University of Texas System

About: University of Texas System is a education organization based out in Austin, Texas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 13901 authors who have published 10925 publications receiving 319328 citations. The organization is also known as: UT System.

Evaluation of estrogen treatment in female patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of estrogen in female patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Fifteen DAT patients with a mean age of (x±SE) 71.9±2.4 years were treated with 0.625mg of conjugated equine estrogens orally twice a day for 6 weeks. Of the 15 DAT patients, 4 were diagnosed as mild, 7 as moderate and 4 as severe. The effects of estrogen on DAT patients were evaluated by psychometric assessments, behavior rating scales, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurement and quantitative EEG analysis. Psychometric assessments consisted of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS). Dementia syndromes were evaluated by the CBS-Scale (GBSS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). During estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), the mean MMSE score (x±SE) increased significantly from 11.6±1.9 to 13.2±2.0 at 3 weeks (P<0.01) and 13.8±2.0 at 6 weeks (P<0.001). The mean HDS score increased significantly from 8.6±2.1 to 11.5±2.3 at 3 weeks (P<0.001) and 11.6±2.6 at 6 weeks (P<0.01). Significant improvements in the mean scores of the GBSS and HDRS were also observed in the estrogen-treated group, but not in the untreated control group with a mean age of 71.2±2.5 years (n=15). The rCBF was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). ERT increased the mean rCBF significantly in the lower frontal region (P<0.01) and primary motor area (P<0.02) of the right hemisphere. The mean absolute power delta band values in both left and right frontal EEG (Fp1 and Fp2) (P<0.01) and theta1 band values in Fp2 (P<0.05) decreased significantly during ERT. It is inferred that ERT significantly improves cognitive functions, dementia symptoms, regional cerebral blood flow and EEG activity in female patients with DAT.

Adriamycin cardiomyopathy--risk factors.

Abstract: The records of 53 patients treated with Adriamycin, 17 of whom developed congestive heart failure and 36 of whom received a similar total dose of Adriamycin without developing congestive heart failure, were analyzed for factors associated with Adriamycin cardiomyopathy. The risk of cardiomyopathy was significantly greater in patients who developed a larger than or equal to 30% decrease in limb-lead QRS voltage. Concurrent cyclophosphamide and mediastinal radiotherapy lowered the cumulative Adriamycin dose necessary for the development of cardiac toxicity. Uncontrolled hypertension also appears to be a risk factor in potentiating the development of Adriamycin cardiomyopathy at lower doses. Congestive heart failure was more likely to be fatal if it developed shortly after the last dose of Adriamycin. These findings can be utilized to increase the safety of Adriamycin therapy in the future.

Megavoltage irradiation of epithelial tumors of the nasopharynx

Abstract: The present analysis is limited to 251 patients treated with megavoltage irradiation at M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute between 1954 and December 1977. The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival for all patients studied is 52%; it is 42%, 65%, and 14%, respectively, for those with squamous cell carcinoma, lympbepitbelioma, and unclassified carcinoma. There were 49 (19.5%) local failures, 32 (12.7%) regional failures, and 73 (29.19%) distant metastases. A previous review had shown an unsatiafactory control rate for T 1 and T 2 squamous cell carcinoma, the reason for which may have been that the actual delivered dose to the nasopbarynx was less thin the calculated dose. Since 1972, an additional 500 to 750 rad has been delivered through parallel opposed small fields centered over the angle of the nassopharynx. Thus, this analysis is divided into two periods, 1954 through December 1971, and January 1972 through December 1977, to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment changes. The control rate for T 1 and T 2 squamous cell carcinomas has increased from 76.4% to 94.2%.

Social learning and the acquisition of snake fear in monkeys.

Abstract: The origins and development of predator avoidance have been of long-standing interest to both primatologists and comparative psychologists. Snake avoidance has been of special interest in part because such a wide range of free-ranging monkeys have been observed to exhibit fearful reactions to the appearance of snakes (e .g ., Hall & DeVore, 1965, for chacma baboons {.Papio ursinus]; Struhsaker, 1967, and Seyfarth, Cheney, & Marler, 1980a, 1980b, for vervet monkeys \Cercopithecus aethiopsY, J . Robinson, personal communication, February 1985, for the dusky titi [Callicebus moloch] and capuchins [Cebus])- Behavioral manifesta­ tions of this fear of snakes include motor acts such as flight, facial expressions indicative of fear, visual monitoring of the snake, and alarm or distress calls (e .g ., Hall & DeVore, 1965; Seyfarth et al., 1980a, 1980b; Struhsaker, 1967).