Multiple myeloma: evaluation by CT

Although patients who have multiple myeloma usually have straightforward clinical symptoms and corroborative radiographs, in some instances, these patients will present atypically, with symptoms suggesting active disease but radiographs that are normal or nonspecific. We reviewed the records of 32 patients who had documented multiple myeloma and had undergone CT examinations, assessing the value of those examinations. Although CT is not indicated in all patients who have multiple myeloma, it is especially useful in patients who have bone pain and normal or nonspecific radiographs. CT provided confirmatory information in all cases in which lesions were seen on radiographs. CT also frequently demonstrated a greater extent of disease than could be appreciated on the radiographs.     

巫山淫羊藿的化学研究

从小檗科Berberidaceae淫羊藿属Epimedium植物巫山淫羊藿Epimedium wushanense T.S.Ying的地上部分中分得两种黄酮甙单体,经理化性质鉴定及紫外、红外、质谱、氢谱、碳谱等光谱分析,确定甙Ⅰ是新化合物,命名为巫山淫羊藿甙(wushanicariin)。甙Ⅱ是已知化合物淫羊藿甙(icariin),系首次从该种植物中分离。     

Differential response to amphetamine in schizophrenia

Amphetamine added to maintenance therapy with neuroleptic drugs was accompanied by relief of complaints in 32 of 48 chronic schizophrenic patients with a long-standing incapacity for work. In 22 cases this relief was followed by increased work efficiency. These gains were lost at experimental withdrawal of amphetamine. The response to amphetamine varied with type of schizophrenic symptomatology. All current regressive symptoms meant worsening in spite of concomitant neuroleptic treatment, in accordance with the dopamine hypothesis. Non-regressive subjects displaying florid symptoms, however, benefited. Worsening, in a few cases, occurred only in the absence of neuroleptics. A few subjects with negative symptoms only, seemed totally unresponsive. These findings point at variations in sensitivity to dopaminergic stimulation in schizophrenic subjects. Worsening and improvement with amphetamine were each clearly connected with type of symptomatology only when current psychotic or florid non-regressive symptoms were exhibited. In cases with negative symptoms only, the type of response could not be reliably based on clinical data. Studies of autonomic functioning and attention were therefore performed in a sub-sample. Skin conductance level, reactivity and habituation rate were found to be lower in positive responders before amphetamine. After amphetamine there were no such differences. Attention tests showed no initial differences between groups but the performance of positive responders improved with amphetamine.     

Evaluation of the alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor effects of detomidine, a novel veterinary sedative analgesic

The in vitro receptor interactions of detomidine, a novel veterinary sedative analgesic, were studied. Detomidine caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the twitch response in electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens with a pD2 value of 8.8. Clonidine and xylazine had the same effect with pD2 values of 8.7 and 7.5, respectively. The effect of detomidine was competitively antagonized by the alpha 2-blocking agents yohimbine, rauwolscine and idazoxan but not by the alpha 1-antagonists prazosin and corynanthine. The effect of detomidine was not antagonized by the opioidergic antagonist naloxone, the dopaminergic antagonist sulpiride, the serotonergic antagonist methysergide, the histamine H2-antagonist cimetidine, the histamine H1-antagonist diphenhydramine and the cholinergic muscarine antagonist atropine. Detomidine, as well as clonidine and xylazine, produced concentration-dependent contractions of rat anococcygeal muscle and rabbit aortic strips with pD2 values between 2.5 and 6.4. Intrinsic activities (compared to phenylephrine) varied between 0.5 and 0.7. The effects of detomidine in these two muscles could be antagonized by low concentrations of prazosin. In receptor binding experiments detomidine showed strong affinity to alpha 2-receptors. There was some binding affinity towards alpha 1-receptors also but only negligible or no affinity towards dopamine, opiate and adenosine receptors. In conclusion, the present results suggest that detomidine is a potent alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist and that at high concentrations it can also stimulate alpha 1-adrenoceptors.     

The patient's choice of androgen-deprivation therapy in locally advanced prostate cancer: bicalutamide, a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue or orchidectomy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient preference for three established androgen-deprivation therapies for locally advanced prostate cancer; the patient's capacity to decide his therapy; the reasons for selecting a certain mode of therapy; and patient satisfaction with the chosen therapy 3 months after initiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 150 patients (mean age 75 years, range 57-89) with previously untreated locally advanced prostate cancer from 13 hospitals were consecutively given the chance to choose between the antiandrogenic oral drug bicalutamide, a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH) by injection, or surgical orchidectomy. After discussing the nature of their disease the patients took home written information about prostate cancer and the three different treatment options. After 1 week they were assessed using a questionnaire for biographical data, their attitude towards the different treatment alternatives and their choice of therapy. Three months later the patients completed a questionnaire about the treatment they had undergone. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (42%) chose bicalutamide, 51 (34%) the GnRH analogue and 36 (24%) orchidectomy; 87% of those choosing bicalutamide, 84% GnRH and 94% orchidectomy, respectively, were sure about their choice but 12%, 17% and 3% of the patients, respectively, had some difficulty in deciding. The most important reasons for the therapy chosen were avoidance of injections and surgery, and a lower risk of impotence (bicalutamide), negative attitude to surgery and tablets (GnRH), and avoidance of injections and tablets (orchidectomy). Almost all patients (98%, 98% and 97%, respectively) were satisfied with their choice after 3 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: There are three equally effective forms of androgen deprivation for locally advanced prostate cancer without known metastases. There are major differences among these treatments in the mode of application and the likelihood and impact of side-effects. When patients are fully informed and play an active role in the treatment decision they are satisfied with their decision 3 months later.     

The effect of plaque control and surgical pocket elimination on the establishment and maintenance of periodontal health. A longitudinal study of periodontal therapy in cases of advanced disease

Abstract The present clinical study was initiated in 1969 to test the hypothesis that microbial plaque is the cause of periodontal disease and that hence even advanced cases of periodontitis can be cured in patients willing to exercise optimal plaque control. The material consisted of 75 patients with severe destruction of the periodontal tissues. The patients were selected for the study because of their ability to maintain plaque-free dentition. Following an initial examination, a preliminary treatment plan was presented to the patients. This plan included detailed instructions in plaque control measures, scaling, root planing and emergency dental care, including endodontic therapy and extractions. Three to six months after the termination of the so-called presurgical treatment, surgical elimination of pathologically deepened pockets was performed. The patients were recalled every 3 to 6 months after the end of the treatment. At these reexaminations the following parameters were assessed: Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Pocket Depths, Marginal alveolar bone topography and height. The results demonstrate that it is possible to treat periodontal disease successfully, even in advanced stages, in patients willing to maintain plaque-free dentition.