New South Wales Nurse Education Project

Abstract: The development of a teaching package for nurse educators on drug and alcohol problems is described and the contents of its 16 modules outlined.     

大剂量地塞米松及SOD在实验性脑损伤中的治疗作用

大剂量地塞米松和ＳＯＤ是外伤性脑继发性损害药物治疗的新方案。本实验在豚鼠局灶性脑损伤模型上试用该两种药物，通过脑含水量、灶周伊文斯兰渗出、血ＣＫ、Ｃａ和ＬＤＨ含室及光镜和电镜病理检查等指标。     

Treatment of dual diagnosis patients: A relapse prevention group approach

The authors describe the successful use of an adjunctive group psychotherapy for substance-abusing patients with major psychiatric disorders (bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, psychotic depression, and atypical psychosis). The group utilizes a psychoeducational approach that focuses on substance abuse causes and consequences, principles of recovery, and relapse prevention strategies. Eight patients with prolonged histories of abuse of cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs were enrolled in this weekly group treatment at a community mental health center drug treatment program, while continuing in treatment with their current case manager or primary therapist. Six of the eight patients achieved periods of stable abstinence, documented by self-report, urine toxicology screens, continued group attendance, and improved social functioning. Case examples are utilized to illustrate the group process.     

Graduate Education in the Field of Substance Abuse

Abstract: Twenty-six part-time students from a variety of professional backgrounds are enrolled in the first year of a Graduate Diploma in Social Science (Drug Dependence) at the Phillip Institute of Technology in Victoria. The course is conducted under the auspices of the School of Social Work and commenced in 1984. It is argued that the graduates from this unique course could play a key role in providing personnel to fill positions in the areas of clinical work, staff development, drug education, programme development and management and research.     

Propriospinal myoclonus after treatment with ciprofloxacin.

The clinical and electrophysiological features of a truncal myoclonus in a 55-year-old man are described. The electromyographic characteristics point toward propriospinal myoclonus. It is suggested that a myoclonic generator was released after use of ciprofloxacin, by antagonising the gamma-aminobutyric acid metabolism.     

Erythema multiforme during cytomegalovirus infection and oral therapy with terbinafine: a virus–drug interaction

The authors report a case of erythema multiforme in a 32-year-old woman who was also taking oral terbinafine for an onychomycosis. The patient data analysis showed serological positivity for cytomegalovirus (IgM and IgG) and hepatitis C virus and serological titre of antinuclear antibody was elevated. After a brief review of the literature the authors propose the possibility of virus-drug interaction as a model of adverse drug reactions.     

Evaluation ofin vitro drug screening leads using experimental models of human ovarian cancer

Summary Five compounds which were identified as potential new anticancer drugs inin vitro screening with the human tumor colony forming assay were selected for further evaluation usingin vitro andin vivo models of human ovarian cancer. Three of five compounds were found to inhibitin vitro colony formation of ovarian cancer cell lines derived from both untreated and combination chemotherapy refractory patients. One compound was also found to prolong survival in a human ovarian carcinoma xenograft model system. This compound, chloroquinoxaline sulfonamide, was selected for development and has shown preliminary indication of activity in phase I clinical testing.     

Diagnosing the personality organization of drug abusers by rating ego balance

A community-based case-finding sample of 1824 narcotic abusers in Stockholm County was used to standardize a set of rating scales in order to reflect levels of personality organization (PO), in the spirit of Kernberg's theory. PO is assumed to be a function of the ego's capacity to endure inner and outer stress, which manifests itself in the frequency and depth of regressions and the rate of recovery from them. The principles of a method, Rating Ego Balance, for charting the person's characteristic pattern of regression are presented, and its psychometric properties are described on the basis of item response theory. The scales have satisfactory reliabilities and maximal discrimination at subneurotic levels of PO. They show strong construct validity in relation to Kernberg's theory.     

Photoleukomelanodermatitis (Kobori) Induced by Afloqualone

We reported a case of photoleukomelanodermatitis (Kobori) type drug eruption due to afloqualone (Arofuto®). The patient was given afloqualone and imipramine hydrochloride (Chrytemin®) for cervical spondylosis from November of 1990. Edematous erythema with slight itching appeared on the sun-exposed areas in December of 1990. As drug eruption was suspected, drugs were ceased, and the cutaneous lesions almost disappeared but pigmentations and depigmentations developed in spots in sun-exposed areas in March of 1991. Photopatch and oral challenge tests were positive.