The effect of sustained-release theophylline in nocturnal asthma

Nocturnal symptoms are common and often disabling in asthmatic subjects. Furthermore, they often persist, in spite of appropriate dosages of inhaled beta 2-agonists and topical steroids. In such a clinical situation, theophylline preparations may have a therapeutic role. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a twice-daily Bioavail slow-release theophylline capsule in a group of out-patient asthmatics, with a history of nocturnal and/or early morning wheeze or chest tightness. Theophylline was initially prescribed and monitored in an 'open' phase to obtain the drug dosage required to achieve a serum level in the therapeutic range of 10-20 mg/l. In the ten patients who completed the study, serum theophylline levels were stable throughout. During active treatment there was an improvement in morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and a reduction in measurements of diurnal variation. In addition, the bronchodilator response to an inhaled beta 2-agonist was preserved. Bioavail theophylline has thus been shown to be an effective agent in the management of adults with nocturnal asthma.     

Designing new substance abuse treatment services for a competitive environment.

A multivariate analysis of the relationships between service attributes and physician perceptions was conducted as an approach to marketing substance abuse treatment services. The results of this attribute-perceptive-preference study indicate: the physician(s) on staff attribute makes the greatest contribution to perceived quality and efficiency; easy referral admission makes the largest contribution to accessibility perceptions; and providing feedback produces the greatest contribution to perceived continuity. The JCAH attributes neither adds to nor subtracts from the perceptions of any of the four perceptual attributes. Other findings indicate that perceived efficiency produces the greatest contribution to overall consumer preference. Quality perceptions make the second largest contribution to overall preference, followed by continuity and accessibility perceptions.     

Cyclosporine interactions with miconazole and other azole-antimycotics: a case report and review of the literature.

Several antimicrobial drugs have been shown to pharmacokinetically interact with cyclosporine. On two separate occasions, we observed increases in cyclosporine plasma concentrations during concomitant miconazole therapy in a heart transplant patient with an infection secondary to Pseudallescheria boydii. To our knowledge, no interaction between cyclosporine and miconazole has previously been reported. In addition, drug interactions were observed between cyclosporine and ketoconazole and possibly between cyclosporine and SCH 39304, an investigational azole-antifungal agent. No interaction was noted between cyclosporine and fluconazole. In general, clinicians should anticipate drug interactions between cyclosporine and azole-antimycotic agents.     

Memory search for faces and digits in patients with unilateral brain lesions.

To clarify whether the impairment of right-brain-damaged (RBD) patients in face recognition is related to perceptual or mnestic processing stages, we tested unilaterally lesioned patients and controls in a Sternberg-type memory search task. Subjects had to memorize sets of 1, 2, or 3 faces (or, in a control condition, digits) and were then to recognize these memorized stimuli among new ones by speeded choice reactions. In this task, deficits in stimulus encoding and memory search should show up in increased intercepts and slopes, respectively, of the RT function over memory set size. A face-specific impairment of the RBD patient group, consisting in longer reaction times and higher error rates, was confirmed but could not be unequivocally attributed to either stimulus encoding or memory search. However, inspection of individual data suggested that (1) some RBD patients are virtually unimpaired in face recognition and (2) if impairment after right hemisphere damage is present, it may selectively affect either stimulus encoding or memory search.     

Radiation therapy of testicular seminoma: a 15-year survey.

A retrospective review of 69 patients with testicular seminoma, stage I and II, treated by orchiectomy and adjuvant irradiation at McGill University Hospitals from 1972 to 1987 was performed. All patients underwent either lymphangiogram or computed axial tomography scan for evaluation of retroperitoneal disease. There were 52 stage I (75%), 13 stage IIA (11%), 2 stage IIB (3%), and 2 stage IIC (Royal Marsden Hospital staging criteria). Median follow-up time was 6.2 years. The 10-year actuarial survivals were 94% and 93% for stages I and II, respectively. Only two stage I patients failed treatment, and both died from metastatic disease. Interestingly, both developed biopsy-proven metastatic brain disease and had no evidence of intra-abdominal recurrence. In stage II disease, only one patient failed the treatment. There was no serious acute toxicity and no late complications have been encountered. Radiation therapy following orchiectomy is the treatment of choice for stage I and for most stage II patients with testicular seminoma. The controversial aspects of radiographic retroperitoneal staging, the use of prophylactic mediastinal irradiation for stage II patients, and the role of surveillance only for stage I patients are discussed.     

Melbourne trial of adjuvant immunotherapy in operable large bowel cancer

A controlled randomized clinical trial was undertaken to assess the ability of combined non-specific and specific immunotherapy to alter the disease-free interval and overall survival of patients with Stage B or C large bowel cancer. The immunotherapy consisted of a 2 year programme of vaccinations with BCG and neuraminidase-treated autologous tumour cells. Three hundred and one patients entered the trial. At 5 years of follow-up there is no evidence that this form of immunotherapy can alter either the disease-free interval or survival in this group of patients.     

Effect of changing medication regimens in glaucoma patients

When glaucoma medication fails to adequately control intraocular pressure (IOP), a second medication is frequently added. Before adding a second drug to patients whose IOP was no longer controlled by 0.5% timolol, we tested the effect of switching to another beta blocker, levobunolol (0.5 or 1%). We also evaluated the effect of study participation on compliance in the control group continuing to receive 0.5% timolol. In each treatment group, the IOP of approximately 30-40% of the patients was successfully controlled for the 3-month study period. The remaining patients did not exhibit significant pressure reductions and were dropped from the study within 2 weeks. We concluded that (1) the results of 'switch' studies without a control group must be interpreted carefully, and (2) the initiation of a 'new regimen' with an equieffective beta blocker may be sufficient to increase compliance and thereby control IOP.     

Problems with a ‘target’ approach to access in primary care: a qualitative study

We report an analysis of the qualitative phase of a study of patients' and carers' views of primary care services, focusing on their experiences of access to face-to-face general practitioner (GP) consultations during the period when new access policies were being implemented. Practices interpreted the new policy in various ways; restricted interpretations, including restriction of access to telephone booking, could cause distress to patients. Patients and carers welcomed flexible interpretations of the policy that offered choice, such as a choice of GP, or of booking in advance.