Hyperpolarizing action of cromakalim on the rat aorta

Cromakalim alone at 1 microM had no effect and at 10 microM hyperpolarized the rat aorta. The rat aorta was depolarized by KCl (20 mM), noradrenaline (0.3 microM) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (1 microM). In the presence of depolarization with KCl, noradrenaline or 5-hydroxytryptamine, cromakalim at 1 and 10 microM hyperpolarized the rat aorta. Thus the antispasmogenic actions of modest concentrations of cromakalim is compatible with potassium channel opening.     

Extravascular lung water measurement in septic sheep

Sheep were prepared with a chronic lung lymph fistula and studied unanesthetized following septicemia by infusion of live Escherichia coli 10(9) ml/kg bw or injection of oleic acid 0.05 ml/kg bw. Extravascular lung water (EVTV) was measured with thermal-dye technique and compared to gravimetrically measured lung water (EVWV). Septic sheep had increased pulmonary artery pressure, reduced mean arterial blood pressure and reduced cardiac output. In control animals there was a correlation between EVTV-EVWV of r = 0.70. In animals given oleic acid lungs were macroscopically edematous and the correlation was r = 0.93. In septic sheep, however, no correlation could be found between EVTV and EVWV (r = -0.25). The thermal-dye technique was found to give erroneously high values. This finding could probably be due to erythrostasis and leukocyte plugging with uneven perfusion and prolonged transit times due to reduced cardiac output.     

Low-dose doxorubicin in the management of advanced carcinoma of the prostate

Twenty-one patients with advanced metastatic carcinoma of the prostate, no longer responsive to conventional therapy, were treated with weekly low-dose doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Twelve had an impressive subjective response in terms of pain relief and improved performance status and in nine this was maintained for 3 or more months.     

Provider satisfaction with office-based treatment of opioid dependence: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: New federal regulations allow for office-based treatment of opioid dependent patients with opioid agonist medication (e.g., buprenorphine). We sought to evaluate the literature on office-based physicians' acceptance of this practice. METHODS: We searched the MEDLINE database for original research examining office-based providers' acceptance or satisfaction with office-based treatment. Articles included in the analysis met the following criteria: (1) discussed the treatment of patients with substance abuse disorders, (2) focused on the treatment of opioid dependent patients, (3) discussed treatment with opioid agonist therapy, (4) discussed treatment by office-based physicians, (5) presented original research, and (6) provided data examining physician acceptance or satisfaction. RESULTS: Eight studies met the criteria. Their heterogeneity precluded aggregate analysis. Four of 8 studies revealed that providers had a positive perception concerning the efficacy of opioid agonist treatment, 4/8 indicated that providers believed that opioid dependent patients were more complex than others in their practices, and 3/8 studies indicated the need for additional support services. CONCLUSIONS: There are few studies of provider satisfaction with office-based treatment of opioid dependence. This literature reveals overall provider acceptance of this practice but highlights the need for support services. Further research, designed to identify the barriers to provider satisfaction with office-based opioid agonist therapy, is needed to ensure that these barriers do not limit expansion of this practice.     

Effect of poly rI:rC treatment upon the metabolism of [14C]-paracetamol in the BALB/cJ mouse

The effect of the immunomodulator, poly rI:rC, upon the in vivo metabolism of [14C]-paracetamol has been investigated in male BALB/cJ mice. In both poly rI:rC treated and control groups of mice the major part of the dose was excreted in the 0-24 hr urine and the major urinary metabolites were the glucuronic acid and sulphate conjugates. The urinary excretion of these two conjugates and of free paracetamol was not significantly altered following poly rI:rC treatment. Following enzymic hydrolysis of glucuronides and sulphates, the 3-cysteine, 3-mercapturate, 3-thiomethyl and 3-methylsulphoxide metabolites of paracetamol were all identified in the 0-24 hr urine together with very small amounts of 3-methoxy paracetamol. Although poly rI:rC treatment reduced the proportional urinary excretion of each of the thio adducts the individual differences were not significant. However, total thio adduct excretion, an indirect estimate of the metabolic activation of paracetamol, was significantly lower following poly rI:rC treatment. This depression in the urinary excretion of thio adducts following poly rI:rC treatment is discussed in relation to possible implications for paracetamol toxicity.     

Effect of a blood transfusion protocol and low dose steroid regime on renal transplant survival

The effects of introduction of a low steroid regime and pre-transplant blood transfusion were evaluated. The kidney and patient survival rates for the period before such a policy was adopted were compared with the period after this policy. There has been a highly significant rise in patient survival rates to the present level of 95 per cent at three years. There was a similar rise in three year graft survival rates from less than 40 per cent to 66 per cent.     

Designing new substance abuse treatment services for a competitive environment.

A multivariate analysis of the relationships between service attributes and physician perceptions was conducted as an approach to marketing substance abuse treatment services. The results of this attribute-perceptive-preference study indicate: the physician(s) on staff attribute makes the greatest contribution to perceived quality and efficiency; easy referral admission makes the largest contribution to accessibility perceptions; and providing feedback produces the greatest contribution to perceived continuity. The JCAH attributes neither adds to nor subtracts from the perceptions of any of the four perceptual attributes. Other findings indicate that perceived efficiency produces the greatest contribution to overall consumer preference. Quality perceptions make the second largest contribution to overall preference, followed by continuity and accessibility perceptions.