Reticuloendothelial stimulation: Levamisole compared

PURPOSE: Levamisole in combination with 5-fluorouracil is an effective adjuvant for the treatment of resected Dukes stage C colon cancer. Since the mechanism of action of levamisole is not known, we have investigated its effects on hepatic and splenic reticuloendothelial system (RES) activity in the rat and compared the effect of levamisole with other known RES stimulators. METHODS: The hepatic and splenic uptake of an intravenous dose of technetium-99m-sulfur colloid has been used to measure RES activity in rats treated with levamisole, glucan, zymosan, chlormethiazole, octreotide, and saline. RESULTS: Levamisole significantly increased the hepatic uptake of technetium-99m-sulfur colloid and is comparable in its effect to the other RES stimulators. In contrast, levamisole has no effect on splenic RES activity. CONCLUSION: RES function is considered to be a potentially important factor in the development of liver metastases, and the stimulatory effect of levamisole on the hepatic RES may partly explain its efficacy as an adjuvant treatment in colon cancer.The work was funded by Grant 9021310 CA from the Medical Research Council.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, San Francisco, California, June 7 to 12, 1992     

Surgical treatment of ovarian cancer

Initial experience with 25 personal cases operated on by a technique of radical oophorectomy is reported. There was one operative death and two fistulae, but no other significant morbidity. The majority of patients were treated with radical post-operative chemotherapy, with early encouraging results. It is suggested that this type of surgery in combination with chemotherapy merits a wider appraisal in the management of those patients with ovarian cancer which has extended locally or metastasised within the pelvis. It may have a place in the management of a few patients with early Stage 3 disease.     

Vascular components of cerebrospinal fluid compensation

OBJECT: The aim of the study was to assess how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure-volume compensation depends on cerebrovascular tone. METHODS: In 26 New Zealand White rabbits, intracranial pressure (ICP), arterial blood pressure, and basilar artery blood flow velocity were measured continuously. Saline was infused into the cranial subarachnoid space to assess CSF compensatory parameters: the resistance to CSF outflow, the elastance coefficient, and the amplitude of the ICP pulsatile waveform. Infusions were repeated on two different levels of CO2 concentration in the arterial blood (PaCO2), at normotension and hypotension, and after the death of the animal. An increase in PaCO2 from a mean of 27 to 48 mm Hg was accompanied by an 18% increase in the resistance to CSF outflow (p<0.005) and a 64% increase (p<0.05) in the elastance coefficient. A decrease in arterial blood pressure from a mean of 100 to 51 mm Hg caused a 25% decrease in CSF outflow resistance (p<0.01) but did not affect the elastance coefficient. Postmortem, a 23% decrease in the CSF outflow resistance was associated with a 102% decrease in the elastance coefficient. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebrovascular parameters have a limited but significant impact on CSF infusion studies. The vascular component of ICP may be identified as a significant factor contributing to this phenomenon. During infusion studies, physiological parameters influencing vascular conditions should be maintained as stable as possible.     

How adolescent girls interpret weight-loss advertising

While they demonstrate some ability to critically analyze the more obvious forms of deceptive weight-loss advertising, many girls do not recognize how advertising evokes emotional responses or how visual and narrative techniques are used to increase identification in weight-loss advertising. This study examined how girls aged 9-17 years interpreted magazine advertising, television (TV) advertising and infomercials for weight-loss products in order to determine whether deceptive advertising techniques were recognized and to assess pre-existing media-literacy skills. A total of 42 participants were interviewed in seven geographic regions of the United States. In groups of three, participants were shown seven print and TV advertisements (ads) for weight-loss products and asked to share their interpretations of each ad. Common factors in girls' interpretation of weight-loss advertising included responding to texts emotionally by identifying with characters; comparing and contrasting persuasive messages with real-life experiences with family members; using prior knowledge about nutrition management and recognizing obvious deceptive claims like 'rapid' or 'permanent' weight loss. Girls were less able to demonstrate skills including recognizing persuasive construction strategies including message purpose, target audience and subtext and awareness of economic factors including financial motives, credibility enhancement and branding.     

Plasma morphine levels produced by continuous infusion in children

Blood samples were taken from six children aged between 10 months and 15 years, at intervals over a period of 40 hours while they were receiving continuous morphine infusions. The plasma morphine values obtained showed similar and consistent levels 15-30 minutes after starting the infusions.     

Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee: computed tomographic appearances

Five patients with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the knee demonstrate the value of preoperative, contrast medium-enhanced CT scanning. The technique is shown to be particularly useful in locating recurrent lesions and in demonstrating that popliteal and posterior calf masses are due to PVNS affecting the knee joint itself. In two of the five patients PVNS was not considered a possibility before the CT scan, and none had evidence of bone erosion on plain radiographs. In none of the patients was the unenhanced CT scan able to demonstrate evidence of decreased radiolucency due to fat within the tumour or density greater than the adjacent skeletal muscle, indicating haemosiderin deposits.