PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Sheila E Fisher

Publications and source records attributed to Sheila E Fisher.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantitative morphometric evaluation of critical size experimental bone defects by microcomputed tomography.

Our aim was to show that microcomputed tomography is a useful tool for acquiring high-resolution three-dimensional tomographic images to assess bone healing, the interface with materials, and the biocompatibility of bone substitutes. Acquired images can be used for non-invasive quantitative morphometric analysis of regenerating bone, leaving the option for conventional histology to be an adjunct used at defined intervals. The temporal characterisation of the mineralisation of bone potentially has a critical role in the understanding of the dynamics of mineralisation of healing bone. This has applications both for degradable and bioactive materials and for pharmaceutical products that act on bone. Formal validation of this promising new technique will be a critical part of continuing studies.

Animals↗

Prospective evaluation of quality of life in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer: from diagnosis to three months post-treatment.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of surgical, radiotherapeutic and combination treatment on quality of life, in patients diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx. During the acute stage of treatment, quality of life was longitudinally evaluated. Quality of life was assessed at frequent time intervals (diagnosis, two weeks, 1 month and 3 months after treatment completion). Eligible patients were consecutively requested to participate and 38 patients were recruited. Participants completed the EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC H&N35, and HADS questionnaires. Functioning was found to reduce immediately post-treatment, with most functions improving to near baseline levels by 3 months post-treatment. Many symptoms significantly increased post-treatment, with many still scoring greater than at baseline levels at the end of the study. Anxiety scores were highest at diagnosis, depression scores were low throughout. This study indicates quality of life alters significantly over a short period of time from diagnosis and the start of treatment.

Adult↗

Infrared microscopy of epithelial cancer cells in whole tissues and in tissue culture, using synchrotron radiation.

Oral epithelial tumour tissue, and cultured cervical epithelial carcinoma cells have been studied using synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy. Mid infrared absorption spectra collected at cellular spatial resolution from within oral tumours were found to be sufficiently distinct, when analysed by principal component analysis, to distinguish between three different cell types within the tumour. The resulting data were sufficiently robust to allow correct classification of spectra from cells within subsequent tissue samples. These results go some way to demonstrate the potential of infrared spectroscopy as a tool in the post-operative screening of oral cancer patients by the examination of exfoliated epithelial cells. To gain a better understanding of the inherent variability in the infrared spectra of such epithelial cells, we have studied A431 carcinoma cells under the stimulus of the growth-stimulating hormone EGF. We have detected key changes in the infrared spectrum that relate to the activation of the growth factor signalling mechanism.

Carcinoma↗