UV-ray sensitivity of patients with malignant melanoma

In 77 patients with malignant melanoma and 74 control subjects without skin tumors caused by sunlight, the minimal erythema dosage (MED) in the UV-C and UV-B areas, immediate pigment darkening (IPD), and minimal tanning dose (MTD) were determined according to skin type. Direct (MED-UV-B, MED-UV-C) and inverse (IPD, MTD) correlations were established according to skin type. These parameters showed no differences between patients with malignant melanoma and the control group.     

Acupuncture reflexotherapy in the treatment of sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate: a preliminary report

AIMS: In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether acupuncture reflexotherapy is able to treat the sensory irritative components of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) that persist after transurethral resection of the prostate. METHODS: We have evaluated 42 patients, randomly selected into three groups: 14 patients received placebo, 15 patients received oxybutynin, and 13 patient were treated with electrostimulation by acupuncture reflexotherapy. RESULTS: Before treatment, the mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) was 21.0 +/- 3.2 mL/sec, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) score was 12.9 +/- 4.2, the mean I-PSS Quality of Life (IPSS QoL) score was 3.6 +/- 1.2. At the first check-up performed after 3 months, we could observe that the I-PSS and QoL scores were 12.6 +/- 4.3 and 3.8 +/- 1.3 in the group who received placebo; the scores decreased to 11.1 +/- 3.2 and to 3.1 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the 15 patients treated with oxybutynin and decreased to 6.1 +/- 2.6 and 1.3 +/- 1.1, respectively, in the 13 patients who underwent acupuncture reflexotherapy. At 1-year follow-up, these parameters were practically similar. The voiding diaries allowed us to deduce that the average number of daytime voidings decreased by 8% in patients who received oxybutynin and decreased by 20% in 13 patients who underwent reflexotherapy; the average number of nocturnal micturitions decreased by approximately 20% and 60%, respectively, in patients who received oxybutynin and reflexotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study has pointed out that acupuncture reflexotherapy has a real benefit in patients with sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate.     

Precise intraoperative location of gastrointestinal bleeding with a hand-held counter. Work in progress

The nuclear medicine bleeding scan is frequently insufficient to locate sites of bleeding precisely, in spite of its great sensitivity. A small, hand-held Geiger-Müller counter, placed directly on exposed intestine in the operating room, enables precise location of the probable bleeding site. In three patients, the technique allowed a minimal amount of intestine to be resected, distinguished between large- and small-intestinal hemorrhage, and eliminated other foci as sites of bleeding.     

Continuous infusion cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy for cancer of unknown primary site (CUPS) in Taiwan, a region with a high prevalence of endemic viral infections

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin/etoposide continuous infusion chemotherapy for cancer of unknown primary site in Taiwan, a region with a high prevalence of endemic viral infections. METHOD: Between April 1994 and February 1996, 20 patients with a diagnosis of CUPS were treated, including 15 males and five females, of average age 63.3 years (range 41-83 years). Continuous intravenous infusion of etoposide 80 mg/m2 and cisplatin 25 mg/m2 was given for 3 days every 3 weeks. Pretreatment tumor marker and viral serology studies were performed for baseline evaluation. Nearly two-thirds of the patients had poorly differentiated carcinoma. The average number of metastatic sites was 2.65 (range 1-4), with liver and lymph node involvement predominating. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 25% (95% CI 17.7-32.3%); 30.7% for poorly differentiated cancers and 25% for well differentiated cancers. Median survival was 4 months (range 1-12 months), 4.8 months for patients attaining partial response. Toxicity was moderate, grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in 55% and grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia in 40%; other toxicities were mild. CA125 and CA199 were elevated in more than 50% of patients. Viral serology studies were not significantly different from those of the indigenous population. CONCLUSION: Etoposide and cisplatin combination chemotherapy has modest activity in patients with extensive CUPS and, at the schedule and dosage given, it is associated with moderate toxicity.      

Dental caries and erosion status of 12-year-old Hong Kong children

Background

We examined the association of alcohol use disorders (AUD) with adherence to and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional multi-site survey was conducted in 468 drug users and 648 non-drug users (age: 35.4 ± 7.0 years; 63.8% male) in 3 epicentres of Vietnam. AUD, ART adherence, and HRQOL were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C), the self-reported Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-HIV BREF).

Results

35.0% of drug users were hazardous drinkers, compared to 25.9% of non-drug users. 22.3% of drug users engaged in binge drinking, and 25.9% reported suboptimal ART adherence. Adjusting for propensity scores of AUD, patients who had either at-risk or binge drinking behaviour were about twice as likely to be treatment non-adherent as those who did not have AUD. Hazardous drinkers reported small to medium decrements in the Performance, Physical, Social, Spirituality, and Environment quality of life domains. Binge drinkers had a slightly higher score in Social dimension.

Conclusion

AUD is prevalent and negatively affecting adherence to and HRQOL outcomes of ART services in injection-driven HIV epidemics. Screening and intervention are recommended for AUD, especially during the stable periods of ART. Other social and psychological interventions might also enhance patients’ responses to and outcomes of ART in Vietnam.     

Effect of fumonisin B(1) on rat hepatic P450 system

The effects of the mycotoxin fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) on the hepatic cytochrome P450 system were investigated in male rats dosed daily by oral gavage with 3 mg FB(1) per kg body weight for 9 consecutive days. FB(1) treatment resulted in a reduced weight gain. At the same time, CYP2E activity was increased, which is considered to mark the metabolic changes inherent to growth retardation in young rats. Treatment with FB(1) also resulted in a selective inhibition of CYP2C11 and to a lesser extent, CYP1A2 in liver microsomes obtained from treated animals, whereas it did not affect significantly the activity of CYP2A1/2A2, CYP2B1/2B2, CYP3A1/3A2 and CYP4A. The significant inhibition of CYP2C11 is considered to reflect a suppressed activity of protein kinase activity resulting from the inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis caused by FB(1).