Urinary fluoride levels in South Australian pre-school children in summer and winter

A bstract — Summer and winter samples of first-morning urine from 168 pre-school children attending kindergartens in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities in South Australia were analysed for fluoride and creatinine concentration. The urinary fluoride: creatinine ratio, as an index of fluoride ingestion, was greater in winter for both the fluoridated and non-fluoridated area samples, the difference being interpreted as a result of increased losses of fluoride through the sweat in summer. The results do not indicate a need to vary the concentration of fluoride in the reticulated water supply with the seasons.     

Assessing the Use of Metered Dose Inhalers by Adults with Asthma

The development and analysis of an instrument to evaluate the use of metered dose inhalers by patients in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Asthma Program is presented. A total of 238 adult asthma patients demonstrated use of the metered dose inhaler for this analysis. Patient skill in using the inhaler was recorded using the instrument, Inhaler-Use Checklist, developed at UAB. The study found that most patients use metered dose inhalers incorrectly, despite training received from their physicians on proper use of inhalers.

This work is supported by the research funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grant RO1HL31481-03.     

Phase II study of docetaxel (taxotere) in patients with previously untreated extensive small cell lung cancer

Summary The objective of this multicenter phase II study was to evaluate the activity of docetaxel in previously untreated small cell lung cancer. Fourteen patients were treated at a dose of 75 mg/m² intravenously every three weeks. Of the 12 patients evaluable for response, one had a partial response for a duration of 12 weeks for a response rate of 8.3%. Toxicity was mild. We conclude that docetaxel has, at the dose given in this study, little activity in previously untreated small cell lung cancer.     

Surgical management of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Ten of 11 patients were successfully operated upon for severely symptomatic idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS). The operative techniques utilized were myotomy in 9 patients, myotomy and mitral valve replacement in 1 patient, and mitral valve replacement alone in 1 patient. Intraoperative and late postoperative measurement of gradients have shown abolition of or a marked decrease in gradients in 8 patients studied. With 1 exception, all 10 survivors are now in N.Y.H.A. Functional Class I or II. One patient suffers from persistent left heart failure and remains in Class IV. Significant mitral insufficiency was abolished by operation in all but 1 patient. Myotomy is an effective and safe operative technique in the treatment of IHSS. Mitral valve replacement should be undertaken if myotomy does not relieve obstruction.