Glenn W. Geelhoed

Steroid hormone receptors in human colon cancers

Tumors from patients with primary colon cancer were studied for the presence of steroid hormone receptors for estrogen (E2), progesterone (Prog), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and glucocorticoid. Ten of 33 (30%) tumors contained high affinity E2 receptors. Four were males and six females with positive assays predominantly from the left colon. Twenty‐three of these tumors were also assayed for DHT and Prog and six (26%) contained all three receptors. An additional twelve tumors had at least one receptor, so that 70% of the tumors studied contained one or more receptors. Five of 22 (23%) samples were positive for glucocorticoid receptors. Common etiological factors associated with colon and breast cancer were briefly discussed. These factors, along with the presence of hormone receptors in primary colon malignancies suggest that some large bowel cancers may be endocrine‐dependent. Cancer 43:980–984, 1979.

Atypical Radiographic Features in Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

In a review of clinical, pathologic, and radiographic findings from 30 patients with confirmed pneumocystis pneumonia, the disease presented a typical radiographic picture of acute bilateral perihilar and basilar infiltrate progressing to diffuse alveolar consolidation within 3-5 days and unassociated with adenopathy or pleural changes in 13 patients. However, the incidence of atypical radiographic features was appreciable (17 of the 30 patients showed at least one atypical finding) and, in addition, few radiographic findings completely excluded the diagnosis of pneumocystis infection.

Colonic pseudo-obstruction in surgical patients

Colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvies syndrome) may occur in surgical patients, particularly those who have had orthopedic or blunt trauma, have uremia or diabetes, have complex metabolic or cardiac failure, have metastatic cancer involving the lymph nodes and neural tissue, or are addicted to narcotics. Although a single true cause has not been identified by fulfilling Kochs postulates, the clinical pattern has been recognized in a variety of surgical patients, and this pattern must be distinguished from true obstruction of the colon. Tumor or internal hernia may constitute an obstruction, but the important differential diagnosis of cecal volvulus must be excluded. Ischemic colitis may be confused with Ogilvies syndrome or may follow it. Gangrene, infarction, and perforation may ensue as colon diameter increases and particularly if cecal distention reaches above 14 cm. This arbitrary number for cecal dilatation should not be awaited before treatment is instituted if signs of devitalization of the gut or peritoneal signs have developed in the patient. Treatment has changed recently with the widespread application of colonoscopy. Endoscopy is helpful in relieving distention but may also be dangerous in the patient with a massively distended colon, particularly at the level of the thin-walled cecum. Colonoscopy also appears to be associated with a high rate of treatment failure and recurrence. Surgical decompression may take the form of cecostomy or may require exteriorization or resection of the colon if infarction has occurred. A series of 12 patients has been presented. The patients were all referred to a single surgeon in a university medical center over a 4 1/2 year period with clinical patterns not suggestive of a common cause but a similar clinical evolution of Ogilvies syndrome. The prognosis for such patients in whom the complication is recognized early and in whom decompression is performed endoscopically or surgically is encouraging. If recognition is late and particularly if perforation and gangrene result, mortality is nearly 50 percent.

Treatment of Hyperparathyroidism by Percutaneous Embolization of a Mediastinal Adenoma

Percutaneous embolization of parathyroid adenomas was attempted in three hypercalcemic patients with previously unsuccessful neck explorations. Two adenomas were in the mediastinum and the third was within the thyroid lobe. Autologous clot, Gelfoam, and silicone rubber were used to obstruct feeding arteries. The intrathyroidal adenoma failed to respond but both mediastinal adenomas were infarcted. Hyperparathyroidism recurred after 7 months in one patient but the other remains normocalcemic 8 months postembolization.

Metabolic maladaptation: individual and social consequences of medical intervention in correcting endemic hypothyroidism

Endemic hypothyroidism has been studied in a Central African population in remote Congo (ex-Zaire) to investigate the prevalence, severity, causes, and potential control of this disorder, with questions as to why this disease is conserved, and whether it confers any adaptive advantage in this resource-constrained environment. Iodine deficiency, cassava goiterogens, and selenium deficiency were found to be the factors implicated in the severe hypothyroidism expressed in congenital cretinism and high goiter incidence in this isolated population, which continues to be under observation following medical intervention. Profound hypothyroidism was encountered in whole village populations as measured by serum thyrotropin determinations ranging from very high to over 1000 IU, and thyroxin levels ranging from low to undetectable; cretinism rates were as high as 11% and goiter incidence approached 100%. Assessment of endocrinologic status, caloric requirement, energy output, fertility, and ecologic factors was carried out before and during iodine repletion by depot injection. Hypothyroidism was corrected and cretinism eliminated in the treatment group, with goiters reduced in most instances (with regrowth exhibited in some who escaped control) and some symptomatic goiter patients were offered surgical treatment for respiratory obstruction. Individual patient benefits, including improved strength and increased energy output, were remarkable. The social and developmental consequences observed within the collective groups of treated patients were remarkable for an increase in caloric requirement and a dramatic increase in fertility that led to quantitative as well as qualitative increases in resource consumption. Micronutrient iodine repletion was not accompanied by any concomitant increase in macronutrient supply, and hunger and environmental degradation resulted. The highly prevalent disease of hypothyroidism is found in highest incidence in areas of greatest resource constraint. It may be that hypothyroidism is conserved in such areas because it may confer adaptive advantage in such marginal environments as an effect, as well as a cause, of underdevelopment. Hypothyroidism may limit energy requirements, fertility, and consumer population pressure in closed ecosystems that could otherwise be outstripped. Single factor intervention in a vertical health care program not sensitive to the fragile biologic balance and not part of a culture-sensitive development program might result in medical maladaptation.

Disseminated Trichosporon infection. Occurrence in an immunosuppressed patient with chronic active hepatitis.

A 62-year-old woman with chronic active hepatitis receiving immunosuppressive drugs was initially admitted with sepsis secondary to an intra-abdominal abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. She had a stormy course despite adequate antimicrobial therapy. Her postoperative course was further complicated by a fungal infection. Blood, urine, and sputum cultures were positive for Trichosporon. Antifungal therapy was given but her condition deteriorated and she died. At autopsy, a disseminated fungal infection was found. Diagnosis and management of such infections in the immunosuppressed host are difficult.

Mucinous colon carcinoma in a black family

Carcinoma of the large bowel developed in an autosomal dominant pattern in 13 members of a black-American family. Seven members were affected prior to initial ascertainment of the family in 1976. Thereafter, the remaining six were affected while 0.2 cases were expected (p less than 0.001). Median age at diagnosis of colon cancer was 39 years (range, 22-62 years) in this family, compared with 65 years among black-Americans, in general. Histologic review of surgical specimens from six patients and medical record data for a seventh patient showed mucinous adenocarcinoma of the colon, an uncommon histologic variant. Studies of several family members a decade ago had revealed no biologic markers of cancer susceptibility.

Clinical Effects of Membrane Lung Support for Acute Respiratory Failure

Extrapulmonary support in respiratory failure has become possible for prolonged periods with clinical application of the membrane lung oxygenator. The membrane lung may be perfused in a venovenous circuit, in which case it functions by prepulmonary venous oxygenation, or it may be pumped in venoarterial perfusion as partial or total cardiopulmonary bypass. Four patients were placed on venovenous membrane lung (GE-Peirce) perfusion for periods ranging from 6 to 112 hours. In oxygenating blood flows of less than 50% of the cardiac output, a viable PaO2 (mean, 52 mm Hg) was obtained in 2 patients with 60% FIO2, including 1 survivor who was weaned from the membrane lung. The remaining 2 patients had heart failure and insufficient venovenous membrane lung flows to improve systemic oxygenation (mean PaO2, 45 mm Hg on 100% FIO2). Four other patients were placed on venoarterial membrane lung (GE-DuaLung) bypass for 18 to 110 hours. With 40 to 85% of the cardiac output bypassed through the membrane oxygenator, immediate improvement was seen in systemic oxygenation (mean PaO2, 75 mm Hg), effective compliance (mean increase of 75%), and reduction in pulmonary hypertension (mean decrease, 15 mm Hg). These changes during bypass allowed the lungs to be put at rest with a decrease in FIO2 and positive end-expiratory pressures. This clinical experience indicates that venoarterial membrane lung bypass may be both supportive and therapeutic, decompressing the pulmonary circuit and maintaining systemic oxygenation. Membrane lung supported by either mode of perfusion has been shown to be clinically effective in patients suffering acute respiratory failure.

Benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation in vitro

The erythroid colony forming unit assay technique was used to study the inhibitory effect of benzene on mouse bone marrow cell culture in vitro. The ability of vitamin B6 to prevent benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation was also tested. At concentrations equal to or higher than the lowest inhibitory concentration of benzene, pyridoxine HCI significantly prevented benzene-induced inhibition inhibition of erythroid colony formation in vitro. However, when benzene concentration was higher, the added pyridoxine HCI was ineffective in preventing benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation in vitro, even when it was preincubated with the bone marrow cells for 30 minutes prior to adding benzene. On the basis of this finding, it is proposed that benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation may involve two different mechanisms, one of which involves interaction with Vitamin 6 added as pyridoxine HCI.