Clinical-haematological analysis of 3321 cases of proliferative diseases of the haemopoietic system treated in the Institute of Haematology in the years 1951-1980

The purpose of the study was assessment of the effectiveness of treatment applied in nine proliferative diseases of the haemopoietic system (PDHS) in the years 1951-1980. The effectiveness was determined comparing the mean survival time in each of these diseases in three 10-year-time periods characterised by essential changes in their treatment. Moreover, other factors were studied which may influence the survival time in these diseases. A continuing increase in the survival time correlated with advances in therapy was observed in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and multiple myeloma (MM). An indicator of the advances in the treatment of acute leukaemias was also an over fourfold rise in the likelihood of achieving complete remission in the decade 1971-1980 in relation to two preceding decades. On the other hand, no improvement of the effectiveness of treatment was noted in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), polycythaemia vera (PV), myelofibrosis (MF) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The length of the survival time was influenced also considerably by patient's age (survival lower in old age), sex (better results in women) and place of residence of the patient (worse results in patients living in rural areas).     

华蟾蜍毒素对离体豚鼠输精管的作用

华蟾蜍毒素(华蟾素)使离体豚鼠输精管产生剂量依赖性收缩反应,利血平化豚鼠输精管及冷藏输精管对华蟾素反应减弱。给酚妥拉明、维拉帕米后,输精管对华蟾素反应均受抑制,溴苄胺可使反应潜伏期缩短。结果提示华蟾素收缩输精管反应可能与其促进肾上腺素能神经末稍NA释放有关。     

Operative treatment of femoral head necrosis

Summary The cases of 80 patients with necrosis of the femoral head who underwent operative treatment in the period April 1980 to April 1988 are reported. Altogether, 102 operative procedures were carried out: 48 intertrochanteric osteotomies, 50 arthroplasties, 3 subchrondral bone graftings, and in one case drilling of the necrotic focus. Joint-preserving methods in advanced-stage disease seem to be of doubtful use when judged by clinical and socio-economic criteria over a mean follow-up time of 4.5 years. Since no conservative treatment exists, an improvement in therapeutic results can only be achieved by early diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging and operating when the disease is still at an early stage.     

Iodine-125 Brachytherapy of Brain Stem Tumors

PURPOSE: To report on iodine-125 ((125)I) interstitial irradiation in the treatment of brain stem tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients with brain stem tumors were treated with CT- and image fusion-guided (125)I stereotactic brachytherapy. RESULTS: By March 2003, the patients had been followed up for 47 and 13 months, respectively. In case 1, the tumor volume was 1.98 cm(3) on the control CT, indicating a 65.5% shrinkage as compared to a target volume of 5.73 cm3 at the time of brachytherapy. In case 2, shrinkage was more distinct. After irradiation, the cyst volume was 0.16 cm(3) on the control MRI, indicating a 97.4% shrinkage as compared to a target volume of 6.05 cm(3) at the time of brachytherapy, i. e., the metastasis had virtually disappeared. CONCLUSION: CT- and image fusion-guided (125)I stereotactic brachytherapy can be performed during the biopsy session. The procedure can be well planned dosimetrically and is surgically precise.     

Mitral valve prolapse: a benign abnormality?

Mitral valve prolapse should be considered a benign condition as there are few complications. The natural history is not significantly different to that of a matched control population. There are potentially severe forms of the condition which are mainly observed in specialised centres and this introduces a bias in patient selection when compared with the general population. These forms are relatively rare in clinical practice and can be easily identified by simple echocardiographic criteria of valvular thickness. In any case, patients with mitral valve prolapse should be reassured in order not to create or unduly increase anxiety which in itself may cause incapacity.