Bronchopulmonary cancer and peripheral neuropathy: diagnostic difficulties. Apropos of a case]

The well-known neurotoxicity of cisplatin may be difficult to diagnose when the neuropathy it produces becomes worse during the weeks or months following the discontinuation of treatment or, exceptionally, appears at the time when cisplatin therapy is withdrawn. In addition, the drug-induced peripheral neuropathy must be distinguished from a paraneoplastic syndrome and in particular from epidural or radicular tumoral invasion. These different diagnoses are discussed in the light of the case reported here.     

Effects of L-dopa on FSH and LH secretion in men and women]

The behavior of plasma gonadotropins has been studied in amenorrhoic patients and in men suffering from disorders of spermatogenesis after L-DOPA administration. Neither clinical nor laboratory findings warrant hypotheses apt to interpret the different responses observed after the ingestion of the drug; nevertheless, keeping in mind the results reported in the literature, the relationship between L-DOPA and the hypothalamo-pituitary axis appears to deserve further study with the use of more accurate means of investigation and follow-up of the late effects observed in our research.     

Improvements in clinical electronystagmogram analysis

The authors apply the technique of amplitude histogram analysis to the clinical electronystagmogram (ENG). After a brief survey of the underlying concepts, some typical normal and pathological ENG records are discussed.Comparison of advantages and disadvantages reveals that the quoted technique may be suitable to be profitably introduced in clinical practice.     

Transient optic neuropathy secondary to MOPP chemotherapy in Hodgkin's disease: report of a case

The authors describe a case of optic neuropathy in a child undergoing MOPP chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease stage IIISA. Visual acuity improved after substitution of the aforementioned regimen with ABVD chemotherapy, and reached 1 during maintenance therapy with vinblastine. Various neurologic deficits have been ascribed to vincristine, a well-known neurotoxin. This case of optic neuropathy is supposed to be a rare example of involvement of the 2nd cranial nerve due to vinca alkaloids. The absence of neurotoxicity of vinblastine in this case is emphasized.     

Preliminary characterization in mice of the effect of isoprinosine on the immune system.

A preliminary characterization of the immunomodulatory activity of isoprinosine in mice was conducted in both normal and tumor-bearing mice. Under the experimental conditions employed, isoprinosine given ip and orally was found to possess some immunomodulatory capacity in various model systems. The compound appeared to preferentially influence T- but not B-cell responses; it did not apparently influence the functional capacity of macrophages, K cells, and NK cells.     

Comparative antineoplastic activity of adriamycin and N-trifluoroacetyladriamycin-14-valerate

A comparative investigation of the antineoplastic activity of adriamycin and its derivative, N-trifluoroacetyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD 32), was conducted in murine tumor models employing different treatment schedules and injection routes. In all conditions tested, ie, ascitic and disseminated L1210 leukemia, ascitic LSTRA lymphoma, and advanced Lewis lung carcinoma, AD 32 was significantly more effective in terms of lifespan prolongation and induction of cures than optimal adriamycin treatments. As with adriamycin, AD 32 was ineffective on ic transplanted L1210 leukemia.