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Biomedical subjects

Y Horn

Publications and source records attributed to Y Horn.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Phase I-II clinical trial with alpha-difluoromethylornithine--an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis.

Alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) is an enzyme-activated, irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, the first enzyme in the synthesis of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. DFMO has been shown to have a cytostatic and cytotoxic effect against various human tumor cell lines. The present study was designed to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of this compound when administered orally at a dose of 1.7 g/m sq. t.i.d. added to conventional chemotherapy to 38 patients with carcinoma of the breast, stomach, prostate, female genital organs or metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin. A control group of 32 patients with similar malignancies received conventional chemotherapy only. Gastrointestinal, hematologic and biochemical abnormalities caused by DFMO were negligible. Reasonable ototoxicity was the major toxic effect caused by DFMO and resulted in discontinuation of therapy in 6 of 38 patients (15.8%). No differences in disease progression were seen between those patients receiving DFMO plus conventional chemotherapy and those receiving only conventional chemotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

The palliative efficacy of a single high dose of radiation in treatment of symptomatic osseous metastases.

Radiation therapy is effective for palliation of painful metastatic osseous lesions. Various fractionation doses have been previously described. The present study was initiated to evaluate the efficacy of a high single dose of radiation on pain relief, with the goal of reducing the number of radiation sessions to a minimum. Treatment consisted of a high single dose of radiation ranging between 6 to 10 Gy administered to painful osseous metastases. Prior to radiation therapy response to conservative analgesic therapy was minimal in most cases. Response to radiation therapy thereafter was 71.3% lasting up to 6 and 12 months in 37.3% and 20.9% of cases respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Combination chemotherapy in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin.

A total of 21 patients with histologic diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma and an occult primary tumor were treated with combination chemotherapy. The regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (COMF). The overall response rate was 47.6%. Six patients (28.6%) achieved complete response (mean duration, 36.5 months) and four patients (19%) achieved partial response (mean duration, 7.7 months). Toxicity was manageable and occurred in 14 patients (67%). The COMF combination serves as a broad-spectrum chemotherapy regimen in adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Primary meningococcal pericarditis in a pregnant woman.

Pericardial effusion is an unusual complication of meningitis due to Neisseria meningitidis. Primary meningococcal pericarditis without signs of meningitis is rare. Only 18 cases have been described in the literature. The first case was reported in 1939 and the others since 1971. We report a case of primary meningococcal pericarditis in a pregnant woman. Improvement followed prompt antibiotic therapy. Fetal death necessitated abortion by curettage.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Anatomo-microscopic study of the walls of the superior cerebral veins].

The authors studied the structure and disposition of the tissue components of the tunicae of the superior cerebral veins at the levels of the subdural space and of the superior sagittal sinus. It was observed that, at the level of the transition vein-sinus, the tunica adventitia is formed by numerous and voluminous fascicles of collagenic fibers and thin elastic fibers, which describe system spirals more opened distant to the superior sagittal sinus. The tunica intima of these vascular segments exhibits an endothelium resting on a network of elastic fibers, which may play the role of an internal elastic lamina. From the lateral, superior and inferior walls of the sinus, there originates a connective system whose fascicles of collagenic and elastic fibers incorporated to the vascular walls after describing a stretch in spiral around the vascular lumen. The authors admit that this dispositive connective collagenic-elastic, more the presence of the septums fibrous of the venous walls, give to the superior cerebral veins one property of the lengthening and of the shortening of the walls, in order to regulate the blood debit to the sinus. Also, ist was noted that, at the level of the subdural space, vascular walls exhibits a fibrous structure similar to that of the sinus, and are fixed to the interne face of the cranial dura-mater, to the lateral wall of the sinus and to the falx cerebri. These adherences contribute to preserve the integrity of the walls and even of the resistance during the elevation of the venous pression, preventing to the collapsus of these veins.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Intravesical chemotherapy of superficial bladder tumors in a controlled trial with cis-platinum versus cis-platinum plus hyaluronidase.

Twenty-three patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were randomized for intravesical chemotherapy with either cis-platinum or cis-platinum plus hyaluronidase, an enzyme promoting diffusion factor. Treatment was administered at 3-week intervals and checked for efficacy by repeated cystoscopies after every three instillations. Hematologic and biochemical tests were repeated prior to each treatment and, these, in additional to the cystoscopic findings, served for final evaluation of results and toxicity. The complete response rate was found to be superior with cis-platinum than with cis-platinum plus hyaluronidase. The complete plus partial response rates were equal in both groups. We conclude that the addition of hyaluronidase to cis-platinum revealed no superiority to cis-platinum alone, and both modes of treatment showed similar clinical efficacy as other drugs previously used for intravesical chemotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Serum interferon as a biological marker in malignant tumors.

A total of 745 serum interferon (IFN) determinations were carried out on the serum of 332 cancer patients with a variety of tumors. Disease activity was defined as either 'active' or 'nonactive' as based on clinical examination, the results of laboratory tests and radiological criteria. IFN levels were estimated for both disease activity and mode of treatment. A statistically significant higher level of IFN in the serum of active, as compared to that of nonactive disease, was established. Furthermore, a slight increase in the IFN level was observed in patients before initiating chemotherapy as compared to untreated patients, followed by a decrease in those patients undergoing chemotherapy. These differences between groups were not found to be statistically significant. However, in the cases of rectum, prostate and female genital cancers, a significant elevated level of serum IFN was observed at a late stage of the disease, followed by a decrease after chemotherapy treatment. In addition, a significant lower level of serum IFN was detected in breast cancer patients shortly after radiotherapy as compared to those before radiotherapy. We conclude that IFN, known to play a role in the control mechanisms of developing malignant processes, can be determined in the serum and used to monitor disease activity in individual patients. The inhibition of IFN release depends in part on therapy and can be used for monitoring treatment schedules along the course of disease.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1985

[Anatomical study of the superior cerebral veins].

The authors describe the number, courses, fixations and dispositions of the superior cerebral veins at the levels of the subdural space and of the superior sagittal sinus. It was observed that the superior cerebral veins have different courses to the superior sagittal sinus, and that these vascular walls are fixed to the intern face of the cranial dura-mater and to the lateral wall of the sinus. Frequently, the wall of the posterior vein adheres to the falx cerebri, presenting ascendant trajet to the inferior wall of the sinus. It was noted that the anterior veins open into the superolateral angle of the superior sagittal sinus, forming an acute forwards and right angle with it; the middle veins open near to the inferior angle of the sinus, with which they form an acute forwards or a right angle; the posterior veins enter the inferior angle of the sinus, forming an acute forwards angle with it. The authors confirm the superior cerebral veins draining into the superior sagittal sinus in sense favorable the current of the blood within it.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of superficial bladder tumors in a controlled trial with thio-TEPA versus adriamycin.

Forty-six patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were randomized into two groups. Thio-TEPA or adriamycin were instilled periodically into the bladder and cystoscopic follow up was carried out. Both thio-TEPA and adriamycin proved to have similar efficacy in delaying tumor recurrence. Further investigations to establish better dose and interval schedules are indicated.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1984

Relationship of urinary polyamines to tumor activity and tumor volume in patients.

Serially obtained urinary polyamine levels were determined for 192 patients during a specified time period. The number of patient urine samples totaled 938. The patients had tumors of either the breast, stomach, prostate, or female genital tract, or metastatic carcinomas of unknown origin. Tumor activity and tumor volume, along with other clinical information, were also recorded during the time period. Possible associations between tumor activity and tumor volume on one hand, and polyamine levels on the other hand, were explored via different statistical analyses. For each tumor type, statistically significant group differences were found in polyamine levels between patients with nonactive tumors and patients with active large tumors. Predictive values of polyamine assays for change in disease activity and stability in disease nonactivity for tumors of the breast, female genital tract, and prostate were also computed. For breast tumors, these predictive values do not support the clinical utility of the use of polyamine levels to monitor disease states. For tumors of the female genital tract and prostate, these predictive values yield an indeterminant conclusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Carcinoembryonic antigen and interferon as tumor markers in breast cancer.

A total of 239 determinations of CEA plasma levels were performed for 83 breast cancer patients during chemotherapy or follow-up. In addition, 137 plasma samples were assayed for interferon levels. Patient clinical status was carefully scored according to objective criteria and recorded at each evaluation. Liver function tests (LFT) were performed to establish a full clinical picture at each visit. The results obtained proved a 73 to 83% positivity rate when the results of the 4 tests were compared. The importance of routine CEA assays and careful clinical evaluation and LFT are stressed. An analysis of interferon levels defined 4 distinct groups that differed by the amount of interferon present and also by clinical status and CEA levels. The results are discussed in terms of tumor volume-dependent interferon production.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1982

Zinc and copper levels in plasma, erythrocytes, and whole blood in cancer patients.

Zinc and copper levels in erythrocytes, plasma, and whole blood were determined in 35 cancer patients and compared with 24 normal individuals. A decrease in zinc was found in all three blood constituents of the cancer patients. The decrease was significant in plasma and whole blood and nonsignificant in erythrocytes. Copper levels in the cancer group showed a slight and nonsignificant increase in erythrocytes, plasma, and whole blood. The copper to zinc ratio revealed a significant increase only for plasma levels. Further investigations are indicated to determine whether these two elements could serve as indicators for diagnosis or prognosis in cancer patients.

Aged↗