Occurrence of the t(2;5)(p23;q35) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Primary CD30(Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is considered by some to be a distinct clinicopathologic entity associated with the t(2;5) (p23;q35). However, the specificity of t(2;5) for ALCL has not been carefully studied. Therefore, we performed a detailed analysis of all cases of ALCL with abnormal cytogenetics results in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group registry, as well as all other cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with t(2;5) in the registry. We found the t(2;5) in only five of 10 cases of ALCL, four of whom were young patients. However, we also found the t(2;5) in 11 other cases of nonanaplastic lymphoma, including eight children with typical peripheral T-cell lymphomas of various types. The t(2;5) was also found in three older adults with B-cell lymphomas of various types. Thus, the t(2;5) was not specific for CD30+ ALCL. However, t(2;5) may define a clinicopathologic entity in children and young adults characterized by variable morphologies with a T-cell or indeterminate phenotype, CD30-positivity, nodal disease with frequent extranodal involvement, advanced stage, and an excellent response to therapy, including bone marrow transplantation for relapsed disease. The clinical relevance of the t(2;5) in older patients requires further study.     

Using mark-recapture methodology to estimate the size of a population at risk for sexually transmitted diseases.

To study the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) using social/sexual mixing models, one must have quantitative information about sexual mixing. An unavoidable complication in gathering such information by survey is that members of the surveyed population will almost certainly have sexual contacts outside that population. The number of these outsiders may be substantial and, hence, important for the modelling process. In this paper, we develop a mark-recapture model for estimating the size of the population at risk for contracting a STD due to direct sexual contact with a specified population targeted by a survey. This mark-recapture methodology provides a reliable method of estimating the number of outsiders. Because not everyone in the targeted population may be sexually active, the size of the sexually active subset, used as the number marked in our tag-recapture formulation, must be estimated, which introduces extra variability. We derive an estimator of the variance of the estimated total number at risk that accounts for this extra variability and an expression for the bias of that estimator. We extend the methodology to stratified surveys and illustrate its use with data collected from a population of university undergraduates to estimate sexual mixing parameters of a deterministic model of the spread of STDs.     

Disposition in humans of racemic picenadol, an opioid analgesic

Racemic picenadol is being tested clinically as an analgesic. The (+)-enantiomer of picenadol is an opioid agonist and the (-)-enantiomer is a weak agonist/antagonist. The disposition of racemic [14C] picenadol was studied in healthy men after a single dose was administered im (N = 3) and orally (N = 5). After the dose, virtually none of the radioactivity that appeared in blood was associated with the red cells. In plasma, approximately 4% of the radioactivity was attributable to the parent drug, the remainder being picenadol glucuronide (approximately 35%) and other metabolites. The t1/2 for total radioactivity was 6 hr, that for the unchanged drug was 3.5 hr. Picenadol was present in plasma almost exclusively as the (+)-enantiomer. However, after incubation with glucuronidase and sulfatase, plasma contained 2 to 4 times more (-)- than (+)-picenadol, indicating that more conjugated (-)-picenadol than conjugated (+)-picenadol was in the plasma. After im and oral administration of [14C]picenadol, plasma levels of radioactivity were generally 10 and 70 times higher than those in saliva, respectively. More than 90% of the administered radioactivity was excreted in the urine, mostly as picendol glucuronide, and lesser amounts of picenadol sulfate and N-desmethylpicenadol sulfate. Only about 1% of the administered dose of picenadol appeared unchanged in urine. The disposition of racemic picenadol in humans was stereoselective, the (-)-picenadol apparently being metabolized preferentially over the (+)-enantiomer. This finding was of particular interest in view of the dissimilar pharmacologic activities of the enantiomers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The influence of food on the pharmacokinetics of ''biphasic'' nifedipine at steady state in normal subjects.

Previous studies following single dose administration have suggested that the pharmacokinetics of various nifedipine formulations could be influenced by the timing of associated food consumption. In order more closely to reflect the clinical situation we have carried out a study at steady state using a 'biphasic' formulation comprising 'rapid' and 'retarded' drug release components. Fifteen normal subjects took 20 mg 'biphasic' nifedipine 12 hourly for 10 days. Studies were carried out on days 4, 7 and 10. On these days the nifedipine was taken 2 h or 1 h before or immediately following a light breakfast. A light breakfast influenced neither the rate nor the extent of nifedipine absorption nor the rate or extent of major metabolite appearance. We conclude that at steady state the timing of a light meal is unlikely to alter in any clinically important manner the pharmacokinetics of nifedipine released from 'biphasic' tablets.     

Predictors of Partner Notification for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae: An Examination of Social Cognitive and Psychological Factors

Efforts to control chlamydial and gonococcal infections include notifying eligible sexual partners of possible infection, primarily by asking the diagnosed patient to notify their partners. This approach, known as patient referral, is widely used but poorly understood. The current study examined psychosocial and cognitive factors associated with patient referral among an urban, minority sample of 168 participants recently diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. At a follow-up interview 1-month from diagnosis, participants were more likely to have notified all eligible partners if they had greater intention to notify at baseline (OR = 3.72; 95% CI = 1.34, 10.30) and if they had only one partner at baseline (OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 1.61, 10.31). There were also gender differences as well as differences based on type of partner (i.e., regular, casual, one-time). The implications of these findings for the design of programs to promote patient referral for sexually transmitted infections are discussed. Schwartz, Malka, Augenbraun, McCormack, and Wilson are with the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rubin is with the New York City Department of Health, Bureau of STD Control, New York, NY, USA; Rubin, Hogben, and Liddon are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Schwartz is with the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Box 1240, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.