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Biomedical subjects

S Hilton

Publications and source records attributed to S Hilton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Polypoid basal cell carcinoma].

Basal cell carcinoma, the most common malignant neoplasm of the skin, has many clinical and histologic variants. We report about a 58-year-old patient with a rarely described, polypoid variant of this tumor. Polypoid basal cell carcinoma differs clinically from other variants by being exophytic and pedunculated and, histologically, the tumor aggregations are restricted only to the polypoid part.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗
PubMed2004

[Large B-cell lymphoma of the lower leg].

Primary cutaneous B cell lymphomas are rare malignant lymphoproliferative disorders of the skin. The prognosis is dependent on the clinical and histologic subtype; generally, these disorders show an indolent clinical course. We describe a 80-year-old woman with a large cutaneous B cell lymphoma of the lower leg. In contrast to other variants of cutaneous B cell lymphomas, this entity is characterized by an aggressive clinical course with an unfavorable prognosis. The mean survival rate is approximately 50%. This should be taken into account in the choice of treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Estimation of fruit and vegetable intake using a two-item dietary questionnaire: a potential tool for primary health care workers.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: High fruit and vegetable intake is associated with health benefits for cancer and cardiovascular disease. An increase is therefore integral in recommendations for the prevention of chronic disease. However, measuring intake requires either extensive dietary assessment or the measurement of specific bio-markers which is neither cheap nor feasible for the routine assessment of an individual's diet in a community or primary care setting. Within the context of a study evaluating a dietary counselling programme to increase fruit and vegetable intake our aim was to assess the use of a simple tool to estimate fruit and vegetable intake. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied associations between bio-markers [plasma ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol 24-hour urinary potassium excretion] and a two-item fruit and vegetable consumption questionnaire in 271 subjects (105 men and 166 women), aged 18 to 70 years. After controlling for age, sex, vitamin supplement use, smoking and body mass, those reporting a daily intake of > or = 5 portions of fruit and vegetables had higher potassium excretion (difference 15.6 [95% confidence interval: 6.2 to 25.0] mmol/24 h), urinary potassium/creatinine ratio (1.2 [0.5 to 2.0]) and plasma vitamin C (10.0 [-0.9 to 20.8] mumol/L) than those reporting < or = 2.5 portions per day. beta-carotene (p = 0.04), vitamin C (p = 0.01) and potassium excretion (p < 0.001) were associated with fruit rather than vegetable intake. The two-item questionnaire had high specificity; over 3/4 of participants who reported low intake also had bio-markers below the upper third of the distribution. CONCLUSION: Self report of fruit and vegetable intake through a simple questionnaire is confirmed by bio-markers for those eating less than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Although the tool is amenable to improvements for the detection of vegetable portions, it may prove useful for monitoring dietary preventive approaches in primary care without the use of invasive and costly biochemical measurements.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Renal mass within a horseshoe kidney: preoperative evaluation with three-dimensional helical computed tomography.

Tumors arising within a horseshoe kidney are uncommon and may be difficult to characterize. We report a case of transitional cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney. Although several conventional imaging techniques were used to define the mass, each provided limited information. Recent advances in computer technology permit radiologic imaging to provide detailed examination of the horseshoe kidney with a single study. We describe the use of three-dimensional multislice helical computed tomography as the preferred modality to clarify the suspected neoplasm, vasculature, and collecting system of a horseshoe kidney. High-quality anatomic characterization will certainly enhance the opportunity for nephron-sparing surgery within this population.

Carcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed2001

Radiographic versus pathologic size of renal tumors: implications for partial nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the radiographic size with the pathologic size of renal tumors to determine whether these two measurements vary significantly and to evaluate whether any differences in tumor size could have an impact on the decisions regarding partial nephrectomy. METHODS: In 87 renal tumors excised by partial nephrectomy, the maximum transaxial tumor size on computed tomography (CT) was compared with its corresponding pathologic transverse size. Tumors were locally excised after vascular occlusion and hypothermia. The average size of the tumors selected for partial nephrectomy by preoperative CT scan was 3.4 cm (range 1.9 to 9.3). The difference between the CT size and pathologic size was correlated with the histologic type of the renal tumors. RESULTS: Of the 87 tumors, 52 (60%) were classified as clear cell carcinoma and 35 (40%) as other histologic types (papillary, chromophobe, oncocytoma, and angiomyolipoma). Clear cell carcinomas decreased an average of 0.97 cm versus 0.39 cm for the other tumor types. Of 62 tumors greater than 3 cm on CT, 43 averaged 0.87 cm smaller at pathologic evaluation (36 clear cell and 7 other types) and 19 showed no significant (less than 0.5 cm) decrease in size (2 clear cell and 17 other histologic types). Of 30 tumors greater than 4 cm on CT, 22 clear cell carcinomas shrank more than 1 cm and 8 tumors displaying other histologic features showed no decrease in size. CONCLUSIONS: For renal tumors measuring greater than 4 cm, a decrease in tumor size may help facilitate partial nephrectomy, especially for clear cell carcinomas that do not extensively involve major vascular structures or the collecting system.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed2001

General practice survey of the management of chickenpox: appropriate targeting of antiviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: A working party of specialists and GPs recently published their consensus on recommended treatments for chickenpox. These are the closest to recommended guidelines available in the UK. They offer a rational basis for targeting those groups most at risk of complications with antiviral treatment. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare current practice by GPs in the management of chickenpox, particularly in targeting of antiviral therapy, with the working party recommendations. METHOD: A questionnaire survey was conducted of all GP principals within a single London Health Authority Responses to nine chickenpox clinical scenarios were compared with the working party recommendations. RESULTS: The response rate was (69.2%) 227/328. In five of the nine scenarios, fewer than 70% of GPs selected the correct response according to the recommendations. There was both underuse and overuse of antivirals according to the recommendations, with only 42% (96/227) advising oral antivirals or referral for an asthmatic treated with oral steroids 1 month previously, and 24% (53/221) advising oral antivirals 3 days after the chickenpox rash appeared. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest some high risk groups may be being undertreated with oral antivirals and there may be considerable use of oral antivirals in situations where they are of no proven benefit.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The impact of behavioral counseling on stage of change in fat intake, physical activity, and cigarette smoking in adults at increased risk of coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed stages of change in fat intake, physical activity, and cigarette smoking during a randomized controlled trial of behavioral counseling. METHODS: Twenty general practices (primary health care centers) were randomized to lifestyle counseling by behavioral methods or to usual health promotion. A total of 883 patients were selected for the presence of 1 or more of the following risk factors: cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, or a combination of a high body mass index and low physical activity. Stage of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action/maintenance) was assessed at baseline and after 4 and 12 months. RESULTS: The odds of moving to action/maintenance for behavioral intervention vs control patients at 4 months were 2.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30, 3.56) for fat reduction, 1.89 (95% CI = 1.07, 3.36) for increased physical activity, and 1.77 (95% CI = 0.76, 4.14) for smoking cessation. The likelihood of achieving action/maintenance was related to baseline stage for all 3 behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Brief behavioral counseling based on advice matched to stage of readiness for change may be valuable in encouraging healthy lifestyles among patients in primary care at raised risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of calibration methods for size estimation in the pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Limited data are available on the accuracy of various calibration methods used to estimate the size of cardiovascular structures during interventional pediatric cardiac catheterizations. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in an experimental model, several of these commonly used calibration methods. Thoracic box models were constructed in 4 sizes to simulate average chest sizes of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. Four anatomic positions were studied: aortic valve in posteroanterior projection, pulmonary valve in lateral projection, and isthmus in posteroanterior and lateral projections. The following calibration methods were examined: (1) a 5Fr pigtail catheter or a 1-cm radio-opaque marker catheter, placed at the level of the anatomic structure, (2) a body surface marker in multiple positions, and (3) a 1 x 1-cm radio-opaque rectilinear grid placed either at the center of the thorax or in an anatomic position. Three independent observers made size estimations. The most accurate method for size estimation, in all anatomic positions and for all box sizes, was the 1-cm radio-opaque marker catheter (mean error </=4%). The surface marker was moderately accurate in the smallest box (mean error 3% to 6%), but had a mean error as high as 33% in the adult-sized box. The 5Fr pigtail angiographic catheter overestimated the size of the structure by 3% to 13% (mean 7%). Intra- and interobserver differences in size estimations were not statistically significant. Among the size calibration methods used during pediatric cardiac catheterizations, catheters with radio-opaque markers within the structure of interest were the most accurate. The use of surface markers in larger patients may introduce significant error, risking a potentially inadequate or adverse outcome from the intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and cisplatin for patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract: final report of a phase II trial evaluating two dosing schedules.

BACKGROUND: A combination regimen of ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and cisplatin (ITP), recycled every 4 weeks, was reported in the treatment of previously untreated patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). This study sought to examine ITP at 3-week intervals to assess its feasibility and toxicity, compare the results for different schedules, and assess the impact of prognostic factors and postchemotherapy surgery on outcome. METHODS: ITP (ifosfamide 1.5 g/m(2) daily for 3 days, paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) over 3 hours, and cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) on Day 1) was administered to patients with metastatic or unresectable TCC and was recycled every 4 weeks (for 30 patients) or 3 weeks (for 15 patients). Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was given during each cycle. RESULTS: Thirty of 44 assessable patients (68%; 95% confidence interval, 52-81%) demonstrated a major response (10 complete responses [23%], 20 partial [45%]), with durations of response ranging from 4 to 36 months. At a median follow-up of 28 months, the median survival was 20 months. Eleven patients (25%) were disease free at last follow-up. Overall toxicity for the 15 patients whose treatment was recycled at 3 weeks was similar to that for patients treated every 4 weeks. Hematologic toxicity included anemia, thrombocytopenia, and febrile neutropenia. Febrile neutropenia was observed in 7 patients (16%) and in 3.3% of cycles of therapy. No Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity was observed. Grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity included alopecia, renal insufficiency (11%), and neuropathy (9%). CONCLUSIONS: ITP is an active, well-tolerated regimen for previously untreated patients with TCC of the urothelial tract, resulting in a median survival of 20 months. Treatment can be recycled at 3-week intervals without enhanced toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Whole-Body FDG-PET in Patients with Recurrent Colorectal Carcinoma. A Comparative Study with CT.

Purpose: To assess the clinical accuracy of whole-body 2-[F-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the diagnosis of recurrent colorectal carcinoma in comparison to conventional computed tomography (CT).Materials and methods: Forty patients with suspected recurrent colorectal carcinoma based on either progressive serial carcinoemrbyonic antigen (CEA) serum elevation or positive/equivocal CT findings underwent whole-body FDG-PET. PET results were compared with those of CT and correlated to the final histopathological and clinical findings.Results: A final diagnosis was obtained at 93 sites in 35 patients by histology and in 5 patients by clinical follow up of at least 6 months. Of the 93 sites, 53 were determined to be malignant and 40 benign. FDG-PET evaluated on a 5-point scale (0-4) showed a positive and negative predictive value in the range of 96-98% and 83-93% respectively as the threshold for positivity was moved from 0 through 3. By comparison, CT, also evaluated on a 5-point scale showed a positive and negative predictive value in the range of 75-88% and 67-71% respectively. The area under the fitted receiver operating characteristic curve for PET: A(PET) = 0.96 +/- 0.02 was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that observed for CT: A(CT) = 0.77 +/- 0.06. The distribution of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) showed that all negative lesions have SUVmax below 5.0 whereas 75% of positive lesions were above 5.0 pointing to the fact that disease positivity is more likely in lesions with high SUV values.Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that whole-body FDG-PET is more accurate than conventional CT in the staging of patients with suspected recurrent colorectal carcinoma.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Sociodemographic and psychological predictors of changes in dietary fat consumption in adults with high blood cholesterol following counseling in primary care.

The associations between sociodemographic variables, psychological factors, and changes in dietary fat consumption over 4 months were assessed in a randomized controlled trial of behavioral counseling versus standard advice. Patients were 141 men and 150 women, with an average age of 52.1 years and total cholesterol level of 7.27 mmol/l (278 mg/dl). Smokers, younger patients, and those with greater body mass index had higher fat intake at baseline. Behavioral counseling led to greater reductions in fat intake than did standard advice. Self-efficacy and ratings of benefits of low-fat diets were related to fat consumption at baseline, and changes in these measures were correlated with changes in fat intake. Family support, baseline anticipated regret, and (for the behavioral counseling group only) baseline behavioral intentions predicted reductions in fat intake. The results indicated that psychosocial variables associated cross-sectionally with fat consumption do not necessarily predict change and that factors involved in the process of change and the prediction of change need to be differentiated.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Academic careers in general practice and primary care.

In the past 10 years, significant developments in general practice teaching and research have led to the considerable growth of academic general practice as a discipline. This paper reviews issues relating to these developments, particularly career pathways and training aspects. The need to extend these advances to the broadening arena of primary health care has given further impetus for the development of academic careers. General practice will need to work closely with secondary care, community health, and social services to develop primary health care in its broadest sense, and an evidence base, generated by relevant research and evaluation, must underpin all of this. Structural and funding changes to undergraduate education, postgraduate training and primary care research have created a range of opportunities for general practice clinicians to define career pathways, not formerly available, within multiprofessional and multidisciplinary departments and groups. Education for future general practice and primary care must underpin developments as much as a research base. Relevant masters' degrees and diplomas are now widely available, and extended vocational training and higher professional education will enable general practitioners in their formative years to consider academic opportunities.

Curriculum↗
PubMed2000

Using focus group methods to develop multicultural cancer pain education materials.

Methods to treat cancer pain effectively have existed for more than 2 decades. However, the effective treatment of cancer pain continues to elude many patients with cancer who suffer from poor management. Although efforts to address the problem of cancer pain in the United States have acknowledged the importance of patient education and advocacy, few endeavors, to date, have attended to the special needs of inner-city, low-literacy, or socioeconomically disadvantaged patients from minority cultural groups. From 1992 to 1995, the Boston Cancer Pain Education Program, funded by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, worked collaboratively with community representatives using focus group methods to develop a culturally sensitive, linguistically appropriate cancer pain education booklet in 11 languages and for 11 ethnic groups. The booklet serves as a guide for patients and families and is to be used as a teaching tool by clinicians. The focus group approach was used to develop materials that would empower patients and families to more effectively participate in pain management when working with health care providers from cultures other than their own. Qualitative data analysis methods were used to analyze transcripts of taped focus group sessions. Themes emerged from the data regarding pain and its culturally competent management as well as the group process of booklet development.

Boston↗