Phase I clinical and pharmacological study of chloroquinoxaline sulfonamide.

Chloroquinoxaline sulfonamide (CQS) is a halogenated heterocyclic sulfanilamide identified by the in vitro human tumor colony-forming assay as an active agent in a variety of human solid tumors. In this phase I study, 182 courses of CQS were administered intravenously every 28 days to 88 patients at doses ranging from 18 to 4870 mg/m2. Hypoglycemia associated with hyperinsulinemia was the dose-limiting adverse effect at 4870 mg/m2. Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias were observed at doses > 4000 mg/m2. Less common reactions included infusion site phlebitis, nausea, anemia, alopecia, perioral numbness, and diarrhea. Cumulative toxicity was not observed. Minor objective antitumor responses were noted in 7 patients; 6 of the 7 responses occurred in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Results of pharmacokinetic studies were consistent with the preclinical observations that CQS is highly bound to plasma protein. Plasma elimination followed a two-compartment model; the mean t 1/2 alpha was 2.7 +/- 0.3 h and the t 1/2 beta was 52 +/- 6 h (+/- SE). The total body clearance and the volume of distribution at steady state of CQS both increased with the dose (distribution at steady state, 3.7-10.5 liter/m2; total body clearance, 53-264 ml/h/m2 for doses of 18-4060 mg/m2) and may reflect saturation of the protein binding and "free" drug clearance. Although inactive against common animal tumors in preclinical screening systems both in vitro and in vivo, CQS has demonstrated definite activity in the human tumor stem cell colony-forming assays, as well as modest anticancer activity in this phase I study in patients with advanced solid tumors. The pharmacokinetic results and the limiting effect of transient hypoglycemia suggest that considerably higher cumulative doses of CQS could be administered using a more frequent dosing schedule.     

Cervene (Nalmefene) in acute ischemic stroke : final results of a phase III efficacy study. The Cervene Stroke Study Investigators

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goals of the present study were to assess the efficacy and safety of nalmefene (Cervene) in patients with acute (< or =6 hours) ischemic stroke and to investigate the safety of combined recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and nalmefene in a separate subset of patients. Nalmefene, an opioid antagonist with relative kappa receptor selectivity, has shown neuroprotective effects in multiple experimental central nervous system injury and ischemic models. Results from an earlier phase II study in patients with acute ischemic stroke suggested that nalmefene was safe and tolerable and may be effective for patients <70 years old. METHODS: This investigation was a phase III, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study of a 24-hour infusion of nalmefene. Patients with acute ischemic stroke who had an onset of symptoms within 6 hours and a baseline score of > or =4 on the NIH Stroke Scale were randomized to receive either 60 mg nalmefene administered as a 10-mg bolus over 15 minutes and then a 50-mg infusion over 23.75 hours or placebo. The primary efficacy outcome was the proportion of patients achieving a score of > or =60 on the Barthel Index and a rating of "moderate disability" or better on the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 12 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline (predose), hours 12 and 24, days 2 and 7, and week 12. RESULTS: A total of 368 patients were randomized at 42 centers, including 32 patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and study drug. Nalmefene was well tolerated. Overall, there was no significant difference in 3-month functional outcome for nalmefene treatment compared with placebo on any of the planned analyses. A prospective secondary analysis also failed to find a treatment effect in patients <70 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Although nalmefene appears to be safe and well tolerated, this study failed to find any treatment benefit in stroke patients treated within 6 hours.     

妊娠高血压综合征患者血清sICAM-1含量测定及其在妊高征发病中的作用

目的　探讨可溶性细胞间粘附分子 1(soluble intercellular adhesion molecule- 1,s ICAM- 1)在妊娠高血压综合征 (简称妊高征 )发病中的作用。　方法　应用酶联免疫吸附法 (EL ISA)测定 6 5例妊高征患者 (妊高征组 ,包括轻度 15例 ,中度 2 4例 ,重度 2 6例 )及 2 5例同期正常妊娠孕妇(对照组 )外周血清中 s ICAM- 1的含量 ;应用化学发光酶联免疫分析法测定两组孕妇血清中白细胞介素 1(interleukin- 1,L I- 1β)及肿瘤坏死因子 (tum or necrosing factor alpha,TNF- α)含量 ;并记录新生儿体重及妊娠结局。　结果　轻、中、重度妊高征组母血清中 s ICAM- 1的含量 [(36 8.5 6± 6 2 .81) μg/L、(6 0 6 .6 3± 10 5 .0 4 ) μg/ L、(85 9.36± 2 0 0 .92 ) μg/ L]均显著高于对照组 [(2 36 .6 9± 96 .33) μg/ L](P<0 .0 5 ,P<0 .0 1,P<0 .0 1) ,中、重度妊高征组母血清中 IL- 1β及 TNF- α的含量均显著高于对照组(P<0 .0 5 ,P<0 .0 1) ;中、重度妊高征组 s ICAM- 1的水平与相应 IL- 1β及 TNF- α的水平呈显著的正相关 (r=0 .6 97,P<0 .0 1;r=0 .74 6 ,P<0 .0 1)。重度妊高征组伴胎儿生长受限 (fetal growth restric-tion,FGR)者血中 s ICAM- 1含量显著高于同组其他孕妇之含量 (P<0 .0 5 )。妊高征组     

Phase II study of denileukin diftitox for relapsed/refractory B-Cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Denileukin diftitox is a fusion protein combining diphtheria toxin and interleukin-2 (IL-2) that targets tumor cells expressing the IL-2 receptor. Its efficacy has been shown in CD25+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, but not in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A phase II study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of denileukin diftitox for relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL were eligible. Tumor CD25 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry. Denileukin diftitox was administered intravenously at a dose of 18 microg/kg once daily for 5 days every 3 weeks, up to eight cycles. RESULTS: Of the 45 patients assessable for response, 32 (71%) were refractory to the last chemotherapy treatment, and all were previously treated with rituximab. Three complete responses (6.7%) and eight partial responses (17.8%) were observed, for an overall response rate of 24.5%. Nine patients (20%) had stable disease. Objective response rates were similar in CD25+ (22%) and CD25- histologies (29%), as were stable disease rates (22% and 18%, respectively). For responding patients, the median time to treatment failure was 7 months, with a median follow-up in survivors of 18 months (range, 9 to 28 months), and the projected progression-free survival at 20 months was 24% (95% CI, 0% to 60%). Most toxicities were low-grade and transient. CONCLUSION: Denileukin diftitox seems to be effective in relapsed or refractory, CD25+ and CD25- B-cell NHL and is well-tolerated at the dosage evaluated. Evaluation of denileukin diftitox in combination with other agents may be warranted.     

Auditing paediatric diabetes care and the impact of a specialist nurse trained in paediatric diabetes

AIMS: To define outcome measures for auditing the clinical care of children and adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and to assess the benefit of appointing a dedicated paediatric trained diabetes specialist nurse (PDSN). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical notes and hospital records. Glycaemic control, growth, weight gain, microvascular complications, school absence, and the proportion of children undergoing an annual clinical review and diabetes education session were assessed. The effect of the appointment of a PDSN on the frequency of hospital admission, length of inpatient stay, and outpatient attendance was evaluated. RESULTS: Children with IDDM were of normal height and grew well for three years after diagnosis, but grew suboptimally thereafter. Weight gain was above average every year after diagnosis. Glycaemic control was poor at all ages with only 16% of children having an acceptable glycated haemoglobin. Eighty five per cent of patients underwent a formal annual clinical review, of whom 16% had background retinopathy and 20% microalbuminuria in one or more samples. After appointing the PDSN the median length of hospital stay for newly diagnosed patients decreased from five days to one day, with 10 of 24 children not admitted. None of the latter was admitted during the next year. There was no evidence of the PDSN affecting the frequency of readmission or length of stay of children with established IDDM. Non-attendance at the outpatient clinic was reduced from a median of 19 to 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Outcome measures for evaluating the care of children with IDDM can be defined and evaluated. Specialist nursing support markedly reduces the length of hospital stay of newly diagnosed patients without sacrificing the quality of care.     

异基因造血干细胞移植并发致死性间质性肺炎

目的探讨小儿异基因造血于细胞移植并发间质性肺炎（IP）的发病病因、临床特点、危险因素及防治措施。方法根据尸解病理检查及聚合酶键反应技术对病毒病原学检测结果，结合临床移植资料综合分析。结果14例移植患儿中并发IP3例（3／14），分别死于十19天、＋76天、＋150天;3例IP中2例移植前后外周血及尸解肺组织直到CMV包涵体;4例3～4应急性GVHD患儿中3例并发IP，10例0～2度急性GVHD无1例并发IP。结论IP是移植早期死亡的重要原因之一，巨细胞病毒感染是IP的主要病原，GVHD严重程度与移植后并发IP密切相关.