Phase II study of docetaxel in patients with relapsed or refractory malignant lymphoma

We report the activity and toxicity of docetaxel in 12 evaluable heavily pretreated patients with relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease. In all, 42% achieved a partial response, 25% achieved stable disease. Median duration of response was 16 (10-21) weeks. The median overall survival was 70 (9-178) weeks and for responders it was 120 (22-178) weeks. One patient developed one episode of neutropenic sepsis. Docetaxel has limited activity in this group of patients.     

Semi-implantable electromagnetic middle ear hearing device for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss

Despite the many improvements in hearing aid technology, conventional hearing aids continue to have significant limitations, which has led to increased interest in implantable hearing devices. The SOUNDTEC Direct Drive Hearing System for moderate to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss is one such device. In this article the authors present results on five individuals enrolled in a Food And Drug Administration Phase I feasibility study.     

Primary intracerebral lymphoma: A clinicopathological study of 28 patients

Primary intracerebral lymphoma is an uncommon presenting site for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The authors review 28 histopathologically confirmed, consecutive cases, presenting over a 15-year period. The cohort included 20 males and 8 females with a mean age at diagnosis of 54 years (range 27-75 years). Subtotal resection was performed in 8 patients. Radical whole brain irradiation was given to 27 patients. One patient was too unwell to receive treatment and quickly died. Three patients also had chemotherapy. Clinical remission was achieved in 19 patients. Of these, 9 relapsed after a median interval of 18 months. Nine patients (32% total cohort) are still alive and in remission after a median follow-up of 2 years and 10 months (range 11 months to 11 years and 5 months). Cause of death was intracerebral lymphoma in 13 of the 19 patients who died. Median survival was 12 months in this group (range 1 week to 4 years and 9 months). Actuarial 5-year survival for all patients was 19%. The prognosis for patients with primary intracerebral lymphoma treated with radiotherapy alone is poor.     

Effects of adrenalectomy and corticosterone on hippocampal lesions induced by trimethyltin

The effects of adrenalectomy and corticosterone supplementation on the neurotoxicity of trimethyltin (TMT) were tested. CD-1 mice with or without adrenalectomy were injected with TMT at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg body wt. At 48 h post-TMT administration, the animals were killed for pathological examination. It was found that the adrenalectomized animals developed even more severe lesions in the hippocampal formation (fascia dentata granule cells) than the intact animals. When animals were given a supplement of corticosterone pellets at doses of 0.15, 1.5, and 7.5 mg, there was a reduction of lesion development. Total alleviation of pathology was seen at the two higher doses of supplementation. Our present investigation strongly indicates that there may be a close and important interrelationship between TMT-induced neurotoxicity and adrenal function.     

A microbiological study of acute otitis media in Bloemfontein

Tympanocentesis was done on 36 patients (57 ears) with acute otitis media. Positive cultures were obtained in 65% of cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most commonly isolated organism (25% of ears). There was a high incidence of Staphylococcus epidermidis infection (14% of ears); these organisms are considered to be true pathogens. Haemophilus influenzae seemed to be less common than in other series and in all our cases were non-producers of beta-lactamase. Penicillin and amoxycillin appeared to be equally effective and there seemed to be little difference between responses to cefaclor, erythromycin and co-trimoxazole.