Total Body Area Research Articles

Xeroderma Pigmentosum and Medulloblastoma: Chromosomal Damage to Lymphocytes during Radiotherapy

The effects of radiotherapy on a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) of complementation group C and medulloblastoma are reported. His lymphocytes showed no x-ray-induced chromatid damage, but unstable chromosomal aberrations increased throughout the course of radiotherapy as observed also in two other children (patients 2 and 3) with a similar tumor. Such damage was more dependent on spinal than cranial irradiation, lowest in the XP patient and highest in patient 3. Interindividual differences seemed largely due to the relative volume of body irradiated, but the damage in patient 3 remained relatively high even after accounting for such a factor. A maximum of 36, 68, and 77% of lymphocytes had aberrations in the XP and patients 2 and 3, respectively, but chromosomal damage did not show a Poisson distribution and indicated admixture of irradiated and nonirradiated cells. The relative frequency of the irradiated cells was estimated and seemed proportional to the ratios of the average irradiated field to the total body area. The XP patient showed no preferential loss of highly damaged cells and seemed not to suffer excessive chromosomal damage; he had a normal clinical response to and a favorable outcome of radiotherapy. These findings reduce anxiety on the usemore » of radiotherapy in XP patients or at least in those of group C.« less

The acute effects of partial-body beta irradiation of mice.

An apparatus for the partial-body β irradiation of mice using 90Sr is described. Two groups of mice, hairless and CBA, were irradiated over one, two or three zones (each approximately one-fifth of the total body area) with a range of surface dose from 3000 to 24,000 rads. As well as the expected burns of the skin, lesions of the intestine also occurred. Both types of damage are described and their killing effects discussed. No worthwhile LD50 values for skin burns could be obtained due to the interaction of these two lesions. The skin burns of the hairless mice developed sooner and produced a greater mortality than those of the CBA mice and the possible explanations for this are discussed.

Effect of Cortisone on the Healing of Localized Burns in the Hamster Cheek Pouch

THE corticosteroids have been used in the therapy of burns with controversial results. Recent articles appearing in the literature have not clearly established the validity of this therapy. Some writers report a delay in healing of the skin, with no significant changes in the expected prognosis of burn cases.1 , 2 Others attribute to steroid treatment a phenomenal improvement after extensive burns, particularly those involving 30 to 60 per cent of the total body area.3 , 4 More critical reviews of this type of treatment express a conservative attitude.5 Because of this disparity in findings a new method was applied to the problem, consisting . . .

Effect of Cortisone on the Healing of Localized Burns in the Hamster Cheek Pouch

THE corticosteroids have been used in the therapy of burns with controversial results. Recent articles appearing in the literature have not clearly established the validity of this therapy. Some writers report a delay in healing of the skin, with no significant changes in the expected prognosis of burn cases.1 , 2 Others attribute to steroid treatment a phenomenal improvement after extensive burns, particularly those involving 30 to 60 per cent of the total body area.3 , 4 More critical reviews of this type of treatment express a conservative attitude.5 Because of this disparity in findings a new method was applied to the problem, consisting . . .

DIPHTHERITIC INVOLVEMENT OF THE LIPS, WITH ABSENCE OF SIGNS IN THE NOSE AND THROAT

No mention can be found in the literature of cases in which diphtheria involved the lips and buccal membranes alone, with repeated negative clinical signs in the nose and throat. Believing this to be the first report of such an involvement, we present the following report: J. M. W., a colored girl aged 10 years, was admitted to the children's burn ward at the Cincinnati General Hospital Oct. 16, 1937, with an extensive (60 per cent total body area) second and third degree burn from fire. The face and neck were spared. She was in deep shock. Intravenous dextrose and a blood transfusion were given immediately, along with other antishock therapy. In view of the extent of the burn, she did well; daily transfusions were given and the burned areas were treated locally with wet dressings of solution of aluminum acetate and green soap tub baths as soon as the