Therapy for small cell lung cancer using carboplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide (without dose reduction), mid-cycle vincristine with thoracic and cranial irradiation

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of intensive chemotherapy, administered without dose reduction, with cranial and thoracic radiotherapy given when possible as a single fraction in small cell lung cancer. 87 patients were eligible on the basis of good performance status, normal or near normal biochemistry and clinical staging, 73 limited and 14 extensive stage, computed tomography scanning was not mandatory. Six cycles of carboplatin, ifosfamide and etoposide with vincristine on day 15 at 4 weekly intervals were planned. Dosages were not reduced in response to myelosuppression. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) as a single fraction after the first cycle and thoracic irradiation (when possible as a single fraction) following the third cycle were delivered. Seventy-two per cent of patients completed the protocol. Complete response rate was 55% and 26% of patients had a partial response. The median nadirs of neutropenia were 0.5 × 10⁹/l and thrombocytopenia 14 × 10⁹/l, with 6% probable treatment-related deaths. Performance status and dyspnoea improved markedly to normal or near normal levels following the second course. Brain metastases occurred in 13% of patients. The median survival was 16.2 months with a 2-year survival of 31% (95% confidence interval, 24–41%) for a minimum follow-up of 26 months. These results compare favourably with other combined modality studies, using multiple radiotherapy fractions with cisplatin-based combinations and dosage reduction for patients staged in more anatomical detail. The toxicity spectrum and efficacy data could lead to the use of this chemotherapy regimen with haematopoietic growth factors and, in the future, peripheral blood progenitor cell rescue.     

Establishing special needs car seat loan program

Car seat loan and rental programs have provided many families with low-cost access to child restraints. When an infant or child is unable to be accommodated in a standard car seat or seat belt owing to physical or medical problems, parents of these children have few, if any available resources. The establishment and operation of a loan program at the Indiana University School of Medicine for children who are medically fragile is reviewed in this article. This program was developed by the Automotive Safety for Children Program at the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Medical Center, to meet the special transportation needs of children with respiratory, orthopaedic, and other medical and physical difficulties. A summary table is included to highlight restraints that have performed satisfactorily during dynamic crash tests and are used to meet patient transportation needs at Riley Hospital. Guidelines for establishing and maintaining a child restraint loan program for children with special needs are outlined to encourage replication of this effort.     

Short-term diagnostic stability of schizotypal,borderline, avoidant,and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders

OBJECTIVE: Personality disorders are defined as enduring patterns of maladaptive behaviors and traits that are stable over time. This study prospectively examined the stability of four personality disorders (schizotypal, borderline, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive) over a 1-year follow-up period. METHOD: Subjects (N=668) were recruited from multiple clinical settings at four collaborating institutions. Subjects met criteria for one or more of the four personality disorders or were part of a comparison group of subjects with major depressive disorder and no personality disorder. Diagnoses were established by using semistructured interviews. Follow-up assessments, conducted 6 and 12 months after the baseline assessment, included monthly ratings of all criteria for the four personality disorders and weekly ratings of the course of major depressive disorder. The current report is based on 621 subjects with complete data through 12 months of the follow-up period. RESULTS: Significantly more subjects in each personality disorder group remained at diagnostic threshold throughout the 12 months of the follow-up period than did those in the major depressive disorder group. A continuous measure of number of criteria met was highly correlated across the three assessments. The majority of personality disorder subjects, however, did not consistently remain at diagnostic threshold, and the mean number of criteria met decreased significantly for each group. CONCLUSIONS: Individual differences in personality disorder features appear to be highly stable, although the number of criteria present decreases over time. Personality disorders may be characterized by stable trait constellations that fluctuate in degree of maladaptive expression.     

Primary prevention of hypertension: clinical and public health advisory from The National High Blood Pressure Education Program

Paul K. Whelton, MD, MSc; Jiang He, MD, PhD; Lawrence J. Appel, MD, MPH; Jeffrey A. Cutler, MD, MPH; Stephen Havas, MD, MPH, MS; Theodore A. Kotchen, MD; Edward J. Roccella, PhD, MPH; Ron Stout, MD, MPH; Carlos Vallbona, MD; Mary C. Winston, EdD, RD; Joanne Karimbakas, MS, RD; for the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee

JAMA. 2002;288:1882-1888.

The National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee published its first statement on the primary prevention of hypertension in 1993. This article updates the 1993 report, using new and further evidence from the scientific literature. Current recommendations for primary prevention of hypertension involve a population-based approach and an intensive targeted strategy focused on individuals at high risk for hypertension. These 2 strategies are complementary and emphasize 6 approaches with proven efficacy for prevention of hypertension: engage in moderate physical activity; maintain normal body weight; limit alcohol consumption; reduce sodium intake; maintain adequate intake of potassium; and consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and reduced in saturated and total fat. Applying these approaches to the general population as a component of public health and clinical practice can help prevent blood pressure from increasing and can help decrease elevated blood pressure levels for those with high normal blood pressure or hypertension.