Three cases of severe verapamil poisoning

Three cases of verapamil intoxication are described. The first two patients took 6.4 g verapamil each and the third one took 0.8 g of verapamil and alcohol. All three developed a third-degree atrioventricular dissociation, the first patient developed a slow idioventricular rhythm without atrial activity, the second a temporary asystole. All were hypotensive, had anuria and shock, the first two were unconscious for several hours. The first one was treated with artificial cardiac pacing, orciprenaline and calcium gluconate, the second with cardiac pacing and orciprenaline. The third patient received fluids and a dopamine infusion. In the first case sinus rhythm returned 31 h after the swallowing of tablets, in the second after 32 h and in the third after 10 h. Pacing with intensive monitoring and care seemed to be the most beneficial treatments in these cases.     

Comparison of the anti-neoplastic effects of dirhodium(II) tetrapropionate and its adducts with nicotinate and isonicotinate anions in mice bearing Ehrlich tumors

Rhodium(II) propionate, [Rh2(prop)4], and its adduct with nicotinate (nic-) and isonicotinate (isonic-) anions, [Rh2(prop)4(nic)2](2-) and [Rh2(prop)4(isonic)2](2-), respectively, were prepared for study. The compound effects on the survival rate of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumors were tested and presented in the form of a survival table, and analyzed by the Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test for N animals in each group. The survival rates of animals were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.001) without distinguishing among the experimental groups. The estimated probability for an animal in the control group to survive up to the end of the observation period (30 days) was below 33%, whereas the animal groups in the treated group with complex, and its nicotinate and isonicotinate groups showed 85%, 85% and 90%, respectively, of surviving over the same period. The T/C values (survival average of the animals treated group/survival average of the animals control group) were obtained for each compounds being for the dirhodium propionate T/C=250, and for its adducts with nicotinate and isonicotinate anions, 267 and 264, respectively.     

Interaction between Albuminuria and Treatment Group Outcomes for Patients with Renal Artery Stenosis: The NITER Study

Purpose

To perform a post-hoc analysis of the Nephropathy Ischemic Therapy (NITER) trial, which enrolled patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, to evaluate whether medical therapy plus stent placement is superior to medical therapy alone in patients without elevated albuminuria.

A multicenter, selection-adjusted comparison of patient and technique survivals on CAPD and hemodialysis

Four hundred and eighty CAPD and 373 HD patients started regular dialysis treatment between 1981 and 1987 in 6 dialysis centers. The CAPD patients were 6 years older, on average, than the HD patients and had more complicating conditions (43.3% with 3 or more coexisting risk factors versus 28.9% with coexisting complications). The 7-year patient survival rate was not significantly different. Cox's proportional hazards regression showed that age, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, malignancy and multisystem disease had significant adverse effects on patient survival. After correcting for the influence of these factors, no significant differences in patient survival were seen. However, after 53.5 years of age, the increase in the risk of death was significantly higher in HD than in CAPD patients. Technique survival was significantly different in the 6 centers and was better for HD than for CAPD. There was no statistically significant difference between CAPD and HD technique survival when peritonitis was eliminated as a cause of failure. Based on this 7 year analysis, CAPD would appear to be an excellent alternative to HD.     

Evaluation of a CT-Guided Robotic System for Precise Percutaneous Needle Insertion

Purpose

To assess overall targeting accuracy for CT-guided needle insertion using prototype robotic system for common target sites.