Effect of intra-arterial cisplatin and 1,3-bis(2chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) dosage on radiographic response and regional toxicity in malignant glioma patients: proposal of a new method of intra-arterial dosage calculation

Summary The frequency of both neurologic toxicity and therapeutic response due to intra-arterial (IA) chemotherapy is decreased by dose reduction. A method to individualize IA drug dosage is needed to provide each patient with the safest, most effective dose. Most trials of IA chemotherapy for malignant glioma have used body surface area (BSA) to calculate dosage; but brain size and arterial distribution do not correlate well with BSA. Fixed doses of cisplatin and BCNU were used in combination to perform 35 IA infusions in 20 malignant gliomas patients. Doses modified by the number of major intracranial vessels supplied by the infused artery were used in 34 infusions in 19 patients. Patients receiving 150 to 200 mg CP and 300 mg BCNU had an incidence of neurologic deficit of 5.6% if 3 vessels were supplied by the infused artery compared to 42% for those with only 2 vessels. This crude dose modification maintained efficacy while reducing neurologic toxicity. Further refinement is possible using well established intra-arterial pharmacokinetic principles. Intra-arterial dosing based on volume flow at the site of infusion would yield a more reproducible exposure of the infused capillary bed to a drug than methods currently in use. More consistent drug exposure should reduce toxicity due to over dosing and treatment failure due to under dosing. Address for offprints: 1151 N. State St., Suite 504, Jackson, MS 39202-2407, USA     

Minimal head injury: is admission necessary?

The records of 138 patients admitted a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 14 or 15 following head injury were reviewed to assess the need for hospital observation and to determine whether obtaining a normal computerized tomography (CT) scan in the emergency department could have avoided admission. GCS was 15 in 103 patients (74%) and 14 in 35 (26%). Eighty-three patients were admitted for their head injury alone, and 55 had other injuries but would have required admission for their head injury. Loss of consciousness was documented in 51 per cent and suspected in another 29 per cent and was distributed equally regardless of GCS. Seven per cent (5/71) of skull x rays were positive and were associated with CNS pathology in three patients. Skull x rays in an additional four patients with positive CT findings were negative including a patient with an epidural hematoma (EDH). Seventeen per cent (13/75) of CT scans were positive (contusions 5, subdural hematoma 3, subarachnoid hemorrhage 2, edema 2, EDH 1). Only the patient with the EDH required operative treatment. No patient with a normal CT scan went on to develop any neurosurgical problems, and 78 per cent of the patients admitted with isolated head injuries were discharged within 48 hours. Significant CNS pathology does occur following "minimal" head injuries. Skull x rays are not helpful. The use of CT scanning appears to triage those patients requiring admission and in hospital observation.     

Thyroid function in a healthy elderly population: implications for clinical evaluation

Evaluation of thyroid function in elderly people is complex and has generated some controversy about what is normal. This study analyzed thyroid function assays in an identified healthy elderly population of 216 subjects. Thyroxine, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, T3 uptake, "supersensitive" thyrotropin, and thyroid antibody titers were performed. Histories of treatment for thyroid conditions were present in 13.9% (n = 30) of the population, and test results for an additional 4.3% (n = 8) revealed some hypothyroidism. These subjects were excluded from statistical analysis. Test results revealed significant differences from younger controls as well as skewed distributions for T4, FT4, and TSH. There were no significant correlations with increasing age or gender within the elderly population. 11.8% (n = 21) of the population exhibited elevated TSF levels with normal T4 values, and 23.0% (n = 41) exhibited a titer of one or both thyroid antibodies. Current reference ranges for thyroid tests are broad enough to include the range of values seen in the healthy elderly, but some cautions are discussed.     

Management of bleeding oesophageal varices: an eight-year prospective study

Ninety-one patients (56 men) were admitted with bleeding oesophageal varices on 132 occasions from 1972 to 1980 to the haematemesis and melaena unit of Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne. For 73 patients, alcoholic liver disease was the cause of portal hypertension. The management protocol for varices included early endoscopy, medical-surgical liaison, balloon tamponade for continued bleeding and strict criteria for surgery. The endoscopic diagnosis rate was 92%. There were 24 deaths (26%) during the initial admission to hospital and a further 12 patients (13%) died within one year. The mean transfusion requirement was 9.7 units per admission. Balloon tamponade was necessary on 103 occasions and failed to control bleeding on six of them. The results suggest that mortality from bleeding oesophageal varices can be reduced by a protocol which includes early endoscopy, intensive care, balloon tamponade, close medical-surgical liaison and portacaval shunt for recurrent bleeding in "good' risk patients.     

The national athletic injury/illness reporting system 3-year findings of high school and college football injuries*

The National Athletic Injury/Illness Reporting System is a national surveillance system created from several workshops at which physicians, athletic trainers, and sports administrators shared their ideas for obtaining meaningful data. The primary objective was to provide a feasible and inexpensive mechanism for the continuous collection and analysis of information on sports-related injuries. Additionally, the project offers institutions and agencies a useful system of recordkeeping. NAIRS collects data on a wide range of sports, however, this report clarifies the risk of injury for high school and college football. Presented are data on neurotrauma, meniscus/knee sprains, and ankle sprains. Playing surface, surface hardness, surface friction, and shoe-turf interface were also examined. It was concluded that no helmet type or brand was associated with unusually high levels of risk. Artificial surfaces did not constitute an additional risk of significant concussion. An association between playing surface and the risk of knee and ankle injuries was observed. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1979;1(2):103-108.