SMJ // December 1981, Volume 74 - Issue 12
Editorial
Adenocarcinoma of Unknown Primary Origin Impact of Chemotherapy on Survival
ABSTRACTSeventy-seven cases of adenocarcinoma of unknown origin were studied retrospectively. Pain was the most common presenting symptom and lymphadenopathy was the most common finding on physical examination. Tumor involved several organs in two thirds of the patients, the lung being the most frequently involved. Complete surgical resection was possible in…
Editorial
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Editorial
Carcinoma of the Right Colon A Change in Characteristic Configuration?
ABSTRACTCarcinoma of the colon occurring to the right of the middle colic vessels is usually described as morphologically and clinically distinctive from cancers occurring in the left colon. Cancers of the right colon are characterized as polypoid tumors that are discovered in the search for occult blood loss, whereas carcinomas…
Editorial
Pharmacokinetic Principles in Relation to Serum Drug Sample Collection
ABSTRACTPharmacokinetics is a relatively new field in the health sciences. It is receiving more interest and utilization as patients serum drug levels are being correlated with clinical response and drug side effects and toxicities. Many variable factors influence serum drug levels, consequently affecting the interpretation of these levels and possibly…
Editorial
Clinical Assessment of Three Hemoglobin Screening Programs on a Selected Population
ABSTRACTThrough three related programs, 9,675 individuals were screened for hemoglobinopathy. The studied population was predominantly black (58%) and male (91%). Identified were 333 variants (3.4%), 90.7% of them in blacks. Two hundred occurred in hospitalized patients. Laboratory results were entered in medical charts in all but three instances. Annotation of…
Editorial
Histologic Examination of the Bone Marrow Aspiration or Trephine?
ABSTRACTWe undertook this study to evaluate the efficacy of bone marrow aspiration as compared with trephine needle biopsy. In the 50 consecutive cases reviewed, simultaneous aspiration and biopsy yielded significant morphologic findings in either or both. A comparison was made between the morphologic findings in the aspirate and the corresponding…
Editorial
Risk Factor and Sex Differences in Single Versus Multiple Vessel Coronary Artery Disease
ABSTRACTWe analyzed 305 patients with either single or multiple vessel disease, as demonstrated by coronary arteriography, to determine risk factor and sex differences. Women accounted for more than one fourth of the patients with single vessel disease (group A), but for only one seventh of the individuals with multiple vessel…
Editorial
TIAs, Completed Strokes, and Mitral Valve Prolapse
ABSTRACTThe role of mitral valve prolapse in producing transient ischemic attacks and completed strokes remains controversial despite scattered clinical reports indicating such an association. Among 96 patients admitted to our neurology service because of TIAs or strokes in the past 12 months, five were found to have mitral valve prolapse…
Editorial
Renal Function Abnormalities Induced by Marathon Running
ABSTRACTTo assess renal function changes induced by marathon racing in asymptomatic runners, we studied them before, six hours after, and one week after warm and cold weather marathons (26.2 miles [42 km]). Standard serum electrolytes, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), urinalysis, urinary myoglobin, and renal function tests (para-aminohippurate [PAH], inulin, and true…
Editorial
Humeral Shaft Fractures in Adults
ABSTRACTAfter evaluating the results of treatment of 100 humeral shaft fractures in adults, we found the simplest, most comfortable, and most satisfactory treatment to be that of a sling and coaptive splinting. In all of the 15 patients who had radial nerve injury, the fracture occurred in the distal half…
Editorial
Acute Grief
ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper is to describe guidelines for physicians confronted with breaking the news to families that a loved one has unexpectedly or suddenly died in the emergency room. Doing so is difficult, but the knowledge that one is behaving professionally and humanely will help to alleviate the…
Editorial
Hemifacial Spasm Treatment by Microvascular Decompression of the Facial Nerve at the Pons
ABSTRACTHemifacial spasm is a syndrome of intermittent and tonic unilateral facial muscular contraction; mild facial weakness on the same side is also frequently present. Hemifacial spasm can be differentiated clinically from habit spasms, blepharospasm, facial synkinesis following Bells palsy, facial myokymia, and masticatory spasm. The syndrome of hemifacial spasm is…
Editorial
Lithium Therapy for Cocaine-Induced Psychosis A Clinical Perspective
ABSTRACTThe incidence of cocaine-induced psychosis has increased with the rise in popularity of cocaine as the recreational drug of choice. Neuroleptic agents have been used to control the hallucinations, paranoia, and hyperactivity of the acute psychotic episodes. Lithium has been suggested as an alternative therapeutic agent for cocaine abusers. This…
Editorial
Psychologic Responses of Incestuous Daughters Emerging Patterns
ABSTRACTOur review of the literature on the impact of paternal incest with the daughter showed several patterns of results. Past studies of girls soon after the termination of or exposure to incest suggest guilt, depression, behavior disorders, and occasionally hysterical “seizures” as possible reactions. Those exploring the long-term consequences point…
Editorial
Intravenous Reserpine for Treatment of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
ABSTRACTThe efficacy of reserpine in relieving the pain of reflex sympathetic dystrophy was tested in 25 patients—21 with upper extremity and four with lower extremity involvement. Injection of the drug relieved the acute signs and symptoms in the upper extremity in 12 of 17 patients. Four patients with quiescent reflex…
Editorial
Posttherapeutic Cerebral Radionecrosis A Complication of Head and Neck Tumor Therapy
ABSTRACTPatients with treated head and neck cancer may have focal neurologic symptoms and personality changes due to delayed cerebral radionecrosis. A history of past treatment should direct the physician to consider these lesions in the differential diagnosis. Craniotomy is the management recommended. Histopathologic changes include fibrotic response of the meninges…
Editorial
Anxiolytic Effects of Low Dosage Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen Mixtures Administered Continuously in Apprehensive Subjects
ABSTRACTWe observed the effect of low doses of nitrous oxide on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the cortisol output in blood and saliva, and the degree of sedation and analgesia of 20 volunteers. A psychologic screening inventory was also performed. We found nitrous oxide, at low dosage, to be primarily…
Editorial
A Recognizable Syndrome of Sex-Linked Mental Retardation, Large Testes, and Marker X Chromosome
ABSTRACTSeveral male members of a family had sex-linked mental retardation, large testes, and marker X chromosome. We discuss the ease and importance of recognizing this syndrome in male subjects and the genetic implications for female carriers.
Review Article
Carcinoma With Unknown Primary Tumor (CUP Syndrome)
ABSTRACTApproximately 10% of adenocarcinomas are first seen without a detectable primary tumor. The clinical state that results when a metastatic deposit is more symptomatic than its primary I have termed the CUP (carcinoma unknown primary) syndrome. By definition CUP tumors are incurable by current treatment but their management often includes…
