Faecal occult blood testing in the detection of colorectal cancer.

5012 asymptomatic patients over the age of 40 years were asked by their general practitioners to perform a Hemoccult faecal blood test over 3 days. 3422 patients on a normal diet completed the test (a compliance rate of 67 per cent). Ninety-nine patients (3 per cent) had a positive result.

Early detection of colorectal cancer using faecal occult blood tests.

Five thousand and twelve asymptomatic patients over the age of 40 years who were on a normal diet were asked by their general practitioners to perform a Hemoccult (Röhn Pharma (Noristan] faecal occult blood test over 3 days. Of the 3 422 patients (68%) who completed the test, 99 (3%) had a positive result. The patients with a positive result then again performed the Hemoccult test, this time over 6 days on a restricted diet.

Carcinoma of the colon and rectum in patients under 30 years of age.

A 15-year study of large-bowel carcinoma at Groote Schuur Hospital revealed 47 patients who presented at the age of 29 years or younger. Only 1% of the White patients with large-bowel carcinoma were in this age group (similar to other Western series), whereas a much higher incidence was seen in Coloured patients (9%). We found a large number of young Coloured patients with high-grade tumours and lymph node invasion.

Abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for carcinoma at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, 1971-1982.

Abdominoperineal excision of the rectum remains the accepted treatment for the majority of lower rectal adenocarcinomas. Despite advances in surgery and anaesthesia, survival has not improved over the last 40 years. Over a 12-year period the overall 5-year survival rate for patients undergoing abdominoperineal excision for adenocarcinoma of the rectum at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, was 39%.

Reductions in the plating efficiency of the fetal neural precursor cells following maternal alcohol consumption.

Maternal alcohol abuse has been associated with reduced neural cell number and abnormal cell differentiation and organization in many regions of the developing mammalian brain. Experiments were conducted to determine whether changes in the neural precursor cells could be detected in primary culture following maternal alcohol consumption during the early proliferative period of the fetal brain growth spurt. Alcohol was administered to pregnant mice in the drinking water from days 11 to 19 of gestation.

Central venous catheterization for parenteral nutrition. Experience at Groote Schuur Hospital.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of complications of catheterization for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients of the Parenteral Nutrition Unit of Groote Schuur Hospital. During the 2-year study period, 218 central venous catheters were inserted in 170 patients. The preferred technique of percutaneous infraclavicular subclavian venepuncture with subsequent subcutaneous tunnelling using a silicone elastomere catheter is described.

Radical restorative surgery for poorly differentiated carcinoma of the mid-rectum.

A retrospective study was made to compare the results of restorative surgery with those of total rectal excision in the treatment of patients with a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the middle third of the rectum (between 8 and 12 cm from the anal verge). Of 1163 patients presenting between 1963 and 1975, 42 with poorly differentiated tumours at this level were followed up after treatment by a radical (i.e.

The management of anal carcinoma.

In a 20-year survey of anal carcinoma at Groote Schuur Hospital 55 cases were studied retrospectively. Patients of mixed race with anal margin carcinoma had a median age 29 years below that of Whites with anal margin carcinoma. Patients in these two groups with anal canal carcinoma had the same median age.

A comparative randomized trial of heparin versus streptokinase in the treatment of acute proximal venous thrombosis: an interim report of a prospective trial.

A controlled, prospective study comparing streptokinase and heparin treatment has been completed in 51 patients presenting with acute proximal venous thrombosis of less than 8 days' clinical duration. Patients were studied by means of pre-treatment, post-treatment, 3- and 12-monthly phlebography and pulmonary perfusion scanning and were followed up at 3-monthly intervals. Of the 26 patients randomized to receive streptokinase, therapy was stopped in 3 because of complications.

Management of the perineal wound with constant irrigation and suction after abdominoperineal excision for cancer of the rectum. A new suction/irrigation drain.

The technique of primary closure of the perineal wound combined with continuous irrigation and suction of the operative site has been used in 21 patients who underwent abdominoperineal excision for cancer of the rectum or anal canal. Primary healing occurred in 19 patients within 18 days, and all patients healed within 2 months. These results are in marked contrast to those in 38 patients treated with constant suction alone, of whom only 17 healed primarily.

Giant condyloma (Buschke--Loewenstein tumor) of the anorectum.

A case of giant condyloma of Buschke and Loewenstein is presented. The clinical course and pathology of these tumors are reviewed. This case illustrates the delay in establishing the diagnosis in spite of numerous biopsies.

A 10-year survey of large bowel carcinoma at Groote Schuur Hospital with particular reference to patients under 30 years of age.

In a 10-year survey of large bowel carcinoma at Groote Schuur Hospital 926 cases were studied retrospectively. A marked difference was seen in both the age of presentation and histological differentiation in two different racial groups. All patients who were 29 years of age or less at the time of presentation have been studied in detail.

The role of thrombolytic therapy in the management of phlegmasia caerulea dolens.

Two cases of phlegmasia caerulea dolens with peripheral venous gangrene treated with streptokinase are presented. Both patients had excellent results, beyond expectation. The literature is reviewed and the symptomatology, aetiology, pathogenesis and current thoughts on treatment are discussed.

Skin necrosis after warfarin therapy.

A rare but potentially lethal complication of coumarin and its congeners is skin necrosis. A case of skin necrosis due to warfarin is reported and the literature is reviewed. It is suggested that if necrosis develops, the coumarin therapy should be terminated, and the patient should immediately be heparinized.

Analysis of the conjugated bile acid distribution in human intestinal aspirates using gas liquid chromatography.

The conjugated bile acid pattern was evaluated in intestinal aspirates of five normal subjects and five patients known to have an abnormal bile acid distribution. The glycine/taurine (G/T) ratios for total bile acids were determined by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and by enzymatic assay using 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (STDH). By both methods G/T ratios in normal samples approximated 3.

Analysis of the total bile acid distribution in human intestinal aspirates by gas liquid chromatography.

A method for the quantitative determination of the total bile acid content of human intestinal aspirates is presented. This method was applied to duodenal samples from ten normal subjects and distal jejunal samples from seven of these subjects. Enzymatic and radioactive monitoring of the procedures utilized yielded recoveries of 89 to 100 percent of bile acids.

Ocular hypotensive effect of atenolol (Tenormin, I.C.I.). A new beta-adrenergic blocker.

Atenolol (Tenormin or I.C.I.

Relationship between Rh-o(D) zygosity and red cell Rh-o(D) antigen content in family members.

The red cells of 63 members of 11 families were tested with (125)I-labeled anti-Rh(0)(D). Families with a history of hemolytic disease of the newborn due to fetomaternal Rh incompatibility were selected for study. In such families it was possible to determine the antibody binding to the Rh(0)(D) heterozygous red cells of the children and to compare within each family this value with the antibody bound to the father's Rh(0)(D)-positive red cells and the mother's Rh(0)(D)-negative red cells.