A path-analytical approach to differentiate between direct and indirect drug effects on negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients

The hypothesis that differences in drug effects of risperidone and haloperidol on negative symptoms in schizophrenia are secondary to effects on positive, extrapyramidal, and depressive symptoms was investigated by means of an analysis of the data from the USA-Canada risperidone double-blind randomized clinical trial of 523 chronic schizophrenic patients. Regression analyses in the total sample and within treatment groups confirmed a strong relationship between changes in negative symptoms and the other variables studied (R²=0.50–0.51,p<0.001). Only depressive symptoms did not contribute significantly to these results (p>0.10). Path analysis showed that the greater mean change (p<0.05) of negative symptoms with risperidone compared to haloperidol could not be fully explained by correlations with favourable effects on positive and extrapyramidal symptoms. The relationship between shift in extrapyramidal symptoms and shift in negative symptoms failed to reach statistical significance; however, there was a clear tendency in the expected direction in both treatment groups.     

A phase I/II study of continuous infusion suramin in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer : toxicity and response

 Introduction: Suramin is a synthetic polysulfonated naphthylurea which has been used for the treatment of African trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis, but since the mid-1980s has received attention as a possible antiretroviral and antineoplastic agent. Objective: This clinical trial of suramin was undertaken as a phase I/II study in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, with the hypothesis that the intensity of therapy with suramin could be increased significantly if measures were undertaken to maintain the plasma concentrations of the drug under 300 μg/ml. Methods: We report the clinical results of this trial, wherein patients were treated at three different targeted plasma suramin concentrations (275, 215 and 175 μg/ml) for varying periods of time (2, 4 or 8 weeks), with delivery of the drug by continuous intravenous infusion. Results: The major toxicity observed in this trial was neurologic, consisting of a motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy that resulted in both paresis and paralysis of the limbs. Nearly all of this severe (CTEP grade III, IV) neurologic toxicity was observed in the patients treated at a plasma suramin concentration of 275 μg/ml for 4 or more weeks. A single patient treated at 215 μg/ml for 8 weeks developed moderate (CTEP grade III) proximal lower extremity weakness, and no patient treated at 175 μg/ml developed this toxicity. The second most common toxicity observed was infection of the central venous catheter. The overall response rate for all of the evaluable patients was 17% (13 of 75 patients). In addition, prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-defined responses were observed in six patients receiving therapy at 175 μg/ml, but these responses were confounded by cessation of therapy with flutamide during suramin treatment. Conclusions: In summary, although plasma suramin concentrations were maintained below 300 μg/ml, neurologic toxicity nonetheless occurred with high frequency in patients treated at 275 μg/ml for 4 or more weeks. Therapy at 215 and 175 μg/ml was in general well tolerated, but central venous catheter-related infection, as well as the inconvenience and expense of continuous infusional therapy, make this method of drug delivery impractical. Only moderate antitumor activity was observed during this trial, but it is possible that both continuation of flutamide and flutamide withdrawal during suramin therapy confounded the assessment of suramin’s activity in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Received: 9 June 1995/Accepted: 18 March 1996     

Respiratory health status in swine producers using respiratory protective devices

A cross-sectional survey on respiratory health in swine producers showed that 30% of 301 examined men usually used a dust mask when working inside a barn. They did not differ significantly from dust mask nonusers in respect to respiratory symptoms and lung function. This analysis was undertaken to determine whether the respiratory health of dust mask users was associated with reasons why they had started individual respiratory protection. The subjects were recontacted in order to identify those who started using a mask to deliberately prevent symptoms (42 men) and those who started protection because of pre-existing respiratory symptoms (44 men). Not unexpectedly, betweengroup comparisons of respiratory symptoms and lung function suggest that swine producers who wear dust masks for preventive purposes have better respiratory health than those who wear dust masks because of symptoms or those who do not use individual respiratory protection. The individual reasons for starting dust mask usage should be examined among potential determinants of the outcomes of prospective studies which can then provide more valid assessment of the effect of individual respiratory protection. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Sulpiride in negative schizophrenia: A placebo-controlled double-blind assessment

Twenty-four chronic schizophrenic long-stay hospital patients were identified, who had not received neuroleptic drugs for 8–30 (average 8 months) and met or exceeded a minimum criterion of severity of negative symptoms. They were rendomly alocated to either sulpiride 200 mg twice daily or matching placebo, on a double-blind basis for 12 weeks. The results showed that low-dose sulpiride was significantly better than placebo in relation to improvements in negative symptoms. The changes in social behaviour were complex and not obviously related to symptom improvement; exhibited abnormal behaviour, a major factor in preventing successful return to the community, consistently improved only on the active drug.     

SARS流行期间肺炎患者的临床表现和胸部影像变化的探讨

目的 探讨SARS流行期间肺炎患者的临床表现和胸部影像变化特点。方法 对76例SARS流行期间发热留观室收治的肺炎患者的临床表现及胸部影像进行分析。结果 (1)此组肺炎患者多为青壮年(占60．53％)，无固定职业或职业性质流动性较大者居多(69．74％)；(2)临床特征主要是发热，以中高热为多见(80．26％)，发病早期部分患者呼吸道症状并不明显(67．10％)，外周血WBC在正常或低于正常范围(85．53％)，淋巴细胞比例减少(75．00％)；(3)肺部CT表现为不同程度的炎性浸润；病灶形态以斑片状和球形多见(77．63％)；病灶常位于肺周边，常出现支气管气像；动态观察病变影像大多无明显进展(88．16％％)，经治疗均完全吸收。结论 SARS流行期间普通肺炎与非典型肺炎有相似的临床及胸部影像表现；肺部CT扫描能早期发现肺炎患者的异常阴影，明显优于胸片，但无特异性。因此，在SARS流行期间发热诊室医务人员应加强肺部炎性改变的早期诊断和鉴别诊断水平。     

Panic Anxiety after Abrupt Discontinuation of Mianserin

Abstract: We observed a case of withdrawal after abrupt discontinuation of mianserin. A 41-year-old woman was treated according to a diagnosis of depression, which was her 6th episode. Mianserin 30 mg/day, etizolam 1 mg/day and flunitrazepam 1 mg/day were administered. When the patient discontinued taking the drugs by herself because of subsiding of these symptoms, severe panic anxiety appeared. This panic anxiety was not relieved by taking etizolam and flunitrazepam again, but subsided rapidly by the re-administration of mianserin 30 mg/day, and because of that the depressive symptom also disappeared.
From these experiences panic anxiety seemed to be a withdrawal symptom, and involvement of the noradrenergic system in panic anxiety as well as serotonergic system was suggested.     

骨外科患者拔尿管时注入药物对排尿的影响

目的探讨提高长时间留置导尿管病人拔管后2h内排尿成功率的方法。方法按入院先后随机将64例导尿的男性骨折病人分两组,单数为观察组,双数为对照组。对照组常规拔尿管,观察组拔尿管时遵医嘱注入地塞米松5mg+2%利多卡因5ml+生理盐水5ml+庆大霉素8万U,比较首次排尿的自觉症状,包括尿痛、排尿困难、排尿障碍等。结果观察组较对照组病人首次排尿出现自觉症状的例数明显减少(P<0.01),有显著性差异。结论拔尿管时注入药物安全有效,明显提高了长期置管病人拔除尿管后首次排尿的成功率,减轻了病人的痛苦,有广泛的应用价值。     

Complete response, as determined by prostate-specific antigen level, to chlormadinone acetate withdrawal persisting longer than 2 years in patients with advanced prostate cancer: Two case reports

Antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a well-established phenomenon in prostate cancer. However, responses to AWS are usually of limited duration, and a complete response (CR) is extremely rare. We present two patients who exhibited a chemical CR for more than 2 years after the discontinuation of steroidal antiandrogen chlormadinone acetate use. Whether patients who respond to antiandrogen withdrawal include a group of patients with a better prognosis remains uncertain. However, considering that the usual survival period of patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer is approximately 12 months, both of the patients reported here, who are present in excellent physical condition, exhibiting an improved quality of life, and attending their hospital as outpatients, obviously acquired a prolonged survival because of AWS.     

山莨菪碱治疗麻醉剂依赖性

阿片成瘾者２５０例（男性２２２例，女性２８例，年龄３０±ｓ５ａ）应用山莨菪碱０．５－２ｍｇ／（ｋｇ·ｄ），分２－３次加入１０％葡萄糖２５０ｍＬ或５％葡萄糖生理盐水５００ｍＬ静脉滴注；东莨菪碱０．０２－０．０３ｍｇ／ｋｇ加入１０％葡萄糖２５０ｍＬ静脉滴注１次，必要时对重患者追加１次，疗程５－７ｄ。结果戒断症状均有改善（Ｐ＜０．０１），２７例需加用羟丁酸钠。不良反应轻，可作为阿片瘾者的脱瘾药物。＊Ｐ＜０．０１。碱确能解除阿片药物戒断症状。其对阿片戒断症状缓解时间在治疗４－５ｄ后，强烈觅药渴求也随之逐渐消失。１５０例（６０％）要求进食，１７５例（７０％）仍需借助安眠药睡眠。另６５例（２６％）戒断症状阵发性发作，每次持续０．５－１ｈ，症状轻重不一，轻者流泪、全身弥漫性疼痛，重者焦躁不安、心中猫抓虫咬样难受，甚至想自残，可配合艾司唑仑３－４ｍｇ／ｄ，ｐｏ或氯硝西泮６－１０ｍｇ／ｄ，ｐｏ；也可用氯硝西泮１－２ｍｇ／次，ｉｍ，每日２－３次；针刺胃俞、脾俞、中脘、足三里、印堂、太阳、百会、内关、合谷、命门、夹脊和肾俞穴位，根据临床症状任选其中３－５个穴位进行治疗或心理治疗能快速减轻患者戒断症状。治程中２７例（１０．８％）重?