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T Aitchison

Publications and source records attributed to T Aitchison.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Factors affecting a climber's ability to ascend Mont Blanc.

The aim of the study was to determine the factors affecting a climber's ability to ascend Mont Blanc using a number of variables collected at the Gouter Hut (3,817 m) before and after an attempted ascent on the Mont Blanc summit. Subjects (n=285) were tested at 3,817 m prior to their ascent of Mont Blanc. Maximum height ascended in the last 14 days was recorded. End tidal CO2, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate and respiratory rate were measured using a Capnograph (Nellcor Patrick NPB75). Acute mountain sickness (AMS) was assessed using the Lake Louise scoring system. Summit information is available for 216 subjects. None of the subjects who attained 4,000 m in the previous 14 days failed to reach the summit (P=0.04). Previous recent exposure to an altitude of 4,000 m resulted in faster ascent times to the summit than those who had not been above 3,000 m in the previous 14 days (4.02+/-0.6 vs. 4.46+/-0.8 h, P=0.009), higher SaO2 on arrival at the Gouter Hut on day 1 (88.6+/-5 vs. 86.3+/-6%, P=0.004) and lower AMS scores upon arrival at the Gouter Hut after the attempted ascent to the summit 2.5+/-1.8 versus 4.7+/-2.5 U (P=0.001), respectively. It is concluded that recent exposure to 4,000 m confers an advantage to those who wish to ascend a 4,800 m peak.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

A comparison of physiological responses and rating of perceived exertion in two modes of aerobic exercise in men and women over 50 years of age.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the physiological responses and ratings of perceived exertion to aerobic dance and walking sessions completed at a self selected pace. METHODS: Six women and six men with a sample mean (SD) age of 68 (7) years completed aerobic dance and walking sessions in random order. A treadmill test was performed by each subject from which peak oxygen uptake (.VO(2)) and maximum heart rates (HRmax) were determined. During the aerobic dance and walking sessions, heart rate and .VO(2) were measured continuously throughout. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured every three minutes throughout the session. RESULTS: The sample means (SD) for %peak .VO(2) were 67 (17)% for the aerobic dance sessions and 52 (10)% for the walking sessions, and the %HRmax sample means (SD) were 74 (12)% for the aerobic dance sessions and 60(8)% for walking sessions. The sample mean (SD) RPE for the aerobic dance sessions was 11(2), and for the walking sessions it was 10(2). CONCLUSIONS: %peak .VO(2), %HRmax, and RPE were significantly higher for aerobic dance than for walking. However, both the aerobic dance and walking sessions were of adequate intensity to improve aerobic fitness in most subjects. Further investigation into the relation between RPE and %peak .VO(2) in a field setting over representative exercise time periods would be useful.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

"Walk in to Work Out": a randomised controlled trial of a self help intervention to promote active commuting.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine if a self help intervention, delivered via written interactive materials (the "Walk in to Work Out" pack), could increase active commuting behaviour (walking and cycling). DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. The intervention group received the "Walk in to Work Out" pack, which contained written interactive materials based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour change, local information about distances and routes, and safety information. The control group received the pack six months later. Focus groups were also conducted after six months. SETTING: Three workplaces in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 295 employees who had been identified as thinking about, or doing some irregular, walking or cycling to work. MAIN RESULTS: The intervention group was almost twice as likely to increase walking to work as the control group at six months (odds ratio of 1.93, 95% confidence intervals 1.06 to 3.52). The intervention was not successful at increasing cycling. There were no distance travelled to work, gender, or age influences on the results. Twenty five per cent (95% confidence intervals 17% to 32%) of the intervention group, who received the pack at baseline, were regularly actively commuting at the 12 month follow up. CONCLUSION: The "Walk in to Work Out" pack was successful in increasing walking but not cycling. The environment for cycling must be improved before cycling will become a popular option.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Risk factors for excess weight gain in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether excess weight gain in patients treated for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was predictable using patient characteristics at diagnosis. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Longitudinal study of changes in body mass index (BMI) in all 98 patients treated in Scotland on treatment protocol MRC UKALL-XI who had reached at least 3y post-diagnosis in first remission. MEASUREMENTS: The influence of the following variables on changes in BMI, expressed as a standard deviation score (SDS), was tested using variable selection techniques and classification and regression trees: BMI SDS at diagnosis; age at diagnosis; gender; socioeconomic status; treatment. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity (BMI SDS>2.0) was <2% at diagnosis, but increased to 16% at 3y. Gain in BMI SDS was significantly inversely influenced by BMI SDS at diagnosis (P<0.01) and age at diagnosis (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Obesity is common in ALL by the end of therapy, and is more likely in children who are younger and thinner at diagnosis. Excess weight gain was not readily predictable from routinely collected information available at diagnosis and so all children treated for ALL should be considered 'at risk' of excess weight gain and the target of obesity prevention.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Physiological responses and perceptions of exertion in a step aerobics session.

The aims of this study were to establish the cardiovascular and metabolic demands of a university step aerobics session entitled 'Uni-Step' performed at three step heights, and to evaluate the use of heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion for the estimation of exercise intensity during this mode. Ten female participants in step aerobics (mean VO2max = 47.7, s = 6.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed a 40-min Uni-Step routine on steps of height 6, 8 and 10 inches (15.2, 20.3 and 25.4 cm). Oxygen uptake, heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion were recorded throughout each test. Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and maximum heart rate were measured using a continuous treadmill protocol. The mean intensities were 45.6%, 51.6% and 56.2% VO2max for the 6-, 8- and 10-inch steps respectively. The mean percent heart rate reserves were 57.2%, 63.6% and 70.1% at these three heights respectively. Correlations indicated a weak relationship between %VO2max and ratings of perceived exertion for the 6- and 8-inch steps (r = 0.61 and 0.66 respectively) but a stronger one for the 10-inch step (r = 0.79). Uni-Step performed on the two highest steps was of a sufficient relative intensity to improve or maintain the cardiovascular fitness of participants in this study. The lowest step may be useful for participants of lower fitness. Heart rate overestimated the metabolic cost of Uni-Step at all three step heights and therefore caution is advised if used to predict intensity. Low correlations between %VO2max and ratings of perceived exertion at the two lower step heights indicate that ratings of perceived exertion may have limited utility in prescribing training intensity.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A comparison of the reproducibility and the sensitivity to change of visual analogue scales, Borg scales, and Likert scales in normal subjects during submaximal exercise.

OBJECTIVE: To assess which subjective scale, the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Borg CR10 (Borg) scale, or the Likert scale (LS), if any, is decidedly more reproducible and sensitive to change in the assessment of symptoms. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Exercise laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three physically active male subjects (mean +/- SD age of 30 +/- 4 years old) were recruited. INTERVENTION: Each subject attended the exercise laboratory on four occasions at intervals of 1 week. Three subjective scales were used: (1) the VAS (continuous scale); (2) the Borg scale (12 fixed points); and (3) the Likert scale (LS; 5 fixed points). Four identical submaximal tests were given (2 min at 60% maximum oxygen uptake [VO(2)max] and 6 min at 70% VO(2)max). Two tests were undertaken to assess the reproducibility of scores that were obtained with each subjective scale. Two other tests were undertaken to assess the sensitivity of each scale to a change in symptom perception: a double-blind treatment with propranolol, 80 mg, (ie, active therapy; to increase the sensation of breathlessness and general fatigue during exercise) or matching placebo. The subjective scale scores were measured at 1 min 30 s, 5 min 30 s, and 7 min 15 s of exercise. Reproducibility was defined as the proportion of total variance (ie, between-subject plus within-subject variance) explained by the between-subject variance given as a percentage. Sensitivity was defined as the effect of the active drug therapy over the variation within subjects. RESULTS: Overall, the VAS performed best in terms of reproducibility for breathlessness and general fatigue, with reproducibility coefficients as high as 78%. For sensitivity, the VAS was best for breathlessness (ratio, 2.7) and the Borg scale was most sensitive for general fatigue (ratio, 3.0). The relationships between the respective psychological and physiologic variables were reasonably stable throughout the testing procedure, with overall typical correlations of 0.73 to 0.82 CONCLUSION: This study suggests that subjective scales can reproducibly measure symptoms during steady-state exercise and can detect the effect of a drug intervention. The VAS and Borg scales appear to be the best subjective scales for this purpose.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1998

A comparison of physiological responses and rating of perceived exertion between high-impact and low-impact aerobic dance sessions.

The aim of this study was to compare the exercise intensity and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of a high-impact (HIP) and a low-impact (LIP) university aerobic dance session. Ten women [mean (SD) age 22.9 (2.6) years] took part in the study. An incremental treadmill test was performed by each subject to determine maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximum heart rate (HRmax). The measured VO2max [mean (SD)] was 49.0 (7.5) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1). The subjects were randomly assigned to LIP and HIP sessions (i.e. five of the subjects participated in the HIP session first, and the other five participated in the LIP session first). In a laboratory, heart rate, oxygen uptake and RPE were measured throughout each session for each subject. Expired air was collected continuously throughout the sessions using Douglas bags (ten bags over a 30-min period). The sessions consisted of 20 min of aerobic exercise (bags 1-7) followed by 5 min of local muscular endurance exercise (bags 8 and 9) and 5 min of flexibility exercises (bag 10). The mean intensity of the aerobic section of the LIP and HIP sessions was 51.6% and 64.7% VO2max, respectively. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals for the average difference between the HIP and LIP sessions demonstrate that the %VO2max was between 12% and 14% higher for the HIP session. The mean %HRmax for the LIP and HIP sessions was 71.4% and 76.7%, respectively, with the %HRmax in the HIP session being between 5.4% and 7.2% higher on average than that of the LIP session. On average, the RPE for the aerobic section of the HIP session (12.1) was consistently higher than that of the LIP session (11.1). HIP activity has the potential to maintain/improve the aerobic fitness of its participants. According to the literature, the exercise intensity elicited by LIP activity may have a limited training effect for the population utilised in this study, and for some individuals may result in detraining. Conversely, LIP activities may be an appropriate mode of exercise for overweight and unfit individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

A comparison of fluconazole and itraconazole in the management of denture stomatitis: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare fluconazole capsules (50 mg daily for 14 days) and itraconazole capsules (100 mg daily for 15 days) in the treatment of denture stomatitis, using objective clinical and mycological outcome measures. METHODS: Twenty complete denture wearers with denture stomatitis were enrolled. At baseline, palatal erythema was measured with an electro-optical instrument, a denture disc specimen was collected from the fitting surface of the denture for culture and an oral rinse and imprint cultures were collected for mycological culture. Ten patients received fluconazole capsules (50 mg daily for 14 days) and 10 received itraconazole capsules (100 mg daily for 15 days). Palatal erythema was reassessed and the microbiological specimens re-collected on day 14. RESULTS: The most common form of denture stomatitis seen in this group of patients was Newton's Type II. All patients responded to advice to leave their dentures out at night but there was a poor overall improvement in denture hygiene. There was an objective reduction in palatal erythema following treatment with both fluconazole and itraconazole. A wide range of yeasts were isolated from the mouths of all the denture stomatitis patients before treatment. C. albicans was the most common isolate. A mycological cure was achieved in only five of the 20 patients, one in the fluconazole group and four in the itraconazole group. A further eight patients in the fluconazole group and three in the itraconazole group had reduced yeast counts by the second visit. CONCLUSION: Fluconazole and itraconazole were of comparable efficacy in the treatment of denture stomatitis, on the basis of reduction in palatal erythema and mycological culture.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The reproducibility of symptoms during a submaximal exercise test in chronic heart failure.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a submaximal test with a symptom limited endpoint and to measure the reproducibility of symptoms in patients with CHF. METHODS: Ten patients with chronic heart failure were studied. Based on two maximal treadmill tests an individual protocol using a constant work rate at a submaximal intensity was derived. The projected maximum treadmill time for the constant workrate was between 8 and 17 min. Tests were carried out 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the maximum tests. Every 2.5 min during the submaximal test patients recorded their symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue using computer automated visual analogue (VAS) and Borg CR10 scales. The measure of reproducibility used was the proportion of total variability explained by the between subject variability. RESULTS: Using the VAS scale, general fatigue was reasonably reproducible ranging from 77-86%. For VAS breathlessness reproducibility ranged from 66% to 83%. Reproducibility for breathlessness and fatigue for the Borg CR10 scale was much lower than the VAS scale. Reproducibility for the treadmill times was 51% but increased to 76% if one test of one subject was excluded. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the VAS during submaximal exercise offers a useful means of evaluating symptoms in CHF and potentially their response to treatment. These findings show that individual submaximal protocols can be easily prescribed for CHF patients. Using such an approach, clinically desirable tests lasting around 12 min can be developed. These tests are reasonably reproducible and may provide a useful means of assessing patient disability and the impact of treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Randomised controlled trial of advice on an egg exclusion diet in young children with atopic eczema and sensitivity to eggs.

BACKGROUND: The role of exclusion diets in the management of atopic eczema in young children is uncertain. This randomised controlled trial evaluates the effect of excluding egg from the diet in young children with atopic eczema and sensitivity to eggs. Fifty-five such children were randomised either to a 4-week regimen, in which mothers were given general advice on care of eczema and additional specific advice from a dietician about an egg exclusion diet (diet group), or to a control group in which general advice only was given. Both groups continued conventional topical treatment. Disease activity was assessed by estimates of the surface area affected by eczema and by an arbitrary severity score. Possible egg sensitivity was identified by RAST before randomisation and after the trial by double-blind placebo-controlled egg challenge. RESULTS: The mean reduction in surface area affected by eczema was significantly greater (p = 0.02) in the group receiving dietary advice (from 19.6% to 10.9% area affected) than in the control group (from 21.9% to 18.9%). A significant improvement also occurred in severity score (p = 0.04): from 33.9 to 24.0 units for the diet group compared with a decrease from 36.7 to 33.5 in the control group. The study suggests that advice on the dietary exclusion of eggs is useful as part of the overall management of young children with atopic eczema and sensitivity to eggs.

Dermatitis, Atopic↗
PubMed1997

The relationship between 3 km running performance and selected physiological variables.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between a number of physiological variables and running velocity at 3 km (v-3km) in a group of male runners. Sixteen well-trained middle- and long-distance runners (mean +/-s: age 22.4 +/- 4.2 years, body mass 63.5 +/- 6.2 kg, VO2 max 73.3 +/- 6.7 ml kg-1 min-1) underwent laboratory treadmill tests to determine their maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max), running economy at three submaximal velocities (12.9, 14.5 and 16.1 km h-1 or 14.5, 16.1 and 17 km h-1), predicted velocity at VO2 max (v-VO2max), velocity (v-Tlac) and VO2 (VO2-Tlac) at the lactate threshold and their velocity (v-4mM) and VO2 (VO2-4mM) at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mM. Distance running performance was determined by 3 km time-trials on an indoor 200 m track for which the average time was 9.46 +/- 0.74 min. The mean (+/-s) velocities for v-Tlac, v-4mM and v-VO2max were 16.0 +/- 1.8, 17.1 +/- 1.9 and 20.7 +/- 2.1 km h-1 respectively, all significantly different on average (all P < 0.05) from that for v-3km (19.1 +/- 1.5 km h-1). Many of these physiological variables were found to be individually (and significantly at 5%) related to v-3km. The best single predictors of v-3km were v-Tlac and v-4mM (both with a sample correlation, r2 of 0.93), while v-VO2max was slightly poorer (r = 0.86). Neither VO2 max nor running economy was strongly correlated with v-3km. A stepwise multiple-regression analysis revealed that v-Tlac alone was the best single predictor of v-3km and explained 87% of the variability in 3 km running velocity, while the addition of any of the other physiological variables did not significantly improve the prediction of v-3km. We conclude that, in a group of well-trained runners, the running velocity at the lactate threshold was all that was required to explain a large part of the variability in 3 km running performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Catecholamines contribute to exertional dyspnoea and to the ventilatory response to exercise in normal humans.

BACKGROUND: Exogenous catecholamine administration in humans stimulates ventilation. The present study was designed to investigate whether increased endogenous catecholamine release influences objective measures of ventilation and subjective measures of breathlessness in normal subjects. METHODS: Yohimbine, a pre-synaptic alpha 2 adrenoceptor antagonist, or placebo was administered to 10 normal male subjects in a double-blind cross-over fashion. Ventilation and metabolic gas exchange were measured during steady state exercise at 60% of previously determined maximal oxygen consumption. Venous lactate and noradrenaline were measured during exercise. Subjects' sensation of breathlessness and fatigue were recorded using visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Plasma noradrenaline was higher following yohimbine administration (at 6 min exercise; 4.58 +/- 0.56 nmol.l-1 vs 8.74 +/- 1.53; P < 0.05). Oxygen consumption was unchanged, but ventilation was greater throughout exercise following yohimbine. The sensation of exertion was greater following yohimbine, and at any given level of ventilation, the sensation of exertion was greater. CONCLUSIONS: Yohimbine administration causes increased noradrenaline release. This is associated with an increased ventilatory response and an increase in the sensation of exertion during steady state exercise. An increase in circulating noradrenaline might be a mechanism for both increased ventilation and pathological conditions of breathlessness such as chronic heart failure.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1997

End-of-treatment self-efficacy: a predictor of abstinence.

Results of previous studies suggest that end-of-treatment self-efficacy in problem drinkers has limited predictive validity. One explanation for this finding has been the postulated existence of a ceiling effect, i.e. the possibility that subjects who rate themselves highly in terms of self-efficacy form a heterogeneous group with some subjects making inflated self-efficacy judgements based on an over-optimistic perception of their coping abilities. In the present study, end-of-treatment self-efficacy in 63 problem drinkers, as measured by the Situational Confidence Questionnaire and a newly designed Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SEQ), was predictive of abstinence status at 3 month follow-up. In those patients who on the SEQ had expressed great confidence in their ability to remain abstinent over the follow-up period, the additional consideration of keyworkers' confidence in their patients' ability to remain abstinent as well as patients' anticipated need for future help improved the prediction of abstinence status. These results are discussed with respect to the postulated ceiling effect. A prognostic tree using just three baseline variables predicted abstinence status correctly in 88% of all cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Migraine: the effect of acrylic appliance design on clinical response.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the nocturnal wearing of an acrylic appliance of 2 mm thickness covering all occlusal surfaces of the teeth and the frequency of attacks of migraine. Nineteen patients were studied and all fulfilled accepted criteria for migraine with or without aura. Two appliance designs were employed, one covering the maxillary occlusal surfaces of the dentition and another which contacted the palatal mucosa only and was free of the occlusion. Treatment outcome was expressed as the number of attacks of migraine per week per patient. The occlusal cover appliance reduced the number of attacks on average to about 40% of that normally experienced. The improvement was most marked in those who had frequent attacks of migraine ie two attacks per week on a regular basis. In summary, acrylic appliance therapy is of value in migraineurs who have attacks on waking but the appliance design has to involve covering of the occlusal surfaces of all of the teeth.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1996

A single centre's 10 year experience with isolated limb perfusion in the treatment of recurrent malignant melanoma of the limb.

The aim of this study was to assess whether isolated limb perfusion can be performed safely and whether it offers improved disease-free survival for patients with limb malignant melanoma. Between August 1983 and July 1993, 103 patients (78 female, 25 male) with recurrent limb melanoma were treated by isolated limb perfusion (ILP) in Glasgow, U.K. The mean age of the patients was 62 years; 95 had leg recurrence, 8 had arm recurrence. The mean time from original diagnosis to ILP was 48 months (range 1-290). 102 iliac, 5 femoral, 7 popliteal and 8 axillary perfusions were performed. All patients had stage II (local recurrence within 3 cm of primary site) or stage III (regional metastases; tissues excluding nodes, nodes or combination) disease according to the MD Anderson Cancer Centre Staging System. At a mean follow-up of 30.7 months, 68 patients had died of recurrent disease (mean time to death 22.5 months). The 2 and 5 year survival of the group was 50 and 26%, respectively and disease-free survival was 23 and 12%, respectively. At first perfusion, 76% of patients showed complete response and 23% showed partial response. With repeat perfusion, 47% showed complete response and 53% had partial response. In conclusion, ILP is safe and has an acceptable morbidity. It achieves highly satisfactory local disease control but long-term survival is the exception.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Anthropometric, strength, endurance and flexibility characteristics of elite and recreational climbers.

There has been remarkable development in the scope and quality of rock climbing in recent years. However, there are scant data on the anthropometry, strength, endurance and flexibility of rock climbers. The aim of this study was to compare these characteristics in three groups of subjects-elite rock climbers, recreational climbers and non-climbers. The 30 male subjects were aged 28.8 +/- 8.1 (mean +/- S.D.) years. Group 1 (n = 10) comprised elite rock climbers who had led a climb of a minimum standard of 'E1' (E1-E9 are the highest climbing grades) within the previous 12 months; Group 2 (n = 10) comprised rock climbers who had achieved a standard no better than leading a climb considered 'severe' (a low climbing grade category); and Group 3 (n = 10) comprised physically active individuals who had not previously done any rock climbing. The test battery included tests of finger strength [grip strength, pincer (i.e. thumb and forefinger) strength, finger strength measured on climbing-specific apparatus], body dimensions, body composition, flexibility, arm strength and endurance, and abdominal endurance. The tests which resulted in significant differences (P < 0.05) between the three groups included the bent arm hang (elite 53.1 +/- 1.32 s; recreational 31.4 +/- 9.0 s; non-climbers 32.6 +/- 15.0 s) and pull-ups (elite 16.2 +/- 7.2 repetitions; recreational 3.0 +/- 4.0 reps; non-climbers 3.0 +/- 3.9 reps); for both tests, the elite climbers performed significantly better than the recreational climbers and non-climbers. Regression procedures (i.e. analysis of covariance) were used to examine the influence of body mass and length. Using adjusted means (i.e. for body mass and leg length), significant differences were obtained for the following: (1) finger strength, grip 1, four fingers (right hand) (elite 447 +/- 30 N; recreational 359 +/- 29 N; non-climbers 309 +/- 30 N), (2) grip strength (left hand) (elite 526 +/- 21 N; recreational 445 +/- 21 N; non-climbers 440 +/- 21 N), (3) pincer strength (right hand) (elite 95 +/- 5 N; recreational 69 +/- 5 N; non-climbers 70 +/- 5 N) and (4) leg span (elite 139 +/- 4 cm; recreational 122 +/- 4 cm; non-climbers 124 +/- 4 cm). For tests 3 and 4, the elite climbers performed significantly better than the recreational climbers and non-climbers for any variable. These results demonstrate that elite climbers have greater shoulder girdle endurance, finger strength and hip flexibility than recreational climbers and non-climbers. Those who aspire to lead 'E1' standard climbs or above should consider training programmes to enhance their finger strength, shoulder girdle strength and endurance, and hip flexibility.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1995

Single-centre prospective study of isolated limb perfusion with melphalan in the treatment of subungual malignant melanoma.

Subungual melanoma is rare and experience in treating this condition with isolated limb perfusion is limited. Between 1985 and 1990, 24 patients were treated by digital amputation and isolated limb perfusion with melphalan and mild hyperthermia. The disease was staged according to the M.D. Anderson classification: stage I (17 patients), stage IIIA (one), stage IIIB (two) and stage IIIAB (four). Thirteen lesions were on the foot and 11 on the hand. Seven patients have developed locoregional recurrence. The estimated overall 2- and 5-year probabilities of survival were 77 and 46 per cent respectively, while for disease-free survival the rates were 58 and 51 per cent. When these results were compared retrospectively with those in 111 patients treated by amputation alone, no significant difference in survival was demonstrated. This experience suggests that isolated limb perfusion with melphalan and mild hyperthermia confers no additional survival benefit over appropriate surgery.

Adult↗