Darbepoetin alfa: in patients with chemotherapy-related anaemia

Darbepoetin alfa, novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein closely related to human erythropoietin, has been developed for the treatment of chemotherapy-related anaemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies. In three 12-week, phase II studies in patients with cancer and chemotherapy-related anaemia, subcutaneous darbepoetin alfa, administered in once-weekly or 2-, 3- or 4-weekly regimens, dose-dependently increased the mean haemoglobin levels. In a randomised, double-blind, phase III study in 320 patients with lung cancer and chemotherapy-related anaemia, recipients of subcutaneous darbepoetin alfa 2.25 micro g/kg once weekly, received red blood cell (RBC) transfusion approximate, equals 2-fold less frequently than placebo recipients (p < 0.001). In the same study, patients receiving darbepoetin alfa also received fewer standard units of RBC for transfusion and had greater haematopoietic response rate than placebo recipients (both p < 0.001). Subcutaneous darbepoetin alfa 2.25 micro g/kg once weekly also reduced patient-reported fatigue (assessed by a quality-of-life questionnaire) [p = 0.019 vs placebo]. black triangle Darbepoetin alfa was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. The most frequent darbepoetin alfa-related adverse events were: body oedema, arthralgia and skin rash.     

The choroidal artery to the fourth ventricle and its radiological significance

The choroidal artery to the fourth ventricle has been studied in 25 brain specimens and 100 normal posterior fossa angiograms, including 25 angiotomograms. Its variable origin, course and radiological significance have been stressed.     

ISOLA器械治疗小儿脊柱侧凸

目的定期随访评价ISOLA器械治疗小儿脊柱侧凸.方法41例小儿脊柱侧凸患儿,特发性脊柱侧凸32例,神经肌肉性脊柱侧凸5例,其他类型的脊柱侧凸4例,术前、术中、术后均摄X线片,记录Cobb角,顶椎的移位及旋转,躯干偏离中线程度.结果Cobb角术前平均为66°,术后1年为36°,术后2年为36°.1年后,所有患儿的脊柱均完全融合.顶椎的偏离改善了14mm.躯干偏离改善了5mm.特发性脊柱侧凸患儿1年后有基本的正常活动.术后4例出现并发症,1例深部感染,1例骶尾部褥疮,1例横钩脱落,1例L3椎弓根螺丝钉脱落.结论目前有多种后路器械治疗小儿脊柱侧凸.严格掌握手术指征及ISOLA的原理,该术式能获得较为满意的疗效.     

A 2015 focus on preventing drug-induced arrhythmias

Drug-induced Torsade de Pointes arrhythmia is a life-threatening adverse effect feared by pharmaceutical companies. For the last decade, the cardiac safety guidelines have imposed human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel blockade and prolongation of QT interval as surrogates for proarrhythmic risk propensity of a new chemical entity. Suffering from a lack of specificity, this assessment strategy led to a great amount of false positive outcomes. Therefore, this review will discuss new pharmaceutical strategies: the cardiac safety proposal that recently emerged, the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay, combining in vitro assays that integrate effects on main cardiac ion channels, with computational models of human ventricular action potential as well as assays using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for an improved prediction of drug’s proarrhythmic liability, alternative pharmacological perspectives as well as the current treatment of drug-induced long QT syndrome.     

Physics of ultrasound

Ultrasound is a form of non-ionizing radiation that uses high-frequency sound waves to image the body. It is a real-time investigation which allows assessment of moving structures and also facilitates measurement of velocity and directionality of blood flow within a vessel. It can be used for a variety of purposes in the intensive care setting, for example to aid central venous catheter and pleural drain insertion. When using this imaging modality it is vital to understand the relevant physical principles and how the images are created. This article will explain these principles, including the use of Doppler ultrasound and the interpretation of common artefacts.