Fröhlich's coherent excitations & the cancer problem--a retrospective overview of his guiding philosophy.

The guiding philosophy underlying Fröhlich's approach to biology from the side of theoretical physics is summarized, and illustrated, in the context of his prediction of (dynamic) coherent excitations in living systems, based on their dielectric and elastic properties, and far-from-equilibrium (nonlinear) character. His envisaged role of these coherent excitations in cell division and its control is outlined, together with the associated implications for cancer--as understood both at the time of his work and subsequently.

Physical basis of adverse and therapeutic effects of low intensity microwave radiation.

A physical basis of adverse and therapeutic effects of low intensity microwave radiation is presented based on the concept of oscillatory similitude between the frequency of an external microwave field (together with any lower frequency modulations thereof) and those of certain endogenous dipolar coherent excitations allied to aliveness, which play the role of 'tuned circuits' via which a living organism is electromagnetically sensitised in a non-linear way to external fields too weak to be able to cause heating. From this perspective, an external electromagnetic field affects a living system not as a toxin but rather by perturbing its endogenous electromagnetic activity. The possibility of adverse perturbation is illustrated by reference to the microwave fields used in mobile telecommunications whose signals interfere in a non-thermal way with biofunctionality--in particular, undermining the efficacy of processes that would otherwise afford natural protection against the development of pathology. Therapeutic modalities of microwave exposure, on the other hand, are illustrated using the example of microwave resonance therapy--which can be considered as an electromagnetic version of acupuncture, and as an example of 'quantum medicine'--whose normalising effect on a wide range of pathologies is striking, and which affords a novel alternative to conventional pharmacological interventions.

Olsalazine is contraindicated during pelvic radiation therapy: results of a double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: A randomized clinical trial from Great Britain suggested a possible beneficial effect of acetylsalicylate in the prevention of radiation-induced bowel toxicity. Olsalazine is an orally administered drug designed to deliver 5-aminosalicylate to the large bowel with minimal systemic absorption. A randomized clinical trial was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of olsalazine in preventing acute diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy were randomized, in double-blind fashion, to olsalazine 250 mg, two capsules twice daily, or an identical appearing placebo, two capsules twice daily. Patients were then evaluated weekly during radiation therapy for the primary study endpoint, diarrhea, as well as rectal bleeding, abdominal cramping, and tenesmus. RESULTS: The study was closed early, after entry of 58 evaluable patients, when a preliminary analysis showed excessive diarrhea in patients randomized to olsalazine. The incidence and severity of diarrhea were worse in patients randomized to olsalazine (p = 0.0036). Sixty percent of the patients randomized to olsalazine experienced Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea compared to only 14% randomized to placebo. There was also a trend toward higher incidence and greater severity of abdominal cramping in patients who were randomized to olsalazine (p = 0.084). CONCLUSION: Administration of olsalazine during pelvic radiation therapy resulted in an increased incidence and severity of diarrhea. Olsalazine is contraindicated in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy.

Abnormalities of liver function following extensive jejunoileal bypass and resection in rats.

A greater than 90% jejunoileal bypass similar to the type performed in man for morbid exogenous obesity was performed in 70 adult female Wister rats; in an additional 70 rats a greater than 90% jejunoileal resection was performed. The control group consisted of 46 rats, which were not subjected to any experimental measures. Following operation the bypass group demonstrated a significantly greater weight loss than did the resection group. Total plasma protein, albumin, and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase all decreased from the control in both the resection and bypass groups; the decrease, however, was more significant in the bypass than in the resected group. These results suggest the possible production of a hepatotoxic factor in the excluded small bowel segment.

The effects of small-bowel resection or bypass on the rat skeleton.

The bones of adult rats became progressively osteopenic 1 to 5 weeks following jejunoileal bypass or resection. These changes were accompanied by increased levels of metaphyseal enzyme activities as well as by loss of histochemically identifiable osteoid. Osteoid tissue and the ability to mineralize skeletal collagen were recovered more rapidly and fully in the resection group than in the bypass group. Metaphyseal alkaline phosphatase concentrations increased in both groups coincident with the elevated lysosomal enzymes levels, and the skeletons showed a calcium deficit (low Ca/HOPr ratio) within the first 3 weeks. In resected rats the osteopenia and bone blood chemistry were consistent with hyperparathyroidism secondary to impared Ca absorption. In bypassed rats the results suggest that the osteopenia might be related to the release of a "resorptive factor" from the excluded intestinal segment.

The assessment of levator trauma: a comparison between palpation and 4D pelvic floor ultrasound.

AIMS: Major morphological abnormalities of the pubovisceral muscle are observed in 10-20% of women symptomatic of pelvic floor disorders. Such defects arise in childbirth and are associated with prolapse. While they are clearly evident on 3D ultrasound and MR imaging, such defects can be difficult to detect clinically. We intended to compare findings on palpation with the results of ultrasound imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five women were recruited in a prospective observational study and assessed by interview, vaginal examination by a trained pelvic floor physiotherapist, and 3D/4D pelvic floor ultrasound. The vaginal examination involved digital assessment of muscle strength (modified Oxford grading) and morphological abnormalities. The ultrasound examination involved acquisition of volume datasets taken at rest, on Valsalva and pelvic floor muscle contraction. Assessments were undertaken supine and after voiding. Ultrasound operator and physiotherapist were blind to each other's findings. RESULTS: A comparison of 3D ultrasound and palpation was possible in 54 cases. Average Oxford grading was weakly associated with reduction in hiatal dimensions on contraction (r = -0.32, P = 0.024). A marked increase in hiatal dimensions detected on palpation was associated with increased hiatal area on Valsalva (P = 0.027). Defects were observed in 7/54 (13%) on ultrasound and in 10/55 (18%) on palpation. There was poor agreement between the methods, with only two defects picked up equally by both methods. CONCLUSIONS: Palpation of the pubovisceral muscle correlates poorly with 3D/4D pelvic floor ultrasound imaging for the assessment of muscular defects.

Physics and biology of mobile telephony.

Although safety guidelines--to which mobile telephones and their base-stations conform--do protect against excessive microwave heating, there is evidence that the low intensity, pulsed radiation currently used can exert subtle non-thermal influences. If these influences entail adverse health consequences, current guidelines would be inadequate. This review will focus on this possibility. The radiation used is indeed of very low intensity, but an oscillatory similitude between this pulsed microwave radiation and certain electrochemical activities of the living human being should prompt concern. However, being so inherently dependent on aliveness, non-thermal effects cannot be expected to be as robust as thermal ones, as is indeed found; nor can everyone be expected to be affected in the same way by exposure to the same radiation. Notwithstanding uncertainty about whether the non-thermal influences reported do adversely affect health, there are consistencies between some of these effects and the neurological problems reported by some mobile-telephone users and people exposed longterm to base-station radiation. These should be pointers for future research.

Physiological changes after postanal repair and parameters predicting outcome.

Nineteen patients have been studied before and 3 months after postanal repair. Physiological parameters have been compared with 16 age- and sex-matched controls. Twelve patients were substantially improved whereas seven obtained no clinical benefit. Pre-operative resting (P less than 0.005), squeeze (P less than 0.005) and strain (P less than 0.005) anal pressures at 2 cm were significantly less than controls. Similarly, pressures during all three events at 4 cm were significantly less than controls (resting P less than 0.05, squeeze P less than 0.005, strain P less than 0.025). Median volume of first leak during saline infusion was significantly less than controls (P less than 0.005) as was the total tolerable volume (P less than 0.005). Videoproctographic parameters which differed significantly from controls included pelvic floor descent at rest (P less than 0.005), during contraction (P less than 0.005) and straining (P less than 0.05); resting and squeeze perineal descent (P less than 0.005); and anal canal length at rest and straining (P less than 0.005). Anorectal angles, rectal compliance, rectal sensation and emptying did not differ from controls. None of these parameters was improved by postanal repair. Patients not improved by operation could be detected pre-operatively by low resting (P less than 0.05), squeeze (P less than 0.025) and strain (P less than 0.05) anal pressure at 2 cm as well as by videoproctographic evidence of increased pelvic floor descent at rest (P less than 0.01), during contraction (P less than 0.005) and straining (P less than 0.005), excessive perineal descent at rest (P less than 0.05), during contraction (P less than 0.05) and during attempted defaecation (P less than 0.05) and a short anal canal at rest (P less than 0.05) and during straining (P less than 0.025).

Anorectal function after abdominal rectopexy: parameters of predictive value in identifying return of continence.

Posterior abdominal rectopexy was performed in 12 patients with a full-thickness rectal prolapse: 9 had faecal incontinence. The prolapse was successfully controlled in all cases and six of nine patients were rendered continent. Physiological studies in patients were compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Preoperative anal pressures were significantly lower than in controls at rest (R), during maximum pelvic floor contraction (Sq) and attempted defaecation (St) (R, P less than 0.005; Sq, P less than 0.005; St, P less than 0.005). Anorectal angles were significantly more obtuse in patients than in controls (R, P less than 0.05; St, P less than 0.025). None of these parameters changed significantly after abdominal rectopexy. Median rectal emptying significantly decreased after operation (preoperative 83 per cent/min; postoperative, 58 per cent/min, P less than 0.05). Median perineal descent during attempted defaecation also significantly decreased after operation (preoperative, 8.5 cm; postoperative, 7.1 cm; P less than 0.025). Parameters which predicted return of continence included: delayed leakage during the saline infusion test (P less than 0.025), a narrow anorectal angle during pelvic floor contraction (P less than 0.025), minimal pelvic floor descent during contraction (P less than 0.05), and a long anal canal at rest (P less than 0.05) and during pelvic floor contraction (P less than 0.025).

How reliable is measurement of the anorectal angle by videoproctography?

The anorectal angle can be determined either by constructing a straight line along the lower border of the rectum (Method A) or by using the central longitudinal axis of the lower rectum (Method B). We have used a computer program to derive the centroid of the rectum for Method B. The coefficients of variation for angles measured at rest, during maximum pelvic floor contraction, and during attempted defecation were 0.616, 0.351, and 0.358, respectively, compared with 0.993, 0.972, and 0.968 for Method B. The presence of a rectocele had no influence on the measurement of the anorectal angle in incontinence, but there was a significant difference in assessment of the angle between constipated patients (P less than 0.05) and controls (P less than 0.05). Posterior indentation of the rectum had no significant influence on measurement of the angle in any group. These data indicate that a computer-derived centroid is more reliable for measurement of angles, but a correction factor for anterior rectocele is needed in constipated patients and controls.