Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · May 1976
Hypophysectomy in the treatment of disseminated carcinoma of the breast and prostate gland.
Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy offers gratifying palliative relief of pain to patients with metastatic cancer of the breast and prostate. This report represents the results of two years' experience with this procedure at Emory University School of Medicine. The physiologic rationale and clinical indications for hypophysectomy are described, as is the operative technic using the open transsphenoidal microsurgical approach. ⋯ Pain was the preoperative indication for surgery in 41, while three patients were operated on for extensive disease without pain. Satisfactory relief of pain was obtained in 76% of the patients with prostatic cancer and in 83% of the breast cancer patients. While the results are gratifying with regard to relief of pain, the duration of follow-up is not sufficient to comment on the value of the procedure in significantly prolonging life.
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Southern medical journal · May 1976
Clinical significance of the biotransformation of inhalation anesthetics.
Inhalation anesthetics, a class of drugs formerly believed to be biologically inert, are now recognized to undergo considerable biotransformation. The viscerotoxicity of certain anesthetics on kidney and liver can be explained in terms of metabolism. The entity of "halothane hepatitis" remains mechanistically and diagnostically a mystery, but if it exists, it could be due to abnormalities of biotransformation.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 1976
Case ReportsStaphylococcal septicemia: successful treatment of complications in a child.
A previously healthy 5-year-old girl developed staphylococcal septicemia. Initially, cardiovascular failure with mitral insufficiency and purulent pericarditis dominated the clinical picture. Peripheral thromboembolic phenomena, meningitis, osteomyelitis, and persistent septicemia were subsequently encountered during antimicrobial and surgical therapy. Although staphylococcal septicemia is a potentially lethal disorder, anticipation of its natural course and its possible complications should lead to more successful management.
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Whole blood samples obtained from 2,000 military recruits were analyzed for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Whole blood copper levels were symmetrically distributed and those for cadmium, lead, and zinc were positively skewed. Average whole blood levels for copper and zinc were generally comparable to published values, but cadmium and lead values were somewhat higher, suggesting possible absorption of trace metals from containers during storage. ⋯ Cadmium and zinc whole blood levels varied inversely with educational attainment. Copper, lead, and zinc levels varied by place of residence, suggesting the influence of dietary or other factors. Future studies characterizing trace metal body burdens or relating trace metals to diseases must carefully measure such pertinent attributes as age, sex, race or ethnic group, smoking habits, diet, and environmental exposure.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 1976
Multiple myeloma in Oklahoma: racial, age, sex, geographic and time variations.
Oklahoma death certificates listing multiple myeloma as the underlying cause of death during the period 1950-1970 were examined for secular trends, and geographic and demographic characteristics associated with the disease. An upward trend in the death rates for all age, sex and race groups was found; the most dramatic increases were seen in the oldest age groups. During the 20-year period, the death rate for white males 75 years of age and older increased tenfold. ⋯ After adjustments were made for age differences, the nonwhite annual rate was 2.36 per 100,000 compared with 1.62 for the white population. There was not enough information to draw conclusions about the geographic distribution of multiple myeloma. Findings for the Oklahoma population were consistent with the few previously reported studies.