective in T cell depletion of bone marrow grafts, and encouraging results were obtained in a pilot study in which the antibody was used in prevention and treatment of rejection of kidney, pancreas, and liver allografts. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, Campath-1M has been evaluated as a prophylactic agent following renal allografting. It is shown that patients who received a 10-day course of the antibody immediately postoperatively, in addition to standard therapy with high-dose cyclosporine (17 mg/kg), experienced a significantly lower incidence of early acute cellular rejection than control patients who received cyclosporine alone. There was no evidence of "rebound" rejection following the end of antibody treatment to suggest that rejection had merely been delayed. However, patients who received this additional immunosuppression experienced a significantly higher incidence of serious infections than controls, this negating any benefit from the treatment in terms of graft survival. Thus, a monoclonal antibody of broad specificity directed against lymphocytes may be effective as a prophylactic agent after organ transplantation but its use should be accompanied by a reduction in other immunosuppressive drugs.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗