Randomised comparison of ondansetron and metoclopramide plus dexamethasone for chemotherapy induced emesis

The serotonin (5HT3) antagonist ondansetron was compared in a randomised study with metoclopramide and dexamethasone for the prevention of chemotherapy induced emesis. Thirty children aged 1-15 years with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia received 'intensification modules' according to the MRC United Kingdom acute lymphoblastic leukaemia regimen UKALL XI. This contains the moderately emetogenic drugs daunorubicin, etoposide, and cytarabine. Fifteen children received an intravenous loading dose of ondansetron followed by intravenous or oral doses 12 hourly for five days. Fifteen children received intravenous metoclopramide every six hours for three days with a loading dose of dexamethasone, repeated every eight hours for three days intravenously or orally. Efficacy was assessed by a diary card documenting the incidence of nausea, retching, or vomiting. In the 24 hour period after starting chemotherapy, ondansetron was more effective, with a complete or major response rate of 93%, compared with 33% using metoclopramide/dexamethasone.     

Increased hepatic microsomal activity after halothane anaesthesia in children

The effect of anaesthesia and surgery on microsomal enzyme activity was studied in 19 children aged 4-9 years, scheduled for tonsillectomy. The children were randomly allocated to either halothane or ketamine anaesthesia. Antipyrine clearance was measured before and 4 days after surgery by a salivary one-sample technique. Statistically significant (p less than 0.001) increases in antipyrine clearance was found in children who received halothane anaesthesia. The antipyrine clearance was increased by a mean of 26% 4 days after surgery, compared with a pre-operative control measurement. No significant change in antipyrine clearance was observed in children who received ketamine anaesthesia. There was also a significant difference in antipyrine clearance changes after surgery between the two groups (p less than 0.05). Halothane has enzyme-inducing properties after a single exposure in children, while a single dose of ketamine does not.     

Diagnosis and Medical Management of Infective Endocarditis: Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography

The use of echocardiography in the diagnosis of vegetative endocarditis has been a keystone in the diagnosis and treatment of this important clinical syndrome. In addition, with the use of transesophageal echo this modality has now made important advances in not only diagnosis but in evaluation of global cardiac function. A considerable amount of information has been gathered on the vegetation and these data will be discussed.     

Pain location and associated symptoms in post-lumbar puncture headache

In this prospective study of 239 patients, 88 (37%) suffered from post-lumbar puncture headache (PPH). The pain was located within the region innervated by the trigeminal nerve in 49% of the drawings, within the occipital and/or suboccipital region in 11%, and within the combined trigeminal/occipital region in 39%. The headache was unilateral at least once in 34% of the patients. Changes in pain location from one region to the other and/or between bilateral and unilateral headache were observed in 54% of the patients throughout the PPH period. Associated symptoms were experienced by 85%, nausea (73%) and dizziness (60%) being the most frequently reported. In the upright position, nausea, dizziness, and tinnitus tended to be present during a fairly large part of the PPH period (57–63% of the days), vomiting occurring only occasionally (28%). The intensity of associated symptoms was positively correlated to PPH severity. Pain in the combined trigeminal/occipital region was most severe and related to more associated symptoms than pain in other regions, and unilateral pain was milder than bilateral pain. Pain in the occipital and/or suboccipital region was mildest. The severity of nausea decreased significantly on the last 2 days of the PPH period, and the intensity of dizziness decreased when PPH was about to subside. Tinnitus is probably due to a cochlear dysfunction, and presents special characteristics. Its incidence was not clearly related to PPH severity and it increased with increasing duration of PPH; its intensity did not decline when PPM was about to wane.     

医院间接成本分配方法之模拟比较

介绍了医院间接成本的四种分配方法,即:1直接分配法;2.顺序分配法或阶梯分配法;3.双重分配法;4.联立方程法,并进行了模拟比较,认为双重分配法和联立方程法将成为最主要的间接成本分配方法。     

Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy on Prostate Specific Antigen

Purpose

We evaluated the effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL^*) of distal ureteral calculi on serum prostate specific antigen (PSA).

Materials and Methods

A total of 29 consecutive men with distal ureteral calculi at a maximum of 25 mm. from the ureteral orifice, and without any history of urinary tract infection, benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer underwent ESWL with the Dornier MPL 9000 × lithotriptor. The therapeutic focus size was 48 × 7 mm. PSA was measured exactly 5 minutes before ESWL, as well as 120 minutes, 24 hours and 7 days after termination of treatment.

Results

Fragmentation rate was 100 percent and all patients were stone-free within 1 week of therapy. There was no statistically significant difference between PSA values before and after treatment. Only 15 patients had a slight increase in PSA at 120 minutes after treatment (range 0.01 to 0.41 ng./ml., mean 0.07).

Conclusions

ESWL can be performed in men at risk for prostate cancer without impairing the predictive value of PSA.     

Ultrasound contrast agent Levovist® in colour Doppler sonography of hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese patients

In a phase IIIb clinical trial of the ultrasound contrast agent Levovist® (Schering AG, Berlin, Germany), the role of Levovist® in the management of patients with clinically suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated and its efficacy was assessed. The assessment included the duration of diagnostically usable Doppler signal enhancement, and safety and tolerance of intravenous administration. All patients with clinically suspected hepatocellular carcinoma were referred for Doppler sonographic examination over a 5-month period and lesions with absent or suboptimal Doppler signals were included in the trial. A total of 300 mg/mL in concentration (8.5 mL) of Levovist® was administered through a peripheral vein while Doppler signal intensity in the lesion, based on a visual score, was recorded. Blood pressure and pulse were recorded before and after injection. Thirty-eight patients were examined, of which 29 were included in the trial. The lesions were subsequently proven histologically to be 19 HCC, one cholangiocarcinoma, two regeneration nodules and one colonic metastasis. For six patients in whom histological proof was not available, the diagnosis of HCC was suggested based on markedly elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. All but one (96%) of the 25 HCC demonstrated increased Doppler signal after Levovist®. There were no Doppler signals before and after Levovist® injection in three non-HCC lesions (two regeneration nodules and one colonic metastasis). Two patients (6.9%) suffered minor adverse reactions of nausea and vomiting. The results show that Levovist® is safe and is able to improve lesion characterization and increase diagnostic confidence of hepatocellular carcinoma by enhancing tumour vascularization Doppler signal intensity.