Efficacy of atropine methylnitrate alone and in combination with albuterol in children with asthma

The bronchodilator effect of nebulized AMN, albuterol and their combination was evaluated in 16 steroid-dependent asthmatic children. In phase 1, maximal bronchodilation was determined by dose-response studies on separate days. Maximal bronchodilator dose of each drug was administered either alone or in combination during phase 2. In phase 1, 0.11 +/- 0.01 mg/kg of albuterol and 0.03 mg/kg of AMN produced maximum bronchodilation. In phase 2, the peak response to albuterol occurred within 30 min and to AMN, at 60 min. Maximal FEV1 achieved after AMN was 90 percent of the maximal achieved after albuterol. AMN FEV1 response was better than for placebo for 3 h; that for albuterol was better for 4 h. Combination therapy produced a peak response similar to that of albuterol but was better than albuterol by 6 h. Thus, the maximum bronchodilator effect of AMN is less than that of albuterol in asthmatic children, but the combination may extend the period of bronchodilatation.     

Ploidy pattern of megakaryocytes in patients with metastatic tumors with and without paraneoplastic thrombosis and in controls

In order to measure megakaryocyte DNA content in a greater number of well-defined patients, the use of bone marrow aspirates obtained postmortem is a basic requirement. We could show that the distinction between the ploidy classes in DNA histograms is possible until 18 h postmortem. Thus, bone marrow aspirates obtained up to 12 h after death can be expected to give reliable results. Megakaryocytes of the following patient groups were studied: 15 patients with metastatic tumors and paraneoplastic thrombosis, 15 patients with metastatic tumors without paraneoplastic thrombosis and 10 controls. A higher ploidy of the megakaryocytes was found in all 30 patients with metastatic tumors, independently of whether these patients suffer from thrombosis or not. Higher megakaryocyte ploidy, however, is correlated with a larger cytoplasmic mass of megakaryocytes, which leads to an increased platelet production. Besides an overcompensation for increased platelet consumption, a mitogenic or thrombopoietin-like factor produced by the tumor itself must be considered.     

Efficacy and safety of ezetimibe co-administered with simvastatin compared with atorvastatin in adults with hypercholesterolemia

This study compared the efficacy and safety of co-administered ezetimibe + simvastatin with atorvastatin monotherapy in adults with hypercholesterolemia. Seven hundred eighty-eight patients were randomized 1:1:1 to 3 treatment groups; each group was force-titrated over four 6-week treatment periods: (1) 10 mg of atorvastatin as the initial dose was titrated to 20, 40, and 80 mg; (2) co-administration of 10 mg of ezetimibe and 10 mg of simvastatin (10/10 mg) was titrated to 10/20, 10/40, and 10/80 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin; and (3) co-administration of 10/20 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin was titrated to 10/40 mg (for 2 treatment periods) and 10/80 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin. Key efficacy measures included percent changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) from baseline to the ends of (1) treatment periods 1 and 2 (for LDL cholesterol) comparing co-administration of 10/20 mg and 10/10 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin with 10 mg of atorvastatin and (2) treatment period 4 (for LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol) comparing co-administration of 10/80 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin with 80 mg of atorvastatin. Baseline LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were comparable between treatment groups. At the end of treatment period 1, the mean decrease of LDL cholesterol was significantly (p ≤0.001) greater for co-administration of 10/10 mg and 10/20 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin than for 10 mg of atorvastatin. At the end of treatment period 4 and after comparing maximum doses, co-administration of 10/80 mg of ezetimibe + simvastatin was superior to 80 mg of atorvastatin in the percent LDL cholesterol decrease (−59.4% vs −52.5%, p <0.001) and HDL cholesterol increase (12.3% vs 6.5%; p <0.001). All treatments were well tolerated. Thus, a greater LDL cholesterol decrease and HDL cholesterol increase were attained by treating patients with co-administration of ezetimibe and simvastatin than with atorvastatin.     

高血压患者微量白蛋白尿与凝血纤溶指标的关系

目的:探讨原发性高血压患者微量白蛋白尿(MAU)与凝血纤溶指标的关系。方法:入选尿常规蛋白阴性的原发性高血压患者58例及健康对照者18例,分别进行临床和生化指标的检测。结果:根据尿微量白蛋白检测结果,高血压患者分为MAU组27例和NMAU(正常MAU)组31例,MAU组收缩压、舒张压、尿微量白蛋白及凝血纤溶指标中的纤维蛋白原、D-二聚体定量与对照组及NMAU组比较显著性增高(P<0.05)。多元相关分析显示,尿微量白蛋白水平与纤维蛋白原和D-二聚体定量均呈显著性正相关(r=0.613,P<0.01;r=0.842,P<0.01),纤维蛋白原与D-二聚体定量亦呈显著性相关(r=0.694,P<0.01)。结论:纤维蛋白原和D-二聚体定量与高血压患者尿微量白蛋白水平密切相关,提示高血压早期肾损伤时期即存在凝血纤溶指标变化,早期干预凝血纤溶系统的紊乱对减少心血管并发症有一定意义。     

Perception of bronchodilation in subjects with asthma and smokers with airflow limitation

Perception of the efficacy of bronchodilators in relieving airflow obstruction is a likely determinant of compliance with treatment in patients prescribed these drugs on an 'as needed' basis. This study aimed to determine whether bronchodilator-induced improvements in lung function are associated with improvements in breathing difficulty in subjects with asthma or smokers with airflow limitation. Twenty smokers with airflow limitation and 16 subjects with previously physician-diagnosed asthma received salbutamol (200 micrograms) and ipratropium bromide (80 micrograms). Spirometry and lung volumes were measured before and 40 min after bronchodilator. Subjects recorded changes in 'difficult breathing' on a visual analogue scale (VAS). After bronchodilator, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) increased by 23.0 +/- 6.4% of baseline (mean +/- 95% CI) in smokers, and by 25.2 +/- 8.5% in the asthmatics, while VAS improved by 31 +/- 23% in smokers and 45 +/- 25% in asthmatics. However, these changes were not significantly correlated in either smokers (r = -0.04) or asthmatics (r = 0.15). In the asthmatic subjects, good perceivers (> 25% improvement in VAS) had greater improvements in lung volumes, as percentage predicted, than did poor perceivers. In the smokers, changes in lung function did not differ significantly between good and poor perceivers. Improvement in FEV1, as percentage predicted, was significantly correlated with improvement in VAS in good perceivers (asthma: r = 0.78, P < 0.01; smokers: r = 0.68, P < 0.05), but not in poor perceivers. Asthmatic subjects had good perception of improvements in lung function. However, in smokers with airflow limitation there is little correlation between improvement in lung function and sensation of breathing difficulty. In these subjects symptoms appear to be an unreliable guide for 'as needed' use of bronchodilators.     

Prophylaxis with ofloxacin in patients with cancer and neutropenia

Summary The suppression of potentially pathogenic microorganisms using prophylactic antibacterial treatment could eventually protect the patient from infection. Oral absorbable and non-absorbable antibacterial agents have been used with variable results. In the present study, 47 patients with cancer and neutropenia received oral ofloxacin 200 mg twice daily prophylactically. All patients were previously treated with antineoplastic chemotherapy. Septicemia developed in ten patients (21%). The number of infections was higher in patients with a level of granulocytopenia under 0.5×10⁹/l. Infection was caused in almost all patients by gram-positive organisms. Prophylaxis with ofloxacin provided efficacious protection against gram-negative bacteria and was well tolerated.

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Prophylaxe mit Ofloxacin bei neutropenischen Patienten mit Krebs

Zusammenfassung Die Unterdrückung potentiell pathogener Mikroorganismen durch antibakterielle Prophylaxe kann den Patienten möglicherweise vor einer Infektion schützen. Oral absorbierbare und nicht absorbierbare antibakterielle Substanzen wurden mit wechselnden Ergebnissen eingesetzt. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden 47 Krebspatienten in der neutropenischen Phase 200 mg Ofloxacin zweimal täglich oral verabreicht. Alle Patienten hatten vorher eine antitumorale Chemotherapie erhalten. Bei zehn Patienten (21%) entwickelte sich eine Sepsis. Bei Patienten mit Granulozytenzahlen unter 0,5×10⁹/l traten Infektionen häufiger auf. Bei fast allen Patienten wurden die Infektionen durch grampositive Erreger verursacht. Die Prophylaxe mit Ofloxacin bot einen wirksamen Schutz gegen gramnegative Infektionen und wurde gut vertragen.

     

Safety and efficacy of thalidomide in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia

We administered the anti-angiogenic drug thalidomide to 21 patients (12 men) with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), who were not responsive to standard treatment. Patients received thalidomide at an escalating dose from 100 to 400 mg/d. Administration of the drug was discontinued before the planned 6 months of treatment in 19 patients (90.5%), mainly because of somnolence and/or fatigue, neurological symptoms or neutropenia. Of the 13 evaluable patients (who received more than 30 d of therapy), anaemia improved in three out of seven (43%) who were treated because of anaemia; thrombocytopenia improved in two out of three (66.6%) who were treated because of thrombocytopenia; splenomegaly was reduced in four (30.8%). Undesired increases in white blood cell and platelet counts were observed in three (23.1%) and five (38.5%) patients respectively. A severity score, indexed on haematological and clinical parameters, improved in two patients (15.4%), but worsened in five (38.5%). In conclusion, standard-dose thalidomide in MMM patients is burdened with a high rate of side-effects, which prevent prolonged treatment. Because the drug is effective in improving anaemia and thrombocytopenia and in reducing splenomegaly, low-dose therapy warrants evaluation. The unexpected observation of leucocytosis and thrombocytosis suggests biological studies and better criteria for selection of patients for treatment.     

Relationship of heartburn with histopathological changes in esophagus and stomach in patients with duodenal ulcer

Histopathological changes in the esophagus and gastric antrum were studied in 47 patients with duodenal ulcer. Twenty three (49%) patients complained of heartburn. Esophagitis was present in 87% of the patients with heartburn and in 71% of the patients with no heartburn. In the majority, esophagitis was of mild to moderate severity. Gastritis was present in 83% (atrophic type in 22%) of patients with heartburn compared to 96% (25% atrophic type) of patients without heartburn. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of esophagitis and gastritis between the heartburn and no heartburn groups. This study suggests that histologic esophagitis and gastritis occur frequently in patients with duodenal ulcer and the presence of heartburn is not related to these histologic changes.