Pharmacokinetic studies with valproic acid in man.

A specific gaschromatographic assay for the simultaneous determination of valproic acid (dipropylacetate, DPA) and ethosuximide was developed. In 13 epileptic patients only treated with DPA a significant correlation(r = 0.88; p less than 0.01) between the minimal steady state plasma level of DPA and its dose (mg/kg body weight) was found. Plasma protein binding experiments in 3 healthy volunteers revealed a relatively strong binding of approximately 95%. The pharmacokinetics of DPA was evaluated after a single oral solution of 600 mg in 2 healthy subjects. Absorption was rapid with maximum plasma levels of approximately 70 microng/ml within 1--3 h. DPA was eliminated with a half-life of 7.9 and 10 h. Assuming 100% absorption a total plasma clearance of 10--13 ml/min and an apparent distribution volume of 0.13--0.16 l/kg were calculated. The urinary excretion of unchanged DPA is neglegible (1% of dose). It is suggested that the great fluctuations of the plasma concentrations within a dosing interval may be minimized by special galenic formulations.     

158. Ergebnisse nach operativer Behandlung von Hiatushernien

Zusammenfassung In den letzten 5 Jahren operierten wir 45 Patienten mit Hiatushernien transthorakal. Wir verloren keinen Patienten und hatten keine Lungenembolien, Infarkte, Infektionen oder andere Komplikationen zu verzeichnen. Von 30 Nachuntersuchten hatten nur 2 ein Rezidiv, ihre präoperativen Beschwerden waren geschwunden. Von den restlichen 28 rezidiv- und refluxfreien Nachuntersuchten hatten 2 manchmal auftretendes mäßiges Sodbrennen, das einmal auf eine Gastritis und einmal auf die noch nicht vollständig abgeklungene Oesophagitis zu beziehen war.     

A phase III study comparing the clinical utility of four regimens of 5-fluorouracil: a preliminary report.

A clinical trial involving 462 colon, rectum, and breast cancer patients randomized among four different dosage regimens of 5-FU (an intravenous loading course, a weekly intravenous schedule, a nontoxic schedule, and an oral schedule) has shown a significantly better response among colon-rectum cancer patients for the intravenous loading course. In addition, duration of response and time to progression are also significantly better. Overall survival is approaching significance for the colon rectum group (p value .082). In contrast, breast cancer patients show little difference between treatments. Toxicity is somewhat higher for the loading course.